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Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1315, 24 June 1880, Page 2

The Att rney-General stated in the Legislative Council yesterday, in reply to Captain Fraser, that " the Government had directed Mr. Binn, Mining Inspector, to report whether men have to be carried helplessly out of the Shag Point Mine, owing to bad ventilation." This is somewhat startling, for we have not previously hesrd of any of the miners having to be carried out of the mine in a helpless state. Our special reporter, who yesterday had an interview with some of the strikers, assures us that in relating their grievances •no mention whatever was made of the presence of foul air. Had such a state of things existed as is suggested by the Attorney-General's |reply, we feel sure that some reference would have been made to it by the men, who would then have shown the best of reasons for stopping work. However, we are glad to know that ihe Mining Inspector has been instructed tovimfc the mine, and report upon its condition. By this means we shall be placed in possession of information that will set the public mind at rest.

In the Legislative Council yesterday, the Hon. Colonel Whitmore gave notice that he would ask the Government if they will place the Agent-Generalship on a more satisfactory footing, and arrange new terms for future appointments to th£ office. The half-yearly meeting of the Loyal Alfred Lodge, No. 0, 1.0.0. F., was held last evening, at the Hall, Ceqaefestreet. There was a very good attendance of members, and, after the transaction of the ordinary business, the election of officers took place, with the following resultP.G., Bro. W. H. Kelly ; N.G., Bro. T. J. Buntiog; V.G., Bro. E, Lennie; Secretary, Bro. R. J. Keys; Treasurer, Bro, E. G. Lane. Dr. Garland and Mr. E. G. Lane were reappointed medical officer and chemist respectively. On next Lodge night (Wednesday, July 7) the installation of the several officers will take place. We are compelled to hold over several letters to the Editor, besides a quantity of. other matter.

The meeting of the Oamaru Cricket Cl.ub, called for Saturday evening, has been postponed until the following Saturday.

It has been decided to postpone until a future date the repetition" of the organ recital which proved so successful in St, Lake's Church on Monday. The reason for this step being taken is, we regret te..83-y, the serious illoegg of,a relative of the respected incumbent. As one of the results of the colliers'.strike at Shag Point, we may mention that & large number of tracks are now lying idle on the various sidings between Oamaru and Palmerston. Including those at the Shag Poipt, the total rnunber cannot be, from what we hear, much under 200 in all. The carriage of grain seems to have suddenly stopped, and this accounts in some measure for the idleness of the trucks, but the strike is doubtless the chief cause.

A young man named George Ellis, believed to be a brother of Henry Ellis, lately a storekeeper in Thames-street north, died yery suddenly last nigbt at Floraville, Mr. 6, A. Sutton's residence, on the North Boad. He was in Mr. Sutton's employ as groom up' to the time of his dea'h. It appears that Mr. Button, on going to call Ellis this morning found bim lying, fully dressed, on ,the floor of his bed COO oi, quite dead. An inquest was held an the body this afternoon, before -T. W. Parker, Esq,, Coroner, after some evidence bad been t#ke», the wos Adjourned till Monday next,

- • 'S\ -V " More telegraphic favors have. beenvbestowed by the Premier upon his We are informed by a memo, froin thevDepartment that telegraph stations have been opened at Kirwee and Springfield, both in the County of Selwyn and the Provincial District of Canterbury. - Magistrate's day, before T. W.~Parber, John Whiteman, for having been druhk and diadischarged. Mails f of;-the: Australian Colonies- and -Ta-'MUM.ia jipr T«. AnaiTj close at. the.Bluff, /ati 11.30 a.m. to morrow. Telegrams will be! accepted at the Oamaru office accordingly; t j'l'JL Mi- '' Mr. Wm. Sutherland will deliver a lecture in 1 the Awamoko Schoolhouse to-morrow evening, taking as. his .subject. "Reminiscences of a Trip to Britain and Hack." As the charge for adfriission is very small, and the lecture in aid of the. school, funds,, we have little doubt that the lecture will prove, as successful financially at it will certainly, be entertaining. - What under a different condition of - thelaw might.have .|.een classed as a case of burglary occurred about ten o'clock last night at the shop of Mr. R. L. Rule. As Messrs. F. H. Townsend and R. Lindsay and others were passing along Thames-street they heard the noise of glass-breaking, and as this was followed by a second crash, they ran to the back of Mr. Rule's shop, and there found a large pane of glass in the window broken, and heard someone moving about in the shop, but though they called out no reply could be obtained. The police was sent for, and on Sergeant Beatty arriving the housebreaker was induced to. make his exit , from the building through the hole of his own creation. He then appeared to be under the influence of dnnk, but judging from the rapidity with which he effected his entry, this was looked upon with suspicion. The man, who gave his name as Thomas Carruth, aqd said he had just come in from the Totara, where be had been employed, was marched off to the lock-up. On an examination of the shop being afterwards made by Mr. Rule, it was found that no theft had been committed, though a little damage had been done. • Carruth was brought up at the Resident Magistrate's Court to-day, charged with malicious injury to property, and ordered to pay a fine of 20s and damages to the extent of 255, or go to gaol for five days with hard labor. Mr. Parker, R,M„ remarked that the accused had had a narrow escape, as if the premises entered had been a dwelling-housf? in which anyone slept, the charge would have been one of burglary. .'