The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1874.

Thames Star, Volume VI, Issue 1768, 2 September 1874, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1874.

A STATEMENT is published with a recent number of the New Zealand Gazette ■hewing the number and amount of money order and savings bank transactions in the several Postal Districts of the Colony during the quarter ended 30th June, 1874. ', From this statement we notice that the Thames shows, up well. With its one office it stands above three capital towns of Provinces in regard to the number and value of money orders received and paid, and equally high in the matter of savings bank deposits. At the Thames Office "482 money orders ware issued, of the Talae of £1943 10s.' 6d.; and 436 were paid, of the .value of £1704 13s. 6d.; snowing that less money was received by this source than was sent away. Of savings bank deposits 107 new accounts were opened and 73 closed; the number of deposits was S2l, representing £5602 10s.; the number of withdrawals 337, ; of the value of £7074 16s. 2d.; or. an excess of withdrawals over deposits of £1472 6s. 2d. We believe that the business done at the Thames Post Office is greater for the staff employed than of any ; similar office in the Colony. ,

A mbbtino of mine and battery manager* will take place this evening, at the Go- ' Ternor. Bowen Hotel,. to consider the < question of coal supply and.coniumption. We belieyo that the want of a regular and

ample supply of coal is .at. present the greatest drawback on the field to the proper and economical working and development of the mines. Every few weeks a regular famine takes place, and were it not that a very friendly feeling is kopt up by the mine and battery managers, and ■& sys'teiri'bf mutual assistance practised, very often some of the foremost mines and batteries would be at a- standstill. This subject has been often ventilated in the press, but with little result. Every month matters _, appear to be getting worse. The falling off in the supply of coals appears to have arisen in the first instance from the partiW flooding of the ICawa-Kawa mine, but such a long time has elapsed since this occurrence interfered with, the regular, supply of coal that it can scarcely be advanced as an excuse at the present timeOwing, however, to cosjs being hard to win, and loading very much delaye^, owners of vessels were induced to take freights in other directions, and the carrying capacity of the regular colliers is now inadequate to requirements. There must, however* be some other way of accounting for these periodical coal famines, capable, we should think, of remedy. The meeting this evening will, perhaps, throw some light on the matter, and devise measures to remove the inconvenience caused, the effects pi which, are felt throughout the community. _ I