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Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1049, 30 August 1879, Page 2

Our contemporary has got into disgrace. A letter, signed by a person calling himself "Fairplay," charges it with bespattering condemnation upon Mr. Steward's political creed, and asking the people to forget the services he has unsparingly rendered for the past nine -years, because he has the manliness to openly announce that he will not blindly follow Sir George Grey through all his political shuffles. If our contemporary has done this, it deserves to incur the wrath of " Fairplay," and every other man in the community. To our mind, Mr. Steward s creed is all that could be desired by every shade of opinion and every section of this community. Who, too, could forget his services, leaving out of the question his denunciation of Sir George Grey—a thing that Mr. Steward, we are sure, would not be guilty of, seeing that he sweara by the cardinal points of the Premier's policy? No one could foJget Mr. Steward's services. If they have not been productive of so much good for the district as they ought to have been, it was the decree of cruel fate. Apart from Mr. Steward's success or failure, we should recognise the fact that if he hadnot interested himself in the town, perhaps no other man would have done so. Certainly, scarcely any other man would have done it with tho same amount of earnestness, even if he did, perhaps, commit fewer mistakes. We were delighted to see out contemporary catch it. But what is this in the second paragraph of "Fan-play's" letter? He actually condemns our action, charging us with daily publishing editorial matter detrimental to Mr. Steward's candidature, and of being utterly silent as to his merits and his many services when last in Parliament. Zounds! This is too much. We will hasten to clear ourselves of this dreadful stigma. Will our contemporary's correspondent favor us with a list of Mr. Steward's merits, and what he did in Parliament, for publication? We would} recommend the postponement of the publication of his deeds in Parliament till after the election. One thing at a time, my dear "Fairplay," would be enough for our readers to digest, and for Mr. Steward. The writer views our conduct as "journalist tyranny, and tho worst kind of conservatism and exclusiveness." Just so. What is " Fairplay ? " A nondescript, we'll be bound. Our contemporary calls his letter the equivalent of a footless stocking without a leg. We call him a bodiless man without a head.

We have been requested to give the following amended account of Mr. Steward s Thursday night's meeting at Hampden : At the conclusion of Mr. Steward's address, Mr. H. T. Murcott moved a vote of confidence in the candidate, which was seconded by Mr. Presland. Mr. Duncan moved as an amendment a vote of thanks, which was seconded by Mr. Findlay. On the amendment being put to the meeting 2-4 voted for it. The motion was then put, and the votes being pretty even, the Chairman requested a second show of hands for the motion, when 27 voted for it. Mr. Donaldson then objected that one man had held up two hands, but as even then there were two voters in favor of the motion, it was declared carried. After a vote of thanks to the Chairman the meeting broke np in an orderly manner, and not in a disorderly manner as previously stated by us.

A public meeting was held at Livingstone on Friday night, Mr. Frater in the chair, to listen to a written address from Messrs. Hislop and Shrimski to the electors of THo »<l<lr*VQ # \i*luol» woo vory able and exhaustive, was read by Mr. Roberts. It was very well received, after which remarks were made by several persons, Mes3r3. Neale, Smith, and M'Donald. speaking strongly in favor of our present representatives. Mr. Howe proposed a vote of confidence in our present representatives, which was seconded by Mr. M'Quade and carried unanimously. At the Gaol this morning, before "VV. H. S. Roberts, J.P., John Jones, for being drunk and disorderly in Thamesstreet last evening, and who was suffering considerably from the effects of drink, was ordered to be imprisoned for twelve hours. John Kelly, for a similar offence, was fined 2s 6d, or 12 hours' imprisonment. Kelly was also charged with carrying a revolver pistol without permission from the local authorities. The arresting constable stated that accused pointed the pistol at a number of pa3scrs-by in Thames-street, and as the man was drunk at the time considerable alarm was occasioned. The pistol was not loaded, and from the appearance of it we think that any person who discharged such an implement would in all probability get much the worst of it. Accused was remanded till Monday.

The annual meeting of the shareholders in the North Otago Permanent Building Society was licit! last evening. Mr. W. G. Fillcul occupied the chair, and there was a very good attendance. The minutes of the last annual meeting having been confirmed, the Secretary (Mr. Stimpter) read the following report and the balance-sheet:—lt will be seen by the accompanying balancesheet that the Committee has again the pleasure of placing before you a satisfactory statement of the year's proceedings. It will be apparent, when the Society's indebtedness to the bank at the end of last year is taken into consideration, that notwithstanding the extreme financial depression a very considerable sum of monoy has been advanced. Although the Society has had greatly to reduce the bank overdraft, yet, owing to the advantages offered to the pubiic by wny of debentures, a large amount of money lias been received under this head. The amount of profit is L7OO lis 4d. The Committee recommend a dividend of eleven per cent, for the year. The members of Committee who retire, and arc eligible for re-election, arc Messrs. J. Barclay, Baudinet, R. Thompson, and D. Miller. The report and balanco-siiect were, on the motion of Mr. Baudinet, seconded by Mr. Messenger, adopted, and ordered to be printed. Messrs. Baudinet, Miller, A. Clark, and R. Wilson were elected as members of Committee. A sum of Lls was voted to Mr. Sumptcr for the use of his offices during the years 1577 and 187 S. The Auditors' fees for the ensuing year were fixed at ten guineas each, and it was decided to grant the Treasurer LlO for his services during the past year. Yotcs of thanks having been accorded to the retiring officers and the Chairman, the meeting closed.

Mr. Rock will deliver a lecture on Tuesday evening next at the New Tees-street Hall. Subject—" I'aleHtine, Past and Present," illustrated by dissolving views from picturos taken on the spot.

Last night the Oamaru Philharmonic Society gave a -miscellaneous concert, in which there was rather more variety than usual, though the programme inclined to brevity. The opening overture, "Tancredi," started rather unsteadily on the part of some of the subordinate instruments, but the allegro went capitally. The glees were —"Here in cool grot" (very fairly given, especially atv.the finish), "Swiftly" (the best rendered .during the evening, the quartette being correctly taken and nicely balanced), "Now the bright morning star" (sung with spirit towards the end, but starting unevenly), and " Great Apollo' (certainly the most meritorious composition and-a glee that will bear repetition at a future entertainment). Mrs. Kinnear had two items allotted to her. The first, " Sweet little brown eyes," with quartette chorus,, was very pretty; the second, " The blue ribbon" was one of Claribel's ballads, and was given with great taste and care, and loudly re-demanded. As an encore "Forever," by Blockley, was substituted. Mr. Farr's effort, "I'mnot myself at all" (by Lover) wasappreciated, as Mr. Farr's singing generally is, and " Widow Machree" followed in response to the applause. Mrs. Booth played "The Mocking Bird" and " Mattei's Valse, the latter being particularly successful, time and expression alike being preserved, and a good conception of the composer's ideas being displayed throughout. Mrs. Fraser s solo "The Lover and the Bird," barely missed a redemand. This lady is no inconsiderable addition to the Society. Some of her upper notes are remarkably clear andtrue. The overture to the second part (" II Barbiere di Siviglia") evidenced care and practice, but the violinist labored under the great disadvantage of an execrable MS. copy, which was in some places barely intelligible. Miss N.Hardy's "Still I love thee " suited that lady, and the quartette went pleasantly. Her rendering so captivated the audience that she had to repeat the last verse. "Beethoven's Sonata Pathetique " was contributed by Mr. L. Solomon. This gentleman has really magnificent execution. His forte passages were brought out with great vigor, but we think that the adagio was not taken slowly enough, nor were the piano movements fingered with sufficient softness. He was loudly applauded. Mr. Jones' solo, "La Traviata, accompanied with taste and skill by Mrs. Brunton, was worthy of appreciation, if only on account of the favorite and beautiful melodies it contains. Mr. Daniel Booth's song, "The Englishman," brought down the house. He has very much improved in enunciation, and the roughness has been rubbed off his voice since we last heard him, and it gives us great pleasure to note the difference care and practice effect. Mrs. Booth accompanied during the evening, and materially assisted towards the success of the performance; and to Mr. Finch, the ; conductor, who, as usual, was unremitting in his attention to the numerous preparations .for the concert, and so energetic on the platform last night, the Society is greatly indebted. We believe " The Creation "is in , practice, and is to be given very shortly, i When Mr. Freeman was lately addressing ■ the electors of Waimate he was asked what • were his idea 3 about women's suffrage. He ! replied that he thought they suffered suf- [ ficiently already. On being asked if he had i any income, he repeated, "No ; it is a very - difficult thing to get hold of." The match between the Zingari Club 1 (Dunedin) and the Oamaru Football Club ■ resulted in a victory for Oamaru by one goal : and three touch-downs.