The Evening Mail. FRIDAY, AUGUST 24, 1877.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 413, 24 August 1877, Page 2

The Evening Mail. FRIDAY, AUGUST 24, 1877.

A discovery of an interesting nature was made by the police yesterday at Maheno, being nothing less than the finding of a whisky still on the farm of Mr. John Chalker, of Incho?me. Information was given to the police yesterday morning of the existence of the still, and Sub-Inspector Smith, accompanied by Mr. Thomson, Collectoi of Customs, and Constables Welch and Towusend proceeded to the scene of the illicit operations. On presenting himself to Mr. Chalker the Inspector informed him who he was, and explained the cause of his visit, expressing a desire to be shown the still. Chalker made no attenrpt at denying the existence of the still, but without any fuss introduced the inquisitive party to the room in which the illegal manufacture of whisky was carried on. The room was in every way well adapted for the purpose for which it was used, and was constructed in such a manner as to show no signs of its existence. The police found in the room a capital copper still, a face pump to supply the necessary water, several casks of beer, and a number of small kegs, strongly impregnated with the odour of whisky; but the worm and the whisky were not to be found. They took possession of the still, and returned to town in the evening. Chalker was brought up at the Eesident Magistrate's Court this merning, charged with a bi-each of the Distillation Act, but the case w»s remanded until Thursday next.

Our readers will be pleased to learn that there is every of the waterworks being completed within a much shorter time than was anticipated. Mr. M'Leod, the Corporation Engineer, during the Mayor's dinner last evening, stated that the. contractors had informed him that they were willing to undertake to biing the water into Oamaru within twelve months, if their doing so would be agreeable to the Municipal Council. This will be good news to numbers of housewives who, owing to the continued dryness of the weather, find their supplies of that very desirable and useful commodity, clear, sparkling water, falling short.

The bolting of the horse and baker's cart of Mr. Genge, Cava Valley, in Thamesstreet to-day, was atteneded with very serious and expensive results. From svhat we have been able to gather the particulars of the affair are to the following effect. The driver, whose name we have not been able to learn, was delivering bread at the shop of Messrs. Ireland and Esther leaving his horse and cart standing in the strest, one of the wheels of the cart being chained. Owing to . ome unexplained cause, the horse suddenly started off, unbidden, on a vo\-age of discovery, and that too at a very smart pace. The driver at once ran forward and seized the reins of the horse, but was unable to stop him. In his praiseworthy attempt to demonstrate to the impetuous animal the folly of his proceedings the driver was thrown down, and being caught by the wheel was dragged in front of it for some distance, the wheel eventually passing over the lower portions of his body. The poor fellow was at oive picked up and carried into Mr. Cogviu's boardinghouse, and medical aid sent for. Dr. De Lautour was speedily in attendance, and did everything possible for the young man, who ■ afterwards seemed to be in a fair way to recovery, though his removal was not deemed advisable. The full extent of the injuries he had received cannot be told, as it is exceedingly probable that serious interna injuries may have been inflicted that are at present undiscernable. Freed from his diiver, the horse continued his gallop along the street. On reaching the corner- of Thames and Wear streets, the cart came in contact with the iron lampost, giving it a severe shaking, and completely shatteiing the glass of the lamp. The next object with which the runaway collided was the verandah in course of erection at Mr. Milligan's premises. The corner post at that end of the building recently occupied by Mr. W. Carncross was knocked down, a quantity of the ornamental work shaken to pieces, and other damage done to the extent of about £2O. Having divested hinisulf of the cart in his latest destructive effort, the spirited animal proceeded a little further along the street, when ajjparently contented with the amount of mischief he had done, he suddenly came to a stand still, and was easily captured. There will be a sitting of the District Court to-morrow morning. The annual meeting of the North Otago Eifle Association, which was to have been held last evening, had to be adjourned owing to the paucity of the attendance. A meeting of the Oamaru and Naseby Eailway Committee will be held to-morrow morning, at half-past 10 o'clock, in the Council Chambers. We have received a lengthy letter from a correspondent signing himself as "Alpha," and having reference to the encouragement of local industries. The letter will have a place in our next issue. A very great treat is in store for the people of Oamaru. At the dinner given by his Worship the Mayor last evening, Mr. Ex-Councillor Scott announced the probability of his delivering a lecture shortly, in aid of some charitable institution, entitled " Studies on Human Nature." The subject is one of some magnitude ; but as Mr. Scott is known to have devoted very considerable time and attention to the study of human nature, his discourse will be looked forwa d to with some degree of anxiety. Some little excitement was caused in Thames-street this morning by a pair of horses in an express be'onging to Mr. Cogvin starting off at full gallop from near the bridge, and continuing their headlong career until coming into contact with the lamp-post in front of the Commercial Hotel, which effectually stopped them, fortunately with no further damage to life or property than the smashing some of the lamp glass, i We hear, however, that both the horses 1 suffered considerable injury. We think that drivers of expresses should be more i careful than they have lately been about ] leaving their horses unattended. <