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Thames Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 8324, 15 April 1896, Page 2

TnEKE was a good attendance at the phonographic and vocal entertainment given in the Academy of Music last night- in aid of , the Brunnerton Relief Fund. Mr A. H. Whitehouse, the prime mover, had spared no ' pains to make the gathering a success, and is to he complimented on the success of his endeavors. His vocal efforts, and those of Messrs Jol uston and Woodward, gave every satisfaction, and the numerous and varied reproductions by the phonograph amply sustained the attention of the audience. After the performance, dancing was indulged in till a late hour, and it can truthfully bo said that one and all thoroughly enjoyed themselves. The following balance sheet in connection with the gathering has been submitted to us; —Receipts: Cash taken at doors, £14 8s; sale of tickets, £1 17s;' receipts from dance, 17s 9d ; total, £17 2s 9d. Expenditure: Bill posting, 10s ; accompanist for dance, 7s (sd; gas, 10s; advertising, etc., £2 10s; cariig and incidental expenses, £1 Is ; cheque paid over to Mayor, £12 4s 3d ; total £17 2s 9<l. The sum cf £12 ■is 3d is thus realised in aid of the fund.

Misses A. J. and E. InviNE intend holding a gaslight display of new goods for the coming season at their establishment to-morrow evening-

Titn Novella Dramatic and Comedy Company intend giving an entertainment in aid of the Brunnerton Relief Fund on the 27th insfc. We understand that the Academy of Music will be secured, and also the patronage of the various local bodies.

At the Police Court to-day, before Jas. Finlay, Esq., J.P., Samuel Quadri and a native named Tan were charged with threatening behavior in Grey street yesterday evening, whereby a breach of the peace was occasioned. Tau pleaded guilty, and Quadri not guilty. On the evidence of Constable Stapleton and a half-caste named Anderson, Quadri was adjudged guilty. Each was fined 5a and costs '2s.

The County Chairman (Mr T. A. Dunlop) desires to acknowledge the receipt of a donation of £5 from Mr i\ D. Haggard towards the Brunnerton relief fund.

The Secretary of the Thames Rugby Union to-day received a telegram from the Secretary of the Waimate Club, of Taranaki, requesting him to endeavor to arrange a match with a Thames team at the latter end of May. The telegram states that the Waimate Club is the champion team of Taranaki, and they intend playing a match with the Parnell Club in Auckland on the 2;>th May. The invitation will doubtless be accepted by one of our local clubs.

A meeting of the Management Committee of the Rugby Union will be held at the Salutation Hotel, Mary street, this evening, at 7.30 o'clock, when in all probability the date of the opening of the season will be fixed.

A special meeting of the Borough Council will be held this evening, when the matter of the Town Clerkship will be thoroughly considered.

P- Noebuby calls attention to the quality of goodß he is selling, reminding cash buyers they, will be liberally treated in all lines.— [Adyt.]

Owing to the increased activity the building line and consequently the demand for bricklayers, Mr F. Ladner, who has recently returned from Taranaki, has decided to commence business at the Thames as a bricklayer and plasterer, and announces in another column that he is prepared to receive orders for all kinds of brick work. Country orders addressed to F. Ladner, Mackay street, will receive prompt attention. At the Paeroa Police Court, William Waters was charged with raffling a horse at Karangahake, contrary to the Gaming and Lotteries Act. Constable Beattie stated that defendant had a horse that he wanted to dispose of, and he raffled it, at a certain number of tickets at a certain price. Mr Moss, who appeared for the defendant, asked for a nominal penalty to be inflicted, as the defendant was not aware that he was doing wrong. This was the first prosecution of the kind in the district. The Bench said it was necessary to call the attention of the public to the fact that for such an offence anyone was liable to a penalty not exceeding £200, and, for a second offence, to a like penalty and imprisonment for six months. The accused was fined Is and costs £3 7s 9d.

Few appear to realise the importance of the goldmining industry in New Zealand. We hear a great deal of our wool and frozen meat industries, but it should not be forgotten that the millions spent on railways have been practically spent in the interest of these industries, while the goldfields have received comparatively much less assistance in this important respect. For all that, the goldfields employ a much larger proportion of people—nearly double the number employed in the production of wool and coal. The figures are : Employed in gold production, 12,197 people; in wool production, 6,912 ; in coal production, 1,681. Only 'about 1,200 of the goldfields workers are employed in quartz mines, the balance being alluvial miners. It is unnecessary to point out that had assistance been given goldmining in anything like the same ratio as the other industries, the number of men employed would be much greater. Nor should it be forgotten that goldmining is far more advantageous for the colony, in that the aggregate earnings of the miners are considerably greater than those of the people engaged in any other industry in the colony. More than this: the money so earned is circulated at once in the colony, while the greater portion of the profits of wool and meat growing goes out of New Zealand, in the shape of interest, into the coffers of banks, money-lending institutions, absentee landowners, and foreign bondholders. Add to these facts that the goldfields population is invariably the best in respect of personal independence and self-reliance, and some idea can be gathered of the importance to the colony of her goldfields resources. The revival in the industry just now is in no smalldegree responsible for the general revival which is now such a theme of congratulation, and which must be gratifying to all patriotic colonists.—lnangahua Times.