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Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 791, 24 October 1878, Page 2

We -were glad to see Mr. lies engaged this morning on the cliffs adjoining the Breakwater road -with a couple of cameras and other concomitant paraphernalia, his object being to reproduce the picture at present displayed in the Oamaru harbor, A couple of steamers and some 9 vessels moored alongside the wharves, together with a brace of barques a little way out in the offing, ought surely to convince the most chronic of croakers that Oamaru has not only survived their lugubrious predictions, but marched along on its onward way far transcending the anticipations of its best well-wishers. The weather was beautifully fine this morning, and being everything that even the " camera man could desire," we look forward to a faithful portraiture of our busy breakwater, which now ministers to the wants of a fleet of no inconsiderable importance, of a fleet indeed of which either Dunedin or Lyttelton might well feel proud. We trust that copies of the photographs will find their way into the parlors of the bntsy city men in Lombard and Threadneedle streets, and that the ocular evidence thus presented may cause our coining water and harbor loans to move off readily at prices even beyond- those already obtained for the debentures already in the 'hands of the Home investors. The road from Duntroon to Oamaru is in a wretched state, and is, in some places, almost impassable. The creeks have washed away and left steep banks; rivers have altered their courses—notably the Otematata, the two bridges of which now span dry ground. Other portions of the road are terribly boggy. The road is so thoroughly bad that goods intended for the Hakateramea, and which had reached Duntroon en route, have had to be returned by rail and taken to the Canterbury side of the Waitaki across the bridge, in order to be conveved to their destination. We are glad to hear that the County Council has signified its anxiety to repair this unsatisfactory state of matters by putting on additional road men. But we would impress upon the Council the urgent necessity that exists for making all possible haste to get the road ready for the traffic that it will shortly be expected to sustain. The inconvenience to the settlers to the westward is already large enough ; but it will be worse during the wool season unless prompt measures be taken. A most extraordinary egg is on view at Mr. Covins' shop. It has two shells : the outer merely a skin, and the inner a crust of the ordinary description. It is the production of a duck at Mount Pleasant faini. The Secretary of the North Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Association requests us to again notify that this is the last day foi receiving entries of salt butter foi the show ; and to remind exhibitors that it is desiiable that other entries should be made early, the last date for receiving them being the 7th November. .A meeting of contractors and other employers of labor with reference to the Saturday half-holiday movement will be held at the Criterion Hotel to-morrow evening, at 8 o'clock. . The Oamaru Citizens Cadets will meet this evening at 7.30 o'clock, at the Drill Shed. It will be pleasant to our readers to be reminded that the sen-ice of song, "Eva," which attracted a large audience last week, notwithstanding the unfavorable weather which then prevailed, will be repeated this cvcnin[[. It is well "worth hearing, and an hour anil a half could hardly be better expended, especially by those who are fond of sacred melodies, than in being present.

A special parade of the Headquarters Companies will be held to-morrow evening, at 8 o'clock. At the conclusion of the parade the invitation to the Company to take part in a field-day in Dunedin on the 9th November next will he considered. To-morrow evening, at 8 p.m., the first half-yearly meeting of the Early Closing Association will take place at Mr. Gordon's rooms.