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Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2789, 22 January 1878, Page 2

Ik today's issue we publish tlie Lists of Subscriptions to the Indian Famine Belief Fund, with a balance shee<-, duly audited, showing the disposition of the same.* .■

It will be seen from the time table that the Enterprise No. 2 will leave Grahamstown for Auckland at 10 o'clock to-morrow morning. She has. been laid on from Auckland to-night, and will probably bring the English mail, and save the delay which must have occurred in its transmission had not the extra trip been arranged. - -,^

The ceremony of the installation of the officers of the Lodge Sir Walter Scott, S.C., for the ensuing term took place at the lodge;rooin, Owen street, last evening. There was a large attendance of members of the Lodge Sir Walter Scott, and also members of other lodges. The officers were then installed as follows by P.M. Bro. A. Brodie, Grand S.W., Bro. F. Whifaker, Provincial Grand Master, being unable to attend :—Ii.W.M., Bro. T. L. Murray j D.M., Bro. J. R. Lowe; S.W , Bro. "T. A. Dunlop ; J.W., Bro. G. McVey; Secretary, Bro. Kobt. Burra; J.D., Bro. J. Langford; 1.G., Bro. Geo. Kerr; Tyler, Bro. T. Bawdon ; Stewards, Bros. Angove, Schofield, Forgie and" McCormick. After the business was over, the brethren adjourned to the lower room, when a recherche collation was spread, which was done ample justice to. The customary loyal and fraternal toasts were then drunk, which brought a very enjoyable evening to a conclusion. Apologies for unavoidable absence were received from Bro. F. Whitaker, Provincial Grand Master, Bro. E. K. Tyler, Gr%nd Secretary, and from Bro. H. Brett, Provincial Grand Musical Director.

This morning witnessed one of the highest spring tides we have seen here for some time. In several places along the beach the flat ground for jards above high water mark was completely inundated. Some idea of its height may be guessed by the fact that the Beach road past the Academy of Music was under water, and the floor of the Pacific Hotel was ditto. If a strong westerly wind had been blowing, the lower portion of the Township would most certainly hare been flooded.

A memorandum from the Telegraph Department to-day informs us that communication on the Port Darwin lino has been restored.

Tns Sunday School anniversary of the Mackay street Primitivo Methodist body will be celebrated by a public tea, to be held in the chapel tins evening at halfpast six o'clock, nnd n public meeting thereafter, to be addressed by Ministers and friends. Tickets for the tea may be obtained at 1 - (scl each.

Ds Selws-n, of LitchGcld (says the European Mail) has had a boat built to go up and down the canals. It contains a chapel capable of holding fifty people, and his Lordship opened the campaign a few days since before a full con* gregation of bargees. This is taking a practical view of episcopal work, and is just what one would expect from a bishop who used to preach to the New Zealanders, not in lawn, but in his shirt sleeres.

Begulations under "The Mines Act, 1877," are published in the Gazette of January 10.

His Excellency the Governor has been pleased to appoint Captain William Griffin Stack, New Zealand Militia, to be Major. Date of commission, Ist January, 1878.

We have received NO3. 2, 3, 4, and 6 New Zealand Gazettes for the present year, and the Shipping and Seamen's Act, 1877, with Analysis of Statutes of New Zealand, 1877.

Afxeb a recent court case, a person commenting on the decision of the Bench was heard to remark, soito vote, " Well, that's what I call a bob's worth of justice, an' £2 12a 6d worth of law—sugared if I don't." "

We have received a copy of the Thirteenth Annual Iteport of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce. It contains, besides the report, a statement of accounts for the year, table showing value of imports and exports at the several provincial districts of New Zealand for the years 1875 and 1876; statement of customs revenue at several ports, and table showing revenue from all sources for years 1875 and 1876, with some other interesting matter.

At the annual meeting of the congregation of All Saints Church of England, Dunedin, it was resolved to substitute plates for bags in collecting the offertories, "on the ground that lollies, lozenges, and buttons, and every imaginable thing are put into the bags."

The New Zealand Gazette of January 10 contains a proclamation fixing first election of Governors, and appointing regulations 'therefor, of the Auckland College and Grammar School. The date of first election is 25th January instant.

Says the Herald:—There is a nice bit of scandal flying about on the Thames Gold fields Just now with reference to the recent letting of tributes in the—call it the Queen of Sheba mine. It appears that certain blocks of ground were left standing in the tipper levels, simply on the plea that they could not find time to crush them, because they had other blocks in the same level of a much richer quality. Time passed on and the mine was worked to a great depth, and with a partially reconstructed directory it was determined to let the upper blocks in question on tribute. Tenders were called for, ,and offers at 20 to 30 per cent, were sent in. It ia only natural to infer that the highest per centage would have been taken, provided the ten* derer was an eligible person. This, however, was not the case, and the tribute was given to the person who offered 20 per cent. The successful tenderer must be considered an eligible person, inasmuch as he was for a long time mine manager, and at the time the blocks were passed by. The unsuccessful tenderer, the 30 per cent. man,, deems himself an eligible person, and asks for a directors' meeting, so as to meet those gentlemen, and ask them why his tender was not accepted. As he is possessed of a little money, and within the last few days himself and friends have become possessed of a little stock in the company, he means to know the " reason why." 'j hat the matter will be pushed home there can be little doubt, as the 30 per cent, man is one of those individuals who want (o know, you know, and won't be satisfied until he does know.

At the conclusion of the criminal sittings of the Supreme Court in Dunedin on Jan. 11, His Honor asked what the Crown intended to do in Proud foot's case. Mr Haggitt replied that he had telegraphed to Wellington in reference to it on Tuesday, but had received no reply. His Honor said thai the sessions were net yet concluded, and they would be adjourned till Monday, so the case might still be tried at these sessions.