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Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 718, 29 July 1878, Page 2

: "Strange, but true," is the heading pnt ; to the remark of tlie great American moralist iby the North Otago Times. Docs it mean ! to tell us that its experience warrants it in I arriving at snch a conclusion ? It reprinted the other day a startling romance that pro- : fesaed to be the story of Mrs. C'roker s life, j Has the publisher "f onr contemporary been j sorely tried ever since then by frrsh applica- : tious from multitudes of securing his sheet, regularly in the expectaj.ir.il of finding something more tn tiVUle fancies ? If ao, bow divorue are our expo; iences! Whiie Mine peoplu see much to admire, and little to dislike, in human nature, others have the misfortune t<> much to dislike, and little to admi:c , De Witt Talmagn's as.-er' ion does not apply to this Colony; nor wns it intended t > d-> so. American Journalism v."ii!d be 110 more appreciated her,- tl.f f.U'iial j"nr.ialism wo'ild lie apprcn ifci a At/c;' -V; : T") Wi-r--a Colonial newnnnper transplai;t.j»; in thej soil of the (Jreat Itepublie it wonld pi««o and die from want of nourishment. We have always till now believed that an Ani'irican newspaper transplanted ia this Colony wonld share the same Ev.m now w. can scarcely lirlieve that the people witli whom we are daily ro> v" n g are so our contemporary would paint A'e are proud to think that eolonist* are. as g rule. <jo anr.ious tn promoio the moral and religions well-b»>!ng of their offspring that they would rather tear Into «hreds their favorite newspaper than that their girls and boys should read therein s single word having an immoral tendency. The Kcv. Mr. Grimes preached at the Schoolroom, Hampden, last Sunday evening. The building was crowded. Airs. Smile presided at the hsrmoninrn. It is pl.-iin tnat a church would "be a »re*fc convenience to j the Episcopalians ind thore wh« worship! with them at Hampden, and we learn that a ] movemout i» being set on foot to raise funds , to build one. Mr. Grimes will preach again to-morrow at II o'clock. j

To-I.'-y we received the welcome news that during the session of Parliament evening papers will be allowed 1000 words, coming during the day by telegraph, at evening rate*. Whilst the Government will lose nothiug by this act of libef&lity, we shall be placed in a position that will suable as to amplify our telegraphic new*.

The nan Cameron, whose dfeappMrsuce we mmtboa'd in onr. last issue, turned np ail right at the station on Friday night. The Windsor Heest Scfcool Cadets had a march out this morning with their drill Instructor; There were thirty boys on the march and they went through several movements in quick and double-time in very good style, a word or look from the Instructor being sufficient to make them understand wtu&Ka* required of them. After arriving at the •ohonl-gnmnd the younger classes were duouased, ivbilethe .elder lads had a turn at sword exercise, in which they appear to take great deligb V

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Commercial BoildiDg Society 'will be held this evening. It is notified that the usual weekly parades of the Oamara Eifles will be resumed at S p.m., oa Friday evening. We regret to learn that Mr. "Williamson, whose resignation of the position of light-house-keeper we mentioned in a late issue, died yesterday morning. The Kev. A. B. Todd is announced to deliver a lecture on "Geology," with illustrative diagrams, in aid of the Mechanics' Institute, on Thursday, Bth August. The Elder Brothers—vocalists, dancers, and gymnasts—are announced to appear at Hampden on Saturday next, and at the Masonic Hall on the following Monday and Tuesday. A meeting of the Committee of the North Otago Tnrf Club will be held at the Empire Hotel this evening, at 8 o'clock, for the transaction of business of a very important nature.

During last -week 147 High School boys were drilled on five different occasions. The attendance of No. 3 Battalion at parades during the last month was 203. The total number (men and boys) drilled in the district during the last month reached 617The Oamara Christy's will meet for rehearsal this evening. It is intended, we helicye, to give an entertainment in aul of the funds of the Company prior to the closing of the Masonic Hall, which will take place in the course of a l'ow weeks. The Oamaru Young Men's Christian Association intend getting up a series of public lectures in aid of the Association s uin.is-. The first of the scries will take place on la'siluy tr "ing next, when the Rev. Ja:..-.-Mirams, Melbourne, will deliver a k'ljtura on "Gomun Proverbs."

It :.i so..rceiy ncc6=s;."y to remind the friends and admirers of Mr. Wm. Craig that the complimentary dinner to be given to that uentlema'n will take place on V/ednesday evening next, at the Royal Hotel, Otepopo. The tickets for the dinner are going off very w.-.11. and a large attendance is fully anticipated. Wo understand that it is contemplated by the managers p{ St. P?»l ! s C)ii}rcl} tq erect, as soon as possible, a hall at the reur of the ulmrch for the convenience of the Sabbath sohool and other meetings. We hope the work will soon be undertaken, as the want of a suitable hall in connection with the church appears to be much felt.

A cap'tal gymnasium has been started in conifectiofi *!]« 4'Strict school/ Mrsi lies, of Oamani," presented a trapese : and a circular gvying. swings for giris and hoy?, and horizontal hars have been provided through the instrumentality of the committee. A concert wi 1 shortly bo given in aid of the gymnasium fund. Two sailors belonging to the Garron, n:»med Lewis Berg-on s.nd Jame3 Spice, wee charged bffoye T. W. Parker, E-C|., R.M., at the Resident Mftgistfftte'a pourt thia morning with having been drunk and disorderly yesterday, and were each fiued 10s., with the alternative of 48 hours' imprisonment. Tfee Oamara Artillery are swelling their ranks, ai}d all th e ne F ua^or P? s haye been taken up. Captain Morton has, however, been requested to send Home at once for twenty additional suits. The men will parade in new full dreas, for inspection, tomorrow evening, and several matters of im- ! porr.wce in connection with the corps will ! be discussed, such as election of officers and no-i-commissioned officers. We understand | that Captain Morton will not permit any member to wear a badge of honour on his arm unless he has passed ; an examination j and proved his efficiency before a board or j officers and the Battalion Instructor. This j is quite proper. The Oamaru Rides held their half-yearly meeting at the Volunteer Hall, on Friday pvenimr. A report of the proceedings has only just bjiei; handed to us. Captain Sumpter occupied th 6 ohair, and there was a good attendance of members. The Treasurer's balance-sheet showed a considerable reduction of tlie debt upon the drill shed, and it is expected that the balance will be cleared off by the end of the financial year. A discussion took place upon the subject of 3 band, apd on motion of Sergt?.-Major I'iper, seconded by Coppopal Atkinson, it was resolved, ■' Thut the officers of the town companies be requested to act as a Band Committee with a view to organise a Battalion Band, and that the country companies be written to asking their assistance." After some discussion with reference to the cutting made through the Volunteer Reserve, it was decided to obtain the solicitor':, opinion r.r, the matter. Tt was decided to send - for 51) sei> of tmnoutrcmeut* in black p:i . •■nt leather, and the Segictary was inf-tni:- 1 "-1 to write tn the North Dunedin Hi;'..* ; d Christclmreh City (Juards, asking them ully to J".ul a specim -n helmet and ride " .. Oilc readers (says the Mauaw.-itu Tinus) will i,:(, I|-IV« forgotten thu dark mystery of tile Wo-.:i»*n?fi murder, end tlie singular circnm-'t'.i.ccs surrounding the tragic end of i ilia, U. Omvig 'h'; past week a few fac.N li vc be<-.n bef'ire us, which may C o -> wav i.. li- t only llirowiug some lignt i-p'iii the object . f t':>e murder, but. if true, w 11 go to prove that another victim lis.s f-dlpn by the hand of the assassin. Further "«*-e ire i;qt at Jiliertj 7 to mention at present', but siithco it. to say steps are being taken to piove or clear away the ura- tt pnspicions enti-rtaincd t!"~t a residei.t of this district, who has been missing since the date of the crime, has shared the face of the murdered man Ollandt.

We have received a copy of a work entitled " A Sketch of Otago," by Jas. M 'lndoe. late slid M-H.R. for Caversham, Pnnedin ; published by R. T. Wheelor, and printed by ili'ls, Dick, fipd Co, 1 S ; 11 is dedicated to the Honorable -lames MacRiulrew. 08 "one of the original Committee wh-> devised the f obema of settlement." The fist portion of the work is devoted to an historical sketch of Otago, from tho arrival of the first settle s from the Old Country, ut> to the present time. Of course, it is not difficult to point :>nt delects ; such bo >ks are visually compiled under difficulties. The information has to be derived from such various sources, fhe author says that the Oamaru Breakwater wjll ."o/l'er shelter iu any weather to coasting vessels,'' Jt c<jn dft that now, and wc hope that wlieu complete it will as easily and securely shelter Homegoing vessel*. Then, again, the author says that, "as regard* population, it is the eewnd town of the province, the number in 1574, being 2829." It would have been as well had the result of last census been given, which would h»v« shown that the populalation has been about doubled siupe 1§74, linweS'er, we doubtless feel the omission to accord to Oafljaru her fair dues more than anyone else, and taking thg book as a whole the author may well be for these and similar defects. The. matter is under the following headings Early history of the Province, general description of the Provinces land, djm&te, pri)d»c|a ; indjistrios and resources, i-istitutions, prospects, charges, effects, phi-onological record, superintendents, Proviocial Councils and' electoral districts, municipalities and. distances, statistics; the whole making a book of 152 pages, exclusive of a number of

statistical tablea. The chronological record, must have entailed a great'deal of labor, for it seems to have been compiled with great exactness.- But-we have no doubt as to the paying natiire of the Venture; nearlyvevery Otagan wiirihveat 2a. 6d. in a book containing so much matter of peculiar interest to Otago settlers. More especially will those welcome the volume who, frdm long resi-dence-in the Province, haveKan'acquaintance with the incidents set forth the work.

"Pro Bono Publico's " letter will appear I to-morrow, having been crowded out by telegraphic news. Instrumentalists desirous of joining the band of.-the Philharmonic. Society are requested to mpet for practice at Mr. Jones' residence", opposite the Presbyterian manse, this evening, at 8 o'clock. " Mayfair " says :—Professor Blackie is astonishing the natives in Jerusalem, through the streets of which daily flashes a slight, straight figure, clad in a tartan plaid, with white hair flying in the wind, and a soug from Homer on its lips. ..The Professor, in a letter from Egypt, greatly bemoans the lack of greenness in the desert. His soul pined for grass, awV found it not. On one occasion he. saw some goats painfully nibbling at something, and his heart swelled within liim. But ">n more nearly approaching, he found that what tiie goats were nibbling was "something that seemed be to the tin fulfil led prophecy of green grass." According to the Age, the returns of Victorian railway revenue for the year, commencing on July 1, 1577, and ending on •Tune 30, 1878, are of a most satisfactory character. The departmental estimate for the year just closed was L 1,158,000. After a careful calculation, this amount was increased by the Commissioner of Railways by L 20,000, bringing the estimate up to L 1,155, IlOti, Even this sum will be exceeded by L 43,524, making the total takings of the year amount to L 1,202,274. The revenue of the previous year was L 1,078,050 6s. ad., showing an excess on the last year of Li 24,193. In January last the staff was reduced to the extent of between L 19,000 and L 20.000 per annum iu salaries alone, and the business of the department, including the transport of 50,000 persons to tho Juvenile Exhibition at Ballarat, has bee« satisfactorily performed by w|\at has been referred to as the crippled staff This fact, coupled with the very handsome increase of over L 124.000 on the year's work, oannot fail to be gratifying to the pnb'ia.