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Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 358, 16 June 1877, Page 2

Our correspondent " Humanitas," whose letter was published in our last evening's issue, appears to have been misinformed as regards the condition of the brig Wave. We have made enquiries to-day with a view to arrive at the truth, and those whose positions entitle them to be con- :'. 1 :-<••-.! judges in such matters assert that t;.. ■, cssel is perfectly sea-worthy. We may just as well state also, that the surveyor's report concerning her was favorable, and that she is now only awaiting the arrival of two hands from Dimedin, to replace the subjects of the action for assault, before proceeding to sea. How such a rumour got abroad we are at a loss to conceive, and we hasten to give publicity to this correction. We understand that Messrs. Thornton and Bull, the contractors for the survey of the proposed railway line from Oamaru to Naseby have commenced operations. It is anticipated that the work will be completed i;i the course of a week or two. The Committee will then be in a position to 3nter Ujon their work in earnest, as, having reliable information before them, they will know precisely what steps to adop hi order to carry out the undertaking. It ■.vill be seen by our report of the proceedings at to-day's meeting that the Committee has so far progressed with the work

as to authorise Mr. Hislop to prepare a draft-bill for consideration at a meeting to be held on the 3rd July.

From another source we now glean unmistakeable evidence of the rebellious spirit that has begun to show itself amongst the natives in the North Island. The Government has again been offered a direct insult by the natives of "Wanganui, who have turned off a party of their surveyors. What was their business in surveying a block of native land has not yet transpired ; but we have no doubt that we shall know all about it quite soon enough. Possibly, it is the result of the undignified policy assumed towards the natives by the Government of the Colony. What will be done under the circumstances it is scarcely difficult to predict. It is unfortunate that these "little misunderstandings" should take place immediately preceding the session of Parliament.

Numerous evidences are not wanting to prove that Oamaru is steadily, but surely, advancing in commercial importance. Yes terday, several allotments of town land changed hands at figures that were little dreamt of by the most sanguine of Oamaru's success but a few years ago. One of these transactions was that of the sale of Mr. Procter's quarter-acre section in Tyne-street, immediately opposite the office of this paper, for the almost fabulous price of £2,500. We would not be surprised, however, if this sum will be small compared with the value it will possess in a few years hence. There was a blank sheet at the Eesident Magistrate's Court this morning. The monthly meeting of the Hospital Committee will be held at Mr. Church's office on Tuesday evening, at 8 o'clock. The Oamaru-Naseby Railway Committee is meeting with very great encouragement to far as funds are concerned. Already a large amount of money has been promised, and no doubt still further additions will be made thereto. As we have before stateil, the Waitaki County Council has voted £IOO and the Oamaru Municipal Council £SO The Nasuby Municipal Council has now added the very handsome donation of £25, and there is every probability of the Maniototo County Council giving a large sum in aid of the preliminary expenses in connection with the survey of the line and the obtaining of data to lay before Parliament. In addition to the amounts already stated, several of the leading residents of the town and surrounding diotiicts have given very liberal sums, so that the Committee is not likely to be previ nted from carrying out its work for the want of funds.

Though the Editor of the Wa'dangi Tribune has happily escaped from the grasp of the law, it appears he had a fclight taste of the unpleasant consequences of the libelous writing against Mr. Eeed. At the conclusion of the trial at Timaru on Wednesday last, the amount of his fine not being forthcoming, Mr. Cuming was taken, in company with Mr. Sheriin, to the gaol by the police, where, having been in Court all day without food, he requested something to eat. A piece of meat and a junk of bread were given him on a tin plate, and, on asking for a knife to sever a piece for mastication, he was informed that knives were not allowed the prisoners in Timaru gaol. The difficulty, however, was got over by Sherrin lending him his pocket-knife. For the first time the journalist appeared to realise the position, and was settling down to his dry bread and meat, steadily, but with an aspect of deep dejection and sorrow on his face, when he was informed that a messenger had arrived from Mr. Moss Jonas, agent and auctioneer, with an advance of a hundred pounds to pay the fine. Although Mr. Cuming's experience has been much short of that of his brother offender (Sherrin), whose total incarceration from his committal amounts to almost six months, his taste for prison fare and its accompaniments will remain among the unpleasant memories of his life. The Gaiety Company had a large and appreciative audience last evening, when the burlesque of "Cinderella" and the pantomime were gone through with perhaps even greater success than on the previous evening, the large attendance, no doubt, acting as an incentive to the performers, who all did their level best. At the afternoon performance of the pantomime to day there was a capital attendance of children, all of whom were delighted with the performance. This evening the company will appear for the last time, when, in addition to the farce of the "Wandering Minstrel "and a musical melange, the burlesque of "Black-eyed Susan" will be presented, with Mr. Hall in his original character of Captain Crosstree. In more ways than one (says the Guardian) this Colony is attracting attention in Britain. At a recent meeting of the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce, the necessity for lookiHg more to the Colonies for trade was

impressed, and Mr. Mundella is reported to have siid that he was " very much struck the other day, in looking at the growth of one of our little Colonies, which had at the present moment a population not much larger than that of Leeds, he thought; it was New Zealand. Its imports last year amounted to something like eight or nine millions. A population of 300,000, or a little more, had imported no less than eight millions worth of goods. In that Colony they had a duplicate of their own country at the antipodes, with vast resources and a splendid climate, and a magnificent home for the English race in the future. It was to such countries as that that they must look for a great deal of their future industrial employment." lb is complained that the Wellington Volunteer body is over-officered. There are about 250 men ; over these there are half a dozen officers, whose salaries range from £445 15s. per annum down to £IOO. Thus, the officer commanding at Wellington has £445 155., while at the Hutt, some eight miles distant, there is an adjutant with a salary of £3OO a year. The Christchurch Press says : —" In one of the local courts the other day a young lady had occasion to sue her former lover, who had proved, as it transpired in evidenee, unfaithful to his troth. During the hearing of the items in dispute the swain produced a Lake's 'New Zealand Diary for 1575,' in which he swore he had entered a true record of all their meetings, and solemnly pledged his oath that every time he went a walk with his intended he had marked it down. The Bench, though evidently much interested in these novel entries laid before them, were, however, placed in a position not to place too much reliance on his statement and entries when the discovery was made that he had used a diary of 1575 for the year 1876, and had omitted, in keeping a proper record of dates, to take leap year into the account, and the case went against him." A correspondent of the Guardian says : A shocking accident happened on the night shift at Messrs. Hales and Hinde's claim, Hlue Spur, yesterday. It appears that two men named Taylor and Merton, who were working one of the i.- Wgtyviud tunnels, had put in two shots in the ordinary manner, and left t.ie drive for the purpose of allowing them to explode. After the lapse of a f"w seconds they hoard, as they thought, bot;i explode, and when the smoke had partially clcare 1 away thtfy returned to their work. One of the charges had, however, only partly exploded, and they then proceeded to drill it out. They had not long been employed at this when an explosion took place, Taylor receiving a large portion of the debris full in his face, while Morton was blown against the tunnel. An alarm was givon, and the rest of the miners working in the claim went to the assistance of the injured men. Dr. Stewart was sent for, and by his orders the men were conveyed to the Tuapeka Hospital. Taylor it if supposed has lost the sight of one eye completely, and will probably lose that of the other, besides being terribly disfigured. Morton's injuries are not so severe, consisting of bruises and abrasions. Up to a late hour last night both men were doing as well as could be expected, and although Taylor is so much injured he is not considered to be in any immediate danger.