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Thames Star, Volume VI, Issue 1823, 5 November 1874, Page 2

We we glad to inform our reader that a ' Hew Gentlemen's Clothing Establishment has opened in Pollen-street, two doors from Mary■treet, named 4he Tharae Borough ClothiDg Mart.—Advi. ';..'.

It is notified by advertisement that tho Hauraki Roynl Arch Chapter will open at seven o'clock this evening instead of half-past seven. The half-yearly meeting of the Thames Miners' Accident Belief Fund subscribers i will be held afc tho Governor Bowcn Hotel at half-pasfc seven o'clock to-morrow evening. The Thames Naval Brigado will celebrate the Prince of Wales' Birthday by a quadrille assembly ou Monday evening next, which, like all festive gatherings originating with the bluejackets, •will doubtless be well patronised. Fbom the Manukau mine a splendid return is to hand this morning, namely, 984 ounces 11 dwts., from only 16 days' crushing with on average of Dot more than 17 hea3 of stampers. We regrst to learn that Mr. J. Bull, officer in charge of the Telegraph Department, is confined to his bed by illness. This will somewhat interfere with the bazaar arrangemants, as wo believe Mr. Bull had kindly consented to fit up the telegraph offices and linos to-day to bo ready for the press of business which will likely pour in this evening. A despatch from the Secretary of State to the Governor is published in the New Zealand Gazette, covering a copy of a Treaty between tho Government of Great Britain and the Netherlands Government for the mutual surrender of fugitive criminals. Also despatch covering an Act passed during last session of tho Imperial Parliament entitled " The Colonial Attornics Relief Act." By proclamation in th« Hew Zealand Gazette it is appointed that three members of every Licensing Court constituted under " The Licensing Act, 1873" (inclusive of the Chairman) shall form a quorum. This is a matter that was not provided for at last licensing meeting, ond some doubt was expressed of the validity of proceedings and business transacted before Courts at which the whole of the Commissioners wore not present.

Ah evening party and dance will be given in St. George's Hall this evening by the members of Nos. 8,12 and 13 Loyal Orange Lodges—dancing to commence at nine o'clock. From the nature of the preparations mado for this event, and the spirited manner in which the members of the order have carried ouo many previous social gatherings, there is very little doubt but that the party thia evening will be attended by a numerous circle, and afford a pleasant night's amusement. A New Zeaiahd Gazettb published on the 29th ultimo contains a proclamation under the hand of His Excellency the Governor appointing that the seal or badge to be worn in the Union J«ck used by the Governor of New Zealand, when embaried in any boat or vessel, shall be the Southern Cross, as represented by four five-pointed red stars emblazoned on a white shield, and the monogram " N.Z." in red letters in the centre of the Southern Cross.

CoNSldebabib preparations have beea made for affording opportunities to holiday makers amusement cm Monday next, the Prince of Wales' Birthday. At Parawaigardens there will be athletic and equestrian sports, and the usual attractions of the gardens, with the band of the Thames Scottish Volunteers to discourse sweet music during the day. At Tararu the Elysium gardens will be open with the usual inducements to admirers of sylvan scenery, and with dancing on the green and the summer luxury "strawberries and cream." For the small charge of one shilling persons can obtain a return ticket by train and admission to the gardens. Between the two places of resort —Tararu and Parawai— the people of the Thames will have ample facilities for making the most of the holiday, much, however, depending upon the weather.

The N. Z. Herald Bays: —About a fortnight ago, one of the crows, now so numerous in Auckland, wbb observed perched on a telegraph poet, opposite Mr. Wood'fl butcher's shop, Symonds-Btreet. A piece of meat was thrown into the road, and it immediately pounced upon it and carried it away. Tha next day the bird took its position on the post again, and cawed until attention was attracted, and he was served with a dinner. For several days following he visited the shop regularly, both in the morning and afternoon, and each time continued cawing until he obtained the meat he was evidently seeking. A printer's devil, who happened to see this paragraph in writing, and who has begun to study the rudiments of logic, laid that the incident referred to was a clear example of " caws and effect." However, the crow would appear to hare advanced farther in the ucienco of reasoning than the printer's devil, and to have inferred that like "caws produced like effects," for recently it has brought four other crows .with it, and they all clamour for victuals. So far this has been successful, and they are fed regularly, but their allowance is to be cut short unless the Acclimatisation Society will, as payment for feeding the crows, allow Mr. Wood a free license to shoot and sell game.

We notice that Mr. Reader Wood has Allowed his name to be associated with "a monster meeting to be held on Friday evening at the Choral Hall, to take into consideration the present obnoxious Education Tax. A resolution, announced to be submitted to the meeting, is to the effect that His Honor the Superintendent should be requested to ■uir mon the Provincial Council, and recommend to that body the appropriation of co much of the sum of £25,030, voted last session by the G-eneral Assembly as special allowance to the province of Auckland, as may be required to defray all charges on account of educational purposes to the end of June, 1875. It is surely rather late for Mr. Reader Weed to connect himself with such a movement, when the rate lias blen long due and a portion ef it. paid by householders. Mr. Reader Wood was a member of the Provincial Council when the bill passed into law, and if he found himself in the minority he should have taken speedier steps than he has done to move the Superintendent in the matter. We do not for a moment think, if the Council bo convened, that a majority of the members will be found willing to appropriate the £25,000 voted by the Assembly as special allowance to this province ; nor do we think His Honor wonld sanction the appropriation. We are toid there is a movement on foot; by a body of the ratepayers to resist payment of the education rate, and that a fund has been, or is about being subscribed, to test the legality of the Act in the Law Courts. If this really be the case, the sooner the Board of Education puts the matter beyond doubt the better. Either the Act jb legal, or it is not. If the former, the payment of Iho

rate should be. insisted on, if the schools ia the province j»re to bo maintained; if the latter, then the Board may as well bo dissolved. The question should be set at rest for once and all. —N..Z. Herald. Thb usual monthly meoting of the Hoapital Committee was held at tbo Salutation Hotel yesterday afternoon at four . o'clock. '.The only business transacted vras of »routine character.