North Otago Times. FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 1879.

North Otago Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2081, 3 January 1879, Page 2

North Otago Times. FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 1879.

We direct the attention of ratepayers to certain information regarding the waterworks contract, to be foun^ in the report of the Municipal Council meeting, in another column . The following Church of England services hare been arranged for the current month : — sth, Otepopo, 11 a.m., Maheno, 3 30p.m. ; 12th, Duntroon, 11 a.m., Ofcekaike, 7 p.m. ; 19fch, Otepopo, 11 a.m., Hampden, 6.30 p.m. ; 26th, Duntroon, 11 a.m., Otekaike, 7 p.m. It will be seen from a post-office notice in the present issue, that receiving offices have been opened, for letters only, at the store of Mr R. Aitken, Thames street, and at the store of Mr T Bunting, Ure street. These offices will be cleared daily, at 10.30 a.m. and at 4.30 p.m. No doubt the public will appreciate the effort on the part of the postal authorities to make the necessity of posting letters one of not so much time or trouble, and take full advantage of the facilities offered. We learn by telegram that at a meeting of the Christchurch Agricultural and Pastoral Association yesterday afternoon, it was resolved, "That the trial of reapers and binders should take place during the present month, on Mr Boag's farm. The entries to close on the 4th inst." The contestants, so far a.q is at present known, will be Osborne, Wood, M'Cormick, the Marsh King, and Buckeye. The annual Sunday School treat in connection with the New Tees street Hall Sunday School, came off yesterday at the Devil's Bridge, the ground having been kindly placed at the disposal of the Committee by the manager of the Ardgowan estate. The children and teachers, to the number of 100, met in the Hall at 9.30 a.m., and were driven out to the scene of the picnic. On arrival, they at once set about enjoying themselves, and were soon busily engaged at various games, etc. During the day, refreshments of all descriptions was dispensed to the youngsters, and after a most pleasant and enjoyable outing, the party returned to town at about 5 p.m. We have been made aware of the existence of a state of things at "the Railway Station alike inconvenient and unjust to the public and discreditable to the Department. An intending passenger to Maheno by the last down train yesterday went, with a female relative, to the booking office, and asked if sufficient time remained to get a ticket. He was answered in the affirmative, and accordingly tendered his money and received the two tickets. Before, however, he had time to even leave the ticket counter, the guard blew his whistle, the train started, and of course ourinformantlosthispassage. Wedonotknow whether it is in the power of the local railway authorities to re-date the ticket for to-day — a reparation which ought in fairness to be made — but we do certainly think that the booking office should be closed say two minutes before the starting of a train, te be seated. If this were done, anyone a little late would, if he was unable to secure a passage, during which he could pay the fare, at least have the satisfaction of knowing that the loss was the result of his own negligegce, and not of the misleading carlessness of a railway official. Owing to the damaged condition of the Eangitata Bridge, and the announcement that no mails were to be crossed over for some time*, it was apprehended that there would be no means of forwarding the usual supplementary mail in time to catch the outgoing San Francisco steamer. As there are usually a large number who are compelled to indite their correspondence at the last moment, it would have been a hardship to have been deprived of the opportunity of sending the same by mail steamer to Europe. His Worship the Mayor and Mr ■T. T. Evans telegraphed to the Chief Secretary of the Post Office Department, and represented the matter to him. They received the following reply :—": — " Four mails will be crossed over the Rangitata Bridge tomorrow. The Dunedin express will connect with the special for Lyttelton with the outward San Francisco mails per the Tararua." It will, therefore, be seen that the efforts of the abovenamed gentlemen have not been futile, and that the supplementary mail will be forwarded by the express at 11.15 a.m. to-day. It must have been very gratifyingtothe members of the Concert Committee, which was got up under the auspices of the Caledonian Society in aid of the hospital funds, to find that their efforts were so successful. The concert of New Year's night was in all respects an impromptu one, (but the ladies and gentlemen who so kindly came forward to assist so good a cause have no reason to be ashamed of their performances . The feature of the programme was undoubtedly the pianoforte playing of the Masters O'Meagher, two little gentlemed of very tender age, but of by no means indifferent talent, to judge by their performances of the night before last. Their appearance, and especially their playing, was greeted with loud applause. The following formed the programme: — "Where hath Scotland found her fame," Mr Fraser (encored); duet, " The Chimes," Misses Hardy ; "Scenes that are brightest," Miss Gifford; pianoforte duet, Masters O'Meagher (encored); "'Tis long, long springtime," Miss Taylor (encored); "Nancy Lee," Mr O'Meagher (encored); "Why chime those bells," Mrs Kinuear (encored). Second part — "Herz, mine Herz," Mrs Murison; "The ivy green," Miss Honour; "Death of Nelson," Mr Fraser; Scotch reel, Messrs Murray, Buchanan, Watson, and Calder, to the piping of Mr Sutherland (encored); pianoforte duet, Masters O'Meagher (encored); "The harp that once," Mr Walls; violin solo, Mr G. Jones j duet, " Peace to

thy spirit,"' Messrs Halland and Mitchell ; song, Mr O'Meagher. At the close, Mr D. Sutherland, President of the Caledonian Society, took occasion to thank those present for their attendance, and stated that the proceeds would probably amount to close on L5O. „ On Wednesday, as the train was leaviug Makikihi, a sheep got on the line. An effort was made to frighten it off, but it was unsuccessful. The engine was tuning front reversed, and as it passed over the sheep, it (the sheep) stuck m the cow catcher, and twisting one of the bars, bent it down towards the ground. The engine was stopped, and, with the aid of a sledge hammer, the injured bar was broken off. The sheep was lifted out, considerably mutilated, and the tram proceeded on it 3 way. , At the Resident Magistrate's Cfltirt yesterday, before T. W. Parker, Esq., 11 M., John Jeffery was charged with making use of obscene language at the Railway Station, Duntroon, on the previous morning. Constable Welsh, who arrested the prisoner, deposed that his conduct was of a most outrageous character, and that it took six men to put him into the carriage to convey him to the look-up at Oamaru. The Bench fiued prisoner L 3, or in default of immediate payment, to be imprisoned for three weeks with hard labor. Maggie M'Gregor, for being drunk and disorderly in Thames street, on the 28th ult., was fined lOs, or the usual term of imprisonment. John Massingham, on suspicion of being of unsound mind, was, on the testimony of the medical officer being obtained, discharged Angus M'Kinnon, charged with lunacy, was remanded for medical examination. The annual picnic of the children attending the Presbyterian Sabbath School, Hampden, was held on Monday. The scene fixed upon for the day's enjoyment was A lovely and sequestered spot on the edge of the bush, right behind the township, Between 11 and 12 o'clock {the quiet little township presented quiet a holiday aspect. Numbers of children with their parents came streaming in from different quarters to the scene of the day's fun and pleasure. By mid-day a considerable number of friends and neighbors had joined the youthful gathering. A temporary bench was erected on which were piled up cakes, buns, sandwiches, &c., in preat quantities, while hard by the tea was preparing in a large pot. The boys and girls were orderly arranged in semi-circular rows on the grass. A blessing having been asked by the Rev. Mr Baird, the office" bearers and lady friends handed round the eatables. For some time the scene was lively and animated. Immediately after tea the 'young people betook themselves to football and other games with great hilarity and good spirits. Three swings, which had been erected in the morning, were closely occupied throughout the day with evident pleasure by the children. The merry round of games were on both with old and young. It was amusing, too, to see some of the mothers think themselves once again girls, and join in with youthful glee. About 3 o'clock a halt was called, the children and others aesembled, and Mr Baird addressed them shortly. He expressed the pleasure he had in meeting with so many in such happy circumstances, urged on them the necessity of getting a knowledge of the Bible when young, commended them for their diligence and progress, which most had shown in the past year, and urged on them greater earnestness for the future. He then distributed the prizes, kindly given by friends, to those who had distinguished] themselves. Tea was again served, play heartily enjoyed for another hour or more, then a hymn was sung and a brief prayer offered which brought the proceedings of a day, that all felt to be a happy one, to a close.