The Oamaru Mail THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 1880.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1240, 8 April 1880, Page 2

The Oamaru Mail THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 1880.

It is announced by telegram from ellingtou that Parliament will in all probability meet for the despatch of business on the 26tli May.

At the conclusion of the sitting of the District Court yesterday afternoon, Mr. O Meag- j her called the atteutin of his Honor to the necessity for the formation of a legal library in connection with the Court. He 'was informed that the Courts at Invcrcargill and Lawrence possessed libraries, while there was not a vestige of a library in the Oamaru Court, although the population was much larger than the populations of the places named. There were now eight solicitors practising in the Court, and they were required to pay fees which went to replenish the library of Dunedin. He had now been paying fees for 16 years. The sum he had paid could alone provide a very respectable library. The possession of a library would not only be a s;rcat convenience to the bar, but would be of great benefit to the bench. It as quite possible that the liberty of the subject might be jeopardised through the want of books of reference. It was not unlikely that his Honor might on some occasions, particularly where a prisoner was on trial, require to make reference to Criminal Law Reports or Statutes to settle some trials, and this he could not do at present as there was no library, not even copies of the English Statutes. His Honor concurred with the remarks of Mr. O'Meagher as to the necessity for a library, and said that he would be glad to assist the Bar in the obtaining of a library. If the Bar drew up a memorial upon the subject he would forward it to Dunedin with a recommendation that it would be given effect to. Mr. Hislop said that the Bar would ascertain the proper course to be adopted, and would then avail themselves of the promised assistance of his Honor.

Despite the uninviting weather last evening, the Lynch Family of Bellringers were favored with a very good audience, and their efforts were warmly applauded. Of course bellringing formed the chief feature of the entertainment, each item, whether performed on the handbells, standbells, or clockbells, meeting with the hearty approval of the audience. The singing of Mr. Santley, but more particularly his "Never judge a man by the coat that he wears," came in for a large share of the applause so liberally bestowed throughout the performance. The comic duet '"Tobias and Bianeus " was the beat thing of the kind that has been done by the company, and was encored. Mr. Lyndhurst, we were giad to observe, adopted our suggestion, and the consequence was that his veutriloquial entertainment was rendered more enjoyable and les3 otlensive to refined ears. The company will appear this evening for the last time, and we would advise those who have not already done so to pay them a visit.

The monthly meeting of the Committee of the Horticnltur.il Society was held at Mr. KarFa rooms List evening, when there were present—Messrs. Montagu (in the chair), Earl, Forsyth, Hartley, Malony, and Spratt (Hon. Secretary). The minutes of the last meeting having been read and confirmed, the prize list in connection with the late show was cheeked over, and the several amounts ordered to be paid to the winners. The accounts were passed for payment. It was decided that the next meeting of the Committee should be held on the first Wcdnesdaj* in Jane, and that the annual report and balance-sheet should then be brought up for consideration. Mails for Sydney, per City of Sydney, expected from San Francisco on the 10th inst., close at Auckland immediately after her arrival. Telegrams will be received at the Oamaru otHce accordingly.

The trouble between the Municipal Council of Hampden and the Hampden Road Board still continues. The plot becomes thicker, and there appears every likelihood of the matter becoming even more serious fjo fore the curtain falls upon the last act of the comedy. The dispute arises out of the formation of the township of Hampden into a borough to the chagrin of certain residents in the road district, more particularly in consequence of the commonage in the district being claimed by the borough. The Road Board is fighting for this commonage, and in order to substantiate their claim, object to recognise the borough as a legal body, alleging that it had not been legally established. Besides this they refuse to come to a settlement of accounts between Board and the Council, and the matter has been referred to the Government, who are likely to have plenty to do before they settle the dispute. As a preliminary step, the Government have appointed Mr. Livingstone [ to settle the accounts between the contend- | ing bodies, and notice has been served upon I both bodies of the appointment. The letter was received by the Borough Council with satisfaction, but not so by the Boad Board, she members of which pointedly declared that they would not permit Mr. Livingstone to see the Board's books, and, in fact, would place every obstacle 111 the way of the arbitrator. How the dispute is likely to end it would be difficult to say, but it seems likely that the Government will have to take very -itangent measures to enforce a solution of the diflicnlty.

This morning u'e were favored wiili a visit from a well-known resident of this town He said that he could supply us with a subject for a good paragraph. We told him that enough matter was in the hands of our compositors to fill our columns nearly twice over. He would, however, take no denial, and we bade him unbosom himself. This he did in the following manner : —" This is a matter that interests us all. There is not fi man, woman, nor child in this community that should be allowed to remain in ignorance of the fact I am about to relate. It affects the very foundations of our social economy, it poitends that at all events all human nature has not become so debased but that there is to be found in its ranks a leaven of amenability to common decency—aye, even

to gallantry. I was passing along Thamesstreet shortly after 8 o'clock last night, with a lady. It had been raining, as you know, and the pathways, except the asphalted portions, had become soddened. I saw justin front of us two or three men—l was so surprised at the occurrence I am about to relate that I was unable to calculate the exact number and I prepared myself to adopt the only courses usually open under such circumstances : that of turning aside on to the slippery unasphalted portion of the pathway, or descending into the channel. 'My amazement, my surprise, might have been seen from the appearance of my eyes ' had it not been that they were illuminated by only a corporation lamp, when I beheld one of the men, in a manner that would have been creditable to any gentleman, separate from his companion or companions, step into the channel, and make room for us to pass. Now, Mr. Editor, you will acknowledge that I have not wasted your time, and that what I have told your is worthy of record." We confessed that he was right, The monopolising of our public highways by gangs of expectorating, jostling, defiant fellows is one of those tilings that we are unfortunately called upon to suffer in the absence of an ample police force.

At yesterday's meeting of the \V aste Lands Board, a license for deferred payment rural section 4, block 11, K.urow District, was granted to Mr. John Porter. "We are ijifornjed thst Mr. J. Sinclair has resigned the position of Captain of the Fire Brigade, and that the election of his successor will take place at the next meeting of the Brigade, to be held on Monday evening. From what we can learn there seems every probability that the choice of the Brigade will fall upon Mr. John Mainland, whose appointment, we are certain, would be hailed with satisfaction by the public generally. The weekly meeting of St. Paul's Young Men's Association will be liekl this evenipg at 7.30 sharp, when readings and recitations will be given by the members. As the election of office-bearers is to take place, it is hoped there will be a large attendance. The monthly meeting of the Kakanui Road Board was held yesterday afternoon, when there were present;— Messrs. Gilchrist (in the chair), Gemmell, Walker, Manning, Elder, M'Donald, Hetlley, Morton, and Mr. Oliver (Engineer). The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed, and the outward correspondence was read and approved. Intimation was reocivod from the Treasury that the sum of L 694 15s Id, subsidy upon the rates, had been placed to the credit of the district in the bank. A letter having been received from the Bank of New Zealand giving six months' notice ot the bank's intention to terminate the agreement with reference to the Board's account, Messrs. Elder and Gemmell were, after some discussion, appointed to wait upon the managers of the several banks with a view to ascertaining whether they would accept the Board's account, and to report at next meeting. Letters from the New Zealand and Australian Land Company asking for copies of surveys of the deviating road lines in the Totara estate were referred to the Engineer. The Secretary to the Hospital Committee wrote inviting suggestions upon the Hospital and Charitable Aid Bill, and Messrs. Hcdley and Elder were appointed to confer with the representatives chosen by other local bodies, and to report at the next meeting of the Board. It was resolved that plans should be prepared and tenders called for the repair of the Island Stream road. Plans and specifications having been laid on the tabic by the Engineer for the formation of a direct road to Incholme, tenders were ordered to be called for the works. Mr. J. Church was re-appointed auditor. Arrangements were made for the exchange of road line between sections 29, 2S, 27 and 50, 52, 53, with continuation through sections 27 and Dart of 2G, block 10, Oamaru district, for a new road in sections 2 of 51, 52, 53, same block. It was resolved to take summary proceedings for arrears of rates in South Oamaru. Accounts to the amount ot L 223 Ss 2d were passed for payment, and the Borrd rose.

Timaru appears to be infested with a number of the undesirable class of ruffians that are nightly showing the cloven hoof in Oamaru. Premises are infested with them, servant girls cannot stir from the doors of their dwellings without being molested, clothes are Etolen from lines, and other petty larce.-.ies are rife. The police force — as is the case here—is so much too weak that it is entirely unable to cope with so much scouiidrelism. The Herald says that it is " not a bit surprised to learn that revolvers are in demand." People will, of course, protect themselves as best they can, if the police are incapable from paucity of number to perform their functions. The Herald suggests that those who wish to protect themselves against the two-legged ours with which our communities are now overrun, should club together and pay a watchman to guard their premises, and that, in the meanwhile, the Borough Council of Timaru shoald lay a clear statement of their unprotected position before the Government. This idea might be adopted here as a means of strengthening the hands of Mr. Inspector Thompson. The poliGe force of this town must be substantially and permanently increased. "We do not approve of unnecessarily extreme measures ; but until that is done we recommend the people of this town to keep their powder dry, and provide something to put it in. What might form a highly farcical commentary upon the present mode of criminal procedure has occurred in connection with a case tried at the Supreme Court here a few days ago. The case was from Oamaru, the accused being charged with the theft of a watch from a woman with whom he had been living, The whole machinery of the law having been set in motion—first the committal from the local Court, then the Grand Jury's solemn investigation, and finally a four or five hours' trial before his Honor the Judge—the common Jury took the view that the affair had arisen out of a jealous quarrel. They found the accused "not guilty," but with misplaced generosity, as it turned out, advised that the watch should be handed back to the prosecutrix. A legal argument even took place as to whether this could be done. Eventually it was done, but will it be believed that within a few minutes the woman not only returned the watch to her paramour, but positively handed him in addition something more than a LlO note to rscoup him the expense he had been put to in connection with the trial.—Otago Daily Times.