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Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1017, 24 July 1879, Page 2

We are informed by telegraph that Mr. Hart has succeeded in exacting a promise iron! the Government that a sum shall be placed on ti.o estimates for a Resident Magistrate's Court at Ashburton. MV. Hart is—or. rather, wa3 before this promise was made —a strong Oppositionist, and we suppose th"it it was by virtue of his antagonism that he succeeded so far. He should think himself very fortunate in securing a promise, if he gets i othing else, for we know members of Parliament who, although at one time mighty in obtaining pro»>L ; es, a great many of which, by the way, remain unfulfilled, have now lost their power in this respect. The inquiry held yesterday before the Collector of Customs and Nautical Assessor elicited such evidence as to lead the authorities to resolve upon holding a formal infjuiry, yesterday's being only a preliminary one.

A well-attended meeting of the Committee of the Xorth Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Association was held to-day, when the consideration of the programme for the next shov.' was concluded.

The Darwin cable will probably be restored to-day. The repairing steamer Osborne spoke with Darwin yesterday.

We would remind lovers of amusement that Hudson's Surprise Party, consisting of male and female minstrels, will appear for the first time at the Volunteer Hall this evening.

At the Resident Magistrate's Court today, before T. W. Parker, Esq., R.M., Timothy Young, alias Edward Long, was remanded till Monday on a charge of larceny as 5 bailee. Peter Bradley was charged with driving it horse and cart along the footpath in Kduii-street. The Inspector of Nuisances complained that a nunibor of the footpaths in the town were getting compleiuly destroyed by persons driving over them. His Worship inflicted a fine of 205., remarking that if this did not put a stop to the offence he would in future make the penalty heavier.

\Vc learn from a gentleman who lias just arrived in town from the Upper Waitaki that the quantity of snow lying on the Otekaikc runs, the H.akateramea ranges, and the M'Kenzic Country, is almost beyond belief. The shepherds connected with the various stations in those neighborhoods are actively engaged j n getting the sheep under their care ont of the drifts, and removing them to the lower grounds. There arc serious reasons for believing that the loss in stock will be very great, and if the warm weather we are now experiencing extends into the interior we may anticipate a recurrence of the great floods of last season. The annual meeting of the Artillery Corps has been postponed until Tuesday next.

A general meeting of the Oan-nru Dramatic Club will be held at the Koy.il Moirl at S o'clock this evening. All member.--, and tho.-,2 who have signified their intention of jo.ning. are requested to be present. An exchange publishes the following extract from a letter received by a member of the Royal Colonial Institute in Dunedin : "You remember W 's collection of pictures, painted by Mr. Hoyte of Dunedin. Well, they are much admired, and have attracted a great deal of attention. Nmji-b.-ra •./ persons havj <'." k !i:e to see them, and among*: others -Mr. *iedi-nek johii-', tha lf-.i;utv.ry Sucicuf>, jv.V> .-anie down yester day specially :•> select cir to be hung at the loithcoming conversazione of the Colonial Institute J'or the inspection of the Prince of Wales, who takes a good deal of interest in Jfew Zealand You will no doubt see a full account of them in the papers."