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Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 22 December 1880, Page 2

His Worship the Mayor had an interview with the Hon. Mr. Oliver on Monday at Dunedin, with reference to matters relating to the district. Mr. Oliver stated" that he understood that cattle yards were being constructed at Ngapara and Uxbridge ; that additions were to be made to the railway station at Oamani, comprising refreshment room, parcels room, kitchen, and verandah; and that the present site was not to be looked upon as a permanent one. The Minister for Public Works promised the abatement of the nuisance at the Lagoon, but declined to make any promise in regard to obtaining a supply of water from the Corporation for railway purposes.

The meeting of the Otepopo settlers, which we stated last evening was contemplated, to consider the proposed alterations in the boundaries of the Waitaki electoral district, will be held on Tuesday, December 2Sth, at 7.30 p.m., at the Otepopo Bchrol-room, The subject for discussion is an important one, and tfc hope that the ssttlers'will show their appreciation of the interest evinced by the promoters by attending in full force.

Attention was called at the meeting of the County Council to the fact that tlie credit r.ccount of the Moeraki Riding had been inadvertently omitted from the statement made by tlie ■ Chairman. The Clerk stated that the riding was in credit to the extent of Lllß 17s 6d at the end of the financial year.

A telegraph station is now open at I Sydenham, Christchurch, in the County of Sehvyn. Mails for .the Australian .-Colonies, per Tararua, close at . the Bluff on Friday, 24th inst., at ll.:-0 a.m. Telegrams will be received at the Oamaru office accordingly. Subscribers to the Benevolent Society are requested to meet in Mr. Greenfield's auction mart at S o'clock this evening for the purpose of considering a proposal to amend rule 20. The rule reads as follows:—"Tenders for supplies shall : uvited for a period of not less'than six months, the amount of such tenders to be duly recorded in the minute book. No membor of Committee to^ supply any articles for the use of the Society for which he may receive pecuniary or other compensation." An advertisement in this issue informs the public that tho railway department have made arrangements to enable them tp visit the far-famed mountain and lake scenes of Otaeo. A special train will leave Dunedin for Kingston and Lakes, via the AVaimea Plains, at 9 p in. on Fridaj, 21th December. Persons leaving here by Friday's express would therefore reach Dunedin in good time to catch this excursion train. The return fares from Dunedin are : —lst class, L2 Ss Cd; 2nd class, LI 14s. To each of these amounts would, of course, have to be added first or second class fares between Oamaru and Dunedin, which would be LI 19s and LI Gs. Such a favorable opportunity for making a trip to a locality which is universally pronounced to be ono of the most beautiful in the' Colony seldom offers.

A meeting of the directors of the Caledonian Society was held last evening. The usual preliminary business having been disposed of, the tender of Mr. M. Bpunott for the erection of a grand stand was accepted, the price being L 64 10s. A vote of thanks was accorded to the members of the Ground Committee for the trouble they had taken in connection with the ei'ection of the stand. It was resolved that the Secretary write to the Municipal Council asking that the iu ti.v, jjiuuna aiiuiiici ue watered on the mornings of the games. The usual vote of thanks terminated the meeting.

The ball to be held in the Volunteer Hall on Boxing Night promises to be a very successful affair, the tickets for which are going <fF rapidly. Mr. Pheloung, bandmaster of No. 1 Company's Band, has the providing of a first-class string band, while -Messrs. Farr Brothers will attend to the catering department. We arc informed that the proceeds, after paying expenses, will be divided between the Hospital and Benevolent Society.

Messrs. lionnyne and Cotterell have favored us with a copy of a sheet called :l Abolition Map and City pj rectory of New Zealand," published by J. C. Henry and Co., Christchurch, and printed at the Lyttelton Times Office. As its name indicates,' though somewhat vaguely, it sets forth the counties, and gives plans of the chief cities of the Colony. It appears to be accurate, is certainly welt executed, atid its price, 12s Od, is certainly reasonable, as it is well mounted and is oj; rollers. If it has any fault it is that it does not comprise amongst the plans or cities plans of the towns of Timaru and Oamarii. But the object of the publisher is evidently to secure for hia venture, if possible, universal sale, and results will show whether or not he has acted wisely in doing this rather than in seeking to secure a larger and more local patronage by including plans of the towns we have mentioned. The map is, however, well worth the price charged for it.

The Otepopo Road Board calls for tenders lor improving the grades on the road between sections 10 and 11, block IV., Otepopo district. Plans and specifications may be seen and tender forms obtained at the : schoolhouse, and tenders are to be sent to Mr. Alex. Pirie, Clerk to the Board, on or before noon of Friday, the 31st instant. The following players will represent the Union Cricket Clnb in the match with the Dunedin Excelsior Club, to be played at Dunedin on Boxing Day t —W. Gray, J. Hook, W. Hook, T. Hewat, A, Hartley (captain), J. Marshall, J. Maddern, W. Ridsdale, D. Sinclair, J. Steel, A. -Slater. Emergencies—W. Hendry and J. Harris. The team will leave on Saturday morning by the first train, A blank sheet was presented at the R.M. Court thi3 morning. The monthly meeting of the Hospital Committee was held at the Secretary's office, Tync-street, last evening. Present— Messrs. Townsend (chair), J. Hassell, jnn., Johp Mainland, W. M'lntosh, S. E. Shrimski, W, \V,itson, T, H. Brown, and J. Markham.' The warder acknowledged the gift of a cow from the Hon. John M'L?an for the use of the hospital, and also a Christmas present of two geese from Mr. and Mrs. Shrimski. Notification was received from Government of the payment of LIS 4s 4d to the Board's account as subsidy. It was decided that Messrs. Headland (President), Br.own, and Hassell, draw up the annual report. In reply to a question Mr. Brown was informed that no letter had been received from Dr. Wait. The Secretary infprmed the meeting that the President was in communication with the Secretary of the Dunedin Shakespeare Club, that Club having offered to perform in Oamaru for the benefit of the hospital funds, The Visiting Committee reported that on the ISth inst. there was eight patients in the hospital—six male and two female, and that the -wards were in excellent order. They also reported that thp Hon. John M'Lean had given a cow, Mrs, Lemon a quantity of linen, Mesdames Clowes, Murison, and Cagney illustrated papers, Mr. T. H. Brown 40ft of hose and two nozzles, and Mr, R. Smith a pair of crutches, for the use of .the hospital. The report further stated that the contract for laying water had been duly completed, and that it had been found neeaful to have some extra work done in connection therewith. I Accounts to the amount of L3l 5s 3d had been approved for payment. Tho Committee recommended the laying of about 30ft of piping, to convey water from the laundry to the gardon. Tho report was adopted. Messrs. Mainland, Markham, Brown, and Shrimski were appointed a deputation to wait upon the clergymen of the town with the view of'having a'special collection for the hospital. This ended the business.

As there were not sufficient members present to form a quorum, the meeting of the Committee of the Oamaru Jockey Club called for last evening,- lapsed.. Batter was sold by auction in Wellington a few' days, ago at 2£d to- 3d per lb. In the London market the wholesale price of butter is about Is 3d per lb. Mr.-J. T. Matson, the well-known Christchurch auctioneer, has just started on a trip to his birthplace in Australia. Just prior to his departure, a number of members of the Canterbury Corn Exchange and other personal friends met together at the Corn Exchange rooms to celebrate that gentleman's departure and wish him God speed. In replying to- the toast of his health, Mr. Matson is reported by the Lyttelton Times as follows :—Mr. John; T. Matson. thanked those present for the kindly manner in which the toast had been proposed and received. He was quite unprepared for anything of the sort, and he little knew what was about to take place when he received a message that he was required at "the Corn Exchange rooms. He was sorry the Corn Exchange had not proved so great a success as was anticipated, but still he thought that it might be made an exporting medium for the farming community if they would only look at it ■ in a proper light, because every bank in the place would advance as much, and more, to the Corn Exchange, as a body, than to private individuals ; and that their grain would be shipped Home through the Exchange at a much less cost than if they shipped it themselves, and" that the grain sent through the Exchange bearing their braod would command a uniformly higher price than .that shipped by individuals, because it game from a body whose brand would be a guarantee to the market. If the farmers would unanimously work together for the purpose of obtaining a more' equal price for their productions, their combination would so effect the guarantee of their produce in the English market as to ensure their obtaining the highest price procurable. He was quite sure that if the Corn Exchange would only adhere to those principles, they would confer a lasting benefit pn tfoe farjnipg community, and he hoped that the Corn Exchange of Christchurch, as established, would never be extinct.

Commenting-upon a lecture by Mr. Vesey Stewart, a Belfast paper says "We were pleased to observe the emphasis with which he deprecated the persistence of the classes leaving their homes who are totally unfitted for labor in the Colony in any sphere of life there. He" recommended specially female servants, honest, steady, and industrious small farmers to go there, and hoped, in years to ccm.e, that many of the faces around him would be his neighbors in the Colony. It gave us great pleasure to see the hearty and enthusiastic reception with which Mr. Stewart was - greeted on' his arrival and during his lecture.".

As the new Act to regulate the branding of stock and the registration of the brands used for that purpose comes into force on the Ist proximo, the Government have decided to appoint all the Sheep Inspectors throughout the Colony to be. also Registrars of Brands, and' the branding districts to be conterminous with the respective sheep districts. The Chief Inspectors of Sheep will be also Chief Registrars of Brands under the Act for their several districts.—Po§t.

The Post gives the following "We have heard of an inspector of' schools in New Zealand who, at an anmlal inspection of a country school, 'plucked' a hapless candidate for one of the standards for stating that Timaru. was on the east coast of the South Island, the sapient inspector stoutly insisting that it was on the West CoagtU), and audibly befpre the pupils his contempt '"for the' educational attainments of the master who had taught such geographical heresy.'' The girls in a Victorian woollen factory wore crape the day that Ned ICelly was executed.

The export of wool from Lyttelton last season (says the Lyttelton Times) compared very unfavorably with that of the two preceding years, being. COOQ bales ,less than in IS7S-y, and MOO bale's, less than in 1877-8. No doubt the short clip of last, year was a prime factor in this deficiency, but it is well known that several large clips)..from the Timaru district, which came on to Lyttelton, were diverted to. Dunedin.. Wool is now arriving . Timaru, and from tne quantities going .southward compared with the small parcels reaching Lyttelton, it is evident that Dunedin, by superior arrangements, is bidding for the whole.of this trade. They seem likely to secure it too unless our local wool shippers bestir themselves, and provide the same facilities for coastwise freight which are now enjoyed through the Union Steamship Company by our Southern neighbors. This is a matter claiming immediate attention if our export trade is worth conserving, and we shall have formed an entirely wrong estimate of the character of our Ci ristchureh merchants, if they do not promptly step in and move in the direction indicated. We are given to understand that the Union Company are prepared to arrange for their boats calling in at Timaru on the upward trip, provided they are assured that cargo will be in readiness for their steamers on arrival there.