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Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 524, 5 January 1878, Page 2

We learn on good authority that Mr. Craig, of Punchbowl, has pnrchased a very large freehold in the Wanganui District, Wellington Provincial District, The price and terms are withheld. A United Children's Service, to which all are invited, will be held in St. Paul's Church at three o'clock, to-morrow afternoon. A blank sheet was presented at the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning. The usual monthly. meeting of the Committee of the North Otago Benevolent Society will be held in the Mechanics' Institute on Monday next, at 7 p. m. The Alleen Variety Troupe will give an entertainment at the Masonic Hall on Monday evening, which should be well worthy a visit if we are to believe the notices upon the troupe's performances in other towns. The whole of the members are spoken of very highly by the Press in the North, where the troupe has met with considerable success. Messrs. Watson Brothers, of the Commercial Hotel, Dunedin, have hist completed important alterations whereby they have provided a dining-room 40 ft. x 18 ft. for ladies and ladies accompanied by gentlemen. The room is a handsome one, and its appointments are everything that could be desired. A ladies' cloak-room has also been added to the conveniences of this deservedly popular hotel. The Secretary of the Caledonian Society requests that all accounts against the Society may be rendered to him on or before Monday next. The annual pic-nic of St. Luke's Sundayschool scholars occurred yesterday, on the grounds of Mr. George Sumpter, of Oaklelgh, Superintendent of the school. At 12.30 the children congregated ou the cricket ground, and, lead by their teachers, and headed by the boys carrying Hags, marched to the scene of operations. No locality could have been better adapted for the picnic than that placed at the disposal of the school by Mr. Sumpter, as it abounds in hills and dales, studded thickly here and there with trees. The view is sublime, taking in Taiaroa Heads to the southward, Pukeuri Point to the northward, the almost boundless ocean stretching to the coast of South America to the eastward, and the snow-clad mountains to the westward. It is just such a locality, apart from what its proprietor has accomplished for it, that children like to revel in. Of fruit there is, at this season of the year, abundance of almost every kind ; flowers, shrubs, and forests of trees gladden the eye and afford amusement; indeed, there is so much variety in and around Mr. Sumpters property that even children, lovers of change as they are, could in it find unlimited scope for fresh delights. On arrival the children were taken to the croquet "round and seated. A blessing having been asked by the Superintendent in the. absence of the pastor, the Rev. Mr. Gilford, who had not then arrived, a luncheon, consisting of the most approved comestibles and milk, was partaken of by the children, whose appetites having become sharpened by the keen air, almost as quick as phought, cleared numerous trays and ponderous vessels of milk in an extraordinary manner. As may be readily imagined, after such ample refreshment, recreation was the order of the day. Almost every variety of game was engaged iu by the children, lead by teachers, and visitors. Nothiug could have been more gratifying than to witness the merry faces of the children lighted up with satisfaction, and to hear the jubilant laughter proceeding from the happy groups engaged in swinging, see-sawing, skipping, French ti<*, boys' and girls' races, sack race, threeleeged race, and other games, Having 25repared themselves for it by exercise, the children were led to the orchard by Mr. Sumpr tcr, who gave them carte blanche to help themselves to the ripe fruit. • The children, big and little, needed no very pressing invitation, and carefully but surely caused a most perceptible difference in the density of the various trees that \wsre operated upon by their little fingers. Strawberries, raspberries, cherries, &c, having prepared them for fresh exertion, the children, after having taken shelter from a passing shower under the willows and around a grand specimen of the Wellingtonia giganiea in the garden conti<nious to the orchard, recommenced the sports. In order to afford a little variety. tins of sweetmeats were scattered amongst the Tass to be recovered by the children. Tea followed, when both scholars, teachers, and friends engaged in a repast, consisting of cakes of various kinds, &c, after which the hymns, "Onward Christians," and "We plough the fields" were sung by all present. The exceeding beauty of the children's pure voices which resounded amongst the trees, and had an e/le.ct upon the ear that could not be imparted by any .other music, is indescribable. After a little delay, a monster fire. balloon, c nstructed by the Rev. Mr. Gifford, the clergyman, of coloured paper, was let off, and it was one oj the most exciting events of the day to see how the nicely proportioned globe gracefully ascended until it was lost to the view of the beholders. Three cheers were given for the Rev. Mr. Gifford, for his kindness in making the balloon; for

Mr. Sumpter, for his generosity in entertaining the children; for the Sunday-school teachers ; and for the Sunday-school. The Evening Hymn having been sung, and the benediction pronounced by the pastor, a most delightful day's amusement was brought to a closeat about 8-30 p.m., when;the,children r fenred : to : their' home's. Not a'single misady'enture-.ioccurred throughout thefday to mar'the pleasure of the occasion, and the children, under the judicious control of their superintendent and teachers, who were.exceedhi'gly kind and attentive to them, behaved themselves like little ladies and gentlemeu.

The Wellington Post has the following : "We are informed, on reliable authority, that Mr. Ballance has agreed.to join the Ministry. He .will meet the other members of the Cabinet at Wellington about the middle of the month. It is not yet settled what portfolio he is to hold. As Mr.' Ballance is an able man. possessing sound views on the questions of taxation and land laws, his accession to the Ministry will be a gain to the Colony. Sir George Grey is expected to leave Auckland tor morrow with Mr. Sheehan, and to arrive in Wellington about the end of the week. Messrs. Larriach and Macaudrew will return about the middle of the month." The Ashhurton Mail reports that " a dastardly deed was perpetrated at Mr. J. Grigg's Longbeach station, on the evening of the 27th ultimo. The station cook, R. J. Selby, had, it appears, got seriously the worse of liquor, and while in a state of insensibility some evilly-disposed person or persons smeared him all over with coal tar, entirely destroying his clothing and endangering the wholeness of his skin. The case will be brought before the Resident Magistrate on Friday, when the person suspected will be charged with the offence." A remarkable specimen of line engraving reached Sydney by the last Uaiifornian steamer. It is the Lord's Prayer engraved with a diamond on glass, and covering a sjiace of not more than 1000 th part of a square inch. It is probably one of the most minute specimens of caligraphy in the world, and can only be made legible by the aid of a I very powerful microscope.

The following is a portion of a letter of the Times correspondent from the Helief Camp, Carlova. " we rode up the main street, which, from its pebbly appearance, s evidently in winter the bed of a roaring mountain torrent, we noted that every house was closed and carefully barred. It seemed like another city of the dead, A few Turks were at the door of a coli'ce-house, and our sixty-five Arabian drivers were lounging about waiting for us ; but beyond these and few dogs and eats, tin's town, which lately boasted some 10,000 inhabitants, was appaparently tenantless. I say apparently, because as we went up the street it became necessary to halt while 'Mr. Fawcett got out his credentials for the mudir ; and during that temporary stoppage a sight was encountered which brought tears to the eyes of more than one of our rough-looking party. A well-built house, close to which we reined up, was discovered to have inhabitants, and how we discovered this 'was that tho tips of several little white noses poked through the strong wooden liars, which were carefully nailed up from within, for all the world like rabbits pushing their noses out of a hutch. At our inquiry if anybody was .within, given in Turkish, the spaces between the bars became instantly blank. Calling up our dragoman, who spoke Bulgarian, we told nim to speak gently, and the little noses re-ap-peared. ' How many of you are there ?' we inquired. ' Ten,' was the faint reply, in a childish treble. ' How long have you been shut up here'?' ' Nearly forty days.' 'But why do you stay in there V ' Oil, do not ask us ; they are killing everybody. Where is our father"''—from a dozen little throa's at- once. 'Have you anything to eat?' ' Nothing now : we have lived all the time on the grapes in our .uardeji, but they are gone.' The rest was lost in a chorus of sudden sobs, A well-bred Devon ball has just been imported into Canterbury by Mr. E, Eeeee. This year Mr. Dairyniple,- of Minnesota, anticipates having 15,000 acres Under crou, and intends using 80 of Woods reaping and binding machines. The Colorado beetle, which caused such a scare in the Colonies, is an old friend in some parts of Europe, where the agriculturists are not afraid of it. It has long been known in Turkey and Rouniania, though it seldom appears in alarming numbers. The Catholic Colonisation Association of St. Louis has bought 12,000 acres of land in Pottawattomie county, Kansas, on the line of the railroad for 3 dols. CO cents, an acre, and a large colony will be organised on it immediately.

Mr. John Hullnli, in his capacity as Inspector of Music, reports to the Education Department as follows : —ln five years he had individually examined nearly 9000 students in the training colleges of Great Britain, and he observes as the result of his experience that singjng from notes is as yet altogether an exceptional subject in elementary schools. Indeed what has been latterly done for niusii in schools has rather impeded than furthered its improvement. The songs for the last few years acquired by scholars are not merely worthless as means of musical culture, but they take up that time which might be given to the real study of t]ie subjects, and thus (so I have been repeatedly told by schuolmasters whom I know to be competent to teach) prevent them turning their knowledge to account in teaching their pupils—not half-a-dozan songs, but music. To put within reach of the people innocent nud cheap recreation is an object confessedly worthy of the attention of an enlightened Government—and music at the lowest estimation is one among the most innocent of recreations, and of all recreations assuredly the cheapest to those who can make it for themselves.

The Christian Record publishes the following extract from a private letter, received a week ago by the Secretary of the Dunedin Young Men's Christian the. son of the Rev. Dr.~ ; Somervitle": —**MVIy father bids me say that only to-day it%as v decided we should leave New.- South; Wales by the' January :San Francisco maibsteamer, arid.commence "work first at Auckland. . . Of course,-we cannot definitely say when we shall be in Dunedin, but we shall probably go south from Auckland, holding.-services at Christchurch, Wellington, etc. . '." . Our stay in the Colony of New Zealand will likely last about two months. . . . My father feels deeply obliged to you and to the brethren of many sections «f the Church in New Zealand, for the numerous letters he has received from them, all of which express sentiments of kindness and Christian hope. He regrets being unable to make reply to all the communications that have reached him. '"