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Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2067, 19 August 1875, Page 2

We have received a copy of the petition of the " early settlers," presented to the House of Representatives by Sir George Grey, K.C.B.

A corbespondent at Ohinemuri writes stating that the meeting of Natives will be, over to-day, and that it has been the poore«t affair of the kind which has taken place for years. Very little money stirring. The 1000 kits of potatoes, ,9 bullocks and 50 pigs* have disappeared, and some of the Natives have to go in for potted stuffs. Thursday will probably see a breaking up of the camp.

A special summoned meeting of the Hibernian Society is called for this evening at half past seven o'clock for the purpose of electing a trustee.

The Court Pride of Parnell, Ancient Order of Foresters, will hold their usual fortnightly meeting at the Freemasons' Hall; this evening, at half-past seven o'clock.

The monthly meeting of the Banner of Ulster Orange Lodge will be held in the Odd Fellows' Hall, this evening at halfpast seven o'clock.

-A petition having for its object the establishment of a telegraph line from the Thames to Tairua has been drawn up for presentation to C. Lemon, Esq., superintendent of telegraphs. It has, already been signed by many of the influential residents at the Thames, and lies at the office of E. T. Wildman, Esq., to await further signatures, which from the desirability.- of the object we hope to see largely forthcoming.

We draw attention to a collection of Thames local songs as written and sung by Mr W. H. Reed}'the well-known comic singer, which: has just been.published. The words themselves are partly parodies on well known-songs and partly original and from their localiallusidns am especially adapted for those gatherings where music lends its aid to promote goodfellowship and concord. ••'lt: was wjth this view probably vthat Mr .Eeed wrote the songs on the F^eskri3^nd-p.dd^Pellow^ which are especially* suited to "the" members of these societies, as well as others which were sting at the banquet given to John Shechan, the Flower Show &c. The price of the book is one shilling.

Miss Amy Thornton, as will be seen by advertisement, makes her first appearance at the Theatre Royal on Saturday next. fsTJie performance. will commence with a scene from the play of "King John/ 1 and another from "Hamlet" in which Miss Amy Thornton -will appeal*. Various magical feats will also be performed as well as comic songs and dances. The whole will conclude with a burlesque entitled "The Belle of the Barley Mow." We have seen many expressions of approbation of Miss Thornton's acting taken from the Otago Times, Lyttelton, Taranaki, and many other colonial papers, all of which are loud in praise of la petite Amy, as she is termed, more especially in her character of Prince Arthur, which she will assume on Saturday.

We have to acknowledge the receipt, with thanks, of the following papers: — New Zealaud Gazette No 46; _ No 4 Parliamentary Debates ; Abolition of Provinces Bill; Opinions of the late AttorneyGeneral and Solicitor-General onthe power of the Assembly to abolish the Provinces; Copy of circular despatch with reference to arrangements with Crown Agents; Statement Reserve Account; Over expenditure on Immigration Vote; Correspondence relating to" land taken over by Province of Auckland from General Government; Report by Inspector of Surveys; Immigration Returns; Sixteenth Annual Report of the Post Office Department; Correspondence relating; to Tairua Native Reserve; Report on the Goldfields of New Zealand; General Summary of Import, Export and Shipping Returns and Abstract of Customs Revenue ; Annual Report of Commissioner on the Armed Constabulary; Report of the Board on working of the Stamp Act; Local Government Bill; Qualification of Electors Bill and other papers.

The members of the Koman Catholic Church at the Thames have, on several occasions, exhibited a most laudable liberality in the cause of education, and in the support and ornamentation of their churches and schools. In order to erect the convent and schools an extra effort had to be made, and the members of the congregation liberally responded to the call made on them by the late "Rev. Father N orris, but sufficient funds were not raised at- the time to carry out the works desired, so the deficient amount, £600, was advanced on loan by Messrs John McCabe and Bonald McDonald, shareholders of the Queen of Beauty clainij and members of the congregation. The advance was made without interest. This debt of £600 remained on the parish when the Eev. Father Chastagnon took charge, but without any extra effort, and from the ordinary subscriptions of the congregation £400 of this debt was paid off, and Messrs James McCabe and Eonald McDonald generously made a present of the remaining £200 so that the Parish churches and schools are now entirely free from debt. An effort is now being made to secure a first class teacher for the boys' school in Walter street. It is proposed to pay a salary of £200 a year, and a subscription was started last Sunday to raise the necessary amount; £60 was subscribed at the meeting, and we understand a further sum has since been raised. A meeting of the church members is to be held this evening to complete arrangements and appoint a master for the school.

The Auckland Institute has received a most valuable addition in the shape of a present of books, the property of the late Gr. F. Edmonstone, Esq. The volumes, 548 in number, consist of the complete works of Lyell, Spencer/Tyndall and others, of the great materialistic school of thought, just such works as the committee tell us tney would themselves select, as well as many valuable works on metallurgy and history. The books are all well bound and in good condition, and we should think they must have cost over £500—in fact, we believe they did. The Institute also has received various other donations, among them being the head of one of the whales captured at the Thames, presented to them by Mr Spencer, who, we believe, gives a similar head to the Mechanics' Institute here.

Anew idea for a clieap trip to the home country has just .been successfully carried out by a, smart youth of our (Tuapeka Times') acquaintance. He, like many other young fellows, after residing in the province a few years/thought he would like a trip home to see his relatives, and having saved a little money, started away for old Scotia. Unluckily for him his friends in the meantime had started for New Zealand. So, after spending hia time as wpjl as he could in Auld^ Eeekie and elsewhere, he gut himself in communication with one of the 1/umer.pus immigration agents, and secured a free passage as a desirable immigrant, no doubt laughing in his sleeve at the easy manner in which he secured his return passage. If we mistake not, that young man will prosper.

In a leader the Mount Ida Chronicle says:—At the present time anyone who reads the correspondence carefully between the Crown Agents and the Colonial Government, must see that, in spite of all

sorts of vexatious obstructions offered by interested money agents, Sir Julius Vogel has done much better for New Zealand than could have been expected. It is now stated that as soon as Dr Featherstone can bo shelved Sir Julius is to succeed him. It is notiikely. We hardly fancy he is the sort of man to!:allow:himself in turn to be snubbed and controlled by those of inferior brains, who hate him:. .It is far more likely that Mr Macandrew" will be selected for the Home appointment. Certainly no one in new Zealand is so well qualified for the office, or has so honestly earned it. The Wairarapa Standard perpetrated the following joke :—" Sir Julius Vogel is compiling a new Handbook of New Zealand," writes our esteemed correspondent 'Philip Henry,' "which will be entitled ' The Gbeat Loan Land.' " As an evidence of " the signs of the Times," it may be mentioned, says the Clutha Leader, that at the nomination of Councillors and Auditors,, for the Municipality of Lawrence, only Good Templars were nominated for these offices, and the whole were elected without opposition.