LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 8, 1 May 1876, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The members of the Oamaru Football Club, after a good game on Saturday afternoon, adjourned to the Northern Hotel, where a lot of business was transacted. Mr. A. Y. Smith occupied the chair. The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed, the report and balance-sheet were read and adopted. From the latter we find that the Club has on the credit side of the ledger a sum of £2 Ss. The following gentlemen were elected as officers for the coming season President, Mr. T. A. Clowes; Captain, Mr. F. D. Holdsworth ; Messrs. J. Burnett and A. Y. Smith were appointed Vice-President and Dcj.>uty-Captaiii respectively. Mr. Ilarvey accepted the duties of Hon. Secretary and Treasurer. The South Canterbury Club sent in a challenge to play at Waimate on the 3rd June. The Tetter was referred to the Match Committee. The Secretary was instructed to send a challenge to the Dunedin Football Club to play a match on the Queen's Birthday. The opening match of the Club takc3 place next Saturday, when sides will be chosen by the Captain aiul Deputy-Captain. After some discussion as to the annual subscription, which was fixed at 55., a vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings. A special meeting of Committee of the Northern Agricultural and Pastoral Association was held on Saturday afternoon last, at the office of the secretary. Present: Messrs. M'Clennan (in the chair), Falconer, Clowes, Council, and Chrystal. The minutes of the previous meeting were read aud confirmed. The secretary was instructed to write to Mr. Harding with reference to the engraving of a medal; also, to "obtain, through Messrs. Oliver and Ulpli, fifty silver medals and twenty bronze medals, for the approaching Show. Mr. Falconer reported, on behalf of the Ploughing Committee, as to the progress made in the preparation of the ground, aud offered suggestions, which the Committee were authorised to carry out. It was decided that a meeting of the Committee be held one hour previous to the annual meeting, members to be duly advised thereof. Accounts amounting to £2S Ss. were jessed for payment, after which a vote of thanks to the chair terminated the proceedings. Nominations for the New Zealand Grand Natioual Handicap, value £250, close in Christchurcli to-day. A good entry is expected. We arc glad to notice that the contractors lor the widening of Thames-street Bridge arc gutting on very rapidly with their work. The centres are all in on the eastern side, and three courses of stone. iThe contractors, witli fine weather, hope to have the arch on this side completed in a fortnight. The centres will then be moved to the western side, and equally as rapid jjrogress is expected to be made in completing the other half. A Nevis miner named Charles Johnstone died in an awfully sudden manner last week. He had been suffering from illness for a few days previously, and was being conveyed in to the Cromwell Hospital on the 19tli inst. At the Bannocliburn Hotel, Joluiston asked for a drink of water, which was supplied. The party bringing the man into town had only gone a little more than 100 yards from the hotel when deceased's peculiar appearance attracted attention. On examination, it was found lie was dead. The " Argus " says that an inquest was held at the Victoria Hotel on the 21st, when a verdict of " died from [ natural causes " was returned. Deceased was j a native of Denmark, and had been in the district a number of years, j A very sudden death occurred at Milton E yesterday. On Wednesday (says the J "Herald") Mr. James Wallace, who carried Foil business as a wheelwright and undertaker, j appeared to be in the enjoyment of his usual health, and during the evening was in company with several friends, speaking of the distressed state of business in Milton. He retired to rest at his usual hour, aud awoke at about seven o'clock in the'morniug. Mrs. Wallace noticed that he was trembling violently, and at length became so alarmed that she sent for tiie doctor, but before he arrived Mr. Wallace was dead. The immediate cause of death is not known. In a recent trial for bigamy at Christchurcli Judge Johnston is reported to have observed thatnt was an extremely improper thing for the police to interfere in cases where no action was taken by the principal parties concerned. If detectives and others went about trying to pick out offences of this or a similar kind, when the parties themselves did not move, they ran a great chance of bringing the police force into deserved odium. In this part of the country there seemed to be some notions with regard to the duties of policemen which did not coincide with his own. An alert,, active, and intelligent police was a great blessing to a country, but a meddling police was a great curse. It was not the proper function of a good police system to go and

ferret out offences of this kind, which, unless notorious, might do very little damage to the public.. Major Steward, "in an announcement in another column, draws the attention of officers commanding companies to an order which has- been received from Wellington for the immediate furnishing, of capitation and annual musketry returns.