LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 195, 5 December 1876, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The climate of Invercargill must be most conducive to growth, if there be any truth in the statement of the News that the Chinese giant is now seven feet eleven inches. He is but a few days in the Colony, and we are-quite sure tiiat it was stated in the telegram he was but seven feet nine inches. Two inches in two days is not bad.

The usual weekly meeting of the directors of the Caledonian Society was held last night, in Procter's Hotel. The President occupied the chair, and there were also present— Messrs. P.. L. Pule, H. Aitken, C. Galbraith, Pratt, Taylor, Eowland, Fleming, Lawson, Macfarlane, and the hon. treasurer and secretary. The following resolutions were then moved and carried :—" That Mr. W. Sutherland be elected a life-member of the Society, in consideration of his promising to play at the Kew Year's Games without charging, and in the event of. his not competing for the bagpipe music prize ; that Mr. H. Aitken be appointed Director-General of Games ; that Mr. Maude be appointed auctioneer for the gates and booths ; and that Messrs. Fleming, Aitken, and Galbraith be appointed a committee to draw up conditions of sale." A meeting of'the Committee of the North Otago Horticultural Society tojk place last evening at Albion House. Present—Messrs. Lemon (President, in the chair), Paterson, Earlc, Main, Hartley, M'Laren, Falconer, and Simpson (Secretary). Mr. Falconer made an apology, exonerating Mr. Lemon from all blame in not appearing -with the key of the place of meeting on a former .occasion, and attributing it to his own forgetfulness. It was resolved that the Secretary have 200 first prize certificates printed ; al-o that placards be printed and trestles ordered. Mr. Paterson reported that he had secured the use of the Volunteer Hall, lighting included, for the sum of £4 12s. 6d. Messrs. Paterson and Simpson were appointed to see to the staging and the decorations of the hall; and Messrs. Main and Hartley were appointed to stage put plants ; and Messrs. Kidd and Spratt to stage fruit and vegetables. Tenders were ordered to be called for a refreshment booth for the sale of fruit and pastry—no aiehohclic drinks to be admitted —to be left at Mr. Lemon's office by noon of the 11th inst.

The Star of Saturday says :—lt is correct, as stated by the Clutha Leader yesterday, that Mr. Macandrcw has written to the Governor complaining tliaS letfcars addressed to the Superintendent of Ocago were detained at the Post Uiiiee and forwarded to the Hon. George M'Lcan at the hitter's request. Mr. Macandrew urges that there are many people in OLago who doubt the legality of the abolition of the office he held, and that their communications, though addressed to him oiiicially, are still his private property. It is not the fact, as stated in our Napier telegram, that the course pursued by Mr. Maeandrew, of sending on to Wellington such letters addressed to the Superintendent as reached him, delayed the preparation of, or caused any hitch in the arrangements connected with the approaching Council elecelections ; but when it was found that the public service was being injuriously affected, Mr. M 'Lean took the action of which Mr. Macandrew complains. We believe that very few letters were so forwarded to and opened by Mr. M'Lean; and that for many days no letters addressed to the Superintendent of Otago have passed through the Post Office here.