The Evening Mail. TUESDAY, SEPT. 10, 1876. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 129, 19 September 1876, Page 2

The Evening Mail. TUESDAY, SEPT. 10, 1876. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Amongst the paaaengcrs by the Samson, to-day. was Mr. John Roberts, jun., Champion Billiardist of the World. Mr. Roberts stays one night in Oainnrti, as he is matched to p!av a well-known member of the Devil's Brigade at the Star and Garter this evening. The Champion concedes 7CO in 1,000 to his opponent, and as the local man is looked upon as no mean adversary, a most interesting game may be anticipated. So great is the interest taken in the contest that, we tujrlerstand, at an early hour this morning the limited number of tickets had been all bnt disposed of. .Seeing that, as far as Oamaru is concerned, this is the only chance which will be available of witnessing the great player, we are not surprised at the rash. In his concluding match with Weston in Dtmedin, last evening, althongh the latter got 500, and Roberts dispensed with his famous spot strokes, he gained upon his opponent with remarkable celerity, and had reached 9SI when eston went out. This in itself is an amazing feat, and there can be little doubt but that if the game were prolonged a few minutes longer, the with all his advantages, would have suffered a defeat.

Mr. G. W. Collier takes a benefit to-night at the Masonic Hall, when, in addition to a variety of entirely new character song 3 by Mr. Venier, Mr. Collier will give selections from the drama of "Rip Van Winkle," he appearing in the title role. The character is one of which he has made a complete study, taking as hi 3 model such men as Joseph ■JefFerson and J. L. Hall. To those who have witnessed his ir-npersonation, it is needles to dilate upon its merits ; and to those who have not, we merely say, "Go and judge for yourselves.*' It must have gladdened the hearts of the members of the Harbour Board in particular, ami the Oamaru public in general, to see two steamers of the tonnage of the Taranaki and ■Samson lying snugly alongside the Breakwater this afternoon. We believe we are correct in stating that the Taranaki, of 299 tons register, is the largest steamer that has yet lain alongside the wharf. The arrival of 0(!wo of the Union Company's boats within half-au-hoitr of each other made things look quite business-like down .at the .Break water to-day. Some member oe the Municipal Council must have come to grief last evening in crossing the Thames-street bridge, on the castc-rn side, for we notice that this morning some gravel is being laid down on the terribly muddy footpath in that locality. It is about time some steps were taken to make this important thoroughfare decently passable, for j after the slightest shower of rain,- it becomes I quite unfit for foot-tralnc. We should think I the filling in oh the bridge now was suffi- | cientiy settled to a'lmit of the whole width lof the street being metalled. If one of OU* ! citv fathers would only bring this matter | forward in the Council at it next meeting, he j would confer a everlasting boon on the citizens.

A Melbourne chemist has prepared lozon-e; containing the valuable properties which the bine gum tree ( fjlol»ihi.<) contains, and i« finding a considerable demand for them. The odour of the peculiar aromatic oil which the blue gum contains is distinctly traceable in the lozenges. Jiohasatao manufactured Eucalyptus -soap. The D"V'J 7V//i" of to-day says : —" Mr Blair, District Engineer, yesterday received telegraphic instructions from Wellington, substantially in accordance with what appeared in our issue c-f yesterday, in regard jo proceeding with the aikouaiti section Oi the Otago Northern Kail way. \\ c believe that the work will be commenced a-s speedily as possible, and that about 100 men will be employed, should so many offer themselves. Day wagC3 will not be given, but the men will be provided with tools and employed at piece work, and paid in accordance with rates."