The Evening Mail. TUESDAY, DEC. 12, 1876. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 201, 12 December 1876, Page 2

The Evening Mail.

TUESDAY, DEC. 12, 1876. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

" Words arc thinys. and a drop of Ink falling upon a thought may produce that which makca thousands think."

t We vocld draw a.teution to the fact that | '.hi* is the opening night of Bachelder's Panot rurna, an exhibit, on which has been most ( highly spoken of wherever it has visited. [ la addition'to the Pantascope, there aie itwjwjjf attraction, which

In another column ■will be found the report of the Sub-Committee appointed to inquire into the working of the North School. At the Committee meeting last evening, it was decided that the annual examinations should be commenced at the North School to-mor-row, agd at the Grammar School the following day. The distribution of prizes takes place at the Volunteer Hall on Thursday evening.

Misfortunes seldom come alone, and following closely upon the footsteps of the accident chronicled last week, we have to report another which took place last evening, at the quarry works in connection with the Harbor Board Reclamation. Although rumor had magnified the catastrophe into the blowing to atoms of two men and the severe injury of several others, while regretting that it is our duty to have to refer to the matter at all, we are happy to state that the consequences are not so serious. It appears that shortly before knocking-offtime last evening, three blasts had been laid and slow matches applied by Eugene M'Carthy and Stephen Smith. Two of the blasts had exploded, but the third not having taken effect the men approached, imagining that the match had fallen off. When they were close to the spot an explosion was heard, and immediately M 'C'arthy felt himself struck in the leg and on the forehead. Smith's injuries appears to be of a more serious nature, being hurt about the groin. Both men were quickly brought into town, M'Carthy to the Hospital, and Smith to his own house, where medical assistance was at once procured. Upon inquiry at the Hospital this morning, we were pleased to learn that M'Carthy's injuries were very slight, being merely a scratch on the forehead and a sprained ankle, from the effcts of which he id expected to be all light in a day or two.

By the Waitaki Mr. Hesketh had a number of immigrants forwarded to him ; but we iearn they are all married couples, and the families thereof, who have, been in the Caversham Barracks for the past three weeks. The following is their classification from the Immigration Uiiicer :—One family three children ; two ditto (farm laborers), one child; one ditto (farm laborer), two children ; and one domestic servant.

A special meeting of the Municipal Council was ca-led for last evening re the Waterworks Question, but considerable difficulty W. 15 experienced in getting a quorum, fully half au hour having elapsed after the appointed time before a sufficient number had put in au appearance to enable them to proceed to business. Ihe question was discussed at great length, it eventually being resolved, on the motion of Councillor Booth, seconded by Councillor Gee : —" That the Council adjourn till next ordinary meeting, and that in the meantime the Clerk ascertain : 1. The cost of laud required. 2. The amount of water which will be taken for motive power at per horse-power. 3. The approximate revenue to be derived from householders. Also, that the Finance Committee be directed to procure all the information possible re the borrowing of £60,000 for water supply, and report at next meeting." The Council then adjourned. In our telegraphic columns on Saturday, we stated that Mr. Murray, of Port Chalmers had gone to the scene of the wreck of the Otago with a professional diver, for the purpose of recovering the 10,000 ounces of gold on board the ill-fated vessel. The action, however, of the underwriters and agents in Dunedin had been anticipated by Captain Calder, who, with the assistance of his crew, at great personal risk, extracted the gold from the specie room, and removed it safely to the shore. By a telegram which we received last night, we learn that the hull and cargo of the Otago has been sold to Mr. Abbott for £125.

We are pleased to notice that a representative of the local team, Lieutenant M'Corkmdale, has secured one of the range prizes. Against 40 competitors lie made the highest scors of 19 at the 500-yard rauge, the prizetaker for the -whole of the ranges—2oo, 300, 400, and 500—being two behind him. Volunteer Kohn, of the Dunedin .Naval Brigade, made the greatest aggregate score of 60 at all the ranges.

We have been informed that the cable between Lisbon and Vigo and Lisbon and Falmouth is interrupted.

An official inquiry into the loss of the steamer Otago at Chasland's Mistake on the 4th inst., was held yesterday (says this morning's Guardian). The fact 3, as shown by the evidence, were identical with the account of the catastrophe published in these columns. As previously stated, the vessel went ashore in a thick fog, during the second mate's watch. It al3o appeared that the speed of the ship was never slackened until she struck, and that her course must have been changed after the captain left the deck. The second mate contradicts the captain as to the course he was told to steer, but even the course he said he had to keep would not (the master said) have run the vessel ashore. After a full inquiry, the Bench decided that the Otago was lost through the default of the second officer, and suspended his certificate for two years. The certificates of the other officers were returned. Honey must be pretty plentiful at the the many bad r««

ports, judging from the following very liberal programme published of the Christinas sports :—" The great event will be the Kumara Grand Challenge Handicap, of £llO, determinable by points; the next is the Teremakau Handicap, of 40 sovs.; for wrestling, £75 is offered ; the winners of the mile and half-mile race receive £l2 each ; the best vaulter, £8 ; and the winners of other events, £25. The only drawback is the want of proper ground for sports, and if Messrs. Keech and Molloy could only be induced to grant the use of their paddock, Kumara would witness an assemblage of ' talent' unequalled bi New Zealand. Nominations close on the 7th ; handicaps declared on the 14th; and acceptances received up to the 23rd of December." The usual meeting of the Caledonian Society took place last night at Procter's Hotel. Present—Messrs. Bee, Macfarlane, Smilie, Rowland, Lawson, I. Martin, Taylor, and W. Aitken (Secretary). Mr. Lawson was authorised to prepare badges for the Directors. It was also resolved that an advertisement be inserted in the Evening Mail and North Otago Times notifying that the use of the Society's plant be at the disposal of intending competitors each evening, on the grounds, from 6 to 8 o'clock.