The Evening Mail. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1877.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 475, 6 November 1877, Page 2

The Evening Mail. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1877.

The Government have notified to the contractors of the Kartigi-Pahnerston section of the mam trunk railway that if certain conditions are not complied with within ten days, which have for their object hastening the completion of that portion of the lin •, the Government will take over the contract and complete it at the risk of the contractors. This is praiseworthy on the part of the Government.

An announcement appears in anot'er column that Mr. A. H. Maude will sell, on J-'a.urday next, the gifts that have been forwarded to him for sate for the benefit of the I'amine Relief Kund. It is desired tnat persons who intend to send articles for sale on this occasion will do so on Thursday, Friday being a general holiday. There will be a sitting of the District Court at 11 a.m. to-morrow, when the only matter to be heard will be an application for the discharge of Alexander C. M'Kay, a bankrupt. We are informed by the managing agen-, Mr. Bureu, that Mr. Herbert Koberts, the celebrated billiard player, who scored so many successes during his late professional tour throughout the Australasian Colonies, will shortly visit Oamaru.

Intending competitors for the prizes for cottage gardens are reminded that entries will close 011 Saturday next. Mr. W. Woodcock's tender of 1.9 10s., for removing and re-erecting fence around the Garden Keserve, was accepted at a meeting of the Public Woiks Committee held yesterday. The Committee of the North Otago Horticultural Society held their monthly meeting last evening at Albion Hmi.-e, Messrs. Oonnell, Pre-ident (in the chair), Stemson. Hey wood, ."Simpson, Steward, Spratt. and Leigh, being present. It was resolved that those members who were repeatedly absent from the meetings of the society sli mid be written to on the subject-. The following is a list "of judges selected : —Pot plants and cut flowers, Messrs. Kerr, Stemsou, Leigh, Thompson, aud Lemon ; fruit aud vegetables, Messrs. Scaley, McDonald, Watt, Kerr, and Earl; cottage gardens, the President, Messrs. Simpson, and Kidd.. A subcommittee consisting of Messrs. Patersoa, Lee, and the President was appointed to secure the Hall. It was resolve.l lhat all first prizes, except in cut flowers and vegetable;, count 5 points ; second priz.-s, 3 points; third prizes, 1 point. In cut flowers and vegetables, first, A point a; Sceond, '2 points : and third, 1 point. It was resolved that private priz s do not count for medals. Also, that no special prize he awarded except to exhibits specially staged for the same. The time for receiving entries of competitors for the prizes for cottage gardens has been extended to the iUth instant.

The monthly meeting of the North Otago Benevolent Society took place last evening. The following niembe s were present:— Messrs. >teward, President (in the chair), N. Fleming, J. Booth. C. S. Allen (hon. Treasurer). Ronayne, Falconer, (-Jreenlield, and Church (Secretary). After the dispo-al of routine business, an application for relief, and a request from John Rodder that the Society would forward his children to him at Christchurcii, were read and refered to the Visiting Committee. The UarrackMaster's monthly report was read and received. It was resolved that the Secretary be instructed to apply to the School Committee for the free education of the children Fox, now in the Barracks. The Visiting Committee's report was read, which pointed out the desirablene>s of supplying a few sciiool requi-iles to the children in the Barracks, and of repairing th : locks of some of the cottages. 'J hese suggestions were agreed to. A number of accounts were passed, subject to their certificiiti-11 by the Visiting Commirtee. Me-srs. 0. S. Allen and N. Fleming were appointed the Visiting Committee for the ensuing month. It was decided to hold the annual meeting of subscribers on Monday, the 19th insc., at the Mechanics' Institute, at half-past 7 o'clock, 011 which evening a Committee meeting will be held, to take place half-ao-hour earlier. The draft; annual report and balance-sheet were read and adopted, subject to the consideration of a paragraph in the first-men-tioned at next meeting. The Directors of the Caledonian Society held their weekly meeting last evening at the Royal Hotel. The following members were present:—Messrs. Sinclair, Vice-Presi-dent (in the chair). Wm. Bee, G. R. Taylor, Wm. MTntosh, H. Aitken, it. L. Rule, A. M'Corkjudaic, D. Miller, L. Morton, E. Rowland, J, Liddle, R. Wilson, J. I.awson, A. J. S. Headland, T. Pratt, L>. Chalmers, YV. H. Ronayne, and W. Aitken (Secretary). The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed, the Sports Committee reported that the programme for the forthcoming sports should

be the same as that of last year, but that the distance of the flat race should be altered from 200 to 150 yards, and be run in heats ; also, that a sack race of 150 yards should be introduced. The Committee's suggestions "were adopted, and it was resolved, " That in all the dances the Dompetitors be compelled to aopear in full Highland costume." The chair was here vacated in favour of Mr. Neil Fleming, the President of the Society, who had ju-t entered the meeting. Mr. T. Pratt offered an extra priz -of Ll for men's vaulting; Mr. H. Aiken offered a fir-t prize of 155., and a second prize of 10*. to boys for vaulting. It was re-solved, " That the gate privileges b. j . not sold this year." At a meeting of the Oamaru Hosp : tal Committee held yesterday, and at which .Messrs. Steward (in the chair), Morris, A. P..ter-;on, J. Paterson, Townsend, M'Jntosh, and i'unn, were present, seven applications for the apjV'intment of collector to the institution were read and cons dared, Mr. W. H. j I 'ansey being chosen. I The rttte prosecution against Mr. George ! Joi.es of this paper, who is charged with havinj committed criminal libel against the Lite Attorney-General, the Hon. V. Whitaker, wilL not come on for hearing until after the sitting of the forthcoming Court of Appeal. The case will most likely be heard s< me time during next January. The athletic sports to take place shortly under the auspices of the Oamaru Athletic Association will be productive of no little interest, if our information be correct. There is to be an "Old Man's Pace," which, under ordinary circumstances, supplies food for mirth ; but the fun will be greatly enhanced, we understand, by the engagement in this race of a number of our local celebrities, some of them " young-old " men an I others "old-young" men—some light and others heavy. Of course the usual system oi handicapping will be observed, namely one yard start for each year over 40. A gentleman whose neat and forcible addresses almost daily delight the habituts of our judicial institutions, and whose whole anatomy is quite as active as his tongue and that is saying something—intends tc compete. A gentleman has called to inform us that he will give a gold chain and a watch as first and second prizes to be competed for by swimmers at the baths to-morrow at 4 o'clock ; entrance money, 2s. (> 1.