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Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2082, 6 September 1875, Page 2

It is some time since we were called upon, to record anything in the way of " selling off " or " immense reductions " in the clothing department. . But we are now reminded that Messrs J. Cosgrave, and Co., are calling a sale of drapery and clothing at their establishments in Owen and Albertstreets. The stocks in these establishments embrace £20,000 worth of goods. Cheap drapery and winter clothing will now be the order of the day.—Advt.

Last night's down pour of rain brought about 70 loga to the Shortland Saw Mill booms.

A Wanganui paper chronicles the capture of a rare animal, in the shape of a black rat, which was caught on the premises of Messrs. Taylor and Watt, on the quay, the other morning. This species is indigenous to Few Zealand, but so far as Wanganui is concerned, was supposed to be extinct. The animal in question is peculiar for his predilection for dainties, in proof of which it may be stated that this remnant of its race had, previous to its capture, been indulging in a feed of pomade, which, judging by the quantity which had disappeared, it appeared to hare relished considerably..

We understand that Mr John Frater has resigned his position as a member of the Thames Stock and Share Association, in consequence 'ot, the action taken by another member of the Association re registration of share's* in the Gem Com-

The W.O.T. of the Northern Pioneer. Lodge No. 6, 1.0. G.T., particularly re-' quests a full attendance of the members of; that lodge afrtho Good Teniplars'Hall, Bolleston street, to-morrow evening, as business of importance-will be discussed.

Thk quarterly licensing meeting for the.dislrjcts : of.Thames aud.Haurakijwill, be held at the Shortlancl Court House at noon* to-morrow, when applications for new licenses, transfers,'renewals, &c:, will

At the usual fortnightly meeting of the. Central Board of Education he]d ' in' Wyndbam street, Auckland, on Wednesday last —present: His Worship the Mayor (in the chair), Col. Haulta:n, and Mr Lusk—the following business of local interest was transacted: —Waiotaih.— Letter informing the Board that the teacher had left Punga Flat school. The Board are of opinion that this school should be closed at the end of the quarter, as the children can attend other neighbouring schools. Kauwaeranga.—Respecting purchase of the site and payment of the purchase money? the Secretary was empowered to inform the committee that £150 is at any moment available on legal requirements being fulfilled. An application was also received* asking for a sum of £3 for shelves. All grants must be deferred for the present.

A somewhat better house collected at the Theatre Koyal on Saturday night to witness the entertainment provided by the Thornton troupe, and the audience showed themselves much more appreciative, the applause being frequent. Mr Thornton introduced a new feature in the aerial suspension feat in causing the young lady suspended to rotate while in a horizontal position. Mr Thornton himself did not touch her in any way as far as we could see, and we looked very closely, and yet the suspended one described a complete circle on the stage,, the rod which formed her only support being the centre of the circle. Mr Thornton announced that on Saturday next he will introduce fresh and surprising novelties in the trick, and also present to a Thames audience the far-famed burlesque of " Aladdin," which he intends to put on the stage in the best'possible manner, sparing no expense in his endeavours to please. If we couple with this announcement the skill Mr Thornton is known to possess as a scene painter we may look forward to the burlesque being performed in a thorough!/ satisfactory manner.

In to-day's paper we give the first instalment of a letter, from Paris on "Theatres, MuV.c and Fashion," the latter of which wil\ we believe, be acceptable to our lady readers. This letter will appear monthly, alternately will a letter on general topics from Paris. Our readers will therefore for the future have placed before them two letters from Paris and one. London letter, ''Home Gossip," in each month. Owing to the length of the Paris letter this month the portion devoted to music and fashions is excluded till to-morrow.

In this issue of the Star appears a letter from Geo. S. O'Halloran and Co., disclaiming all connection with the sale of what is reported to be a worthless watch chain. We think it would have b?en as well- if our contemporary had said who it was that sold the chain when mentioning the circumstances. We may state that it was Mr John Leydon, who makes no secret of it. He says tbat while selling some turkeys a man rushed into the room and asked him to sell a chain as he was hard up. Mr Leydon put up the chain and at once got an offer of ten shillings, which was rapidly increased up to the price at which it was knocked dowiv. Mr Leydou says the chain was offered without any reserve, but no attempt was made to mislead a3 to the: material of which it was composed. The wisdom of undertaking such a sale is questionable, but it is a matter between Mr Leydon and his customers. Perhaps the public will hear more of it. Meantime we have made this explanation as much in justice to Mr Leydon as to other auctioneers who would not perhaps care to hare their names associated with such a transaction, or even.to be suspected of it.

A singular and profitable discovery was made the other day by a widower in Ballarat. Some time ago, says the Courier, he took down his bed to make room for a children's party, and he found three sacks lying upon the framework of the bedstead. He subsequently used one of these sacks as " a hearthrug. Having become tired of living alone in the house, he sold it, and on Wednesday commenced to remove his furniture to another habitatation. The sack before the fire seemed very dusty, and the widower shook it, when to his surprise a half-sovereign fell to the ground. He gave another shake, and two more half-sovereigns rolled out. Determined to solve the mystery, he turned the sack inside out, and alighted upon a pocket-book. This he opened, and discovered three £1 notes in one pocket, and six £1 notes in another, making the sum of £10 10s. in all, which j the sack had so mysteriously disgorged. After reflecting over the matter the problem was solved. It seems his wife, | who had been dead some twelve months, was of a very thrifty disposition, and he therefore arrived at a correct conclusion, no doubt, that he had " sprung a plant" which his old partner had secreted shortly before her death. This was not the only " treasure trove," however, to which the widower had been indebted to his late better half. Shortly after her death he discovered that she had £375 deposited in the savings bank.