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Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 409, 20 August 1877, Page 2

The case brought by the railway authori ties against Mr. Wheatley has ended as we anticipated it would do. At the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning an aetion was brought by Mr. Lawson to recover from Mr. Wheatley the amount of his railwaj fare between Maheno and Oamaru. Th< defendant, through his solicitor, admitted to having travelled by railway without pay ing his fare, and pleaded that he was en titled to do so by virtue of the free pass issued to him as a County Councillor. Mr, Steward delivered a lengthy judgment on the case, a full report of which will be founc elsewhere. To our view of thinking the Bench took a sensible view of the matter and acted wisely in giving judgment for tin defendant. In consequence of the ruling o: the Bench, the information charging Mr. Wheatley with a breach of the railwaj regulations was withdrawn ; and so endec this little piece of official folly and absurd officiousness. Lovers of music will be glad to learn thai Signor Carmini Morley, whose reputation as a vocalist, is of a very high class, will in s few days give a vocal concert in Oamaru, or which occasion he will be assisted by Mr, Edmonds, an excellent baritone, and a nunv ber of our most able local vocalists. Mr. Morley, in return ior the assistance that will be rendered by the latter, has signified his intention of giving a second entertainment for the benefit of a local charity.

The San Francisco mails will close a* Oamaru on Wednesday next, at six a.m. The police stationed in Oamaru have been supplied with a number of short Snider riUe3, with sword bayonets, in place of the long Enfield rifles, which were called in some some time since. It will be seen by an aclverdisement which appears elsewhere that single tickets, available for the return journey, will be issued at the railway office on the day of the Timaru races, Wednesday next. A meeting of the Oamaru Schools Committee will be held at the Secretary's office, this evening, at seven o'clock. The principal business, wc understand, is the selection of a mistress for the South School. We are pleased to observe that steps are being taken to establish a gun club in Oamaru. A meeting will be held on

to-night at the Northern, for the purpose of taking preliminary proceedings to promote the object. His Worship the Mayor has invited the members of the Oamaru Municipal Council, the gentlemen who have been members of the Council during his term of office, and the Council officials, to a dinner to be given on Thursday next, at eight p.m., at Mr. Earlc's cafc\ Aa entertainment is announced in our advertising columns to take place at the Ngapara Schoolhouse on ths 24th inst, for the purpose of supplementing the funds of the district school. A number of gentlemen of well-known musical excellence have promised to assist with vocal and instrumental music. The former will embrace popular songs, so chosen as to meet the tastes of all; and the instrumental musia will comprise solos and duets on the violin and piano. Altogether, the committee may be complimented on the arrangements they are making to ensure success, and we have no doubt that, as the train leaves Oamaru at three o'clock in the afternoon, a goodly number of persons wishing for a little country air, combined with a musical evening with the settlers of the district, and a dance with the country lassies, will take advantage of the opportunity afforded them of doing so. A full audience greeted the Chicago Minstrels on Saturday eveniug last, when an excellent programme was submitted. Changes have occurred in the construction of the company since their establishment. Three important members have seceded, and their places have been filled by others. The first part consisted of minstrel melodies, with their pleasant choruses. The most noticeable performers were Messrs. 5 Hawkins and Marshall. The former pos-

sesses a voice such as we have never before heard in the Colony ; and we think it a pity that he did not commence his professional career from some populous centre, and under the favourable circumstances that he deserved. He sings soprano songs -with the greatest of case, and with unsurpassable richness. Mr. Marshall possesses a most excellent bass voice, sings with admirable taste, and is well acquainted with minstrel business. Both these gentlemen were favored with encores last Saturday evening, to which they responded. The concertina performance was far above mediocrity. Mr. Oaten is, without doubt, in the absence of an orchestra, a great acquisition to the company as an accompanist, whilst his solo playing seemed to delight everybody. The Messrs. Arlington's performances are already well-known in Oamaru. These clever acrobatic dancers imitate the " Georgias" in their gymnastic feats, and we consider the imitation as good as the original. Altogether, the company is a good one, and well worthy of patronage. The jokes of Bones and Tambo are side-splitting, the songs are the most popular well sung, and the sketches are exceedingly comical. The company will appear to-night for the last time Oamaru, to-morrow night at Waimate, and on Wednesday and Thursday at Timaru. One of the best methods of preventing the inroads of cabbage-grubs is to make such unpalatable to them. In the spring procure some newly-burnt lime, and lay it under cover until it becomes air-slaked. Then take an equal quantity of soot and mix it with the lime. In planting, the holes are made with the trowel in the usual way ; each plant is dropped into its hole, an inch or so of the soil put over the roots, a good watering given first, then a moderate handful of the soot-and-lime mixture thrown in each hole, and the remaining soil tilled in.