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Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1130, 2 December 1879, Page 2

It appears tli.it whilst v,-_- have lately iiccn saying "Ho!J, enough!" the farmers in the southern portion of the proviiwir.i district have been praying for rJ.n. T!ic iir..; batch of the late mi:is prevnilel uu turther ?f>uth thin 2kliltOE:. it-vcn V» aiho.cs r JDtii the E-ist shower* occurred. i.uge cropef were iu n pre carious state from want of moisture, and were only saved l>y itit timely comitig to their rescue. The monthly meeting of the Kakanui Road Boon! will be held to-morrow, at 2 p.m.

The Civil Service examination will commence at the Oddfellows' Hall on the Bth land end on the 12th inst, and will be conducted by Mr. John Locke. There are five candidates. Those interested will please accept this intimation as official, the Government npt having thought it worth while to advertise in the usual manner.

A good muster of members, attended the usual monthly meetii - : of the Oamiaru Volunteer Fire Br:gad- hold, last' ing in the Engine Shed. Captain Sinclair being in the chair. The Secretary of the Duiicdin Fire Brigade wrote intimating that the-atiirnnl'"meeting of the Associated. Kire-'ltriga'les' would be held in Uonccbn fliortlv, and enquiring whether it was the intention of the Oamara Brigade to join the Association, and send delegates to the meetin:;. Some discussion took place, but no definite action was taken in the matter. Mr. Mainland was appointed to endeavor to make arrngcmcnts for the ringing of the Presbyterian Church bell in case of fire, It was resolved to minute the deep regret of the Brigade at the loss of the late secretary, and Mr. R. Hamilton was unanimously elected to fill the vacancy. Some business of a routine nature having been transacted, the meeting terminated. The annual re-union in connection with the Otepopo Presbyterian Church will be held this evening, in the local Athen;eum.

The Directors of the Caledonian Society held their weekly meeting last evening at the Criterion Hotel. Mr. X. Fleming occupied the chair. The draft programme for the annual New Year's gathering was submitted, and adopted with a few slight alterations. It was resolved to hold a ball under the auspices of the Society on the 20th January, the anniversary of Bums' birth. Some business of a routine nature having been transacted, the meeting adjourned. Not long since, the public of Oamaru were afforded an opjwrtunity of witnessing a steel engraving of Miss Thompson's celebrated picture "The Roll Call." The engraving we refer to was one of the last impressions from the plate, and was, therefore, devoid of some of the finer effects produced by the artist. We have seen one of tlie earlier impressions (said to l>e the third) at W atsou s Hotel, Dnnediu, and it is full of vigor. There is a volume of meaning in the features and attitude of ever}' unfortunate warrior, a3 he stands in the ranks, or leans upon his comrade, perhaps relieving the pressure of a bandage, and impatient to secure the kindly attentions of a nurse. The original of this fine conception was dedicated to the Queen, and purchased by her at a price of 12,000 guineas.

Messrs. Donald Borrie, John Wilson, Dugdd Shaw, and William Doig, and the Ttev. John Steven have been gazetted trustees of the Papakaio Cemetery. "Jessica's First Prayer," the service of song which was postponed last week owing to the wet weather, will be given in Wesley Church to-morrow evening.

At the Be.iident Magistrate's Court this morning, Lewis Brown, charged with having been drunk and disorderly in Thames-street at an early hour this morning, wss lined 10-=. The O.R.Y. No. 1 Company drilled last night on the old Cricket Ground. The men were very smart and steady in their movements, tlie extending and closing being done with considerable celerity, and both officers and men showing increased knowledge of their different duties. The number on parade was .'fn, al! told. The usual monthly meeting of the North Otage Benevolent Society \vm held yesterday" evening at the Secretary's office, tlie President, Mr. J. 11. Millizan in the chair. There were also present—Mr. C. S. Allen (Vice-president), Mr. D. S. Montagu (Hon. Treasurer), Rev. A. 15. Todd, and Messrs. Greenfield, Headland. Fr.lcoiier, M'Farlanc, Miramr. and the Secretary. After tlie minutes hail been read and confirmed, and the outward correspondence read and approved, letters were read from Messrs. Joseph 15ooth and T. A. Clowes resigning as members of the Committee, and Messrs. W. W. Dawson and R. Stevenson were unanimously elected in their stead. A letter was received from Mr. B. Mollison, a;>ologising for the absence of any report from "tlie Visiting Committee, and Messrs. Falconer, Greentield, and Headland, were appointed to be tho Viciting Committee for December. The l'r. .-.i.i- iit. Vice-President, and Treasurer Wrnr authorised to have trie annual report and of subscriptions for the past year pr:nt"d. A vote of thanks was accorded to the ntiditors of last year's accounts. The master's report was read, and the relief list for tiie month was settled. Svtiie other business resulting from motions adopted at the annual general meeting having been disposed of, tiie meeting closed.