The Evening Mail. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE NEW ZEALAND AGRICULTURIST. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1878.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 814, 21 November 1878, Page 2

The Evening Mail. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE NEW ZEALAND AGRICULTURIST. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1878.

It is a matter for regret that the Telegraph Department should have decided not to concede the small boon asked for by the Commit tee of the North Otago Turf Club. The expense of connecting the course with the telegraph wire would be but trifling, while the "advantages to be derived by the Press and the public by the establishment of telegraphic communication with the racecourse would be manifold. There is little doubt, too, that the revenue obtainable by the Department would greatly exceed the cost of erecting the wire ; indeed, we venture to assert that the amount derivable from Press messages alone would far more than cover the outlay which would have to be undertaken. Already several race-courses in the Colony have been connected with the telegraph' lines, and we can see neither reason nor justice in the refusal of the Department to grant the same concession to Oamaru. trust that the Committee will not rest satisfied with the refusal they have received from Pr. Lemon, " by direction of the Commissioner of Telegraphs," but would suggest that as the Hon. Mr. Fisher will be in Oamaru in the course of a few days, they should appeal directly to headquarters. We feel sure that if a depu ation waited upon the Hon. Mr. Fisher and represented the matter to him plainly, he would have little hesitation in granting the request. The length of wire necessary to be erected is much shorter than in either Wellington, Christchurch, or Dunedin, the line running in close proximity to the course, the requirements of the public are equally as great us those of other places, and nothing is needed but the erection of the wire and the attendance of an operator with the necessary instruments, the Club having provided house accommodation. The only argument used, < ( far as we can learn, is that an operator cannot be snared ; hut this is just so much oll'eial bunkum. We know for a fact that operators are on the ground at every race meeting, and nothing could be easier than to arrange for the transmission of telegrams if the I)epartment would only cast aside some small amount of its bumptious foolishness, and descend to the level of ordinary people and take a common-sense view of things. There was another good house at the Marionettes entertainment last night, when tlie programme was again gone through in the pleasing manner which characterised the previous performances. The company pro- - coed to Dunedin, where we have no doubt thev will meet with a liberal amount of support. It is very.-ivnieh to be regretted that no hall was untamable for this evening and to-morrow evening, for we are sure that luaiiv of our country visitors would have been delighted with the entertainment if they had had an opportunity of being preThe proceedings at the Waiareka Church Uazaav will bo enlivened to-night by a few choice, selections of vocal and instrumental music, which the visitors will be able to listen to as a kind of solatium at intervals during the evening, whilst the delicate proto bazaars are going on. The Onniaru Public Baths Company hive arranged that a number of swimming matches shall take place on Saturday next, particulars of which may be seen in another column. In adM:"<m to those advertised, there will pro'- ably be other events. It would appear that some evil disposed person bears a dangerous amount of animosity towards Mr.'Norman Lane, butcher, of this town. Last night, a 'pile of materials of a most inflammable nature, consisting of sticks, oil, and tar, was laid close to the back door of Mr. Lane's premises in Thames-street. Mr Milligan, who happened to be passing i.v t'he premises at 10 o'clock,' observed a slight glare at the rear of the premises, and, thinking the circumstance unusual, he proceeded to the spot, and discovering what we haw already described, burning, fortunately, with a sickly flame, he took good eare to prevent it from doing any damage. Mr. Lane was informed of the occurrence, and Sergeant Beattie and Constable Joyce immediately did their utmost to sift the matter, but up to the present time without sueccss. Can there be any connection between this circumstance and the unwholesome brawn ? It is a diabolical thought, but there might be.