The Evening Mail. THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 1878.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 612, 18 April 1878, Page 2

The Evening Mail. THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 1878.

The Evening Mail will not be published to-morrow (Good Friday), that being one of the very few holidays ordinarily observed by newspapers. The Waikouaiti-Mooraki section of the main trunk railway will shortly be completed. We wonder iiow often we have afforded our readers this information, and laid ourselves open to the charge of telling an untruth. But we really believe that we are correct this time. There is no valid reason why the line through to Dnnediii should not be opened almost immediately, if we except the tedious and intricate process which is usually concomitant with such events.

The Port Darwin line is interrupted north of Charlotte Waters.

Mr. C. S. Allen, manager of the Bank of New Zealand in this town, proceeded to Auckland lasb evening. We understand that the trip has been rendered necessary by a little disagreement which has arisen between Mr. Allen and one of the bank's late clients, Mr. James Gravi. This disagreement will probably form the subject of legal proceedings that, it is rumored, will have the effect of bringing to light some strange facts. Mr. Ferrier is acting as manager during Mr. Allen's absence.

A train consisting of 30 waggons came into town about 10 o'clock last night, loaded with grain from Waiho and Waitaki North. The grain bronght in by this train amounted to abont 180 tons, and was for various merchants, all of whom have been busy throughout the day in stacking it in their stores. The agricultural statistics for the provincial district of Canterbury shows that the total yields for the year are as follow : Wheat, 3,390,353 bushels ; oats, 2,390,45: i bushels ; barley, 335,743 bushels ; potatoes, 26,756 tons. We are indebted to Messrs. P. Cunningham and Co. for a copy of the retnrns.

Mr. W. Conyers, the Commissioner of Railways for the Middle Island, and Mr. Back, Acting General Manager of the Amberley-Moeraki section, are now in Oamarn. All grievances are being placed before these gentlemen, and are receiving such prompt rectification, that we shall shortly have comparatively nothing to write about. "One man's medicine is another man's poison.

We this morning had the pleasure of inspecting a first-cl3ss railway carriage, constructed as an experiment, at the woikshops of the Kailway Department in Christehurch. It is somewhat after the style of the Pullman American cars, so far as comfort aud elegance are concerned. Kvery modern appliance is brought into use in order to prevent the jarring and oscillation so un- | pleasant in ordinary railway travelling. A i series of indiarubber rings are placed in company with the springs between the coach body and the under frame in order to relieve them of a share of their burthen, and to afford a gentle resilience, so pleasant when contrasted with the usual jerkiness of railway travelling. There ia literally every ! convenience that one could de«ire. The seat, which consists of leather, nicely padded, can be raised at one end by a most simple arrangement, and with the smallest possible amount of effort, so as to form a basis for a comfortable cushion for the head, aud conduce to the pleasure of those who desire to enjoy a recumbent position. This arrangement is greatly preferable to the old one of trying to keep one's head in a comfortable position by means of a portmanteau or a;; overcoat. There is a lavatory separated from the auditorium by me.ns of a curtain. This is fed by a 100-gallon t»uk, which is placed on the roof of the carriage, and which is refilled as occasion requires. It is proposed to set a carriage apart in each train for the exclusive use of ladies. We should not omit to mention that there is a double floor to the carriage, the interstice between which is filled by sawdust, in order to deaden the clatter outside. The body of the carnage works on a bogie or pivot, after the manner of the forepart of a coach, and the windows are secured in their sashes by springs. It appears that the expense of constructing the carriage, of which we have given a description, is not much in advance of that of constructing an ordinary first-class carriage, with all its discomforts,

The business transacted at the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning was not of a very interesting nature, consisting of the hearing of a. few civil case 3. In one of these—White y. Timothy Halloran, a judgment summons—his Worship ordered the defendant to pay the amount, LS 4s. Iljd., on or before the 18th May,, or go to gaol for 2S days. The Teaneraki contingent of No. 1 Company was inspected last evening by Captain tfunipter, after which the men were put : through several company movements. We understand that the uniforms for the contingent will be ready by the 24th May, and that the men will be able to join the rest of the battalion on parade on the Queen's Birthday. Mr. John Wildish has been appointed by the Railway Department to take charge of tiie Thames-street crossing. His duty will l>e to keep the course clear for approaching trains. Mr. Wildish's appointment, together with the determination of the department to put an end to trains running beyond regulation speed over the crossing, will reduce the chance of accident fco a minimum.

Mr. V>~. Fenwick, of Maheno, has kindly presented an electric battery to the Oamaru Hospital for li&e in the institution.

A meeting of the Board of the Young Men's Christian Association was held in the rooms, Itchen-street, last evening, all the members being present. A telegram was ! read from Dr. Somerville, stating that he would commence his evangelistic services in Dnnedin on the sth May, and saying he hoped to visit Oamaru on his way south. A letter'from a frieAd in Hokitika, asking for copies of the Association's constitution and hints for the formation of a similar association at Hokitika, was read and ordered to be replied to. Mr. J.H.Milligan was .eleeted Vice-President, in the room of the Eev. J. Armitage. The meeting terminated with the customary compliment to th» Chairman.

The boys attending the Windsor House I School had their first exercise with the j sword-sticks this morning, and appeared to thoroughly enjoy the fun. To-day at the Grammar School, Mr. Peattie (the Rector) was the recipient of a handsome wedding present from the pupil teachers of the school and the girls belonging to the Rector's class. Miss Bertha Bollenhagen made the presentation, which she accompanied by a few appropriate remarks, to which Mr. Peattie responded, expressing the pleasure he felt in reeeiviug such an evidence of the goodwill of the pupil teachers and scholars.

An inquest was held to-day at Weston, before T. A. Clowes, Esq., J. P., on the body of the young man Robert Rogers, whose painful death we recorded yesterday. A verdict of "Accidental death" was returned.

At the parade of the armed division of the Grammar School Cadets, which took place this afternoon, there were present Captain Peattie (in command), 2 officers, the drill instructor, and 50 boys. They made a capital show, and performed the various evolutions with wonderful celerity.

A special meeting of the St. Paul's Young Men's Association was held last evening for the jmrpose of making a presentation to Mr. \V. J. Uow, one of the members of the Association prior to his departure from Oamaru. The meeting was very well attended, and the Rev. A. B. Todd, President, occupied the chair. Tu making the presentation, which consisted of a very handsome gold pencil-case and gold locket, the Chairman referred in feeling terms to Mi-. Gov's connection with the Association, and bore testimony to the zealous manner in which Mr. Gov." had worked to make the Society the success it had been. He said that in parting with Mr. ("Sow the Association was losing '-nc of its iiest members, and ■ ■onclnded by handing to Mr. Cow the

articles named, which had b'-en purchased by stibscrij'ti Jii amongst the members. 'J ho recipient replied in felicitous terms, thanking the members for their expressions of regard for ami good-will towards him. It was with some degree of regret that he parted from them. lie should always remember them, for if he was ever likely to forget them, it would be suilicient to look at "their present to recall them to his memory. Several members of the Association having joined in expressing regret at the departure of Mr. Cow, the meeting was brought to a close. Most of the stores in Timaru are now full of grain, and a large quantity is being stacked in the open air. The Timrmi ll<;-abl states that Mr. Jones, who met with a severe accident on Tuesday, is progressing much more favorably than could lie expected, considering the severe injuries he received.

The .SV. Anuniil Mirrnr;/ has been threatened with a libel action, in which the damages arc laid at L2OOO, for stating that wljeu a certain gentleman sang into a telephone, his voice sounded like a groan. The AMurton Mail says ; —" More than 70 trucks passed southwards through and from Ashburton yesterday for the purpose of bringing back freights of grain." The following epi-code recorded by the yeir Zealand Herald is a good illustration of the progress of education among the native people of New Zealand:—-"A well-known and greatly respected native in Waikato was served with a writ, and he applied to a wellknown lawyer to aid him in defending the legal action against him. According to an Act of the General Assembly the testimony of natives must be taken in their own language, read over to them in Maori, and their assent obtained to the correctness of the statement taken down in writing. Jt was necessary to do all this in framing the requisite ailidavits coiifaimng the materia's of the defence, to lie filed in the Supreme Court. The Maori defendant indicated hi? assent to tile affidavit by the usual hijini (good).

"Now," said the lawyer, " if you will call in a few days. I will be able to report progress. You need not remain any longer.'' " Knhort " (not at all), was the Maori rejoinder. " I want to hear the translation in Kugl.'sh, for people not only make great blunders in writing and translating Maori, but very few English people can cither write or speak their osvn language correctly. Knhore, read me the jvaglisk"' The iaw-. er read the Knglish version to ids Maori client, wi.o said it was " very good." A contemporary says : —" What the frightful effects may be of a recent unconsidered act of the Governor may be gathered from the following :—The Wuiko.lo Time-* re-rets that some of the principal cliche producers hi that ilistric are discontinuing iho business, as tlicy find the prices unsatisfactory. This is a pity, &s, according to the journal cited, excellent- cheese is produced. Ind -ei so pleasantly was the Governor's palate afleotnd by it at the recent banquet 'that iidtook awav v.'i*"h him, as something lie could not procure in Anci-Jarid, the remaining half uncut.' This proceeding is certainly an innovation upon established etiquette. Fancy the consternation which an ordinary guest would produce v.-ho, being pleased with his host's Stilton, hinted that he would like to take away half of it under his arm ! Of course the. entertainers were pleas- d to give it, but the example set may be a disastrous one for entertainers generally in the Colony."

Female barbers (says the Wellington Chronirfi-) have beep, introduced by Mr. Beck, the proprietor of ;> hair saloon in Cuba street. This is a novelty i»t k;;st. There has been an immense run on the establishment since tiie new "features" were introduced. Those who used to like getting their hair cut tiie old :..yay say the new style is much the nicest.

At the Sandhurst Git}' Police Court recently a young man named Walter Clarke was committed for trial at the general sessions on the charge of having obtained money by means of false pretences from a publican. The prisoner is said to be a son of Sullivan, the notorious New Zealand nrarderer. "When arrested he said that it would top a relief to get into gaol, as he would then be rid of his lather, who wanted him to go round the country with him, but for what purpose the prisoner did not say. The D.unedin A//e has the following:— " Mr. Per,civ>l, a resident of Purakanui, appears to be placed in a rather awkward position. In the eariy days, his father-in-law was buried in a piece of uneoss.a.crated ground. This has been converted int.o a half-acre township section, but out of regard for the feelings of Mr. PerciVai end the other relatives, the land iias hitherto been reserved from sale. At the meeting of the Land Board to-day, an application was considered from Percival, asking that he should be allowed to purchase the land which contained the remains of his father-in-law, at the upset price. The Board considered they could not well depart from the .usual rule of submitting all town lots to auction, although the members generally agreed that this was 3 most exceptional case, and it would be very hard on Mr. Percival to offer the remains of his deceased reiatjve to public competition. They felt .compelled, cowever, to bury their compassionate feelings, and after some discussion, jt was decided that Mr. Percival should be informed that the allotment, with the mortal remains of his venerated father-in-law, would be disposed of if he thought proper, but it must pass through jfche hands of the auctioneer.

" Deodorizer's" communication abounds in inuendoes which render ; t unfit for publication, not to say anything of the gross language in which those inuendoes are couched. Correspondents clearly pointing at wrongdoing, and indicating in unmistakable language the wrong-doers, should have the courage to publish their proper names. A letter may not be so libellous as to bring the writer within the reach of the law; but it may contain charges which, although made in samewhat misty language may sufficiently clearly indicate the wrongful .act and its perpetrator to prove damaging to the latter. This may be termed stabbing in the (lark, and is cowardly. A number of " drovers and gentlemen in charge of travelling stock" petitioned the Mayor of Glen luues to set apart a day of humiliation and prayer for ram. His reply was made in these very unusual terms : "I decline to hold a public meeting, under my auspices, on the ground that it i 3 great presumption to ask the Sublime Creator to alter his organised arrangements of what He has created to suit the convenience, or rather profit, of squatters who have overstocked their runs."

To-day being April Fool's Day, was observed in the usual way. Numbers of people were sent on errands to imaginary persons, and a well-known barber was induced to call at ths oiiico of one of the city newspapers, the object of his visit being to shave the head of the unhappy editor, who, he was told, had been bitten by a dog.— W. Chroitide.

Active preparations are being made at Queenstown for the Volunteer demonstration, but there is less bustle observable than last year. About 200 Volunteers, are expected, exclusive of the Kivertonians, who are not likely to attend this year. Last year, it seems, 34,072 couples were united in holy wedlock in London, no fewer than 29,()<il of these being solemnised in the

i-'stablished Church. It is a well-ascertained fact, that the majority of Dissenters in England are married by clergymen of the Established Church. The causes for this are : cheapness, convenience, and the force of esample.

Warlike preparations are the order of the day at Melbourne. The ironclad Cerberus, which is now in fine fighting trim, is to be sent down to Q.ueenseliil'e, where they will go into camp and assist in throwing up the earthworks and trenches that will have to lie erected to protect all the guns. Jf any more urgent measures are necessary, the Government will call out fV<.m 400 to 500 of tile Volunteers who arc willing to enlist under the Military and Naval Discipline Act, IS7O, and send them into the barracks to be drilled. Several of the torpedoes have been already laid, and many of the guns at Qneensclifl'e have been placed in position. The Chief .Secretary has had a sample of gun cotton made in the colony submitted to him, and it is to lie tested by Mr. KIU-ry. Deck guns for the Nelson have been ordered by telegram, as well as a supply of rifles and revolvers for the Cerberus, and a.further supply of gnu cotton and torpedo wire. A torpedo boat lias also been ordered from England. The Aye states that should further news indicate the necessity for such a step, the Oovernment will submit a Militia Bill to Parliament.

Mr. Oscanyan, in the book "'The Sultan and his People," tells the following anecdote of a Turkish physician :—A person exceedingly ill of typhus fever called in one of these medical gentlemen, who although he considered the case quite hopeless, prescribed for the patient and took his leave. The next day, in passing by, he inquired of a servant at the door if his master was not dead. -'Dead! No; he is much better." Whereupon the doctor proceeded utistairs to obtain a solution of this miracle. " Why," said the convalescent, "I was consumed with thirst and I drank a pailful of ths juice of pickled cabbage." "Wonderful!" quoth the doctor. And out came the tablets, on which the physician made this inscription : " Cured of typhus fever. Mehemed Agha, an upholsterer, by drinking a pailful of pickled cabbage juice." Soon after the do-tor was called to see another patient, a yaghlikgee, or dealer in embroidered handkerchiefs, suffering from the same malady. He forthwith prescribed " a pailful of pickled cabbage juice." On calling the next day to congratulate his patient on his recovery, he was astonished to be told that the man was dead. The Oriental hpius. in his bewilderment at these phenol, 'cna, came to the conclusion, and duly noted it in his memoranda, that, " although in eases of. typhus levee pickled cabbage juice is an efficient remedy, it is not, however, to be used unless the patient be by profession an upholsterer." A correspondent of an Australian paper v.TJt'.s • -- " 'I he lady who got her horse shod v.-irli f.'olil in Kdinburgh has taken it to Sp.iin, it seems, ftlnnvr with LB,OOO in TCng-•_di.-h sovereigns. So much money has never boon seen in the country since the French left it. and the national excitement is prodigious. It is fortunate for her that this is the case, as ihe police now form her bodyguard, or else "the ('artist brigands on the frontier." we are told, "would have cut her throat long ago." She insists on staying at a small inn in a wretched village, where she amuses herself by throwing money from her windows to be scrambled for by the children. If her horse "threw a shoe" what real ''luck" it, would be to find it! and if the Fivneh philospher's view be correct, that a wife is all the better for being a fool, what a splendid opportunity she affords to bachelors.

A somewlnt ludicrous incipient occurred I on 21st of (saws the Melbourne Art/its'; ] in the Jui'i'.'-j of Six Court, presided over l.y I the Chief Justice. The intelligent panel, after having been in the jury room for a few minutes, returned into Court, and gravely intimated, in reply to the usual enquiry i whether they had agreed upon a verdict, that •" ihay found a verdict for the plaintiff, and would let his Honor .fix the damages." The Chief Justice's face became at once an interesting study, but the announcement was ton much even for judicial gravity. The stern lineaments relaxed, and he politely begged them to return to their room and complete the duty which was entrusted to them. The jury ultimately fixed the damages themselves. A man of singular force of mind died in Dublin recently. A few' hours previous to his demise he called for pen, ink, and paper, and wrote the following communication, and sent it by hand to the office of the Freeman's Journal: —"We regret to announce the death, at an advanced age, of our respected i fellow-citizen, J. M'Namara Cantwell, Esq., solicitor. The deceased gentleman long occupied a prominent position in politics, and was justly esteemed by all classes for his political as well as professional uprightness and probity." A paragraph from Truth is worth retailing. It says, in proof of the old saying, i that a little knowledge is a daugerous thing, that a party of ladies went out in a waggonette last week to witness a meet of Garth's hounds, and that whilst trying to follow the pack in this vehicle across a boggy field, the horse slipped up and fell, upon which one of the ladies sprang out, and in the most orthodox manner proceeded to " sit on'is'ed." So well did she perform this interesting .ceremony, moreover, that in a few minutes th.e animal was found to be smothered, a victim to mud and petticoats. '* I've always seen them do that to cab horses in London," she said, when she found the mischief she had dona.