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Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 4 September 1880, Page 2

Whpn Parliament prorogued on the Ist, only 17 members were present, including Ministers. The prorogation ceremony lasted but a few minutes, and when it was over, the members looked as happy as schoolboys witnessing breaking up for the holidays. It is expected that the next session will be held in June.

The Rev. R. L. Stanford will preach to morrow in St. Luke's Church.

On the 17th inst. the Teaneraki folk will be treated to an entertainment somewhat novel in this district, for on that date the annual cpncert in aid of the school funds will be given, on which occasion Sullivan's Operetta, of " Cpx ajjd Box " and other vocal and instrumental musio will be performed.

We are pleased to learn that the local agent of the New Zealand Fire Insurance Company has already handed Mr. S. Holmes the amount of insurance on his building that was lately burnt down.

It is rumored that Colonel Whitmore is about to leave the Colony to permanently reside in the Old Country, in which case the Colony will lose a smart politician and a good colonist.

The third of Mr. C. G. Moore's lime-light exhibitions was given in St. James's Hall last evening when' there was a very good •attendance. "An Old Story" was presented last eveuing, Mr. Moore reading part of Mr. S. C. Hail's poem on the subject. The entertainment gave great satisfaction to those who attended.

The first of a series of monthly entertainments was held in the Pukeuri schoolroom last night, under the auspices of Wallace Lodge, 1.0. G.T. The chair was occupied by Mr, H. Lindsay, W,C,T,, and the room was comfortably filled. Those who took part in the entertainment were amateurs and principally members of the Order, the strangera who assisted were from £?tar of Hope Lodge, Oamaru, and Weston, and all acquitted themselves creditably. A vote of thanks to the assistants, visitors, and to the chair, brought a pleasant evening to a close. The admission was free, and we understand the Good Templars propose having these meetings regularly.

A correspondent to the Lyttelton Times writes:—"A shipment of white straw Tuscan sold in London in June, ex Euterpe, on account of Mr. Matthew Dalziel, of Bramdean, near Amberley, is very favorably reported on by the brokers. It is described as an extra choice long-berried wheat, and realised 53s per quarter, equal to Gs 7id per bushel," The doctors do sometimes bring in outside knowledge in a diagnosis, says ' 1 iEgles." Mr. John Furrow, living near Warrrnga, is a confirmed and constant smoker. Mr. William Furrow, being indisposed, sent for Br. Pulse, who carefully examinod him, duly sounding his lungs. Putting qn a sagacious look, said the Ah, farmer ! you've been smoking far too much." The patient looked astonished, 'and replied, " Why, dootor, I never smoked in my life." Taken aback for the moment, said Dr. P., "Oh, then you're Mr. John Furrow ?" Having received an assurance upon this point, ho re-examined theinvalid, and outdoing the former aspect of sagacity ho said, " My good sir, your health requires that you should smoke a little, but not too much,"

[ - - • "V* i The Great Northern Company ,now. runs a t train from Leeds to London, a distance of i more than 186.; miles- in three hoursand .three-quarters.

The following advertisement- appears in a Home.p&per : "New Zealand. —To Farmers, < Gentlemen's' Sons with Capital, | Guardians, &c<—A block of. land has been set apart within the ' Manchester " Special Settlement,' 75 miles north of Wellington, ' for the settlement of a number of young gentlemen with capital of from L2OOO to I 1/10,000 each, ;on favorable terms. Good! opportunities will be given for the purchase of land, and facilities for gaining colonial; 'experience.—For further particulars, apply to the Secretary, 'Emigrant and Colonists' Aid Corporation, Limited.' Chairman, his Grace the Duke of Manchester, 25, Queen Anne's Gate, Westminster, S.W." The Geelong Times relates an unusual case of honesty and integrity of purpose : "In 1867, in Auckland, New Zealand, a Mr, Ehrenfried got into monetary difficulties ; and was compelled to file his schedule. The estate realised 6s in the pound, and the insolvent' received his discharge. A merchant of Moorabool-street, not long resident here, was one of the creditors, to the amount of something over LSO. By yesterday's post he received a letter from the insolvent of 1867, enclosing a cheque for the balance of anyWjit due to him. The letter stated that the writer had again got into a good position, and had determined to pay his old creditors 20a in the pound. The receiver was, of course, agreeably surprised, and intends to reply to his forgotten, but upright and honorable debtor."

Sir Henry Parkes, Premier c*f New South Wales, thus recently summarised his views on the Chines© immigration question:—"l hold that the standard of these Australian populations should be persistently maintained as British-Australian. Any *arge influx of a nation not in sympathy with the political affinities of the British people would be a great affliction. Any large influx of Chinese would be the greatest affliction of all, because they are least in sympathy with ; us. I am, of opinion that legislation on the to be effectual, should proceed upon ian agreement between all the Colonies as to | the principles of the measures to be enacted ; and I am prepared to give my assistance to bring about so desirable a result." | The Northern Whig describes the member for Northampton in a more favorable light than we have recently been accustomed to see him : —"Mr. Chas. Bradlaugh, clerk, dragoon, agitator, Republican, larist, Malthusian, journalist, and lecturer, is also a remarkable man—one of those men whom you could not meet in the street without turning round to look after. With a splendidly buiJt. body, massive head, and welbcut face, he is in every fitted for the career he has chosen and led for 30 years. One thing must be said of him: whatever his speculative opinions on religious and social subjects he has been before the public constantly for half a generation, gnd W all tha fierce attacks heard a single charge made against his private character. This is something to say when we recollect what manner of men some of our would-be demagogues have been and are. Anyone who has seen him in Hyde Park haranguing a multitude that could only b§ niftnbered by the tea thousand, is pot likely to forget him, With his trumpet-like voice and perfect gesture, he can sway them at will, and yet a mob of his gathering has never done an illegal act, while they have swept away many grievances. Mr. Brad' laugh is, beyond all comparison, the most powerful platform speaker England—it remains to be seen what he can do in a hoiise tb.at has tamed and broken so many wild spirits. In its narrative of the summary execution of a deserter from the Queensland Native! Police Force, the Queenslander says:— " The wretched victim of European barbarity had deserted, and for the offence was to suffer death. To add to the horror of his fate, his tormentors first fastened him to his gin by manacles round each of their ancleSj and then shot him dead. The terror of the unfortunate wife almost paralysed her, but she was compelled to. drag the corpse of her husband into the scrub, where it was left with only the leaves to cover it." The European Mail remarks that attention has been drawn to the openings presented by many of our Colonies for the cultivation of the oork tree. The small experiments in the Colony of Victoria show that the young saplings grew there at the rate of four feet a year. There are many parts of Australia, India, New Zealand, and South Africa where this majestic tree would thrive, and where, with proper cultivation, it would prove a great source of wealth. The demand for cork in all branches of the mechanical and industrial arts is largely increasing, and, except for recent precautionary measures taken for the preservation of the plantations in Spain, France, and Algeria, would considerably outrun the supply. If only for their own needs, and Without any view to an export trade, our subtropical Colonies would do well to turn their attention to the production of cork.