The Oamaru Mail FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 1880.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1247, 16 April 1880, Page 2

The Oamaru Mail FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 1880.

Late intelligence regarding the disaster which befell the Calypso in the Thames River states that she collided with the steamship Hawke, the property of the General Steam Navigation Company, and that the vessel is said to have had no lights burning. If it can be proved that the casualty occurred through the neglect of those in charge of the Hawke, it i 3 probable that the Colony may not suffer the severe los 3 that appeared inevitable on the receipt of the first tidings of the disaster.

The Crown Prosecutor, Mr. Haggitt, is reported to have remarked daring the trial of Batler yesterday that the murderer of the Dewars entered their house originally with the intention of plundering, and not of committing murder. It is not at all probable that, if a man was in search of plunder, he would visit such a house as that occupied by the Dewars, which bore every sign of being the abode of a poor working man. He would have chosen one of the abodes of the rich. Mr. Haggitt bases his assumption on the circumstance that it had not been proved that the prisoner had provided himself with a weapon with which to commit murder. Does it not seem more probable that, if Butler is the murderer, he had the revolver in his possession which was afterwards found upon him, bat that he did not use it because he found on the premises the means of carrying out his design without using his revolver, whose report would probably have awakened the neighbors.

We have been shown a letter by a citizen of Oamaru from a brother in Scotland. He seems to take an intelligent view of affairs in the old country, and what he sav3 may, we think, be relied upon as authoritative. Writing of the condition of the farmers he says:—Farmers are failing everywhere. Some of the best farmers of the best farms are unfortunately amongst the number. [The farmers on the Dirleton, Colston, and Wemyss estates are mentioned, besides others}. The elections are creating great excitement, and the Tories are confident of success. We have been informed that the following colloquy occurred at the Supreme Court yesterday between his Honor Judge Williams and the criminal Butler :—His Honor : Are you defending yourself ? Prisoner: \ es, your Honor. —His Honor: Have you fairly considered the matter of defending yourself, bearing in mind ths old adage that the man who is his own counsel has a fool for a client ? Prisoner: I have, your Honor; but I also remember another old adage which 3ays "Thrice armed is he who has his quarrel just." The Philharmonic Society will practice this evening at the Volunteer Hall. The only case that came before the Resi dent Magistrate this morning was that of a man charged with being of unsound mind,, and the case was adjourned until to-morrow to enable a medical examination to be held.

The report of yesterday's trial of Butler ocenpies a fall page of the Otago Daily Times, althongb it is set in the smallest newspaper type, and to reprint it in onr columns is therefore oat of the question, more especially as it contains a mere repetition of the facts already published by us. A meeting of the members of the Oamarn Jockey Glnb was held at the Empire Hotel. Mr. G. Greenfield was m the chair, and there was only a small attendance. In consequence of the absence of the Secretaiy and | the short notice given, the meeting was adjourned nntil next week. A meeting of the Committee was afterwards held, at which several accounts were passed for payment. Some discussion then took place with reference to the next race-meeting, daring which the opinion was expressed that the County Stakes and Connty Handicap should be open to horses bred or owned in the Connty of Waimate, instead of being limited to the County of Waitaki. There is an item in the advertising S columns of this issue that should cheer the ' hearts of the bachelors of this district. "A ! young lady" announces that she wishes to correspond with a young gentleman with a view to matrimony. Of course she will only be able to marry one at a time, and, in the language of the draper's " dodger," an early inspection is desirable. Bachelors must not permit inordinate modesty and scrupulousness to interfere with their decision to act in tht3 matter. The yonng lady has merely taken advantage of Leap Year to emulate the example set by the lady that afterwards became llrs. A. Ward when she led Mr. A. Ward to the altar.

The Dnnetlin Star says : The various Royal Commissi n3 are arranging their business with the evident intention of making a gnotl thing last as long as possible. Mr. Kdward WnketWtl. for instance, the chairman of the Local Industries Committee, has no idea of laying down his dignity when the House meets, but means running another recess on the same ticket. The post otlices actually groan under the loads of circulars issued by tlih gentleman, who seems anxious to collect information by the ton, regardless, comparatively of the quality of the article. The Railway Commission are wandering about the country in a sort of helpless manner, receiving deputations by the dozen, and being, as a matter of course, "cornered" by local projectors and demagogues. Their short-hand reporter is to be sincerely som*

miserated, if be has to take down half the stuff they have to listen to. It certainly seems odd to the inexperienced mind that three or four gentlemen can form a judgment upon the economics of railway construction and management by rushing through the country in trains and buggies and listening to the rubbish talked by village quid nuncs. The following i 3 extracted from a circular under date March 31; issued by Mr. John Milne of Auckland, with reference to these gentlemen " Messrs. Grant and Foster, the delegates from the farmers of Lincolnshire, have completed their mission, have this day returned to England by the mail steamer. On their arrival at Home it is fcheir intention to publish a report of their visit to New Zealand. This will probably be the highest authority on. the character of the soil and the adaptability of the country for settlement by the English farmer ever issued from the Press. It is contemplated to include a valuable map of the country, and if possible some illustrations. The book will be published iniondon, and it is hoped will be delivered here in August next. An estimate only of its price can now be given, which will be about 2s 6d or 3s each copy. I beg to inform you that Messrs Grant and Foster have appointed me their sole agent for the supply of this book in Jfew Zealand and the Australian Colonies."