The Thames Star. Resurrexi. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1898. Notes and Comments.

Thames Star, Volume XXX, Issue 8981, 1 February 1898, Page 2

The Thames Star. Resurrexi. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1898. Notes and Comments.

The Elysium of the unfortunate debtor dunned by the importuning debt-collector is the Raratongan Islands. In these happy isles the debt-collector is unknown, for the simple reason that the people there are entirely ignorant of any proper system of debt recovery. There is no Court of Justice to which the debtor can be dragged for failure to pay; there are no lawyers, not one—to bully and bewilder him into damaging admissions ; and there is not even a gaol to send him to for failing to comply with the order of the c^urt if the court did not happen to exist. Judgeship among the chiefs is a sort of hereditary affair. If a native offends against the law he is hauled before a judge— they are plentiful enough andiho is fined. If he doesn't pay the fine it is taken out in work. The Judge generally hopes he won't | pay the fine, for if he doesn't he can send hiit to hoe his yam patch, or prune his banana grove, or climb cocoanut palms for the nuts, or do the week's washing, or anything elee that strikes him as requiring attention. Down Raratonga way a judge does not require to employ much labour. ♦■* . * *

A recont report issued by the Board oi Trade (says the Army and Navy Gazette) should dispel the impression that our colonies contribute nothing towards the maintenance of the Navy. That they might contribute far more is not to be denied, but the facts to hand are of interest. The-total naval expenditure for the United Kingdom in 189(5-96 was £21,264,377, of which sum £721,099 was expenditure under the Naval Works Act. The naval expenditure of India was £312,844, including a contribution of £117,000 for her Majesty's ships in Indian waters and £59,000 for'her Majesty's ships and vessels for the naval defence of India, whilst the balance was spent upon the Indian Marine. It is mentioned in this report that the contribution of of the Indian Government ha? been fixed at £100,000 a year until 1901. The Australian colonies contributed £126,000 to the Admiralty, the money being levied as follows:— New South Wales £37,961, Victoria £30,406, South Australia .£10,690, Western Australia £2490, Tasmania £4776. New Zealand £20,813, and Queensland £13,303. This contribution is apportioned on the barts of population, but each colony upends an iiddi*' tional Bum on its own immediate defence scheme.

The following Auckland and Thames candidates have qualified for matriculation on the Junior Scholarship papers:—James GWilson, O. W. -H. Sinclair, R. M. V. Abbot, Ethel B. Caddy, Vara 0. Adams, Millicent M. Hodge. J, B. Wbst and Co. will sell to»morrow afternoon at the Parawai saleyarda a newly calved cow guaranteed sound and quiet, and a good average milker. Judgment was to have been given yesterday in the Auckland Magistrate's Court in Ohlsen v. Barron, but on tbe case being called Dr. Laishley said that since the Court adjourned on Friday, he had come across a case bearing on the questions involved in this later than those quoted in the text books, whioh it was desirable that His Worship should see before giving judgment. It whs a judgment by the Full Court, in Victoria in 1890, Malone v. Ivey, reported in 16 Victorian law reports, page 192, and the latest case on the subject. Mr Theo Cooper claimed tho. privilege of having a, note of any cases he: wished considered. The Magistrate remarked that of course it was desirable that all possible information should be obtained in order that his judgment might be correct,- and agreed to receive a note of cases on either, fide from counsel. Aooord'xigly judgment was deferred till Thursday next. s

Mb S...Dukham:, Inspector of Meat and Dairies, who was admitted to the Hospital a few days ago suffering from carbuncles, is in a precarious condition, and. no hope is entertained of his recovery. : A weasel was caught in Sandes Street last evening, near the KauaeraDga Girls' Sohool.

, Thb wheat crop in the Waikato thi> year is expected to prove an excellent one. In many cases 30 to 40 bushels per acre are expected. Thb oat crop is also expected to be a heavy one. Our Auokiand co-respondent writes:—On ' Sunday morning at St. Benedict's Roman Catholic Church, His Lordship Bishop Lenihan addressed a crowded congregation' on the subject of the education of children, j and a special collection was made in aid of the new school in course of construction adjoining. Haydn's " Imperial Mass" was performed by a full choir, and an orchestra of twenty-three instrumentalists under the> direction of Mr Percy Kehoe, of the Bland Holt Company. The musical portion of the service was exceedingly fine.

IN accordance with the usual _ custom 01 j clearing out the balance of summer goods, Geo, Cullen arid"Oo., drapers, of Pollen and Cochrane streets, have commenced their sale,; and all goods hare been reduced to a nominal figure*. ] Mb J. A, AaNBW, late manager of the' Victoria mine, left Auckland last evening by the Waihora en route to Western Australia, i Colonel Pom-Pbnton, Commander of the New Zealand forces, left Auckland for Wellington yesterday afternoon, ' j

A meeting of employees arid assistants . will be held in the Miners' Union Hall this | evening at 8 o'clock to consider the matter . of joining the Auckland trades in celebrat- : ing a half-holiday movement. I Ah accident is reported from Morrinsyille ' by which a young lady named Russell, Bister of Mrs McDonald, who resides in that neighborhood, met with somewhat severe injuries through being thrown from her pony. It appears that while she was riding towards the station, her pony commenced ' braking,' with the result that the pommel of the saddle gave way, and she was violently thrown, her ankle being severely injured. ■ She was at once conveyed to Dr Gilbert Smith, at Te

Aroha, who attended to her hurts. MaconocMe's English Pieties known as the " Suffolk," are a splendid Fickle, pre< pared in Pure Malt Vinegar. They;' are tree from all injurious irritant?, and may be relied upon for quality. \ At the last meeting of the Waihi School of Mines Committee the following donations were reported: N.Z. Warehousemen's As-

and.D. JRenshaw 108. The Secretary was instructed to apply to County Council for a grant of JE2S. It was reported that the Minister for Mines was prepared to recommend a grant of £100 towards Instructor's

salary, and £1 for £1 for purchase of additional chemicals, theodolite, and other apparatus, and it was resolved to apply for these grants'. The Secretary was instructed to write a letter of condolence to the widow of the late Mr E. M. Corbett. About 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon a four wheeler, owned by Mr T. Maher, of Tararu, and driven by yuung Maher, broke down in front of the Public Library, through the back axle snapping. There were two female passengers in the 'bus at the time, but both escaped without any injury. The driver was thrown oft' his seat through the sudden

few yards, but escaped .with a slight shaking- j Inspect the bargains in Table Linens,' Sheetings, Calicoes, Flannels, and Blankets at Cullen's Sale for 14 days only. - fAdvt.] First-class Full Cream Cheese from. Waiioa now on sale at J Loughlin's. — ! f Vn-trr. Ottb Auckland correspondent writes: ~ I On Saturday evening at the Metropolitan Hotel, Mr W. C. Hunter, traveller for Messrs Archibald Clark and Sons, soft I goods warehousemen, who is popularly known at the Thamos, was tendered a | farewell smoke concert by his tellow- ( travellers and personal friends, on the eve

of his departure for England. Mr C. 8. Western presided, and about 60 others tesides the guest of the evening were present. The health of Mr Hunter was proposed by Mr W. J. Bees, accountant at Messrs 'lark and Sons', and Mr Bees referred to_ the good fellowship that had always existed between Mr Hunter, his brother commercials, and bis many friends, and eulogised his geniality and his straightforward business /principles. He assured Mr Hunter that they took leave of him with the deepest regret, and said that though absent the kindly relations that existed would remain long in tlje memories, of his old colleagues. Mr Rees then handed Mr Hunter fihandsompn MiltninafnH aWrireaa

and Mr Hunter made a suitable response, I saying he should never forget the many j kindnesses that had been shown him by his j employers, his brother commercials and' frieuds, nor the pleasant years he had spent in Auckland. Vocal and instrumental items were contributed by Messrs Matsey, Brownhill, Bellhouse, D. Grattau, W. C. Hunter, A. T. Hookeo, Longdill and A. Wright, Mr Alf, Bartley acting as accompanist. Daring .the evening reference was made to the death of the late Mr J. | McOosh Clark, for many years senior and i managing partner of the firm of Archibald Clark and Sons, and it was decided to send : a letter of condolence to Mrs Clark. I

The tickets in connection with the benefit performance in aid of Mrs Obugl'e-i »n* family, to take p *"« oQ Thursday evening, are sdlling well. md hoso flesiious of doing a i may reserve their s. a v.s at Mr Burra'g. Thß productio • "'! h (».leeo Bawn "should be a|iigh]y s^ouosali 1 on. 1.