The Evening Mail. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1876. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 185, 23 November 1876, Page 2

The Evening Mail.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1876. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

"Worst» arc and a drop of ink falling upon a thought may prwiuce that which makes thousands thinfe."

The charge against .Morrison, which occupied almost three hours in the hearing, resulted in nn acquittal, the jury, after about half an hoar's deliberation, returning a verdict of " Not Guilty.'* The third anniversary of the Star of Hope Lodge, I 0.G.T., will be celebrated this evening, by a Soiree and Concert, in the Volunteer Hall. There was no busincaa at the Police Court this morning. In our telegraphic columns a few days since we published an item forwarded by our Special Correspondent with regard to an

alleged cruelty in the Industrial School. In another column we give the main facts of the case as garnered by the reporter of the Guardian, and we find that although the name of the girl on whom the cruelty is alleged to have been practised is slightly different from that published by us, yet a suspicion which we then entertained of being acquainted with the victim in question is now confirmed by the correction. The girl Dohig, although the daughter of respectable parents, has unfortunately been to them a heart-sore and a trial, and although it is scarcely fair to express an opinion either one way or the other until the result of the inquiry ordered by Mr. M'l.ean is made known, we believe it will be found to be one of those desperate cases which require desperate means.

During the Session of Parliament repeated complaints were made by various journals against the practice indulged in by some of the correspondents of the Press Agency in airing their own individual political opinions, and wiring them as tho3e of the public. The injustice was a flagrant one, and very properly was put a itop to. Parliament is now out of Session, and consequently there is no opportunity of the like being done in political matters, but we find the Press Agent at Timani has taken up the cue and acted upon it with regard to the shearing dispute. Under date of yesterday, the servant of the Agency atTimaru has the following: "The shearers are going to work at 16s. 8d per hundred. This is the result of an influx of Australian shearers." Now,is there a particle of truth in the statement, and if so, what does it mean ? Does the correspondent wish it to be inferred that it is the intention of the men at some future date to accept the sum named ? are we to believe that they are travelling the road to at once accept it ? or still again, does he mean that they have already commenced operations ? In the absence of any particular station being mentioned, other than the very ambiguous assertion made, we are iuclined to believe that the scribe has been " got at,' and that it is another master-stroke in the disreputablepractices pursued b} the shearers' opponents. To show how much reliance can be placed upon the statement, could it not be said likewisa from Oam.iru that the men are going to work at lfis. Bd. ; but because perhaps a few mean spirited fellows have bowed their necks to the yoke, it does not follow that that is by any means the rate ruling.

The Telegraph Department intimate that mails leave Batavia on the 24th instant, 2nd, Stb, 22nd, and 30th December; but ext:a steamers leave Batavia, Samarary, aud Sowrataga, of which it is only possible to obtain very short notice. Mails due to Batavia on the 26th and 30th instant, and 9th pros. ; bat several extra steamers are expected between the above advices. Communication expected to be opened with repairing ship at any moment.

It is satisfactory (says the Tribune) to report that not only is the work on Whittaker's contract being pushed ahead rapidly, but the station buil«ling3 are fa3t approaching completion, and will most probably receive the finishing touch in a few days. At the Waiho Station there is a passenger platform 80ft. by loft., with shed and ticket office; a goods shed, 6uft. by 30ft., with circular iron roof; and the necessary outbuildings and approaches. The work is being put out of hand by Mr. Parsons in a first-cla33 style. "We learn that arrangements will be made with Mr. Whitaker to bring rails and sleepers for the Waimate branch line, so that it may be expected this district will be connected by rail with two seaports about the middle of January.