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Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1908, 13 February 1875, Page 2

We understand that Mr Joshua Jackson, who has for some years acted at agent land correspondent at the Thames for the New Zealand Herald, hat received orders from bis : chief to betake himself to Ohiaemuri as special. He will be succeeded here by Mr R. Skeen, who has acted in a eiailur capacity before. We trust the opening of Ohinemuri will supply plenty of good work for energetic newspaper correspondents. ■ ;

Aw alteration has been made in the time of the departure of the Enterprise for Auckland to morrow. She will leare at one o'clock afternoon instead of twelve midnight.

Thb H.A.0.8. Society advertise for a duly qualified medical practitioner as Surgeon to the Society.

In order to expediate th« work of iiurveying boundaries, &c, at Ohioemuri, Mr Mackay has put on more surveyors. Amongst others, Mr O. M. Creagh has reeoived an appointment, and will go tip riv<r tomorrow. It will bo some days yet, we learn, before the field will be ready for proclamation.

It will be observed thai; the [Mayor announces Friday, the 19th inst., as the day for nominating auditors, to be elected on Monday, the Ist day of March.

It may not be known that wine is made upon the Thames. It is nevertheless a fact, and the only wonder is that the facilities offered are not more generally taken advantage of in this respect. A gentleman residing at I?arawai has been in the hal>it for some years of making wine for domestic use, and has met with very great success. The gentlewan referred to has this eeneon made eighteen gallons, partly from peach. It is fa matter of wonderment that the peaches with whioa the North Island of this colony abounds, and which it is aad to see occaesionally going to waßte, are not utilised in this and other ways. 4 Of late a little attention has been paid to this pro.uct of the summer time, but there is yet great need for 'the utilization of our peaches, which will doubtless be reoognised to the full as time progresses.

This Borough Fire Brigade (Grahamstown and Shortland contingents) turned out last night in full; strength to try the effect in working of the joint ladders lately imported, and for a general practice. These ladders, which have been previously noticed, are a really splendid " institution," as our American brethren would Bay. To those who had not seen anything of the kind they would have appeared ladders of great magnitude. The JeDgths are made—the first one wide upon fSrhich two men can mount at one time, 'and gradually narrow. It is, there is do doubt, a'valuable acquisition to" the property of the Brigade, and one which will prove ' invaluable should occasion offer for its > use A wet practice was engaged in, and after playing from the central well opposite the Pacific, the wella sunk by Mr Bawden, Foreman of Works, were tried The work of sinking these wells is undoubtedly; a credit to Mr Bawden, who has accsmplijhed the undertaking in an exceedingly thort time, and that after two contractors had signally failed in carrying it out. A, good supply of water WBS found, and' these wells will prove to have bten a useful work, should G-rahainsfcown require them to be used to extinguish a fire. We might suggest a greater attention to practise m future for the credit of the brigade, as, whether it was owing to unfortunate circumstances or not, there was a noticeablo want of rapidity in getting the hose to play at the central well, and much delay was caused by a different sized length of hose being attached at the ;well, To do justice to the brigade it must be said, as it has been said before in these, columns, their activity has been most striking and praiseworthy, but on this occasion of their display last night there were frequent remarks that a fire would have had a considerable advance of the firemen had their turn out been the 'occasion of a conflagration. -> v . •-■';■■ -, .- ; -■■ ■.:-■••; . ,■■ ;. ■■-. vr-

The Maori Corps ware inspected by Sir Donald McLean and Dr. Pollen yesterday after wo had gone to press. The Company mustered in full strength in the yard of the, Shortltnd Court, where they were drilled.They take great interest in themselves as Volunteers j and remind one something of children, in their eagerness. "They were all dressed in military costume, with a general air of preparation for anything about theiiv at a very early hour yesterday morning j indeed we might with tolerable safety hazard the opinion that some of them sought their repose at "night equipped in anticipation of Sir Donald's visit, and ia order not to be behind. Whilst there is a funny side about this Maori Corps, it is nevertheless a capital movement, and gives them a sensible interest in civilization ; and though the drilling may not be frequent nor the discipline ri^id, it will nevertheless have «n efficacious effect upon them. Already their intelligence and imitative faculty has enabled them to acquire a proficiency in company movements which would be astonishing to those unacqua:nted with the intelligence of the race. When the two Ministers visited and inspected the corpj, the men were put through their drill a second time, and Sir Donald McLean expressed himself much pleased witlv the. efficiency displayed, as well as"with the appearance of the men as a body. The Maori Taituha was brought up this morning for assaulting Charles Rowley. The views entertained by Taihuta as expressed by him were of the true pristine cast, being in the mould of only partially civilized nature. He could not comprehend the desirability or possibility of waitirg for the ordinary process of law under circumstances of provocation, and gave birth to this sentiment, that a mm must be posaessed of the virtues^ of a god to restrain himself when robbed and insulted. ,

A deputation consisting of Captains Murray and Mac lonald waited upon Sir Donald McLean, Defence Minister, this afternoon, with the purpose of bringing under his notice the case of Sergeant Clery. It was pointed out to Sir Donald that Clevy he.d served with credit as an officer of the Colonial Forces and had been twice wounded on service,- and that it was while marking at the butts he had received the wound which lias for the present disabled him. It was also suggested that some employment on the staff would be congenial to Mr Clery'a tastes and afford permanent assistance. Sir Donald McLean entertained a favorable view of the case, promised to give it his consideration, and to return a definitive answer when he had had time to ; confer with Major Cooper on tho subject. ; In the Presbyterian Church to-morrow the ■Bey John Macky will (D.V.) preach at fmorn'ng and evening services. f Ist the window of Mr Carter, stationer, may |be seen the silver Challenge Cup which forms the leading prise in the match 34'orth against South, Prize Tiring. This oup has become ;/the property for one year of one of our local volunteers —Armstrong, he having made the {highest score in the winning team.