Untitled

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 832, 13 December 1878, Page 2

His Excellency the Governor lias been pleased to form the Volunteer Artillery Corps into an Administrative Battalion, under the title of " The New Zealand Regiment of Volunteer Artillery," the several batteries of which to be designated as follows :_Auekland, A Battery ; Dimedin, P. Battery ; Timaru, C Battery ; Wellington. D Battery ; Christ-church, E Battery : Napier, F Battery ; Invercargill, G Battery: Nelson, H Battery; Oamaru, Battery; Cook County, J Battery. Mr. A. H. Maude held a sale of freehold and leasehold properties in the town at his rooms to-day. There was a good attendance of buyers, but the bidding was not spirited, most of the sections being withdrawn, as not reaching the vendor's price. The first lot was the freehold of sections 1 and 2, block LIL, Oamaru town, with a five-roomed dwelling-house, &c. This was bought for L 1455 by the Rev. Father Coleman. None of the other sections were disposed of, the oilers not coming up to the vendors value. A meeting of the Hospital Committee will be held at the office of the Secretary on Tuesday next, at S p.m. The return masch between the first eleven of the Excelsior and fifteen of the Oamaru Trades Cricket Clubs will be played on the old Cricket Ground to-morrow, at 2.30 p.m. The following comprise the Fifteen : Solomon (Captain), A. Hartley, J. Hartley, G. Hook, W. Hook, J. Hook, Knight, Ruchdalc, D. Sinclair, Slater, M'Gowan, Waterworth, Gray, Smith, Boycs. Emergency : H. Sinclair, 11. Condon.

The Rev. A. R. Fitchctt has resigned the pastorate of Trinity (Weslcyan Methodist) Church, Dunedin, on account of the refusal of the Wesleyan Conference to abandon the usage which allows ministers only three years in one charge, unless, on representations made by a congregation, the Conference elects to extend that time. Mr. Fitchett is one of the oldest preachers in the Colony, and possesses advanced and intelligent ideas on religious subjects that arc infinitely creditable to him. Ho is a profound student of the volume the teachings of which he essays to propound to his people ; and his common-sense expositions and reasonable views upon the great questions that affect humanity, have gained for him considerable esteem. Should Mr. Fitchctt carry out his present intention to resign his ministerial position in connection with the Wesleyan Church he will leave a- gap that will not be easily filled up. The Otago Daily Times says :—" Amongst the other delays and inconveniences caused by the want of railway waggons, has been a stoppage in the erection of the telegraph line from Oamaru to Duntroon (Marewhenua). The poles, which were brought from Wellington, have had to lie in Oamaru for days, while the men engaged on the work remained in idleness." That is nothing extraordinary. Evidences of the scarcity of trucks are so plentiful that we might rill a column about it in every issue of this paper. We observe that the Dunedin papers have omitted to mention in their account of the proceedings the names of the representatives of volunteer companies from this district that were present at the funeral of the late Sir John Richardson in Dunedin. As our volunteers were not wanting in their willingness to show respect to the remains of the deceased gentleman, we think that the fact should be demonstrated. We, therefore, give their names' as follow :—Lieut. Morris, Scrgt. King, and Vol. Harding (No. 1 Company, Oamaru) ; Volunteers Ross and Gillies (Otcpopo Company) ; Capt. Murcott, Sergt. Harris, Volunteers W. Stewart, H. T. Murcott, and A. M'Williams (Hampden Company.

The Commanding Officer notifies by advertisement that the inspection parade of Volunteers which should take place this evening has been postponed.

In another column may be seen an announcement of certain alterations in the arrival ami departure of trains at the Oamaru Station, which will come into force on Monday next. We shall be glad of alterations in the time of departure of the afternoon trains that will render it a less difficult task for us to forward our papers to subscribers, along the line on the afternoon o£ publication, and we are sure that our gladness will be reciprocated by our subscribers. We hear that such alterations are contemplated. ""

We understand that the Rev. A. Giffbrd' purposes exchanging duty for Sunday next with the Rev. Fredk. J. Sotham, of Port Chalmers, the latter gentleman will therefore officiate at St. Luke's Church both morning and evening. On Sunday evening next Mr. Jeffreys will deliver a Bible lecture at the old Tees-street Hall. Subject: "Baptism according to

Scripture." A scratch match of the Excelsior Cricket Club will be played to-morrow afternoon at the usual hour. Sides will be chosen from the following : —Messrs. Baxter, Bannerman, Barclay, Church, Davis, Gillett, Grenfell, Gilford, Hanij', A. G., Hardy, A. E., Lemon, Little, Marshal], Moore, H., Moore, D., M'Leod, Pallant, Robinson, A. G., Robinson, A., Todd, W., Thompson, Weir, liowat, E., Hewat, T., Colborue.

The following is the classification of the immigrants ex Canterbury, forwarded to Oamaru per Waitaki this morning : —3 families (equal to 11 adults), 16 domestic servants, and 19 single men. All were at once engaged, with the exception of the families, which will, without doubt, find good employment in the country before the lapse of many days.

The cricket match between the Christchurch College and Oamaru Clubs will take place to-morrow, and should attract a largo number ]of spectators. Play will bo commenced at eleven o'clock, but plaj'crs are requested to be on the ground at half-past ten. The following arc the Oamaru players : Messrs. Atherton, Cooke, De Lautotir, F. Fenwick, Howarth, G. Millington, J. Millington, Rice, Sumptcr, Tempest, and Walls. We greatly regret to learn from a good judge, who has just returned from a trip through the Papakaio district, that the majority of the crops there are suffering fromtheeffects of the late severe nor'-westers. Although these parching winds wore followed by a copious and refreshing rainfall, it appears that no amount of moisture could compensate for the damage that they have done. Our informant says that in many places crops will not pay for cutting.