The Evening Mail. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1877.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 519, 29 December 1877, Page 2

The Evening Mail. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1877.

"One I Know/' Waimate, would become a capital correspondent, with a little practice, but the letter" which he forwarded its for publication to-day would require considerable emendation before u c u!d be presented to our readers. We would recommend him to make another attempt. Let him choose his sul jeet, and, with his mind fixed upon it, abstain from going all round the compass by introducing half-a-dozen different subjects in a; many lines. Concentrativeuess is what he wants. Of huuior he has an immense store. The alius.on of the connection between a millinery establishment and the gaol was very original and funny. We, however, after reading tne effusion, came to the conclusion that the style was far in advance of that which we have auy right to expect our readers to appreciate.

At a School Committee meeting held at Waiareka yesterday evening, out of twelve applications for the mastership of the local School, Mr. William Fidler, of the Oamaru Grammar School, was appointed, and lias accepted the position. Mr. Alexander Le Grand Campbell (late of Oamaru), whose appointment to a President Magistracy we have already announced, entered upon Jus duties as Magistrate for the districts of Ashburton and Ceraldine on Wednesday last.

There were no cases down for hearing at the Resident Court this morning. It appears that Edward Trickett, the Australian sculler, who at present holds the position of champion of England, will shortly have to meet a couple of American oarsmen. One of these—Hanlon, of Toronto, the champion of Canada —has already put in a claim for the honor now held by Trickett, and has expressed his determination to visit Australia and row a match with Trickett. By telegram we learn that the agent of Courtney, the champion of America, lias arrived at Auckland by the Sail Francisco mail steamer, for the purpose of arranging a match with Trickett for LIOOO aside. Should the preliminaries be settled satisfactorily, a struggle may be looked forward to unprecedented in Australian waters,

" Autolycus," a contributor to the Nelson Daily Timet, gives expression to the following sensible and pertinent remarks : " There is hope for the country yet, fop we have at last found a Premier with sufficient moral courage to s;>y 'We can't afford it,' words that, simple as they read, require a very great effort to jjronounce when wanted. Of course, > s ir George's refusal to receive and pay Sir William Jjsrvois and Colonel Scratchlev will be reeeiyed with disfavour at Government House, and certainly every one-horse member of tli - House of Representatives will raise his' voice against what will be termed ' a reprehensible display of parsimony, calculated to ruin the reputation of the Colony.' but really the people of New Zealand are about full of this sort of humbug. Captain Campbell Walker, with his wonderful report —that New Zealand contained a gr. at deal of valuable timber, and would grow a great deal more if it was planted—and still more wonderful bill for travelling expenses, is a painful experience not yet forgotten, and we may therefore beg to be excused in referring to the defence men. New Zealand requires no forts or torpedoes to defend her coast line. Our impregnable fortification is our debt. Tile English capitalist will not allow us to be wiped flut by a foreign power until his little bill is paid. Our situation in the event of Great Britain being engaged in war would be similar to that of a passenger on the Grey f!jver in the good old days. A boat . with passengers capsized shooting a fall. The owner, a remarkably good swimmer, first saved a storekeeper arid jlien a female passenger. " Why did yon not save the woman first ?" said one of the crew. '' Because Billson owed me for the last two .cargoes, and I should not have got a cent if he h.a/1 gone under," was the quick reply. There is #ot ph,o slightest doubt that in the course of .a few ye#ra tij.e London capitalist will take a great interest in this polony as well as a great interest ojit .of it.