North Otago Times. THURSDAY, MAY 22, 1879.

North Otago Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2202, 22 May 1879, Page 2

North Otago Times. THURSDAY, MAY 22, 1879.

It may be said that the present is not a time favorable to the Advocacy of any course, the adoption of which by the community would involve what is apt to be mistaken for a superfluous expenditure of money. Turn ■whithersoever we may, we hear nothing but " damnable iteration " about the bad times, and the scarcity of current coin. We use the phrase quoted advisedly, and may state, en passant, that strictly considered, the emphatic adjective is an archaism, whose modern equivalents are such words as condemnable, reprehensible, and so forth. It is, of cour»e, patent to every one that money is nob so plentiful in this colony, or this com-

munifcy as it was some ten or twelve month* ago, but we deny that there is any real ground for the pusillanimous universal whining which is becoming a public nnisauce all over the country. At first, the henest expression of some really felt i financial embarrassment, it has now dei generated into the plaintive wail which is expressive of nothing except the hereditary hypoohoudria which the progeny of John Bull delight to exhibit now and then for no earthly reason, as it appears to most people, unless it be to prove their illustiious descent. The majority of thoso who gain the ear of the public in these piping times of diminished overdrafts, talk as though the country were on the verge of everlasting ruin, and almost as though the only means left for mankind to escape from their troubles were an act of universal suicide. Wo have had just a little too much of this, and it is time that people began to realise that their positions aud prospects are not nearly so bad as some lily-livered persons try to make them believe. There is no doubt that the constable has been somewhat outrun in this colony as well as in other countries, but not in this country at any rate to inch an extent as is likely to lead to either per - manent or general disaster. We have simply received a somewhat sternly practical lesson, which should have the effect of preventing us, for at least a very considerable time to come, from indulging in over-speculation, but to say that anything has happened to disable us from entering upon legitimate undertakings as herotofore is, in our humble opinion, a gross exaggeration. There is one enterprise which we feel sure could bo profitably entered upon by the people of Oamaru, and which if carried to a proper issue would result, not only in paying the promoters handsomely, but in conferring a much needed boon on the public We mean the c»nstruotion, on the joint stock company principle, of a large public hall, suitable for the purposes of a theatro, an opera house, and for promenade aud other concerts. Some worthy, well-ni" ming people who forget that the woof of life is made of mingled yarn, that, as the Americans have it, there is a good deal of human nature in most men, object to such edifices as inventions of the enemy, and think that the longer they can bo kept out of a town the better will it be for those who inhabit it. It is diftcult to conceive how reflecting people with any knowledge of the world can fall into so egregious ajn error, for it is a pilpable fact— only too palpable in Oamaru— that if men have not some place of rational secular amusement where they can spend their spars evening hours, they will fill up these with objectionable, because utterly aimless lounging on the sidewalks or at the street corners, in boosing and blaspheming over bar counters, or in daivdling, doing the la-de-da and the other et ceteras in the bracing atmosphere of the billiard room. We do not confend that the pursuit of those intellectual uul highly civilised enjoyments would ce.ise were there within the town a plac« of thoroughly attractive amusements, but are certain that such a place of amusement would prove the means of very considerably lessening that pursuit — a desirable consummation which other agencies do not appear to be able to effect to an extent commensurate with the highest well-being of the community. Some such hall of amusement as that whose construction we advocate is certainly needed to save the tastes and tho critical faculties of the adults of the population from becoming irretrievably dulled and deadend, and to prevent our young people, in the absence of other popular means of educating them in manners and in modes of thought, from remaining the possessors of no higher a degree of poliahed and quick intelligence than belongs to the veriest and moat verdant villagers. But apart from the moral, the social, and the aesthetic sides of the question, there can be no doubt that such a hall would prove a very handsomely paying business venture, and for this reason thero should be little difficulty even m the present times to get people, with sufficient senae to see a little ahead of to-day, to become shareholders. AJI that would be necessary at the start would be that a few men of tact, and energy, and business knowledge, should take the trouble to lay the project before the public in a practical form for the purpose of floating a company with shares valued at one pound or two pounds each. This price would render the company a thoroughly popular one, and if once taken earnestly in hand, the movement would probably ere long result in the existence of a hall which should prove the means of conserving the morals, improving the manners, and educating the tastes of the community, as a community, and at the same time a source o5 much profit to the shareholders. The subject is worthy the consideration of all those who have at heart the improvement of the populace, and also of that perhaps still larger clas3 who have a natural and commendable regard for all honorable enterprises which hold forth promises of ample monetary returns.

Mk lok, the Mayor of Christchurch, is a genius. At least he appears to entertain notions which are considerably ahead of the times in which he lives, and, we believe that this is generally accepted as one of the surest signs of the possession of genius iv this mundane sphere. The Mayor of Chriatchurch has ideas concerning the conduct of municipal business which do not accord with those held by his colleagues. For example, His Worship keeps at the meetings of the Council what is called a time-sheet, on which h. notes down the number of times a member speaks, and the length of time he speaks on each occasion he addresses the chair. This is regarded by some of the councillors as a most reprehensible piactice, as being in fact an unwarrantable interference with the freedom of speech, and at the last meeting of the Council held on Monday evening, Councillor Cass, with Pride on his port, defiance in his eye, denounced the Mayor's conduct. Councillor Cass, it may be remarked, poweiws

one of the boldest and perhaps roo»t original intellects of this age, for he entertainsthe belief that, Sir Isaac Newton and other misguided scientist! notwithstanding, I ho Him travel* round the earth, not the e.uth round the sun, and that the earth is, in the huigtugo of the vulgar, at flat as a pancake This says much. for Mr Casss independence of mind, though it places Sir Isaac Newton and the bulk of educated mankind in a somewhat unenviable position. It may further be noted in this parenthetical passage that Mr Cass has the hardihood to express the opinion that pressmen are for the most part infidels, which is a lamentable f.ict, though few have the courage to stand by it. At least it may be said that pressmen don't bolieve much in Mr Cass, except in so far as he is useful to them ai an occasional butt, and in this respect he is nearly as serviceable in New Zealand as the venerated Georgk Francis Train used to be in America. But to return to the Christchurch Town Council. Mr Cass, who, probably, in one respect at least,, resembles the Irish schoolmaster who was always talking because he never tired of hearing a sensible man speak, characterised Mr Ick's conduct in the matter of the time-sheet, at " a most contemptible practice," whereat Mr Ick retorted with a meekness not unworthy a Christian that "to his mind there was nothing 10 humiliating a« having to Bit at the same table with Mr Cass," and he added, with evident satisfaction, that Mr Cass " had earned a reputation throughout New Zealand," concluding with the courtly grace of an ancient cavalier, " that nature never intended Mr Cass to have more than three letters to his name." Other pleasantries followed betweon Mr Ick and Mr Cass, and other members of the Council, and at the close of the proceedings the Mayor, with a smile that was bland and beautiful, handed to the reporters a time-sheet, showing how often, and how long at each time of speaking, each member had spoken during the evening's meeting. <It is probable that, the Mayor of Christchurch, finding himself associated with persons " who think too little and talk too much " has adopted this novel mode of bringing public ridicule to bear upon their foolishneas. Of course, the babblers do not appreciate this. course, but it might perhaps be well if other Mayors were to do likewise At anyrate, it is always well to know what the great reformers in other parts of the world are doing in the way of placing the perfectibility of mankind upon its trial, aud this conviction has induced us to acquaint our readers with at least one of the on-goinga of the Christchurch Town Council.

No cases were set down for hearing at the R.M. (Joint yesterday. The usual fortnightly meeting of the Town Council will take place at 7.15 p,m. to-day. We learn that the IK-chain tunnel on the waterworks, kno^n as Grant's tunnel, has been completely pierce!, the miners working from either end meeting exactly. The meeting of the Railway Recreation Club called for last night, did not come off, there not being a quorum of members in attendance. * The Bruce Herald, which was defunct for some time, has been resuscitated to battle again with the world. We understand that another journalist intends to unfurl his banner at Milton. From a letter addressed to Mr Sumpter by Mr Maginnity, the assistant seoretary to the Telegraph Department, we learn that the extension of the telegraph hours at the Oamarn office is only a tentative measure, and will be discontinued if found to be unremunerative. The monthly Board meeting of the Young Men's Christian Association was held last evening, Mr Milligan in the chair. It was resolved that all members and associates be admitted free to the winter series of lectures, and that the half-yearly social meeting be held on the 13th of June. The railway authorities have made liberal arrangements for the purpose of coitveying visitors to th 3 scene of the Grand National Steeplechases. An advertisement in another column gives all the necessary information. I Return tickets, admitting the holders to the racecourse and grand stand, will be issued at a nominal price. The Starlight Minstrels will make their appearance in Oamaru on Friday and Saturday evenings. The programme is made up of choice ballads, Negro melodies, and farces. The farces chosen for representation are " I wants de skittiwation" and " Old Grimes' will." Horses engaged in the forthcoming steeplechases are tardy in making their appearance in Oamaru. We understand that only four have as yet arrived in town, the rest are no doubt being put through the necessary pre.paration elsewhere. Ivanhoe, we understand, has been scratched, but there is some doubt as to whether he has been scratched for the Cup or the Handicap. There is, however, a fine field to contest this event. A meeting of St. Paul's congregation was held on Tuesday evening to consider the question of continuing the Fast Day preparatory to the observance of the Lord's Supper. Mr Todd, who presided, explained the object of the meeting, stating that the subject was discussed by the Synod in 1878, and a resolution passed declaring that it is the function of kirk sessions to make all arrangements in connection with the observance of the Lord's Supper ; but recommending that in any action taken, due regard be had to the voice of the congregation, as well as to the circumstances of the di&trict, After several member's had spoken, the following revolution was almost unananimously adopted, namely, " That in view of the altered circumstance! of the town and neighborhood, this congregation resolve to agree to the proposal to discontinue the Fast Day in connection with the observance of the Lord's Supper, and to substituto a preparatory evening service instead. The young Duke of Newcastle, who, by the way, has been a sad sufferer, having had one of his legs amputated owing to scrofula, now comes into possession of L 200.000 a year, his mother having paid out all the Clumber mortgages. A Miss Baker, only sixteen years old, has been appointed a tutor in Greek in Simpson College, at Indianola. She reads and writes Greek fluently, and at fourteen had made a .omplete lexicon of one of Sophoclea's tragedies. She has been instructed almost entirely by her father. She reads and writes Latin as well as she does Greek, and has "one likewise into French, German, and mathematics. According to a Home paper General Tod-, leben has left AdrianopK Before leaving, the General was presented with an address by a deputation representing the Turkish, Greek, Bulgarian, Israelite, and Armenian inhabitants of the city. The address requested the General to express to the Emteror the unbounded gratitude of the nhabitants f>r the generous protection ifiorded to them by the Russian authorities, md the equitable and friendly conduct of -he Russian troops during their stay at Adriaoople.

The Home Kewi say« that great facilities are to be offered to people at home to visit the Sydney Exhibition For the convenience of exhibitorsand others anxious to see Auutra* lia at this particularly festive season, the Peninsular and Oriental Steamship Company propose to issue special return tickets at very low rates. The first-class passage will be only L 125 there and back, the second olass L75, and arrangements will be made to allow ticket-holders to spend three months in the country. No doubt the good example set by the P. and 0. will be followed by other enterprising lines, and we shall have a host of personally conducted tours with the same laudable object in view. All this will bring grist to the colonial mill, and will ensure the presence of a large attendance of friends from the old country to see how ad1 mirably Australia can manage these affair*. It cannot (says the Grey River Argus) be alleged that even more than a mere tithe of the wastes and forest of this coast has been prospected. Daily experience proves this. Gold is continually being found on spotssome of them long ago passed over by the diggers, and others quite unsuspected of being auriferous ; but still it remains an undoubted fact that not a single paid prospecting party, however well organised, has ever resulted in anything of advantage. How and why this should be we cannot profess to explain ; all that we know is that it is the cose, that paid prospecting parties have inevitably been failures. In Victoria a large sum of money was votad a few years ago for X respecting purposes, and parties equipped y Government with the best appliances — boring tools, etc. — were sent out in all directions where gold had not been found, bnt where its existence was confidently believed in. Not one of these parties affected any* thing of any value, except of a negative kind, in disproving the high-colored anticipations formed of them. In New Zealand the samo fate has followed every paid prospecting party we have ever heard of. The Paris .correspondent of a London paper telegraphing on Maroh 11 says : Among the numerous bills brought in for the consideration of the Chamber of Deputies this session is one affecting marriage laws as laid down in the " Code Civil." M. Saint Martin desires to see marriages between brothers and sisters-in-law legalised, his arguments being that they are not contrary to natural rights, and that, as a matter of fact, they actually take place by means of a dispensation, no less than 1467 marriages of this kind having been registered during the year 1876. The bill maintains the prohibition of marriage between uncles and nieces, aunts and nephews ; but a clause is inserted giving the President of the Republic power to issue dispensations in grave cases. The most important feature of M. Saint Martin's measure is, however, the proposal to render the marriage of priests legal. As the law stands at present, not only are priests prohibited from marrying by the Civil Code as well as by canon law, but in the event of a priest entering into wedlock the union is considered null and void, the woman is looked upon as a concubine, and the children as bastards. An amusing account is given by the Maritzburg correspondent of the Capetown Standard and Mail of the scare at that town, just after the great opening catastrophe of the war. He says : Anyone coming to thia city would be surprised at its appearance. The large square brick building which contains the Court-house, the Post-office, and the Government buildings is being surrounded with wooden boar ling, and shutters are being made to place over the windows, with loopholes for firing upon the enemy should he ever appear. On Tuesday and Thursday last the Supreme Court sat ; and a curious appearance was presented with the judges in their robes on the Bench, the barristers around the table, and, at the back of this calm judicial scene, innumerable boxes containing rifles and ammunition which have been deposited there to be ready in case the place has to be turned into a laager. On the opposite side of the road — that is, of Church street, the main thoroughfare in this city, is a long low strip of buildings containing the offices of the Colonial Secretary and the Native High Court. Here, too, the same kind of preparations are being made — and already nearly all the windows are boarded up. Down the street a number of stores which are in the block designed to be enclosed are only half opened ; and boxes tilled with earth are piled up at weak places — in fact, it looks almost as though we were already in a st-te of siege in this part of the town. At first the effect ou people's mmdi was somswhat depressing, but they seemed to have got used to the idea now and in some cases mild jokelets are made on the subject. Business of all kinds, except that connected with supplying waggons, stores, Ice , is at a standstill— but in these particular directions many are working night and day. At several places dozens of men and women may be seen busily at work making tents ; the waggoumakers are hard at work turning out vehicles, some with the Geneva cross on them, for the military, while* several of the stores here are almost at their wits end to know how they can complete the contracts they have made with the Commissariat.