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Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 821, 29 November 1878, Page 2

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

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 a single carriage of that train. All was pitchy darkness ; and when it is considered that a number of ladies were amongst the passengers, the awkwardness of such a jiosition 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 with the persons in question. The people of the West Coast have been nearly drowned by rain, whilst wo 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." At the R. M. Court to-day, before T. W. Parker, Esq., R.M., the following fines were inflicted :—Patrick M'Cusker, three cows at large, 155.; S, S, Smith, one horse, 4s.

The followii:;:; appcvs in the prize list of the lrie Show at Dunedin:—"Class 2 Ayrshire Bull, chived since Ist August, IS7O. Three entries. First prize, T_ 'S, William Cowan, Young Brogden, by Brogdon,. bred by Daniel M'Gregor." The same animal took third prize here. We suppose that this is one of the evidences of the superiority 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. A special meeting of the Committee of the Horticultural Society will be held this evening, at 8 o'clock, at Mr. Earle's diningrooms, for the purpose of arranging matters in connection with the late Show. A full attendance of members is particularly requested. The adjourned meeting of intending members of the National Rifle Association was held last evening at the Royal Hotel, for the purpose of electing a local Committee. Mr. Otterson occupied the chair. The following gentlemen were elected as a Committee : Dr. De Lautour, Messrs. Rule, M'Corkiudale, Atkinson, and Otterson. Mr. Atkinson was chosen to act as local Secretary. To-morrow a cricket match will be played at Palmerston between an eleven of that town and an equal number of the Excelsior Cricket Club. The following players have been chosen to vepresent the Excelsior Club :—Messrs. Athcrton, Cooke, Fenwick. Filleul, Finch, Glasson, Hardy, A. O. Howorth, Marshall, Snow, Thompson ; emergency, Davis ; umpire, .Mr. John Hardy ; scorer, Mr. W. Bannerman. Players will meet at the railway station at half-past six o'clock to-morrow morning, for the purpose of proceeding by the early train.

A cricket match will be played to-morrow between the juniors of the Carrisbrook (Dunedin) Club and the Oamaru High School. The Carrisbrook team will consist of—Austin, Bamiatync, Edwards, Fuller, Gray, Hackworth, Law, Morris, G. M. (captain), Morris, A. W., Reynolds, and Simpson. The Oamaru High School team will be selected from the following : Griffiths, Hewat (captain), Hewat, T., Hewat, R., Hewat, D., Ham, Kite, Moore, D., Nicol) Rice, Ross, and Todd. We are enabled, through the courtesy of the Otago Daily Times, to present our readers with the full excellent report of the Dunedin show that appeared in the columns of that paper. A special meeting of the Committee of the North Otago Rifile Association was held at the Royal Hotel last evening. The President (Dr. De Lautour) occupied the chair. The Sub-Committee appointed at the last meeting to make arrangements for the reception of the Dunedin team in the match to be fired on Saturday between the Otago and North Otago Rifle Associations having brought up their report, it was decided that the match should commence at (i a.m., and that the dinner should take place at the Royal Hotel at 2 p.m. Mr. J. D. Gillies, of Otepopo, wrote stating that he would not be able to fire in the match, and the Secretary was instructed to telegraph to the local Secretary at Otepopo, asking him to appoint anothar man to iire in Mr. Gillies' place. On the motion of Mr. Rule, it was decided that the Association should subscribe L 5 5s to the National Rilfe Association of >T'ew Zealand.

Last evening Mr. Fuller gave his lecture CVf the trench Revolution, Mr. Sumpter in the chair, to a larger, and. it' anything, more select audience than generally attend lectures, at all events in Oamaru, about I~>o being present. He not only narrated with vivid description many of the scenes of the great event, and pourtrayed the characters of the chief Republicans, but showed the causes that operated in bringing on the Revolution' which causes were even now to be found in the constitution of various societies. After going into the events of the Revolu-

tion, with suitable action he showed the results of it, and how it atl'ected European civilisation and progress. Pie took occasion in the lecture to inveigh against the lives of those clergyman who spent their time in a manner which contradicted the doctrines they taught, and showed how the lives of the clergymen of that time affected the Revolution. A vote of thanks to the lecturer for thus coming forward in the interest of the Institute was met with loud applause. At the conclusion of the meeting Mr. Sumpter announced that the Committee of the Institute contemplated giving a popular entertainment consisting of readings, recitations, and vocal and instrumental music at an early date. A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the proceedings.