The Evening Mail. FRIDAY, JUNE 28 1878.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 712, 28 June 1878, Page 2

The Evening Mail. FRIDAY, JUNE 28 1878.

We are happy to learn lh.i f T .'.e people of Ngapara have promptly b-hin notion to provide relief of a substantia! nature for the widow and children of the_ railway guard, John Baird. A meetine wai he'd last evening at the Terminus Hotel for the purpose ■>( taking steps to raise subscriptions in aid of the very deserving object. The meeting was largely attended, and Mr. Davis occupied the chair. The result of a few hours' I canvassing was that the sum of Lls Iss 6d ivm collected. It is anticipated that this <unt will be largely increased by further ,-nntribTaori, The promoters, hearing of 'f >r- Ustrcss in which Mrs. Baird and :i r «..»!■...-.n are placed, forwarded to her r..>-l.iy, thi.»rTgik Mr. W. Rayner, the suni «.f lA'y '- hj» r rompHtude with which the Xgnp'ra p— pie have come forward to assist the tK.r family -is deserving of every praise, and the exatuple net by them may well be followed by all generons-hearte-.-people. We have received a letter from a cor respondent signing himself "Ngaparanite.' with a reques' that we will g;ve it insf-rti- ; in our columns. We regret that we am..---comply with the reques', as the letter i* of •on personal a character, matters of a pri--Iv:iteand t-ersonat natn e being uniitc-ysanly introduced. Had our correspondent en

rined him°elf to the consideration »f wbject with which bis letter coin-;'-n?ec v -• :houl i have l>een happy to have ien-'..:r-■' f«m evci-y assiatancc, but ' e do»js not d» s> •. aert, again, our cnrrcspon-ient tr.-acs tipo -u conduce of a certain "Si rial, iin-) speaks • onztv as to that oiiicuia miHle of verfonnini: his public duties; i>ut we can scarcely see the secessity for drawinc attention to the matter, seeing that the official ii

nuestion ha.s his position in tie t.scHargeof the dr ties appertaining to Mhidi »e ha s * r.pparrntly given offence to our C'jrres T, «n»lcnt a-i«l" others. If there wire ■irounis for complaining of the conduc; oeh'.- official in question, those complaint.should have: been made earlier, when some ood might have resulted from the suajcci '•ving ventilated, instead of being left unis. vfter ail cause for complaint had been removed.

Vi'cwobW remind owners of greyioundthat uon.t- atioiis for the North Otagi Coursing Club's Waterloo Meeting, must I--' sent in to the Hon. Secretary, Mi; \V. J!. Konayue, iiefore f--u;- o'clock on.Tnesd.. next. It may be well to draw ?articula' attention to "the very liberal pri:e3 offi-red by the Club for competition. Tne winner will receive LI3O and a silver iollar, presented by the Hub, and the second dog L 65 and a silver collar, worth 1.5 the gift of Mr. R. Kichard.-on. Besides ;hose prizes, L'! 00 will be divided amongst other dogs. These prizes should be sufbeiint to indue? even more than the required number (32) to enter and ensure the attainment of twc days' excellent sport. A considerable amount of amusement-cas occasioned at the meeting of the-Agricul-tural and Pastoral Society's meeting yesterday by the reading of the T/«n Clerk's letter stating the terms and -onditions on which the Municipal Council A>uld agree to »u exchange of Reserve •» for the Society's present Show Gro«nd. After the few first clauses had l>«/« read through, several members asked »at no more should be read, as it was 'variing timor,.» wade through a lorA I] --' °* conditions which the Society w-old not UjTce to; but several others in-i-'ei <i . th- whole of th. I document read, ; .ih "i.itg that the perusal of jCiQ Council's liberal offer was really en'-'rtaining. And scad the whole of the ci va^'on 3 were r amidsc laughter on the one and expressions of astonishment 0 . the other. When the reading of the .tocument had been completed, one-half of I the members heaved sighs of relief, whilst the rest appeared disappointed that the di- ! version had been brought to a close. Then ! followed a running tire of comment. Some members declared that the terms proposed by the CVitncil were an insult to the intelligence of the Association, whilst others ex[..sd.d the opinion that there was au .«irto"nt of voltiexs abont the Conncil's prop •»; wbcii was perfectly refreshing. One nieiubei- declared that the matter as pro-po->.-l by tlit* Council was not an exchange, such as that which the Association had contemplated, but a gift, and a very large one too, in return for a loan, and a very small one. Another member, waxing warm. said that there did not appear to be any de-ire in the town, at any rate so far as the rf-)>- e iontatives of the townspeo) le were concerned, to.assist the association, which wis the nienns of lieneiitins; the town to a very large extent. If such was th'= c is*» it would be better for the Society to select a show ground away from Oamam, and c infer the advantage attending the holding • f sh •w> upon a community who would ;<ppreci -te th'.m properly. Then rosea inembcr oi the Association"who has acquired a fame for the

tr>'quency of ha remarks a* a rule, tluhroadneas »t' hi" witticism s, aid the seventy . of bis sarcasms. With a nu.o.nu face and r dignitt. d in;>m er well suited to a member o; the Education -oard, risiug to prop..>s>? the expenditure «<f L'2 to erect a chimney in a dreary school-room, he proposed that the . Association ,-houid erect a town hall on the i>res..nt show ground and give it to the Municipal < ouueif. This sent menders into renewed tits of laughter, in the midst of which the projuiial was very nearly being carried by acclamation. Then followed a perfect and continuous flow of wit, sarcasm, and virtuous indignation, such as would have gladdened the heart and brightened the visage of even a su/ferinc l-gislator «>f the severely virtuous order, it is needless to say that the Association politely, but firmly, declined to proceed any farther with the matter of the propose! j exchange. An interesting meeting of a social character took place last evening in the new Tees-street Ball. Invitations were issued to the children belonging to the Sunday school iu connection with the Hall, and to their parents. About 150 gathered around the tea-tables, and did justice to tfacgood'things provided. The choir, afterwards gave some of Sankeys songs and solos, the audience beiieinvited to join iit some of the choruses,, whicn they did in a very hearty manner. "I'vebeen redeemed," and "Oh, crown of. rejoicing" were beantafu'ly given. Short addresses were delivered, and about 9 o'clock the meeting'broke np, all' seeming to have j spent a very pleasant evening. The adjourned monthly inspection of the headquarters companies of Volunteers will [ take place this evening, at half-past seven o'clock. The Illustrated- -New Zealand Herald for the peasant month has reached us. It contains a number of very and interesting fllastraticiaa. besides the nmal ■

The Hampden, Volunteers have decided to hold their annual ball on the 12th July. . The monthly meeting of the North Otago • Benevolent Society will be held at the •Secretary's office on Monday evening, at seven o'clock. A meeting of the Early Closing Association was held last evening at Gordon's rooms,. Tees-street; Mr. W. C. Boulston occupied the chair. After the minutes of the previous meeting had been v?rn\ 'and confirmed, a vote of t !, auks was accorded to •lie speakers as the reo-mt public meeting. It was decided to a' ce-tain the feeling of employers with reftr::uce to practicability ol closing the shops at 9 o'clock on Saturday nights. Some other matters having been discussed and arranged, the meeting closed. The Waimate Hotel has changed hands, Mr. Richmond having disposed of his iuinterest in that hostelry to Mr. "White, solicitor, of Timaru. Mr. Pratt has sold hi 3 hotel —the Criterion—at Waimate, to Mr. Kett, of Ohristchurcb, whi> takes possession on the Ist August next. The purchase money is LSOOO. The sto;!' and iurniture to be taken at valuation.

A gentleman lately vMting Christchurch was so struck with •.,;<■ .-.raggling character of the " City of the Pic . ' that while participating in the .ir j ; of one of the hotelkeepers of that pla.-e, !:s had the temerity to ask how far it wuo to Christchiu-ch. The 03ma r u Christy's will meet for rehearsal this evening at eight o'clock in the ' f -sonic Hall.

p . .fuSoor Stanich announces in con--e'j.eire of his having inadearra* ■_'<;; lienw i> be in Dnnedin this evening, ii regr«ts that L was un ;"'>le to remain in (Jam-Tii l>< rlav, :is previously announced.. Tie hail ~i>pjd *h tt h-- wou'd havebeen able to lea- - e •>a»aru ic the af'iT'ioon and reacii Dnuedi.i ii» :ue -veuing, bu. there being no nieuns of .'.i»og "=°i b-j ww c-•mpelled to p in;eedssi'Uth of t;.i iiiorning'b train. Ti:e pro"'ytsor :«inou::ce- that .any '-i his old putieuU who nay b-- '.cLoiis of coasnlting him can do so t;.-letter iid-i-.-essed ".u him at the Criterion Hotel, D" ediu. where he will remain for .ibaut a foi tuight. A special meeting of <he North Otago T irf Club was held at the Empire Hotel last evening, when there were present : Messrs. Lintott (in th- chair). Y.:t< rson, Greenfield, liichardson, and Grant (riou. Secretary). The chief business before tiie meeting was the consideration of a letter from the Secrotry of thj Oamaru Steei-le-chaset'lub. applyii'ir for permission to the saddling oaildock on th- occasion of t .-« ; forthcoming meeting. I- w ..- decided not to allow any rac-s or steepinchases on any account to be run o.' h !'urf Club's present running grouud on inc .'sth July, and that, in consequence of the i>.,ivy state of the p.a idock no horsemon -hould be admitted at the gate. It was ai-'-that the Steep'.er'aae Club should nay to th North Otago Turf Club the sum ot LlO for tic use of the saddling paddoc*. •Taud .stand, & -., in the event of there bei •'. uny funds re -aining iu hand after the payment of all liabilities, and that the StoepiKchase Club sh->ul«l also place in the hands of the Secretar; of the Turf Club I 5 to defray tfce cost of repairing .any damage which might »e done to their property. It was decided to insure the grand staud, &c, for Ll5O on the most favorable terms obtainable. This was all the business brought forward, and the meeting terminated with the customary compliment to the chairman.