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Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 386, 19 July 1877, Page 2

Tue Governor's opening speech, which appears in our telegraphic columns, will be read by all with intense interest. The news of the reconciliation of the Maoris will be received with satisfaction, even by those who know that they have just repeated their old wish for the restitution of Waikato, and that His Majesty King Tawhiao still reigns supreme over the cream of the North Island, and steadfastly declines to hold a " korero " with anybody so common as a Native Minister. We presume that reconciliation in a Ministerial sense is meant. It has also been deemed advisable to make a few unimportant emendations in the Couties Act and other measures. This is, to our mind, entailing a considerable amount of unnecessary trouble upon the Ministry, whose heaven-born laws of last session must have giyen unalloyed satisfaction to the people and excited the envy of every other country in the world. To us it appears miraculous that so pacific a beginning to a parliamentary session should be the precursor of the political turmoil and warfare that usually characterises the deliberations of those who are supposed to be the representatives of the people. The monthly . list of nomiuated immigrants for July contains the names of 21 persons, classified as follows : —1 family (4), 1 married couple, 11 domestic servants, and 5 farm labourers. Mails for Australia per Tararu close at Hokitika at 3 p.m on Friday, 20th inst. As some misapprehension may have been caused through a " Press Agency" telegram lately published throughout the Colony to the effect that a vote of want of confidence had been passed upon Mr. A. E. Cox at Te Awamutu, Waikato, we, in justice to that gentleman, hasten to make reparation so far as we are concerned. The message was truthful to a certain extent, but it might have gone a little further and stated that the vote was subsequently withdrawn by the mover, who seems to have acted with haste to repent at leisure. The truth of the matter is that the Waikato settlers are jealous that Mr. Cox should possess an interest in the Middle Island, and look with suspicion upon his every action. They now stipulate, fearing that he might be inclined to do otherwise, that he should vote with the northern and not the southern members. The usual fortnightly meeting of the Municijjal Council will take place this evening, at 7.15 o'clock. The regular fortnightly meeting of the Harbour Board will be held to-morrow morning, at haif-past ten o'clock. Mr. R. Seward, travelling agent for " C4uthrie and Larnach's New Zealand Timber and Woodware Factories, Limited," is now here for the purpose of ascertaining the number of shares likely to be applied for in Oamaru. Mr. Stout's remarks in reference to the Local Option Bill seem to have travelled even to Maheno, if we may judge from a statement made by the witness Thomas Lindsay during the hearing of a charge of sly-grog-selling against William Walker, of Kakauui. During his cross - examination Lindsay said something with referenre to his not having willingly become a witness in the case. Mr. O'Meagher, as is usual with him, then became a little inquisitive, and wanted to know how Lindsay became a witness in the case. The witness then said that he had been in a friend's shop, and had seen a cox)y of the Temperance Times containing something which Mr. Stout had said with reference to the Local Option Bill. In the fulness of his guilelessness, Lindsay then, not thinking that a constable was present, gave utterance to his sentiments with regard to the licensing laws of the land. He expressed his surprise that the old Licensing Act was not put in force, and "all those slygrog shops put down." He then related ! how, on the previous night, he had had two drinks in an unlicensed house, and had paid for them. The interesting picture can easily f be imagined. In the foregaound we have I Mr. M'Laren, whose face is beaming with ; enthusiasm on the Temperance question, while to one side stands the owner of the shop and the proud possessor of the copy of the Temperance Times, listening with wraj)t attention to his friend's glowing remarks with regard to the enormity of the sly-grog-selling. In the rear we have the indefatigable constable —pencil and note-book in hand—jotting down sufficient of Lindsay's remarks to found an action upon. A moral may be drawn from this, and we make all such as Lindsay a present of it: If you do not wish to appear as a witness, do not make any admissions in the presence of a constable. We would suggest to Lindsay that, if he wishes to see sly-grog-selling put down, he should not encourage the nefarious practice by drinking in an unlicensed house, and give aid and countenance to a system he professes to dislike. Hitherto he seems to have been actuated by a desire to "put down the sly-grog " instead of the sly-grog-selling. There is a wide difference between the two proceedings, which it would be well for Mr. Lindsay and others to bear in mind. \

Last night the Citizen Cadets mustered in strong force at the Drill-shed, and with several members of No. 1 Company " fell in." After having received 20 rounds of ammunition, they marched to the Esplanade, where they practised skirmishing drill for about an hour and a quarter. They were under the command of Lieutenant Headland. After firing several volleys with true-soldier-like precision, those present were formed into two companies, consisting of 19 each, when a spirited sham fight was indulged in, the companies being commanded by Lieutenant Headland and Sergeant-Major M'Pherson. It is expected that there will be a full muster to-morrow night, at the Government inspection, when Major Steward will take command.