Untitled

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 981, 11 June 1879, Page 2

Mr. John Lyle, •whoever you may be, your ignorant, impertinent, and unchaste writing i 3 unfit for the readers of the Mail. You have endeavored to prove the legality and innocence of boarding-houses as they exist in Oamaru. If you arc a fair specimen of the dwellers therein, they are infinitely worse than ive thought them. We have handed your letter to the police. At tiie Resident Magistrate's Court, Tiniam, yesterday, James Richard, of Kerry Town, was fined L2O for sly-grog selling. At an auction sale some time ago a collection of lithographed portraits of several Presbyterian clergymen was submitted to the crowd of b.irgain-liunters. The prices obtained showed, we presume, in what estimation the reverend originals were held by a discerning public. The gentleman who supplies the spiritual wants of the Otcpopo district fetched Us Cd. The clergyman at Palmerston smiled most seraphically from a gilt frame, but had to succumb to the tunc of 9s Cd. He of Waikou iti met with a purchaser, after some expenditure of breath and gesticulation, at Si. The minister of St, Paul's, being better knowr, went up to 17s, and changed hands at that figure. The popular clergyman of Knox Chnrch, Dunedin, however, gladdened the auctioneer's heart by I running up to 30a, notwithstanding the fact of the picture being a bad one, and its wanting a new frame. The members of the Philharmonic Society will meet to-morrow evening, at the Volunteer Hail. The next concert of the Society will take place on the 27th, the proceeds of which will be devoted to the purpose of liquidating the debt on the Volunteer Hall. Members are particularly invited to attend. A meeting of the Committee of the North Otago Coursing Club will be held oil Friday next, at 11 o'clock, at the County Council Chambers. As the business to be brought forward is important, having reference to the Waterloo Cup Meeting, it is particularly deaired that there should be a full attendance of members. We were to-day shown the last effort of Furrier and Rock, photographers, of this town, in the way of a panorama of Oamaru. The view is aire feet six inches in length and nearly a foot in depth, and takes in the whole of the town of Clamant in a really wonderful manner. We had no idea that it was possible to take so accurate a picture of so much of our town and surroundings by the aid of the camera. This work is being performed by Messrs. Ferrier and Rock to tiie order of the Chamber of Commerce, and we understand that that tirm will be honored by being represented by their panorama at the approaching Sydney Exhibition, and Oamaru will be honored by being represented so faithfully and well. The monthly meeting of the Waitaki Road Roard was held yesterday, when there were present—Messrs. Evans (in the chair), Jjorrie, Johnston, Schlutcr, Procter, Duncan, Stewart, Smillie, Connell, and Oliver (Engineer). Messrs. Cameron and Hunter waited upon the Board with reference to the proposed road from the coal-pit road to the Wair.reka side of tiie Saddle, and expressed th> ir willingness to give the line of road the Engineer might consider the most suitable. It was resolved—That the Engineer be requested to inspect the proposed site, and report to a committee of the Papakaio memj bcrs, who are empowered to act. A letter ; from Mr. Sumpter, drawing attention to the | state of the road from the Town Belt to his ; residence, was referred to the Engineer to report as to the cost of the work asked for. Mr. O'Connor -wrote asking that a portion of roadline in Weymouth might be formed, aud the Engineer was directed to report upon the matter. An application from Mr. Hargreaves, for improvement of roadline at Land on Creek, was referred to Messrs. Duncan and Schluter. The members for the Papakaio Sub-division were empowered to have two foot-bridges erected on roadlincs in block HI. The Clerk was instructed to write to the Assistant Engineer, directing his attention to the state of the railway crossing on the roadline between Blocks I. and VI., Awamoko. The Engineer was instructed to prepare plans and specifications for a road from the water reserre at the new bridge over Landon Creek, to its junction with Fairfield road. It was resolved to write to Messrs. A. Paterson, J. Barraclough, Henry Connell, J. M'Eean, A. M'Master, and the Hon. H. J. Miller, drawing their attention to the fact that gum trees on their properties fronting the main north road overhang the footpath, contrary to section 9S of the Public Works Act. It was resolv«d that the Solicitors should b* empowered to sue for all outstanding rates. A copy of the Solicitor's account for charges in connection with roadline to the Municipal quarry was ordered to be scut to the Municipal Council, with a request to remit a cheque for the amount. Accounts to the amount of L! 43 5d were passed for payment, ami the meeting rose.

The following information, clipped from the London t»a/tUt*, tclis of co»raw that h.-w never been excelled in the history of the v,\-.rr» of onr nation. 'Che bravery of the honored oriicer will, we aro ante, drawn ;'orth the wannest admiration of our readers :—"War Office, March IS.—The Queen has been graciously pleased tc aignifiy her intention to confer the decoration of the Victoria Cro33 on ' the undermentioned otFiccr, who3e claim to the same h;i3 been aubmitted for Her Majesty's approval, for his gallant conduct at the Feiwar Kotal, in iu the East Indies, as recorded against his name, viz. :—Captain John Cook, Bengal Staff Corps, for a signal act of valour at the action of the Pciwar Kotal on December 2, ISTB, in having, during a very heavy fire, charged out of the intrenchnienta with such impetuosity that the enemy broke and fied, when, perceiving at the close of the mSlie the danger of Major Galbraith, Assist. Adjt.-Gen., Kurain Column Field Force, who was in personal conflict with an Afghan

soldier, Captain Cook distracted his attention to himself, and, aiming a sword-cut, which the Durani avoided, sprang upon him, and, grasping hia throat, grappled with him. They both fell to the ground. The Durani, a most powerful man, still endeavouring to use his rifle, seized Captain Cook's arm in his teeth, until the struggle was ended by the man being shot through the head."