The Oamaru Mail. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE NEW ZEALAND AGRICULTURIST. WEDNESDAY JANUARY 14, 1880.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1168, 14 January 1880, Page 2

The Oamaru Mail. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE NEW ZEALAND AGRICULTURIST. WEDNESDAY JANUARY 14, 1880.

Was the Minister for Public Works afraid to remain in Oamaru, and learn from the mouths of deputations the many wrongs requiring redress, the numerous matters requiring attention, and the ill-feeling towards the Government that lias been engendered l>y their action in thwarting the wishes of residents in Oamaru and neglecting to do anything whatever for the town and district ? He arrived here by train ve-jterday from f >t!P.?din. I>:tfc not the lightest attention did he, so far as we can ascertain after careful inquiry, bestow upon one of the most important towns in the Colony. He pursued his journey northwards, leaving not a trace of his visit behind save knowledge that another slight had been cast upon the district by a member of the Hall Ministry. We know for a certainty that several deputations were anxious to interview the Hon. Mr. Oliver, but were prevented from carrying out their intentions by the hasty manner in which the lion, gentleman hurried away to the North. He could scarcely be ignorant of the fact that there are many matters requiring attention here, and the least that could be expected from him was that he should have remained in Camam long enough to make himself thoroughly acquainted with their details. This is the smallest return that could be given by a Minister who is travelling at the ratepayers' expense. The steady downpour of rain which has taken place during last evening and to-day, with every prospect of continuing for some time, is tl«2 most unfortunate circumstance that has attended this season's grain-grow-ing. From all |>arts of the districts we had received the moat glowing accounts of the harvest prospects, and onr fanners were looking forward to reaping the well-earned reward of their energy and perseverance : but we fear that in many cases those bright anticipations will be turned to gloomy fears by the unwelcome downpour of rain which ha 3 taken place. The information from the country is only of a meagre kind, but it is not of the most pleasant, for we are ininformed that in some cases the heavy crops have already succumbed under the weight of the moisture. If the present weather continues much longer we fear that a greater portion of the crop 3 will be beaten down, and that the prospect of the finest harvest ever known in district will be entirely ruined. Nor docs it seem propable that this district will be the only sufferer in this respect, for our telegrams inform us that heavy rains are being experienced both North and South. Truly the elements are waging a merciless war against the farmers. About three o'clock a favorable change took place in the weather, and though too late Lite to avert serious damage to the crops, it was hailed with satisfaction.

The Oamaru portions of the incoming San Francisco mail will be received by to-mor-row's express train from Christchurch, and the correspondence will be at once sorted and delivered by the letter-carriers. Some of the fruits of -Mr. W. Sutherland's mission to the land of his birth were observable yesterday, when IS single men, immigrants by the ship Marlborougn, and specially selected for the district by Mr. Sutherland, arrived by the afternoon train from Dunedin. Tiicy are chiefly from Caithness, and are physically a tine lot of fellows, apparentlv steady and well fitted for work. They are now open for engagement at the immigration barracks. The monthly meeting of tiie Committee of the North Otago Kitle Association was held last evening, when the ranges and handicaps for the competition to be h-dd on Saturday were fixed and some other small matters dealt with. The band of No. 1 Company will meet for practice this evening, the hall being reouired for a performance to-morrow evening. The inclement weather of to-day necessitated the postponement of the annual picnic in connection with St. Luke s Sunday-school, proposed to be held at the parsonage. If the weather holds fine, the children are requested to meet on the old Cricket Ground at one o'clock to-morrow.

The Gem Burlesque and Comedy Company, which visited Oamaru some short time since, is announced to give a performance in the Volunteer Hall to-morrow evening, consisting of the "Harlequin Mazourka." The Company has been strengthened since it last apjieared here, and as the prices for admission are very small, there should be a full house.

A Gazette jti3t to hand contains the regulations nnder -which the Government district prize-tiring iiy olunteer3 i 3 to take place. The total stun voted by Parliament was LSOO, and th:3 has been divided amongst the several Volunteer Districts, according to the nominal strength of the forces on tnc 30th November last. The portions coming to the Oamaru district are a3follow Adults, Ll9 ISa 9d; ordinance, L-j ; cadets, L 9 4s; making a total of 2s Dd. 1 ne follow ing are the conditions under winch the firing will take placeTiic whole sum voted having been set apart for prizes, no claims for marking, &c., can be entertained. Each district must arrange for markers at it 3 own expense. A Committee, consisting of the Otßcer Commanding and not les3 than two senior Volunteer Officers in each district, will divide the amounts set apart for their respective districts into such prizes as they : may determine, and to be competed for at ancb ranges, &.c., as they may appoiut, The Commissioner of Armed Constabularly will issue rules for the prizes apportioned to that force. The filing for these prize 3 must be in accordance with the general rules published liDil year. The competitions to take place at audi ti ifias ,13 may be directed by tf;e Officer Comniawdi/ig the district, and tliey are to be concluded before the 31s;t March, ISSO. As swi as after th s firing has been concluded, returns showing the conditions ; r which •:orii;,'.tition:i took place, tit-; name.-: of lit'- ize-winners, and the several amounts of the prize'!, togetlior with the full neon-! of all competitors, iniwt be Ment to the Under .Secretary for Defence. The January competition of the North Otago I'iile Association will be held at halfpaat iivj o'clock in the morning and three in the r,f:e«n»iOf» on Hatiuday next. '1 he r:ui;.;es fixed »[,<," ar- W>. ■><>»'" l ,m i'' l "' with ishot-i »it V/*r vvmjM tcwiiii'l owmrfa of ii'i'.tu-i* licit l!t>: entiles f«r the N'orth Otago r, nuiii;; f 'tili/d Derby Mtake* muat be made t», the M'-.mi-uy (Mr. VV..11. Uonayue) later than to-lnorro'.v evening, and intii-.t be accompanied by the name, roloiir, pedi;ove, ail.! date of birth of the dog, mid the fee of LI I*. W« may mention that the ntal'.ii will Im; a very one*, and in addition to it a bracelet worth five guinea* will Iw given to U»e whiter by Mr. J. D. Kelt, of the

Royal Hotel. It is scarcely necessary to state that the dogs entered mnst be the bona fide property of members of the Club, and that they most be puppies whelped on or after July 1, 1878. Mr. Alderton, the proprietor of the Whan-, garei newspaper, and who was lately chosen to go to Great Britain to select settlers fgr Captain Colbeck's block at Kaipara, has interviewed the Lancashire delejgates at Hamilton, Waikato. He represented to them that they should not shape their course southward until they had visited the Cap-.: tain's estate and the Whangarei-Hokiaira lands. The reply of the delegates is suggestive, and leads to the inference that their education has not been negleoted since theirarrival in'the Waikato and their graduation under the Auckland land agent. Mr. Grant said that it was not their intention to visit North Auckland, as he was informed the land there was very broken and generally inferior. They will probably be induced to visit North Auckland, though Waikato influences are working against it.

Recently in Wellington (says the Wellington Post) an impecunious debtor, a disciple of Darwin, being brought to bay by an importunate dun, and having exhausted all the ready terms of remonstrance from a fertile vocabulary of adjectives, at last fell back on his favorite science, and called his persecutor an ornithori/nchus paradoxus. The astonished creditor, demanding the meaning of the alarming expletive, was referred to a dictionary of natural history, when, on turning up the compound word, he found it described as a " beast with a bill."

The Anglo-American Telegraph Company intend reducing the charge of messages between England and the United States from three shillings per word to sixpence per word, when the new French Transatlantic Cable, now in course of being laid, is opened for traffic. So far as the public who are obb'gcd to use the cables largely for business are concerned, the proposed new charge will represent a considerable saving, but what the shareholders already think of the scheme is demonstrated by the heavy fall in- the Anglo-American stocks. On the other hand, the directors are so sanguine of a large increase of business that they have made arrangements for the laying of a new cable next year.

According to the Sydney newspapers, New Zealand played something very considerably more subordinate than second fiddle in the wool competition at the Sydney Exhibition, Mr. Aarons, of Wellington, being the only exhibitor of the Colony who secured honors, although we are glad to be able to say that it consisted of a first prize. The following gives the position that the other colonies occupy:—ln the fine wool section New South Wales has ten first prizes, seven seconds, five high commendations, seven commendations, and is recommended for two special prizes. Victoria has five firsts, six seconds, three high commendations, three commendations, and at least a half share with Tasmania in the champion gold medal. Tasmania has five firsts, two seconds, and one recommendation for a special pi ize. Queensland — two firsts, four seconds, three high commendations, and three commendations. South Australia is the lowest in the scale of awards, with one first and one second. The long wools have yet to be decided on, and we hope that New Zealand may in this section retrieve her reputation.

The following telegram from the J lay or of Auckland has been received by his Worship the Mayor of Duncdiii: —"I have received the following telegram :—' Mayor, Auckland—Distress increasing; aid urgently required. Publish in Colonics.—Lord Mayor.' Second telegram : ' Communicate with Dublin.' I infer I am requested to communicate with leading cities in Colony.— Thomas Peacock", Mayor of Auckland/'' According to "Kenelm," the writer of the "Sporting Notes from New Zealand," which appear in the Australasian of the 27th December, Sir Herculc3 Robinson has written to Mr. Lee, of Sydney, to send him a colt or two for racing purposes. In connection with Mansfield, people begin to wonder what the forces who are said to be after the Kellys are about. The subject is (says the Melbourne correspondent of the Ballarat Star) to be mooted on the reassembling of Parliament, with the view of eliciting, for the information of the public, whether the authorities have any clue as to the whereabouts of the Kellys, or whether they are as much as ever in the dark. The following paragraph appears in tlie Jewish Chronicle of October 31 On the lGfch Sir Jhlius Yogel, one of the Conservative candidates for the representation of Falmouth, delivered an interesting speech. Referring to personal matters, Sir Julius said that many attacks had been ir.ade by him by his opponents, but he took the attacks as compliments, as it showed that liis opponents had some fears of his being successful. One imputation was against his religion, but he wonhl say that not for the sake of '2O elections wo.;ld he disown his religion.- He was born of the Jewish persuasion," and would live and die in it." The Timaru Telegraph has been attempting the prophetic. In a late issue the editor drew upon his imagination for the following : " With the construction of steel steamers at the plentifulness with which they are nowbeing built, and the cheapness witli which they can be worked, a direct a cheap voyage by steamer for immigrants to New Zealand will in evcy probability be obtainable in perhaps the next couple of years. Once this i 3 the case, the' future of Timaru brightens, for these vessels will not tread the devious mazes of Otago Harbor, or be stuck in the mud at Lyttclton, when they will be able to obtain the amplest protection and 30ft of water at low tide at Timaru. The prospect that immigrants will in future be conveyed in such yessels instead of by sailing ships means n great de:>l for this town, and for the settlement and development of South Canterbury." TLa latest story about the l'ope is told by the writer of " London Town Talk " in the Argus :—" His Holiness, UjQiigh lie has lost his temporalities, ::<"*<• 11jh to relain a tolerably keen eye to thin world, and to what unspiritnal persons consider the main chance. An English lady of rank, a pervert, took some family diamonds to him the other day in order that Jjc miijht bless them, which it appears is a common practice with him, by which he confers an inestimable benefit at what heretics consider a cheap rate. lie has also another custom of accept!lie; tlie offerings of tin: faithful for the use of the Ifoly See, and on this particular occasion the customs [(Hi mixed. lie look the laiiiily diamonds with an aiiyelie smile, and no doubt mistaking her ladyship's purpose handed tlii-iii over to his treasurer, who lias yol. them still. It is one of those 'hard eases,' and, indeed, oiks very hard upon the lady in question, which Vanity Fair puts In-fore iLn readers every week," TJio Wellington J'out, in treating upon the railway traffic returns, writes a« follows i

" There 13 no doubt that to render even the better paying lines properly and permanently productive, the most rigid economy will have to be exercised in working. Every unnecessary outlay must be avoided—every possible saving effected. The chief direction in which tl)is A can be cai'ried is in what is trainsare run.at a heavy loss to outside pressure b|mg brought dn the For'instance, a certain tram wr.s run mjxnthk on . the T\ rr.ilwny ori'it being Sapreseitfcied to r. greut public convenience and would pay well. That train has now been done away with, iLi average gross receipts during the time-it i.tiding,* ye beUeve,just Js.&d.pes. trip !?- Agaiii, -on' 1 the J&interbury 'railway? great once was used to have a I special train run on a particular day, the petitioners, while declining/to guarantee any specific? sum, representing forcibly that it was certain to be crowded with passengers and to pay enormously. The • train ran, a powerful engine" and a long string of carriages being provided to accommodate the expected crowd. The gross receipts amounted to the magnificent sum of one shilling ! These instances suffice to show how little reliance can be placed on the popular judgment as to what trains will pay and how needful it is to be guided entirely by the results of practical experience. If any particular train after a reasonable trial does not show its fair proportionate return, that is conclusive proof that it does not serve the convenience of the public generally. It may perhaps suit a few persons, but the Colony cannot afford to run trains at a loss—and therefore at the cost of the many—to accommodate the few. This cannot be too widely and distinctly understood. New Zealand has invested her all in railways, and her future prosperity or ultimate bankruptcy will depend to a large extent on these railways being made to pay." ' Conditional Immortality.'—The second annual conference of the ' Conditional Immortality Association,' which has been held in Maberly Chapel, Balls-pond-road, Kingsland, was brought to a close by a public meeting in St. George's Hall, Langham-place. After the singing of a hymn and prayer, which was offered by the Rev. Henry Constable, late Prebendary of Cork, Mr. Henry J. Ward, Liverpool, took the chair. In the course of a brief address the chairman said they had met with unkindness and opposition from those to whom they looked for sympathy and encouragement; but they were convinced that the result of their labor must be victory. On the one hand they found the advocates of eternal agony becoming fewer; but, on the other, they found the advocates of universalism increasing. They held a view between these two extremes —that the destiny of the lost was eternal death after resurrection. It would be necessary to grapple with spiritualism, and he did not know who could do so but those who believed in this body. Addresses developing the views of the chairman were then delivereil. The Cunard Company, not to be outdone by the Orient, have concluded a contract with Messrs. J. and G. Thompson, of the Clyde, to build a ship, the size of which will be exceeded only by the Great Eastern. The Sahara, for such is to be the name of the new steamer, will be built of steel< She will be 7500 tons burthen and 10,000 horse-power, and will be able to carry 450 first-class and 600 steerage passengers, and GSOO tons cargo. The ship is to be ready for sea in March, i ISSI.