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Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 740, 23 August 1878, Page 2

I We are anxious that our distinguished visitors who will arrive here for the purpose of celebrating in a befitting manner the opening of the through line from Amberly to Pnnedin, should take particular notice of the Blueskin section. Not th»t we havany desire to terrify them; because the danger of tumbling over a sheer precipice a few"hundred feet high, with the prospect of i never more taking an interest in the concerns of this world, may be considered a small matter compared to the everyday objection of its being unable to stand the traffic that will be expected to go over it. We fancy we see one of the large, powerful engines we. read about whizzing along like

the wind in order to accomplish the journey in the stipulated time, and suddenly disappearing from view over the Blue3kin Bluff. Not only is the line playfully fixed on the very verge of a precipice, :with so little space betweeD the carriages and .the banks in some places that one is-.'compelled to readjust the focus of the lenses of his eyes in order to see the latter distinctly, but the engineer, apparently abhorring straight lines, has enabled the delighted traveller to be treated to a number of delicate curves, so jo!!y that, with little effort, one might almost see the front of the engine from his seat in the carriage. We would like our legislators to take notice of these things ; lecause. although they may be'very nice, most people.have a most absurd dislik.; for adventnresome geological research. If they thought that there was any danger of being suddenly t-ansported on to the rocks or into the blue sea below without being troubled to remove from their carriages, we verily believe that they would prefer a trip by steamer. We regret that we have been unable to find room in this issue for several letters anil other matter, although we endeavored to do so by cutting down the other items to the smallest limit. We hope to be more fortunate to-morrow. To-night the Chistys will give their entertainment, the programme of which appears in another column. We sincerely hope that the pub>ic will not forget the goo.! service they have latey done, in connection with the c use of charity, and give them a bnmper aud:e: ce. They c rtainly have a claim for consideration when giving an entertainment, in aid of their own funds, as without money it would be impossible for them to perform similar good service in the future. Apart from tho excellence of the entertainment, which we can vouch for, they deserve that their efforts should be crowned with success. At the conclusion of the football match yesterday, the two teams and a few friends sat down to a dinner provided by Mr. Earle. Mr. Otferson (President of the Oamaru Club) occupied the chair, and Mr. O'M.agher the vice-chair, '''he chai man said that, as certain of the Christchurch team would have to go into the country that evening, th« toasts would be necessarily curtailed. He then proposed •' Oar Guests, the Christchurch College Team," to which Mr. Hamilton, the captain of the College team, responded, and then proposed "The Oamaru Team," to which Mr ''averhill responded. The ViceChairman proposed "I he Umpire," coupled with tho name of Master Mackenzie, in a lenathv speech, in which he paid high compliments to Public Schoolboys, and singled out Master Mackenzie as h.iving been in p great measure instrumental in sej: ,: i- ; victory for the < hristchurch "boyo." M Morrison, of the Christchurch College, and Umji-ri l of their t<am. responded in a most ineresti.ig speech. With the toasts of "The Press" and "The La.lies." am.i the singing of "Auld l.ang Syne" and "The National Anthem," the proceedings terminated.

A special meeting of the Harbor Board ■was held to-day at the Harbor Chambers. There were present Messrs. Sumpter (Chairman), Steward, Borrie, Menlove, Meek. Gilchrist. The ninutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed, and the outward correspondence was read and approved. An application from Mr. H. Reid for permission to use, tempoiarily, some unoccupied sections belonging to the Board North i'f the I.agonn, for the purpose of disc argiug s-mtc bridge material for the Upper Waitaki bridge, was referred to the -Standing Committee, v/itn p r.v'er to act. Some discussion took pi 'c: with reference to the site for a new passenger .station, and it was resolved on the motion of -Mr. Steward, seconded by Mr. Menlove, " That the Secretary be dir- cted to rciograph to Mr. Conyers asking f the proposal marie at meeting will be rcct.ive.il in dciinite form in time for the ordinary meeting next Friday, anfl furtlier asking that the same be it possible, in order to enable the Board to consider the same and consult with those member-* now in Wellington on their exp cted vi-it t> (laramn "ii the occasion of the opening of the railway to Dunedin '' The Secretary read a Kngtiiy memoran-ium he had dr.iwn up for tiie information of members r>f Parliament for the district with reference to ilie ori-in and progress of the Harbor Works —A vote of thanks was pa«sel to Mr. Forrester for the trouble he had taken. A few acconnts were passed for payment, and the Board rose. On Friday i-vening next a ball will take place under the auspices of the Masonic Lodge- in Oamaru at ihe Masonic Hall (Star and'Gtrter Hotei). This will be the last event to t.-.ke place in the hall, which will be disniant'od immediately afterwards, and into I cdi-nonis. A ni'.v.itiug of the Batalion. Band Committer was lield lasc evening at the Volunteer H;:'!. Capt/iin Morton occupied the chair IS was decided that the name of the bapd .-.iijulil be the Oamaru Volunteer Band, and li..it it should be under the management of a committee consisting of the captain* and iicutemnts of the adult companies and the captains of the cad-t corps ; tho Major Commanding to be ex officio chairman. ;'.■•! three to be a quorum. Tt was resolved that at the first meeting of the Committee, a treasurer and secretary should be a 'pointed, and it was decided to call a meeting of those- willing to join the band. A c-i e of rules for the management of the band was adopted, and after it had been de-i-ideil to «?k t'.ie Calvion a,u Society to assist in procuring a uniform for the band, the meeting terminated. |

We are informed that, after paying expenses in connexion with their late entertainment, the Early Closing Association had a balance of L 6 I's. This amount has, in accordance with the announcement made, been handed over to the Benevolent Society. We are requested to intimate that, inconsequence of the next Philharmonic Society'sconcert taking plaeu on Thnr-aliy evening, the (>th September, the e will be two practices of the .S-ctety in the Mssonio H;il! next week, viz , on Monday and Wednesday evenini-s, at which nl! the performing members of the Society are '.-arncsr'y requested to attend. The forthcoming concert promises to bo a rich musical treat. The pro gramme will comprise Mozart's "Twelfth Mass " and a choice miscellane us selection of secular songs and concerted pi« ces, vocal and inar-mmental. Honorary members will he provided with two front seat tickets. The annual meeting of the Otepopo Road Board and ratepayers of the district was held on Wedne-day. 21st inst. PresentMessrs. Anderson (Chairman), Henderson (Treasurer), Falconer, M'Donald, A. Marshall, Thompson, Boss, Darroch, Davidson, and Mitchell.—The minutes of the previous me°ting were read and confirmed.—The outward cmrespondence wa* read and approved, and the inward considered as foilowa :—. From the bounty Council re the taking over and maintaining of the AUday Creek Bridge when "reefed ; also requesting the Board to clce the old road at the Island Stream. The clerk was instructed to reply that the Board is quite willing to maintain the bridge, but that it is satisfied that a great majority of the si-tfclers interested would object to the closing of the road, and that it is thi refore u-eless to attempt it.—From the Knkanui B >ard, asking th s Board to vote LlO towards the planking of the Kakanui Bridge. Mr. Falconer moved that the amount asked for be voted, which was seconded by Mr. A. Marshall and carried.

The Clerk was instructed to invite tenders for the formation of "Cromarty-street.—-On the motion of Mr. falconer, seconded hy Mr. Henderson, the balance-sheet was oon' firmed.—The Clerk reported that.Mr. R. Morrison wants v T4O for-the corner of his section cut. off" by the Allday Road,—The Board agreed to the terms and the Clerk was instructed to ask the Engineer to have it surveyed.—Messrs. Anderson and M'Donald -were auuthorised to have the culvert at Mr, Paunderi' house re-covered.—The Clerk was directed to call for tenders for the office of Hanger. Messrs. Anderson, Falconer, Darroch, and Koss were appointed a sub-committee to open them.—The Engineer was directed to report on the north end of the road between the Pleasant Valley and Allday Bay roads. —lt was decided to fix the rate for the current year at Is per £. — On the motion of Mr. M'Donald, seconded by Mr. A. Marshall, Mr. Anderson was reelected Chairman.