The Evening Mail. SATURDAY, AUGUST 25, 1877.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 414, 25 August 1877, Page 2

The Evening Mail. SATURDAY, AUGUST 25, 1877.

We regret thai, owing to pressure on our space, we are again compelled to hold, over "Alpha's " interesting communication, besides a letter from "A.8.," and some other matter already in t\ - pe. The folly of appointing members of the General Assembly as members of Education Boards and other local governing bodies is just now fully demonstrated in Dunedin. It i seems more than probable that there will be no meeting o ? the Board of Education in Otago for some time to come, no matter how important the business may be. Three of the members of the Board are also members of the Colonial Parliament, and are now attending to the affairs of the Colony at Wellington. The Secretary to the Board is also in Wellington for the purpose of aiding in the framing of the new Education Bill; and now Mr. J. L. Gillies, another member of the Board, is going to the capital to look after the Harbour Board's affairs. Of the other two members of the Education Board, one is said to reside at Queenstown, and the other at Purakanui. So far as we in Oamani are concerned, the absence of the whole of the members of the Board of Education from Dunedin is not a matter of very great consequence. Our affairs cannot well be worse managed and our requirements neglected to a greater extent than they have been during the past. But the state of affairs we have mentioned is certainly not satisfactory, and shows very clearly the truth of the Scriptural proverb that "No man can serve two masters."

/Ameeting of tfieOamara.-NasebyPiailway - Committee was held atj the County Council' Chambers this morning, when there were present—Messrs. Steward (in the; chair), Maude, Evans; Gibbs, Borne, Menlove, antl Sumpter (hon. sec). The District Railway Bill was carefully considered and several suggestions made with regard to it. A resolution was passed thanking Messrs. Hislop, Shrimski, and De Lautour for copies of the Bill and forwarding suggestions made with reference to it. Accounts to the amount of LlB2 16s. having been passed for payment, the meeting terminated with a vote of thanks to the chairman. The jury who inquired into the origin of the fire at Messrs. Weir and Samson's premises, Dunedin, returned a verdict to the effect that an act of incendiarism had been committed by some person or persons unknown. The new Ngapara School-house was crowded to excess last evening on the occasion of the entertainment under the auspices of the local School Committee, who ought to be well pleased with the success which attended this, their first entertainment. The concert, as the chairman (Mr. N. Fleming) remarked, was one of the best amateur concerts that has taken place in the district. The programme consisted of some choice selections, which were done justice to by the vocalists. The first portion of the programme was commen3ed by Mr. M. A. Jones, who in his usual excellent style, played the overture. This was followed by "'Kitty Tyrell," sung by Mr. Booth, who was in good voice. A duet, "The Larboard Watch," by Miss Penfold and Mr. Jones came next and was rendered iu fine styie. Mr. Rice and Mr. Kerr recited the scene between Edward and Warwick in a manner which the audience testified their approval of, and was succeeded by another recitation, entitled " Virginius," by Mr. Grave, which was as usual done justice to by that gentleman. " Little Footsteps " was well rendered by Mr. Walls, who was followed by Miss Cotterill, Mr. Walker, and Mr. Hilliker, with a song and chorus, "Silver Moonlight Winds are Blowing." .Miss Begbie concluded the first portion with that pretty song, " Killarney," which received an encore. The second part opened wih a selection on the fuanoforte by Mr. Jones. " Half-mast High "by Miss Penfold came next, and was redemauded. Mr. Walker seemed at home in a character song, for which an encore was demanded. Another recitation was then given by Mr. Grav'e, entitled "Beautiful Snow.'' Mr. Walls then sang "Let the Angels in," and was succeeded by the recital of the wellknown apology from Lytton's "Lady of Lyons" by Mr. Kerr. An amusing reading by Mr. Henry Honour was followed by " The Path Across the Hill," sung in good style by Mr. Wilson, who had to submit to a lecall, and in response gave "Castles in the Air." Mr. Piper then, in a few appropriate remarks, heartily welcomed the new schoolmaster (Mr. Bice) to his new sphere of duty. He also gave a humourous reading from Mark Twain's experiences called " A cure for a cold," and the laughter which the audience evinced showed their appreciation of Mr. Piper's efforts. That well-known duet, "List to the Convent Bells," was sung in an excellent manner by Miss Cottrell and Mr. D. Booth, who in response to a well-merited encore, sang the duet "All's Well." This brought to a conclusion the musical portion of the programme. The Chairman, addressing the audience, gave a few words of advice to the Committee and schoolmaster, the substance of which was that they should try to work harmoniously together in advancing the interests of th* Ngapara School. He then called on the Ngapara people to give three cheers for the amateurs who had so kindly come from Oamaru to assist the Committee in their effort to free the school from debt by means of the pleasant entertainment which had just been listened to. The room was then cleared for dancing, which was kept up with great spirit until the small hours. .