LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 18, 12 May 1876, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

We Jiave received an excellent letter from; "Cockatoo," but as our correspondent not sent his real name and address, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith, we cannot insert his coutribu-' tion. '• " ■

We have liad the pleasure of seeing the programme for the second Be Murska Concert, which will take place here next week. The items include "The Hungarian Song," with variations, in which Mdlle. De Murska has* achieved such a brilliant success; aria from " La Somnambula ;" and the grand duo, " Crispino e la Comare." It is considered one of the best programmes ever submitted by the management, and such as will display to the utmost the truly marvellous nature of the lair artiste's voice, and the wonderful lowers of execution possessed by her. The dates fixed for the conceits are Thursday and Friday next, the ISth and l"ch. The " Westport Times" of the 18th April commences a leading article of a column and a third in the following manner :—"Difference of opinion between the Government Actury and the members of a certain' Lodge of Odd-fellows known as the Travellers' Rest Lodge, Richmond, Nelson District, as to the ' actual* and ' actuarial' solvency of that Lodue, may open up the question of the extent of legitimate interference in the Colonial Government can exercise in the affairs of Friendly Societies." It seems to us (says the "Southland News") that the article on the internal arrangements of the Odd-fellows Lodge ' known as the Travellers' Rest Lodge, llichmoud, Nelson District,' and the opinions of the Government Actuary upon it would be a capital thing to read on a sofa after a good dinner." The " Southland News " tells the following story: —"This is the season for collecting the dog tax. Some of the officers appointed t j do this duty are great enthusiasts in their own line of business. Quite recently a gentleman from the country arrived in Invercarcargill, and he had a dog with him. He had scarcely entered the town when a duly authorised dog-tax collector tapped him en the shoulder, and asked him if his dog was registered. A friend of ours, who deserves to lie called the Yorick of Southland, heard of the circumstance, and in describing it he recalled a similar incident which came under his notice some time ago. Two men who had long been mates together, worked together, borrowed money from each other, at last parted—not iu anger—and one of them, the Irishman, entered the police force. Months afterwards they met at the corner of a street, and it was dog-tax collecting time. The one who was not a pol iceman had a dog with him, and Tim (the policeman) was collecting taxes. The man with' the deg approached Tim in a most friendly manner, saying, 'God bless you, old boy ; how are you V Fancy his surprise when Tim, drawing himself up to his full height, replied, 'Begorra, foine ; but afore we proeade wid any further familiarities, h that dog rc-gis-ter'd ?' This was being ultra-ollicious with a vengeance." The " Weekly Herald" states that recently a respectable-looking man was brought before the Bench at the Police Court, on a charge of being found by night without lawful excuse, in the enclosed yard at the rearoj Mr. Andrew Heavy's house, in Wyndhams treat. The man is said to be paying his addresses to Mr. Heavy's daughter under the diliiculty of that gentleman's disapprobation, and that, not being able to meet his lady-love in the house, he had recourse to the outride. While waiting for the desired opportunity, he was discovered by the "stern parient,'" who called for the police, and handed him over to that body on the charge of "being found on his premises by night without lawful excuse." Tn the morning, however, the father seems to have somewhat relented, as he was in Court when an application (based on the lady's explanation) was made for the charge to be withdrawn, and did not make any objection thereto.