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Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1104, 1 November 1879, Page 2

Much speculation is being indulged in regarding the L 5,000,000 Loan. Our telegram stating that the loan had been floated was incorrect. It should have stated that advices have been received by the Government that the loan will be satisfactorily floated. The message was recorded correctly by the sender, but somehow it was garbled in transmission.

Mr. S. E. Shrimski, M.H.R., arrived here from Wellington by the express from the North to-day. Wo understand that it is his intention to return to Wellington in a few days. It is rumored that Custom j duties to the amount of L 200.000 will be imposed by the Government. A correspondent of the Lyttelton Times says that, anticipating this change, those who had tea in band made a rush upon the bonds the other day to get it out. Interference with the taxation of articles of daily consumption, which cannot be considered luxuries, is a most appropriate prelude to the policy of a Government conservative at heart.

A competition (handicap) will take place on the Otepopo Company's range on the 10th inst., which is open to all members of No. 3 Battalion ; shooting to commence at 9 a.m. We are pleased to iearn that there is a probability that the unsold portions of the SSeadown estate withdrawn from sale on Thursday last, will change hands at an advance on the prices realised for those portions which were sold. At the Resident Magistrate's Court, this morning, before James Udall and George Sumpter, Esqrs., J.P., Thomas Ilialop, a respectable-looking young man, was charged with having, at Duneilin, in April last, stolen an overcoat and a seal cap, of the value of L 5, the property of one James Allen Nicoll. The prisoner, who pleaded not guilty, was remanded to Dunedin. John Olson was charged with having no lawful visible means of support, and sentenced to three months' imprisonment with hard labor.

In a very sensible article on the political situation, the Otago Daily Times calls the Hon. F. "Whitaker a " v/iley old. political lawyer," and gives him the discredit of having tampered with that very weakminded representative, Mr. Reader Wood. We agree most thoroughly with our contemporary, If Mr. Whitmore is permitted to hold his position sufficiently long every newspaper in the Colony will be his enemy. The few newspapers that now favor his appointment, or are silent about it, will yet be compelled, in the interests of the Colony, to insist upon his removal from a position which he ought never have been allowed to occupy. During October there were registered in I the Oamaru office 47 births, 9 marriages, and ' 9 deaths. In October of last year the deaths number IS, just double those of the past month. A meeting of the Committee of the Oamaru Dramatic Club will be held this evening, for the purpose of selecting pieces for the next performance, to be given in about a month in aid of the Oamaru Mechanics' Institute. Mr. Jeffreys will hold services in the Volunteer Hull to-morrow, at 11 a.m. and I!.SO p.m. At the evening service the subject will lie "Nebuchadnezzar's Dream and the Coming Kingdom of the Lord Jeaus Christ." l'he hard times or a natural aversion of honest work lias caused one or two individuals of not very amiable appearance to pursue the calling of systematic beggars. One of these individuals this morning visited a house on the hill, and applied for food. After having been freely supplied, the fellow, who gives his name as John Fergusson Hunter, abused the lady of the house by calling her sundry impolite names. "He was subsequently taken into custody, and will be called upon to answer for his ungrateful conduct before the Resident Magistrate.

A cricket match was played to-day between elevens from the High School and the South School, resulting in a victory for the High School by 24 runs. Ilje scores were—High School, first innings, 49 ; Second, 25. South School, first innings, 24 ; second, 26. For the High Sehool, Hewat made 16 in the first innings, being the only brie to get into double figures. Grant, of , the South School, made next best score (9). Hewat was especially successful with the ball. . ; We learn from the Otagd Daily-Times, whose political items are generally authentic,. that " Sir George Grey exposed Mr. Whitaker s attempt to get hold "of 40,000 acres of. land in the Waikato, and that Mr. Whitaker was very angry thereat, and that some very hard hitting was indulged in." We said that it would be so, for .we know that . Mr. Whitaker has not a soul above land. Land is the Alpha and Omega of his political creed, and if- he were given rope he would acquire every acre of available land for h'im'self and Still the present Government are allowed to remain in power.