The Evening Mail. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1877.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 497, 1 December 1877, Page 2

The Evening Mail. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1877.

Those who attended the Baths this morning, about seventy in number, in order to witness the swimming match announced to take place at six o'clock, between Messrs. Hector Munro and Geo. Booth were doomed to disappointment. The former was present at the appointed time, but owing to-some reason, we believe inability to rise at that early- hour in the morning, Mr. Booth failed to put .111 an appearance until about an hour after the proper time. Mr. Munro becoming tired of waiting and being anxious to be at his employment at eight o'clock left the Baths before his antagonist arrived, and so the match fell through, at any rate for the day ; but we understand that there is every probability of the match being swam in the course of a few days.

We would call the attention of the Committee of the Mechanics' Institute to the somewhat dangerous state of the steps leading up to the building. Last evening a gentleman very narrowly escaped- meeting with an accident, owing to the state of the steps and the darkness of the night.

■ In order not to clash with the lecture to be delivered by Count De Zaba on Monday evening, the members of the St. Paul's Young Men's Association have decided not to hold iheir weekly meeting on that evening.

At the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning, Thomas Paterson, for allowing a horse to wander in Thames-street, was lined 2s. G'd. Andrew Grey was lined 15s. for tethering two calves in Yare-street.

Many of our readers, especially those possessed of good ears for music, will be glad to learn that Mr. Longford has obtained a splendid piano for use in the Masonic Hall. The instrument is by Lipp, of Paris, and cost, we believe, LI 00, and was obtained from Messrs.' Bt'gg and Co. It possesses an excellent tone, and as a piece of handsome furniture ifc cannot easily be beaten in this portion of the country. Henceforth vocalists will not be able to attribute any fault in their singing to the want of a good instrument for accompaniments.

A row took place shortly after 11 o'clock last night at a house of some notoriety opposite the White Hart Hotel, in Thamesstreet, resulting in the demolishnient of sundry panes of glass and the infliction of other damages, besides necessitating the interference of the police. The whole row, as is usually the case, was the result of overindulgence in too potent -beverages. The matter was investigated at the Court to-day, when a woman named Isabella Dunn, alias Mary Ann Murphy, a stranger to Oaraaru, appeared to answer the charge of having wilfully and maliciously broken four panes of glass of the value of 10s.. and damaged a setT of curtains, valued at Bs., the property of Alexander Lamb. The offence was proved, and the accused, who was accompanied" in the box by a small child, was fined 25., and ordered to pay the amount of damage done f 1 Ss.), or go to gaol for 10 days. The same' prisoner "was also fined 10s. lor being drunk and disorderly, the option of 48 hours' imprisonment being afforded her. According to the accused's statement, the whole tiling was tlie result of Mrs. Lamb having introduced a number of men into her house, at which the accused lived, and then obtaining a quantity of liquor, and making the accused drunk.

An accident of a singular nature befel 3lr. Lippeit's horse and trap this morning. From the particulars which we have obtained of the affair, it seems that the boy who was in charge of the horse, for some reason or other, drove into the pond off Thames-street, opposite the Shamrock Hotel. The horse at once sunk in the -mud, in which it became almost completely stuck. In its struggles to free itself, the horse fell on its side, and was in some danger of receiving serious injuries. Mr. G. Greenfield, who was passing along the street, noticing the position of affairs, at once procured some assistance. Mr. Neill, expressman, volunteered to convey on horseback a rope to attach to the distressed animal, but had not proceeded far into the pond when he found it necessary to beat a retreat, his horse being in danger of meeting with similar treatment from the treacherous mud. After struggling some little time, Mr. Lippert's horse succeeded in getting once more "upon all fours," and managed by dint of perseverance to reach harder and'.more welcome soil. The .horse was not much injured apparently by its enforced imprisonment; but we mention the matter more particularly as a caution to those who might think of following the boy's example, and drive into the pond in question. A special meeting of the Oamaru Schools Committee" will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, for the transaction of general business..

Mr. V". H. Puddicombe (Primitive Methodist) is announced to preach in the W aitaki Hall to-morrow, morning and evening.

Mr. Jeffreys will preach in the Volunteer Hall to-morrow evening, commencing at t o'clock.

It will be observed by an advertisement elsewhere that Mr, J. L. Hall's Gaiety Company, acuompa nied by Messrs. K. V/. Kohler, Waud, ami Keid, will appear for two nights in the Masonic xlali —Friday and Saturday next.