Untitled

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 545, 30 January 1878, Page 2

We understand that Mr. Bennett, the second master of the Grammar School, is also going to resign for another appointment down south. We learn that the Union Bank of Australia, at a meeting of shareholders held in London a few days ago, declared a dividend of 16 per cent, on its paid-up capital of L 1,250,000, and at the same time added L 25.000 to its reserve funds, making the total amount of these funds L 450,000. A similar amount was placed to the reserve funds in July last. The annual general meeting of No. 1 Company Volunteers will be held in the Volunteer Hall on Friday next, at 7.30 p.m. At the Resident Magistrate's Court, this morning, Loughlau M'Carthy was charged w.th having been drunk and disorderly in Thames-street. The accused was discharged with a caution. The meeting appointed to take place at the schoolhouse, Teaueraki, for Friday evening next, of those desirous . f being enrolled as members of No. 1 Company Volunteers, has heen postponed till Wednesday evening next, the schoolhouse being required for the first meeting of the School Committee. The annual meeting of the subscribers of the Oamaru Hospital will take place tonight, at 8 o'clock, at the Volunteer Hall. Mr. Gibbs' motion—" That the number of the medical staff should be increased, and that patients should have the right of selecting their own medical attendant," will be brought on for discussion. The annual general meeting of the members of the Mechanics' institute will be held to-morrow, at the Institute, at S p.m. A notification appears in another column from Messrs. Robert W ilkin and Co., Christchurch, to the effect that the Osborne Reaping Machine will be on view in Oamaru on or°about the Ist February. This will give the farmers an opportunity of judging-which is really the better machine Wood's or Osborne's patent. At the annual meeting of Justices held yesterday at the Court-house, the Court of Petty Sessions rota of attendance was arrayed, and T. W. Parker, Esq., R.M., was elected Chairman. The Lodge Waitaki, 1111, E.G., will meet this evening, at 8 o'clock. The annual meeting of the Waitaki County Acclimatisation Society will take place at the Council Chambers to-morrow, at 12 o'clock.

Copies of *' The Messiah " and " Creation" are now obtainable at Messrs. Ronayne and Cottrell's. Intending members of the Philharmonic Society will doubtless take this opportunity of procuring these oratorios, selections from which, we understand, are to be put in rehearsal, with ihe object of giving a concert at the earliest possible date.

The following gentlemen have been elected as School Committees for the undermentioned districts, under the new Act : Hampden—Messrs. Crawford, Sherwin, Harris, H. .Murcott, Findlay, N. Campbell, ami P. Dorreen. Maheno—Messrs. I.itth(Chairnian), P. Booth (secretary and Treasurer), M'Kay, llawson, R. Thomp on. Gemmell. and Oliver. Papakaio—Messrs I). Horrie. I>. Shaw, Hc-v J. Steven. -1. Wilson, l>oig. Gibson, and I lunne. Pukeuri Point—Mes.-rs. .lames Wattf, Junes Craig, T. Y. Duncan, H- Schluter, Win, Kastou, J. Murison. and R. Smart. The attendance of scholars at the Oamaru Public Schools en their re-oj enieg after th holidays was as follows : —Grammar Scho-1, 320 (increase 40) ; >-o th School, 14-a (increase SO) ; South School, 151 (increase 70. Teachers have always, under the old system, had more scholars under their charge than they could attend to ; but what will be done "under the new sy.-tem, with the scholars multiplied by about 30 per cent,, a< we have no doubt they will be, it is hard to conceive. In many instances the enlargement of schoolhouscs and an increase of teachers will be necessary.

The I.ydia Howarde troupe appeared for the second and last time in Oamaru last eveninif. The Masonic Hall was comfortably filled by an appreciative audience. Kvery item on the programme was gone through in a manner that gave entire and general satisfaction to those present. We mad vert :iitly omitted to make mention of Miss Ada Ward in our last evening's issue. There can be doubt that that lady is very talented, and reads with a naturalness that is more charming than an exhibition of exaggerated sentiment or passion ; but we would like to see her in comedy, which we believe is her forle. The Company were successful in Oamaiu, and left for Dunedin by the Waitaki today. A meeting took place at Duntroon on Monday evening last in reference to school matters, Mr. E. C. Smith in the chair. We are glad to learn that the movement for the erection of a schoolhouse in that district is progressing favorably, and that upwards of LGOhave already been promised. Mr. Johnston, architect, kindly placed at the disposal of the school committee a plan of the school at Ngapara. The Hon. Mr. Campbell having promised a site for the schoolhouse, a subcommittee was appointed to wait upon that gentleman regarding the same. The following gentlemen were elected as a school committee :—Messrs. E. C. Smith, A. .Bell, C. M\B:iin, A. A. Smith, J. D. Collins, F. Spence, Hugh Johnson, and G. A. Harris. The election will, however, have to be repeated, as. the district not having been proclaimed an education district under the new Act, the proceedings thereat were informal.