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Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 961, 19 May 1879, Page 2

The cablegram from Victoria, which we publish in another column will be perused with feelings of satisfaction by those in our district who have been lucky and plucky enough to hold their wheat. Although the area sown with this cereal in Victoria shows an increase of no less than 94,000 acres, owing to the dire effects caused by rust, blight, and other evils, that Colony will require to import one and a half million bushels of wheat for home consumption, the average yield of this year's crop having been only 8.7 bushels per acre. The farming communityin this district ima jine that, what with Itoor returns and low prices, they have had a very bad time of it lately; and so they have, but if they calmly compare their lot with that of others throughout New Zealand and in Australia, we fancy they will be forced to the conclusion that other places have had much more trying circumstances to contend against. The news of Victoria's requirements in the wheat line must necessarily have a stimulating effect on local values, because, although it may be urged that Adelaide has a large wheat surplus, which will be at once put forward to the outlet opened up by the demand in Victoria, still we see no reason why Oamaru should not compete favorably with Adelaide even in Melbourne markets. We notice from cablegrams that Adelaide wheat is firm in Sydney at 5s per bushel. Now, there is no import duty in Sydney, and the cost of sending grain from Adelaide to Melbourne would not be much less than that of sending grain from here to Melbourne. The Adelaide exporter, who can get 5s in Sydney, would require to get from 5s Gd to On in Melbourne, on account of the export duty there, and this would mean about 4s 9d for New Zealand wheat in the same market, or 4s to the exporter here. This would be a decided relief, after the low prices- and slack demand which have hitherto obtained. Wc notice also from London cablegrams that the wheat market is firmer, New Zealand being quoted at 453 pel quarter. This, with the late advances in wool, and the present firm condition of that commodity in the London market, seem to point to a revival of the hade in the staple products of this Colony.

Tiie fame of the coal obtained from the Brtmner .Mine, Greyruouth, as a gasproducing coal of excellent qualitj", has penetrate! into many portions of the neighboring colonies, where it has, in some measure, at any rate, superseded the New-.Ti--tTe coal. The Bcndii-o Advertiser, in an article 011 the Hendigo Gas Company's exhibits at the Sandhurst Industrial Exhibition. remarks :—" We next turned to the block of coat exhibited ; first, coal from the Urtinner mine, Greymouth, New Zealand. The Greymouth coal, Mr. Andrews informed lis, is incomparably the finest gas coal in the world.' With reference to this we may state that the Bendigo Gas Company had had occasional cargoes of the coal for several years, but in December last, having apparently been fully convinced of the snperior nature of the coal, entered into a contract with Messrs. Kennedy brothers, Greymouth, for the exclusive supply of all coal required at their works for KS7!», about 3000 tons, with the option of renewal for a further two years, at a price equal to 15 per cent, advance on the rate payable for best Newcastle quality. We in Oamaru have found out the advantages derivable from an exclusive use of Greymouth coal for onr gasworks. The Corporation has decided to use this coal only, and there can be no gainsaying the fact that our gas is the best made in the Colony.

The evangelistic meeting was well attended last night, notwithstanding the damp weather, hut the usually good choir was numerically very weak, which is to be regretted.

We understand that the third lecture of the winter series, under the auspices of the Oamaru Y.M.C'.A., will be given on Tucsday week in the Volunteer Hall by Mr. C'. G. Moore. The title is "The Trial of Sir .Taspar." It will consist of readings from the book of that name, a well-known temperance tale of some merit. The novelty of the affair will consist of illustrations or diagrams about 10ft. high, which will be thrown on a screen by the aid of the limelight. The whole plant has just been received from London, and we can testify to the excellence of the views. As Mr. Moore has been to considerable expense for this entertainment, we cannot but wisli him every success. We trust that the funds of the Association may be augmented to a considerable extent, and that both instruction and pleasure may be imparted to the audience.

Tite Otago bounds are to meet to-morrow, at 1 o'clock, at Schlutcr's Boundary Creek Hotel.

Petty larcenies arc becoming very rife in town, and it would be well for persons to take care as to the articles they leave about their premises. Several articles, incliuling a marble clock, two pairs of l>oots, &c., have lately been stolen from Mr. Greenfield's auction mart, and we have heard of several other petty thefts in various parts of the town.

The New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase Club is in earnest about the approaching meeting. The course is acknowledged to ; be the finest in the country. Beautiful in j appearance, it also has the virtue of utility. jThe steeplechasers will l>e afforded every j opportunity of exercising their varied qualities over fences, walls, and water jumps of ! every kind. From a beautiful rise spectators i will be afforded an excellent view of the events. Special train arrangements have been made for conveying passengers to Oamaru and to the course, and altogether the arrangements are very complete. From an advertiscmont in another column it will be observed that special tickets will be issued at the Oamaru railway station for the trains running on to the course entitling holders of the same to admission to the course and stand, and that saddle horses or persons with dogs will not be admitted to the ground. Notwithstanding the fact that the holding of the steeplechases in Oamaru must do the town a considerable amount of good by the spending of loose cash by visitors, we regret to learn that the Club is not meeting with a fair amount of encouragement from those who might reasonably be expected to subscribe.

To show to what extent other towns appreciate these Grand National Steeplechases, we may mention that an offer has been made to the Club by residents of Wanganui to contribute L3OO if the Club will consent to hold a meeting there. A special meeting of the Oamaru Railway Recreation Club will be held at the goods office, on Wednesday evening next, at 8 o'clock.

The band of the Philharmonic Society will meet at Mr. Earle's room to-morrow evening, at eight o'clock. A correspondent writes from Livingstone as follows :—A meeting of the School Committee was held on Thursday, 13th inst., when, as a result of its late action, it was literally stormed by an array of letters (3 in number) purporting to be excuses for nonattendance from parents who had been notified some months since of the intention of the Committee, and who, in two instances, had replied, setting them at defiance, the third never having replied at all. It was amusing, however, to notice the similarity of diction pervading the letters, almost leading to the conclusion that they were the work of some thwarted and malicious spirit, and not the outcome of independent action. Colour is given to this view by the fact that the Committee received them all within a few hours of each other, though the writers live a considerable distance apart. There is no doubt in the minds of the whole reflecting portion of the community that the Committee have acted with great prudence and moderation, when the circumstances are considered, and have carried out in the mildest and most inoffensive manner the injunction laid on them by the statuory meeting at their election. The following humorous incident is reported to us as having taken place not many miles from Oamaru, on the North Road, the other evening :—Scene, roadside; time, 7 p.m. Several persons doing their best, under the trying circumstances, to get a buggy and horse into position. Difficult arithmetical problem—How to subtract buggy from horse and harness from both? Terrible state of entanglement. Several men as busy as bees buzzing round, each one touching a piece of the wreck occasionally very gingerly, as though it was hot. An imperturbable person sits solitarily under the hedge on the opposite side of the road, giving instructions, like a general whose voice has become husky and gruff with much severe speaking, He strikes a match, and there sits, with as much pomp as King Tawhaio, a gallant ljonit'ace, well known not 100 miles from Duntroon. With a large box of matches in one hand, and a light in the other, illuminating his most prominent feature, lie says, " Harry—Harry " —(French) —"Never mind the horse and buggy ; come and look at my nose. Harry, why the deuce don't you come and look at my nose ?" Harry is attracted to the exact spot by a glaring red blot, which lie subsequently ascertains is caused by the illuminating by the aid of a match of the most delightfully red nose that he ever sot eyes upon. Boniface had been shied to where he sat by the grandest buggy accident that one could desire, and had fallen on his nose, which he feared was badly scratched. Having been assured several times that there was no abrasion, he with a chuckle at having been so lucky, submitted to being assisted into his trap, and, as he drove off, lie could be heard faintly and yet more faintly until every sound from horse and trap and man had died away, "Harry, Harry, are you quite sure my nose is all right?"