The Thames Star. Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 1899.

Thames Star, Volume XXX, Issue 9383, 28 June 1899, Page 2

The Thames Star. Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 1899.

The appointment of Sir Robert Stout, K.CM.Q., as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of .New Zealand, is gazetted.

Constable Hodgson, Inspector of Weights and Measures, is making his periodical visit to che various places of business, for the purpose of testing the correctness of weights and measures. It would be advisable for these who have not had their weights and measures attended to for some time to take them to the Inspector's office at the rear of the Grahamstown police station.

News baa been received from London announcing the successful flotation of the Standard Exploration Co. with » capital of £1,600,000. The object for which the company was floated is to take over the Thames Hauraki Ltd., M»hara Royal, Karaka Mines, Eclipse, and the other claims in wbich the Austin Friars Syndicate were interested, besides othsrproperiies in various parts of the world. The company was issued under the auspices of the London and Globe Corporation, which is one of the most powerful exploration companies in London, and we learn that the working capital of the Standard, amounting to £500,000, was considerably over subscribed. A lantern lecture will be de'ivered in the Presbyterian Sunday Sobool to-morrow evotrng by Mr J. Innes, of Tapu. The subj ct chosen be'itg London and the River Thanie , should prove of muc^ int rest. A co 1 lection will be taken in aid of the sohool funds.

The N.Z. Gazette of 22nd instant contains a notioe of the acceptance of Lieutenant Thomas Radford's resignation of the commission held by him as an officer of the hauraki Rifle Volunteers. , Mr **. Hetherington's establishment will be closed all day to-morrow, for the purpose of marking down prices for the cash sa enow on.

Mr A. H. Light (manager of Richardson's musical depot) announces that he will be absent from the Thames till Friday 30th. Business will be carried on as usual, and all orders left at the shop will be attended to on his return.

We would.remind our readers of the magic lantern and ■entertainment which will lake place in the Central Hall (Wesleyan Sunday School) to-night. A good programme has been arranged including sougs, recitations and several selections by the phonograph. The proceeds are in aid of the Wealeyan School Funds and a crowded h'ou-.e is almost certain.

' The Thames Mutual Improvement Association will conclude & " Trial by jury" at vheir meeting in the Pollen Street Lecture Hall tomorrow evening. A large number of p»ople were present last Thursday to witness the opening of the trial, and it if expected that an even larger audienoe will be present to-morrow evening Admission is free, but the society has decided to take up a collection in aid of the Hospital funds*

Our Auckland correspondent wnte3 :— " There is no change in the endition of Mr Firth, who it will be remembered met with a serious accident on the Atch Hill road last week through colliding with a horse being ridden in the opposite direc - tion."

There was a good attendance at the St. George's Hall last night, where an evening party was held in connection with Mr R. Hastings' dancing olass. The music was supplied by .'Messrs Williams and Booth, and was, as usual, all that coidd be desired. A very pleasant evening was spent* dancing being kept up till nilnigbt. The Thames public has never before had so good an opportunity to secure second hand bicycles. Mr I. A, Brown has a number of machines whijoh Le is disposing of at a lower price than they are really worth, and in order to convince buyers that they are genuine he is prepared to guarantee them. We would advise intending purchasers to call as early as possible and make sure of one at once, as the number to be sold is decreasing 'daily. '•,.'•■ : .'- ■;'■'■ ' -

A very dense fog 1 hung over the town and the HanraKi Gulf all day y sterday. Towards dusk it grew thicker, and at seven o'clock the fog was so dense that it was almost impossible to observe any object a few yards away. Tho Wakatere, which left Auckland at 5.30 p'clock yesterday, was somewhat delayed* in consequence of the fog, and did not arrive at the Goods Wharf until about ten o'clock last night. For ab6ut three-quarters of an hour prior to her arrival her fog 1 horn could be heird at short intervals. The fog disappeared towards midnight.

A very successful evening party was held in St. George's Hall last night in connec tion with Mr R. Hastings' dancing class about seventy couples being present. he

affair was carried out by a'committee

consisting of' Misses Connon, Patterson, A ms, Curtis, Bird, and Gibb, and Messrs E. Hall, S. McGregor, W. Bird, H. Addison, and 8. Bennett (Secretary), and tbley are to be complimented upon the exceptional excellence of the whole of the arrangements, which left nothing to be desired. The interior of the hall was most tastefully decorated for the occasion with flags, fe:ns Chinese lanterns, &c, and the effect was very pretty. The dauce music was supplied by Messrs Williams and Booth, and it it almost needless to lay gave every satisfaction, extras being payed by Mils Ada Smith and Mr B. Bushel. Mr F. Gibb acted as M.C. The catering arrangements were in the hands of Mr Wm. Scott, and were carried out in a faultless manner. [The party broke up in the "weesraV hours-" of the morning, all present having thoroughly enjoyed themselves. We have to acknowledge receipt from the author, Mr John MoKeogue, of a copy of his recent work on " Practical Irrigation" It in a most instructive book, and deals exhaustively with irrigation works in Spain, France, Egypt, Italy, India, and Australia. Chapters are devoted to such important subjects as plant life, the soil, manures, farm peats, and the irrigation laws now in force in Spain, California, Victoria and Mew Zealand are fully explained- In addition to the chief portion of the book, an instructive introduction by Professor Bickerton, of Canterbury College, and a review by Professor Black | are embodied. Agriculturists and all others interested in tre problem of how to transform poorly watered and uninviting areas into fruitful lands by means of irrigation, should obtain a copy of TAr McKeague'a book which has b en published by the Ashburton Newspaper Co.