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Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 29 November 1880, Page 2

The heavy downpour of rain that commenced on Saturday evening and lasted until this morning was undoubtedly most welcome, and as it was general throughout the country it will do an almost incalculable amount of food. Farmers in all directions were beginning to entertain grave fears for. their crops, the long drought having had a tendency to ruin what-until recently promised to be a fine harvest. The late rain, however, will give them new heart, and beget fresh growth in the crops that were becoming stunted for want of moisture. Never was rain hailed with a greater amount of thankfulness. The cood that it has done has been great indeed, and this means a larger meed of prosperity not only for the farmers but for every individual in the country.

The Oamaru correspondent of the Morning Herald states that he has heard on excellent authority that tenders are about to be called for the long-promised railway station. The news is almost too . good to be true. For years we Ijave been treated to what should be more satisfactory tljan vague rumor actual Ministerial promises—regarding the station. At one time appearances were so favorable that it seemed impossible for the project; to fall through, and yet its fulfilment seems as distant now as that of the construction of cattle yards at Ngapara and Peebles. We shall believe that we are to be favored with these admittedly necessary conveniences when they are in a fair way towards erection.

Although the railway authorities have shown every desire to consult the convenience of settlers who wish to visit the approaching Dunedin S ; ow. not a single settler has responded to this laudable action of the department. We again inform those of our readers who wish to visit the show that the department will endeavor to meet their wishes by despatching a special train at about 5 a.m. to catch the morning Palmerston train, and another to connect at Palmerston with the ordinary train which leaves Dunedin for Palmerston at 5.15 p.m., so as to enable visitors to reach home the same night. This the department is willing to do at single fares, provided that a sutficient number of settlers will display a desire to avail themselves of the opportunity thus afforded to warrant the department in incurring the additional expense. We trust that the settler* will not fail to respond to the department's liberality, To-day the Telegraph Office at Wellington has been closed to the public in honor of the advent of Governor Gordon to the Empire city. We are glad that the authorities did not also close the lines to press messages, as they thoughtlessly did on other occasions lately, and from which we suffered inconvenience against which we entered our protest.

On Saturday several children, of ages ranging from about 3 to 5 years, were straying in the busiest thoroughfares of the town. At one time they disported themselves in the channels—at another in the middle of the streets, to the annoyance of drivers and horsemen and risk of their lives. We hope that the parents or guardians of these little strays will take the hint, and exercise a little more care over their helpless infants. Crowded thoroughfares are not only dangerous, but they are otfrervyise most undesirable nursery grounds. In another column may be found a long report of the Coroner's inquiry touching the murder of Miss Dobie at Opunake. There seems little to connect Stannard, the man who was first arrested, with the crime, and the evidence points strongly, if circumstantially, to a Maori as the perpetrator of the foul deed. Whoever the murderer may be every member of the community will hope with us that he will be speedily overtaken by justice. The result of the inquiry will be anxiously looked for. A robbery of a daring nature was committed yesterday morning at an early hour at Mr. John M'Kay's Junction Hotel. Entering by a partly open window, the thief made his way to the bar and carried off the till containing about L4O in cash, a gold watch, and a number of papers. The till has since boon found by the police in a garden about 100 yards from the hotel, and they are now making active inquiries to discover the thief.

A meeting of the Oamaru Jockey Club was held on Saturday last, at the Empire Hotel, when there were present Messrs. G. Greenfield (in the chair), J. Moss, A. C. Paterson, J. Gibson, and John Hardy, Secretary. It was resolved, "That, as Messrs. Paterson and Shalders had consented to allow of the construction of a ploughed gallop on the Oamaru Racecourse, the Ground Committee be instructed to have laid out and prepared a ploughed gallop, lfift. Gin. in width, and one mile long, and -that all recognised trainers be allowed the use of the same free of charge." Mr. M'Corkindale was appointed to act as honorary time-keeper at the Club's meetings. The Secretary was also instructed to send to each member of the Racecourse Trust a complimentary ticket for all the race meetings, and to ask the General Manager of Railways to run cheap special trains on the race days, from Christchurch and Dunedin. A meeting of the head, masters of the Oamaru schools was held on Saturday to consult as to their being able to act in concert for the purpose of raising funds to procure prizes. It was unanimously Agreed that it was impossible to act in concert without the authority and official aid of the School Committee, as such. It appeared that at this late period of the spspion, even with such authority and aid, it would be impossible to'make fall arrangements for the procuring, awarding, and distributing of

prizes. The head masters asserted their -y&lingiibsg ■during->anf6th<sr. session ;tOi.act tbgfetkgr / with. the Committee in procuring funds -for thisl 0£ any other legitimate purpose ijof'the Committee. The masters; arfei thus " left each to close his school in such a manner.as to hiiii may.seem best.; , The usual monthly meeting of' the Waia--reka Road Board v/ill hc held in the offices, Tync-streel, to-morrow, at one o'clock.

The "Volunteers of this district will be gratified-, toUearn that the ammunition, for district and class firing, &c., has at last arrived. We haye no doubt that they will be .glad,of the opportunity thus afforded them of 'industriously visiting the range for practice. ;; . r ... The' Philharmonic Society's rehearsal' for the concert will be held in the Volunteer Hall, on Tuesday evening, at the usual hour. The twelfth concert of the Society, which will take place on Wednesday evening, promises to be one of the most enjoyable performances of the season. The special features alluded to in the advertisement should draw a large audience. The cricket match between the second elevens of the Union and Excelsior Clubs terminated late on Saturday afternoon in a victory for the former with three wickets to spare. The scores were—Excelsior, 53 and 30 ; Union, 3S and 46, with three wickets to fall. Maw, fcr the >-xcelsiors, made 22 and 12, and Hook and Robertson each played well for the Union Club.