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Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 856, 13 January 1879, Page 2

Mr. L. Gale, of Otepopo, informs ns that on last Saturday afternoon the mail train,

drawn by an American engine, set fire to a paddock of grass seed in stook. Fortunately there were several men working for Mr. Gale near the spot, and these seized their long-handled shovels and beat the fire oat before it had got beyond control. Near the place where the fire occurred there are three. ]—ge paddocks in crop—wheat, oats, and barley. If th«s« three paddock* should become ignited, and the wind be bloving from the' north, the conflagration would spread for four or five miles inland. Mr. Gale says that he docs not wish compensation for the damage that has been done, which is mnch leas than it might have been. He merely wishes steps to be taken to prevent the occurrence of more 6erious damage.

A number of immigrants intended for this district, and just arrived per ship Oamaru. were passengers by the s.s. Waitaki, which arrived from Dunedin last evening. We hope that they are better than the usual run of immigrants sent to this district, especially as nominated immigration seems to have become a dead letter to us. The following is the classification of the immigrants : —5 families, 4 married couples, 18 domestic servai»ts. and 33 single men. As a proof of the demand for labor in the Oamaru district, at noon to-day there only remained in the Depot 4 families, 5 single girls, and IS single men not engaged. We learn from a correspondent that Harris' Hotel, Duntroon, had a narrow escape from being reduced to ashes last night. It appears that in blowing out a kerosene lamp in the bar an explosion took place, throwing the contents of the lamp in every direction and setting fire to and scorching the woodwork, paperhangings, &c. After a great deal of trouble the flames were extinguished, and beyond the temporary alarm it caused, no great damage was dune.

At the Resident Magistrate's Court, this day, before T. A. Clowes and W. H. Roberts, Esqs., J.P.'s, James Watt was charged with being drunk and disorderly in a public place. The bench fined the accused ."is, in default 24 hours' imprisonment with hard labor. Watt elected to go to gaol. Kobcrt Keenan was charged with allowing a horse to wander on to the railway line, contrary to the bye-laws. Sub-Inspector Smith prosecuted. Keenan was fined 10s. The usual monthly meeting of the Waitaki Road Board will be held in the offices, Tynestrcet, to-morrow, at 11 a.m.

The eight o'clock service held in the Tecsstreet Hall last evening was well attended, and consisted largely of young men. The choir, as usual, led the singing effectively. The Reid and Gray Harvester was tried on Friday last at Timaru, and achieved an entire success. The working of the machine was witnessed by a large number of persons, who were highly delighted with it. It is almost unnecessary to add that the firm is taking a great many orders for it from all parts of the Middle Island. On Saturday afternoon the Excelsior Cricket Club played a match between the First Eleven and an Eighteen. Some very good play was shown. The Eleven wont in i rh-ot, and put together a total of 70, Athcrton contributing 25, Cooke IS, and Snow !), [ while extras figured to the extent of 15. The Eighteen only made 55, Church, with 13, and Tarawhiti, with 11, being the highest scorers, the extras amounting to 10. The 1 Eleven therefore won the match by "24 runs. I For the Eleven Cook bowled remarkably well, | otitiinin,' 10 wickets for a small number of j niri.«. Hartley-bowled well for the Eighteen, getting 5 wickets for 12 runs.

" Farmer's Mass in IS" will be tho next .-ui.jcct put in practice by the Philharmonic So.i-.-iy. and will, with a selection of popular miscellaneous music—vocal and instrumental —form the programme for the next concert, which will be given in about two months fniin the present time. Copies of the Mass will be procurable from Messrs. Ronaync ami Cottrell after next Wednesday, so that members will be afforded an opportunity of giving their'parts a little study preparatory to the first practice of the work, which will take place on the following Wednesday.

Wc learn from a correspondent that the crops arc looking well on the North Waitaki Plains. From other sources we understand that the crops in Otago generally will give a fair average return.