North Otago Times. THURSDAY, MAY 9, 1878.

North Otago Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 1883, 9 May 1878, Page 2

North Otago Times. THURSDAY, MAY 9, 1878.

Road Ratks. — Tho Waiareka Board intimates ita intention to suo for all rates in arrears on the 16th mat. >St. Paul's Church. — Anniversary sermons will bo preached on Sunday next, in this church by the Rev. A. B. Todd, on the completion of tho ninth year of lub ministry. Inspectiok Parade. -r-Tho monthly inspection parade of tho Headquarters Companies is Appointed for to-morrow evening, at half«past seven. VoMJNTBEit Land Scrip.— The " Daily Time3," after consulting the several Volunteer Land Acts, concludes that claims for remission certificates may be mado or scrip exercised up to the last day of April, 1879. Oamaru Harbor Board. — Tho usual monthly meeting of this Board takes place to-morrow at 10.30 a.m. *A meeting of the Standing Committee will bo held to-day at 4 p.m. Resident Magistrates' Court. — A single "drunk" occupied tho attontion of this Court yestorday. The offender, Theodore Hcoren, was discharged with a caution. J. W. Humphrey. Esq., J.P., was tho presiding Justice. Exportation of Offenders. — Tho twe women— Parker and Barker — committed to gaol for indecent behaviour, Griffin Green, sentenced io six months' imprisonment for larceny, and tho lunatic Lyon, proceeded to Dunedin per tho Waitaki, yesterday, undor tho care of Constable Bell. A Novbl Objection. — The " Sun" states that at Auckland Assessment Court lately, a Mr Michael Shea, assessed at L 65 per annum applied for a reduotion. Ho said that in previous yeara he had been able to get 60 bushels of wheat to tho aero off his land, but now the sparrows and other birds destroyed his crons. He was dependent on nig farm for a living, and ho estimated the annual value of his laud, 67 acres, at 12s Cd an aero. Tho value to soil he estimated at LI 5 an acre. Tho objector was crossexamined, and tho valuation on tho assessmont roll was sustained. Died in: a Perambulator. — An extraordinary case of sudden death occurred at Wellington a few day's ago. While a girl was w heoling a perambulator along, with a child in it, a gentleman named Graham, happening to look at the ohild, and noticing that its head was hanging very low, mentioned the fact to tho gin, saving, "Tha.t ohild will die if you let its head hang down like that." The attention of the girl being thus directed to her charge, she wont to raise tho child (a little girl), and found that she was dead. A Want. — There is great need of a loading platform at the Papakaio station, tho present small passenger platform not affording the necessary facilities. Owing to this stivto of things it now requires tho assistance of several additional hands for loading giain, produce, or coal, and as a matter of courso, this involves additional expense. The result is that a largo quantity of freight haa been sent into Oainai-u by dray, as tho cheaper method of transit, to tho loss of a corresponding amount of revenue to tho railway. When it is considered that tho required facilities could bo afforded, at a very trifling eo*t, by tho construction of an earth platform on a level with tho floor of tho trucks, it will bo at once seen that the railway donnrtmont is pursuing a "penny-wise and pound-foolish " policy in neglecting a matter of so obvious expediency. Ministers at tub Circus. — A visitor to tho circus, who describes his experience in tho "Waikato Times," tells th" following story : — "I hoard alj amusing story anont two Ministers who had gono to tho show the day before to inspect privately tho nmnnueimnls, tec. Thoy were tho Hon. J. Fiahor and the Hon. i. iShuclrin. A policeman

was »cnt for five ■hillings' worth of biscuits, and on his return tho two "swells" began feeding the large African elephant with the cakes. After a little while they transferred their attention to the smaller fry, when tho "papa" becoming indignant uttered tho trumpet cry, and levelling hia trunk at the Native Minister discharged a quantity of fluid all over hin spotless vest. The notorious dobil humor of the "First Colonial Born" being proof against oven this demonstration of ill-will, tho sagacious bfiArft 'turned and, ttid ditto to the Hon. Mr FMh'er. A.follow Who was there said that gentleman swore, but 1 don't believe him." A PitUDKNT Paddy.— A dying Irishman, asked by his confessor if lie was ready to renounce tho devil and all his work*, replied, ■ "Don't ask mo that; sure, I'm going to * strange country, and I don't intind to mako myself enemies." Concert at Livingstone. — A correspondent writes from Livingstone: — Wo havo just had a most successful and enjoyable concort here. It opened with an overture by Mr I Auuan, and songs wore given by Messrs i Neale, Gallagher, Osterbcrg, Anderson, Augati, and Curling ; a duet by Messrs Angus and Anderson ; a violin solo by Mr I Sutherland, junr.j readings by Messrs Angus and Nealo ; a recitation by Mr Anderson ; I and brief and appropriate addresses by the Chairman (Mr W. Sutherland) and Mr ! lloborts ; concluding with the National Anthem, Waitaki Lodge of Freemasons, 1111, E.O. — The installation of officers for the year, took place last evening in tho Masonic Hall, Wansbeck street. There was a large attendance of tho members and visiting brethren from tho Oamaru Kilwinning, Waimato St. Augustine, and other lodges. Uro. Mathieson, P.M., ably officiated as Installing Master, and tho following brethren wore duly installed into thoir several offices : H. Kite, Worshipful Master ; H. 13. Hook, Senior Warden; F. W. 0. Grant, Junior Warden ; T. Proctor, Treasurer ; G. Brownloo, Secretary ; J. H. Rico, Senior Deacon ; J. H. Rowland, Junior Deacon ; H. Lipport, Inner Guard; J. H. Phillips, Tyler; D. Urquhart, Steward ; T. Cunningham, Steward. The lodge being closed tho brethren adjourned to tho Northern Hotel, where a sumptuous banquet was prepared by Bro. Blakesloy, and to which ample justico wjva done. Tho cloth having been removed a pleasant evoning was spent in Masonic toasts and sentiments, interspersed with appropriate songs. Tiik Bkrvks in tiikCabm?. — A correspondent of tho "Daily Times" writes :-— " The present break in tho telegraphic communication with Europe has suggested to mo the possibility, not only of such an accident happening immediately on tho outbreak of hostilities— should such occur— but also of that accident boing the result of human agency. It would not bo difficult over tho long strotch of wire reaching from tho Australian capitals to Batavia or India to produce a break, or a series of breaks, that would effectually prevent our receipt of intelligence of tho declaration of war for such a period as would onablo fau« armed steamers from Pctropaulowski, or oven nearer, to make a sudden descent on the Colonies before wo were aware of our peril. It is such a course as I would take if I was Emperor of Russia, and wished to wound England in her vulnorablo parts. Ido not write this as an alarmist, but merely to show the need that there should bo no delay in urging forward preparations for defence, and to direct attention to how little tho thousands of miles of exposed wire and cable are to bo depended on to givo us information of tho actual bursting of the thunder-cloud."