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Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1003, 8 July 1879, Page 2

\Yc are surprised at Mr. Peter Aitchison s letter. Mr. Peter Aitcliison has perpetrated a flagrant injustice in his severity. Mr. Peter Aitcliison should be well ashamed of himself to cause an innocent newspaper man so much pain. When the Laird of aikoura has time for reflection, he will repent. Now he is busy. He has surveyors at work on his property. We arc not sure what they arc about, but wc would stake something handsome that they are planning drains. Mr. Aitcliison has drains on the brain. His letter is full of draining operations, which evidently prove a great drain on his intellect. We are not great on drains ourselves, and that may account for our not being able to master the arguments of Mr. Aitchison's letter. We have, however, called in assistance, ami a little light has thus been thrown on the subject. Mr. Aitcliison has a knack of being bitterly severe, and lie lias certainly exercised his talent on us on this occasion without restraint. 33ut 11 e | will not see him ill-used. Mr Aitcliison writes about Tyne-street and the Mail office being flooded, and asks how we would like to see the Corporation and somebody else turn the water through our premises. We would not like it, and we would not allow it to be done. We would immediately send for Mr. Peter Aitchison and he would bring the Corporation and the other party to tlieir senses. If Mr. Peter Attcliison felt an interest in us—and wc somehow think that 1,,.. —he would turn the stream into our neighbors" premises. This seems to us to be the" correct tiling. .Supposing that Mr. Peter Aitcliison was greatly annoyed by a superabundance of water, caused by the overflow of natural channels, he would not, perhaps, undertake the responsibility of taking steps to divert the nuisance 011 to tiie land of his neighbors—that might pio\e a little awkward ; but lie would be warranted by the rules of strictest justice and morality tn getting somebody else to do it for him. For instance, he might cajole the County Council to expend n small amount on tiie creek running through his property, which would render them liable for any damage done to his neighbors' property. We say, j{ e might do it." Of course it would take a little working. Mr. Aitchison writes about staking L"2O " that the Papakaio Subdivision of the Waitaki Road Board has not at present one member legally elected, the opinion of Mr. Rftbert Stout to be decisive." Wc have neither the monov nor the inclination to bet over the affair. There would, of course. be considerable risk, and Mr, Aitchison's legal opinion i« of such value that we would not insult him by referring the matter to the ex- A t torn ey -Gen ra 1. We will take his word for it and for the contents of the Parliamentary Debates, and thoroughly endorse all Jic has attempted to convey in his peculiarly muddy style in the peroration of his communication.

Our representatives arc deserving .of the ttt.ink.-i of this commnnity for having prevented the Government from throwing money away on alterations to the building in this town called a Courthouse. e have already stated that the Government proved to remove the partition which separates the ante-rooms from the chamber, and add three pigeon-holes of offices behind. The building in its altered form y/ns to serve as a Courthouse for years to come, juries were still to be cooped tip and e!riven mad from inconvenience to give hasty verdicts, and this community was to be deprived of all chance of a local Supreme Court for goodness only knows liow long. While we are writing on this building, we remember that it v a3 condemned as unsafe when first erected. CouUi the Government not be induced to add a storey to it so that it would succumb. Even then, we suppose they would pick up the pieces and stick them together after the present plans,

The band of the fhiliwrpionic Society is requested to meet at Mr. Karlo's rooms this evening. The Society's ordinary practice will be held in the Volunteer Hall to-mor-row evening, when a full muster of the band is desired.

Mr. Kennedy Brown, our late townsman, has been converting the people of Blenheim from indifference to carefulness, from improvidence to providence. He is now a Government Life Assurance agent, and has more than doubled the number of Government life assurers during his sojourn in the district. He is a powerful sppaker. JCaturally gifted in this way, he graduated in the Victorian Parliament, where he left his mark as a debater. Business experiences have put the finishing touches on him, and turned him out one of the mo3t persuasive and winning advocates that could be found in the Colony., fie is still rallying the people of Marlborough, and we hope that, for the sake of the people, the Government, and the advocate, his success will be such as to eventually gajn for Jiim promotion—a change from snch drudgery £o some other position for which he would be equally \yelj. fitted—in the department to which be belongs. I

The attention of the Resident Magistrate has been occupied nearly the whole of the day in hearing the adjourned case of Philip Rttsscll v. R. Wilson and Go., && action brought to recover the i.um of LIS, being at the rate of 10* in the £ on the plaintiffs claim on the estate of Messrs. Eddington, Bust and Co., Oamaru, butchers, flje facte of the case briefly pat are as follows At

ameetingof Eddington, Bust, and Co.'screditors the defendant (Robert Wilson) it is said agreed to take over the estate and pay 10s in the £ in cash to the other creditors, and to pay 2s 6d more in bills. A deed of I assignment was drawn up, and duly signed by the plaintiff, who agreed to accept 12s 6d in the £. The deed of assignment having been prepared, a deed 'of composition was filed in the Court, but on the same day a gentleman representing the defendant attended a meeting and repudiated the agreement, to which it was stated Mr. Wilson was no party. Mr. Hislop appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. Callan (Dunedin) for the defendants. The case was partly heard last Tuesdav, when a considerable amount of evidence was taken. To-day a number of additional witnesses were examined, but a decision had not been arrived at when we went to press.

The Port Darwin line is interrupted, and arrangements are now being made for the conveyance of mails. Full advices will be furnished shortly, meanwhile international telegrams will not be accepted. Mails for the Australian colonics per Hero will close at Auckland at 2 p.m. tomorrow. We draw the attention of those interested to an announcement that the usual fortnightly meeting of the 1.0.0. F. will not be held on Thursday, as previously announced, but to-morrow evening, in consequence of the engagement of the Oddfellows' Hall for the first-mentioned evening,

At the Resident Magistrate's Court to-day, before T. W. Parker, Esq., R,M., William Gee, charged with being drunk and disorderly, was dismissed with a caution. Sarah O'Connor, on a charge of habitual drunkenness, was remanded. The nomination for a member for Dunedin City, to occupy Mr. Stout's place, has been fixed for Thursday, the 10th inst., and a poll will be taken on the following Monday.

Messrs. Jonas, Hart, and Wildie sold yesterday the farm of Mr. John Martin, situated at Otaio, and consisting of 529 acres, for the sum of L 5300.

Those gentlemen who have given in their names for enrolemenfc as members of an Amateur Dramatic Club are requested to meet at the Royal Hotel at eight o'clock this evening,

A lecture on "The Tabernacle," illustrated by a number of dissolving views, will be delivered in the New Tees-street Hall this evening, The illustrations are, we believe, of a very pleasing kind, and the lecture is full of instructive matter,

A meeting of the members of the Waitaki Jockey Club will be held at the Empire Hotel, ori Friday next, 11th July, at 8.30 p.m. An entertainment is announced to be given, under the auspices of the Good Templars, in the New Tee-street Hall tomorrow. The admission is free, and the entertainment will commence at 8 o'clock. The farmers of Hampden, and others interested in such matters, are determined to carry out their annual ploughing matches. As will be observed by an advertisement, this vear's match will be held on the ISth instant, and entries must be made on or before the 16th. Wc have not yet heard whether the farmers in other districts intend carrying out their usual gatherings.

The monthly meeting of the Committee of the North Otago Horticultural Society was held last evening at Mr. Earle's rooms, when there were present —Messrs. Lemon (in the chair), Forsyth, Earle, Glen, Maloney, Hartley, and Spratt (lion. Secretary). On the motion of Mr. Hartley, seconded by Mr. Forsyth, it was resolved, " That the Secretary make arrangements for holding t the future meetings of the Committee at the Mechanics' Institute." Messrs. Connell, Forsyth, Maloney, Glen, and Hartley were appointed a sub-committee to revise the prize schedules for the ensuing show, Mr. Spratt, as Secretary, to be convener, and the sub-committee to report before next meeting. The monthly meeting of the North Otago Benevolent Society was held last night. The following members were present: —Messrs. Falconer (President, hi the chair), Milb'gan, N. Fleming, C. S. Allen, E. Colli,s, (J. Greenfield, Patterson, the Rev. A. B. Todd, and the Secretary. The following is the Barrackmaster's report:—"l have tl;o honor to forward the following report for the month of June : There are six children remaining in the institution. Seventeen domestic servants have been admitted into the home, nine of whom bn-vo oht/iiued situations, and eight are still remaining. One female was admitted into the institution on the 20tli June by order of Messrs. Falconer and Ronayne; she left on the 23rd June. I would respectfully ask your instructions as to purchasing clothing for the use of children in the institution, as at present we have none on hand. I have visited the Society's cottages, and found them in a fair state of repair." The Visiting Committee's report having been read and accounts passed, the meeting adjourned. A meeting flf the Waitaki R.oad Board was held to-day, when tliere were presentMessrs. Evans (Chairman), Bon?ie, Johnston, Duncan, Hall, Denniston, Schluter, Bortpn, Smillie, and Oliver (Engineer). The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed, and phe outward correspondence read and approved, IVjLr. Geoj'ge Aitchison wrote drawing the attention of the Board to the condition of the culvert on the roadline leading past Mr. property. The matter >VA? referred tp tjje members of the Papakaio subdivision, with power to act. Aj letter was read from Mr. A. Hutchison asking • the Board to a culvert or a pitched crossing at section 44, block 1., Awamoko. The matter was referred to the engineer. The committee appointed to arrange with Mrs, Fricker, reported having agreed with her for the additional ten links to complete , road line .to Uxbri,dge, at the rate of L2O per acre. The report was adopted. The committee appointed to arrange for through road fropj Horse Gully to Waiareka reported that tjie Eiigineer had pegged out a road line with a good grade, which could be opened at a small cost. On the motion of Mr. Duncan it was resolved that the report be adopted. Tho Committee appointed to arrange for road line to Mt\ Hargreaves' farm, reported that they had arranged with Mr. Calder for having a track ploughed, whiah would enable Mr. Hargreaves to get along. The Engineer's report was brought up, and tenders ordered to be called for a footbridge in Papakaio Subdivision, and formation in Weymouth. It .was resplv<?d that the Corporation have notice to clear soil from race on road i» 3?eeblestown f between Church property and Mr, Gilchrist's sections. Mr.-Duncan moved, "That the daymen have instructions from the Board to clear away obstructions, in order to allow the water to flow from the road along indicated water courses." After considerable discussion the mption was carried. Mr. moved, "That the solicitor's opinsf

be obtained as to the liability of proprietors obstructing water courses by allowing their fences to dam back storm water,' thus throwing same along road-line, instead of its flowing in its natural course." After an animated discussion, the motion was agreed to. During the meeting, Mr. Duncan drew the attention of the Board to the state of the railway siding at Papakaio, but as it was being attended to the matter was allowed to drop. Accounts amounting L 57 16s 4d having been passed for payment, and a vote of thanks accorded to the chair, the Board adjourned.

A very elegant novelty, which will be readily appreciated by that numerous section of the public which has a taste for ferns, has recently been devised by a lady resident in Brisbane. It is termed " fernpaper," and consists of note paper, at the left-hand corner of the first page of each sheet of which are gummed pieces of natural fem, in one or more varieties, sometimes in combination with leaves, grass seeds, &c. jSo two sheets are alike, and the ornamentation of the paper, which is performed in an artistically careless way, has been greatly admired in Brisbane.