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Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2101, 28 September 1875, Page 2

A Tairtja correspondent writes in severe terms of the systematic way in which the Mining Inspector's instructions as to the number of men to be employed on each mining area are evaded, h e says that some are not worked at all; in others a manager and a boy represent the hands ; then in one area big enough for a model farm, where there has been a small tunnel put in, a couple of picks and a wheelbarrow at the mouth of the drive delude some passers by into the belief tbat "a shift " has just left offwovk. The names of a number of these companies .are'given, but it would be invidious to publish them, as the system of non-working is general. There is some excuse -too: Until the roads are improved machinery cannot be got up, and without machinery work would be thrown away on some of the mines. It is to be hoped that with the fine weather a better, state of things will take the place of the present inaction.

The monthly convocation of tbo JJoyal Arch Chapter (Abbotsford) will beheld in the Freemasons' Hall this evening at half past seven o'clock, for the election of officers, considering the question of celebrating the anniversary, and other important business. ••

We learn that the Inspector of Miners' Eights has laid informations against no less than eleven milkmen for depasturing cattle on the goldfield without being in possession of miners' rights or depastur ing licenses, the hearing of which cases will come on next week. We should not be at all surprised to find that this and the subsequent proceedings will necessitate a further rise in the price of milk of at least a penny a quart. Fancy eleven of the pure milk vendors bailed up in one day for breach of the law. Only one out of the eleven, we are informed, possessed even a miner's right.

The Eev. Mr Hill, on Sunday evening last, preached a sermon having special reference to .the death of Mr John McKee. One portion of the discourse was devoted to the uncertainty of human life, and in illustration of this the reverend gentleman referred to an incident in his own experience which was very apposite. He mentioned that while preaching a funeral sermon on the death of the Eev. Steward Wilson he had used the expression " Who next ? " On leaving the Baptist Chapel, in which the discourse was delivered, a hearer remarked to a friend, " We may well say ' Who next ?' " In less than a week, the rev. gentleman said, he followed the remains of that man to the cemetery: he was the next. This incident very naturally served to rivet the attention of the hearers. It was a powerful illustration of that phase of the fey. gentleman's subject which he discussed under the head of life's uacertainty.

We learn that a number of gentlemen have together subscribed a sum of money for the formation of a track from Shortland to Tairua by way of the Kauaeranga Valley. The money subscribed amounts to £15, and a person has entered into a coutract to complete the track so that a couple of pack horses shall be able to traverse the distance each with a twohundredweight load on his back. If this .should succeed it will be a powerful argument in favor of the Kauaeranga route over that selected.

We have received from the Government printer No. 16 New Zealand Parliamentary Debates, and a number of Parliamentary Papers.

By advertisement in another column ifc will be seen that the soiree in connection with the anniversary of the Graharnstovrn Wesleyan Sunday* School will be held this evening in the schoolroom. After the soiree the Rev. G. H. Ttirner will deliver his excellent lecture on " Making your mark." During the meeting several of the anniversary hymns will be sung. The Sunday services were very, successful, the Uev. G. H. Turner preached to large congregations, the collections were £16 16s 3d.

The inhabitants of the Thames will to-night have an opportunity of seeing a live spec'men of the far-famed Spelling Bee, which has winged its way to Auckland from America, and after being made the subject there of much controversy is to be exhibited to-night. We do not know the exact way in which the process of extracting its sting in the shape of hard or uncommon words will be accomplished, but we believe it will be carried on in some such way as we spoke of on Tuesday last,.viz , by having a pronouncer of words to test the candidates, and a judge with dictionaries before him to decide. The dictionaries to be used will be Ogilvie's and the Library Dictionary, the former being the now generally received authority in England, and. the latter, a yery copious one, founded on the labours of Johnson, Walker, Webster and Worcester. We mention this because some dissatisfaction was manifested at. Auckland that a dictionary was used (Ogilvie's), which was comparatively new to many of the candidates ; to-night any candidates will be considered as having spelt aright if the word be so spelt by any of the authorities we have referred to. We would draw attention to the fact that any candidates not understanding the word given to them may cause it to be repeated, and when two words are similarly pronounced but differently spelt may demand the sense of the word given. There is reason to believe that the original poetry competition will be successful, as we heard that a dozen pieces had already been sent in.