THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O' CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1875.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2149, 23 November 1875, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O' CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1875.

The following is the text of the petition now being signed, asking Sir George Grev to stand for the Thames :—" To Sir

George Grey, K.C.B. —We, the under- \ signed, electors of the Thames, request that you will allow us to place, you in nomination to represent the Thames Electoral District in the new Parliament of the Colony. We are assured from the great interest you have taken in our welfare, and in all matters specially affecting our district, and the vast experience you possess in the government of the country, that you wou^d do.honor to ourselves and to the district returning you as its representative. We know that in accepting this requisition you will be conferring a favor, but your presence in the Assembly as our representative is very desirable on many grounds, and we beg you will not decline to accept it. Should you do so, wo have no fear for your return.": The last part of this document seems a little obscure, or rather, we should say, not quite in accordance with the spirit of the other part of it. The wish of the framers seems to-be that Sir George Grey should stand for the Thames, and if so we presume they also wish him to be returned. It is true they do not say this, neither do they pledge themselves —after the manner of framers of documents similar to these—even to vote for him, but we take it that they will do so. The last sentence, however, does away with the whole of the salve which the soft sawder about "honor" and "favor" may be supposed to convey to Sir George Grey's feelings, for the sentence, if^ analysed, reads thus : Should you do so (i.e. decline to accept it), we have no fear for your return; Why, of course not, whoever could have any fear—or hope either, for the matter of that I—about1—about the return of a mau who declined to accept the office of "our representative? "

Theee was a short sitting of the Warden's Court this morning to hear two applications—one for a mining license and the other for a water right at Tararu. In the first case applicant was represented by a friend: in the latter there was no appearance. Both applications were, however, granted. The license was for theEldorado, Punga Flat; the water right was in Upper Tararu, near to the Agneß claim. • ■•. r-■■ ; - -■•■■■•■

The only business at the Besident Magistrate's Court this moruing was one charge of drunkenness; the offender not appearing forfeited his bail.

Major Cooper's 'monthly inspection of tlife Naval Brigade took place yesterday evening; there were present, Captain: Brassey, Lieuts. Gavin 'and-Bennett, and 'tfbqut 68 rank and file. 'i he menappeared armed with the long Snider rifles. For the first time for thclast six mouths, after inspection by the Major, Sergeant Major

Grant put the company through a little musketry drill, after which the company marched to Shortland, headed by their band, which enlivened the line of march with some new tunes which reflected credit on their instructor. We observe there is big gun and boat drill*called'for to-morrow afternoon, and no doubt if the weather be fine there will be the usual muster for such practice. ','■

At a meeting of the "joint .committees held last night at the Pacific Hotel the following stewards were appointed to carry out the races which are to take place at .Tararu and Parawai:—-Stewards for Tararu races fixed for December 28th— Messrs Stewart, Wilson, Darrow, Townsend, and Vaughan. For Parawai races on December. 29th --.Messrs Spencer, Gibbons, McCullough, Cook, and Wailnutt. Starter and handicapper for both meetings, Mr S. Young; clerk of the scales, Mr Kawden ; clerk of the,course and secretary, Mr P. J. Wardell; treasurerfor Parawai, Mr Spencer; forTararu, Mr Stewart. Captain Fraser is to be asked to act as judge. We believe that good prizes will be offered at each meeting, and though the exact amount of money to be offered, or the programme to be got through, has not, as far as we are aware, been definitely settled yet, we have heard that a £50 prize will form one feature of each day's sport, with a view to make the races as interesting and satisfactory as possible, by inducing owners of good horses to enter them.

Thebe was no performance of Mr de Lias's Theatrical Company yesterday evening at the A cademy of Music, owing to the non-arrival of the steamer Hauraki until much too late for any .performance to take place. The reason why the steamer was thus delayed we have not heard. It was advertised to start from Auckland at 10 o'clock, and had this start been made would have arrived at Grahamstown about 4 o'clock in ample scope for the company to enact the " Rose of Killarney" and the burlesque of",Lurline" as advertised. Prom some reason, however, the start was delayed until past one o'clock, which caused the steamer to arrive here at dead low water, to the great inconvenience of all who came down in her and all. who intended to go up by her, and the undoubted loss as well as iuconvenience of Mr DeLias. The stay of the company here, already sufficiently short, will be curtailed to five nights ; and, as we hear, we are to have several burlesques, in which the company particularly shine, we, in common with many others, much regret this curtailment of a Visit which we had been looking forward to. To-night the program mefadvertised for last night will be played, and will doubtless give much satisfaction.

A Pbovinctal Goveenment Gazette was published on Saturday. It contains a notification of the sale by auction on the 20fch December of Hospital Reserves, and a number of notices under the Highways Act. ■ - : ■ .- • .

We have received from the Government Printer a number of Parliamentary Papers, amongst them the'.following :— Immigration Statement; Civil tist Account for 1874—75; San Francisco Mail Service, further papers relative to; Further Reports from Officers of Native Districts. Native Reserves Account, TaranaH; Waiuku Crown Grants, interim report on; Nominal Roll of the Civil Service Establishment of New Zealand on the 30th June, 1875; Seventh Annual Report of the New Zealand Institute ; Proceedings of Select Committees on Public Accounts and Ohinemuri Miners' Rights.

The Bay of Plenty Times ; says:—Sir George Grey, Messrs Eowe '(Thames), and Maedonald (Poverty Bay), are spoken of as intending candidates for the representation of the East-Coast district in the next Parliament. These with those already declared, make seven candidates in all.

We are in receipt of Messrs J. H. Clough &Co's Station Produce Eeport and Price List -of November 3. Unfortunately the contents of this publication possess little interest for this district, pur flocks and herds being small, and the export of " stature produce " almost infinitesimal. From this Eeport we learn that from 7th October to November 1 (inclur sive) 30,933 bales of wool were shipped from Port Philip, and nine vessels loading, expected to sail "between the 3rd and 15th'November, would, carry 39,500 bales. The following are the quotations of the Melbourne grain and flour market: — Breadstuff's — Wheat: Very little coming forward. Prices are advancing, and 6s 9d is now readily obtainable for any small parcels offering. Flour—For good brands, sales at £13 7s 6d. Oats—Demand very sluggish. Quotations range from 3s 4<i to 3s 9d. Barley—Dull of sale. Inferior, 3s 9d to 4s 3d. Maize-—ls becoming firmer. Parcels have been quitted at 4s Bd. Bran —Is 6d to Is 7d per bushel. Pollard—ls 5d per bushel.

Mb James M'Henley, Anglo-Chinese linguist, writing to the Cooktowu Courier, gives the following reasons for the reluc'tance of the Chinese to bury the dead bodies of their countrymen. According to the laws of China,-when a man dies in the house of a stranger the proprietor is held responsible for his death, and if he has wealth in Ms possession, finds himself mulcted in a considerable sum of money, to be paid over to the relatives of tho deceased, for the loss they are supposed to have sustained through the death of their relative. No doubt the legislator who framed this law thought that he was creating a safeguard for the lives of men. Bui ifc has had an Opposite effect. When a man dies under the care of his relatives there is no notice taken thereof. But mark the opposite effects. When a man becomes sick among strangers he is taken out and left to die on the highway, which, being the property of the Government, compromises nobody. The law, as it stands, and is acted on, has stifled every feeling of humanity*—incredible to those unacquainted with the laws of China. But the evils do not stop here. When a man dies, the house by such becomes polluted^ aud to cleanse it from such is a piece of costly work.. The ghost and devils are expelled by a priest, who does the work by sprinkling the house with holy water and burning incense, afr the same time running through the house vociferating, with a naked sword in one: hand "(which he strikes the invisible devils with) and rope in the other hand (to bind them), and finally winds up the performance by plastering on. the walls some, charms written in enigmatical characters, to keep the devils from entering the house and doing the initiates harm, who could not otherwise have rested contented therein, until assured that the devils were kept out by these infallible preventives.

The cricket match for Saturday next will be one in which sides will be chosen from the members of the Club by Messrs H. S. Paul and Bell. With a view of inducing younger members to come forward and develop hidden talent no one will be allowed fo play who played on the side of the eleven against the twenty two in the first match of this season. Al. ■ thpse who are desirous of playing are requested to send in their names to the secretary not later than Thursday evening.

Mb D. Mclnttre yesterday pounded in a mortar a small quantity of stone from the bottom of the Pumping Association shaft and got a very good prospect from the residuum after washing. Two tests were made very . carefully, and the result is considered as a satisfactory proof of the presence of gold in the stone at the lowest level reached on this field.

Theee was much dissatisfaction expressed last night by the passengers who arrived by the Hauraki, at having been po long detained. The steamer was advertised to leave Auckland at 10 a.m: she left about 2. When she arrived off Grahamstown the tide was ; out, - and passengers were subjected to the tedious delay of landing in boats. Mr De Lias' theatrical company were uuable to play* having landed about 8.30; and we hear that Mr De Lias threatens the owners of the Hauraki with an action for damages for the delay which occurred, and which deprived him of one night's use of his expensive company. ■ \i^ j> ■■;-:- Mb Coppin (says the Australasian) has excelled himself in his management of the claini he. preferredron behalf, as,we were told, of Mrs Balfe, against Mdlle. de Murska, for singing the song " I that I dwelt." In the first instance Mr Coppin moderately claimed the whole of the proceeds of the entertainment at which the song was sung; Afterwards, when " legal proceedings" were instituted, the amount of the claim, by an effort of self-abnegation on Mr Coppin's part, was limited to £200. As the lady against whom the demand was preferred was quitting Melbourne for Sydney, she wished to escape the annoyance of iitigation, and therefore her agents were instructed to arrange the matter. Mr Coppin is a man of peace, easily arranged with if the right way be taken, and now we have tbe terms of the compromise effected. MdW de Murska is to pay a subscription to the' Australasian Drainatic and Musical (George Cop*pin's Glorification) Association of filOlOs. Mr Coppin's costs of action (particulars not given), £9 9s; and fee for singing "Dream Song," £2. This certainly seems a great deal for Mr Coppin, and very little for Mrs Balfe. As an example of the way in: which under one-pretext or another • black mail is levied \ on every/ distinguished artist that vists Melbourne, the case deserves all the prominence we can give it.

A strangk act of vandalism in Westminster Abbey has been discovered through the vigilance of a visitor. He was examining the recently erected marble monument to Franklin when he found that about an inch and a-half of the chief mast of the Erebus had been broken off. The vergers were^ of course, considerably sur-. prised when their attention was called to the matter, and at present they have no clue as to who could hare-committed such" a dastardly action. It is believed that the monument was sound the previous morning, since which time a large foreign party had visited the sacred edifice. Speaking of the abbey, it may be mentioned that the ex-Bishop of St. Davids, Dr Thirlwall, who was interred therein a few weeks since, was laid on the coffin of his brother historian of Greece, George Grote, and that at present there is only a small tablet with three short words in Welsh (" in living flowers ") to mark the last resting place of one of our greatest divines.