The Evening Mail. MONDAY, SEPT. 18, 1876. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 128, 18 September 1876, Page 2

The Evening Mail. MONDAY, SEPT. 18, 1876. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

It wit! lie aeen from an a»tvert lament whtuli appear* in another column, that Rolert-*, the Champion BiUinrtl-player of the World will give an exhibition of his wonderful command ok the etie to-morrow evening. at the Star nnei Garter Hotel. It " ill be also seen elsewhere that his performances ob Saturday night, in his match with Weston, have edipsed not only his former feats, but feist victory was scored in the quickest time on record. Our special correspondent informed us that the 1,005) had Wen put together in the almost incredible short space of sixty-two minutes: bat we have been shown a telegram receive*! from an authentic source, which states that the game was scored actually one minute under the hour, beating the fastest time by fifteen minutes. As Mr. -R«>M*KtaLi»-«hia in Tf"" 0" Thuraday. to-

opportunity of witnessing his wonderful skill in Oaniaru. We have been given to understand that, with a view to the comfort of those who may patronise, only a limited numl>er of tickets will be issued, so that we wouftl advise an earlj- appliciition. The complimentary benefit to Miss De Vcre takes place thi3 evening, the programme selected for the occasion being one of the mo3t attractive which has been presented to the public for some time past. In addition to a number of well-known local gentlemen, Mr. Charles Ycrncr, of the Vaudeville Troupe, has generously volunteered his services on the occasion, appealing in the character impersonation of " Major K. N. Pepper." We understand that a distinguished foreign artist, Signor Gammon, who is a fellow-student of Signor Giaminona, of the De Murska Company, will also give some choice selections on the Monster Flute. The entertainment promises to be a rare treat and should be well patronised.

We arc requested to intimate that, as there will be no criminal business for the District Court 011 the 20th in3t., jurors will not be required to attend. Our correspondent at Hampdeu informs us that there has been a regular clear-out from the township for the Kumara Rush 011 the Wc.it Coast. It appears very probable that a further number will leave for the new El Dorado in a few days. Anybody (says the Guardian) who hap. pened to be in the vicinity of llattray-street Wharf or the Uailway Station on Friday forenoon must have been put in mind of the earlier days of Otago, when men with laige swags and tin dishes were to be seen in small knots of four or five either returning or going to the diggings. Prior to the departure of the Ladybird from the wharf 011 Friday a jihnilar scene presented itself, flic men ho leit for the West Coast by the steamer appeared to be thorough miners, who no doubt have been induced to leave the Otago Goldlields by the good news which has been recently received from the Kumara and other places on the V* est Coast. It is the old story, and 110 doubt, as on many previous occasions, the majority of those who have departed for the new rush will have reason to regret the step they have taken. In another column we publish an article from one of the West Coast papers, which proves that a man wants a good deal of capital before he can expect to do auy good at it, and 110 doubt we shall soon hear the usual lamentations which follow in the wake of a new rush.

Aii amusing incident is said to have occurred at Masterton recently. A number of working men formed themselves into an amateur dramatic company, and gave a performance. The next morning one of them the man who had the money—was missing, and, after a short search, a warrant was applied for, but refused. The greatest state of excitement prevailed until towards evening, when one of the party found the culprit prettv heavy in liquor in one of the hotels. A demand for the money was made, but the repiv was that "he would see him blessed first." The parties adjourned to open air, where the demand was repeated, with the same result. Thereupon the patience of the party who demanded the money became ex" haunted, so he knocked his former friend down, then took hold of him by the feet, and shook him till his pockets were empty. Having picked up the cadi, he gave the prostrate body a kick, accompanied by what be considered appropriate remarks, and then went away, highly pleased with the result.

A ridiculous rumor ha> (says a Melbourne paper) been put into circulation that the coins issued from the Mint since the beginning of this year have been defaced, and that thi=Tdefacement lias taken place before the coins have been issued ironi the Mint. Xhe acting deputy-master of the Mint informs us tii.it since the beginning of this year a new tool has been in use for raising the rim of the coin, the effect of whieli is to produce a rounded edge instead of a sharp one, with the object not only of improving the appearance of tin* win, but also of lessening the wear of the edges in the course of circulation. This, no doubt, accounts for what has been mistaken as a defacement of the coinage. Evidently some faultfinders are too clever. It is currently reported that the reason for H.M.S. Xymphe's departure for Wellington is a throat by Sir George Grey that he would bring in a motion affirming that the presence of a man-o'-war in harbour during the session of Parliament is unconstitutional aud a standing menace to the liberties of mankind, inasmuch as it is impossible for the representatives of the people to pursue their deliberations with that freedom essential to the happiness of posterity, while under the guns of a vessel of war. Kathcr tiian have a remonstrance on the subject telegraphed to the Imperial Government, the Governor, it is said, begged Captain Suttic to seek the shelter of some other port. Of course we (Aryus) do not vouch for the truth of this rumor; but is is quite consistent with the fact 3 of the remonstrance regarding the bombardment of Auckland. A Wellington exchange says "It is understood that the Bev. J. C. Andrew, M.H R-, 13 about to quit political life, in order to devote himself to schoolastic duties in the position of head-master of: Nelson College. Mr. Andrew, although a ripe scholar,

Nelson College may, we think, well be congratulated on getting him as its principal, and the Assembly may b.e equally well congratulated on the prospect of being rid of him. He is as well fitted for the one position as he was badly fitted for the other. Probably Mr. Andrew will not vacate his seat till the end of the Session, and then the electors of the Wairarapa will have to look out for another representative. They will probably choose Mr. C. E. Carter. Mr. Andrew's retirement will also cause a vacancy at the Education Board." The trustees of the Melbourne cemetery have either ordered or permitted the water from the cemetery vaults to be pumped into the city street channels, and they have also got rid of tlieir .underground drainage in the same manner. "We have (says the Telegraph) to endure pollutions enough, but that the drainage of the charnel-house should be conducted via Carlton into Swanston and Elizabeth streets, and so into the river, is a little too much, and the City Council is in open revolt. Commenting on Sir Julius Yogel's farewell address to the electors of Wanganui, the Chronicle remarks :—" We imagined that the Premier 'would have made a much better defence, and many will be disappointed with the utter insufficiency of the reasons assigned by our retiring member for the course which he has found it incumbent upon him to pursue. Self, and self-interest appears the root and origin of the Premier's determination. Of course, Sir Julius Vogel can scarcely be blamed for taking this step. Though idolised and worshipped by the deluded masses, he i 3 only human. He forsees the inevitable future, approaching too by no measured or stealthy strides. Onwards, apace, travel the skeletons of financial ruin, of expended loans, of damaged credit, of a disorganised Government, of a dread uncertainty as to the future, of undermined confidence, of failing resources, of waning popularity, of the bitter end, now so very, very near. Is it to be wondered at, then, that when a haven of refuge opened its friendly portals, the battered, storm-tossed wreck gladly drifted into smooth water, furled its sails, dropped anchor in peace and security; all the more appreciated after the storms, turmoil, and disappointments of an eventful political career. In noticing the Dunedin Choral Society's last concert, the Guardian observes -.—"Dunedin, we think, may justly claim to possess the cream of the vocal ability of the Colony ; for in no other city in New Zealand would it have been possible to have obtained such satisfactory results as crowned the efforts of the soloists of the Choral Society last night.