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Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1106, 4 November 1879, Page 2

Entries in some classes for the forthcoming show of the North Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Association are now coming very rapidly, and there seems every prospect of the number exceeding those of previous years. Already nearly 300 entries have been received, chiefly for sheep, grain, and poultry, in each of which classes the exhibits will be more numerous than they have hitherto been at the Society's exhibitions. As yet no entries, or comparatively few entries, have been received for horses or cattle. Intending exhibitors should bear in mind that entries cannot possibly be received after Thursday next, so that very little time should be l»st by them in making known to tin; Secretary their intentions.

A hawker whose name has not transpired iiict with a serious accident last night in the vicinity of the Waitaki Bridge, where he resides. He was driving home in the darkness when his horse took fright, upset his vehicle, dragged him for a distance of six chains, broke his right arm, badly cut his forehead, and bruised him considerably about the body. He was taken into his own house, and Dr. De Lautonr, who was sent for, arrived at about 10 o'clock and attended to the sufferer. The accident is of a very serious nature, more especially as the arm now broken had been previously broken at jthe elbow*. However, it is hoped that he will recover, although the process of recovery is likely to prove tedious. He has a wife and three or four eiiildreii.

The whole of the bridges on the route chosen for the i lakateramea railway have been completed by the contractors, Messrs. Allen and Stumbles.

At a sale held by Messrs. Council ami Clowes to-day, at _\l "Kay'o yards,-100 head of cattle, being all that were submitted, changed hands at satisfactory prices. At the Resident Magistrate's Court today, before T. W, Parker, I'.s'j., it.M., George Halliburton was fined its, with the option of going to gaol for 21 hours for being drunk and disorderly. William C'opeland, for being drunk and disorderly, paid a fine of 10s. Kiehard M'Carthy, charged with hiving no lawful visible means of support, was ren)?uded until I'hursday next. Mr. Georgu :s:«;j.ter, local agent for the Australian Mutual l'r'ivi.;c:i'-, .Society, has received instructions from headquarters io hand over to ouiig the amount for wliirlt the life of her late husband was insured in the Society, being LfjOO with bonus of lAI lis. As the total amount paid on account of the policy was only LlOl ss, the bonus is a hamij.,:Re one.

Messrs. Allen and Stumble;; have just completed their first contract in connection with the Tiniaru Breakwater. It extends 500 feet from the beach, and the depth of water mnges up to 15 feet at the outer end. The The Hoard will meet on Thursday next to receive tenders for the irjxt contract.

A meeting of the Fire Brigade is caljedfor this evening, at eight o cluck, at the station. The usual monthly meeting of the Kakanui Road Board will be held to-morrow, at 2 p.m.

Mails for Sydney, per Hero, close at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, sth inst., at Auckland.

The North and South S .hool Cadets were exercised this morning, 113 being on parade. The Windsor House lads were exercised in .skirmishing.

The weekly meeting of the Directors of the Caledonian Society was held at the Criterion Hotel last evening. There were about a dozen members present, and Mr, J. Martin (Vice-President) occupied the chair. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Secretary was instructed to inquire at what price silver badges could be obtained for the Directors of the Society. Mr. Johnston intimated that he would present the Society with designs for a shield on the medal, and the offer was accepted with thanks. The meeting then adjourned until Tuesday next. Mr. A. Paterson is evidently determined, if possible, to carry off the silver cup at the Agricultural and Pastoral Association's Show. He intends entering about ten really fine animals in the thoroughbred class, and, judging from sc-ine of the young stock I that we have scon, which are now in I course of preparation, he will take a lot of | beating. Amongst the young tiiock aro a very handsome chestnut three-year-old colt, by Ilani, out of Little Lady, full sister to Belle of the Isle, Templeton's dam, and a fine three-year-old filly, by Pertobe, out of Maid of the Mill, both of which were entered for the Canterbury Derby, but will not be sent to Christchurch. 7 lien there is a powerful looking hay.colt, possessing plenty of Ijoiic, and wonderfully well developed limbs, entered for the Champagne Stakes, but not a prospective competitor ; a yearling filly, by Pertobe, out of Crinoline, that presents the appearance of becoming every inch a racehorse; and a number of other youngsters of fine make and shape. In addition to these, Mr. Paterson will show the stud horse Pertobe, and several brood mares, forming a string of exhibits that must make themselves felt in the ring at the Show.

Wc are informed that Mr. Brunton, of Dunedin, is expected to lecture on the Great Pyramid, on the 14th, 17tli, and ISth insts., in this town. Mr. Charles Bright, the freethought lecturer, has L2l 12s from Sydney towards the Wilson fund, being the amount realised from a collection. at one .of his seances, and private subscriptions. ■: The Ashburton Agricultural and Pastoral Association's annual exhibition will take place at Tinwald on the ISth of this mouth. We insert a notification concerning the same in another column, in which is given a list of the special prizes to be awarded in addition to tlio.-i- to be J veil by the society. We hope that the attendance from this district will be siieii as to show that our settlers take an interest in shows beyond the confines of their own territory, and that, indeed, some of our agriculturists who invariably come ofF with flying colors, will be found amongst the exhibitors, and, of course, amongst the prize-takers. The following players have been chosen to represent the Oamaru Cricket Club in the match against the Excelsior Club, to bo played on Saturday and Monday next, on the Oamaru Cricket Club's ground:—Messrs. E. Booth, G. Borton, de Lautour, Walls, J. Millington, G. Miilington, Nicolls, Sumpter, Grigg, Mice, and Creagh; emergencies : C'oates, Lintott, and Bull. It is requested that any member of the team unable to play will make the fact known to the Secretary without delay. The contractor for removing earth from the new railway siding near the goods shed has commenced deposting spoil in the Lagoon near Mr. Eayner's manufactory. What effect the partial filling up of the Lagoon will have upon the creek remains to be seon, but some persons who profess to be authorities upon such subjects assert that the result will be to back the water up the creek and eventually cause an overflow in places where the banks arc low. If the depositing of soil in that death-spreading hole has the eft'ect of lessening the noxious smells arising from it, a great public good will have been done. A meeting for practice of the members of tiie newly-formed band of No. 1 Comjiany will be held at the Volunteer Hall this evening, at half-past seven o'clock sharp. The Philharmonic Society will give the seventh concert, consisting of Haydn's grand oratorio "The Creation," on Monday evening next. The final practice will be held tomorrow evening, at the Volunteer Hall, and every member is requested to be present. The usual monthly meeting of the Committee of the North Otago' Benevolent Society was held last evening, at the Secretary's olflce. There were present—Messrs. J. Falconer (President), Hassell, Milligan, Greenfield, Ronayne, and M'Farlane. The minutes of the last meeting having been read and confirmed, the resignation of Mr. W. J. Steward was accepted, and it was resolved that a letter should be forwarded to the retiring member thanking him for the e(Torts made by him on behalf of the Society. The Treasurer wrote apologising for his absence from the meeting, and asking that it might be adjourned at its rising until Tuesday next, in order to receive the draft annual report. It was resolved to carry out the suggestion, and that the meeting should be held on the 12th inst., and that the annual meeting should be held on Wednesday, the 19th, at half-past seven o'clock, at a ijlacc t'_> be notified. Mr. Gibbs wrote asking that the relief register, a copy of the monthly returns of the Barrackmaster, &c., might be produced at the annual meeting, and it was decided to comply with the request. The following report from the Barrackmaster was read :—" I have the honor to forward the following report for the month of October. There are five children remaining in the institution ; one was taken home by his mother on the 26th of October. Ten domestic servants have been ndmlttod into the Servants' Home, all of whom, with the exception of tiiree, have obtained situations. There have also been received into the depot during the month 62 Government immigrants, all of whom have obtained employment. I have to acknowledge two gifts of clothing, from a lady and gentleman, for the use of the institution, which at all times are most acceptable. I have inspected the Society' 3 cottages, and found them in a fair state of repair." Some business of a routine nature having been transacted, and several accounts passed for payment, the meeting adjourned.

Wc must pay Captain Sumptcr, his officers, and moil a compliment for the able manner in which last night's r,ttack and defence drill was managed. The firing in extended order was excellent, and both defenders and assailants showed that good training had been bestowed on them. Both fighting lines understood their work well, while the positions taken up showed no small skill in military tactics. The point of defence and attack was the drillshed, which is surrounded on all sides by broken ground where cover can be taken advantage of. This was done last night bj' each alternate section of fighting men, as rush after rush was made upon certain points, until at last the firing became very hot, and the attacking party, pressing hard upon the defenders, drove them from their shelter trenches into the drillshed, which was at once turned into a fort. The rifle's sharp crack was then heard through every loophole and window, and a very hot fire was poured on the attacking party. But Captain Sumpter prolonged his fighting line on the right and left, and at once opened a simultaneous attack ou three sides of the hall. Closing in, a ring of fire seemed tq pneonv pass the place, while the windows ajid loopholes seemed all ablaze. It was at this moment that Lieut. Headland, who was in command of thevdefenders, opened the hall door and poured in a withering volley ; but it did not stop the advance, and, the fire getting too hot, a truce was sounded, and the gallant defenders were allowed to inarch out with all the honors of war. We have never heard better volley firing, volley after volley ringing out like one shot. After the fight the corps were formed and the roll called, which showed the number of killed, wounded, and missing to be nil, but of powder-begrimmed faces there were quite a large number. The company were next put through several smart movements in bayonet exercise by Inspector M'l'herson, which greatly pleased the large number of the public present. We understand that 1755 rounds were fired last night. The darkness added greatly to the effect of the mimic war, yet not the slightest hitch or accident occurred.

The official statistics of Tasmania foi- 1573 have reached us. They show that the material condition of the colony during the past year was not so flourishing as in 1877. Several causes contributed to this result, among which were the low price or wool ajid the fall in tho value of tin. But the roor? active prosecution of gold and tin mining which is now proceeding and the extension of internal communication afford grounds for believing that an" increase of pros-

pcrity may reasonably be anticipated. The population of the colony on December 31, 1878, was 109,947, of which 55,036 were males and 51,911 females. The arrivals from Victoria -were 237 fester than in 1877, but from New South Wales 140 more, and from New Zealand S2 more. The value of the goods - imported was L 1,324,812, or Ll2 4s 2d per head of the population. The value of the exports was L 1,315.695, or L 101.250 less than in 1877. Of the exports L 1,205,011 was the produce of the Colony. The export of oats was only 151,634 bushels, as against 336.346 bushels the previous year. The export of jam was largest ever made from Tasmania, being 3,981,4501b5. The value ; of the principal articles of home produce exported in IS7S were as follow : —Wool, L 479, JO.l; tin, smelted and unsmclted, L 316,311 ; fruit and jam. L151,4G8 ; timber, L72,9;9; gold, L59,i24; hops, L39,09G ; oats, L 25,963. The imports from Victoria amounted to L 713.522, as compared with L 736.504 in in 1577 ; the exports to Victoria were of the value of L 309,659, as compared with L31G,729 in the previous year. The imports from New South Wales were L 59,053, and the exports to that Colony L 241,196.

The following is the principal clause of the new bill introduced by Sir George Grey, entitled " A Bill to Prevent Corruption in Parliament"Every porsonwho gives, or offers to give a bribe to any member of the New Zealand Assembly, or to another person for him, or attempts by menace, deceit, suppression of truth, offer or promise of .any office, or offer or promise of expenditure of public money, or section of public work, or by ?vny other advantage in or to any locality, pr by ?iny other corrupt means to influence a member in giving or withholding his vote, or in not attending the House or any Committee of which he is a member, or giving assistance or support to any particular measure, or to any particular side of any question upon which he shall be required to act in his official capacity, shall be punishable by imprisonment for not less than one nor more than ten years.'The " Own Correspondent" of the Otago Daily Times at Wellington sends the following :—"The financial policy is not yet definitely decided upon, but it is understood that it will embrace the re-imposition of the flour, sugar, tea, timber, and grain duties . an increase of the stamp duties, the taxing of property of all classes, and the augmentation of taxation geseyaljy, All the Government measures of electoral and financial reform have yet to pass. So.me are not introduced, and others have still to go through Committee. In view of these faots it has been urged 011 the Government by members on both sides that all the remainder of the business, excepting only essential provisions for finances, should be postponed to a special session to be held about March or April. This is not approved of by friends of the Government, who say it 13 a trap instigated by the Opposition, and the Government intend carrying through their measures. The redistribution of representation probably can only be dealt with in a provisional manner this session, by giving additional members to the most under-represented districts, The financial measures of tho Government will be carried whatever obstacles are raised, although the question of subsidies to local bodies cannot be approached at this late period, but must unavoidably stand over for next session. With these two exceptions there will be no postponement of measures, and Ministers will stand firm, insisting on the business being carried through."