The Oamaru Mail. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1880.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 16 November 1880, Page 2

The Oamaru Mail. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1880.

A majority of the subscribers to the Benevolent Society last evening marked their sense of the wrong done to the community by the Rev. John Foster by striking that gentleman's name off the list of ministers as an ex officio member of the Committee. This step was taken on the motion of Mr. N. Fleming, seconded by Mr. O. Greenfield. The Rev. Father Coleman pressed the mover to withdraw the motion, staying that the Rev. Mr.- Foster had "taken it back," alluding to th«s sta..>ments in his letter. Mr. Fleming, however, declined to withdraw the motion, saying that Mr. Foster had not his confidence. He also said that he did not think Mr. Foster possessed the confidence of the community, and should not therefore be placed on the Committee. Mr. J. T. Evans moved as an amendment that the name of Mr. Foster be placed on the list of ex otKcio members. He said he did not move this as a champion of Mr. Foster, who had no doubt made mistakes in his correspondence. Still he did not think this a sufficient reason for omitting his name. The motion was seconded by Mr. John Falconer, who naively remarked that, though Mr. Foster had said they were going to a pandemoninm, a place where devils dwell, they should open the door and lat him in. Mr. Fleming was not, however, to be moved from his purpose, and said he did not think it would be possible that Mr. Foster could exist where there was so much rascality and scoundrelisra. On the question being put, the original motion was carried by eight againat seven, and the name of the Rev. Mr. Foster excluded from the list of «ar officio members. Mr. Hislop then moved that the names of all the other clergymen should be excluded. This, however, met with no support, and the whole of the remaining ministers were duly elected, j There was only one case down for hearing at the Resident Magistrate's Court to-day, before T. W. Parker,"Esq., R.M. This was a civil action for a small amount, but it did not come on for hearing owing to the peculiar figure cnt by the defendant. When the case WS3 called he rushed into Court with bis hat on, but minus his coat, while his shirt sleeves were rolled, as if he were prepared by force to dispute the plaintiffs right to the amount claimed. The Clerk bade him take off his head covering, and on the order being obeyed, there was presented to the Court as fine a specimen of unkempt hair as could well be imagined. The dignity of the Court was outrageously offended, and the worthy R.M. severely lectured the defendant for appearing in the hall of justice in mo unbecoming a condition. After severely admonishing the offender, Mr. Parker adjourned the case at the defendant's coat, and allowed the plaintiff 53 for the loss of his time. As no excuse could be fpven by the defendant for appearing in such a plight, the verdict of the audience was "aerved him right." !

Captain Edwin wires :—Bad weather is approaching from any direction letween nofth-west and west and south. The glass will rise within foar hour.i; but the wind will back- and the glass will fail again after 12 hours.

Mr. Thomas Calcntt, the Government agent for the porchase of land under the Jrsblic Workfl Act, has been appointed by

the Government "to report on the present plan of providing Government -work for the unemployed, and to superintend that department. Mr. Calcutt will get no increase of salary. After the parade of No. 1 Company last evening, it was announced that two vacancies for corporals -would be filled up at the next Tuesday evening's parade, when an oral and written examination will be held.

The following are the names of the team to represent Ranks and Law in a match to he played against an eleven of the Oamaru C.C. next Friday, on the ground of the latter: Balmer (junior), Bannerman, Church, Coates, Creagh, Fenwick, Gee, Moore, Newton, Warren and Will; emergencies, Jackson and M 'Leod. A service of song entitled "The-Gospel Triumphant " will be given this evening in the Primitive Methodist Lecture Hall, at eight o'clock. The mmical selections are to be given by a choir of about 25 voices, anil if the rehearsal of last evening can be taken as a criterion of the performance to he given this evening, we predict a pleasant hour and a half's entertainment for those who patronise the service. The proceeds are to be devoted to the Primitive Methodist Mission Fund.

A special meeting of the Otepopo Road Board was held on Friday. Present — Messrs. Diehl (Chairman), Morton, Scott, Wataon, and Mitchell. Mr. Scott proposed that the minutes of last meeting be adopted a.s read, which was seconped by Mr. Morton. The eorrcspondenco was read and approved. Mr. Mitchell proposed and Mr. Scott seconded that Messrs. Diehl, Morton, and Henderson represent this Board at the confereuce of the associated Board re the Kntrtneer's engagement. On the motion of Mr. Scott, seconded by Mr, Watson, the same representatives were appointed to interview the Engineer and Solicitor re the plans of road deviations. It was decided to hold the next meeting on the third Friday in December. This being all the business the usual vote of thanks to the Chairman ended the meeting.