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Thames Star, Volume VI, Issue 1852, 9 December 1874, Page 2

Mb James Mackay, junb, returned from Ohinemuri to-day, accompanied by a number of Natives (about a hundred, we are informed), for the purpose of meeting Sir Donald McLean. The tender^of Messrs Jennings and Rowley for building hopper and changing house for the City of London Goldnuning Company has been acoepted—the price being £224 10s. The following extraordinary advertisement appears in a Ballarat paper; —" A young lady of liberal education wishes to test the truth of Platonic friendship, and for that purpose is desirous of communicating with a gentleman, who must be educated, well conaeefced, and;a follower of Christ. Address Queenie, Post Office, Ballarat. In the Queenstown Resident Magistrate's Court the other day a claim was made by a hotel-keeper for £12 4s, balance of account for a wedding affair, including £20 for a dinner and supper, £6 for a drive to Arrowtown, £2 for a fiddler and " tin-iettlers," charges foi: board and lodging of defendant's friends. The plaintiff got a verdict, but the items were considerably reduced, for " a fiddler and tinkettlers " ody £1 being allowed. The second competition for the Cup presented to No. 3 Co. Aucklaad Rifle Volunteers took place this morning at Mount Eden range, at 400, 500 and 600 ysrds, five shots each range. Volunteer W. D. Buttle (late Corporal in the Thames Scottish) was again the winner with a splendid score of 50 points.

Dttbing the fourth day of the Melbourne Races, the Age lays that an incident occurred deserving of mention. With praiseworthy zeal the club has determinedly discouraged the presence of members of the demimonde on the grand stand, and every precaution has from time to time been taken to secure this reserve from so objectionable a feature. On that day no less than five to males of this class, attired vtry stylishly, contrived to gain admission to the lawn. No sooner did this fact become known than the Secretary, Mr Bagot, obtained the services of two detectives, who soon ejected the intruders. In doing this it was reeolved te make such ah example of the individuals that they and their companions should not require a hint for the future. They were not allowed to leave by the ordinary entrance from the hill, but were marched down to the gate leading into the course, along which they bad to walk a considerable distance before they reached the flat, and mingled with the crowds outside. They had thus to run the gauntlet under the most humiliating circumstances.

Thb latelligenfc Vagrant, writing on Madame Arabella Goddard'n visit to Otago, saya :—I find it is the correct thing for everyone to have, at least, heard her play j twice in the old country. In a bar-room the ] other night three or four gentlemen, as gentlemen in bar rooms will, were outdoing each other as to the times and places ia which they had heard Madame Goddard play. A gentleman of bullock punching appearance, who was by, suddenly interpolated, " I heard her playing in. Wombwell's show thirty-five years ago." The party turned on him, and with one breath pronounced his statement an "untruth. To which he coolly replied, "I know its a He; but it aint half a bit ' wuss nor each o' you has been slinging for the last ten minutes." What relation is a loaf of bread to a locomotive? You'll never guess it. Bread is a necessity, a locomotive is an invention. Now as necessity is the mother of invention, the maternal relation of a loaf to a locomotive will be seen at once. Thbbb ate men in the present House (says the Canterbury Press) who are known to be in needy circumstances, of whom it hat been publicly said that they dare not pass an Insolvency Act for fear of becoming its first victims. That m«n whose own private affairs so much require their utmost attention should yet be found to devote themselves with such zeal to the country, exhibits ,an example of self-sacrifice that, for its moral effect alone, is very cheap at the price charged for it

AKi terestiog history of "a smart young journalist is recorded by the Chicago Post. This clever young man came to Washington soon after the close of the war to correspond for the Chicago Post and Albany Journal. He was very young aud inexperienced, but a good telegraph operator. Failing to secure the news he wanted by personal observation and investigation, he adopted a method as novel as it was successful. He c*uld read the Morse alphabet by sound. This was his stock-in-trade. Upon it he operated, and for months was recognise:! at one of the most clever and enterprising news-gatherers at the Capitol, and all without any labour on his part. He would rise late, stroll down to tho Capitol about noon (just when the other correspondents where sending off their despatches), wander into the telegraph office, listen to the click of the wires, and then send a telegram containing all the important items the other men had gathered. It was easily done and eminently successful. Complaint was made of him, but it was unavailing. He orerreached, however, and fell. The Washington Treaty was being considered in Executive Session of the Senate. The doors and windows were closed, but nothing could hinder this ingenious youth. He climbed to the top of the buiWing, crept over the Senate Chamber, an^d, lyiDg flat on his face, shorthanded every word of the treaty as it came from the lips of the Clerk and arose to the ceiling. He sold'lfcf-to the New York Tribune. The Tribune correspondent was angry and exposed him, and his paper dismissed him. 'He has now set himself to work at the improvement of telegraph instruments, and has just invented a machine from which great things are expected. His scheme has been taken up by a company of New York capitalists, andthecleveryoungmanis "a millionaire, and but 25 years old." ' I"SE following letter appears in the Daily Southern Oroiß, signed "E. Hamlin," and dated " Waiuku, Dec. sth, 1874." If there

be any truth in the letter—and there appears no reason to doubt the Btatemenb of Mr Hamlin—it shows at what a fearful price the peace co much vaunted has been purchased :— " To the Editor : Sir, —Fivsrn information I have received I fear that tho late William McCann did not come to his death by drowning, but from a blow inflicted by a native. A party whose name I am not afc liberty to us© at present, but who understands the native lungaage, overheard two or three of them conversing, when it transpired that McCann had taken tho wrong canoe, and the owner had given him aJblow on the head •which there it> no little doubt caused his death. During the last thirteen years three of our people have met their death at the bancU of the natives, but through want of a little energy the murderers have been allowed to abscond to tho King country and there gloat over their evil deeds. I trust that this matter will be scon to with as little delay as possible 1 shall be most happy to give up the name of the individual who overheard the conversation to any Government officer*"

With: reference to the paragraph in yesterday morning's Advertiser,on the " severe disappointment" suffered by tho Masons of the Thames on the arrival of the Marquis of Normanby, and the "rivalry as to which< lodge should be the first to congratulate His Excellency," we are requested to state that the writer has drawn upon his imagination for his facts. Some little surprise was felt, it 13 true, that no answers were received to the telegrams sent, but the reason given was considered satisfactory. As to the rivalry, the congratulatory telegram from one lodge was sent two days before the Htro arrived, with instructions that it should be delivered on boari; the W.M. of the other lodge waited until the Hero arrived, and then forwarded his message to Government House. Gents' clothes cleaned, dyed and pressed. Gents' light suits cleaned, ss. N.B.—ln future all goods and orders will only be received at the Thames Dyeing Establishment, Eollesfcon street, Shortland.