The Oamaru Mail. SATURDAY, MAY 15, 1880.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1281, 15 May 1880, Page 2

The Oamaru Mail. SATURDAY, MAY 15, 1880.

Our contemporary this morning published a paragraph relating to an accident of a peculiar nature that occurred last evening on the Ngapara railway, and therein made some misstatements which, in justice to those concerned, we deem it our duty to correct. The facts of the case are as follow :—When the train was standing at the station at Ngapara there was also an empty goods truck standing there, but having no connection with the train and not intended to be brought into town last night. On the train moving off, this empty truck also started on its way down the decline of 1 in 77, and after going about 500 yards came up with the train at the water tanks. Of course the concussion was sufficient to startle the passengers, but was scarcely of strong enough force to do any serious damage. These are the plain facts of the matter, and it will be seen that, as it was not intended that the truck should form a part of the train, it could not have been in any way coupled to the train, and consequently the accident was not the result of insecure coupling ; that there is no similarity between the

afi'air and the Lite occurrence on the Duntroon line; and that our contemporary' strictures were scarcely called for. Last evening about fifty electors assembled in the large room at the Imperial Hotel, in response to an advertisement signed by Mr. W. F. Kinnear, as one of Mr. Roberts' committee. Mr. AY. J. Smith, -who was voted to the chair, called upon the convener to state the object of the meeting. Mr. then stated that he had called the meeting because Mr. Roberts had a day or two before expressed his willingness to retire from the field. The meeting had been called with the concurrence of Mr. Roberts' principal supporters to give effect to his retirement. It was understood that this object was to be eG'ected by means of a requisition, which was to be signed by those present at the meeting, and which was, at Mr. Roberts' special request, to be published in the local newspapers. Mr. Roberts had now expressed his intention not to resign. Mr. Roberts then explained that he had waited upon Mr. Jones when he first resolved upon standing,- spoke of his intention, and asked him whether he would support him, and that Mr. Jones said that he would. Shortly afterwards, on hearing Mr. Jones mentioned as a candidate, he had again waited upon him and asked him not to oppose him. Mr Jones then promised not to do so. He acrain called upon Mr. Jones, having heard that it was his intention to stand, and offered to retire in his favor. On that occasion Mr. Jone3 said that he could not come forward, and that he thought him (Mr. Roberts) a good man for the position, and that he should have his warmest support. He held Mr. Jones to promise, and he was sure that he would not oppose him, but give him his support. He felt it to be his duty to contest the election, and he would do so. Mr. Jones, in reply, stated that Mr. Roberts had given a somewhat exaggerated statement of what had taken place between that gentleman and himself. It was true that he had, when Mr. Roberts, a? me time before Mr. Hislop's resignation W33 announced, asked him to support him, said he would do so. He had subsequently, when waited on by Mr. Roberts, said that he would not oppose him, and, on another occasion, when Mr. Roberts said he thought ! that he had better retire, and asked him (Mr. : Jones) to stand, he had told that gentleman that he- was not in a position to do so. It had been said that he was acting unfairly towards Mr. Roberts. He would challenge anyone present to support such an assertion by facts. When he promised to support Mr. Roberts he was under an impression that he would make a good representasive. He was now of a different opinion, and must ask to be absolved from that pledge. With regard to hi 3 promise not to oppose Mr. Roberts, lie had no intention whatever to become a candidate at the time Mr. Roberts spoke to him, because he had not then been requested by a sufficiently large number of electors to warrant him in doing so, and he therefore freely stated that he would not oppose him. Since then he had been urged to come forward by a very large number of town and country electors. He had said to them that he could not do so unless absolved of his obligation to Mr. Roberts not to oppose him, and he said so still. More than this he had not done, and he failed to see that there had been anything dishonorable in his condnct. Mr. Hislop and Mr. Hardy gave their views on the matter, in opposition to Mr. Jones, and after some discussion, a resolution was proposed by Mr. Rule, seconded by Mr. Blair, " That Mr. Roberts should be requested to retire from the conteat." An amendment was proposed.by Mr, Johnston, seconded by Mr. Smart, "That Mr. Roberts should not retire from the contest." The amendment was pat and lost, and the original motion wa3 carried. Notwithstanding the decision of a meeting, called with his concurrence, Mr. Roberts holds to his intention to contest tiie election. Ii is announced elsewhere that an accident has occurred to the s.s. Grafton, and that site will not be able to visit this port in accordance with a previous advertisement. At the Resident Magistrate's Court today, before T. W. Parker, Esq., R.M., Rose Ann Dunn, for having been drunk and

disorderly, was ordered to pay a fine of 20s. or go to gaol for five days. Thomas Keating wa3 lined 55., with the alternative 48 hoars' imprisonment, for having been drunk and disorderly.

Captain Edwin telegraphs to-dayßad weather is approaching from any direction between north-east and north and west. ■ Expect a farther fall of the glass, and the sea to decrease fast. A later message from Captain Edwin says : —The sea will eoMie-.in from north-east iiud uast wnimi twelve hoars. Expect much raiu soon. We are informed that the Rev. R. L. Stanford will preach in St. Luke's Chuich to-morrow, morning and evening.

A meeting of the Committee of the North Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Association is called for Thursday next.

We had an opportunity of critically examing the 250 pictures about being distributed in Hay's fifth, art-union. They consist of engravings, cliromos, oleos, lithographs, photographs, and prints, and embrace subjects biblical, historical, and legendary. The winner of the first prize will become the possessor of a magnificent oleograph 44in. by 30in., most superbly framed, the subject being "The Babe Moses." This picture would -grace the walls of any palace. The treatment of the subject js entirely novel, and the execution grand. The second prize, "A View of Mount Vesuvius," a chromo lithograph, attracts great attention. No. 3 is a novel treatment of the subject of "Faust's Marguerite," and No. 4 is a real gem, the subject being "An Italian Turkey Herd," No. 5 being a companion picture—"An Italian Goose Herd." The subjects from No. 6 to No. 250 exhibit, real and still life in a most attractive manner, and the possession of one or more of these pictures will undoubtedly appear so desirable that we have every reason to believe that the list will rapidly fill up. We strongly, recommend lovers of the sublime and beautiful to visit the exhibition, which is open for free inspection in Thames-street, We may mention that all the mounting and framing has been executed jn the Colony by Mr. Hay, and will bear the closest inspection. The humanizing influence of works of art is so widely known, and the people of this district so discriminative, that we feel sure, that Mr. Hay will receive such generous support as will warrant him to again submit as choice a selection of gems.

The. monthly Government inspection of Volunteers was held last evening, and was attended as follows —Staff: Acting-Major Sumpter, inspecting officer Captain Morton, commanding Battalion ; Adjutant Diehl, and Staff Sergeant-Major M'Pherson. Artillery Band : 1 bandmaster, 1 band-sergeant, and 13 bandsmen. No. 1 Company Band: 1 bandmaster, 1 band-sergeant, and 14 bandsmen, Artillery, ; I Battery: 1 captain, 1 lieutenant, 1 assistant-surgeon, 3 sergeants,' and 23 gunners, No. 1 Company, Oamaru Kifies : 1 captain, 1 lieutenant, 1 sublieutenant, 3 sergeants, and 35 privates. Oamaru High School Cadets : 1 captain, 1 lieutenant, 4 sergeants, and 38 cadets. Oamaru Citizen Cadets : 1 captain, 1 lieutenant, 3 sergeants, and 29 cadets. North School Cadets : 1 captain, 1 lieutenant, 5 sergeants, and 43 cadets. The parade state showed a total attendance of 233. After inspection, the corps had a short march out, halting near the Post Office, where a number of movements to be gone through at the review on Queen's Birthday were practised, including marching past, the movements being watched by a large number of people, despite the unpleasant state of the street. On returning to the hall, the inspecting officer complimented the several corps on the capital turn-out, and announced that owing to the unfavorable -weather he did not propose holding any special practice parades for the review. He mentioned that as the programme for Queen's Birthday was rather a long one, it was desirable that Volunteers should be promptly in attendance. It was intended to have a dinner on the return from the review, but it was not proposed to njake it a lengthy thing as the hall would afterwards have to be cleared for the concert to be held in the evening.

A special meeting of the St. Paul's Young Men's Association was held in the Church last evening. There was a very good attendance. The chief business was the presentation of an address to the Rev, Mr, Paterson, of Invercargill, who has lately been filling the Rev. Mr. Todd's pulpit, and who has made many friends during his short stay here. The presentation was made by the Rev. A. B. Todd, and was accompanied by speeches from several gentlemen suitable to the occasion. The following is a copy of the address "To the Rev. James G. Paterson, Pastor of St. Paul's Church, Invercargill. Reverend Sir, —We, the members of St. Paul's Young Men's Association, beg to tender our heartfelt thanks for your able lecture on Dr. Guthrie delivered under our auspices, and in aid of St. Paul's Church Sabbath School Library; also, for your eloquent sermon to the young men of Oam,aru, delivered by you on the evening of Sunday, the 9fch inst. We pray that a rich blessing may follow your ministrations here, that you may be long spared for the work of the Master, and that His gracious presence may be with you in all your labors. A. 8.Todd, President 5 James M'Farlane, VicePresident ; R. H. M'Pherson, Yice-Presi-derit;" James M'Donald, Secretary; B. Mollison, A. B. Church, John Milligan Charles Stoddart, T. D. Young, Walter Booth, Alex. Nieol, James Barclay, Richard Penfold, R. Garrow, James H. Milligan, John Falconer, H. Cottrell." The address was beautifully illuminated by Mr. R. Stevenson, and was duly acknowledged by the recipient.