North Otago Times. MONDAY, JULY 22, 1878.

North Otago Times, Volume 1945, Issue XXVI, 22 July 1878, Page 2

North Otago Times. MONDAY, JULY 22, 1878.

Tub contest for tho Mayoralty for this year, which takes place to-day, will evidently bo a voiy koonly fought battlo, the partisans of each candidate being thoroughly in earuost. Under the circumstances, it will not bo oxpoctod that wo should say anything for or against either, especially as, whatever tho result, wo believe tho ratepayers may bo well satisfied that tho duties of tho ofiico will be faithfully discharged. Wo regret to see that somo bitterness has boon displayed, at any rato on one side, and cannot for tho lifo of us sco what is tho nocessity for trying to arouso personal or angiy feeling. Wo are well assured that there is no such fouling between tho candidates thoinsjlves, and the ona sole issue appears to us to be, w'lich, under tho circumstances, would be tho wiser selection. In all respects tho two candidates start on about oven terms for what our evening contemporary regards as tho " Municipal horsc-raco" — ovon as respects that of tho number of " blue - ribbons" already worn by each — for if Mr SrBWAitD is connected with a good many public organisations, Mr Svmitrr is connected with almost, if not quito as many —a3 why should ho not bo, seeing that iv a small community liko ours, almost every citizen is oiled upon to fill many public capacities. As our contemporary docs not appear to have looked up this point, wo will furnish him with a list of aomo of tho positions hold by Mr Sumlter as a per contra to tho list givon of thoso hold by Mr Steward. These aro then — Chairman of tho Harbor Board, Director of the Oamaru Stono Company, Director of the Oamaru and Dunodin Stoamship Company, Member of the North Otago Agricultural and P.istor.il Association, Member of tho Horticultural Society, Sucrotary for tho Mutual Benefit Building Socioty, Secretary for tho North Otago Permanent Bnilding Society, Member of tho Bcuovolont Institution, Captain of tho Oamaru Riflea, Churchwarden for St. Luke's Parish, and Superintendent of St. Luke's Sunday School. Tho more honor to him for discharging so many dutios — and discharging them, as wo believe he <'oes, well and faithfully ; but, as we havo said, as vogards tho numbor of offices, one candidato holds about as many as the othor. All wo havo to say about it is, that wo do not know of an} thing that need bo said to tho disparagement of either, and hope to soo a good-humored, if hard fought, contest, and that the better man may win.

Tub lUcEiioitsr. Fishhook.—lt will be seen by a tele<ri\im from our own correspon d'lit, publinhcil in another column, that the Dunedin Club havo removed tho disqualification from the horse Fishhook and his rider Derritt.

Tun Rkmkry Bronv.—lt will be seen by statements published in our correspondence column that tho Uribcry story published in tho columns of our contemporary is completely refuted. It appears that there was Boino of tho commonest of electioneering chaff going on, and that the wholo story is

hut another example of making a mountain out of a molehill. j

CjANTKumiiiY Hunt Ciajii.—We nro glad to learn that the Canterbury Hunt Club intend having a day at Oamaru. The meet will take place on Friday, at half-past one o'clock, near tho Race-course, and, being tho first in tho district, a\ o expect to see it largely attonded.

TAtiANAKiLvnniKiNM.—AnoMicrdiabolioak. attempt (says tho "Taranaki Herald"') to throw the train off the lino hau been made by putting stones on tho rails. This time a spot near Sentry Hill has been tho scone of operation!), and has been the means of smashing a portion of the break of one of the carriages. It is supposed to be tho work of some boys, and it is to bo hoped that when theso young larrikins are caught they will receive such punishment as will make thorn remember it during their whole lifotime.

Bamarat Juvenile Exhibition. —An exchange states that tho Billarat Juvonilo Exhibition, rocontly closed successfully, was continued for fifteen weeks. Tho statistics show that tho number of exhibits have been 5100, contributed by 2153 exhibitors; visitors, 154,084; receipts at door, L 4013 10s (id; season tickets, L 403 14s 6d } Government grant, L 300; private subscriptions, L 700; total, L 5417 ss. It is anticipated that after all tho exponses havo been paid there will bo a balanco of about L 1250, and tho disposition of tho majority of tho Committee appears to bo that this sum should be devoted to forming a nucleus for tho institution of n permauont local museum.

Capets fok tiir Civil Sbuvice.—Tho following circular has boon sont to chairmen of school committees throughout the Colony by tho Education Department;—"ln view of tho numerous vacancies likely to occur for cadets in tho public departments of tho Civil Service, th.o Government is desirous of giving every encouragement to youths attending tho public schools of tho Colony to obtain such appointments. The chairmen of Bchooi committees aro therefore requested to forward to tho Hon. tho Minister for Education as soon as possible, a list of youths over sixteen years of age at present or formerly pupils of public schools, whom they can recommend for ability, good conduct, and general fitness to fill such vacancies as cadets as may bo open from time to time."

Cauout Out.—Tho social proclivities of some of our townspeople (says tho Tapanui "Courier") aro proverbial. Wo have heard of a gentleman who recently took a couplo of frionds home with him, and after enjoying an evening's conversation and refresh ments, tho friends left at an early hour for their respective homes, Then tho host went to feed his horso, and, to his dismay, he saw a hen calmly walking about tho yard. To see a hen walking about in tho middle of the night ho thought such an extraordinary circumstance that ho immediately woko his wife, saying. "That speckled hen appears to bo sick ; slio is walking about the yard in the middle of tho night!" " Middle of the night, you old fool 1 Como to bed at onco; it is past daylight 1" mid his wife. Immediate collapse of tho festive husband.

Puiuai Soda Springs.—Tho water from sonic springs at Puriri, in tho Thames district, has been l'ecently analysed by Mr Skey. Dr Hector reports on tho result that " by far tho larger proportion of solid matter consist 3 of bi-carbonato of soda, giving to the wator a strong caustic reaction. It therefore belongs to tho interesting group of mineral water* known as the alkaline, to which many of the Spas on tho Continent of Europe most fainoua for their curative properties belong, such as Vichy in France, and Fachingcn in Nassau, which wore rosortcd to for the cure of di.sc.ws of the digestive organs, and especially for diseases of tho kidney and bladder, and for removing constitutional tendency to gout." It is anticipated, therefore, by tho local piper that tho spring* will soon become of great commercial value, and astonish tho world with thoir wonderful natural qualities, superior to all manufactured sodawatcr now in use.

Resident Magistrate's Court.—At this CourJ; on Saturday, before T. W. Parker, Esq., 11.M., judgment was delivered in the case Anderson v. tho Queen, evidence in which was taken at the same Court Rome time ago. The action aroso out of what transpired some months ago at the Breakwater, when some three or four men were discharged for rofusing to work after 5 o'clock without being paid overtime. The plaintiff sued tho Government for L2O Is Gd for wages duo, and for wrongful dismissal. Mr Hislop appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr Baliner for tho Crown. Judgment, which had heen postponed in order to con* suit report of a similar caso heard in Dun* edin, in which a workmnn sued the Harbor Board and was nonsuited, was now given for LI 2 7s 7d, costs L 2 2s. Tho right to appeal whs reserved to the Crown.

Footiuix.—The match Colonials v. Tho World, did not como off on Saturday, as intended, owing to tho small attendance of members, but a scratch match was played, sides being chosen by Mcsvrs Caverhill and Cookc. After about an hour's play Cooko's side won \\ ith ono goal, kicked by A. Hardy, to their opponents' nil. A Committee meeting took phico at the Royal Hotel in tho evening. Present—Messrs Otteraon (President, in tho chair), Fercns, Thompson, Caverhill, and tho Secretary. It was decided to send a team to Timaru about the 17th August. Tho ttscrctaiy being instructed to v rite to Timaru to that effect. Tho following players woro selected to practise for the coming match, they being roquo<ted to turn up for practise every evening, viz.: — Messrs Bannorman, Baxter, Cavorhill, Cas* telli, Church, Crawford, Chancellor, Cooke, Evans, Finch. Fcrens, Orcnfull. H.ivdy, Honour, Hieke, x l '"'■•• orth, T. Kerr, Kerr, Lambert, v,, . •v, o, Reid, Snodgiws, Thompson and Wall«.