LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 42, 9 June 1876, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Queen's Star Variety Company gave their second entertaiiuncnt at the Masonic Hall last evening to a moderate house. A varied programme was gone through, each performer receiving a good reception. This evening the Troupe will give a benefit cntciteinment on behalf of the Waiareka Kelicf Fund, and as there are doubtless many ;sho have not given any donation to the Fund, we hope to see a crowded house. It appears that the duties of our Borough Engineer will not be confined to bringing in a water supply, and looking after other important works in town, but that he will have several minor duties to perform. Last night it was resolved by the Council that the Engineer, with the Works Committee, should report on a verandah. The price of the verandah proposed to be erected will be ahout £lO. If the Engineer is to be consulted on these matters, we would respectfully submit to the Council that he should be asked to report on the desirability of purchasing a set of rue-irons for the Municipal fender. Last evening a worthy Councillor's walking stick did duty as a poker. This, to i-;iy the least of it, is infra dig.

We are requested to intimate that the meeting of the Waiareka Relief Fund Committee will be held at the Star and Garter Hotel at seven o'clock this evening, instead of eight, as previously intimated. This alteration has been made to allow members of the Committee to attend the benefit performance to take place at the Masonic Hall this evening at eight o'clock. Mr. Charles Peach, one of the secretaries, informs us that lie has received, unsolicited, on behalf of the fund, a cheque for £2 2s. from Messrs. J. K. Brown and Co., Thames-street; from Guthrie and Larnach, Dunedin, £2 2s. ; and from Mr. John Barclay, £l. It has been suggested to.ns that the names of subscribers should be published. We merely give the suggestion for what it is worth, as no doubt the Committee will fully discuss the matter this

evening. * The street lamps are now being fitted-with gas, arid the old kerosene is retiring intjaoblivt'on. Mr. Curtis hopes to of the lamps lighted to-morrow will be seen by our report of the ci! r iron lamp posts will be immediately to replace the present wood ones. From the drawings we have seen of the lamp posts selected, we can assure our readers that a very neat and substantial design has been selected. The latest idea in the auctioneering line in Oamaru is to convey the pnbli<£by cab to thesale free. Wc noticed to-day a comfortable cab on which was displayed, in large letters, "To Mr. u'Meaghcr's sale, free." Now this is r„> it should be, especially in dirty weather. The drive induces many persons to go to a .-ale, and then, like the wife of our friend Tot'dles, they buy a lot of things, not because they actually want, but " its so handy to have them in the house."

A facet ions correspondent of the "Sydney Morning Herald "proposes a new scheme for enlarging the population of New South Wales. Discussing various schemes of immigration to the Colon}*, he suggests that "the desired end might possibly be gained if bounties, either in the form of money payments or grants of land, where bestowed on all children born in wedlock and reared in the country." He seems to be somewhat doubtful as to the working of his novel scheme, but proposes that some action might be taken thereupon, " if it be not a Utopian idea, or if not wholly impracticable." It is stated by a New South Wales paper that lately, while the Goulbuni volunteers were on parade, Cajrtain Dignam found it necessary to expel a private from the corps for insubordination in the ranks. He was generally (says the authority quoted from) useful in light infantry drill, as he weighed about eighteen or nineteen stone, and formed a good barricade for three or four of those volunteers less in size.