The Evening Mail WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE NEW ZEALAND AGRICULTURIST. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1878.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 820, 28 November 1878, Page 2

The Evening Mail WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE NEW ZEALAND AGRICULTURIST. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1878.

•>".\" C(i!.:-ii;'.!-M of the North Otago t ■: >. i» !,■• ::a fi'lly determined that 1h • I' : '-'j t-li-s.ll ii'i t!u future the re- .,.■'■»-'.•,'■'.■-,' 'wiiich it obtained last session 1 '",{"■<■; of 1. :;;'./ v!-.o leadi'.!,-? <-'lub in the o;.,'i>- AVi'tVr forethought -,u<'l Vi'"'-iirc \n ivii(!'-i- t'.r.j <:m;r-;i:ig matche? iu iii ::.;:- .:•■ :i ''..'•:■■: attractive, a •i ~;,., ; ■; .!._... ~;' ; .., ,":.-. fv'l" pUilplcS, IH ",,,'.',•■,.'.'l(w I, jr.; <■••: tiio IXIi '-May and ]'!;•"., : ; ■■■ r„iv.-:, unmmatioiis for which must 1,0 to tho Secretary on or beforo the 15th January. Willi the Waterloo Chip of

the Colony, and the first Derby Stakes initiated, the Club can now fairly lay claim to be considered the Club of New Zealand ; more especially so as it possesses the finest coursing ground that can be obtained in any portion of the Colony. The following appears in the prize list of the late Show at Dunedin :—"Class 2 Ayrshire Bull, calved since Ist August, IS7G. Three entries. First prize, L 3, William Cowan, Young Brogden, by Brogden, bred by Daniel M'Gregor." The same animal took third prize here. We suppose that this is one of the evidences of the of the Dunedin shows, although we admit our inability to see it in that light. However, we congratulate Dunedin on playing even third fiddle to us, and Old Father Time may perhaps enable them to do better by-and-bye. The Ayrshire bull that took third prize at Oamaru took the first prize at Dunedin ! There is nothing to laugh at. The Waimate and Geraldine bush fires have been fanned into activity again. It was rumored here this morning that at the firstmentioned place the flames were doing considerable damage. We have good reason to hope that such is not the case, as we have not received any intimation to that effect from our correspondent. At the 11. M. Court to-day, before T. W. Parker, Esq., K.M., the following fines were inflicted :—Maria Townsend, 1 cow (with tether-ropo), 10s; Alex. Johnstone, 1 horse, 10s ; James Tripp, 2 horses (with tetherropes), 20s ; W. Williams, 1 cow, us ; Hurst, for trespassing on railway bridge over Lagoon, L2; and M'lntosh, for the same ofTenee, LI.

Mr. John M'Lciin returned to New Zealand by the last San Francisco mail steamer. He is now in Christchurch, and will shortly return to this district.

Those who are desirous of becoming shareholders in the Oamaru Woollen Factory Company (Limited) should bear in mind that the share list will close on Saturday next, ami that an early application for shares is therefore necessary.

The special annual meeting of the North Otago Benevolent Society, and the first statutory meeting under the Act of last session, will be held at the Volunteer Hall to-morrow evening, at S o'clock. It is notified that it is intended to move an amendment to rule 4, for the purpose of increasing the number of town members on the Committee to twelve. Mr. Fidler's lecture on the French Revolution will be given this evening at the Volunteer Hall. Although the subject is a somewhat tlueadbaro one, we believe that, by dint of more than ordinary research, the lecturer will be able to invest his subject with interest sufficient to rivet the attention of, and please his audience. A meeting of the Committee of the North Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Association will be held at 11 o'clock to-morrow.

We have been shown several specimens of a small brown beetle, which seems to be favoring Hampden with a visit just now. They are said to be very common in New Zealand, repose at the roots of trees during the daytime, and sally forth in the cool of the evening. Although we have not heard anyone complain that they work any damage to vegetable life, we have no doubt that they are capable of doing mischief. We were lately told by a Christchurch gentleman that he not long since mistook a swarm of them for bees, and only discovered his error after the usual method of beating tin cases in order to capture them had been proceeding for some time. The mistake is easily accounted for. They make a loud humming noise precisely like that emitted by bees, and cannot, unless by careful scrutiny, be distinguished from the symbols of industry. We wonder whether the flight of the paroquets has anything to do with the advent of our little brown enemies.

Barton's circus, which has just made a successful tour throughout the Colony, will be in Oamaru on Tuesday next.

The approaches to Richmond's Crossing sidino- are in such a state that it is high time that they were attended to. In order to take a vehicle through one of the gateways it is necessary to cross a ditch from lSin. to 2ft. deep, and about 2ft. wide. The settlers in the locality are surprised that this state of things has been allowed to exist so long ; and we are surprised that, considering the entire unsuitableness of the siding and the state of disrepair of the approaches thereto there have been accidents of a serious nature to chronicle. This is another one of the things that require the attention of the Railway Department before the advent of the grain season. Sub-Inspector .Smith is about to be removed from Oamaru to take charge of the district of Marlborough. General regret will be felt at the departure from our midst of one who has proved himself so eminently lit for the position which he occupies, and the only hope that consoles us is that in his | new sphere he will be better paid, and that the change will in every respect be beneficial The windows of the b«sjness places throughout the town were barrieluie , 3.*to-j4av, in oriler to protect them from the nornMl westerly gale that has been blowing, and which not only threatened to shatter glass into fragments, but to level anything less fragile than stone. We have now had sufficient north-westerly gales to last us for some time, and if nature should take it into her head to return in showers the moisture that has been extracted from everything of late, the change would be grateful. A correspondent replies, in answer to our query tjje other day as to what has become of the paroquets, that they have retired into the bush to attend to family matters, and that they will return in full force when the proper time arrives. A special meeting of the Committee of the North Otago Horticultural Society will be held to-morrow evening, at 8 o'clock, in order to arrange for the payment of the prizes won at the recent show. The "Intelligent Vagrant," of the Bruce Herald objects to travelling by specials, and we are not surprised at it, if his experience bears any resemblance to that of the passengers by the special train that left Dunedin for Oamaru last night. We are informed that there was not even the usual glimmer in ft single carriage of that train. All was pitchy darkness ; and when it is considered that a number of ladies were amongst the passengers, the awkwardngßß of ' such a position can readily be realised, The Timaru Herald has the following : A marriage took place lately at Temuka, under very peculiar circumstances, for the lady was married one may almost say upon her dying bed. After having submitted to an operation in which four eminent members of the medical profession were present, it was her particular request in conjunction with her affianced, that they should become man and wife. The noble devotion of the one and affection of the other in this instance merits not only the sympathy but the deep respect of those who are acquainted witli the persons in question. The people of the West Coast have been nearly drowned by rain, whilst we have been nearly dried up by the scorching winds and sun. At St. John's Church, Westport, lately prayers were offered up for a cessation of the prolonged deluge to which that district has been subjected. The local paper says : " Month in and month out, the heavens have opened and rain has descended, until poor, dripping, downcast humanity has felt as if all life and energy has been soaked away."