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Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 855, 11 January 1879, Page 2

A Government notice is inserted in the Invercargill evening paper to the effect that the time for application to be examined for teachers' certificates has been extended from the first day to the fifteenth day of January. It seems strange that this notice should not have been inserted in one of the papers of this district, seeing that the information it contains is as likely to be of interest to us as it is to the people of Invercargill or elsewhere.

On Thursday, two valuable stacks of hay belonging to Mr. \V~. M'Kay, were destroyed by fire at Waimntu, through sparks from the engine of a train. Mr. M'Kay intends taking action to recover from the Government the value of the hay.

A meeting of the Reaper and Binder Trial Committee was held to-day, when it was resolved that the trial take place on Wednesday, 22nd hist., at 11 o'clock a.m. The place of trial will be intimated in the paper of the 20th inst.

This day, at the R.M. Court, before T. A. Clowes, Esq., J.P., and W. H. Roberts, Esq., J.P., Daniel O'Connor was brought up charged with having no visible means of support. The Bench sentenced him to fourteen days' imprisonment, with hard labor. James Walsh was charged with being drunk and disorderly in Thames-street on the 10th inst. He was cautioned and discharged.

The usual weekly meeting of the Upward and Onward Lodge, 1.0. G.T., Teaueraki, was held in the Tcaneraki school, on Thursday night. After going through some minor business, it was proposed, seconded, and carried, that two fifths of the initiation fees and quarterly dues be set apart as a sinking fund for charitable purposes. It was also resolved to hold an open meeting in the Cave Valley school on Tuesday evening next, to promote the interests of Good Templary. The general quarterly meeting of the Oainaru Railway Benefit Society was held at tin- Railway Station ou Friday evening. Mr. T. W. Brebner was voted to the chair. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved. The Treasurer read the quarterly report and balance sheet, i which were adopted unanimously. A large j amount of general business was then dis- ! posed of, ami the meeting was brought to a | close with the usual vote of thanks to the I chair. It is satisfactory to add that this ! Il.jiin.sliing .Society still numbers 127 mem- ! hers, all of whom are in good standing on ; the books.

Wo believe that the Hon. H. J. Miller and Mr. S. K. Shrimski will be appointed Governors of the W'aitaki High School. We have been requested to call the attention of the Town Councillors to the fact that the man sweeping the channels aetnally sweeps the dust into the faces of not only men,' but into the faces of children and ladies as they pass by. We hear that it is proposed to do away with the siding at (."'ormack's Crossing, on the Ngapara line. We are sure that there are many stations which have fewer passengers than what make use of this as a station. There are many roads meeting near there, leading into the heart of the district, and it is so situated that undoubtedly it will soon become a centre for irrcat traffic. Again, there are, we know, a number of children attending various schools in town, and their only near means of access is by this siding. It is to be hoped that if any steps arc to be taken they will not be prejudicial to the convenience of the numerous settlers in the district.

The sparrows have recommenced their depredations amongst the oats at Weymouth, in the I'apakaio district. Under the heading of " Game for New Zealand," the London Graphic of 12th October says :—Scotch Grouse and Black Game are to be exported to New Zealand, where the Acclimatisation Society intends to try breeding and rearing on the neighboring hills. Two hundred birds are accordingly being obtained from the moors and packed in special wooden cages, fitted in front with wire bars, and blinds to regulate the light, and padded at the top with canvas, to prevent the birds from injuring themselves by fluttering. They are fed upon bird-seed, German paste, hardboiled eggs and wheat, and Norwegian cranberries will be taken for the outward voyage.

" When isMajorGordon going his rounds''" is a question one hears asked very frequently. We do hope that the Inspector's work will be done most thoroughly, and that no defects or abuses will be passed over. On Major Gordon great things depend. His power and influence will be all but supreme, we take it, and he will have a glorious opportunity of adding to hi 3 laurels. There is plenty of work before him, as everybody knows. —Volunteer Gazette.