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Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2104, 1 October 1875, Page 2

We would remind our readers that tonight is the night fixed on by Mr Severn on which to lecture for the benefit of the Miners' Accident Relief Fund. Apart from the desirability of the object, we should think that the subject which the lecturer has chosen, viz, Arctic Exploration, will be most interesting to ail; and we feel sure will be well treated by the lecturer. Mr Severn will use his new lantern for the occasion, and has obtained various accessories from England during the last week or two, which will doubtless tend to make the entertainment a success. A watch in actual working order shown upon a 12-foot screen should not be the least interesting of his experiments.

What is doubtless a novelty to many will take place at the Academy of Music on Saturday and Monday evenings in the shape of a performance given by Eugene and Madame Beda. Eugene Beda, who has but one leg, performs on the Bicycle and as a gymnast; while Madame Beda, who is a Maori, is both a gymnast and danseuse. "We have seen very favourable reports of the performance in the Canterbury, Wanganui and other papers.

On Wednesday evening last the usual quarterly election of officers of the Juvenile Court of Foresters, Court Pride of the Thames, was held, when the following were elected to fill the offices for the ensuing quarter -.—Chief Ranger, J. W. Poulgrain; Sub-Chief Banger, George Devey; Secretary, W.Henderson; Senior Woodward, J. Muir; Junior Woodward, F. Poulgrain; Senior Beadle, H. Henderson ; Junior Beadle, A. McNeil.

I/ETTEBS of naturalisation have been granted to Edwin Torrens Brissenden, gentleman. An unnecessary ceremony, as it seems to me. Quite superfluous, a work of merest supererogation. I have the authority of my esteemed friend Sir George Grey, if he will permit me to call him so, for saying that E.T. Brissenden, gentleman, did not want naturalisation at all. There is Parliamentary evidence that, as regards New Zealand, he was in many respects "to the manner born." I believe that not one of those who are supposed to know the way of doing things here could have surpassed the hitherto alien E. T. B. in managing land purchases. And that reminds me. Of the persons last gazetted as naturalised, only one describes his occupation as " gentleman." That one is E. T. Brissenden. But why gentleman ? I thought he was a lands purchase commissioner. Is it not gentlemanly to be a lands purchase commissioner ? Or is it^ impossible to be a lands' purchase commissioner and a gentleman at once. There were farmers gazetted, and mariners gazetted, and even, a laborer gazetted at the same time as Edwin Torrens Brissenden. Then, why not land purchase commissioners ? Do not let it be said in reply that he is no longer a lands purchase commissioner. That would, indeed, indicate an irreparable loss tc his adopted country.—-Intel-ligent Vagrant.

We received a telegram from the Press Agency at Auckland intimating that the fir>t number of somebody's Bradsbaw's Guide .has been published, and informing us of its contents. v We have no objection whatever to pay for legit'mate news, but we must decline to advertise anybody's literary ventures gratuitously, especially in those columns which we profess to devote to news. The Press Agent in Auckland would have had the satisfaction of paying for this message if we had been aware of its contents before signing for it.

Accobding to the Mount Alexander Mail, those gentlemen who have recently engaged the Rev. Charles Clark, the popular lecturer, do not appear to have profited by their venture. Our townsman, Mr liogers, the last of these speculators, lost money by Mr Clark in Castlemaine, and was equally unfortunate with him in Daylesford, where he lectured for the first time, giving the subject in which he is heard to most advantage, viz., the "Tower of London." Now that the novelty is over, twenty-five guineas a night would seem to be only payable to one individual.

The correspondent of the Australasian gays :—A curious instance of the impression which-Messrs Moody and Sankey produce on the minds of their hearers has just come to my knowledge. Some time ago a volume, entitled " Conversion Illustrated by Examples Becorded in the Bible," written by the Bey. Adolf Sapher, minister of a church at Notting-hill, and, I believe of the Presbyterian denomination, was published by Messrs Daldy, Isbister, and Co. To use the technical phrase, the book did not " move;" they " could do nothing with it," and it cumbered their warehouse shelves. Mr Spurgcon wrote a review of "Conversion, 1'

in " Sword and Trowel," in which he commended the work highly, but without any sensible effect on its sale. The author sent a copy of his work to Mr Moody, who spoke publicly of it in one of his sermons as the most excellent, spirit-stirring, and heart-searching production within his knowledge. The result of his recommendation lias been such a " rush "upon ihe book that the publishers cannot get it printed fast enough to supply the demand, and their premises are besieged by bookseller*' messengers and throngs of female candidates for the volume which has been rendered famous by the imprimatur of the great American revivalists.

Fbom a letter from Timor given in The Indicr, published in Batavia, the following is extracted, from which it will be seen that a German steam corvette will probably pay IS ew^ Zealand a visit on a scientific cruise :; —" On the 14th May, the German steam corvette Gazelle anchored in Kupang roadstead, of the probable arrival of which here notice had been received from ihe Netherlands India Government. This vessel is, under the command of Captain Schleinitz, to make a scientific voyage round the world. Leaving Germany in June last year, she stayed for more than four months near Kerguelen island (49 S. and 89 W.) where, in December, the transit of Venus was successfully observed, and the necessary soundings and investigations were made to ascertain the depth of the sea and the exact position, and geological structure of the same Island. Having departed from thence for Mauritius, the Gazelle went to Timor along the West Coast of Australia. The corvette remained in Kupang roadstead until the 26th May, whon she continued her voyage. She is to touch at several places on the Timoree© coast including Delhi, and to visit afterwards the Moluccas and New Guinea. From there she is to steer to New Zealand, to continue, about November next, her voyage round the world through Magellan Straits, and to return to Germany in June, 1876. Captain Schleinitz utilised his stay at Kupang by visiting a ; portion of th- interior of Tumor, accompanied by Studert, a zoologist, and several officers, during which geological and botanical rest-arches also took place. The neighbouring mud volcano of Pulu Kamhing, in Kamaun Straits, was examined, and photographs were taken of people of various tribes." [We notice by telegrams received to-day per s.s. Macgregor that the Gazelle has arrived at Brisbane and is coming on to Auckland.]

"At Mudgee," the Sydney Morning Herald states, " a man named Michael Dillon was found dead in the street. Dillon was one of those fortunates in the early days of the gold rush to Australia. He was a tailor in Melbourne, and sold out 20 years ago for £20,000. His death was caused by exposure and intemperance."