The Evening Mail. FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 1878.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 618, 26 April 1878, Page 2

The Evening Mail. FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 1878.

Hie folly of accepting cheques indiscriminately from all manner of persons has been pretty fully demonstrated cf late, and another exemplification of the practice occurred in town a few days ago. A youngman of apDarenfc respectability, known here by the name of Pogson, but whose real name appears to be Reader, had been residing for some days at the Star and Garter Hotel, and. daring that time succeeded in passing a number of cheques, bearing the signature of "Frank Pogson,'' for considerable amounts. This was during the Easter Holidays, and -while the Banks were closed. He quitted Oamaru on Wednesday by the Waitaki, and it was then discovered that the cheques were valueless. Reader, who is, we believe, a married man, and occupied a respectable position in Christchurcli, was arrested in Dunedin last night, and will shortly make a second visit to Oamaru, The Hon. R. Campbell, has, with his customary liberality, presented the sum of L2O, lately won by him at the trial of the Wood s reaping and binding machine held at AA hitstone, in equal amounts to the Hospital and Benevolent Society.

The Resident Magistrate was occupied the greater portion of to-day dealing with a large number of civil cases, very few of which possessed any interest except to the parties connected with them. One of the principal! case 3 was an action brought by Mr. Edward Menlove. of Windsor Park, to recover the sum of ISO from Peter Drummond, farmer, of the Tables, as damages for having driven 146 of the plaintiffß sheep to the Waiareka pound. Mr. Hislop appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. Balmer for the defendant. After lip.-uir-i.-r ""nsiderable amount of evidence, ins T\ judgment tor L 5 15s. 2d., the amount paid by plaintiif to obtain the release of the sheep, but said he would take time to consider what amount of special damages he would allow. An action was brought by Mr. E. Menlove against Mr. James Chapman, of ISgapara, to recover the sum of LlO as damages for trespass by the defendant upon the plaintiff's land for the purpose of duck shooting, and thereby causing damage to the plaintiffs flocks. The defendant admitted the trespass, and Mr. Hislop, who appeared for the plaintiff, intimated that he did not wish to press for vindictive damages, and would a tree to nominal damages being given. The case had merely been brought as a warning to persons trespassing on the land without permission. Judgment was given for Is. I damages and costs. It is rumored that the Government will, next session, ask for a vote for a Lunatic Asylum to be established in the Waikouaiti district, somewhere near the railway line. The overcrowding of the Dunedin Asylum renders it necessary that aoijie such step should be adopted.

Sergeant King has brought -with him a challenge from Christcliurch. Captain Warner, on behalf of the Christchurch Engineer Company of Volunteers, has thrown down the gauntlet to the Oamaru Rifle Volunteers, and a match is about to be arranged lietween ten men on each side, the fixing of the date, ranges, and all other conditions, being left with tiie Oamaru Company. The Hampden Volunteer met on Wednesday eveniDg la3t for their monthly inspection. There was a total of thirty-one present, and the result was most satisfactory.

In consequence of an application to the Waste Lanrls Board for a reserve for a pound site at Hampden, the Waitaki County Council have been requested by that body to furnish, a surrey of about an acre of the northern portion of the eastern division of block XXXVII., Hampden. " Ben Allah," the illusionist and ventriloquest, should have every reason to feel proud of the reception he received last evening on the occassion of his first' performance in Oamaru. Not only was the Masonic Hall literally crowded, but there was in addition a tremendous display of that gambling spirit which appeara to pervade the whole of the human race, scores of persons buying "envelopes " in the hope that they might contain numbers entitling their owners of prizes. Of the entertainment as a whole very much might be said, and that too of a not altogether complimentary nature. Some of the feats of legerdemain were performed in a highly creditable manner, but the illusionist indulged too freely in mistification, and pondered too much to the vulgar taste. But the "deceptive" portion of the entertainment was infinitely preferable to the ventriloquiai display which wound up the performance. " fkn Allah," before commencing this portion of hii entertainment, ad- i mitted that he was not the "inventor" of it, and it was well he did so, for it was merely an imitation of the clever performances of Val Vose and others, and a very indifferent imitation too. But, he also said that although he was not the originator of this kind of thing, "the dialogue was original." Well, if to jabber in the same monotonous voice the very worst of English with a nasal twang, and indulge in the stalest of vulgarisms and the most ancient of conundrums, is to be original, then " Ben Allah ".was very original indeed. By far the most satisfactory portions of the entertainment were the performance of the incidental music and the distribution of prizes. There will be another show this evening.

A n"*«fo"g ofvthe Committee of the Philharmonic Society, will be held at Mr. Hardy s office at 7.30 evening. Business important. . . . As an evidence that land is increasing in value quite aa fast up-country as it is in j Oamaru, we mention that Mr. Davis (of the firm of Davis and Baby) has just paid L 248 for a town section at-Kgapara. | The football ground" will be occupied tomorrow by a scratch match. Sides will b| selected at half-past 1 o'clock, and all old and intending members are requested to attend. It is natural to suppose that_ there will not be much work. done, as, owing to their summer recess, the spheroid propellers will probably be encumbered with adipose matter, the superflousness of which will take severely animated pedestrianism to diminish.