The Evening Mail. FRIDAY, NOV. 31, 1876. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 192, 1 December 1876, Page 2

The Evening Mail.

FRIDAY, NOV. 31, 1876. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

"Wonts* are thinss. and a top of ink foiling upon a thought HKijr prwictc*; that which makiet thousands think."

This was % regular field clay at the Police Court. there being no less tbau sixteen civil cases on the Hat tor hearing. The only criminal charge was one of using threatening language preterm! against Joaeph Cosgravc fey George Davis, both of Herbert. Before the case could be proceeded with, accused made a statement to the effect that he had uaed the language in the heat of passion > that he was very aorry for so doing, and was quite witling to be bo and over to keep the peace, besides paying all expenses. To the surprise of everybody in Court prosecutcr was put into the box, and the business of the day delayed by the talcing of unnecessary depositions. As there were sixteen case* waiting to be adjudicated upon, which would at least take twenty minutes to each

faearing, the pleasing prospect stared us in the face of having to wait until 5.20 p.m. to see the list cleared.. Under thofee circumstances our reporter very,wisely relieved the Court of his presence, and as he took his departure longing looks followed him by litigants and witnesses who were unfortunately unable to do likewise.

A special meeting of the Municipal Council was held at eleven this morning. The business, however, which was in connection with the asphalting of the footpaths, was not one needing publication.

Owing to a very heavy fog which was hanging over the entrance to the port the Waitaki was delayed some time before venturing to run in. The whistle of the steamer Shag was set going, but evidently the Waitaki was unable to hear it owing to to the wind blowing in a contrary direction. About 1.40 p.m., however, she was seen looming through the fog, and a few minutes afterwards anchored at the Breakwater. We learn that the Bishop of Dunedin is to arrive in Oamaru to-morrow, and will preach in St. Luke's Church both morning and evening on Sunday next (Advent Sun day).. On the following Sunday his Lordship has arranged to be at Otepopo and Hampden for Divine service at each place. The hours of service at these last places will be intimated on-Sunday next. The services at St Luke's Church will be at the usual hours —11 a.m. and 6.30 p.m. There will be a celebration of the Holy Communion in the morning.

O.i application at the Barracks we have been given, by the Immigration Officer, the fill jwing classification of the immigrants ex ship Dunedin, forwarded by the Waitaki today :—Three married couples (farm laborers); one family, with one child. Single men — carpenter, one; farm laborers, twenty-two. Single women—Domestic servants, five. We notice from our exchanges that the Wellingtonians have been treated to pretty hot weather within the past week. The special correspondent of a Dunedin daily would, however, appear to be piling it on, for he wires that the heat, as registered by an ordinary thermometer, reached on last Sunday 122 in the shade.

The Waikotiaiti section of the line of railway 13 progressing under the superintendence of Mr. Fraser. The formation of the line is, of course, being done by piece-work, and it is satisfactory to find that a number of men have eagerly embraced the offer of the General Government. We (Wnikouoiti Htrabl) have heard some dissatisfaction expressed at the low rate of wages many have been enabled to earn, owing to the price at which the piece-work was offered. Others again have been very glad to avail themselves of the terms offered by the Government, on the principle that half a loaf is better than no bread.

The Cliristchurch correspondent of the Guardinn writer: —"A very good story is going the rounds concerning a well-known ex-mayor of Cliristchurch, who lately figured in a very disreputable case at the Supreme Court. At the last general elections he busied himself greatly in securing the return of Mr. Wason for Coleridge, and Mr. Moorliousc for Chri&tchurch ; and of course boasts a good deal of the part he took in the matter. Meeting Mr. Moorhouse the other day on the racecotirse, he addressed him thus in front of a number of other gentlemen in his usual patronising, aggressive manner : 'Do you know, Mr. Moorhouse, that I am not at all satisfied with the line you adopted in the House this Session? You know I put you in for Christchurch, and I also put Wason in. He has conducted himself properly, but I am not at all pleased with you.' The M.H.R. looked at him, and replied: 'Do you know that if I consulted my own inclinations and the disposition of my constituents, I should knock you down at this moment ?' and turning on his heel, left the discomfited magnate feeling very small indeed. lieport says Mr. Moorhouse is one of the best boxers in the Province, and no doubt at the moment he must have felt both able and willing to carry out his threat," A point of some importance was raised at the Land Board meeting (says the Dunedin Star of Wednesday). A reserve at Brighton, which had been leased to one Kemp for a garden, was the subject of a memorial by the inhabitants of the district, who asked that the license should be cancelled and the reserve permitted for recreation purposes, but it appeared that the license had been transferred with the Board's sanction by Kemp to one Baxter. It was remarked by the acting Chief Commissioner that these transfers had been allowed to take place as a matter of course, but he was strongly of .opinion that the practice was illegal, power to transfer being given only in respect of the purposes named in respect of the 91st section, while no such power was conferred by the 161 st section, under which transfers professed to be made. The other members of the Board were of Mr. Strode's opinion, and Messrs. Clark and Butterworth were for immediately cancelling the license, but in the face of its sanction by the Board it was not deemed desirable to take that course. However, it was pretty plainly intimated that no more such transfers would be allowed.