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Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 515, 24 December 1877, Page 2

To-morrow bo'ng Chrismas Day, the Mail will not be published. The Otepopo school examination took place to-day. His Worship the Mayor eonducted the proceedings, which commenced at 10 o'clock, but concluded at too Lite an hour to admit of our publishing a report in this issue.

Three charges of embezzlement were preferred against Henry Victor Clifford, at the Resident Magistrate's Court, this morning. Messrs. Maitland, Pcarec, and Muoie gave evidence to the cli'ect that thuy had paid moneys to the accused, which had not been accounted for to Mr. Wilkin-on (the prosecutor), who was agent for Mr. Hamilton, bookseller, of Sydney. Mr. Balmcr appeared for the prosecution. Tlic accused, who was undefended by counsel, crossexamined the prosecutor at considerable length, but only elicited the fact that Mr. Wilkinson, when in Christchurch, had said it was better for him to be his " own master " than work for LI a week. His Worship committed the prisoner for trial at the next Criminal Sittings of the Supreme Court in Duncdiii. The decision, in the charge against W. Aitken, for a breach of the Corporation Bye-laws, was adjourned till Thursclay. The Waitaki County Council advertises for applications for the position of engineer and surveyor to the Council.

A meeting of the Court Pride of Oamaru, A. 0.F., will be held at S o'clouk this evening, at the Oddfellows' Hall.

The Christmas waits were about betimes this year. They commenced operations on Saturday night, and did not desist until the Sabbath had well begun, beginning again their labour of love at an early hour this morning. Their repertoire consisted of choice instrumental music, such as delights the ear when wafted on tne midnight air. We understand that Mr. Plieloung, who played the cornet in his usual style, was the leader.

Mass will be celebrated in tbe Catholic Church to-morrow (Christinas), at 7 a.m., 9 a.m., and 11 a.m., and the usual evening devotions will take place at half-past six o'clock.

St. Luke's Church was crowded yesterday at the three services—morning, a/tenionn, and evening. His Loi-dship toe Bishop of Dunedin preached impressive services at the morning and evening services, the prayers being read by the Rev. Mr. Gilford. During the services the choir sang a couple of anthems in very good style, that for the morning being Mozart's "Sauctus,"' audio the evening Mozart's Quoniam,'' Mr. Finch presiding at the organ. In the afternoon a confirmation sen-he was held, when seventeen candidates—nine fema I csand eight males presented themselves, to whom His-Lordship delivered a solemn address and exhortation. The usual Christmas services will be held to-morrow.

Mr. Mason, of this town, is the liapny possessor of a very handsome and valuable dog, yclept "Le Pouge." "Whilst that gentleman was meandering about the other morning, with his "kennel," according to his custom, the courser, .seize! witii an attack of perversity, took a bold stand on the rails across the bridge over the lagoon. The train for the north loomed in sight just at this unfortunate moment. His master whistled. Oblivious of the conse [nonces, there stood the noble animal, usually so pliable, as obstinate as a mu'e. Another second, and many guineas wuhl bo represented by sundry pieces of cat's meat. There was only time for a spasmodic whistle, as in another moment all would be over. The train whizzed past. The dog was gone. Not to the happy hunting grounds—"No ! He was merely enjoying an ablution in the lagoon beneath ; and while his master was mourning his loss, and searching for a small piece, by which to call to mind the noble animal's many good qualities in tiine to come, he gave an upward glance significant of cpmisseration for the pain ho had caused his owner, and crawling out of the slimy pool signified his pleasure by shaking oil" the too adhesive and savory moisture at the feet of his master.

The settling on the Melbourne Cup meeting, says the Art/us. was the most sensational afl'air of the kind that has occurred in Victoria. The most exciting incident during the clay was the payment by Joseph Thompson of LIO.OOO to the representative of the Hon. J. White, the owner of Chester. The bet was made somo time ago in Sydney, LIO,OOO to L4OO against Chester for the Melbourne Cup. The payment was made in Collins-street, in LSO and LIOO bank notes, the transaction being witnessed by a large crowd of interested and, no doubt envious spectators. This is the largest bet ever paid by one member of the ring in Australia, Immediately afterwards Thompson paid 1,6,000 to anothei' backer of Chester, L 2.000 to another, and the next claim made was for

L 3..000, which was also met. This bookmaker paid over in four bets L 21,000 before receiving L2OO. The backers of horses are paying fairly, though some of the heavy losers are said to require time.

The Adelaide correspondont of the Melbourne Argus states that " Sir William Jcrvois will not go to New Zealand, the Government of Xew Zealand having withdrawn from the defence arrangements."'

A writer in an exchange says:—"A player named Swift has been making some extraordinary scores in Melbourne lately. Playing against average clubs lie obtained over 100 runs each Saturday for a month, viz., November 10, 102: 17th 10$; 2-lth, 1 l!i : and 'December 2, 124 not out. Such a featis, I should fancy, unprecedented in cricket annals. On the same day some more heavy scoring was done, a young player named Menzies obtaining 124 against Bohemia.

A funny story is going the rounds about a gentleman who bought a handsome gold watch as a present, and had it suitably inscribed.. The jeweller from whom lubought it avers that a few days afterwards he returned and asked if it wou'd not lie possible to alter or alfngo' le-r change the inscription, as the lidy for whom it- was gut daln t like it. The words engraved on the watch were— li To my wife, on her -it'tli birthday." The jeweller acknowledged that in all his experience ho never met so innocent a irentleman.

Mooks wa; slatmpad—hadn't a. cent,-and having gained ;i<lmis:-i >n (under pretext of a Press ticket) to a \v;ix\vin , :c show, ho pondered ns iu his next move. M. perceived a worthy IL'.i'-r >vith a parehm n*. scroll in hi, hand, which contained sonic p. tithm to :i mighty sovereign ; a short distance from it was a figure of the Bard of Avon, with one hand in easy position, and too other not knowing what to do with itself; it suddenly struck Mooks that Shakespeare should have a scroll too. He went out of that show, found a eonlidiug stationer who allowed him to "go tick" for a sheet of parchment. " fossicked " up an ancient work on Shakespeare's life, and copied on the parchment ;m old bond entered into hy the divine William when that worthy was engaged iu trade: rubbed his parchment over with a decent course of dust, and proceeded to the waxworks with a relic of '• Kngland's greatest poet." Visitors now perceive in Shakespeare's dexter hand a parchment scroll bearing certain hieroglyphics, which scroll impresses the mind of an admiring public with the idea that the |>ropi'ietor of that show has a passion for am-icnt literary lore. And Mooks '•• raised the wind : 'to the tune of a guinea.— Orijhi'i!.

The Sydney J/b,a,b>;/ 11-i-.'H says: Major Itichards, of the New South Wale. Volunteer Force, who has just returned from a trip to England, has brought out with him a match "Henry'' rille, which is (piite a novelty in this part of the world. The stock is so made that when the "'hack " pn-ition is used for firing, it wiil lit over the shoulder, and, with a pad for the cheek, the rille should be kept perfectly steady. When used in this position, the ordinary lock is used, but in the event of the shooting man preferring the " forward " position, there is a pistol grip with a trigger well forward, but working the same lock. This may s.em a great innovation to most sh .oting men : but there is another matter that wdl strike them as still more extraordinary. vi.<., that the elevation and windage are both arranged by meaiii of the foresight, and not the backsight, as is the case with most match rides. The new ride ; s o*£ that will be very carefully scrutinized hy alt shooting men.

The Qneeustown correspondent of the CrominU Ar : ii'<. writes:— "Ao doubt, many people oftimes say to inem-ce.'es. • What is the meaning of the tern, oteach of privilege?' A person smunmning ;iu M. M.lt. for debt while the Jlou;e is in si:s i ,;i wdl end out to Ids cost. Mr. Ib'grrs, tailor of this town, had a ca-eoi debt in die Resident Magistrate's Court this wee'-: agtinsc the

member for Vfa'catbm. Whether the amount, nought to lo vc-ovcred wj.s r'n.- ll'-i : wor.ii/"* wedding garments I. do not ku:.w : hue the debt w-ucv, dueled :il).u,fc that auspicious period. However, A:,-. bogrs I'oiind out that Tor the he had ma !o a mi --lake : lui hail, according to parliamentary parlance, committed a. breach <>f privilege, ami was liable for .-o dohvg to bo called to the bar of the House. Mr. Rogers neither fainted nor sank into his boots at this astoue-hing "hit of law news liis Worship laid down, but a-d;ed the Magistrate if a fresh service of summons eouhl not be mado : returnable in two months: his Worship decided it could, and so the ease stands. It appears th.-it no M.11.J.:. can either be summoned or arrested for debt ten days piior to the House, sitting or till ten days after the session is closed. Parliament having due regard for its members by taking them under its paternal wings for .fear some voracious creditor might gulp down at one mouthful some poor iunocen l ' who had to get a suit; of clothes, or something else a; necessary, on ' tick.' So much for Parliamentary parlance ; it is rich in morals and virtue."