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Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 20 December 1880, Page 2

The barque Ardentinny is fast loading up with wool. Up to Saturday Inst 160 bales had lieen dumped and placed- on board. Captain Miller* expects that he will take away 2000 bales, and that he will leave here about the beginning of the new year. Messrs. W. Fraser and Co. have charge of the dumping, and are getting on very expeditiously. - night a few wejoomc showers of rain fell, and, after the late hot dry weather, proved highly beneficial to the crops. The farmers have been favored at intervals with these refreshers, and, as a consequence, the crops are looking very well. A continuance of these periodical visitors, with good harvest weather, will be the means of making the yield a very good one, A concert is announced to be given in aid of the funds of the Rifles' Band on New Year's evening, which should receive more than an ordinary measure of public support. The band deserve well of the public, for it has on all occasious displayed the utmost readiness to assist every public institution. It has also for some tfcime provided free entertainment for the public in the form of al fresco concerts, and we are sure that its efforts will be fully recognised by all lovers of good music. The present appeal is made in consequence of the band having to meet large calls upon its funds. Within the past few weeks a considerable number of new instruments have been purchased, and a still further supply is required. In addition to the cost of these, the band has to meet a portion of the cost pf the supply of additional uniforms which are expe'pted to arrive within a few weeks. Tlie members of this organisation have done a considerable amount towards making their equipment complete, as the whole of their earnings as a band, amounting to something like Llsf>, have been devoted to the general fund. Still its has been found impossible to provide instruments for the continued accessions of members. It has, therefore, been cleerrfecl necessary to hold a concert in aid of the funds, and no more fitting mode of appealing to the public for support could have been devised. The Hospital Comoiitteo wijl meet tpr morrow evening, at 7.30 o'clock. At the R.M. Court this morning two drunkards were dealt with. William Darragli, for leaving his horse and cab unattended in Trent-street, was fined 12s and 2s expenses. The charge against Henry James Richards of assaulting Henry Cunningham at the racecourse was withdrawn. The first eleven of the Union Cricket Club will, on Boxing Day, try conclusions at Dunedin with the Metropolitan Excelsior Club. The weekly meeting of the Directors of the Oamaru Caledonian Society will be held at the Criterion Hotel to-morrow evening. Acceptances for the Kakanui Handicap and Publicans' Handicap are due on Wednesday evening, when general entries will also be received. Eight o'clock is the hour of closing, and Kakanui the address of the Secretary, The first elevens of the Oamaru and Union Clubs resumed their match on Saturday afternoon, the former obtaining a decided victory by 59 runs. The Oamaru eleven in their first innings had made 91 and the Union 57. In their second attempt the Oamaru team were disposed of for 67, Moore (not out 17) and Finch (13) being the only players who made any headway against the bowling of Hook, who took seven wickets at a very small cost. With 101 to the bad, the Union eleven eptered upon their second innings. This number they failed to reach, the innings closing for 42, towards which Hook was the largest contributor. Cook and Finch, as bowlers, did good service for the victors. There will be no dearth of out-door sports at Christmas time. In addition to the Kakanui Caledonian Society's gathering on Christmas Day, the Kakanui Races on the 27th, and the Friendly Societies' Fete on the same day, there will be athletic sports at Ngapara on Christmas Day, and Shag Point on the 27th. The programme for the former has not reached us, but we believe it will comprise a variety of events for which good prizes will be given. The programme For the Shag Point gathering is also published elsewhere, and forms a very attractive bill of fare. There are plenty of items of a varied character, and all things considered, the prizes offered are exceedingly liberal. A good day's sport and a pleasant outing should be obtained by those who pay these sports a visit. After the above was in type we received the programme for the Ngapara sports, which may be found in our advertising columns. The Kakanui Caledonian Society's sports on Christmas Day promise to be more than usually successful. In all something like 46 entries have been received for the Kakanui anil Hprdle Handicaps, and the handicaps will be published to-morrow. Out of this number there should certaiply be a large array of aceptors, aud the contests should be highly interesting. A meeting of the directors was held at the Royal Hotel on Saturday night. Mr. Robert Morton was in the chair. Judges were appointed, and all the necessary arrangements made for the forthcoming sports. Tenders for the privileges were opened, and the following accepted : —Gates and cards, Mr. Jennings, Lls ; publicans' booth, Mr. Mason, L 5; refreshment bopth, Mr, Burns, L2, On Saturday afternoon, a cricket' match was played on the old cricket ground between the second elevep of the Excelsior Club and fifteen of the High School Club, The former went first to the wickets, and made 65 before they were disposed of. The fifteen were less fortunate, the whole of them being dismissed for the small total of 37. In their second innings, the Excelsiors made 70. Time did not permit of the match being completed, and it was therefore decided on fclio first innings in favor of the Excelsior Club, Fpr the vi.qtora, BJftkeJy (not out, 28) and J. Maw (24) did gpod service. Kite, with 14, was the highest scorer for the school. R. Hewat bowled well for the Excelsiors, taking seven wicketß for five runs. Yestprday evening the Rev. Mr. Todd, of St. Paul's Presbyterian Church, preache I a sermon upon the prevalent vice of gambling, taking as his text Proverbs xiv, 12, " There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." He remarked that one of these ways or courses in life was the habit of betting and gambling. He considered that its prevalence and pernicious effects were sufficient to warrgnt hipi directing atteptipn tp it in order to warp all, and especially young men, from countenancing it in any way. Betting he characterised as a questionable thing, and a silly practice, which was unhappily indulged in to a great extent at the present day. In speaking of gambling, strictly so called, he said that there were several reasons why it should be avoided. In itself jt was dishonorable because the gainer was enriohed at the expense of the loser—nothing was given in return for the money thus acquired. He contended that it had a demoralising influence upon all who are in any way connected with it, loser as well ap gamer; it renders one. unfit for the ordinary business of life, and ultimately leads people to plunge deeper into crime and wickedness. He cited several examples of young men who had contracted this evil habit and had afterward? robbed their masters in 'order to pay their debts, or had taken their bwp. lives . in despair He such evils - as these - mainly to horse.racing, which might be right in itself, but was a thing to be Bhunned on account

, of the evil associated with it. If horseracing • could be freed, from, this pernicious attendant of gambling, which he -believed it could, lie saw ho reason why ; it should be countenanced. But. unless this happened, every true Christian and patriot should shun the race-con rse. In conel 1131011, he spoke of the custom of raffles and lotteries at church bazaars, and regretted very much iliat such things should be resorted to as a means of raising money for the house of God. If the mor.il sense of the churches were sufficiently elevated they would purge themselves from this reproach and bring free-will offerings to the house of God for the support of His cause. No doubt legislation could help to check this growing evil, but still, it was the duty of Christians and patriots to do all in their power to hinder it. They should not •encourage institutions which fostered it, and they should not only shun it themselves but also lead others to do the same. There are certain pieces of land (says the Wellington Chronicle) situated on a highly desirable and valuable site about half-way between Wellington and Island Bay. They are generally known as "native reserves," and have been held for years past by certain estimable gentlemen. The lease under which these lands have been held have not yet expired, although they are announced as in the market, and open to be dealt with. Of the two pieces—one is 18 and another H acres ; and about 12 months ago they were offered for disposal at a lump sum in a remarkably quiet and inconspicuous way. So marked was thia the time, that for some time people were at a loss to find out the history of the land and the exact position it was in. Ultimately the New Zealand Times took the matter up, and the result of its representations was that the land which was offered for purchase in one block was withdrawn from the market as quietly and suddenly as it had been placed in it, and without any reason being assigned for so doing, Owing tg the position of these lands and their limited area, they are hetter adapted for disposal in averaged size allotments than in any other way. At any rate public opinion was against them being sold in one lot for a lump sum, which it was said would be in the interests of the present lessees. If it was not right to sell the land in one lot it is not right to sell it in two lots as now proposed. It- would appear that there are many people who would gladly purohase ft piece if the land were cut up 5 while, on the other hand, we venture to predict that not half-a-dosseii purchasers would be found for either piece singly, unless for purely speculative purposes. Now, we protest against Government reserves being disposed of in this way. The whole thing wears a Rio.st unsatisfactory appearance, and should be thoroughly lppked into before any sale is allowed to take place.