The Evening Mail. THURSDAY, AUGUST 8, 1878.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 727, 8 August 1878, Page 2

The Evening Mail. THURSDAY, AUGUST 8, 1878.

Some of the members of the Oamaru Schools Committee evidently feel that they have to some extent been slighted in not having been consulted by Mr. Shrimski, M.H.R., with reference to the Bill brought into the House of Hepresentatives by that gentleman, providing for the establishment and maintenance of a High School for Waitaki. The question was raised at the meeting last evening by Mr. Evans, who asked if the Committee knew anything with regard to the intention of the measure. A long and unsatisfactory discussion of a conversational nature took place, ! members seeming pretty much mixed as to I what effect the establishment of a High School, managed by a Board of Governors, would have upon the present educational arrangements of the town. Some members seemed to think that it was intended to take the present High School building out of the control of the Education Board and the Schools Committee, and turn it into a High School similar to that of Dnnedin, for the purpose of imparting higher education ; but one member urged that this could hardly be the case, for it was not likely that the Education Board would allow the school building to pass out of its hands ; while another wanted to know what the feeling oi the people would be were such a course adopted, and a school which is at present a free institution turned into a school where fee-t were charged. Then another lamented over the fact that if such w i: re the case, th. Education Board Would withdraw the quarterly allowance. None of the members appeared to entertain the idea that it was intended to establish a separate and distinct school, solely for the purposes of highei education, and that it would not in any way interfere with the present public schools, aave by being the mean 3 of drafting therefrom a large nunilier of scholars who are al present receiving free education, but whose parents wonld gladly pay for their education, provided they were afforded an opportunitj of sending them to a school where a highei standard «>l instruction wa.i imparled. Altr. aether, the Committee were crtupletelj puzzled, every fresh opinion put lurch oulj tending to add to their bewilderment, aiw eventually it was decided that the Chainnai and Messrs. Gibba and Kvans should deputa tioniseMr. Hislop, M.H.K., with the view of ascertaining if that gentleman could en lighten the Committee as to the object am; general scope of the Bill introduced at mysteriously into Parliament by his col league ; and there the matter ends for tin present.

We are again unable, through a crush of other matter, to give a full report of the inquest held yesterday afternoon touching the death of Mathew Black, who was killed at the Harbor Works yesterday morning. The facts elicited at the inquiry were to the same effect as those published by us yesterday. The evidence disclosed the fact that care was generally taken to remove loo.se stones on the fcice of the quarry after a Ua<t, though men were not specially employed for the purpose. The fol owing verdict was returned : That the deceased. Mathew ttbck. met with 'd* death through a stone falling from the face of the quarry where he was working, and no blame can bs attached to anyone. At the Bame time we would su-.'gest that the contractor examine the face of the quarry at least once a day, with a view to prevent any similar accident in the future, and that the Coroner be requested to forward a copy of this verdict to the contractors."

An inquiry was held at the Commercial Hotel to-day. touching the death of George Duncan Cunningham, whose body was fouud on the batik of the Waitaki river on Tuesday, before T. W. Parker, Ksq , District Coroner, and a jury of which Mr. Robinson was foreman. J»hn Cunningham having identified the body as that of his brother, f.tve evidence as to having found the b-.uy at the rear of Mr. Blackwood's hou:-e. Evidence was then taken as to tiie deceased leaving the farm at Papakaio on the ilJlth ult., with the avowed intention of proceeding to Pudding Hill, on the Canterbury- side of the Waitaki river, and as to the nature of the fords on the river at the time, the evidence showing that th* river was pretty high at the time, and that d-ceased had only once previously crossed it, and then in company with Mr." Smith. After hearing the evidence, the jury returned a verdict to the effect that the deceased had met his death in attempting to ford the Waitaki River while in a dangerous state. A correspondent who signs himself " Kafcanui," writes stating that Mr. Ussher, who made the survey of the various routes for the proposed railway extension to Livingstone, is in error in stating that the Windsor line passe 3 through most of the cultivated part of the country. Our correspondent say* that on the Teaneraki-Livingstone line there are between five anil six thousand acres nnder wheat, besides oats, barley, &e. This evening the K.v. A. R Todd will deliver a lecture on " Geology." in aid of the Mechanics' Institute, at the Volunteer Hall We hope to see a large attendance. The Secretary to the Oamaru Stone Comtany notifies that the seond call of 5s per sh ire has been made payable on the Ist of September.

A meeting of the Committee of the North ()tago Tnrf Club was held at the Empire Hotel last evening, when there were present —Messrs. Lintott (in the chair), Longford. Shaldors, Riebardßon, Sutton, Faterson. Sherwin, Creenjield, and Grant (hon. sec). The minutea of the last meeting were read and confirmed. An <*T«t wade by Messrs. Patnrson and Sbalders to transfer to the Club their lease of the racecourse />n certain condition* was considered, and copy ot the lease was read through and a copy of the ordinance consulted. Jt was resolved, •' That a sub-committee, consisting of Messrs. Grant, Lintott, and Taylor be appointed to wait upon the lUoecouwe Trnst, to obtain their permission and assistance in taking over tn# present lease of the Racecourse Reserve, dot held by Messrs. Paterson and Sbaldert, wttfa » view to the improvement of the racecourse, tfc« erection of a permanent grand 3tand, «c, and th*t the secretary be empowered to write asking tfce Trnst to appoint a meeting to consider thfi matter at the earliest possible date." A vote of thanks was accorded to Messrs. Hislop and Creagh for lending their copy of the ordinance. Daring the evening it was announced that the Grind National Steeplechase Club had offered to j«n J&» North Otago Turf Club in the coat of laying «s** permanent steeplechase course. A vote <* tkwk? t« "« Chairman terminated the meeting,

< The regular monthly meeting of Lodge Waitaki, No. 1111., E.C., will be held at half-past 7 o'clock this evening. The Bible class in connection with the Yonng Men's Christian Association still continues to meet at their rooms o>i Wednesevenings, at 8 o'clock. Last evening, the President conducted the class, taking for his subject " The Lamb." The attendance was good, and included some new visitors. It is announced thac the Rev. Dr. Stuart will enud'iet Divine Service at Cave Valley <choolhoi?:-e, at iialf-pist 11 am., and at the New Waiareka Chun h. at 3 p.m., on bunday next, tiie 11th instant, and that a soiree in connection with the Church, will be held in the Teaneraki seho..lhou3e on Tuesday evening, wh-n the following gentlemen are expected to address the meeting : Kev. Dr. Stuart, and He vs. Messrs. Todd, Dewsbury, Ryley, and Steven. At the Resident Magistrate's Court this afternoon before T. W. Parker, Esq., R.M., : William White, charged with stealing from . the shop ot Mr. A. A. Solomon, in Thamesstreet, a carpet bag valued 2s. The evidence of Mr. Solomon was to the effect that he was • sitting in his shop about a quarter to 7 yesterday evening when he heard some oue telling a'dog to " fetch it;" went out quietly and from behind the counter saw the '■ prisoner spit on the hag produced and tell • the dog to "fetch it." The dog rose up and took down the bag from the nail on which it hung at the door, and the hoy ran ' away up Thames-street, the dog following 1 with the bag Saw the boy take the bag from • thedogaboutNewey's Hotel, audstill running ' caught him at Bailie and Humphrey's corner, 5 and gave him in charge. The boy's father ' made an appeal to the Bench on behalf of his '" son, but the Bench said the case was so bad I a one that there was no alternative but to 1 send him to gaol for a month. Sentenced to r one month's imprisonment. ' A meeting of the Railway Committee, to receive and consider the report of the Governi ment surveyor on the Windsor-Livingstone Section, and to consider what action is to be f taken thereon, will be held to-morrow, at 11 a.m., at the County Council Chambers, i We are informed that shares in the re--2 cently-established Colonial Insurance Com--1 pauy are changing hands at a premium of ,-. -Js. 6'd., and that they are steadily advancing. - This may fairly be accepted as a proof that s c<;nti tence is felt in this new aspirant for 3 public favor.