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Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1094, 21 October 1879, Page 2

A dreadful echo reaches us from the seat of Government. The startling intelligence is contained in a telegram forwarded to the Daily Times by its 'Wellington correspondent. Here it is :—" I have good reason to believe that the Governor, in the event of the Ministerial measures being negatived, or the no-confidence vote being carried, under present circumstances will grant an appeal to the country on their measures. It is admitted that they have far stronger claim than Sir George Grey in the last Parliament, and it is currently reported that the Hon. Mr. Hall has practically a dissolution in his pocket, or else is tolerably sure of one." Only imagine, another general election, with its vast expenditure of public money ! Surely there must be some mistake about this somewhere. We fancy the "own correspondent" of the Times has been drawing freely upon his imagination. The country has already declared in favor of the liberal measures, and the only question now to be decided is, Who shall have the honor of bringing forward these measures ? We have a shrewd suspicion that the report has been cunningly circulated with a view of frightening a few weak-minded members into voting for the Ministry. It is a very old dodgo, and just one that wo are prepared to see the Hall party resort to. We are requested to again direct attention to the fact that all exhibits of salt butter must be lodged witli the Secretary of the North Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Association on or before Thursday next, and that all general entries close positively on the 6th November, at 5 p.m.

At the Resident Magistrate's Court today, before T. W. Parker, Esq., R.M., .John Wilde was fined ss, with the alternative of 24 hours' imprisonment, for having been drunk and disorderly yesterday afternoon. James Iteid, for permitting two cattle to wander at large, was fined Ss. An alteration has been made in the timetable of the public baths which will, we are sure, prove satisfactory to the ladies. In future the hours set apart for ladies will be from one to half-past four o'clock. The Philharmonic Society will hold their weekly practice to-morrow evening, at S o'clock sharp, in the Volunteer Hall. Every member is requested to attend, as the performance of the "Creation" will take place about the 10th November. At nine o'clock this morning the South School Cadets, tinder Captain Pace, had a good hour's dr'll. The boys seem very fond of the exercise, but some of them arc very awkward. But this will soon wear off after a few drills such as the instructor put them through this morning. The Windsor House School lads had their drill this morning, and were put through muscle drill, extension of arms, expansion of chest, &e. The lads no doubt think it hard work, but are still very fond of the invigorating exercise. A meeting of the members of the North Otago Rifle Association will take place tomorrow (Wednesday) night at eight o'clock, at the Royal Hotel, for the purpose of concerting measures for selecting a team of twelve men to fire in the return match against the Otago Association in Duncdin on .Monday, the 10th November. It is proposed that thn-e competitions shall take plaee, at which all members of this Association are expected to lire, the twulvo men who make the highwc aggregate scores in the three competitions to be the team lo lire against the Otago Association. If the proposal is to be carried out with spirit, it is hoped that our team when selected will go in for steady practice at the ranges fixed upon for the match, so that they will have a good chance of scoring a victory against the metropolitan Association. There was a very good muster of No. 1 Company last evening at the Volunteer Hall. After Captain Sumpter had inspected the arms and accoutrements and found them to be in excellent order, the Company was put through the bayonet exercise and movements in battalion drill, and acquitted themselves very creditably. Several new members were ballottcd for. The proposal to form a band in connection with the corps is being taken up vigorously, q,nd we hope sopn to be able to record the fact that it has been formed.