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Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 345, 1 June 1877, Page 2

Mr. A. 11. Maude will sell by public auction, to-morrow, without reserve, at his stores, Section 2, Block XLYI., Heed-street* Oamaru, with two cottages erected thereon. The s.s. EasLy, which arrived at seven o'clock this morning, has been in the roadstead during the day eDgaged in taking in 4ioo bags of bran, shipped by Messrs. P Cunningham and Co., to Sydney.

Owing to pressure on our space, we are compelled to hold over some correspondence, letters, and a quantity of other matter.

There was some lively work at the special meeting of the Harbour Board to-day. The meeting was held for the purpose of inquiring into tlie correctness of allegations made by Mr. Lemon at a late meeting with reference to the conduct of another member of the Board. A quantity of evidence was taken, which will be found pretty fully reported elsewhere. During the hearing of the evidence several smart little passages of arms took place between Mr. Shrimski and some other members of the Board, during which retorts of a not over-courteous nature were occasionally indulged in. But it was after the hearing o evidence had been concluded that the war of words was commenced in real earnest. Mr. Lemon was the first to open fire, that gentleman briefly stating that he thought the evidence was sufficient to show that Mr. Shrimski had not acted as became a member of the Board, winding up by saying that the conduct of the member referred to was scandalous and disgraceful in the extreme. This remark, of course, roused the ire and indignation of Mr. Shrimski, who at once entered upon operations both defensive and offensive. He denied that he had been guilty of the enormities with which he had been charged, again characterising the statement that he had dictated the letter complained of and paid for it being written as a "falsehood and a lie," adding, with a perfect outburst of virtuous indignation, that he was able to write a letter himself, and was not the man to pay for such work. Then came the more active portion of his warfare. He asserted his belief that some of the membei s of the Board had been guilty of dealings with tlie Board, contrary to the Act, throwing out accusations indiscriminately. Then, with a burst of ecstatic delight, he asserted his own purity, with a majestic wave of his hand, saying he had always worked for the public good, and that 'the other members were anxious to get him off the Board. Mr. Meek thereupon asked, " What about those bets ? " gravely intimating that Mr. Shrimski had threatened to turn out all the other members. To this Mr. Shrimski replied that he intended bringing in a Bill next session of Parliament for the reconstruction of the Board. Altogether the scene was one which we trust will not be repeated at any

future meeting of the Board. A match will be played by the members of the Football Club to-morrow, between twelve of the team selected to play against Dunedin and twenty other members of the Club. All players are particularly requested to turn up to a man, and to be on the ground punctually—play to commence at 2.30 p.m. The ceremony of indicting the Rev. C. J. Byng, into the pastoral of St. Matthew's Church, Dunedin, was performed on Wednesday evening last, at the church, to a large congregation, consisting largely of ladies. The Yen. Archdeacon Edwards opened the service, and his Lordship the Bishop preached a short and appropriate sermon.

The panorama of the Mirror of England attracted another large audience to the Masonic Hall last evening, and all present seemed to thoroughly enjoy themselves. Mr. Lewis performed a number of fresh illusionary tricks, and succeeded in bewildering the audience by the easy manner in which he went through the several feats of legerdemain. The panorama will be on exhibition again this evening, and to-morrow afternoon there will be a special exhibition of the '' Mirror " for the benefit of children, when we would strongly advise parents to avail themselves of the opportunity of affording their children a little harmless amusement, combined with a large amount of useful information.

In the New Zealand Gazette of the 25th ult. are published the returns of earnings of the various Northern railways for the four weeks endod tlie sth March, which are as follow: ISs. sd. ; Auckland to Mercer, L 1646 13s. Gd. ; Napier to Waipukurau, LIB6B 10s. lid. ; Waitara to New Plymouth, L 153 Ss. od.; Fox ton to Manawatu, L 651 9s. lid. ; Wellington to Masterton, L7BS 19s. lid. ; Picton to Blenheim, L 366 Is. 3d. ; Nelson to Foxhill, L 507 os. 3d. ; Westport to Mount Rochfort, L 56 13s. 6d. ; Brunner to Greymouth, L 395 10s. Gd.

The Dunedin correspondent of the North Otacjo Times indulges in remarks in reference to Mr. J. G. S. Grant of a decidedly insolent character. He says that "Mr. Grant seems to have nothing to do, and apparently no longer scribbles for his daily bread." This is untrue. Mr. Grant still perambulates the streets of Dunedin, in all weathers, selling his own, or other, writings. Doubtless he earns his living as honestly and as hardly as the correspondent referred to does, and, beneath a cantankerous nature,

a little aggravated by wrongs, supposed or real, one can discern the educated gentleman.