North Otago Times. THURSDAY, AUGUST 26. 1886.

North Otago Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 6138, 26 August 1886, Page 2

North Otago Times. THURSDAY, AUGUST 26. 1886.

There is a work of vital and urgent importance which seems to be little thought of even by those who should bs thinking very seriously about it. ladeed, the period of thought should have been over, and that of action begun ere this time. We refßr to the necessity which exists for the construction of a protective wall or the formation of a boulder embankment, stretching along the beach from the northmole in Outturn Harbor to the ore»k that empties itself into the sea about half a mile to the northward of the Onmaru Woollen FActory. Some say that sinoe the completion of the harbor works tbe action of the waves on the soil of the foreshore has Increased in destructiveness, the theory being that that portion of the tide which Is intercepted by tbe Break* water adds its force 'to that of the waves which wash the beach immediately to the northward. This view of the matter appears to be a reasonable one, but whatever may be the cause there seems to be no room for doubting that the foreshore, within and for some dhtance beyond the town boundary, is now giving way to the action cf the waves much more rapidly and extensively than it uaeol to. Indeed, unless some kind of protective work it laid down all along the landside to deaden the action of the sea, especially in rough weather, the Oamaru Eaplanade will be ruinously reduced in rzi before many years are over, and of course the adjacent town property and the comfort of the residents will be injuriously affected. In fsct we should say that already those who live or who own property, particularly just outside the town boundary, feel that their interests ate seriously threatened through the want of a protec tive embankment along the foreshore. The County Council, which is there the paramount local body we suppose, should surely be urged to taka some steps in the matter; and the Government, who, through having robbed Oamaru of the Esplanade, becomes responsible for its preiervation, will have to bs asked to do something in the direction we have indicated. At any rate, unless something is done, and done soon too, the action of the sea on the Oamaru foreshore will ere long be found leading to extremely inconvenient and unprofitable results.

The interchange of classic civilities which took place between the Premier and the students at the " capping " ceremony in Dunedin on Tuesday night, gives rise to sjme n flections not at all complimentary to the oonsiderateneas of the Otago D Diversity authorities. Of course the incident also illustrate*, rather grimly [ perhaps, the inhumorous side of Sir Robert S'oui's character. If, when the graduates began to interrupt the fl >n of his eloquence, bs had, instead of threatening to give them in charge of the police, made a few digressive remarks more suited to the position, all would probably have been well. He might have said, * Well, gentlemen, I am expected to deliver a speech I believe, and I believe you are not espected to create dis' urbances — to behave like a menagerie let loo«e. Still, if you have tbo slightest desire to ! behave In that way, I hope I am not so \ ill bred as to hinder you from exhibiting i those manners which you in your wisdom | deem to be peculiarly creditable to the students of Otago University, and preeminently suitable to this eeremouial occasion. ladeed, I shall deem it an honor to be called upon to make way for so edifying an exhibition, should you be desirous of making it," Had Sir Robert applied to us we could have supplied him beforehand witb that speech, and its delivery to the graduates would probably have had a better effect upen their gasttio juices and pinesl glands than threatening them with the polioe and the penal tazrora of Aots of Parliament,

But after all, the fault really lies with the^University authorities. It is their lack of consideration which, year after year, leads to ail the trouble at the " capping " oexwaony. Thty pariiit ia regarding tht

ceremony as an ocoayion for dignified and dry-as-dust harangues, white the graduates evidently think it should be seized sb a golden opportunity for exhibiting the choicest specimens of what they are capable of achieving in the art of belaviour. And tbe students are right and tbe authorities are wrong. Assuredly the latter should npt only interdict tpcecb making, but altogether abolish the formal ceremony of " capping." The authorities should do that, and having cl( ne that they should dedioate the occasion to the graduate* as a means whereby the latter mliiht unrestrainedly exhibit all the boorishness and brutality in which it may be their ambition or genius to excel. If the exhibition were held in a large and properly arranged building, it would no doubt be extensively patronised by etghtseers, whose ticket«money could be devoted to the foundation and maintenance of scholarships, or to tha purchase of msdals f< r those students who most distinguished themselves during tbe Walpurgian Ravels as sansoullotio, dynamitard diners and destroyers of those priggish, wishy-washy, aud contemptible supei Unities called the manners of gen~ tlemec.

Owing to tke inolemenoy of the weather St. Lake's Charoh eale of work his been postponed. Farther notice will be given of the aYe fixed upon.

The Land Board have made certain altera* tions with regard to the number of sections to be sold at Karow aoder tbe deferredpayment sjstem, the cumber of these sections having been increased*

The »nbjeot of Mr Church's paper, to be read at the meeting of the farmers' Club on Saturday, Is "Essential conditions of Good Farming," aad not " Thorough Cultivation," as stated in yesterday's iasue.

After the storm of a few days ago, the sand rf bho as* ahorm between the Air* moa Creek and Kartlgi has been found to be impregnated with gold, aad a number ol men are awork on the beach. We are told tney are earning good wages. As a proof of this, two men have left good situations to work on the beach. Ihe appliances required are of the simplest character.

A commualcatlon received by the County Council yesterday showed that the writer understood orthography sufficiently well to be able at least to spell w rds according to his conception of their sound. The word idea wa« trarimogrifiol into "eye-dea. " This waa not doae »s a joke, bat was tbe writer's " idea " *>i the proper spelling of the word, and was after all not such a bad hit so far as scand is oonoernad.

The following player* have been selected to play in tbe matob, Volunteers v. Oamai a Ctab, to be played on Saturday afternoon. The Volunteers will be represented by : F. J. Forbes, W. M'Donald, H, Fnow, W. G'enfflU, W. Stronach, B. Borton, W. Thomas, H, Cork, C. Lewis, J. Jardine, N. Austin, W. GUss, E. Farr, R. Taylor, B. Graves, J. Slines, J. Wilding, and TV. Cooper. The Oamt.ru Club taam w : M be at fallows: R. Hewat, D. F. Hewat. J. H. Todd, D. Todd. A. Monle, J. Gilchrist, A. Heskotb, W. Ferens, F. B. C. Ingpen, W. H Meek. T, Steel, A. W. Mnrdoeb, C. Moore, 6. Stevenson, C, Clarke, J. Miller, C. Hill, and Si. Hardy.

The social evening given la«t sight by the members of St* Pauls Mutual Improvement Association was verj euecevfal and thoroughly erjoyable* The programme wa* varied aad enfcei Saining, comprising vooil and instrumental itemr, and anmerous readings and resitstiom. There was a orowded audience. Ihe Revt Mr Toid preiidorT, and the following took part in tbe proceedings : Misses K. Waddeil, aad J* Slav wright, the Rev. Mr Todd and Messrs Kemshed, Birrell, J. W. Hunter, R. Wl'sod* J. H. Todd, J. M'Muttrle, A. Wilson, D. Todd, Warren, Eveiy, M'Dowell, Cay tin, Grnmitt, and Sievwrigbt. The next meet* In?, on September Btb, will be occupied with debates on a few polito»l qa<s:lons such ai the Bepresenta>tion Bil l , tbe Bible in In Schools, Women's Snffrage, Land Settle* meat, eta.

Peter Cormack, Tailor and Clothier, Tecs Street, is now showing a Large and Well Selected Stock of Gentleman's Tweeds and Costing*, Imported direct. Also, a Large Variety of Oamaru Tweeds. Salts to meazare from 70s. Trousers to measure from 17s. Fit, Style, and Workmanship gna. ranteed. First-class (rants' Hosiery, Regatta Shirt*, Soaun, Collars, eto, ; t'ae best and cheapest in town* Petft, COKMiCK, Tees Street, Oamaru.