PUBLIC HALF-HOLIDAY.

Thames Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 8623, 30 March 1897, Page 2

PUBLIC HALF-HOLIDAY.

We would remind shopkeepers that they are compelled by law to close their establishments at noon to-mor-row. Section 10 of the "Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Act Amendment Act, 1895," is as follows: "Every day on which the election of the Licensing Committee takes place, or upon which the poll for local option under this Act is taken, shall be and be deemed to be a public holiday after mid-day, and such half-holiday shall be deemed to be a holiday within the meaning of the several statutes for the time being in force referring to public holidays; and, further, between the hours of 12 o'clock noon and 7 o'clock in the evening, it shall be unlawful to sell intoxicating liquors in any licensed premises." As shopkeepers will have to close at noon to-morrow, there will be no necessity for them to observe the statutory half-holiday under the Shops and Shop Assistants Act, on Thursday.

It is rumoured that the paddle stearaei Wakatere has been sold to the well-known steamship firm of Huddart Parker, and Co, and wijLbe removed from the AucklandThame^rrmnning. At a meeting of the committee of the Thames Amateur Athletic and Cycling Club, held last evening, the accounts in connection with the recent sports gathering were passed for payment. To-morrow evening the committee will meet to allot prizes. AijExandeh Febguson, whose sudden decease in Brown street was recorded yesterday, died of the bursting of a blood vessel. No inquest will be held. Captain W. Farquhar, of the Wakatere accompanied by Mr Laird, chief engineer, left Auckland for Sydney yesterday, ir order to' bring over the s,s. Bellinger re cantly purchased by the Northern S S. Co Captain A. Farquhar is in charge of th< Wakatere, Captain R. Gibbons of the Koto in jib ana, and Captain Smith (late chiei officer of the Wakatere) of the Obinemuri, The Secretary of the Foresters' Eastei sports (Mr Day) has received a wire from the Secretary of the N.Z.A.A, and C. Association granting permission to members of the local Amateur Club to compete in the sports on Easter Monday. None bui amateurs under the New Zealand Association can compete. Those who are in want of a waggon or a horse are reminded of the sale of Mr T. Bernard's stud, due notice of which can be seen I in our advertising columns.

What's in a name! "Observer" writ,es to the editor: —Why do the contending parties in the approaching licensing elections persistently sail under false colors, " Moderate " and " temperance" belong to the nomenclature of hypocrisy. Both the words —taking them in the adjectival form of "moderate" and "temperate"—signify a person or mind which takes a liberal view and does not go to extremes. As a matter of ; fact, the parties now contending are both —rightlj or wrongly—extremists ; they are ( Publican and Prohibitionist, Any other i names are misleading The many friends of Miss Sheedy. who was matron of the Thames Hospital a few years ago, will regret to hear of her death, which took places on tho 16th inst. at Stawell Hospital, Victoria, The deceased lady met with a bicycle accident on February 9th, being thrown from her bicycle while going down a hill, sustaining severe injuries to her head and arm. She lingered in great agony until the day of her death,notwithstanaing I all surgical skill and nursing Miss Sheedy ! was also well known at Wellington and Auckland, having served in the hospitals of those cities with credit to herself and to the profession to which she belonged. REFBEBiwa to the victory of United I. in the Auckland cricket championship, the I Herald remarks :—After a long run of bad luck, United have now achieved the proud honour of winning the senior Cup for 1896-7, and the win is a very popular one both among the players and onlookers. Since the inauguration of the Gup matches in 1885, United has only carried off first honours once —in 1887-B—and in 1892-3 tied with CJordon, the latter winning the play off. Of course the advent of Messrs Cutf and Labait has been responsible for the change of form shown by the club, and their aid has stimulated the other member* to a great extent, During the season the club has scored 1662 runs, and agaiust it the total runs scored were 1184. The Auckland Club, which takes second place, has also done exceedingly well during the season, and no small surprise has '. been expressed at the rather low scores put on at the last two matches. The following shows tho winners since the inception of the championship contests: 188.3 Gordon, 1886-7 Auckland, 1887-8 United, ISSB^9 Gordon, 1889-90 Gordon, 1890-91 Gordon, 1891-2 Auckland, 1892-3 Gordon (after a tie with United), 1893-4 Gordon (after a tie with Auckland and Pamell). 1894-5 . Parnell, | 1895-6 Auckland, Parnell, Gordon, 189G-7 i United.

Paris, March 29,