THE EVENING MAIL. SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 1877.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 281, 17 March 1877, Page 2

THE EVENING MAIL.

SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 1877.

WV>n!-» ap* Chins"*, antJ » »trof> n( ink fa'*inj wjioti it tlnHi-li6 m»j «w»5 wWeh make* U-ousamla thi-ilv/"

Oreat ditHculty wm experienced in making a selection of masters at the School Committee meeting East evening. There were no less than sixteen applicants—nine king for the position of third master, arid seven for that of i'mtrth. The testimonials attached to most of then! were really excellent, and it wast a subject of general remark among the members of the Committee that they had cause to congratulate themselves on the chances they had of obtaining really good teat-hers. The consideration of the application* for the third mastership was, after a carjtut study of the various testimonial.-*, reduced to t' >itr» viz., .Messrs*. Yates, Bennett, F idler, and Phillips ; and the candidature was eventually narrowed to Messrs. \ ates and i'ennett. At thi-t stage it was resolved that the Hector should proceed to Duuedin for the purpose of meeting the two favorite candidates, and conferring with Mr. Hislop, the Secretary of the Education Board, as to which the appointment should Ims conferred upon, the recommendation to he made to the Committee at its nest meeting. The appointment *-t fourth master was also carefully considered, and Mr. Fraser, who is at present at Chris tuhuruh, was at last selected, subject to the approval of the Hector, who was rctjatiwted t>> interview him. A special meeting of the Committee of the Horticultural Society will be held on Monday, for the purpose of arranging the affairs of the Society, and announcing where the prices will he paid. The Committee of the Mechanics' Institute have made arrangements with Professor Black to deliver a leetare npon "Oxygen, and its Halation to Combustion," on Thursday next, in the Masonic Hall. The lecture is a moat useful and interesting one, the various experiments and explanations being given in such a manner that everyone i* able to understand them. The following experiments will be made daring the evening : (I) Manufacture of oxygen; (2) Burning of phosphorus under water; (3) Water apparently burnt by contact with a cold metal

(4) Decomposition of sugar into charcoal and ■water ; (5) Will o' the Wisp, or Ignis Fatuus; (6) Spontaneous combustion of white paper, ntwl general experiments. As the proceeds are for the benefit of the Institute, we hope to see a large attendance.

The races at Trotter's Creek, near Moeraki .Junction, were very successful yesterday, a very pleasant day being spent by thoae present.

In consequence of the rain there were only two Volunteers at the butts this morning to compete for the Eifle Association prizes. We believe there was a better muster this afternoon, however. The result of some of this afternoon's shooting will be found (per pigeon express) in another column. Trains, at single fares, will leave Oamaru for Waimatc on Monday, being the occasion of the opening of the branch line, at 6.55 ami 10.45 a.ni., and 4.30 p.m. We understand that invitations for the banquet have been sent to the Mayor and Council, and that others who wish to purchase tickets for the same can obtain tlieni from the Mayor.

The monotony of the ordinary work at the mecfc : ngs of the Committees of the various public bodies is occasionally relieved by a dry remark or a flash of wit; and even the School Committee is not averse to indulge in an occasional laugh. Ihc matter of the breakage of windows in the Grammar School was placed to the crcilit of the Cricket Club last night by one of the Committee. Another member, who seemed to take a paternal interest in the Club, demurred to its being blamed as a body for the actions of one of its members; "and, indeed," ho observed, "the Club have taken legal advice on the matter, and have come to the conclusion that they are not responsible for their actions so far as the Grammar .School is concerned, as they are advised that the School Committee had no right to erect the school directly in front of the cricketers' wickets." The other member, in the face of the " legal advice," seemed to submit to fate, and no ms>re was said on the matter. In a discussion in the Asssosment Court in Duuciliu in refe.ence to the Rating Act, Mr. Anderson, the Corporation's solicitor, was of opinion that the Government would act wisely in obtaining two or three draughtsmen from England to draw up Acts of Parliament for our faulty Legislature, and considered the present Act an injustice to corporate bodies. His Honour defended the Act as being just and reasonable in all particulars. The art-union of Mr. Campbell's waterculour drawings is announced positively to take pla-e in the Northern Hotel this evening at So clock. Members who have not yet paid their subscriptions will have an opportunity of doing so pri>>r to the drawing of the prizes. Dnnediu City has invested in a steam roller for the streets. We should imagine that it was wanted sadly, for we leirn that [ it got bogged in one place early in the morn. ing. but was soon extricated and set to work. [ A summoned meeting of Court Pride of j Oamaru, A.''.F. will be held on Monday evening at G p.m. in the Oddfellows' Hall. We remind our readers that the sittings in •St. Paul's Church will be let on Monday and Tuesday next, from S to 9 p.m. on each day, in the Church. Wc published a telegram a few days ago in reference to a vessel being spoken from China with small pox on board. A Dunedin contemporary remarks :—" Chinese smallpox is about the worst type of the disease, and as ships conveying Chinese passengers to the Colonies never carry other than Chinese doctors, whose ability to cope with such an outbreak as small-pox is not to be depended upon in the slightest degree, it is i more than likely that if the Gloucester does reach here without having been driven to EC.-k relief at any intermediate port, she will arrive a floating pest-house. It really seem 3 to us that an emergency of no ordinary kind has arisen, and demands to be dealt with in a prompt and decided manner." There has been a great dispute going on in Dtsncdin in reference to the Fever Hospital. The Council erected it on the Town Belt while the scarlet fever was at its height. A number of residents whose houses were near the Hospital objected to its situation, and sought to compel the Council to move it. An action was brought in the Supreme Court, and wc sec that a demurrer has been ! upheld to - compel the Council to move the | building. At the same time an action was proceeding, in which a Mr. Pearson sought to recover L2O from the Council for breach of contract in not providing sufficient nurses for his children while inmates of the Hospital. The Magistrate's decision in this case is postponed for a week. Among the witnesses was a well-known hotel-keeper, and when asked if he was allowed to visit the wards and resume his business, he created considerable fun by explaining that he was always fumigated. I