Untitled

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 621, 30 April 1878, Page 2

The Hon. Mr. Ballance has been appointed Commissioner for Stamp Duties, and the Hon. Mr. Stout a Commissioner under the Land Claims Settlement Act of 1556. Owing to some unforeseen difficulty the Volunteer Hall was not opened yesterday, as arranged, for the reception of school children. Everything, however, having been placed in working order by Mr. Peattie, the .Rector of the Grammar School, the Hall was formally opened this morning as a temporary school. About 200 children were transferred from the Grammar School, and about 50 other children, who had previously been unable to gain admission to any of the public schools owing to their overcrowded state, were received into the new school. Mrs. Crawford was placed in charge of the school, and hrul with her a sufficient stall' of teachers. Although the Hall is somewhat too large for the number of scholars at present located within its walls, the maimer in which the seats and classes arc arranged, the temporary schoolroom bears a very comfortable aspect-, and the children appear highly pleased with their new quarters. Wo understand that more coiuplu:'.! aiTanircments for the comfort | of teacher.; and scholars will be perfected during the couivso mi the week. ! A proclamation in the New* Zealand Gazette notilies that, cock ph-.-asants, Ca'i-' fornian quail, and hares shall be open ':•> be hunted, shot, taken or killed within the l'ro>:ncial District of Otago. between the Ist day of June and the 3ist day of July, both inclusive, and that hares shall be open to be hunted (coursed) between the Ist day of May and the 31st day of July, both inclusive, but only between the hours of sunrise and sunset. But the Government have adopted the suggestion forwarded to thein by the Waitaki County Acclimatisation Society, and have declared that no hares shall be shot within the district comprised i within the County of Waitaki. By another proclamation, the fees for game licenses in Otago are Hxed at LI 10s., and the Secretaries of registered Acclimatisation Societies are empowered to issue the licenses. In connection with this an advertisement appears in another column, intimating that licenses can be had on application to Mr. Li. C'onnell. Hon. Secretary of the Waitaki County Acclimatisation Society. At the ."Resident Magistrate's Court this morning, his Worship gave his decision on the charge preferred by the Inspector of Nuisances against James Clarken for having an unregistered dog in his possession. His Worship said he found, he was compelled to inflict the fine of L2, but he would willingly, under the circumstances, endorse any application made by the defendant to the Council for a remission of the penalty. Charles Clifford was charged by the Inspector of Nuisances with having an unregistered dog in his possession. The defendant pleaded gujlty, but said he was not aware of the dog's age. The Inspector said the defendant had since registered the dog. His Worship remarked that he had no option but to inflict a penalty of L2, which was the lowest fine allowed by the Act. Robert Cleman, charged by the Inspector of licensed vehicles with"having, on the 23rd instant, neglected to cause his licensed vehicle to carry and sufficiently display two lighted lamps after sunset, as required by the Corporation byelaws, pleaded guilty, and was fined ss. A meeting of shop assistants was held last evening at the Royal Hotel, for the purpose of forming an Early Closing Association. There were about 30 present, and Mr. W. C. K on!stoil occupied the chair. After some discussion on the subject, it was resolved, on the motion of Mr. Parker, seconded by Mr. Dick, " That this meeting resolve itself into an Early Closing Association." The names of those present having been enrolled as members, the election, of office-bearers took - place with the following result:—President, his Worship the Mayor ; Vice-Pre-sident, Mr. W. J. Jioulston ; Secretary, Mr. G. Parker ; Treasurer, Mr. W. Bain : Committee, Messrs. O'Rorke, Kidd, Welch, Rodgers, and White. The Committee were instructed to frame rules to be submitted for approval of the Associa-tiou at a future meeting. The first meeting of the Committee was fixed to be held at the Mechanics' Institute on Wednesday, 9th May, at 8 p.m. A vote of thanks was passed to the Chairman, and the meeting terminated. Dr. Somerville, the Evangelist, is announced to hold services under the auspices of the Evangelistic Committee, on Wednesday and Thursday evenings next at 7 30. o'clock, in the Volunteer Halt. As his stay in Oamaru will be necessarity short, we have no doubt that" tlie'h;iil will be crowded on those evenings. will q-lso be a midday meeting on Thursday, particulars of which will be announced iu good time.

The New Zealand Gazette contains the appointment of Mr. Henry Livingston as Auditor for the accounts of the Harbor Board.

The usual -weekly meeting of the St. Paul's Young Mail's Association was held last evening, the chair being occupied byMr. M'Pherson, Vice-President. There was not so large an attendance as usually marks the meetings oi. the' Association,, many members being*After the usual routine business had been, disposed of, Mr. Mollison read a, capital preliminary paper oh the subject of " Perseverance." 'The paper was well received, and a lively discussion took place upon the subject. At the conclusion of the discussion ti vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Mollison for his excellent paper. At the next meeting -Mr. S. E. Smith will deliver his essay on "Charles Lamb."