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Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 319, 1 May 1877, Page 2

The war news received up to the present time is of a contradictory nature, so far as the opening event of the conflict is concerned. In our yesterday's issue we published a telegram stating that the Turks had been routed

at Ardham, with a loss of 800 men. A telegram from London, of two days later date, denies the correctness of that report, and states that it was the Russians, and not the Turks, who were routed.

The wretched state of the streets during the. last few days has fully demonstrated the necessity for something being done by the Corporation before the winter sets in t ■ render them even passable during wet weather. With very few exceptions, the late rain has proved them to be in anything but a satisfactory state. Travel whichever way they might, pedestrians have been compelled to wade ankle-deep through mud and slush. In particular, the roads leading up the hills have been in a wretched state, some of them heing almost altogether impassable. We

trust the Corporation will see its way clear to effect some improvement before the

wet season sets in with earnest. Unless something is done, many of the sheets will become positively dangerous to travel on during dark nights.

A special meeting of t}>:i Municipal Council was held this morning, but as the proceedings were taken into Committee, the Press representatives were excluded, ft is understood that the only business before the Council was the consideration of certain matters in connection with the sale of the gasworks debentures.

The special meeting of the Municipal Council fur the consideration of the Waterworks tenders will be held to-morrow even. in:;', at 7.10 o'clock, instead of Thursday evening as previously announced.

Wc would remind shareholders in The Mail Company that the annual general meeting of the Company will bo held tomorrow, at four o'clock, in the long room of the Mechanics' Institute. A large attendance is desired, as, in addition to the consideration of the balance-sheet and report, some important business will be brought forward.

Ihe monthly meeting of the First Oaniaru Permanent Building Society, for the receipt of subscriptions, will be held at half-past 7 o'elock this evening.

The regular weekly meeting of the St. Paul's Young Men's Association was held

last evening, when there was a very fair attendance of members. A number of readings and recitations were given, and the rest of the evening Mas devoted to discussions upon the different subjects introduced. Wo [Guardian) are informed that Mr. W. J. Dyer, the Mayor of Milton, is alone to blame for the apparent slight offered to the residents of that township by his Excellency the Governor during his journey to Invereaigill. It appears that the Governor told the Mayor that he would be very happy to stop at Milton for a few minutes if arrangements could be made with the traffic manager. Mr. Dyer promised to see that official, but did not do so ; hence the disappointment of those who had assembled at the Milton station to show their respect to the representative of her Majesty.

Libel cases are becoming plentiful enough in New Zealand. The Daily Times brings to light another threatened action, the grounds for which are somewhat novel, if not important. It says : —" The Editor of the Nn» Zealand Temperance Times has just written to the Editors of the Rangiora S'tnnJard and Westport Times, demanding an apology for the publication of the following paragraph which appeared in each of those journals :—"lt is a remarkable coincidence, which shows how a well nature does balance thing 3 in this sublunary planet, that while the editor of the Licensed Victual-

lera' Gazette is, and has for years past been, a strict teetotaller, the editor of the Good Templar organ, the Temperance Times, has always taken and still continues to take his liquor freely. Hence, probably, the moderate and courteous tone in which each brother of the quill attacks the other. Things would be different if they exchanged places.' Failing the apologies demanded, the Editor of the Temperance 77m «s intends, we understand, to take immediate action against the Standard and Times for libel."

Quite an original definition of what constitutes inebriety (says the Guardian) was given by Mr. Brosnan, toll-keeper, at the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday. Brosnan appeared as a witness for the defence in an action to recover damages through the smashing of a buggy. A material point was whether the occupiers of the buggy were sober or otherwise. Brosnan being asked the question, replied that they looked as if they had had a glass of beer. Counsel : What led you to think so ? Witness : Because they hesitated to pay their toll. (Roars of liughter.) Mr. Stout: That's the richest definition I've heard yet. What did they do ? Witness : One was going to pay, and the other wanted to pay, and they kept humbugging. (Renewed laughter.) The Daily Timi's says : —" The arrival of the 0' o'clock down train at Port Chalmers last night was delayed by a fomewhat startling incident. The train was running between Burke's and St. Leonards, when the engineer noticed a man lying close to the rails. The train passed him, but as it was thought he might have been injured, the engineer shut oil steam, and then ran the train slowly back to where the man was lying. It was then ascertained that he was helplessly drunk, and as he was to all intents and purposes trespassing on the line, and exposed to deadly peril besides, the guard arrested him and took him on to Port Chalmers, and there delivered him to the police.

The Auckland correspondent of the DiuJij 7Vwc.-' sends that journal the following : " Walker, traneo-medium, accredited by Peebles as one of the best mediums in the world, appeared at the Mechanics' Institute and lectured in supposed trance state, on Saturday night, the subject being suggested by the audience, lie was afterwards keenly questioned by persons in the audience, including members of the Press, and Mr. Justice Gillies, lie showed great readiness in evading direct replies, launching ont into generalitie-, and bathos about the spit itworld, but eluding all attempts to furnish atiy test of his spiritual existence. He said his mission was to lecture, not to materialise, or reveal past or future events. He declined to answer any question likely to exhibit knowledge of anything not fully within the knowledge and capacity of the medium. Judge Gillies asked him pointedly whether it was asserted that the spirit of Dr. Stewart, who died in ISO'2, and now in the man sitting before the audience, was addressing them. After several evasive answers affirming the presence of Dr. Stewart's spirit were extracted, Judge Gillies intimated that the matter might be investigated in another place, evidently meaning the Police Court. Mr Luckic, editor of the Herald, denounced the affair as infamous imposture, and another of tlie audience suggested calling in the police, but no action was taken."