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Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 371, 2 July 1877, Page 2

The County Councils' Conference, so far, may be considered a failure, and, when we call to mind the business that was to have been transacted, we cannot help the uprisings of feelings of regret ihat such should be the case. That the "Counties Act" requires amendment, no one would dare to doubt—that is, if Counties are to be allowed to exist—and who is there better capable of seeing the weak points in the measure than those who have felt the shoe pinch. Political apathy is the greatest barrier to our jjrogress, and the Counties who have deputed their Chairmen to be present at this very necessary meeting may be considered as having scored one to their credit. If the Conference had been as fully attended as was expecttd, great good would have resulted. As it is, we presume that the time of the house during the forthcoming session will be occupied in deliberations that will

not only retard the progress of other business of the Country, but will not prove so effectual in amending the measure as would have been the case had the County Councils' Chairmen discussed the matter fully amongst themselves. We hope that the idea of a County Councils' Conference will not be entirely lost, for ifc was a happy one. We learn that the ketch Frxnklin Belle, Captain Bradshaw, while warping out of Kakanui on Saturday, stranded on the south bank of the South Pier. No damage of any great consequence was done, and the vessel was got off again yesterday morning. The quarterly united children's service was held yesterday afternoon in the Presbyterian Church, when a considerable number of young people, with a few friends, were gathered together. Interesting and appropriate addresses were delivered by Mr. Armitage from John xiv. G, on "Christ our Life ;" by Mr. Moore from Exodus xii. 12, on the " Blood of the Paschal Lamb;" and by Mr. Todd, from 2 Chronicles xxxiv. 3, on "Josiah's Early Piety." A few short and simple prayers were offered, and the children sung several hymns with heart and sou]. Such united services have a tendency to promote the welfare of all concerned, both old and young.

At the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning Henry Plummer, charged with being drunk and disorderly, was cautioned and discharged in consideration of his having been locked up since Saturday. This was the whole of the business.

Mr. R. Richardson, who is well known in Christchurcli. and by no means a stranger here, has assumed the proprietorship of the Royal Hotel, of this town, the property of Mr. 'J nomas Piocter, and until lately conducted by that gentleman. Mr. Procter has retired from the business, and Mr. Richardson having purchased it, has signified his intention of maintaining its good reputation. We believe that Mr. Richardson possesses the capacity and willingness to conduct a hotel respec ably, and we have therefore no doubt as to his success.

'i he monthly meeting of the North Otago Benevolent Society will take place this evenii g at the usual place, at 7 o'clock. A special meeting of the Municipal Council will be held at a quarter-past seven this evening, for the purpose of considering the app'ieations for registration under the Common Lodging-house Ordinances and the Inspector's reports thereon. In all 16 applications have b en received.

"We have been requested to intimate to the members of the Calcined Corkonians that a rehearsal will take place this evening at S o'clock in the Masonic Hall. A meeting will afterwards he held for the purpose of finally arranging the programme and settling several matters in connection with the entertainment to be give" next week in aid of the funds of the Hospital.

The London correspondent of the L/rcr pool Daily Pod tells us that the homteo pathists have discovered aceitain remedy for se.i-sickness. It is apomorphia, and a very small dose of it taken once an hour in water will remove the qualms. They are so certain of its success that they are going to procure gratuitous circulation of it amongst vessels that carry passengers. It is also useful for beasts, whose sufferings are often extreme.

The following amusing story has reached us regarding Judge Johnston : —His Honour at the close of a sitting of the Court in a West Coast mining town, where business was light, not knowing how to beguile his time, asked the Couit Orderly if there was any society in ihe place. " Well, your Honour," replied the official, ''there's the Odd Fellows, there's the Freemasons, there's the Foresters, and the Hibernians ; but 1 should advise your Honour to join the Hibernians." "Pooh! pooh! pooh!" said the judge, "I didii'c mean, that; but tell me how was Judge in the habit of spending his time when here?" "Faith, then, your Honour, him and the bailiff and myself used to go to the Shamrock and play forty-fives."— West Coast jKiper. "We understand that Mr. W. N. Blair, Distiict Endineer, is expected to arrive in Naseby on Saturday, 30th, and that it is his intention to proceed, to Maerewhenua, through the Pass, with the view, we presume, of reporting on the proposed OamaruKaseby route. — Mount Ida Chronicle. The Mount Ida Chronicle says : —'l he estimate by the Taieri engiueer, telegraphed by Mr. John Eoberts last week, of the Dunedio. m:c instructed portion to the Sutton, is L 140,000. The forty-mile section from the Sutton to Kaseby can hardly be under L 3500 per mile. Mr. Blair started on Saturday last to report upon the Outram route. The official reports made by the engineers will be looked for with much anxiety.

The following paragraph, from the Lyell Anjus bears the impress of the Roman hand of the scr bbler who blows the bellows of that journal-.—"The Lyell (Argus): conceived in error ; Born in iniquity ; ' Rocked in the cradle of the deep ;' Keared in sin ; Fed on whiskey; Died on starvation ; was taken up gently ; wrapped up tenderly (in a copy of the Buster); and consigned to ' a warm climate,' at the expense of, and with the prayers of, The Buller County Council, Amen. Yours 'in spirit.'"

Mr. Justice Williams' removal from Dunedin to Cbristchurch will he the means of depriving the former city of an accomplished lady vocalist, who will doubtless be considered by the higher musical circle of Cbristchurch as a great acquisition to its ranks. But, although Dunedin will lose in one respect, she will gain in another, for Mr. Justice Johnston, who will exchange circuits with Mr. Justice "Williams, is a musician of a high class, and this is just what Dunedin requires in order that the energy and vitality which for some time characterised the proceedings of the musical society of that city, and rendered it famous, maybe revived. We hear that the Judge not only possesses a thorough acquaintance with the art of, and a soul for, music, but that he is a violoncello player, and, if we mistake not, was president of the Cbristchurch | Orchestral Society. The mainstay of the Auckland Choral Society, Judge Fenton—an enthusiastic and able patron and conductoris also a performer upon the same instrument. By virtue of his co-operation many of the musical people of that city have, to a very considerable extent, been perfected in the art, and taught to appreciate and interpret the works of the great masters. For the want of a patron similar to Judge Fenton the Dunedin Society languished and expired. It has lately been re-established ; and although we believe it would have succeeded under the constitution it has adopted, yet the advent of Mr. Justice Johnston will set all doubts at rest on that score, if he will only consent to become the president and patron of musical societies throughout the Provincial district of Otago. This could not fail to have the cil'ect of abolishing the troublesome disputes that are, strange to say, invariably concomitant with societies professing musical harmony, whilst the learned Judge's presence and countenance at the rehearsals of the Dunedin Society would not only secure a good attendance, but would stimulate and emulate every musical institution in our Provincial district. We feel sure that the Dunedin Choral Society will not Use sight of Mr. Justice Johnston.