The Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 1878.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 539, 23 January 1878, Page 2

The Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 1878.

We remind our readers that the trial of the reaper and mower imported by Mr. M'Lennan, for the Hon. Robert Campbell, will take place on the Whitstone Estate on Friday next. It will be remembered that a prize was offered by the North Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Association, at last f-xhibition, for the best reaper and m-'wer. The machine imported by Mr. M'Lennan to«k the prize, subject to trial, which is to take place as above. The occurrence is one of peculiar interest to the farmers of this district, and we think, therefore, that a special train should be run from Oamaru at a suitable hour in the morning, returning in the evening. In order to afford everybody an opportunity of witnessing the trial, we hope that this suggestion will be acted upon. We learn with pleasure that the Government have intimated to the Mayor that the amount voted by Parliament for the widening of the street at Bee's corner will be paid over as soon as the necessary conveyances are executed. The promptness of the action of the Ministry in this, as in many other matters, is widely different to the slow and tardy movements of the late Government. There is now every prospect that within a very short time the widening of Bee's corner, the mo3t dangerous portion of our thoroughfares, will have become an accomplished fact. It is stated that Mr. Thornton has resigned the Kectorship of the Grammar School, and that he has received an appointment in the North Island. We cannot vouch for the correctness of the report, though we have very good reason for believing that it is true. We shall possibly learn more of the matter after the meeting of the Schools Committee to be held this evening.

The Committee of the North Otago Turf Club have been highly successful in obtaining the co-operation of a number of influential gentlemen to act as stewards at the forthcoming races. Amongst those who have consented to fill the positions of stewards are the Hon. E. Campbell, Dr. Webster, Dr. Garland, Messrs. Studholme, Steward, and others. A very large amount of support has also been promised, two gentlemen having signified their willingness to give subscriptions of LlO each towards the race funds. We are reminded by an announcement in another column that the meeting for the establishment of a Choral Society is to be held this evening, at S o'clock, at the Masonic Hall. As the invitation is a general one, a large attendance may be anticipated, not only of those who intend to become acting members:, but of others who are desirous of countenancing the object in view. A meeting of the Oamaru Artillery Volunteers was held last evening, after the usual drill. Lieutenant Greenfield occupied the chair. The minutes of the last meeting having been read and confirmed, a Committee, consisting of Sergeant-Major Holdsworth and Sergeants Cowie and Hickey, was appointed to report upon the advisability of proceeding with the election of a captain. The Chairman having briefly remarked upon the sniallneis of the attendance of members at the battalion parade, the meeting concluded with the customary vote of thanks to the Chairman.

The sale of the whole of the late Mr. Wheatley's property and effects will take place to-morrow, at noon, on the premises, and should attract a large number of buyers. The only case down for hearing at the, j Resident Magistrate's Court this morning, before T. A. Clowes, Esq., J.P., was a charge of drunkenness against John Medcalf. The accused, who had been admitted to bail, did not put in an appearance, and his bail (LI) was ordered to be estreated. The sitting of the District Court arranged to be held to-morrow morning has been adjourned until Monday next. A special meeting of the Mechanics' Institute Committee will be held to-morrow evening, at S o'clock.| A meeting of the Schools Committee will be held this eveninc at half-past 7 o'clock, at the Secretary's office. The Committee of the Northern Agricultural and Pastoral Essoeiation will meet at Mr. Church*B office at 11 a.m. to-morrow, to make arrangements for the trial of the reaping and binding machine, &c.

The final selection of players to represent the Oamaru Club in the cricket match with the Dunedin Club has now beeen made, the following being the members chosen : —E. Booth, F. Edwards, F. Fenwick, G. Fenwick. G. B. L. Lowe, G. J. Millington, J. A. Millington, J. Nicolls, J. Pickett, J. Rice, J. "Walls. Emergency—G. Borton.

: A labourer named Giles Collins has been fined five shillings and costs by the Wells magistrates for keeping a live Colorado beetle in his honse at West Pennand, Somerset. A friend of ours may feel grateful that the insect he exhibited was not only not a Colorado beetle, but that it was dead. Had it been otherwise ha might have met with the fate of Mr. Giles Collins. Notwithstanding all the sensational newspaper paragraphs that have appeared the beetle is still a stranger to these parts, and for this let us be thankful.