The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi.

Thames Star, Volume VI, Issue 1814, 26 October 1874, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi.

At Parawai on Saturday the Highway District Board held a meeting for the purpose of hearing appeals against the assessment (a report of which appears in another column). There was nothing particular about the proceedings to require special notice, except the appeals from natives, whose presence at the meeting is a proof of their having recognised the authority of the law, or, according to their own custom, the mana of the Board. 1 From this fact only does the meeting derive importance. A number of natives appeared and appealed against the assessment —not on the ground of non-liability but simply to plead that they were assessed too heavily. It is something gained when Maori landowners will quietly admit their liability to contribute to the expenses of local government. Their properties are no doubt vastly improved by the work effected by Road Boards, and in all fairness they should contribute towards the improvements. Having agreed to do so voluntarily is much better than if compulsory measures were resorted to. Other District Boards may possibly take a hint and bring out by conciliatory measures what they cannot compass by coercion in their relations with native landowners. One of the natives who went away from the Parawai meeting perfectly satisfied because they made a reduction in the assessment on his property, a few weeks ago had the conscience to demand

something like five hundred million pounds from the Board for permission to make a cutting through the hill leading to the Kauaeranga Gorge. Of course, this sum was merely to express his demand for a substantial consideration ; but Ihj didn't get it. Ho no doubt prides himself upon his 'cutoness in getting his rates reduced—which will be quite as much satisfaction as if he had obtained a bonus to represent the trifling amount above referred to as representing tho price of his consent to the cutting down of a kill. It is generally believed that this meetingwill have a very good effect upon the natives. They now see that, as re- | spects rating, they are not only treated with the same consideration as Europeans, but even greater forbearance, and it is hoped that this little episode in local self government in Parawai among the natives will in some degree tend to remove difficulties which, some time ago, appeared insuperable as regarded old Eewi, in reference to certain concessions required by the Parawai Board.

The names of three inebriates were on the charge sheet of the Resident Magi3lrat3's Court thi3 morning. Two were on -bail, but put in ci appoarance to secure the balance of their suroty. The Eer. Mr, Burrows was to hare officiated at St. Georges Church yesterday, morning and evening, in the yabsenco of the incumbent, who is at present in Auckland attending the Diocesan Synod; but having missed the steamer the duty fell upon Mr. H. G. Lawlor.

We learn by circular that the new evening paper will be started in Auckland some time next month. The title selected for the new paper is The Echo—the name of the most successful evening paper published ia London —and perhaps the most successful newspaper enterprise of modern times. If tho Auckland paper should be in a very small degree like its prototype the projectors will succeed. Lithk boys have vague ideas about astronomy. The coming eclipse formed the subject of two youngsters' conversation yesterday. "Did you ever see it ?" asked one. "No," replied the other; "my word, I shouldn't like to be near it!" The latter boy evidently in his own mind connected tho eclipse with something of an explosive nature, and may have expected that it would go off suddenly to the danger of observers.

The writer of an article in the Australasian, j on broomsticks, asked what could be done with them when the broom was worn down to a stnmp. A correspondent, writing from G-eelong, in reply, says : —I will inform him— the sticks, as a rule, being made of the best American beech, make the best possible rounds (steps) for light ladders. 1 hare several in use, and knowing the value of "Broomsticks" for the above purpose, I never allow one to be wasted. The drawing for the prizes in Mr. Jefferson's Art union will positively take place this evening, the business commencing at bii o'clock. Subscribers ehould be in attendance early so that the business may be got through with despatch. A drawing committee, scrutineers, &c, will have to be appointed, and possibly there may be a few tickets to be disposed of before the drawing comes off; The prizes ara much better than some we have seen disposed of in Art Unions of greater pretensions than Mr. Jefferson's. A total eclipse of the moon took place last night, differing in one respect from other eclipseß which, have been witnessed here, in that the moon was totally eclipsed as she rose. On first making her appearance over the hill tops the sight was a pretty one, aa the moon looked something like a large lantern balanced on one of the peaks of Gentle Annie. This was of course from some points of observation. The darkening shadows commenced to pass from the moos before she reached the zenith, and before midnight she ehono forth in full splendor. The night was excessively cold. The season of flower-stealors is now on; the presence of the flowers is thVopportunity of the petty thieves who, from a wanton spirit of mischief rather than a loro of the beautiful, despoil their neighbors' gardens. From several localities we hear complaints of the loss of flowers by early morning or midnight thieves, who deserve whipping for their contemptible larcemc s: One particularly flagrant case has come to our knowledge, in which a choice rdsa tree was taken up by the root from a garden on the beach duiiag the night of Thursday last. After this we can excuse people who keep savage dogs to protect their property, having no other protection ; for while members of tho Armed Constabulary may be seen at all hours of the dsy and night under tho verandahs of Pollen-street, their visits to the lonely beach and the half-formed streets back from the main road aro liko angela—few and far between. If the depredations on gardens continua, spring guns and mantraps will have to be resorted to beforo the summer is over, in order to mate an example of the flower-stealers.

The Intelligent Vagrant, writing iv the Bruce Herald, say a :—The paper* have taken lately to publishing a good dosl of information coacerning tho Thames goldfield. Erooi this it would seem that the Thames goldfield, as a kind of<New Zaaland inntitution, is worthy of mention, outßido the province of Auckland. And happening to have been a long dweller at the Thanres goldfield, I fool naturally flattered now thnt I find some public attention being paid to the place j because, you know, it is not quite insignificant, having a population equal to that of any three townships in Otago, outside Dunedin, and in the way of gold from quartz, turning out such things as wore never known here. But that is not what I wanted to say. My desire was to point out that the Thames goldfield should attract the attention of the many gentlem en in Otago who are at this moment quarrelling about coal and coal-mining companies. Let> those gentlemen send up for a faw legal and working managers from the Thames, and if we do not have a fever of coal speculation hero at once, then I know nothing of legal or working managers—and I thluk I do know something of them.

Ths steamer Hero arrived in AucVand last night with the English mail, thq Thames portion of which nrny ho expected by the Q-olden Grown this evening. We understand that tho amateur theatricals purpose giving another entertainment; shortly. Ifwomayjudgo from the manner in whLh those amateurs acquitted themselves on tho last occasion, success should moot their efforts a second time. ■> We understand that the quarterly lisenting meetings under tho new Act will require to bo held somewhere within the district for which they are held. This will necessitate the meetings for the Hauraki Dictiict being convened at some place outsids tho district of Thames.

The case Pumping Association v. Quoon of Be&uty Company for drainage contribution comes on at the Warden's Court to-morrow. It is to be hoped that this case, as the others, will bo settled without furthor litigation. There is also a case of forfeiture of a claim at Tapu to bo heard. It is thought the latter will not occupy long in hearing. Ba?ry Sullivan's latest engagement is at the rate of £360 per week for 23 weoks. Ho has made good progress in. his profeesion. Dining with Jefferson and Sullivan ono evening, tho latter told us that when he marrioi hia salary at the Theatre Royal, Edinburgh, was 30s. per week. His wife belonged to a prosperous family, connected with the Wast India trade, and ho then vowed that, ha would never rest satisfied until ho placed her , in a move prosperous position than that from which ho took her. He has redeemed his pledge. And I think ho has fairly won the high position he has ach'eved in his profession.—iEgles. A Veby good story is told of military discipline. A rigorous commander recently enrolled a recruit from that isle which is spoken of in song as the " pride of tho ocean." Tho recruit was on sentry-go one dajv wh»n the commander passed him. Tho sentry pursued his courso untroubled, and did not come to the salute. The officer thus accosted him, with a frown that would have annihilated another man, " Who are you ?" "lam a sort of a soldier," was the reply. " Then know, sir," st ernly said the officer, " that I am a sort of a general!" " Faix, are yez," said the sentry, " Well, if yez stand there a whilo I'll give yez a eorb of a shalute." The general is s-vid to have departed without receiving tho customary mark of respect. • „ Pbehaps the following might bo found to have a local application. Ifc m contributed to the Australasian by iEgles, who writes from "under the verandah" :—A man who knows something of mining—that is, if anybody knows anything—tells mo that at a lato meeting of shareholders of the G-olden Fleece Company, the manager stated that ho had crushed 6,000 tons of quartz from a particular level, but ho couldn't say whether it wa« payable (i.e., worth crushing) or not My informant's belief is that 30,000 tons were crushed for no l'esult at all! the whole expenses and dividends having been derived from one run of stone. The implication is that a large outlay on machinery and an immense amount of worthless labour were expended for appearance' sake, in order that the market might be manipulated and the expenses of direction and management kept up. These are tho things which bring about seasons of depression which mining men cry out against, but for which they are themselves offcea responsible. Thb advent of an organ grinder has been immediately followed by the appearance of a Morry-go-round, a whirligig contrivance known to all who have visited home fairs, but something new to untrayellod colonials. Tho youth of the town have elready pronounced it an institution of considerable, merit, in proof whereof they have bestowed" upon it a most liberal patronage. The appurtenances of this show aro of tho most complete description. There is the old barrel organ, which will growl out tunes by the hour without evea becoming faiiat; there is the inevitable drum, which "comes in" at uncertain parts of tko tune, to work up the feelings of the youth aforesaid to the requisite pitch of excitoraont; there are the fiery •teeds of Araby, with flowing manec, rushing after one another in furious haste, but never getting any nearer, despite tho energetic whipping of their delighted riders; then there aro the proprietors of all this magnificence —" the man what turns the handle," he who delighteth in knowing the mysteries of the drum and organ, and tho financial gentleman — all looking as delighted, and taking as breathless an interest in the race around them as thsugh they were encompassed abmt by real live horses, and as if they were not in tho daily habit of sticking those inanimate objects in their places, and contemplating their mad career round a limited circle. There are two carriages besides the steeds, but inaiinuoh as thoro is loss peril attached to a ride in the carriages, the charge is lesß. This is the scale—horses, 4d ; carriages, 3d. We protest againat this, 88 an exorbitant; charge. The head man of ti*i3 c -nccrn has taken advantage of his being the veritable and only Jarley to render bankrupt the spirited youth of this town.