The Thames Star. Resurrexi. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1896. ELECTRICAL MOTIVE POWER ACT.

Thames Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8521, 27 November 1896, Page 2

The Thames Star. Resurrexi. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1896. ELECTRICAL MOTIVE POWER ACT.

Beiefly summed up, this measure reserves to ihe State the sole right to grant or retain any concessions for the generali >n of electricity as a motive power. The Governor in Council may, wh<n the fit seizes him, " from tima to lime" inquire into tha feasibility of utilising our water-ways to supply electric motive power for he goldfielcU ; and when these inquiries are concluded— a rather indefinite time—a report setting forth the result will be laid before Parliament. If Parliament grants the monpy, the Government will proceed to do som^thin:j; if Parliament wi'l grant nothing, the Government wil retire and make way for private enterprise. The gist of tbe Act is contained in the following sections : —

2. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any other Act, it is herehy declared that, from and after the coming into operation of this Act, it shall not be lawful for any looal authority to grant to any person any right or concession for the purpose of either generating or using electricity as a motiye-power without in. each instance the previous consent of the Governor by Order in Council gazetted.

3. Every right or concession granted in breach of this Act shall be void for all purposes.

4. (1.) The Governor in Council may from time to time cause such inquiries to ba made ac he thinks fit in order to ascertain the feasibility of utilising the waterways of the •olony for the purpose of supplying electrical motive-power lot use on the goldfields. (2.) A report setting forth, the result of such inquiries shall be laid before Parliament as soon as practicable after tho inquiries are concluded.

The appointment of Mr Ernest "White Cave, as clerk in the Magistrate's and Warden's Courts at Thames, is gazetted.

The firing for the District Belt by members of the Naval Artillery will take place at the Shortland Range to-morrow, the distances being 200, 300 and 500 yards, 7 shots at each image.

The firm of Messrs Gabriel Lewis, Auckland, has presented to the Rover CO. a very handsome silver cruet stand to the highest batting average for the season, and Mr Holden has again promised a gold medal for the best average in batting, all previous winners being barred.

Mb T. Beown, horse-breaker and trainer, notifies by advertisement that he is open to accept engagements. Orders may be left with Wilcox Bros., Pollen street.

At the S.M. Court to-day the following cases were called on:—Jas. Darrow and Jap. Baggott v. Haora Tarerauni, claim £63 — Adjourned by Court to December 11th; J. E. Hansen v. Teira, claim £3 Is 6d—Judgment for" plaintiff with costs 6s. Judgment summons: M. B. Wilson v. Teira, claim £4 10s—Ad)our:ved to December 11th.

Cheap china cups and saucers, beat whit* and gold, a lar^e line at 5s 6d and-6b 6d per dozen, best stone china 5a 3d dozen. All other crockery and glass equally cheap J2200 worth just landed direct from home Also a large line of best Sheffield cutlery direct shipment, selling very cheap. Knivea and forks from la per pair at W. Wood's Centra Cheap Stores—[Advt.J

We are sorry to record the death of Mr Richard Smith, of Sealey street, at the ripe age of 71 years. He arrived in Auckland in the brig " Gertrude" from Prince Edward Island (where he resided for nine years) in 1857. He then left tor the Great Barrier Island, where he built a number of vessels,, some of which are engaged in the coastal trade at the present time. He left the Great Barrier for the Thames, where he lived till his death, He leaves a widow and grown-up family of five, and it may be mentioned that it is just three weeks since he buried a daughter. His brother, the Rev. John Smith, was pastor at TeAwamutufor a number of years.

The usual statutory meetingof the Ohineinuri County Council was held at noon on Wednesday at Paeroa, for the election of Chairman and Trustees for the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. Mr H. P. Barry was again elected to the chair, this being his fourth term of office, and the other offices were filled as follows :—Hospital Trustees, Messrs Moore and Me Andrew; representative on Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards, Mr Moore; Deputy, Mr McAndrew.

Mr J. Lang has great pleasure in announcing to the Thames public that he has received a splendid variety of Men's, Women's, and Children's Tan Boots and Shoes of every description, of which he will exhibit in his window from" this evening the finest show of these goods ever seen on the Thames, and at prices to suit the times. Also other goods of every description and most*reasonable prices. White, brown, and black Canvas Shoes very cheap; Ladies' Leather Slippers, 2s 9d; Ladies' Walking Shoes, 5s 6d; Men's Bluchers, 4s 6d; Ladies' White Shoes, also Children's, very cheap. Don't forget to look at the window.—[Advt.]

Mr Edwin Edwakds and some friends, when driving out from the Thames to Kopu yesterday afternoon, had the misfortune to meet with an accident, their buggy being capsized. The ocoupants oame to the ground all in a heap, Mr Edwards being most unfortunate in the descent, but nevertheless he spoke with vigor for an hour and a half at Kopu, notwithstanding hi* injured leg. •"

The Warden's Court was occupied during the greater part of Thurs ay afternoon in hearing the case of James Hickey and Alfred Sawyer v. A. Wright and J. B. Biackie, plaint for a half share in the Union Bank licensed holding. Mr Inder appeared for complainants, and Mr Baume for defendants. After healing the evidence for complainants the Warden considered that their case had broken down, and dismissed it without prejudice with costs £8 6s 6d against complainants.

Dr. H. B. Drake, Portland, Oregon, says : —"I use Sander & Sons Pure Volatile Eucalypti Extract principally for diseases of the nasal cavity, throat and larnyx, and have found it very efficacious as a local application as well as an internal remedy. Since I became acquainted with this preparation I used no other form of Euoalyptus. as I think it by far"the best." Dr. J. M. Cormill, Kansas City, Kans , says :—"I use Sander. & Son-s Eucalypti Extract frequently as an antiseptic and for neuralgia and it has given me great satisfaction. Care his to b« exercised not to ba supplied with spurious preparations, as done by my supply druggist." — Insist getting Sander & Sons Eucalypti Extract, or else you will be supplied with worthless oils.—[Advt.]

We hare pleasure in acknowledging the receipt of a copy of Mr Alfred Saunders' "History of New Zealand," which has just been published by Messrs Whitcombe and Tombs, limited. The work is clearly pridted in good sized type, so that even readers having but poor eyesight can peruse it both with pleasure and with profit. It contains 455 pages, a complete and most handy index, and many illustrations of European and native men of note who took a leading pai't in the public affairs of the colony in its early days as a British possession. Of the author's style we can speak favorably, and the comprehensiveness of the information afforded demonstrates his thorough competence %> undertake the task of writing a history of the colony, and the patience lavished in the collection of the required data. Mr Saundera is well qualified to compile a history of New Zealand, as he has been a member of the House of Bepresentatives for many years—indeed is known as " the father of the New Zealand House of Commons"—and has been in close'touch with the leading Ministries who have controlled the destines of the colony since 1860. Every patriotic New Zealand colonist, who desires to read an unprejudiced history of the land of his adoption, and also those who first saw the light in this Brighter Britain, should procure a copy of Mr Saunders' work. It is well worthy of a position in any library, can b« read with interest, and possesses a tare merit —often absent from historical woiks—in that it is instructive but not wearisome, and scholarly without being pedantic.

Now that we have plenty of opposition on the Thames in most lines of business, it might be rather difficult for some to decide where to purchase, for one man cornea boasting of his financial position as if he could buy out Lombard (London) at one wholesale sweep, live on air, and supply tho Thames public with all they need gratis; another man may come pretending to be a philanthropist, studying only the pockets and welfare of the people. We have noticed some go and inspect and expresas their approval of enterprise, fine buildings, big rents, big salaries, and so on; but all would object to be obliged to pay for these things, and we were pleased to see how they wended their way to W. S. Wtlib's, who gives the best value for money all the year round—in fact, no matter what quotation is given for any line of drapery goods, W. S. Wylie will supply the cash buyer at the lowest price ruling,—[Apvt.]

Max O'ReII, again: "Ah ! how 1 remember admiring in the hot days of blue ribbolUm in England, that free Briton I once met who had a yellow ribbon in his button-hole. " What's that you have on ?" I said to him. "That's a yellow ribbon," he replied. "I belong to the yellow ribbon army." "Ah, and what isit the yellow ribbon army do?" I inquired. "What do we dd?" he said, " why we eat what we likes, wo drink what we likes, and we don't care a— — for anybody.'

In the New Zealand official year beok for 1895 it is stated on page 121 that 13 percent. •f the number ot inmates of the lunatic asylums in the colony, lest their mental balance through drink; 27 per cent, from hereditary influences and the balance from various other cases.

"That was a striking statement made by the wife of a painter named Peppett in Highgate Police Court, London. Here it is: —In reply to the Bench, the wife said she had been married 17 years, and on the average, her husband had beaten her three times a week. She was quite sure he assaulted her 52 times in a year, and she hoped the Justices would grant her a separation. The patience and long-Buffering of some women are, we know, proverbial, but this, we should imagine, beats the record. In addition to the Northern SS Company's steamers running at excursion rates to-day and to-morrow to Auckland, ihe Ten anora will leave at 10 oVock this evening for Auckland.

Johnson, Ohio, is th* paradise of. the cyclist. The Municipal Council is already dominated by a majority of the local league, and as a result most of its time is occupied iv seeing that ' justice is done' to bikers Street*watering was abolished 18 months ago, and for a year j all equestrians or drivers, on reaching the city boundary, have been compered to alight and lead tkeir horses within a space of 10 feet from the kerb, leaving the middle of the road to the omnipotent; cyclist Having settl d the vehicular traffic, the Johnson Council is, according to latest advices, devoting its attention to the regulation of pedestrians, and it is expected that befo c the year is oi.t no one will be allowed to 'cave the sidewalks except at stated intervals and when fortified by a passport issued by the league.