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Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 2 July 1880, Page 2

When will contradictions anrongst high officials on the subject of those wretched railway carriages end ? Yesterday we published Mr. Blair's denial of the correctness of the statement made by the Civil Service Commission that carriages made in J)uiiedin had been delivered in C'hristclrarcli in a wretched state. Now, Mr. A'ison Smith, iiDon whose evidence the Commission based its statement, reiterates the allegation. Somebody is not telling the truth, and another Commission must be appointed to discover the culprit. Mr, Waterhouse is an honorable but inquisitive man. He loipws a great deal, but' he wants to know more. For instance Jig wants to know what the Government intend to do relative to the illegal expenditure of the New Plymouth Harbor Board. We do not know to what particular expenditure this question refers, but we do know that the New Plymouth Harbor Board has -expended something like L 35,000 upon useless works. We are curious to ascertain what course Major Atkinson will recommend to be adopted in regard to the illegal expenditure .of the Board.'

Mr. Fulton is gyjdently determined to do his share towards effecting economy, and hap oiven notice of -his intention to move for the abolition of Hansard. A very great saving might be effected by the adoption of this course, but what will become of members' speeches ? The thought is almost too serious to contemplate. The long orations, the eloquence, and the forcible reasoning of xuembers will be lost to the world. Anfl. what will become of the world.then?, j

"" Mr. Reeves., one of the Members! of . the Honse of Represei}tativeg fqr f*r?y.Yalley, if not a Protectionist, maybe classed as g supporter of that party which favors the fostering of local industries. In the House yesterday he gave notice that in Committee of Ways and- Means he would move for the. imposition of a rate of 5s per ton on alii imported coal. There is. certainly more sense and reason in this than in the proposal of the New South Wales-Government to levy a; tax upon the output of coal, from the .mines of the Colony over which; they'rule. :Bnt Mr. Reeves gave notice of his intention to move that a tax.of one penny per:bale be imposed upon wool, jrnd in this he is following the example of the Colonial Treasurer of New South Wales, though at a remote distance. i

The Hon. Mr..T\Tatejrhonse is greatly exercised with reference to the : character, of the persons employed by the police as and- has givSn~"notice of a question in the Legislative Council, on, the subject. He is going to ask the Grovernmenif " what . they intend to do-relatve to the notoriously bad characters of the informers employed by the police," his question, we believe,lhaving particular reference to the informers in the batch of sly grog cases lately heard in Wellington, one of whom, a man named Henry, is well known here. It is difficult to understand what good can come of the question. Surely the honorable gentleman must be aware of the fact that all informers are drawn from the lowest strata of society, and that it is impossible for the police to obtain respectable persons to do the work. ;

The total quantity of grain carried on the Timaru-Oamara section of railway during' the month of June was 99,211 sacks. j The Raphael Troupe appeared at! tie Volunteer Hall last evening to a small audience. Wc refrain from criticising the various items on the programme, for most of them would scarcely bear criticism. A few of the items were applauded, but the performance as a whole did not create any enthusasm, the coldness of the night and -the want of music adding greatly to the [dismal nature of the performance. The

company appear again this evening, when the Artillery Band will be in attendance. The Rifles Band will meet for practice this evening in Mr. Sumpter's office, the Volunteer Hall being otherwise engaged. Major Hill Jack inspected the I Battery of Artillery in the guushed last evening. There was only a passable attendance, the numbers present being—l captain, 1 actinglieutenant, 4 sergeants, 20 rank and file, 1 bandmaster, and 12 bandsmsn. The Major carefully scrutinised the arms and accoutrements, after which Sergeant Courtney put. themen -through some ■ manual exercise. Lieutenant Creagh then drilled the battery in several' company movements, ■ and - a "detachment was put; through, gun; drill under Sergeant-Brown. During the inspection the Band played several selections, at the re-; quest of the Major. The monthly meeting of the Athensaum Committee~was held last evening, when there were present—Messrs. Forrester (presiding),; Fillgjil, Garrow. Greenfield, IJeadland, Kidd, and Willitoisbn"'(hbh.§ec.) After the transaction of some routine busi-j ness, it was decided to advertise in the southern papers for tenders for the lease of the endowment-at Wyndham.": Mr M'Combe gave notice that- he ; would -move at the next meeting that apprentices' subscription be reduced to one-half the ordinary rate. The manager of the ".@feri?tsan ; .'BeeoM ?'..«rot? stating that'.ihat periodical would be supplied to the Athenajum gratis, and the offer was accepted with thanks. J ' All accounts against' the Oamaru Jockey Club in connection with the steeplechases must be rendered at once. * At the Resident Court .this day, before T. W. Parker, Esq., R.M., Robert'Muir, for being drunk on the gaol premises, was discharged with a caution. Harry Pundt, for being drunk and disorderly, was fined ss, with the option of 24- hours' •hard labor. John Russell, for being drunk and disorderly, was fined 10s, . with the alternative of 48' hours' hard labor. John. ypatson," for being drunlc and' disorderly, was ordered to pay a fiiJe of or go to pyippp for iS hours, with hard labor. •