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Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1314, 23 June 1880, Page 2

Mr. George Jones, the new member for this district, took his seat in the House of Representatives last evening, being introduced to the . Speaker by Sir George Grey and Mr. Shrimski. Mr. Jones adds another to the small list of New Zealauders by birth ■who have entered Parliament, having been born in Wellington, We understand that Mr. W, H. S, Roberts has been appointed as one of the assessors for Oamaru under the Property Assessment and Property Tax Acts. Some surprise may be expressed at this announcement, seeing that Mr. Roberts, when before the electors, so strongly denounced the property tax; but there is no occasion for astonishment. There is a wide difference in opposing a measure when made to suffer under it and in becoming an officer engaged in enforcing an obnoxious tax when a "liberal" remuneration is to be obtained.

The express train from south to-day arrived in Oamaru three quarters of an hour late, owing to the latter portion of it having left the metals at Puketeraki, about 14 miles south of Palmerston. Mr. Harinay left Oamaru by a special train at 11.30 a.m., to bring on the Suez mail, which had been left behind in the portion of the train that did not come.

We are likely ere long to be placed in possession of reliable information on the ques. tion of whether or not there is foul air in the Shag Point coal mine. The matter is one that should certainly be cleared up, and we are therefore pleased to learn that Captain Fraser has given notice to ask in the Legislative Council a question bearing upon the subject. Mr. Macandrew has done an act of justice to Mr, C'onyers and the railway officials generally by giving notice of his intention to ask if the Government proposed laying on the table a copy of the evidence taken by the Civil Service Commission; also the number, character, and amounts of the contracts alleged to have been entered on with a mercantile firm, with which the South Island Railway Commissioner is said to be connected; also, if the Commissioner was afforded an opportunity of rebutting the evidence giveji on the subject, Margaret Elliott and James M'Lean were charged with drunkenness at the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning, The former was fined 10s, or undergo 48 hours' imprisonment; and the latter was fined 20s, or four days' imprisonment. Mr, G. Sumpter was the presiding justice. A Commanding Officer's parade of the I Battery of Artillery, under the command of Acting-Lieutenant Creagh, took place in the gunshed last evening, about thirty members of the battery being present, After some company drill, Sergeant Browu put the men through the bayonet exercise, The beautiful clearness of the sky last night gave a rare opportunity for watching that interesting phenomenon, a total eclipse of the moon. The preliminary contact with the penumbra took place at 10.48 p.m., and contact witlx the shadow occurred at a quartec to 12 o'clock. The total eclipse took place at 1.20, and lasted for about 18 minutes. At 2.55 a.m., the final shadow was showw, and the final contact with the p3rnambra occurred at 3.52, A catalogue (comprising about 1200 vols.) of historical and other works for the local Athenffium has been sent to Dunedin. for transmission to London, through the Education Board of Otago, by the outgoing mail. Should the catalogue be left intact, the Institute will hflve a considerable addition to its present excellent library. We have been favored with a perusal of the batting and bowling analysis of the Trades Cricket Club for the last season. We cannot find space for the whole, and will therefore simply mention the names of those who have particularly distinguished themselves. Two bats were given for competition during the season, one forth? player making .the best tatting average and the other for the bowler having the beat average. Tfig former was secured by Mr; W. J. Madiera, with a shade under an average of 8 runs for ten innings, closely follpTved by Mr. A. Hartley with a trifle under 7, Messrs, J. Hart' Isyapd W. Gray coming next on the list with a little over 5. The bowling averages show out better, Mr. W. Gray securing the bat with an average of under 3 runs per wicket for 21 wickets, obtained-in eight innings. Mr, A* Hartley has an average of under four runs per wicket for 41 wickets, taken in ten innings, while M r - J. Steel obtained 28 wickets and Mr. D. Sinclair 14 wickets for a cost of under five runs per wicket. Messrs. J. Knight and R. Crawford, who only bowled in two innings each, figure very well. The former secured ten pickets for a trifle over two runs, ancj the latter fflur wickets for four rpns per wiefcefc,

" The' animal meeting of the NortWOtago Horticultural Society will be held in Mr. Hardy's office at 0 o'clock this evening. • J. K. Emmett, of " Fritz" renown, has accumulated a large fortune within the last few years. He has now purchased *a place on the Hudson river, near Albany, in America, on which a magnificent mansion is being erected, and the grounds are being picturesquely laid out.. Th'e value of a human leg is thus exemplified A Chicago travelling salesman having been injured by a railroad accident, whereby his leg had to be amputated, obtained a verdict against the Company for 10,000 dollars. The Company appealed, when the second verdict was for 26,000 dollars, and another appeal resulted in the owner of the amputated limb having a judgment for 45,000. The company is still not satisfied and are moving to set aside the damages as excessive.