The Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 1877

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 373, 4 July 1877, Page 2

The Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 1877

Despite the prejudicial influences that have been set to work in order to bring ' contumely on the Oamaru-Kaseby Railway enterprise, we think that its promoters may congratulate themselves that • their project assumes each clay a more promising aspect. The Naseby people seem to Lave taken the advice of the Ota'jo Daily Times; they have perused the two reports, as recommended by that paper cluprecathigly of the Oamaru-jSaseby route; and the Sirath-Taieri scheme, over which the Guardian spent so much of its well-known propensity for sarcasm, and t!;e '"sub." of tiie Times displayed such woe" fill ignorance, has suffered by the comparison. We have been favoured by the I Chairman of the Oamarn-Naseby Railway | Ci-mmittee v. it': the following telegram j for publication : —The following resolcj tiou was adopted bv the Juiscby Committee last night 4 ln the opinion of this Committee, the advantages of having (liiYCt communication with South Canterbury are so groat- that, independently of the Engineers' favourable report, the line from Duiitroon via Livingstone, would receive tiie general support of this district.— i L. W. iJciicH. Chairman JTaseby Committee.' " The foregoing may bo considered as a very safe test of tiie feeling of the s-^ttiers in the west. Tiie iSas-jby Railway Committee was constituted at a public meeting of settlers held at that town, with instructions to consider all railway proposals, and to decide as to their .respective merits, and is similar in object and power to our local Railway Committee. We have therefore the opinions of representative men, and not tiie vapid utterances and self-iiiteivsted reasoning of nondescripts. Tile arguments of the Dnnedin daily papers are, of course, justifiable. They are doing their utmost to bolster up a cause that has nothing more to recommend it than that it is dear to Dunedin. It is not likely that tiie si ~ers of js'aseby and of the great West v.iii immolate themselves on a Danedin altar. What wouid the construed _>n of the Scrath-Taieri route mean to them • That the cost of carriage of their produce to the seaport of Dunedin would be double that to Oamaru, or thereabouts, without any compensating advantages of any kind to offer. The J chuckle of the Guardian over what it supposed was tiie blighting of all our hopes, when it discovered that mare's nest—the superior -advantages of the Strath-Taieri route—wiii, now that the truth has dawned upon that paper—and we suppose it has by this time —be turned into lamentable disappointment. The Oamaruites have been patronisiiigly patted on the backs—they have been applauded for their pluck ; but they have been told that the praise was ail they would get ; that- their scimne was not worthy of their irrepressible and indomitable perseverance. This is all very nice ; but the natures which possess these peculiar and j very desirable characteristics will not be satisfied with anything less than the ac- | coniplishment of the object they have in view. j

The railway meeting held last night at Punedin was a failure. It is impossible to excite enthusiasm amongst people who feel that they are playing a losing game, and I this is apparently the case in Dunedin just now. "We pre told by our own correspondent that .;00 persons were present, many j of whom, we have no doubt, came from the . Taieri and vicinity. We could, to-morrow, j call together a more numerous assemblage in J Oamaru to consider the same question. The list of the speakers is meagre, and does not include the names of those who are usual'y identified with great movements in Dunedin. That wiud-baj, Mr. 11. S. Pish, wou'd certainly make up considerably for deficiency in quantity; bub for quality we have not a man amongst us who wouid car y as 1 ttle weight. Mr. Creighton'.s outspoken expression of opinion must have been i quite refreshing to those who appreciate | common sense ; but it na doubt fell with j awful severity upon those who expected that i every tiling would pass off harmoniously. |

There was no sitting of the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning. The concert given under the auspices of the Star of Hope l odge of Good Templars last week has resulted in the addition of LlO 13s. to the funds of the Oamaru Hospital.

Mr. Murray-Aynsley, member for Heathcote in the House of Representatives, has just visited us. After having been shown through our town, and inspected our harbour works, he expressed himself much pleased with the signs of progress which were everywhere apparent amongst us, more cspeehil y with the Breakwater. The annual meeting of the Oamaru Artillery Volunteers took place last evening at 1 loyal Hoi el, the chair being occupied by Lieutenant Greenfield. After the minutes of the last meeting had been read and confirmed, Gunners Lindsay and Roulston were elected Corporals. Sergeant Cowie was reelected as Secretary, and Corporal Lindsay was unanimously chosen to fill the position of Treasurer. Sergeant Hiekey and Corporals Evans and Roulston were appointed as a Committee.

Mr. Henry M'Cotmell, boot-maker, Tersstrect, was awakened at an early hour this morning by hearing a noise as of someone attempting to pick the lock of the door ; this was fallowed by a heavy blow, which nearly tore the catch from the door-post. On Mr. M'Connell cal iug out, "Who's there," and rushing to ;he street, he saw the would-be burglar making off down Teesstreet at top speed. The weather being cold, and the proprietor of the shop not being in suitable attire to give chase, he returned to his bed, tlnnking it was a wise precaution to sleep on his premLes.

Mr. Law.-on has forwarded us the following information, to which we are very glad to give publicity : —Passengers holding single f.-ire or day return tickets, may break the journey by stopping at intermediate stations, and proceed by a subsequent train, provided the journey is accomplished on the day corresponding with the date on the ticket. This is just what should have been done long since, and will have the effect of not only conducing to the convenience of the trav ling public, but increasing rather than reducing the revenue derivable from passenger traific on our railways.

Madame Josephine announces in another column that she will make a limited stay in Oamaru for tiie pan-pose of practising the wonders of the science which she has espoused. A circular issued by that lady, and' placed in our hands, credits astrology with the extraordinary power of peeping into futurity wish wonderful precision. We cannot, in consequence of our ignorance of the science, speak of its merits from personal experience ; but, if all, or even a tithe of what Madame Josephine sets forth in her circular be true —if the planets incline us to do good or evil, but do not comjwl—and this lady can point to the pleasures of the future to be realised, or the misery to be avoided, by attention to certain instructions which she essays to have the power to give—if all this be true—then i: would be wise for J. lines, who is in a dilemma as to whom t-o choose—Mary or Jane—to repair to Madame Josephine, who might be the means of securing for him a life of conjugal bliss at the small cost of 10s. Gd.

The administering by parents of a word of warning to boys who are in the habit of seeking the immediate vicinity of the railway line as the scene of their gambols and mischief, would appear to be absolutely necessary. "We are informed, upon the very best authority, that a party of children, whose ages ranged from about seven to twelve

years, were indulging in what may have appeared to them to be harmless amusement, but which in reality have been the menus of causing injury, and ev<n death, to a number of human beings. The biggest boy, who should have known baiter, and who seemed to have an idea that he was rsinning into mischief, afraid to play some pranks with the lino, which had been decided upon in solemn conclave, endeavoured to persuade tiie smallest of the group to perform a delicate operation which he evidently knew perfectly well was risky, at ail events, so far as his own skin was cond. Our informant believes that the

. . iellow was deputed to place a stone, or something of that kind, on the rails, for they were heard to signify their intention of waiting until the train passed to see the "fun." This occurred oil that portion of the line opposite the Presbyterian Manse, ! yesterday, and the name j of some of the . mischievous rascals are known. There is no i fun in doing that which may cause pain to I others, and by which the after lives of a number of human beings may be embittered —some by bodily injuries; others by the loss of friends and relations. We would cautiou the lads of Oamaru, who seem brimul of devilment, that it is a fearful thing to tamper with railways—that a stone placed upon the line, encountered by the engine, may cause disaster that would brand the perpetrator with blood, and cause him the bitterest remorse. It is well to be warned in time ; and hoping that what we have j written will have the desired effect, we | shall not, at present, take further steps in j the matter.

Mr. A. H. Maude will sell by public auction, at his stores, to-morrow, at noon, a large quantity of timber. Messrs. Connell an'l Clowes will sell by auction at noon to morrow "the whole of the stock of groceries, &c., in the bankrupt estate of Mr. Wm. Jamieson. The sale will take place at the bankrupt's late shop in Thames-street.

Intending tenderers for the construction of the public baths should send in their tenders without delay, as the time for receiving them closes to-morrow.

The Municipal Corporation requires tenders for works in Chelmer-street and the Oamaru Cieek, the particulars in connection with, which can be obtained at the Engineer's Office. Tenders must be sent in before 6 p.m. to-morrow.

A meeting of the Oamaru-Naseby Railway Committee will be held to-morrow at 11 o'clock, to consider the draft of the Bill which lias been prepared in connection with the interior railway, in addition to other business.

Tl - e monthly meeting of the Mechanics' Institute Committeee will he liekl tomorrow evening, at eight o'clock. Intending applicants for the position of librarian to the institution should send in tlieir applications before the hour of the Committee meeting. A special meeting of the Waitaki Road Board was held yesterday for the purpose of considersng the Engineer's report upon the proposed diversion of the Waikoura Creeks. There were present —Messrs. T. Y. Duncan (chairman), Borton, Conuell, Davidson, Easton, Honour, M 'Donald, Mee, Procter, Stewart, and the Engineer (Mr. Oliver). A lengthy report from the Engineer was read giving details of the proposed work and estimates of cost. After some discussion, it was resolved, on the motion of Mr. Stewart, seconded by Mr. Procter, " That the work be carried out, providing the assistance of the County Council and the Government be obtained." The following resolution was also carried, having been jjroposed by Mr. Conuell and seconded by Mr. Stewart, —" That a deputation, consistof Messrs. Mee, Procter, Borton, and Stewart be appointed to wait on the County Council, and to memorialise the Government, to see what assistance they will afford re cutting drain ; also to wait 011 Messrs. Jardine and M'Master, with regard to obtaining permission to cut a drain through their properties, and to report to the Board as soon as possible." The meeting then terminated. Mr. Bott, whose letter we published in Monday's issue, seems to have rather exaggerated hii account of the mistake made by a constable in tak ng him to the police station. We have heard the other side of the story, and we must certainly say that the matter does not seem to be of so serious a nature as Mr. Botfc would make it appear, by his letter. The story, as we have received it from very reliable authorities, may be biiefly told thus : The Inspector of Nuisances had, in pursuance of his duty, just previously stopped a hawker, named Samuel Levy, and requested him to produce his license. The man became insolent, and the Inspector deemed it advisable to seek the aid of the police in compelling Levy to comply with the law. He asked that a constable might be told off to biing the delinquent to the police station, and compel him to produce his hawker's license. Mr. Toms being engaged at the Resident Magistrate's Court, was unable to accompany the constable, but gave him a description of the man whose impudeuce had necessitated his 1 utting in an appeara .ee at the police station. The description tallied somewhat with that of Mr. Bott. Both he and the man wanted are hawker.-, both are foreigners, and both of the Jewish persuasion. Unfortunately for Mr. Bott, the constable met him first, and having ascertained that he was a hawker, requested him to walk with him as far as the police station. The constable did dot search the boardinghouse where Mr. ■ Bott resides to find him, but seeing him stauding at the door put the questions to him as to whether he lived in the house and was a hawker. N either was Mr. Bott dragged through the streets in disgrace, as he asserts he was. He was allowed to walk some yards apart from the policeman. On reaching the front of the Courthouse, Mr. Toms told the constable that he had got the wrong man, and apologised to Mr. Bott. This is the other version of the affair, and our readers can judge of the matter for themselves, and say whether or nr.t Mr. Bott ■was subjected to such harsh and disgraceful treatment as he would lead the public to believe, or whether anything has been done calculated to damage his character or injure his trade as a hawker. If Mr. Bott has suffered, he has done so through the misconduct of one of his own calling. We clip from the Guardian the following farther particulars with reference to the fire at Waikouaiti, an account of which is briefly recorded in our telegraphic columns of to-day : —The extensive stubles at Waikouaiti, used by Cobb and Co.'a Coach Company, were entirely destroyed by fire yesterday morning, and seven horses were ' burned. So rapidly did the flames spread that nothing could be saved. The origin of J

the fire is unknown. At 11.30 p.m. on Sunday, the groom, George Williams, went to his bunk in the harness-room, and two hours afterwards he awoke and found the room was on fire. He saved in thing but a pair of trousers, and was unable to let the horses out of the stable. The alarm was raised, and a number of persons were soon at the fire, but nothing could be done to save the building. The groom is of opinion that the lire originated in his room. The stables were the property of Mr. J Jones, and upon his decease were vested in trustees. Whether or not they were insured Ave are unable to learn. The horses were insured for Ll5O. In addition to this a large quantity of hay and feed was destroyed, so that the loss will probably be a heavy one.

A Dunedin paper says : —" Another sotermed abduction case has arisen out of the amatory proclivities of our Maori neighbours residing at the Kaik, only this time the lady was not spirited away as far as Christchurch, but merely went amissing for a night. The parties implicated are John Richard Burns, a half-caste fisherman, and a married man to bc.ot, and Emma liusscl, a damsel of some 14 summers, daughter of John Russel, also a half-caste. She was a regular attendant at the school at the Kaik. One evening last week she did not return home as usual, and was absent .-ill night; and, as she failed to appear at the school next mo: ning, a search for her was instituted, and she was eventually found in the bush. She expressed great deiight at meeting the search party, and said she had lost herself. Subsequently, however, she admitted, in response to the suspicious cross-questioning of her relatives, that she had been in Burns' house all night. Upon this, the Native Assessor summoned Burns to appear before him to answer for his delinquency, but that individual took the hint and decamped, and was next heard of at Kaiapoi, Canterbury. Then the irate father appealed to the police, and laid a charge of abduction against Burns ; and upon it a warrant was issued last .Saturday for his arrest. When questioned by Sergeant IT anion, the girl displayed the utmost nonchalance suggestive of anything but outraged feelings on her part. Evidently she was not another Daphne.