The Oamaru Times, AND WAITAKI REPORTER. THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 1866.

North Otago Times, Volume VI, Issue 106, 1 March 1866, Page 2

The Oamaru Times, AND WAITAKI REPORTER. THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 1866.

Bi;tter late tban never ! Wo are gratified to observe that the electors have at last bestirred themselves to action in the matter of bringing forward candidates for the representation of the district in the House of Representatives. In another portion of this issue will be found requisitions to two gentlemen — wellknown in the district — and their replies, in which they both signify their intention of coming before the electors on the day of nomination. We are not yet in a position to compare the political views of the two candidates, inasmuch as Mr Ingram alone has enunciated the opinions he holds on the more important of the questions now uppermost in the public mind. Mr Campbell, however, is to address the electors to-morrow (Friday) evening, when an opportunity will be afforded to all of doing so. We may here state that a communication has been received from the Hon. H. J. Miller, in which that gentleman intimates his intention of not contesting the election with Mr Campbell. He will, therefore, retain his seat in the Upper House. Some time since, Mr Miller signified his intention of soliciting the suffrages of the electors, but this was conditional on a requisition, with a sufficient number of names attached, being presented to him. As it turns out, Oamaru will be much stronger in Wellington when the Assembly meets next month, with an advocate in each House, than if Mr Millkr had been her sole representative. This being so, it is reasonable to hope for a fair consideration of the "Oamaiu Scheme" for the administration of public affairs. Our next number will contain reports of several election meetings about to be held.

We quite concur with the statement made at the late inquest, that in several cases which have occurred recently, the advantages offered by an Hospital would have been greatly felt by our community, and we do not wonder at the revival of the feeling that the establish-

lislimeut of such art institution in our midst would be a great public boon and be highly appreciated. A feeling, we are glad to learn, is abroad now which, if gently fanned and judiciously directed, may conduce to very important results. We have frequently urged upon the attention of our readers the importance of this question, viewed in its varied aspects. It is unnecessary, therefore, for its again being commented upon at length. Wo would simply call the attention of the public to a circumstance which may in their deliberations be overlooked. The idea, we are given to understand, is gaining ground, that the inhabitants should, as a first step, court the assistance of the Provincial Government. Now, for several Sessions past, the Government has taken the initiative. A grant-in-aid to the amount of two hundred pounds (£200) has been voted for the Oaraaru Hospital, and it merely remains for the district to supplement that sum by another of equal amount in order that the 1 matter be set on foot. With a grant of so insignificant a sum as £200, of course, this is absolutely necessary and indispensable, for very little could be accomplished with such an amount unaided by other contributions. If, therefore, theic io tn V,n au y movement taken (and we trust there will be), the primary step should be to < stir up the people themselves, so that some degree of interest may be aroused. If they should prove unanimous, and subscription lists be opened, the difficulty, we feel assured, of obtaining the end in view will quickly disappear. Should it be found, however, that the estimated cost of the building and the expenses of its maintenance amount to more .than the promoteis see their way clearly to raise, we should advise them to go back to the Council for an increase in the grant-in-aid. And this brings us to the consideration of the inadequacy of the sum offered by Government. We fail to perceive why other up-country places should have thousands of pounds expended upon their Hospitals, while one of the most important towns, and the centre of the largest district, in the Province, should be staved off with an offer of only L200. Oamaru, from its distance fiorn the capital, stands in peculiar need of such an institution as an Hospital, but we feel that such an advance as L200 ia almost equal to nothing at all, for it would be but a drop in the ocean compared to the expense which the building of the institution, and its maintenance, would entail. The scheme, however, may and ought to be gone about for the present in a very economical manner, i.e., at a very small present outlay. We shall bo glad to give a place in our columns for suggestions on this matter, and in the meanwhile have to urge that the whole question be taken up energetically.

To-day (Thursday) will be obseryed by the Presbyterian body as the balf-yearly Sacramental Fast Day. Divine Service will be held iu St. Paul's Church at the usual hours. Mr R. Campbell, of Benmore, will address the Oarr.nru District electors as follows : — In the Northern Hotel Assembly-room, Oamaru, on Friday, 2nd March, at 7.30 p.m. ; in the School-house, Hampdcn, on Situid.iv, 3id March, at 7 p m. ; in the Herbeit Dotel, Otepopo, on Monday, 6th March, at 7 p m. Mr Ingi am -will hold his meetings as follows :— In the Noithern Hotel As-sembly-room on Saturday, 3rdMf>7ch, at 7.30 p m. ; at the Herbert Hotel, Otepopo, on Thursday, 8th March, at 7 p.m. ; and at Murcott's Hotel, Hatnpden, on Friday, 9th March, at 12 o'clock noon. "We call attention to a notice from the Wai dens of the Awamoko Hundred, in another column, respecting the sending in of returns of stock, &c. A meeting of Volunteers took place, after drill, on Saturday evening last, in the Star and Garter Hotel. It was then resolved that, in conformity with tho provisions of tho New Volunteer Act, a memorial to his Excellency tho Governor be diawn up and signed by the members of the Company, making a renewed tender of their services. This, we understand -has to be done within sixty days from and after the 1st of January last, when the new act came into operation. We have been shown a sample of malt prepared by Messrs "Williams and Whitmore at their compact little brewery here. The sample referred to is made from last year's crop of barley, but it is an exceedingly good one, and is pronounced by competent judges to be equal to the " best English." The malt house attached to the brewery is most complete iu every way ; indeed it is said to be second to none in the Colony. Messrs Williams and Whitmore now make their own malt, and hope soon to be in a position to execute more punctually the orders for their " brew," which stands deservedly high in public estimation. Our attention has been called to the following notice in the " Advertising Sheet," which we believe few of our readers, or those interested in the announcement, will have seen : — " Local Road Boards intending to make application! for grants under the vote of the Piovincial Council for * Supplemented Roads' are requested to make the same So that they may reach tho General Road Board Office, Dunedin, before the 1st day of March 1866." We observe that Mr S. Stidolph intends delivering a Lecture in tho Northern Hotel Asssembly Room, on the evening of Friday, 9th instant, at half past 7 o'clock. Tho subject will bp, as appears from the advertisement, " The Life and Death of a man who was the greatest Patriot the world ever knew." The proceeds of the lecture will be devoted towards fencing and ornamenting the Cemetery. We are indebted to the " Press" (Christchurch) for the following very important revelation : — " The following extract of a letter received by yesterday's Mail from London, has been placed in our hands for publication. If the statement contained in it as to Sir George Grey be true, we can only say that the entire incompatibility of such opinions with his Excellency's opening addi ess to the Assembly in 1865, in which he stated that the troops should be sent away, is such as to suggest a very painful conclusion. The latter will demand a strict enquiry. " How can you expect the home Government to send out peremptory orders for tho return of the troops, so long as Grey is writing home by the same mail that they ought not to go. As long as he is Governor the Colonial office must look to him as responsible, and be guided by his opinion, and not by that of the Ministry of the month, especially when this very mail brings news of tho possible resumption of office by the Auckland gang. Nothing can bo more damaging to the character of the Colony, financially and morally, than the attempt to evade the necessary burden of self defence which they have been professing themselves willing to undertake. One has no patience with those who, from whatever motive, uro crying out for the right of the Colony to manage the war, and at the same time defeatin*g"ihe policy of the Ministry who alone accept the position, and seek honestly to give it effect." '•The fortnightly esr«i t arrived in Dunedin on Friday last, with tho following quantities of gold :— Queenstown, 810 oz. 10 dwt. ; Arrow River, 485 oz. ; Dunstau, 1257 oz. ; Manuherikia, 651 oz. 15 dwt. ; Dunstan Creek 1048 oz ; Hamilton, 456 oz. 10 dwt. ; Mount Ida, 1387 oz. 10 dwt. ; Tuapeka, 909 oz. ; Waipori, 801 oz. \ Wai. tahuna, 315 oz. ; total, 8120 oz. 15 dwt.

We are sorry to learn that the potato disease has broken out near Dunedin and at Waitahuna. Tho information is supplied to us by a gentleman on whose statements the uttnobt confidence may be placed. The unwelcome announcement should put faimeis on their guard, as, without tho greatest care on their part, the spread of the disease may bo looked forward to with certainty. They ought therefore to bestow particular attention to the storing of this season's crop. It is most desirablo that potatoes should be kept dry, and no bad ones permitted to remain/amongst them. This can only be prevented by a careful examination. Next year's crop should be raised fiom virgin soil, and foreign potatoes should not be used in planting, nor should they indeed bo brought iuto the province at all. Should the disease spread, it will be found neccessary to resort to some such extreme measures, but we trust that there will be little occasion to fear much damage from this mysterious foe to fanneis. [Since the above was in type, we learn that some diseased potatoes have been 6een in Oamaru.] The usual monthly meeting of the Oamaru Land and Building Investment Society will take place in the Northern Hotel Assembly-room, on Tuesday next, 6th inst., at seven p m. The sale of cash will take place at eight o'clock precisely. The coach fiom Oamaru to Dunediu on Tuesday mornin? met with an unfortunate mishap while crossing the Otepopo River. One of the axles broko#n the middle of the stream, and there was nothing for it but a wade to the opposite bank. The passengers afterwards walked to Humpdcn, and, after some repairs were effected to the coach, were taken as fur as Waikouaiti the same evening. Yesterday morning, Mr Mackintosh, the driver, took them to Blueskin, when he returaod hither with the Dunedin coach. Mr Brayton, we understand, drove the belated travellers to their destination. The passengers suffered no injury, and were attended to in the best manner possible under the circumstances. The "Lyttelton Times," of the 21th instant, in its Litest intelligence by West Coast Telegraph from Hokitika, dated Fob. 23, 4.42 p.m., says :— The Bruce retm ned about two hours siuce from Okarita, and brings 5000 ounces of gold. The beach claims and also the new terrace ground is turning out excellently. The Bruce sails again this afternoon, taking a large number of diggei s. A large rush is likely to set in ; more police are said to lo required. Mr James Lonnie, recently a contractor in Dunedin, died suddenly at Giey TJiver a few days ago. From a post mortem examination, it appears that there had been a very great enlargement of the liver, which had adhered to tho stomach ; and an abscess on the liver, apparently of long standing, had burst and produced fatal .syncope. The heart was also diseased. The deceased had for some time complained of a pain in his side, and had become rmich depressed, owing to business difficulties, but it was not suspected that he suffered from any organic disease.