The Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22, 1877.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 411, 22 August 1877, Page 2

The Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22, 1877.

It is gratifying to learn that the action oi the working men of Dunediu with referencto the importation by the Government of material for our railways, &c, is likely to result in some good being achieved. As we i-ointed out at the time, the Dunedin working men set forth plainly the injustice done to the Colony by the course pursued by the Government in sending Home for every trifling thing required, to the total disregard of our own manufactories and workshops. The action of the Dunedin working men has since been endorsed in almost every large centre of population in the Colony, and so unanimous have been the opinions expressed that the House of Representatives would scarcely venture to act otherwise than accede to the just demands of the people. Mr. Sheehan has, we observe, taken the preliminary st c p towards affording the House an opportunity of expressing an opinion upon the matter. He has given notice of motion to the effect that all railway plant and material that can be procured in the Colony be so obtained, and that the Government should use New Zealand coal on the railwaj-s. We shall watch with some interest the action of the Government and the House on this motion, and "we would advise the working classes to do the same.

A case which should act as a warning to persons in the habit of paying visits unbidden to timber yards came before the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning. A married woman, who appeared to be of a highly respectable character, and whose husband is known to be a decent, hardworking man, was brought up on a charge of stealing a number of small pieces of woorl, from Mr. H. Aitken's timber yard, Thames-street. The misguided woman pie aded guilty, and professed, amid a storm of tears, her penitence for what she had done, saying she did not consider the bits of wood of any value. The Bench took a lenient view of the matter, and sentenced the accused to six hours' imprisonment, remarking that the case was not one which tin y jould altogether pass over without some punishment. It is to be hoped that the -xample made of the culprit in this case will act as a salutary warning to others who are in the habit of paying claides+ine visits to timber yards, &c. The wood, with the stealing of which the woman was charged, ■vas stated to be worth about tenpence. It is really astonishing that persons laying any daim to respectability should, for the sake ■I saving the expenditure of so paltry a um, render themselves liable to be placed in a felon's dock.

His Worship the Mayor will entertain the preseri and late members of the Municipal Council at a dinner to-morrow evening, at Mr. Earle's dining rooms. We understand that the late Council and the Corporation officers intend availing themselves of the occasion for following out a >ood old English custom, viz., the presentation of a silver cradle in celebration of a :>on and heir having been born during his Mayoralty.

Persons owing rates totheCouDty Council wouldrSlq well pjEy|iip mthoitt. delay, in futir^^np]^aritness.3j' The I sittmg of the; 'Distinct should] hafe&:l?een Held to-morrow, haisjbeen v.Saturd3jr^niext^ : Persons'-: having business to come before the Court need' not' therefore appear to-morrow. The Town Clerk gives notice that in future all accounts against the Municipal Council must be sent in three clear days prior to the regular meetings of the Council, in order to allow of their being examined by the Fi nance Committee. Any accounts not eo sent in will have to lie over until the following meeting of the Council. A meeting of the Committee entrusted with the carrying out of the Papakaio Ploughing Match was held at the Papakaio Hotel on Monday, Mr. J. Wilson being in the chair. It was decided that the match should come off on the 7th September, and rules and regulations were drawn up. Some other routine business was transacted, and the meeting terminated. A meeting of the Directors of the First Oamaru Permanent Building Society was held last evening at the Secretary's office. There were present —Messrs. Gibbs, Lane, Steward, Booth, Liddle, and Hardy (Secretary). Mr. Gibbs was re-elected Chairman of the Board, and Messrs. Gibbs and Liddle were appointed valuators. Several applica • tions for loans having been dealt with, the meeting terminated with a vote of thanks to the Chairman. We have heard of some strange things being done at meetings of creditors in bankrupt estates, but never before did we hear of a trustee, armed with a number of proxies, constituting himself a meeting, and proceeding to dispose of the business. Such a strange proceeding seems, however, to have been taken by Mr. H. E. Alport, an fficial tiustee in bankruptcy, in Christchurch. By a telegram published elsewhere, we learn that Judge Johnston has declared the meeting null and void, and has contended that there must be two persons present to constitute a meeting of creditors.

The Georgia Minstrels, who recently paid Oamaru a visit, are drawing crowded houses in Melbourne.

As an instance of what may be done in solonial work-shops, and of the folly of sending Home for every trifling requirement, we publish the following paragraph, clipped from a Dunedin contemporary :—" A large letter-press has been recently manufactured in the Government work-shops, Dunedin, for the Railway Department. It seems to have been turned out in first-class style, and Ave understand that its cost is 50 per cent, less than that for which it could have been purchased in Dunedin."

The Eev. Charles Clark, who has been lecturing and preaching in the Mother Country with very great success, is about to return to the Colonies by way of America. He has added two more lectures to his repertoire one entitled " Westminster Abbey," and the other the "Merrie Monarch." It is said that he is engaged upon a lecture on " Thomas Carlyle."

Rather an amusing storj' reaches the Auckland Herald from Helensville. It seems that at the local [Resident Magistrate's Court it was found desirable at a recent sitting to swear a witness, when, to the dismay of the clerk, the necessary instrument —a Bible—was found to be missing. After a fruitless search had been made in the Court for the desired volume, the solitary constable was despatched to buy, beg, or borrow one, but on no account to return empty-handed. He went and made a tour of the district, but with no better success, and as a last resort he directed his steps towards the hotel. He approached the bar, and made the interrogation, from frequent repetition now becoming distasteful—" Would you oblige with the loan of a Bible?" The person addressed had barely time to regfcfet her inability to comply with the simple 'request, when the questioner electrified her by a sudden stamp of the foot, and the ejaculation " Then, be jabers, it's a case. I have gone round the whole settlement and can't get a Bible!" So saying, the disappointed policeman turned on his heel, and departed.