OAMARU CREEK. OPEN COLUMN.

North Otago Times, Volume I, Issue 8, 14 April 1864, Page 4 (Supplement)

OAMARU CREEK.

OPEN COLUMN.

We are desirous of affording Correspondents space for the legitimate discussioii of all subjects of public importance; but, at the same time, ive tviih it to be understood that we do not hold ousel ves responsible for opinions therein expressed.

To tlie Editor of the Oamartt Times. S IRi — Your correspondent u Arauliness" has struck the nail on the head. The creek is now, without contradiction, an intolerable nuisance. Its filthiness truly is abominable. And I a-m sure, Mr Editor, that you will bear me out in saying that the Town Board ought to look to this matter at once. They are, I should think, responsible for the nuisance, for they have the power to prevent or remove it. I, therefore, beg through you to suggest to the Board that something be done at once. It would not cost anything (unless perhaps the expense of advertising) to prevent the people from emptying their filth into the Creek : and it woiild cost but little to remove the odoriferous helps along its banks. By doing this, the Board would give us another stirring instance of their usefulness as a public body, and their anxiety to discharge the responsibility undertaken from a sense of public ditty. It is a hard case when a man has settled his family in a place, that that which is common property, and upon the purity of which the health of the community depends cannot be protected from abuse, and particularly so'when there is uppoiuted by, and from among ourselves, a Corporation vested with power to do so. I am . charitably enough inclined to believe that this is the result of an oversight on the part of the Board. But if, after the hints you have given them, and your correspondent " Arauliness," I with others shall feel inclined to say that the Board is a more intolerable nuisance than that of which I complain and that which they are now creating in the shape of a sewer. Hoping you will find space for these remarks, I am, Sir, &c, J. A. Oamaru, April 12, 1864.

To the Editor of the Oamartt Times. Sir, — In in your last week's paper I see a letter signed a " Horse Dealer," which requires answering, as my name is mentioned in it, as advising people to follow the plough line to the Company's new Ferry, being- one of the proprietors I consider t have a perfect right in doing so. He also states, that as for it is being the nearest road it is the most scandalous gull that I ever heard of, the road to Tyler and Brown's being the only road, and by far fc'ie nearest. I beg Mr Editor strictly to contradict this statement, for the line of road surveyed by Government leading to the new ferry is much shorter than the one leading to Brown and Tyler's. The Telegraph Company are now laying posts on the new line, and surely they would not take the longest ; this question I will leave the Public to decide. Now Mr Editor in conclusion I beg to state that the crossing place at the Company's new ferry is the best within thirty miles and the Company will guarantee that all foot passengers shall cross dry footed, and they will also guarantee that passengers shall be crossed immediately on arivalat the river side, and not be kept waiting two hours on the Otago side. Apologising for thus tresspassing on your valuable space, I remain, &c, Henry Wilson, One of the Proprietors of the Company's New Ferry.

To the Editor of the Oamaru Times. Sir, — The " good-humored, stubby individual, with an eye to business," (which I trust is not highly condematory) alluded to by a correspondent in your last issue, simply delivered a message entrusted to him, and nothing moie. No doubt the above-named personage will thank the Old Ferry proprietors for bringing him and his house so prominently before the public. In conclusion, it is as well to state that the effusion must have emanated from Brown's, as Horsedealer took the old road, and consequently was utterly unable to judge of the merits of the new. — Yours, etc., Fairness.

Giving to tiik Lord — Ho who gives to the Lord will in the future shite have returned to him -what he "lies with princely interest. There is aweujht of menu trig in the inscription found in the Italian rcmetr_) —"Here lies Etella, who [ transported a h\r%c fortune to heaven in acts of elumty, and ha& gone thither to pnjo> it."

A REMINISCENCE OF THACKEttAY. In a letter to Le Tamps, full of the most generous feeling, and of fine and penetrating criticism of the arenuis of our great departed humorist, whose friendship he had enjoyed. M. Louis Blanc relates, in his own inimitable style (which we can only paraphrase), the following characteristic anecdote :—: — " A few years ago, the London papers announced that a Frenchman, whose name I need not give you, was going to deliver in English what is here called a lecture. Foremost among those who were moved by a feeling of delicate kindness and hospitable curiosity to encourage the lecturer with their presence was Thackeray, When the lecture was over, the manager of the Literary Institution, where it was delivered, for some reason or other recommended the company to take care of their pockets in the crowd at the doors — a hint which was not particularly to the taste of a highlyrespectable and even distinguished audience. Some even protested, and none more warmly than an unknown person, very well dressed, sitting next to Mr Robert Bell. Not content with speaking, this xmknown person gesticulated in a singularly animated manner. ' Isn't such a suggestion indecent, Sir, insulting ?' said he to Mr Bell * What does he take us for,' &c, &c. After giving vent to his indignation in this way for some moments, the susceptible stranger disappeared, and when Mr Robert Bell, who wanted to know how long the lecture had lasted, put his hand to his watch-pocket, behold his watch had disappeared likewise. Thackeray, to whom his excellent friend mentioned the mishap, invited Robert Bell to dinner a day or two after. When the day came, Robert Bell took his seat at his friend's table, round which a joyous company of wits were gathered, and soon found himself encircled by a rattling fire of banter about an article of his which had just appeared in the Cornhill Magazine, then conducted by Thackeray ; an article remarkable in all respects, and which had attracted universal notice, as a faithful, serious, and philosophical account of some effects of " Spiritism," which the author had witnessed at a seance given by Mr Home. Mr Robert Bell is an admirable causeur ; his talk is a happy mixture of an Englishman's good sense and an Irishman's verve. So his questioners rfbiuul their match in brilliant fence. Next day a mysterious messenger arrived at Mr Robert Bell's, and handed to him, without saying who had sent it, a box containing a note, worded, as nearly as I recollect, as follows : — ' The Spirits present their compliments to Mr. Robert Bell, and, as u mark of their gratitude to him, they have the honor to return him the watch that was stolen from him.' And a watch it raally was that the box contained, but a watch far finer and richer than the one which had disappeared. Mr. Robert Bell thought at once of Thackery, and wrote to him' without further explanation ; — 'I don't know if it is you, but it is very like you.' Thackery in reply sent a caricature portrait of himself, drawn by his own hand, and representing a winged Spirit in a flowing robe, and spectacles on nose. Thackery had in early life taken to painting, and perhaps if he had pursued his first vocation he might hsive come in time to handle the brush as well as he afterwards handled the pen. At any rate the drawing in question, as I can bear witness, was one to bring tears into your eyes for laughing. It was accompanied by a note as follows : — ' The Spirit Gabriel presents his compliments to Mr. Robert Bell, and takes the liberty to communicate to him the portrait of the person who stood the watch.' Now. is not this bit of a story charming ? What grace ! what delicacy ! what humor in this inspiration of a friend who, to punish his friend for having done the Spirits the honor to speak of them, sends him with a smile a manificient present ! Honorable to Thackeray, this anecdote is equally so to Robert Bell, who could inspire such feelings in such a man. And this is why I feel a double pleasure in relating it."

BiDiCTaoTTS Scene at the Newcastle Sessions. — Recorder (to prisoner) — " How do you live ?" Prisoner — " I ain't particular, as the oyster snid when they asked whether he'd be roasted or fried." Recorder — "We don't want to hear what the oyster said. "What do you follow ?" Prisoner — " Anything that comes in my way, as the locomotive said when he ran over a man." Recorder — " Don't care anything about the locomotive. What is your business ?" Prisoner — " That's various, as the cat said when she stole the chicken." Recorder — "That comes nearer to your line, I -suppose ?" Prisoner— " Altogether in my line, as the rope «aid when choking the pirate." Recorder — "If I hear any more fih«urd comparison*, I will give you twelve months." Prisoner — " I'm done, as the beefsteak said to the cook."

* The Lord Bishop of the Diocese paid a visit to Oamaru during the past week, but through illneßß was unable to preach on Sunday last in accordance with a previous notice. On tho following day, however, he was so far recovered as to be able to administer the rite of Confirmation to fifteen candidates— eight females, and seven males. His Lordship proposes making a journey to the upper "Waitaki before returning to Ohristchurch. We observe that on tho farm of Mr Holmeß at Awamoa, two miles out of town, over, two hundred acres of maiden land has been ploughed within the past ten weeks. A Specinl Session of the Provincial Council of Canterbury commenced on Thursday last in the Council Chamber, Christchurch. Therewas a large number of members present, and the stranger's gallery was fiilled. The immediate cause of assembling the Council now is to make Provision for the prosecntion of public works— among others the construction of lines of Railway to Timaru and the bridging of certain rivers in the Province.