BIRTH. The Oamaru Mail MONDAY, MARCH 15, 1880.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1220, 15 March 1880, Page 2

BIRTH.

The Oamaru Mail MONDAY, MARCH 15, 1880.

Afros.—On the 15th March, at Medora Hotel, the -wife of G. H. Ayton, of a danghter.

The cry all over the land just now (says the Sun) Is hard times and absolute impecuniosity. People say that they cannot make both ends meet, and that tbfi darkest possible cloud is upon them. Of course all this is doubly distilled exaggeration, apd cast-iron facts tell the knowing ones that the vitality and general resources of New Zealand are finch that it is only a question of "pulling through." And as to money, and the channels in which it runs, some interesting itema might be ££t forth on the subject. During the last few weeks, for instance, the total, amount subscribed by thepublic to swell up racing " consultations r! in Dnnedin has reached no less a sum than L 17.000! Thin money, it must be recollected, should—although it is very frequently not not the ease—represent what is generally known by the term of pocket-money, that i 3 to say, the surplusage of funds which men or women —may find at the bottoms of their own individnal purses, when all c*Ue upon their daily liabilities have been handsomely answered, with something to boot for a rainy day. We very much fear, however, that out of the £17,000 named, a large proportion represents moneys which should have been employed in far better purposes than gambling. The first day of the races being St. Patrick* Day," and therefore z colonial holiday, we presume all places of business in the town will be closed, as a matter of course, and that it is unneces.sary for his Worship the Mayor to ask the citizens to observe it as a holiday. But the the second day, which, by-the-byc, lias the best entries, is not a holiday, and we hope his Worship the Mayor will see fit to ask the traders to close at noon, and thus enable all who wish to see the sport to do &0. Mails for Sydney, per Ringarooma close, at Auckland at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, 16th instant.

The monthly inspection of the Otepopo Bides will be held on Thursday, the ISth inst.

The following horses, intended to contend in the races to be held on "Wednesday and Thursday, are already in the district. The weather "seems likely to continue fine ; the prcapects of good spoit are favorable, and we expect a full and busy meeting cellor, York. Tera, Thilo, Titania, Deception, Bine Peter, Emerald, Theodore, kittle John, May Morn, Lady Love, Little Lady .colt, Newlands, Shillelach, Dnntroon, Adamant, Luna, Jack the Flat, Banjo, Tommy Dodd, ch f by Duntroon, Nelly by Croydon, and Glencoc.

The Hawke's Bay Herald tells the following story I Two or three years ago Mr, J, S. Macfarlane said that a certain prominent politician, a "native of the soil,' would in twelvemonths "be in Mount Eden," or in other words in gaol. Mr. Swanson, a warm friend oi the slandered M.H.K., at once offered to bet that he would be a Minister within twelve wxmths. The member for Newton turned out correct, and received a cheque from Mr. MacfarUflp for LSO. This cheque he never cashed, but it in his pocket-book, and shows it when fie fccjls the tale.

A remarkably foolish Englishman living in Paris has just performed an act which is ha-dly likely to lessen the reputation which onr countryman enjoy abroad for eccentricity, A few days ago ha laid a wager of £2OOO that he would remain on the top of the Arc da Triumphe for four hoars with nothing on but & .wit of . thin, canvas. The temperature at the time w.as about 15 deg. below freezing point, but the Englishman proved both his hardihood and; bis reckless stnpidity by performing thetask and winning the wager.

One of the party of Zulus by whom Prince Loiua Napoleon was killed (remarks an English paper) has given an account of the affair that must intensify the feelings of astonishment and indignation which were engendered by the first report. There appears to be no reason to dojjbfc the truthfulness of the Zulu, He states that only eight or nine men took part in. the s£tap)£ on Captain Carey's party, that all the latter who were not disabled at the first fire ran away, but that the " great chief," who eopld not mount his horse, was pursued, overtaken, and slain with assegai wounds before be had a chance to defend himself. Whilst this tragedy was being enacted, the gallant Carey aiul his companions were riding for their lives. • Several weeks ago it was known on the authority of Cetewayo himself that only ten men had taken part in the attack, and now it seems that the number was really smaller.