AT THE CORNER.

Thames Star, Volume XVI, Issue 5107, 30 May 1885, Page 2

AT THE CORNER.

[by nemo.]

Homo sum, humani nildl a ins alienum.puto,

The sad calamity wfeieh recently happened in the harbor met with a touching comment last Sunday at St. George's, and it was then justly remarked that the people were deserving of every praise for the manly way in which search parties promptly offered their services at once to look for those missing, and that with a spontaneity and heartfulness which did them more than credit. It was a sad coincidence that in the Wellington harbor a similar accident, accompanied also, by the loss of four lives, should, nearly at the same time, take place. There, bowever, two of the bodies are still missing. On those found the Coroner decided that it was not necessary to hold an inquest; but we at the Thames are more tenacious of our privileges, and conventionally cling to them. It is only right and just that we should in the case of every death, uncertified—as to the cause—by a medical man, have an enquiry made, and use the time of our male adult population, on juries, ia conserving those customs we have so long known, and enabling the Coroner to thoroughly investigate the cause of death where the least suspicion of anything having happened, may exist—Just so.

That most genial of commanders, the Naval Captain, was, I daresay, only "cruel to be kind " when he, at the banquet given to It is men on Monday last" walked into " —gently it must be admitted—the Press, but did not, wily man that he was, give them a return fire. In the course of his good humoured remarks he very properly condemned anonymous attacks on those who were precluded by stringent regulations from replying to any charges levelled at them, and wound up by hoping that the " Fourth Estate " would help in making volunteering what it should be, and I hope it will. My experience of the Press as a whole—and I write as an old volunteeris that it has shewn a most decided in-

clination towards speeding that very use> ful force along, and the local press particularly has at limes inveighed against the iniquitous nature of the present regulations,as affecting this district at any rate. The Thames Companies have under mostdisadvantageous circumstances pulled through the discouraging effects attached to the carrying out of these regulations, and if any aid be required at any time from the Press in removing a grievance or remedying an evil, I think it will hardly require more calling upon to come to the front than would our blue or red coats were danger to threaten" us. X X X

It is to be sincerely hoped that the good work commenced by the recently formed Young Men's Society will bear plentiful fruit; the praiseworthy efforts mad 6to provide profitable and enjoyable employment during the spare evening hours of the youth of the place should meet with every encouragement, and the arrangements to be made should not be confined to gymnastics. Of course, it is well that the inducements offered should be rendered as attractive as possible, but there are many youths and young men not given to athletics who would gladly attend recreative meetings of other kinds, and others who would eagerly avail themselves of an opportunity of spending their evenings in educationally improving them« selves. It is, as a rule, injudicious in inaugurating any movement, to attempt to do too much; but I throw out these hints, and they may be taken by the management of this worthy Society for what they are worth. There cm be no doubt that their commencement in the matter of athletic exercises is a good one, as the benefits to the human frame arising fromsucu things are considerable.

XXX While on the subject of Athletics there is one thing that has struck me. A. large number of the rising generation here are debarred from indulging in the healthy outdoor daylight exercises which the place affords, such ai cricket, football, etc.—l refer to those engaged in the yari ova shops in the town. There is no doubt that the confinement attendant on their business rendwe it necessary, from a

point of health, that they should have their sedentary labors relieved by manly exercise in the open air, more than now seems practicable. In Napier, Nelson, and other towns in the colony, a half holiday is observed by all shopkeepers on Wednesday or Thursday in each week, and the einplov<s3of the various establishments are thus enabled to indulge in outdoor amusements, the same as those engaged in other occupations do every Saturday afternoon. Many draper's, grocer's and .other assistants are members of the various clubs here, but unfortunately for them only in name, as they have rarely if ever an opportunity of indulging in the games '.hey assist to support, owing to the inability to leave their business on Saturday afternoons. If timely notice were given by advertisements, (the expense of which I feel convinced theemployds would willingly bear), no inconvenience to the public would ensue—and I ara certain the trades* people would suffer no lost. This might be easily arranged.

The " Water Jacket Blast Furnace" method of smelting quartz, if successful, will cause a most tremendous revolution in mining operations, and a revival of this languishing field such as few persons can imagine. Dirt that is now thrown aside as worthless will be passed through the furnace, and perhaps be found payable, as all the minerals in the stone will be molted out by the present system.' It is estimated that sometimes nearly sixty per cent, of the gold escapes.

It is very desirable that the several football clubs here should adopt » distinctive uniform. This is one of the, features of the Auckland teams, and it would seem to be necessary, to avoid confusion and mistakes during a game, not only amongst the players bat with the ' onlookers. I hope oar lads will take this friendly hint, and obtain suitable "togs" at once. Our footballers played well on Monday against the Auckland team, but there was the old weak 'point—the passing of the ball was seldom done, and when attempted it was easily stopped by their active opponent s, who in that particular only excelled our boys. The play was exceedingly rough on both sides, and many ugly spills occurred, but, fortunately, beyond a few bruises, no harm was done to any of the contestants. The game was pluckily played throughout.

This is not by a Volunteer : — " With anger wild, and to a man Assured of victory they ran, Pursuing though no foe was seen, Pot ehots re echoing o'er the green Great deeds of valour done. Acrosfcically you here behold, Initials of four N&vals bold, And yet one more, but let it be," 'Tia the ioitial of instructor—GK..." The man who wrote the above has been placed under careful surveillance, the heavy fire on Monday last having affected his reason.

The review on Monday last evidenced the necessity for moro frequent exercise of our volunteers in field movements, this can never be done in a hall. Once a month at least the men, aye, and officers too, should be put through three hours smart drill, and no error passed over as they were on Monday for want of time. By the by why was the usual " charge " omitted from the programme P that movement is generallj done before the line breaks into column and the troops move off the ground.