The Evening Mail. SATURDAY, SEPT. 29, 1877.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 444, 29 September 1877, Page 2

The Evening Mail. SATURDAY, SEPT. 29, 1877.

The Oamaru Creek is assuming the aspect of a fesfeiinii water-hole, and a colour which, although possibly good for the eye ight, betokens tJie existence of unhealthy and deadly matter. Now that summer is approaching, it is a question of the gravi st importance to the people of this town that this watercourse should be kept open. During the winter months, although, as we are not visited with a superabundance of rain, it sometimes emits noisesome smells, yet it is tolerable ; but, judging from our experience of its condition in warm, dry weather so far, it would, we think, be as well not to try what effect.it would have upon the inhabitants of this town. Communication should be kept open to the sea by clearing away the shingle which silts up at the mouth of the creek. We presume that to accomplish this would be neither difficult nor expensive, and even if it were both, the Municipal Council would be warranted in making any sacrifice in order to preserve the present heathfulness of Oamaru, which is at present jeopardised, and to stamp out the seeds of typhoid. The telegraphic message published in another column from the Mayor of London j to the Mayor of Wellington contains another evidence of the exceeding liberality of the British nation when •humanity calls loudly for their assistance. In this country, where prosperity is uninterrupted, we would do well to remember the hardships being suffered by those living, or rather dying, in the famine districts of India. Want of food had created such ravages that it would be almost impossible to exaggerate its fearful effects. The call for assistance of the Mayor of London will doubtless meet with hearty response in the Empire C.ty, and will be the means of instituting subscriptions for the sufferers, who, although of a different colour, are

fellow human beings, throughout the Colony. The air breathed by the members in the Parliamentary buildings at Wellington appears to be as impure as the political atmosphere that pervades that building. Members of Parliament are sickening one after another, until the matter becomes one for serious consideration. Various reasons have been assigned for this epidemic, one being that it has been occasioned by the exhalations of some pestiferous drain. It may seem strange at a first glance that a sewer should have been allowed to remain in the immediate vicinity of the building which for several months every year may be said to lie

almost 1 lie abode of the collective genius of the Col on v. May this not have been permitted to exist from a thorough appreciaof the fitness of things, or with the object of cutting short the vapid utterances of honorable members —the dissipating of one kind of gas by the introduction of another is a ve:y simple matter ; but as the gas has been let loose in the building instead of being administered only to those who needed it, its inspiration has had a baneful effect upon those honorable gentlemen who needed not physic, because they were not sick. We really believe that a goodly number of the present Government, from custom, could exist in any moral, social, political, or physical atmosphere, let it be never so tainted. We are compelled through want of space to hold over the conclusion of " Paterfamilias" letter. In, our correspondent's letter yesterday, for " feliow-Catholics" read " ieYLow-Colonists," and Further on, for "bigotry" read "history." A blank sheet was presented at the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning. It is rumoured that a company is about to be formed for the purpose of building a hall for public purposes in this town. The greatest liars at times give utterance to little bits of wholesome truth. The Ota,go Daily Times has just proved i: self no exception to the rule, for in Thursday's issue of that august journal we find the following remarks : —" The people of Oamaru are proverbially known as very progressive. They

have an immense belief in their own district and its resources Their land, both town and country, has of late immensely advanced in at least nominal value, and the harbour works arc being rigorously pushed forward to a point v-hich will render the port of Oamaru a safe and expeditious shipping place for vessels of considerable tonnaye." We would invite particular attention to the words which we have italicised. After the manner in which the Times has endeavoured to damage the reputation of the port of Oamaru. such an admission as that contained in the above quotation is really refreshing. After this, who shall doubt that there is some good left in the most debased of newspapers ?

The sudden death of a man named Burrows created some excitement at Papakaio on Thursday morning. It appears that Burrows, with a mate named Hanley, partook of some refreshment at Peattie's i otel, after which Hanley went in search of employment, and Burrows lay down near the hotel and fell asleep. A number of men passing by the hotel early in the afternoon saw Burrows ap]?arently reposing uncomfortably on a heap of coal sacks, and on endeavouring to awaken him, found that life was extinct. A bottle of brandy, nearly empty was found near the spot where he was lying. An inquest was heid at thePapakaio Hotel M-day, when a verdict was recorded to the effect that the deceased had died from suffocation, through over-indulgence in spirituous liquors.

We understand that an effort is about to be made to form a dramatic club in Oamaru, the old club having apparently died a natural death. Already a large number of gentlemen have signified their willingness to enrol themselves as members. A preliminary meeting of the promoters will be held in a f»w days.

On Monday, at noon, Mr. A. H. Maude wi 1 offer for "sale by public auction, the leases of a number of' Harbour Board sections. The Otago Daily Times article in support of the Oamaru Stone Quarrying and Export Company, and says the scheme is one which claims something more than a local interest, and that its success would be a.bpon to the Colony as well as to Oamaru.