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Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 312, 24 April 1877, Page 2

The Oamaru correspondent of the Daily Times has apparently waxed wrath at our daring to contradict the statement telegraphed by him to the Times in reference to the probability of there being a vacancy in the representation of .Waitaki in the House of Representatives. He has been troubling the Times with some further information on the subject, and seems indignant that we should have dared to call in question any statement he might make. Poor fellow ! We are exceedingly sorry that we should have been compelled to contradict a nice little bit of his news. He says he got his information some time ago from the mouth of the member himself, and adds that rumour has since been at work upon the subject. Well, so it might have been, but before making use of information picked up on the highways and byeways, would it not have been more sensible to have made inquiries and found out if the report was true, instead of taking as "gospel" anything said by the member in jest, which the idle gossips in the town were only too glad to twist into real earnest ?

We understand that the charge of selling one of the Government carbines belonging to the Artillery Volunteers, mentioned by us a few days ago, will come on for hearing at the Resident Magistrate's Court on Thursday next.

We would again remind our readers that the Philharmonic Society's concert will take place this evening at the Masonic fiall. As we have previously stated, a most attractive programme has been put forth, and no effort has been spared to make this one of the very best of the concerts given by the Society. We have therefore every reason to believe that those wlio attend the concert this evening will have a real treat afforded them. At the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning, Mr. Thomas Pratt was charged with stealing a thousand bags of oats, belonging to Mr. James Hassal, but on the application of Mr. O'Meaglier, who appeared for the defence, the case was adjourned for a week. The case is likely to be one of a very interesting nature, and will probably result in some very nice pickings for the lawyers engaged in it.

At a meeting of the South Canterbury Jockey Club, held at Timaru last evening, the following resolution was carried:— " That, in consequence of the absence of any evidence to connect O'Brien with the alleged pulling of Fishhook at the Oamaru races, we are unable to comply with the request of the Oamaru Club, and that Fishhook be allowed to run at the forthcoming meeting of the South Canterbury Jockey Club."

A meeting of the Calcined Corkonians was held last evening, when there was a very good attendance of members, the chair being occupied by Mr. Mitchell. After the various office-bearers of the Club had been elected, a programme for the first entertainment was drawn up, and it was decided that the first rehearsal should take place on Wednesday evening next. We understand that it is the intention of the Corkonians to give their first entertainment in aid of some charitable institution, but the object has not yet been definitely settled. We notice by advertisement in another column that the second of the weekly quadrille assemblies is announced for tomorrow night, at the Volunteer Hall, when there -will no doubt be a good attendance. The members of the Dunedin Licensed Victuallers' Association have decided to carry on, at the cost of the Association, the appeal against the decision the City Magistrate gave in reference to the closing of side doors of public houses on Sunday. An advertisement which-appears in another column announces various alterations in the running of trains to Timaru on Thursday and Friday next, in consequence of the races taking place at Timaru on those days. It will be seen that return tickets issued on the 25th or 26th inst. will be available for return on the 28tb, thus giving visitors an opportunity of remainjgg in Timaru until the day after the races are finished.

The regular weekly meeting of the St. Paul'a Young Men's A"- held last evening, wh ■re attendar" - : " r able f - - the . '*" j- ,; pied ti. r was "~W age is bent The Rev. M. reading anen, reading. Sever*. And yet another troupe 1 We unders. the members of the t others have formed them. of amateur Minstrels, and -mg to

work at once in preparing t gramme for their first entertainment. As yet this new aspirant for public favour has not obtained a name, but the company is said to possess all the elements of success, having a large number of good voices, in addition to a very good show of instrumentalists. What with the newly-formed Calcined Corkonians and the Band Minstrels, there is likely very shortly to be a great run upon corks, and anyone anxious to enter upon a good speculation would do well to lay in a stock.

We clip the following from yesterday's Lyttelton Times: —"We shall have five large vessels sailing out of Lyttelton in the course of a single month, with full cargoes of produce, for London. Nothing further, we presume, is needed to prove the growing importance of our export trade, and the rapid improvement which has been effected in the means of facilitating despatch to vessels visiting our port. Well may our neighbours in Dunedin feel jealous that our trade is increasing so rapidly, whilst their's is almost stationary; and we venture to express an opinion, their's to the contrary, notwithstanding, that the non-completion of the trunk line of railway to their port has not contributed one iota to this proof of the satisfactory development of our resources."

The Sydney Morning Herald is pleased to learn from the Glen Innes Examiner that a movement is on foot for getting up a prize of L2OO to be awarded to the proprietor of the best model farm of not less than 100 acres, within % radius of ten miles of Glen Innes. The must be won three years in succession, will form an item in next year's programme of the Glen Innes Show. Mr. F. ~W. Long has taken the matter up, and he states that upwards of LBO has already been promised towards the object.

The "Intelligent Vagrant," who writes in the New Zealand Mail, has actually been able to make a wise suggestion. The fact is one of such an unlooked-for nature, that we feel compelled to do our duty, and make it known. The " Vagrant" says : —I see Wanganui is in the field for the honor of having the Colonial regatta there next year. I have a suggestion to make. Supposing Wanganui to be successful in getting up the regatta, let the one after that be held at Lake Waihola,- near Dunedin, of the most easy access by rail, and presenting facilities for the fouroared champion race, I may safely say, unattainable elsewhere. It is quite possible that Dunedin and Port Chalmers may object, on account of local considerations, each wanting the regatta on the water in front of them, though said water is patronised by weather as unreliable as that which in Wellington has prevented many a rowing race. But I cannot help that. The regatta should be a purely New Zealand affair, and the locality I have mentioned, if for no other reason than its fitness, should be selected for one year at least."

We notice that both the West Coast Times and Grey River Argus support Mr. Gisborne in the election struggle now going on for the seat in the House of Representatives for the [ Totara district, rendered vacant by the death of Mr. G. H. Tribe. The Grey River Argus says ;—"lt is an undoubted fact that the representation of the "West Coast generally requires strengthening in calibre, and the opportunity of obtaining the services of an eminent public man like Mr. Gisborne is one that should be taken advantage of ; and if the Totara electors are wise in their generation they will commit their interests into his hands. Both Mr. M'Gafim and Mr. Grimmond are useful men in regard to local affairs, but, without any disrespect to those gentlemen, we are of opinion that their services can be better utilised in the local bodies than in the Parliament of the Colony. The West Coast members are, with one exception, quite untried men, and do not command that weight in the Assembly which is desirable, whilst Mr. Gisborne is a gentleman who, aa we have on a former occasion pointed out, is in the front rank of our public men, and cannot fail to exercise considerable influence over the deliberations of Parliament."

The Ovardian has thefollawing ;—-"'Wi £ I. Sir James Fergusson was Governor jt . J j' nd, upon the occasion of his last vjj i ' 'nd he was presented with j 3 i . ~'f the loyalty of t! LV, is portion of hj, been j. 'n Dm ..press ths , throne and p$ so up to the preset jne of their number is aft proper address in English. W to an intelligent Celestial that * .ess in Chinese would be the prop oiling under the circumstances; but Join 3 with a merry twinkle in his eye, replitj 3 'No fear; Gov'nor him no savee.' "

The Wellington correspondent of tfc Lyttelton Times says : —"Mr. F. E. Wrigl; formerly Chief Agent for the Go vera, met Insurance in Canterbury, has written a lon letter to the Post. That journal does n ( publish it in full, as it is too long, but givi extracts. Mr. Wright details the injustic he has suffered at the hands of the Goveit ment, and after complaining that, when ti appointed Postmaster, he was sent to Po Chalmers, where the Post-office is built ovi a cesspool, he concludes as follows :—•] conclusion, allow me to express a matter opinion—not mine alone, but that of evet one with whom I have conversed, who h had the honour of knowing the present re head of the Insurance Department, H Charles Godfrey Knight—which is, that thi possibly well-meaning young gentleman, no withstanding the expense Government hi incurred in his education, is totally deficiet in tact, judgment, and in knowledge of tl world; that he has usurped a position i which these qualities are cardinal requisite; that should he retain the position lot enough, a department which contains all tl germs of a noble institution will be rendere worse than useless by being governed by a erratic and uncertain head.' Some couple( months ago the Argus drew attention to ti alleged dissatisfaction in the Annuities Di partment, and to the fact of Mr. Wright appointment to Port Chalmers. Your co: respondent's letters also touched on the sul ject. The New Zealand Times denied ti statement then made, and now confirmed b Mr. Wright."