The Evening Mail. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1877.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 457, 16 October 1877, Page 2

The Evening Mail. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1877.

Our Wellington correspondent has telegraphed to us the contents of a Nno Zealand Guze.tk extraordinary issued yesterday, and containing the appointments of the NewMinisters to their different positions. It will be seen that after all Mr. Ballance is not a member of the new Cabinet. This is to be regretted, as Mr. Ballance would not only have proved a useful member of the Ministry, but would also have given to it a greater prospect of stability. Two seats in the Cabinet remain yet to be filled, one of which of course will have to be tilled by a member of the Legislative Council, there being at present no representative of the Government in that Chamber. When an offended man says nothing as to his prowess, but walks coolly and calmly up to his antagonist and comes off with a thrashing, it is bad enough; but when a man boastfully says, "Do you see that, fellow ? he has offended me, by endeavouring to rob me o' my reputation, and I am "oing to make mince-meat of him"; and fails to do it, especially when that man is Mr. James Mackay, it is truly deplorable. Those who know the gentleman whose valourous attacks Mr. Hislop succeeded in repulsing, will, we are sure, entertain a strong feeling of pity for him. Evidently armed to the teeth, he sallied forth like a roaring lion, anxious for the fray, and, had any small man trodden on the tail of his coat, he w r ou!d have administered chastisement. Almost tired out, he at length meets his calumniator, and proceeds to have satisfaction. Our special telegram tells the sequel very descriptively. Mr. Mackay, nothing daunted at the appearance of Mr. Hislop, who had just recovered from a very severe illness, approached that gentleman. He did not use his lists, because that was not a respectable method of castigafcion. He approached him somewhat cautiously, demanding in the politest of Pakeha-Maori language, accompanied by a war-dance, that should apologise. Mr. Hislop, not being a Pakeha-Maori, declined, whereupon Mr. Mackay proceeded with the S3'stem of chastisement which he had elaborated over a glass of strong toddy. Mr. Hislop firmly, but kindly, placed his ringers between the valiant James' neck and his paper collar, caused a strange sensation iu the former, by collapsing the air tubes, and considerably damaged the latter. The brightly - mounted whip, befitting the occasion, flashed in the air but for one moment, and was ruthlessly and cruelly broken into fragments by Mr. Hinlop, who then let his crest-fallen, would-be thrasher escape. After the manner in which poor Mackay came out of the struggle, and the laughter and jeers of the crowd, it is really too bad to proceed against him. It is notified that mails for Australia per Claud Hamilton close at Hokitika at 10 a m. to-morrow.

The Secretary of the Oamaru Mutual Benefit Building Society announces that, in order to give members an opportunity of withdrawing on very favourable terms, the Committee has decided to offer a bonus of L 5 per share. The meeting called for Thursday evening, at the Volunteer Hall, to take steps to raise funds iu aid of the relief of the sufferers by the famine iu India, has been been postponed till half-past 8 o'clock, instead of. 8 as originally advertised, in order not to clash with the special service iu St. Luke's Church, which takes place on the same evening.

The A-rawata, with the Suez mail on board' has arrived at the Bluff.: We would' direct the attention of, our Volunteer feeders to a notification hi our advertising £bhimns )wvingT6fereiice to the head-quarter^'range. '"

A meeting of officers of the different Volunteer corps took place yesterday afternoon at Mr. Sumpter's office, at winch it was 'decided'to hold a review of the force at Hampden on the 9th proximo. A meeting of the Oamaru Artillery Volunteers will be held to-morrow evening, at 8 o'clock, in the Imperial Hotel. The chief business to be brought forward will be a proposal in reference to sending Home for full dress uniforms.

In our advertising columns will be seen the programme of the inaugural meeting of the Waitaki Amateur Athletic Club, to be held on the 30th November next. It contains one or two items that will be more than ordinarily interesting, whilst throughout it is excellently arranged. The gymnasium in connection with the Club, we are glad to learn, will be in working order next week.

There was a crowded attendance at the usual weekly meeting of the St. Paul's Young Men's Association last evening, at which Mr. Fleming (Vice-President) presided. After the usual routine business had been disposed of, Mr. Bust read a long essay on the "Maori War," which, we think, was somewhat severely criticised by the members. The essayist deserved credit for the trouble he had taken in placing the paper before the meeting. The Conversazione Committee brought forward their balance-sheet, showing a profit (after paying all expenses) of L() Is. 3d., which, with sum previously voted, was set aside for the purchase of standard works to form the nucleus of a library for reference. A vote of thanks was recorded on the minutes of the Association for the energetic manner in which the Committee worked to make the Conversazione a success. During the evening, a great deal of argument took place on different subjects. The programme for the next meeting is to consist of recitations, &c, by different members. After the usual vote of thanks to the chairman, the meeting dissolved. The programme for to-night's concert contains a number of musical gems that are only heard on special occasions in the Colony, and some of which will be entirely new to the audience. We can confidently assure our readers that such opportunities as that which is offered by to-night's entertainment for hearing what may very properly be designated music are seldom to be met with. There is not a dull item on the programme, therefore we trust that people will not be deterred from attending by the idea that "classical concert" means dry, sleep - inducing music, but that the hall will be well filled. Those who are fond of delightfully plaintive melody will be eminently gratified with the selections from the Oratorios and Mozart's " Voi ehe Sapcti ;" admirers of perfection in musical compositions will be delighted with the selections from Beethoven's works ; and those who are fond of soul-rousing music will go into raptures over '" Zampa," the prayer from " Mose in Egitto," " Marche aux Flambeaux," and Do Beriot and Osborne's fantasia on William Tell. Apart from all other recommendations, it must not be forgotten that Mrs. Newsham • —undoubtedly a true interpreter of good music, and a player who has the power of rendering any piece acceptable—will leave us shortly, and that we may not have another opportunity of hearing her perform.