The Oamaru Mail. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11, 1880.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 11 August 1880, Page 2

The Oamaru Mail. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11, 1880.

The Oamaru Corporation are to be congratulated upon the Bill authorising them to raise an additional sum of LIO,OOO being carried through Parliament with such comparative expedition. It is not often that a private member is so successful in getting a measure through Parliament when members have so thoroughly given themselves up to 'talk interminable, and Mr. Jones must therefore consider himself very fortunate in being, we believe, the only private member who has yet got a measure out of the reach of members of Parliament. It is anticipated that the sum now authorised to be raised will be sufficient to complete the works, and as the Corporation have arranged fco'raiae the money in the Colony, it is tolerably certain that within a very short time they will be in possession of much-needed funds. So soon as the negotiations for floating the loan have been completed, the remaining work to be done on the waterworks will be pushed on, and probably by the first week in September the water supply scheme will be an accomplished fact.

Mr. Seddon is appaneptly anxious to see the reduction of salar£% iextended to the Governor, and gave notice in the House yesterday that he would ask if Government intended introducing a Bill this session to reduce the salary paid to all future Governors. A final effort is to be made to obtain for Volunteers the usual capitation allowance this year. Sir G. Grey has given notice that he will a°k if the Government intend making any provision in the Supplementary Estimates for Volunteer corps who, on the faith of the continuance of the capitation allowance, have incurred liabilities for uniforms, &c. Should the answer to this question be unsatisfactory, it is understood that a motion asking for the placing of the requisite sum on the Supplementary Estimates will be brought forward. There can be no doubt that the sudden stoppage of the capitation allowance will place many corps in very awkward positions. They have incurred heavy liabilities for uniforms, &c., and the members will now be compelled to dip their hands into their pockets to pay them off. The commanding officers of corps will be in even worse positions, having in some instances rendered themselves personally liable for large sums, while in others they have already advanced considerable amounts to meet the liabitities of their companies.

Sittings of the District Court are fixed to be held at the Courthouse, Waimate, on the sth of every month. A Government Gazette just to hand contains a proclamation bringing the borough of Oamaru under the Municipal Corporations Act, 1576, in response to a petition presented to his Excellency the Governor, signed by 130 ratepayers. The disbandment of the Artillery Band affords an excellent opportunity for the formation of one really good brass band in Oamaru. We have now between thirty and forty performers of greater or lesser ability, and could some arrangement be made to bring all these together, the town might ere long possess a fair rival to the band which forms £he pride of Invercargill. Were such a course pursued the public, as in Invercargill, would, we feel sure, willingly accord every assistance to the band. We are aware that several residents in Oaiparu are anxious to see such a course pursued, and the bandsmen would, we feel sure, hail with satisfaction a proposal to unite the whole of the performers under one banner. Were a few of those more intimately acquainted with the management of the Rifles' Band to take the initiative the proposal might quickly be brought to an issue. What we should suggest is that an effort should first be made to obtain for the existing band recognition as a Garrison Band, and thus obtain the support of the whole of the Volunteer corps forming the battalion. This having been done the whole of the late members of the defunct Artillery Band should be admitted to its ranks, and the Caledonian Society should be asked to hand over to the Managing Committee the whole of the instruments now held by them, but which were, if we are not misinformed, purchased by public subscription. We throw out the hint in the hope that it will be taken up, and a brass band formed that will do credit to the town and ensure a full meed of public support. At the Resident Magistrate's Court, yesterday, Margaret Dale was charged with having sold a glass of whisky without a license, but the evidence went to show that the drink consumed was ginger wine, which was not paid for, and the case was withdrawn.

A Service of Song, entitled "Pilgrim's Progress," will be given in Wesley Chnrch, this evening. The only case at the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning was that of one man, who, for being drank and disorderly, was fined ss, with the option of 24 hour's hard labor. J. W. Humphrey, Esq., was the presiding J.P. I

The monthly meeting of the Waitaki Road Board was held yesterday, when there were present —Messrs. Connell (chair), D. Borrie, Dennison, Duncan, Fricker, Hall, Johnstone, Procter, Schluter, Sumpter, and the Engineer. The minutes having been read and confirmed, a letter was read from Mr. Thos. Westlake, of Ngapara, asking that the Board might have the lagoon filled on Boundaryroad between his farm and Mr. Hay's. It was resolved that the Waiareka Road Board be asked to join this Board in having the laeoon filled. The Chairman intimated that the annual meeting would he held on the 18th instant, and suggested one o'clock: as a suitable hour at which to form a quorum. It was resolved: (1) That tenders be called for fencing road-line in section 29, block 4, and section 56, block 2, Oamaru District,

the fence to be of five wires and top rail; (2) that specifications be prepared for metalling road-line from Mr. Sumpter's corner to reservoir, and that tussocks be chipped on road-line from that corner to Mill Farm by way of Rifle Range ; (3) that the Engineer be instructed to report on the practicability of forming a road from junction" at Grant's to connect with Coalpit-road at Horse Gully. Several accounts having been passed for payment, the meeting terminated with' a vote of thanks to the Chairman. The annual meeting of the Oamaru (I Battery) Artillery was held after the parade last evening. There was a good attendance, and Captain Morton occupied tlie chair. After the minutes of the last quarterly meeting had been confirmed, consideration of the balance-sheet was ordered to..stand over owing to the illness of the Treasurer. The election of office-bearers was taken as follows :—Hon. Secretary, Corporal Ferens ; Hon. Treasurer, Gunner Williams; Committee, Sergeant Brown (re-elected), Gunner Pocklington (re-elected), and Sergeant Courtney. The resignation of Sergeant-Major Waddell was accepted, Mr. Waddell to remain a member of the Battery on leave. The following promotions were decided by election :—Sergeant-Major, Sergeant Courtney ; Sergeant, Gunner Hook ; Corporals, Gunners Greenfield and Sinclair. . The election of a Sub-Lieutenant was postponed. The Chairman intimated that Acting-Major Sumpter had decided in future to hold the monthly inspection during full moon. It was to be hoped that good musters would be the result. Fourteen new members were sworn in. A discussion then took place with reference to the band and the advisability of disbanding it, several of the principal performers being obliged to leavethe district. Itwas stated that several of the Artillery bandsmen thought it would be best to amalgamate with the Rifles Band. The Chairman intimated that an order would be issued giving the members of the band the option of maintaining their connection with the Battery as gunners, or of resigning, and returning the instruments to Captain Morton. Lieutenant Creagh expressed regret at the breaking up of the band, saying that they had always turned out well. He' proposed a vote of thanks to the bandmaster and members of the band for their past services. The motion was seconded by Sergeant-major Courtney, and carried unanimously. Mr.-Powell's offer to fill the position of trumpeter was accepted, and a vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the meeting.

On Ngapara correspondent writes : —On Thursday last abont 60 persons gathered together at Centre Park to commemorate the wedding that had taken place that day of Mr. A. Murdoch, who is well known and respected in the township and surrounding districts as a farmer and a gentleman. A substantial repast was provided and done full justice to. Mr, D. M'Kenzie was in the chair, and in his opening remarks said, " Ladies and Gentlemen, —As you are all aware, Mr. Murdoch is to be married to. day, and having desired his men to keep holiday on this occasion, and having made arrangement with Mr. Gruar, Storekeeper, of Ngapara, to supply them with whatever they required, they thought that they were able to bear a little extra expense themselves, and invite a few friends and neighbors together to honor the occasion of his marriage. Hence this meeting. On behalf of the men and myself, I have to thank you for your attendance, and I now propose the health of the bride and bridegroom, and wish them joy and happiness, and long may they enjoy each other's society, which sentiments, I am sure, are share'i by all who know the happy couple. To his servants he is a good master, and every institution likely to promote the welfare of the district has his ready support." At the close of the chairman's speech the health of the happy couple was drunk with enthusiasm. The usual loyal and patriotic toasts were proposed, after which dancing was kept up until an early hour, and all dispersed evidently pleased with the evening's entertainment that had been provided for them. M. Javis, a French balloonist, is about to make an attempt to cross the English Channel in a balloon—of course, weather permitting. No date has been fixed for the ascent; but although M. Javie finds his own balloon and takes all the risk, the authorities have agreed to send the aeronaut the meteorological observations which will enable him to select the most suitable time for his voyage. A steamer will accompany the balloon as far as possible, and the ascent will probably be made at Boulogue some time this month.