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Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 541, 25 January 1878, Page 2

We received tins morning from certain of our subscribers at Waitaki South a statement that since the 21st instant they have not received their copies of the Mail. In almost erery case in which the Mail is delivered by rail to subscribers there seems to be some fatality, for we are in receipt of a steady shower of complaints, which has the effect of dampening oar spirits and spoiling onr appetites. Fanners -whose faces we once delighted to see, and whose hands we gra6ped fervently while wishing " good-day" are now becoming estranged from ns. We see them coming while taking our walks abroad, and, scarcely possessing the courage to look their way, we cast a-furtive glance and are pleased even with a cool recognition ; sometimes a ware of the hand brings us up standing.

Experience teaches us what to expect, and the cast-down appearance of him who seeks an interview as he approaches us, clearly betokens that he did not read the Mail of the. previous evening. "What shall we say "this time ? for we have fairly exhausted our stock of reasons why the paper'bccasiohally fails to reach country subscribers. We assume our characteristic smile, and a boldness that is not natural to us, and remark tb"at;it T is : a very fine day for harvesting,- or something of that sort. treat him toother original remarks, such ..-as;-"It looks like rain," &c, but he comes-down upon us "like a wolf on the fold," our knees, becoming visibly-affected, knock together like castanets, as he lays his hand kindly but firmly upon our shoulder, and utters the familiar words, "No paper for a week, and a ! l the settlors around me are complaining of rhe irregularity with which they receive tlie Mail " It's a good standing excuse to say i.'s the fault of the railway guard—we hope he « ill torsive us for laying the blame upon him—aud we sonify our intention of it once interviewing Jlr. Smith. This sort .if thing has.now-i-een going on for mouths, nil we are not only a! out petting tired, bu< •ur me b?al adviser tay- that wi-are t'-onbler u-i'h some ipsid'ous disease which baffles all his medical skill, and that we mu.-t sooner ..!• later succumb to V. We are doing our very best to rectify matte;s. t'ur country subscribers may rely upon it that sell'-in-torest alone would ensure our doi' g that. The fault doos nof; lie with us. The paper? are forwarded with our accustomed regularity and care to each of our subscribers How it is that they do not reach them is as much a my-teiy to us as it is to them. We have already had recourse to every means within our power to unravel the secret channel that is absorbing these missing papers, and we suppose that we shall just have to be content to commence and go through the same programme again, for we are as much at a loss to account for their non-delivery now as we were at first. We • have, however, a new idea on the matter that, we believe, will meet the difficulty. We do not suspect carelessness on the part : of the railway guards, who, we have every [ reason to believe, faithfully leave the papers . according to the accurate and full directions , on the wrappers. Tlie papers must therefore be "lifted" by those who are not entitled to them, and that systematically. Our : complaining subscribers may rely upon it that we will do our very best to secure the regular delivery of the Mail in future.

Last night, a special meeting of the Committee of the Mechanics' Institute was held, when there were present—Messrs. Hislop (President), M'Kenzie, Barron, Thornton, Lorins, Blackburne, Filleul, and Hickey (HonrPecrctary). The animal report to be submitted to the meeting of members on the 31st inst. was read and approved of. After several accounts were passed for payment the meeting terminated. . ;