THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M Resurrexi. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1879.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3129, 27 February 1879, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M Resurrexi. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1879.

That this community deeply sympathises with the wives and families of the men who met their death in the Kaitangata coal mine is without question. As a mining community it has been more than once our sad lot to Buffer from accidents and calamities in connection with the working of our mines, though, fortunately, not to the extent the residents of the small township of Kaitangala, have . had to bear within the last few days.s In every case of suffering and distress this community has shown practically the extent of its sympathy, and in a case, the hardship of which can so readily be understood, its well known character for charity and consideration for the unfortunate should again be exemplified. That our prospects are not as bright as we could wish them to be, is patent to all, but times are not so bad, we are sure, but that upon an appeal being made on behalf of the poor and suffering, it would go unregarded. If the Mayor would take upon himself to call a public meeting, there is little doubt but many of our miners would take the matter up, and a very respectable amount might be subscribed towards the relief fund already inaugurated in Dunedin and the principal mining centres of Otago. At the meeting of the Borough Council the matter might well be introduced by the Mayor, and the opinion of his fellow Councillors obtained as to the best course to take under the circumstances.; With this suggestion we leave the subject for the present.

Me Bull, in charge of the Telegraph Department, has received a wire from the General Manager, suggesting that the Thames Department should contribute a small amount to the Kaitangata Belief Fund. It is intended to at least collect the sum of £100 out of the Telegraph Department of New Zealand.

We are glad to learn lhat three or four Thames residents have drawn horses in Abbot's sweep on the Dunedin Cup. Among the horses that have come here are Chancellor, Fishhook and Cloth of Gold. About £20 was spent bj Thames people in I his sweep. Mr Lawless' sweep was drawn last evening.

The Railway Reclamation contractors are making good progress; besides the tracks they have several drays at work.

The Bank of New Zealand has subscribed £100 to the relief of the bereaved wives and children of the victims of the Kaitangata disaster.

A foot race, between Brown, of Mercury Bay, and McNeill, came off al'Coro* mandel on Tuesday, the former winning easily; Brown staked £90 against MoNeill's £60,

The provincial district of Otago will be represented by 16 shootists at the meeting of the N. Z. Rifle Association. Captain Wilson and Private J. Wilcocks are amongst the number.

The Herald says that put of the.ll lots of the Waihoii Survey District, Thames River, offered at the waste lands sale on Tuesday last, only two were sold: Lot 4, block 11, 87a. Ir. 22p., upset price £87 10s, bought by Mr Moore, Thames ; lot 5, block 12, 102 a. lr. 23p:, upset price £102 10s, was also bought by Mr Moore for the sum of £209.

The high opinion held by many persons of the yalue of the Puriri spring water as a medicinal beverage is fully endorsed by all chetnists who have analysed it. During the late visit of Dr Hector and Professor Ulrich to the Thames they went as far as Puriri at the invitation of the Mayor aud County Chairman to see the place from whence the water was obtained. Mr Kelly, the proprietor, explained to his visitors the means he had taken to place the water upon the market, and spoke of the liberal support he had received from Thames ard Auckland public. Dr Hector suggested some improvements in the course of treatment, and expressed an opinion that if the qualities of the water were known to the Australian public a large demand might be expected for it. To bring about such a demand Dr Hector suggested to Mr Kelly to take means to have some of the water sent to the Sydney Exhibition, and stated that His Worship the Mayor, in conjunction-with other local bodies, would be asked to form a local committee in connection with the^ central committee for New Zealand, established in Wellington. All exhibits should be sent to the local corn* mittee, and which would be ,by them forwarded, free o£ ekpenSe, |to> Weilington, where charge* would be taken of them by the central committee. Advantage of such an arrangement should be taken by other persons having products or gootfs which they wish to be exhibited, as well as by Messrs Kelly and Fraser, of the Puriri Springs mineral water supply. We shall be pleased to find that the high opinioij-bf Dr Hector of the water and his anticipations are borne out by the favor the water will receive at the hands of the judge 3 of the Sydney Exhibition.

The Herald says:—We are informed that the tender of Mr Jones, of Auckland, formerly of the firm of Jones and Ware, is the lowest for the construction of the railway between Whangarei and Kamo. The amount has not yet transpired, as the necessary documents, bonds, Ac, have not been signed, but we understand Mr Jones has received official intimation that his tender is the lowest.

In reply to the telegram from the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the High School to the s Government asking that the land promised under' the' Act of last Session should be granted to the Board, Sir George Grey stated that every possible means were being taken to have the Aroha lands surveyed, and when such work was completed the endowment would be placed at the disposal of the Board. The Chairmanknowing it might be several months before the Board could deal with the land, and the urgent necessity there was to have a High School established on the Thames, asked Sir .G. Grey 'if the Government under the circumstances would grant an advance of money as against the endowments, to enable the Board to at once make the preliminary arrangements for. opening the school, and yesterday stfterriooh:-received the following reply:—" Wellington, February 26.—Wm. McCullough, Esq., Chairman High School Board, Thames.->-I- regret that on inquiry I find that the Government have no power in any way to give effect to your wishes that they should make an advance upon security of endowments.— G. Gbey."; - i.'.; I'"- tJv' ■■■■■

There has been some talk lately of the scarcity of timber for railway sleepers, and it has been suggested that heart of kauri would do very well. It is, however, a well known fact that when kauri is partly embedded in the ground and partly above the surface, it rots very rapidly, which might be adduced as a fatal argument against the use of kauri sleepers. However, good heart of kauri, when buried completely below .ground, will stand a; long time. "Thel r other day we noticed some kauri bed logl from the Manukau battery, which have been in the ground eight years, being cut up at the Moanatairi battery. The edges of the timber were as square, and the wood as sound, as when the battery was built. Notwithstanding that, from the fact above mentioned we do not believe that kauri is the most suitable wood for railway sleepers.

" MociEß " writes :—A somewhat eccentric but thoroughly candid clergyman who officiates oh the Darling had on one Sunday lately a very sparse congregation. The weather was 3corching, and the usual church frequenters live at long distances apart. He went through the ritual; but when the time came for the sermon he said—"My friends, I have prepared a discourse to which I have devoted much mental energy, but it is really not worth while delivering it to so few. Besides, as I look around me, I doubt whether you would all understand or appreciate. We will now proceed with the hymn and benediction."

A telegram to the Herald says :• — There, is considerable activity in the betting market to day, and horses in most favour were backed at considerable sums. As a consequence, Chancellor, Fish-hook, Titania, Camballo, and others were accorded support. Templetou receded a point or two, and was backed for £800 at about 7 to 1. Fish-hook is now quoted at 100 to 14 Titania is firm at about the same price. Camballo finds plenty of friends at 100 to 12. Mata is still under a cloud—loo to 10 offered against him without a response.

Pastob Chiniquy, the ex-priest who created some excitement in Sydney by his lectures, preached for the first time in Melbourne on Sunday afternoon. The meeting was to have taken place at the Assembly Hall, but such a great crowd had collected in anticipation of hearing some startling disclosures of Mr Chiuiquy's alleged ill-treatment at the hands of the Canadian Roman Catholics that the accommodation was altogether inadequate. The Rev. Charles Strong was therefore appealed to, to permit

the use of the Scots' Church for the meeting, and this he agreed to do on condition of it being promised that the gathering should be ,an orderly . one. There was a great disappointment in store for those who attended in the expectation of hearing sensational revelations, as the preacher's sermon was a purely religious one, and had no reference to sectarianism. Mr Chiniquy is an old man who speaks English fluently, but with a strong Dutch accent, and apart from the attacks he makes on the Koman Catholics his preaching would not attract much attention .—Australasian.

A telegram to the Herald says :—The bodies of a number of still-born children have been found buried in the footpaths and graves in the Timaru cemetery, and have been placed there by stealth during the night-time. Inquiries are being instituted into the matter.

" JEgles " says :—One of the most generous fellows in this or any other country, although fond of sport, never makes wagers. Some time ago he bought a flat racer jointly with a friend who does pile the dollars on when he likes the prospect of a win. The other day, at Geelong the joint- account horse ran the winner to a nose, and the betting owner having failed to land a large stake, was just a little disappointed, not only for himself but for ; his co-owner (who had joined in the purchase at his instigation). Coming up to his friend, he began—" Very sorry, old fellow—quitedisappoihted." " What for? " said the bland person addressed, calmly rubbing his hands, " the horse came very near winning, and we've got second money—£2o." He was perfectly happy.