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Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 604, 9 April 1878, Page 2

A very pleasing ceremony took place in Wesley Church last evening, when the Rev. Mr. Armitage. who is leaving the district, was presented with a handsome gold watch and guard. There was a large attendance of members of the congregation and others. Mr. X. Lane, who occupied the chair, made the presentation on behalf of the congregation as a mark of the esteem and respect in which he was held by the Hock whose pastor he had been for several years. The Rev. Mr. Armitage thanked the donors for their gift in feding terms, saying that he accepted it as an expression of the kindly feeling that they entertained towards him, and looked upon it as a mark of their approval of his efforts. He prayed that the blessing of God might rebt upon them, and that their sphere of usefulness might every day become more extended. After referring "at some length to the disadvantages which ministers experienced through the svstem of removal every three years, lie besought for his successor a continuation of that consideration and love which_ had been extended to him during his ministration in Oamaru. The Chairman then presented Mrs. Armitage with a beautifully got up album as a token of the affection borne towards her by the congregation, The

Rev. Mr. Armitage, on behalf of Mrs. Armitage, returned thanks in very suitable | terms. Air. Colli* also presented the Kev. Mr. Armitage with a handsome and valuable gold pencil-case. After some remarks from the Kev. Mr. Todd, Messrs. Wansbrough and Reid, each of whom spoke in nattering terms of the Rev. Mr. Armitage, the pleasant i little gathering dispersed. The Rev. Mr. I Armitage will leave Oamarti on Thursday ' morning for Kaiapoi, and his successor (the Kev. H. Dewsbury) will arrive on Friday evening. Railway employes are now to receive payment for their overtime, their ordinary day's work being ten hours. We are convinced that the verdict throughout the colony will be that the Government have only acted with justice. Railway servants wilKpow feel'less like slaves than they did under the old arrangement, and, although 5 singularly few complaints have occurred of inattention I to their duties, they will do their work with more earnestness and pleasure than they did when they were not being adequately paid for it. If this is one of the results of the late changes in the department, those changes may be viewed as having been already productive of great good. The members of the Philharmonic Society will hold their weekly rehearsal at the Masonic Hall to-morrow evening. A memo, from the Telegraph Office informs us that communication has been retired on the Kangoon cable. The hearing of several unimportant civil , cases constituted the whole of the business transacted at the Resident Magistrate's Court to-day. The weekly meeting of the St. Paul's i Young Men's Association was held last » evening, and was very well attended. Mr. \ I). iTcmiug, the Vice-President, occupied the chair. An essay on " Frederick the "" Creat" was read by Mr. George Parker, and ' elicited a considerable amount of criticism, r the essayist obtaining very great praise lor '" the manner in which he had treated the i subject. Mr. W. J. Gow having resigned L> his position as a Committeeman, a ballot i was taken for a member to fill the vacancy, 1 and resulted in Mr. S. E. Smith being - elected. Some other matters of a formal ,f nature having been attended to, the meeting n closed.

The usual monthly meeting of the Waitaki Road Board, was held in the Board room Tyne-street to-day. Present—Messrs Duncan (in the Chair), Procter, Aitchesin, Bortou, Council, ami Evans. The minutes of the last meeting having been read and continued and the outward correspondence read and approved, a circular was read from the L'nder-Seeretarv. forwarding copies of Fencing and .Sheep Bills propose.djto be introduced next session. It was decided to let the matter stand over till next meeting. Mr Gilchrist wrote asking the Board to form a road line to his property at Boundary Creek. The Engineer was empowered to expend l:M in making a passable dray track. Mr. A Mee wrote resigning his seat on the Board, as he had k-ffc the district. The resignation was accepted and Mr Wm. Sinillie "was elected to fill the vacancy A letter was read from Mr. George Strachan, Awamoko. with reference to certain roadlines in .Block ]V., Awamoko. The clerk was instructed to inform Mr. Strachan that the matter was rpeoiving attention, The Engineer reported that the survey plans of road lines at Boundary Crock, to be exchanged with Mr. M'Master, were being prepared. I: was"resolved that the Engineer also prepare plans for the formation of this road, to be laid before theßoard at th« next meeting. Mr. Connell reported that the Committee appointed to arrange with Mr. Wm. Fenwick for the proposed road line in Blocks 11. and IV"., Oainaru survey district, had been unable to come to terms with that gentleman. It was resolved, " That notice be given to Mr. Win. Fenwick that the Board has instructed its solicitor to take steps under the Public Works Act to acquire the necessary land for a road line through sections 28 and 31, Block IV., Oainaru district, and that the Engineer be instructed to make a survey without delay of the land required for the said road, and that the clerk instruct the Board's solicitors to take immediate proceedings to have the proclamation gazetted." The Engineer was instructed to lay off the road line from the County road through Mr. M'Auley's farm in Awamoko. The Awamoko membeis were emp>weied to expend a sum not exceeding LlO on the road line through Messrs. Glen's paddock. Mr. Aitclnson and the Engineer were empowered to arrange with Mr. Burnett re drainage of road line to Gibson's siding. The Engineer was hutructed to have" the road line above Mr. G. Sumpter's residence attended to. Mr. Locke was appointed auditor for the district. The clerk was instructed to write to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary, asking if it is the intention of the Government during the ensuing session of Parliament any Acts relating to or amending the Counties or Highways Acts, and, if so, that the Board be supplied with copies of the same. The Chairman intimated that he had received a duplicate of the Treasury voucher for 1.551 ss. (id., being the second moictv of the Government subsidy. Tenders "for contracts 51, 56, and 57 were opened, ami the following accepted :—Contract so\ Thomas Wright, Lol 14s. 2d. ; contract 51, Patrick Corcoran, L7<>' ISs. ; contract 57, Patrick Corcoran, LlO7 19s. 6d. Accounts amounting to Ll7-1 17s, !M. were passed for payment, and the Board adjourned. Captain William Allen, of the schooner Maiden City, now in Wellington harbor, has been missing for a week, and is supposed to be drowned.