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Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 18 October 1880, Page 2

The teachers' vocal music-classed at the High School continue the productive of good results. On Friday evening last three young ladies successfully passed the requirements of the elementary class; The ladies names are Miss Laura Davey, Mis 3 Edith- Davey, and Miss Euphemia Milligan. They are all pupils of the High School, and have attended Mr. Brownlee's classes for a considerable time. We may add that the young ladies all secured very high percentages in the various requirements, viz., musical memory,, time exercises, sight modulator voluntary, singing a tune at sight, and musical ear exercises. These teachers' singing classes are doing a good work, and we wish them continued success.

It is stated in our telegraphic columns that persons who have arr'ved from New Zealand are buying farms in California. A few years ago New Zealand was the centre' of attraction; There ig no cpuntry in the world that a native of the British Isles is more enamored with than this Colony. The climate, the noil, and the people, are everything that he could desire. But there is one fatal drawback, and that is we are sadly mis-governed. A peep into ouy domestic life engenders a desire to settle amongst us; but ipyestigation of our politics—the evils, above all of which towers theadministration of our lands—soonquenches such a desjre. Whilst people can acquire good agricultural land St ft few shillings an acre from the Government of another country, they are not likely to pay the Government of this twice or thrice as much for inferior land ; or private individuals, through whom the bulk of the good lands are now being filtered, as many pounds for something better. The land policy pf the Government will divert more emigration to other depep4encies of the Empire than they appear to dream of. The fifteenth anniversary of St. Luke's Ciiurcfy was *?oijitpeif}orated this afternoon by the planting of two -trees. There was a large attendance of the public, including many ladies. The incumbent, the Rev, Mr. Gifford, in asking his Lordship the Bishop to plant the trees, mentioned that they were two Norfolk Island pines, presented by Mr. and Mrs. P. Williams, and brought by them feopi Auckland. His Lordship then, assisted by ill's. Williams, planted one of the trees on the right side of the porcfj, and the Incumbent, assisted by Mr. Williams, planted the other on the left side of the porch. The trees were then handed over to the care of Mr. Kidd, the gardener. The Bishop suggested that, in commemoration of the chief promoters of the Melanesian Mission, tho tree on the right should be named fjelvyi}, and tlje other Patbeson. The Rev. Mr. Gifford. expressed his pleasure at the names suggested by the Bishop, and thanked his Lordship for acceding to his request, Mr. aud Mrs. Williams for their present, and the public for their attendance.

Captain Edwin telegraphs to-day that bad weather is approaching frfim any direction between north-east and east and south. The glass will further fall, with 3 backing wind, The sea will increase within ten hours, and is likely to be heavy after that time. The programme for the concert to be given on Thursday evening, in aid of the North School Gymnasium aud Library Fund, appears in another column, A splendid bill of fare is presented. The members of No. Company, 0.R.V., will meet after parade this evening to elect a captain, and a fall muster, including the band (without instruments), is requested. Members will parade in full uniform. At the Resident Magistrate's Court, this morning, before T, W, Parker, Esq., R.M., two first offenders were Charged with drunkenness, one being fined ss, and the other dischax-ged with a caution. George Seleman was cautioned and discharged for fighting in the public street, the other offender (Mark Scliemmell), who had been the aggressor, not appearing. Fred King, for assaulting Anne Campbell, was fined ss. q.iid ordered to pay 17s. costs. John Wright, for alwsyjiig one cow to wander at large, was fined 35,, and Payfd Grant, one horse, ss. A billiard match of an interesting nature will be played at the Royal Saloon this evening, when Mr. Weston, the Australian champion, will concede 450 points to Mr. Roberts, the Lssspe.

A vast telegraph s.cheme, which, jjj this age, it would be folly to decry as impracticable, is moot' d, says the Montreal Witness, Mr. F. N. Gisborne, superintendent of the Dominion Telegraph Signal Service, being mentioned as the author. It }s no less than to connect America with Asia and Europe undf-r British auspices, by a system of which a line from the Atlantic to the Pacific, through Canada, is to form a part. To effect this portion of the scheme, a line from Edmonton, north-west territory, to Cache Creek, British Columbia, remains to be built. A cable from Vancouver Island to the Aleutian Islands will constitute the major portion pf the connection with Asia, a few minor links remaining to complete an electric girdle around the earth, with hands on the buckle. A cable from Japan to Australia by way of the Kurile Islands, is a supplemental part of Mr. Gisborne's scheme, of great moment to Imperial interests. The consummation of the entire project would give the Imperial Governirjept facilities for instantaneous communication with the prin? cipal possessions of the Empire, which would be a boon of incalculable value to a power that stands unique in the extent and remoteness from herself'and from each of her Colonies. Thpre is now in the museum in the city of Mexico a remarkable sword made from an aerolite or meteoi' that fell in the State of Durango, Mexico. A Mexican gentleman sent to General Ord, of the United States army, a small slab or tablet, about an inch thick and six inches square, which .was sawn out of the meteor. It resembled iron, and, in fact, was what is known as meteoric iron. The piece weighed 21b, General Ord sent it on to the natioinal armoury at Springfield, to be worked up into a sword. Considerable trouble was experienced in annealing the meteoric iron, but at last they succeeded. The sword is a small straight blade, and is a fancy dress sword, the mounting representing an eaglo with the olive branch and arrows.

The seem to have a different way of treating gambling and gamblers in publichouses in Victoria to wjjat thpy dp iji New Zealand. The Melbourne Telpgrapli says: "Suspicion having attached to several publio> houses that gambling was allowed to be extensively carriod on, two plain-clothes constables visited one'of the suspected houses. After indulging in ono or two games of billiards, they gained admission into a room in which ' pokor' was being played, at which 'they took a hand, and thus allayed the susIpicioos, firpp a <ysiilo they mucH to tne aatoni'shmont

jof tho3e assevnLled, to bat the door and handcuff the. inmates; the landlord being amongst the number/' • Vl.'' ■* Mr. Charles Basstian, who lias during'the last two months relieved many well-known residents of Oamaru of those troublesome pests—corns, bunions, and warts —requests those persons who still wish to be cured to apply not later than Wednesday next, as hi stay is now limited, and it takes a few days to effect, a