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Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 6 September 1880, Page 2

One of the Oamarn telegraphists, Mr. Johnston, a young man of about 20 years of age is missing. On Friday he did not put in an appearance at the office at the appointed time, and shortly afterwards! one of his fellow operators received from him a letter, posted at Tiniaru, and consisting of several pages of very peculiar matter. The writer stated that it would be no use making a search for him, and made many other statements leading to an inference that he contemplated committing suicide, He also gave full direction as to how the property he left behind should be disposed of. Johnston was a known practically joker, and it is believed that the letter was written in this spirit, while his sudden departure is attributpd to ap. impulsive determination to quit the service in consequence pf disgust at the 10 per cent, reduction. He >vas a smart telegraphist and an intelligent though impulsive young man, and has relatives residing at Temuka. He was last seen on the highway near Awamoa, and there ws3 then nothing unusual in his appearance or manner. In reply to an inquiry frpm an intimate friend, he stated cheerfully that he was going for a ramble, He was in the habit of taking frequent strolls some distance from town, and gathering shells, ferns, &c, and notice was taken of the affair. It is quite possible that he may have made his way to Dunedin, or may have taken the train at any of the side stations, and gone to his people at Tpmuka; We think there is little cause for fear that he has committed' suicide. He was a steady young man, and was not involved in debt.

We have received a copy of the Illustrated New Zealand Herald for this month. If we except what is termed a bird's-eye view of Olenrowan and eulogised in a paragraph as being a pretty .effort of their artist, whilst it is about the roughest hewn wopd-eut we have seen in this 19th century, the number we have before us is quite up to the usual standard. A portrait of our new Governor is well produced, if it is only true; and a fearfully sensational representation of the Greer tragedy, which is rather better executed tjjan the original engravings of the Herald, it having been previously published in other Australian periodicals, will provide a study for the curious and a subject for disturbing dreams. After having thus favorably criticised jfchp best pictures, it may not quite be out of place to remind the Herald that it has omitted to acknowledge that it procured from the Mail the paragraph giving that portion of one of Sir George Grey's speeches where he referred to the invisible clothing of the Government. The Pistrict Court will sit to-morrow, when four criminal cases will be heard.

The receipts at the Oamaru Customs last week amounted to L7OO 2s 4d, a larger sum than is usually collected in one week.

The Maerewhenua Ploughing Match Committee are notified to meet at Mr. George Hutchinson's, Rocklands, on the Bth inst., at 7 P.- n >>> to consider business of importance.

The football match between the Orakanui College and the second fifteen of the Oamaru Club came off on the Old Cricket Ground on Saturday last; and resulted in a victory for the local team by a goal and a try against

nothing. Cantrell, Milne, Watson, Wilst, M'Lean, Monteith, and 'Williams played well for the visitors, and Booth, A. Church, D. Moore, and Jones, also did good service

for Oamaru. Some dissatisfaction was expressed at so many of the first fifteen playing with the so-called, second fifteen, but this was altogether owing to the inability of the Oamarn Club to procure sufficient backs, and they consequently had to get six of the first fifteen to make up their number. The Rev. Mr. Stanford acted as umpire forthe College and Mr. Otterson for Oamaru. After the game the visitors were entertained at a dinner in the Volunteer Hall. We were informed that the Collegians suffered the first defeat of the season on Saturday.

. "It is not likely;" says the Otago Daily Times, "that the new schedules under the Property Assessment Act will be issued jfor a week. It may therefore be necessary to grant a further extension of time for sending in the returns." This bears out what we stated in Saturday's issue regarding this matter. •

Several residents of Nelson forwarded to Mr. Bradlaugh by the last mail a letter expressive of their esteem and admiration for the " unflinching manner in which he has upheld the cause of religious and ppliti.cal freedom." Besides these expressions, the letter contains the sum of L 24, "to assist Mr. Bradlaugh to prosecute malicious per? sons who, since tbey cannot controvert his arguments, scruple not to have recourse to libel."

"The Government," says the Wellington Chronicle, "have been hoodwinking an nn-

fortunate laboring man named Mahoney, and the circumstances (as explained to us)

seem most unfair. A fortnight back Mahoney was engaged by someone connected ■with the Public Works Department to bring his horse and cart and do some work about the buildings. It was arranged that he should receive 12s. a day—6s. for himself, and 6s. for tibe dray. Yet, when Mahoney .went for his cheque, 10 per penp. was deducted. This is poo much, and many wijl askrwjjat next ?"

The Northern Agricultural and Pastoral Association have struck out of their prizei list the classes for New Zealand manufactures. An English paper says:—"The most remarkable bill for election expenses which has yet appeared is that of Mr. C. W. Wynn, the defeated candidate- for Montgomeryshire. His expenses were no less than L 13,454 ; more than double those of his opponent. Each vote he polled cost him the enormous sum of L 6 155." Farmers and others sometimes inquire for a kind of paint or wash which will render wood uninflammable. Prof. R. C. Kedzie, of the Michigan Agricultural University, said recently that a pint of wash made of skim milk, thoroughly skimmed, and water brine would produce this result, and proved it by experiment. He said this paint, or whitewash, was durable, cheap, impervious to water, of agreeable color, and as it would prevent wood from taking fire, he urged its use, particularly on roofs, out-buildings, barns, &c, Farpiers will he pleased (says the Waimate Times) to learn that Mr. Bickman has done not a little towards enabling the breeding in this district of good weight-carrying hacks and parriage-horses by purchasing the thoroughbred Ayahjan sire }ilue who will receive visitors in Waimate this season. He is ah exceedingly handsome looking horse of a bluish-grey color—hence his name —and is noteworthy for bone and power. He is by Lord of Linne (imported), dam, Fairy Queen; and has, through his sire, the blood pf Flatcatcher, spn of Tquchs,tone; and through his dam that of Miss Craven (winner of the Gfoodwopd Stakes and Oup), and is half brother 0 L_oup Garqu, sometime winner of the Sydney Derby, It is somewhat singular (says the H.B. Herald) that we have not heard of the dismissal of any officers of the police force. In the South Island there was one officer—that is, a superintendent or inspector—to. every five men. Now tha.t about o,nerf«orth of the men have been dismissed there is surely no necessity for the same number of officers. To ordinary minds it would appear that the force was much over-officered before, and now the proportion of officers is absurdly great. So far as the Ministry have progressed in their reductions it appears as if the worst paid officials in any department are those reduced or sent to the wall, while the more useless but highly-paid ones are kept on. Even the little messenger boys in the Telegraph Department have lost their ten per cent.