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Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 835, 17 December 1878, Page 2

After a large amount of further evidence had been taken at the inquest yesterday aftornoon, the jury returned a verdict of accidental death.

The cricket match at Palmerston yesterday between the Palmerston Club and the Christchnreh College Club was won by the former by five runs on the first innings, the scores being—Palmerston, first innings, 73 ; Christchnreh College, first innings, OS ; second. 30, with seven wickets down. Snodgrass bowled well for the former, and succeeded in taking three wickets with three consecutive balls. Tho batting and fielding of the Collegians was much admired, and it was a pity that there was not time to play the match out. Messrs. Glasson and Snow, of the Oamaru Excelsior Club, took part in the match by playing on the Palmerston side, and succeeded in keeping up the prcM'nji' of their club. Some time ago the Roman Catholics of tlie Oamaru district undertook to secure for the education of their children the services of the Socioty called Christian Brothers, and we perceive that they are reducing their efforts to practice by the purchase of an excellent property, being the grounds and residence of Mr. W. Aitken, which Mr. A. 11. Maude sold on Friday last to tlie Rev. Father Coleman for the sum of LI 455. This is to be used as a residence for the Christian Brothers, and we understand that, as soon as it is possible for Christian Brothers to come, the Catholic children of Oamaru town and district will be placed under their charge. It is probable that a school-house will be built contiguous to the residence. This is one of the most eligible sites in Oamaru. and it does infinite credit to the energy and devotcdncss of the Catholic section "of our community that they have succeeded in securing it for the purpose of carrying .out so laudable an object as that of educating their children after their own plan. We would not be surprised if, after all, some arrangements were eventually made whereby the Catholic people, whoso religious scruples it appears will not admit of them sending their children to Government schools as at present conducted, will receive assistance from the Government to maintain schools that are conducted in a manner more in conformance with theif belief. By establishing separate schools they will relieve tiie over-crowded Government schools. In Oamaru they will do this to the extent of one hundred scholars. We think that the Government might, as we have previously advocated, allow the Catholics so much per head towards the expense of conducting their schools, provided that their education readies the standard required by the Government, and stands the test of the examination of the Government Inspector,

Tho public temperance meeting, announced to be held in the Pukeuri School on Thursday last, has been postponed till Thursday next, the 19th hist., in consequence of the unfavorable weather. We notice that the Revs. Messrs. Kyley and Stevens, and Mr Wallace, will deliver addresses on the occasion.

" Rainbow Revels " was repeated at the Volunteer Hall by Mr. R. Stewart and his clever daughters last evening to a large and highly appreciative audience. The entertainment was again gone through in a spirited manner, aiui the applause was both frequent andlong-eontiiiu.ed. This evening "Rainbow Revels " will be perfoi?n«d for the last time, and we would strongly recominend those who have not already witnessed its production not to miss the opportunity of doing so, 'Phc music to-night will be entirely new. Amongst other pieces will be sung by the Misses Stewart ■'-' Caller Herrin' " and the " Bonnie Fishwife." Mr. Stewart's imitations of notable characters will also be new.

Communication on the Port Darwin line is interrupted beyond Powell's Creek.

The Oamaru Philharmonic Society will meet for practice this evening at the Oddfellows' Hall, Coquet-street. A full attendance is requested. Those who have pianos that are sick from want of tuning or regulating will be glad to learn that Mr. Harcourt Lee, formerly accompanist to Madame Goddard, and now with the Stewart Family, is prepared to tune and regulate. As he will leave for the North on Friday morning, it will be necessary for those who require his services to make early application to Messrs. Ronayne andvCottrell. He is as good a tuner as he is a player, and that is saying a great deal in his praise.

The Catholics of Oamaru had the satisfaction of being ministered to during last week by the Rev. Fathers O'Malley and M'Enroe, members of the Jesuit Order. The religious exercises were attended by crowded congregations, morning and evening, each day. In the interval between morning and evening, the Fathers were engaged in the nrinistrations of their Church, which were availed of by members of the Catholic community to such an extent that by Saturday last there was scarcely a Catholic in Oamaru and the surrounding district who had not been present at these special services. Wo learn that on Saturday Bishop Moran arrived, and administered Confirmation on Sunday to about 30 members of the congregation. The Mission has been enthusiastically received. The Rev.' Fathers especially directed their efforts to the suppression of drunkenness and the inculcation of the moral virtues, and of those qualities that tend to the good order and well-being of society. These being the objects of the Mission, we trust that its fruits will be permanent.

The following remarks of the Rev. A. R. Fitchett, on the occasion of publicly announcing his intention of seceding from the Wcsleyan body on account of his disapproval of the rule of the Wesleyan Church which stipulates that a minister shall only remain three years in any one charge, we take from the 6tago Daily Times of yesterday : —" At the conclusion of a sermon delivered by him in the Wesleyan Trinity Church yesterday morning, in reference to his resignation, Mr Fitchett said : ' You have no doubt during the week observed paragraphs in the papers stating that I have communicated to the Rev. Mr. Crump, the Superintendent of the Conference, the fact that I shall not be prepared to accept another appointment. The statement is correct. I wish to explain to you simply, that had I been permitted to remain in this church, no action of mine would have displaced me. I have not the smallest ground of difference with this congregation, as you know well, and consequently I should have remained in quietude, I presume, if the law of the Church had permitted it. This law has now removed mc twice from this congregation : and for no other reason than that there is such a law, and after having been sixteen years under the operation of this, and resisting it all the time, as I rind, without success, I think it is my duty to say I cannot accept another iqipr.mtincnt under this system. I wish you io understand, too. that in anything 1 may dci—whatever way J. may dispose of myself —I want you to understand this very definitely, that I am not prepared to vary in the least from any one of the prieiplus which have characterised my teaching, and with which my name has been associated within this walls, in this city, and in some sense throughout the length and breadth of Now Zealand. Not one of those principles that have been embodied in my teaching am I the least likely to surronder for any purpose. 1 simply find that I am unahle to abide under this itinerant law, which is objected to by nearly all the ministers of New Zealand, and which is imposed upon us by the conference in Australia ; but to depart in any sense from any of the principles which I have been teaching is what I trust you know lam absolutely incapable of. In whatever shape I may preach the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, I shall preach precisely what I have been accustomed to, I need' not say to you that it is a very painful thing to sever associations which are of such long standing, and that I could only have arrived at such an action as the result of a vi.-rv stringent and stern sense of duty, and I have good faith that those amongst yon who cannot -understand quite well why I should take action qf this kind, will believe that lam doing it from a sense of duty. 1. do not know that any personal friendship T have been able to form in this place will be imperilled by my refusal to submit any longer to what I feel to be an absolutely intolerable law.' " The Times also says that Mr. Fitchett has been offered ordination in the Church of England, and that he is likely to accept it.