THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DFAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16, 1880.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3579, 16 June 1880, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DFAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16, 1880.

Fhom our telegraphic despAtclies to-day, it appears that New Zealand electors ia some districts are b coming more and more like the political voters in the low districts of large cities at home. Messrs Head and Jones, addressing the electors of Oamaru last evening, were treated to an ovation in the shape of eggs and flour balls. This kind of treatment has one recommendation, that it is sure to enforce retirement from the public rostrum, as

few politicians have strength of mind enough to endure the fire of such undesirable and glutinous missiles. In the after part of the telegram we learn that it was the work of larrikins, and we are glad this was the case, as it would not speak well of Oamaru to say that its inhabitants had no stronger arguments than rotten eggs and flour balls. The proceedings throughout are characterised as being disgraceful and the meeting broke up in the uttermost disorder. We sincerely recommend the denizens of fair Oamaru to control their feelings, or we shall have a repetition of the affray immortalised by Thackeray in his celebrated poem " Shannon Shore "—a result not to be wished for we should imagine by the order-loving community of Oamaru.

A canvass of the hotels took place yesterday for the purpose of collecting money to defray Mr Stephenson's expenses to Wellington. About £20 was collected, a farther sum of £5 is anticipated from the Ohinemuri hotel proprietors. In choosing Mr Stephenson as their delegate, the Licensed Victuallers have exercised a wise discretion, and we hare no doubt that he will make an important member of the delegacy appointed to interview the House of with a view of securing the alteration or abolition of the proposed impost on beer.. The Licensed Victuallers are a strong body, and it will be remembered that on the last occasion, when, a tax was proposed, their strength outweighed the ergent arguments of the Grey Government, and was successful in repealing the proposed tax.

Great dissatisfaction is felt at the mess in which the Borough finances have fallen, and we hear on good authority that many of the individuals who now form the Council will find considerable difficulty in obtaining re-election to that august body. Indeed public opinion prophesies an entire re-organisation of the Council— and many members who consider themselves fixtures will have to canvass hard to maintain their position as Councillors of the Borough of Thames.

His Worship the Mayor (L. Ehrenfried, Esq.) and Major Murray paid a visit to the Kauaeranga Girls' School yesterday, and were shown through the several class-rooms by Miss Hazelden. Mr Ehrenfried expressed his gratification at the decorum and order observable throughout the different departments. The two gentlemen stayed to witness two of the senior classes take part in calisthenic and deportment exercises under the drillinstructor, »nd testified to the gracefulness and ease with which the young ladies acquitted themselves.

The Property Tax appears to have vevy few friends, and indeed is only supported by those people of questionable virtues who wish all the harden of taxation to press heavily on the poor man. It is a most 'nquitom impost, and is moreover, as it at present stands, an unwarrantably inquisitive one, as if can led into effect it would be open to all sorts of abuse on (he part of the collector. That individup'., had he reason to suspect that effects had been withheld from the inventory would by this enlightened measure be enabled to pry into the most serious matters of the taxpayer. A truly wise act to allow of such predicament! possible! From the poker and tongues to the drawing room clock—everything taxed— glorious prospect! We sincerely hope the Government will not really enforce it, as their chances of remaining in power would fast decrease, as public indignation would demand the removal of such doubtful representatives.

It was the opinion of many people that the Commission who took evidence re the Thames Valley Railway were not sufficiently compo s mentis to satisfactorily conduct its business. Two,gentlemen were present. It is said the one, while the evidence was being taken, lay back in his arm chair and commenced to read a big volume—whether it was a production of Bulwer Lytton, Dickens, or a collection of New Zealand statutes we do not know, but the amount of attention paid by him to the proceedings w«s mighty little. His colleague was also in a happy frutno of mind as if unlimited quantities of P.B. had put him in a good humor. This one horse system, as Mr Sheehan remarked, is as nonsensical as it is useless.

The Kinking Club is a great success. Nearly 70 members hare joined the army who

execute pleasing manoeuvres on the ro'ler skates every Tuesday evening. It is the most successful attempt that has eventuated oa the Thames for some time, to cause a meeting of people in quest of Amusement, and seems likely to dismember the various cliques which are at present too numerous for a friendly feeling to show itself amongst a'l classes of the community.

Ambeting of the Provincia' Graad Lcflge, 1.C., will be held this evening. The R.W.D.G.M. Brother Pierce, and other ofliee^yjf the Grand Lodge have come down to atteffiri

Thkbe were only two cases at the R.M. Court this morning, both of drunkenness. The unfortunates were both discharged with a caution, His Worship (H. Kentick, Esq.) expressing a hope that they would amend their intemperate habits.

The natives at Maketu and Mr Robertson, the popular proprietor of the Telegraph Hotel there, do uot teem to be getting on very harmoniously together. Toe ai fcitudo of some of the natives has been anything but pacific towards Mr Robertson, and fe*rs are entertained that unless restrained by the presence of the police they may commit some lawless act, Constable D&voren has accordingly been despatched to Maketu to preserve the peace. We (Bay of Plenty Times) understand that through a piece of red-tapeisni, worthy only of the great ciroumlocation office, the Armed Constabulary have been prevented from starting with the formation of the Te Puke Road. From what we can gather the men are most anxious to leave the town, and it id much to be regretted that so much valuable time should be lost in trifling disputes amongst Government officials. We hope in the course of a few dnys to hear that this difficulty lus been removed, and that tin work of forming this road, which is so urgently needed, is to be pushed ahead. The Municipal Corporations Act Amendment Bill, introduced by Mr Hutchison, the member for Wellington, provides for the following matters :—Subdivision of boroughs and wards; keeping separate banking accounts for special fund; defining the duties and powers of Inspector of Nuisances ; declaring private streets public ; dealing with private tends,- making additional by-laws regarding

the eale of meat and provisions, inspection of lodging-houses, the prevention of Sunday traffic, and oare of hedges. Among the miscellaneous provisions it enacts thai " each burgess shall have one vote and no more," repealing section 39 of the present Act; also, that Corporations may have more than one bank, and rtay dispose of leases by tender instead of by auction

At last the benighted inhabitants of the Thames are to be rewarded for their patient and weary waiting for something relaxing and amusing. As will be seen from our advertising columns the Steele Dramatic Company will shortly perform at the Academy of Mubic. We have no doubt they will be well patronised, as the dulness that has prevailed on the Thames for some time has become well nigh unbearable, and a dramatic performance by a good company should prove a good ""draw." Tbe following well-known actors will appear:—Mr J. B. Steele, J. O'Brien, E. H. Hay gar tli, Messrs Walter Reynolds, A. Thomson, J. A. Patterson, Neighbour J. A. Patterson, Douglas, who will appear for the first time; Misses Btophenson, Wilton, Hathaway (from the Theatre Royal, Melbourne), Miss Duke, Miss Hudson, &c. With such talent at command, an excellent enter* tainment may be anticipated.

Thx telegrams sent to Thames and the rest of the Colony are Biipposed (o be secret from the general public, -and the exigencies of business often demand the strictest silence on the part of officials. A telegram sent lately from the Thames vrcs exempt from this silenc, inasmuch as that its purport was communicated to half the town by a somewhat verbose official. Secrecy should always be observed when connected with wires, as the exposure of their contents often lead to unpleasant consequences.

The revenue will receive a handsome addition by the beer tax. According to the last returns the revenue derived fr^m the duty on English bottled beer was for the year, in round numbers £24,000, and on English beer in bulk £7800. The duty has now been reised one-third, so that, if the same consumption continues, an increase of revenue will be gained of £10,603. When Mr Ballance put a tnx of 3d per gallon on colonial beer, it was estimated to bring in an income of £40,000. The present tax is 6d per gallon. The total revenue may now be fairly estimated at £122,400.

The Christchurch Press gays:—" We are given to understand that two gentlemen are now in Christchurch making arrangements for the purchase of the necessary plant for the distillation of acetic acid. One of the »en« tlemen in question is the owner of a consider* able tract of bush land in the Peninsula, in the clearing of which large quantities of timber will have to be heaped and burnt at considerable cost. If,' therefore, this timber, hitherto cleared at great expense, can be distilled in the mrnner stated, a greatly enhanced value will be attached to bush lane), as it ia computed that one cord of wood will produce 36 gallons of acetic acid, worth :n England Is Id per gallon.

"LoiTEB" in the' Press says:—Some few days ago the conversation turned, and an establishment (not an hotel) where most men are upon equal terms, on the unsatisfactory salaries paid here to the ministers of th« Church of England and the difficulty, particularly in country parishes, of raising the stipend. A minister of that persuasion who happened to be present said he could quite believe it, but a long experience of such matters hud taught him one way out of the difficu'ty. " I always nominate," he eaid, " the parish butcher for my churchwarden, and arrange matters so that the storekeeper—always more or less up country a reliable and weighty personage—shall be the parishioner's warden. These gentlemen are naturally ray p.incipal creditors, and you see for their own in* jrest they naturally see my stipend is paid regulcrly, and invariably advocate my little interests at vestry meet* ings." I have always thought the parable of the unjust steward contemned a great moral and without wishing to institute a comparison between that party and the reverend gentleman whose experiences I have taken the liberty of quoting, I must confess I think the minister displayed considerable astutsness in a good cause, t ad I make a present of the idea to those similarly situated with a great de»' of pleasi; >c.

Priok to the transit of Yeans in 1874, Professor Severn smoked any amount of glass to observe her with. Things have changed since those primitive days. At Professor McLiver's divan you can now smoke Venus herself, raise clouds, and etill make your observations without trouble. Bay McLivor's specially imported Venus at 6d and Is per ctick.

When taking your Saturday night't promenade don't forget to call at MbabS & Co.'s, where you have the largest, best, and most complete stock of groceries on the Thames to choose from.

We have no desire to mike invidious distinctions, bat simply state the fact that the loaf now being manufactured at the establishment of Mr B. T. Douglas (lute Douglas and Co.), is of a very superior description. Biscuits of every variety, also cake &c, &c, of a really Al class.