The Evening Mail. THURSDAY, MAY 25, 1876. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 29, 25 May 1876, Page 2

The Evening Mail. THURSDAY, MAY 25, 1876. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

We are glad to notice that tlie hint we threw out the other clay as to the necessity for metalling the approaches to the goods shed has been acted upon. The road is now heing covered with five or six inches of good bint- metal, and it is those %v3io have business I at the "oods station in wet weather who will | ... 1 appreciate this improvement. We alluded t.n Tuesday to the age of a horse entered for one of the Keidston events —Bob Apples. We stated that the gelding was a wonder, and our assertion has been borne out by his performance yesterday. He won the Selling Hurdle Bate, and was trying hard to win the Hack Haee when lie came to grief. It appears that our friend of the doubtful age was going splendidly when he collided with a cow. Nothing daunted, Bob found, a-s he could not ride through the cow, lie would accept the other alternative, and ride over her. He may be good at tlie "sticks," but a cow was beyond him, and the coiiscfjuence was that Bob, the rider, and the cow got slightly mixed up. Bob then struck a bee line for home. Balaam, which w.is next to follow, though not gifted with the power of speech, like the assinine property of his scriptural namesake, was evidently possessed of large caution and reasoning powers, seeing the obstruction ahead, shunned the danger, and wisely bolted oIF tiie course, leaving Cocky Bobby (not he of Apples family) " Cock o'the walk."

We are pleased to find that endeavours are being made to raise a fund to assist the sufferers, and their families, by the late fatal railway accident. Mr. Jiowat informs us that he has obtained the names of some of the leading gentlemen of the town to act as a committee to obtain subscriptions. "When arrangements have been completed the town will lie canvassed, and all monies collected will be apportioned by the committee to the sufferers.

Verily the ways of the Press Agency are wonderful. The other day, when the Sail Francisco mail arrived in Auckland at ten o'clock in the morning, we never got a line of the news brought by the steamer. Todav we got a message about some Native meeting at Alexandra. We leave it to our readers to say which news is the more important—a yarn with a Native chief, or late Knglish intelligence.

We refer our readers to our shipping ■.-••ltunn for a diary kept by one of the surviving of the ill-fated Stratlnnore. The details will he found of an interesting character, as .showing tlie hopes aiul disappointments experienced by tiie unfortunate sufferers during t!i- i:- enforced detention oil the barren island frmn which thev were rescued.

The organ erected in St. Luke's Church v.'iM be opened by .Mr. A. J. Towsey of lUincdiu, on Sunday next. We have been favoured with an opportunity of hearing the instrument, which is, in every respect, withy of the reputation of the builders. Mr L. J. Lucas is at present engaged in tuning the organ, and it is fully expected thi.; important duty will be completed by to-morrow, in order to allow of the instrument being used at the regular choir practice in the evening. It is anticipated that the Rev. II L. .Stanford, of Duuedin, will officiate at Divine Service on Sunday next, but at present this is by no means certain. It is untitled by advertisement that a special meeting of the Oamaru Dramatic Club will he held at the Royal Hotel this evening, at T.uO.

The " Ilawke's Bay Mercury " remarks: "On dit that Mr. Curtis, the Superintendent of Nelson, will accept a porfcfc I '. in Sir Julius Vogcl's Ministry. Mr. Curtis is a good departmental man, a fair speaker, but not an over brilliant politician. He has administered the .-.flairs of Nelson for some considerable time, apparently to the satisfaction of the people of his Province. Mr. Curtis has always consistently supported Centralis tic principles."

The "Mount Ida Chronicle," writing of the Xa.eby .Sludge Channel, says—"The (loveniment should feel gratified that, in .spite f.f the myriad of jeremiads sung in the ears of its member.-;, and of its own unbelief, tiie channel promises to be so reproductive. We are not speaking of guess—of a supposition judged of from the top of a prospecting hole, and a knowing shake of the head. Let lho.se who doubt go and .see. T.et them borrow a tin dish, and, with Mr. John Croighton's courteous permission, jump down into the huge ditch, and test the quality of the ground. If they are not satisfied as to the future position of Naseby as a goldfield after walking for half-a-mile on gold, they must bo unbelievers indeed. Every inch of the ground along the Main Gully is marked off in claims, but these claims can only be worked provided that the channel is kept deep enough. The work is progressing with great rapidity—while we write 130 men are being employed. It is expected tliat the paving will begin next week." The Makikihi railway bridge is fast approaching completion, aud will, probably, re-

receive the finishing touch this .week. All bridges between-the Hook and. the Pareora Will',befmished' in about a fortnight, when plate-laying and b&ilasting will,/we ("Tribune") hope, be speedily pushed ahead. An engine was expected at the Gtaio on Monday evenirig,' to ;draw ■ ballast-trucks on Messrs. Proudfoot's contract, and there is no prospect of that firm allowing their work to remain in hand a long time.