LIVINGSTONE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1029, 7 August 1879, Page 2

LIVINGSTONE.

(prom our own correspondent.) I omitted in my last to mention the visit of that ever-welcome friend of the canine race, the collector of the dog tax, when several animals of very questionable paternity got a name, if not a habitation. I submit that in the interests of humanity the future yisita of that estimable officer of the Qaunty Council should be notified to the inhabitants of the town or village he purposes honoring with his presence, as owners of such animals as the majority of those to be seen at Livingstone would, I am confident in many instances, sacrifice their pets at the shrine of economy rather than pay the amount the law provides shall be paid by every owner of a mongrel or a cur. It has long been a puzzle to me why, of all useful or profitable quadrupeds, this friend of man should be selected to contribute to the revenue, and thereby frequently place its master in a dilemma anything but pleasant. And so the people's Ministry has been defeated. I believe that in this district the feeling of pleasure at the prospect of a general election is experienced by nearly everyone. It no doubt presents a fine opportunity for the working men of New Zealand, if they are only true to themselves, to make their power felt ii; the land. If the miners of other goldfields in New Zealand have taken the precaution to register themselves as electors, as have the Livingstonians,. then will they have no mean po.wev in the coming struggle, especially as electors for the Geneva} Assembly are all equal in voting, and not subject to that iniquitous principle prevailing in County Council elections,, viz., plurality of votes. I believe the inhabitants of Maerewheoua ta a man are so :

well satisfied with the present members for Waitaki that, if they offer themselves for re-election, and I sincerely hope they will,-they will get all the support that insignificant Maerewhenua can give. I hear an effort is being made to get a sufficient sum guaranteed to cover the stipend of an ordained minister of the Presbyterian Church to take charge of the Maerewhenua. and surrounding district, including Duntroon. It is intended, I believe, should the effort be a success, that he make the latter place his residence. At present, and during the last two years, the spiritual wants of the district have been under the care of Mr. Gilbert (for some years in charge of the Sailors' Mission, Port Chalmers). On Monday evening, the people of Livingstone had an intellectual treat in listening to a most interesting and excellent lecture, delivered by Mr. Gilbert,, the missionary for this district, in aid of the funds of the mission. The subject was rather a novel one, though one which gave the lecturer a fine opportunity for the exercise of his specialty, as he spent, I am informed, some years in seafaring pursuits in his younger days. It was tho Christian life treated allegorieally, as " The Christian's voyago or tho pilgrims afloat." It was most ably written, and rarely has it been tho good fortune of the residents of this locality to listen to such an instructive and withal edifying description of the many difficulties and temptations which beset the path of the Christian in his-, efforts to gain the celestial city. If your space permitted, I would greatly like to. see it published in full, that others might, share in the pleasure it afforded us. At last we have a break in the weather,, and should it continue I hope to seesluicing operations resumed in a few.days.