The Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 1877.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 405, 15 August 1877, Page 2

The Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 1877.

The vagueness of the language in which the telegram was couched referring to the NaL'.ve Land question led us into error yesterday. It appears that the Government, finding that to force any measure placing in the hands of private individuals the power to deal directly with the natives for the purchase of land would end in their dissolution, have suggested the wise course of letting matters remain as they are for another year. We were surprised that they should, in the face of such universal opposition, insist upon carrying the most obnoxious feature of the Bill—that which would enable a few to grow rich at the expense of the conntry. T he new proposal is, that till the end of next session the Government will reserve to itself the sole right of dealing directly with the natives.

The barque Robina Punlop has come to grief at the mouth of the Turakina River. She was bound for Batavia from Wellington, aud mysteriously succeeded in fetching the locality above mentioned. It is not yet known what excuse will be advanced by those responsible for the accident, but as it is the intention to hold an inquiry, no doubt the circumstances which cau;ed the wreck of this well-known colonial trader will be elicited.

This morning a well-dressed individual, whose respectable attire and general appearance of superiority whilst seated in liis buggy would lead one to the conclusion that he was a gentleman, deliberately drove over a little dog that was amusing itself in the middle of the road near Spence and Bee's corner. So far as could be seen, there was no reason to suppose that the occurrence was the result of an unavoidable accident. On the contrary, he was driving slowly, and the coc • manner in which he performed the operation of dissevering the animal's back would admit of no other conclusion than that the individual referred to felt a pleasure in such wanton cruelty. We presume that no other punishment can be inflicted than that of pointing out to him in this manner that he was observed by several persons who deplored his lack of ordinary kumanity.

Mails for* Australia; per Hok'itika to-morrow at 10 a.m.

The St. Kilda has been detained at Lyttelton in consequence of the boisterous weather that has been prevailing ? there. She left that port for Timaru yesterday.

The only 1 usiness brought before G. T. Fenwick, Esq., J.P., at the Resident Magistrate's Court, thi3 morning, was a charge of drunkenness against Richard French, who was cautioned and discharged.

The annual meeting of the Waiareka Road Board was held at the Board office today, when there were present—Messrs. Reid (Chairman), Menlove, Todd, Evans, Gilchrist, Meek, and Jackson. The balancesheet for the past year was read and adopted. Mr. Rei I was re-elected Chairman and Mr. Evans was also re-elected Treasurer. It was decided th it the time of meeting should be the same as heretofore. The Chairman and Messt-3. Gilchr'st and Evans were appointed a Finance Committee, and some accounts having been passed for payment, the meeting terminated.

We learn that the first and second premiums for de-igns for the new University Buildings in Dunedin, were respectively awarded to Messrs. Bury and Brindley and Somerville. Mr. Brindley, we are happy to state, is a fellow-townsman, and so able in his profession that he has previously had the pleasure of carrying off handsome prizes for designs. Mr. Murphy's magnificent hotel in Punediu has been built from a design from the pencil of Mr. Brindley, and, now that it is almost completed, it can easry be seen that there are few colonial buildings that can surpass it for effective and genuine architectural design.

In auouher column will be found the programme for a day's racing, to take place at Whare Kuri on the 30th instant. The races have, we understand, been got up principally through the exertions of Mr. W. B. Cairns, who is well known in spotting circles as one of the promoters of the first races in Waitaki. This gentleman has taken up his abode at Whare Kuri, where he has recently erected a large and handsome stone hotel, and it is partly in celebration of the opening of this building that the races have been got up. We hear that there will be about 1150 to be run for, and great interest is taken in the affair in the district. In fact the 31st August is likely to prove a memorable day for Whare Kuri, including amongst its events a race meeting, a ball and supper, and the opening of an hotel equal to any in the county.

The Kakanui Road Board held its annual meeting to-day, when there were present—• Mesrs. Gilchrist (Chairman), Morton, Booth, Gemmell, and Hedley. The balancesheet f r the past year, which was of a highly satisfactory nature, was read and adopted. Mr. Gilchrist was re-elected Chairman, and Mr. Hedley was re-elected Treasurer. It was decided that the ordinary meetings of the Board should be held on the first Wednesday in the month at 2 p.m. instead of on the last Saturday as heretofore. It was resolved to sue for all rates still owing. The Chairman and Treasurer were appointed to wait upon the manager of the Bank of jS T ew Zealand with regard to the Board's account. The meeting then concluded.

The annual meeting of the First Oamaru Permanent Building and Investment Society was held last evening at the Society's office, Thames-street, Air. J. 1 iddle being in the chair. The report and balance-sheet were read, but we regret we have not space to publish them in Jull. The following extract from the report shows pretty clearly the very satisfactory state of the Society:— " The directors are pleased, on meeting the shareholders, to be able to congratulate them on the success which the Society has achieved during this the first year of its existence, of which the balance-sheet herewith presented will offer ample evidence. Up to the 30th June last there had been issued 1013 shares. There had been advanced on mortgages LG236, the repayment oil account o r which amounted to LS92, and the balance due by borrowers to the Society during the term of their mortgages is L 7995. After discounting accruing repayments, and paying interest of loans and debentures, your directors have been able to credit investors with interest at the rate of 12 per cent., and to carry to credit of contingent fund the sum of L 425 6s. Id." The report and balancesheet having been adopted, the retiring directors, Messrs. Gibbs, Booth, Galbraith, and Rule, were re-elected for the current year. Mr. J. G. Finch was elected an auditor, to act in conjunction with Mr. J. H. Barr, who had been appointed by the directors. A vote of thanks* having been accorded to the chairman, the meeting terminated.

regular monthly meeting of the Waisaki Eoad JBoard was held yesterday afternoon, when there were present —Messrs. Duncan (chairman), Connell,.Borton.- Davidson, M'Donald, Stewart, Mee, Proctor, Evans, Aitchison, Eastou, and Honour. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed, and t e outward correspondence was read and approved. A letter from Mr. Joseph Smith was read, complaining of the state of the road to St. Andrew's Coal Pit, and was referred to the members for the subdivision with power to have the road repaired. On a letter from Mr. being read, asking the Board to form the road through Block 11, Papakaio, it was resolved that on Mr. Gilchrist conveying the lane 1 to the Board the road would be formed as requested. A letter was received fom the Clerk to the County Council, stating that the Couucil deciined to reconsider the question of purchasing the Papakaio preemptive road, and also to vote any part the cost of diverting the Waikoura creeks. Mr. Hugh Wallace's amended tender for works on the .nain district road, Papakaio, was accepted. An offer by Messrs. Dalgleish the construction of a bridge over the creek on road leading to Awamoko water-tanks, for the sum of Lls, was accepted. Mr. T. Flaherty's tender (4S lis. Gd.) for road formation to the railway tanks at Jardine's was accepted. The report of the Engineer upon the works in progress was read. The tender of the Union Bank for the Board's account was accepted, and a number of accounts having been passed for payment, the Board adjourned.— Ihe annual meeting took pi ice to-day, when there were present—Messrs. Borton, Stewart, Aitchison, Davidson, Evans, and Connell. The auiiual balance-sheet, showing the Boaul to be in a very healthy state, was read and adopted. Mr. Duncan was re-elected Chairman, and Mr. Evans was appointed Treasurer. It was decided in future to hold the ordinary meetings of the Board at 11 a.m., instead of 1 p.m. as heretofore. It was decided to sue for all outstanding rates. On the motion of Mr. Evans, the Clerk was instructed to write to the Otepopo, Waiareka, and Kakanui Iload Boards, asking them to appoint deputations to meet a deputation from the Waitaki Board to confer with regard to the making of arrangements for an Engineer for the united Boards. Messrs. Duncan, Borton, Procter and Stewart were appointed to represent the Board at the above conference. The meeting then terminated.

Of 130,000 children under five years of age born in iSTew York, no less a number than 14,20S died during the year IS7G. In other words, of every 1000 of these young children 110 died in the course of the twelvemonth.