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Oamaru Mail, Volume 358049, Issue 511, 19 December 1877, Page 2

The privileges in connection with the Kakanui Paces to take place on Boxing Pay wore sold by Messrs. Fleming and Hedley to-day, and realised very satisfactory prices, the total amount obtained being LI 17. The various privileges were sold as follows : No. 1 Booth, L 35. Mr. H. Stock; No. 2 Booth, L 22 10s., Mr. IT. Stock; Fruit and Pastry Stall, La. Mr. W. Draper ; Cards of the Paces, L 7 10s., Mr. W. Hall ; the Gates, 1.36, Mr, J. Jennings ; Privileges of the Grand Stand, Lll, Mr. J. Haggie.

It will bo observed from our advertising columns that the distribution of prizes to the pupils of the Grammar School will take place tormorrpw at 10.30 a m., when parent* and friends are invited by the Ifectur to lie present. Although there will be no public examination, yet we feel sure there are many of us who will enjoy witnessing the distribution of rewards to the deserving pupils of our chief school. For ourselves, we heartily rejoice that the hopes of the children havtbeen realised in this matter of prizes. At one time it seemed as if they would 1 ave been sent prizeless away. We understand that the prizes, though few in comparison with those given la-t year, are yet of superior quality, and further, that the public has enabled the teachers to provide a sufficient number of prizes to meet ail requirements. The Mayor has kindly consented to preside. The prize distribution in the morning will be followed by athietic sports in the afternoon, when prizes will be awarded for running, jumping, vaulting, etc. These sports will be held in the playground of the school.

Mr. J. Johnston invites tenders up to the 20th inst. for certain additions to Messrs. Lees and Moore's boiling-down works at the Cape.

To-morrow evening Mr. W. Fidler will deliver a lecture on "Oliver Goldsmith " at the Volunteer Hall, the proceeds to be devoted to the augmentation of the Mechanics' Institute. Setting aside the known ability of the lecturer, the cause in aid of which the lecture is to be given should command a large attendance, The North Otago Horticultural Society will at eight o'clock this evening at Albion House.

Communication via Port Darwin has been restored.

The s.s. Waitaki will make an excursion to Moeraki on Christmas Day. leaving the Breakwater at 9 a.m. and returning at (> p.m. As the fare both ways is only 3s. (if the weather should prove propitious), the trip will likely be at least as successful as the last of the kind.

The Government have refused to recognise the "Vyaiareka and Keidston Bifle Volunteers, for the reason that there are already four companies existing in the district.

The regular monthly meeting of the Hospital Committee was held last evening at Mr. Church's office, Tyue-street. There were present —Messrs. T. H. Brown (in the chair), Lemon, Mainland, Townsend, Patersou, and Church (Secretary). The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed, and the .outward correspondence read and approved, a letter was read from the Colonial Secretary, stating the subsidy of LI for LI on the subscriptions raised in aid of the Hospital during the quarter ending 30th September, amounting to Lll-i- lis. Sd., would be pa ; d as usual. At the same time, the letter stated that the Government would consider whether this proportion of subsidy could be maintained in future in view of the considerable endowments possessed by the Hospital. Dr. Garland wrote, recommending that, as a patient named Miller, at present in the Hospital, could not be benefited by medical treat- ! ment, steps should bo taken for his removal from the Hospital. It was decided to confer with the Benevolent Society with a view ft( securing his admission into that institution. The following report of tre Visiting Com* mittee waa read and adopted :—" Oamaru, 17th December, 1577. —' entlemen, —Your Committee having visited the Hospital during the past month, beg to report that there are at present five patients, four having been discharged last week. The painting of tho fever ward has been completed, and the bonga ani grounds are still kept in a very creditable manner, The warder Jias re-

ceived the sum of six pounds sterling from patients during the month, and now holds several I 0 U's, payment of which lie expects shortly." The usual statement of the Treasurer was also read and adopted. Mr. May not having complied with the request to pay the amount owing by him for last year's hay, the Secretary was instructed to write again, intimating that if settlement was not effected before the Ist January, the Committee would retain the hay, ami dispose of it. Accounts to the amount of L3O 7s. 3d. were passed for payment, and the meeting terminated witli the usual vote of thanks to the chairman.

The hours for the transmission of Press messages have been extended as follows : At Auckland, Napier. Wellington, Blenheim, Christclmrch, and Punedin, from 10 to 12 p.m. ; at 00-maru and Timaru from 9 p.m. till 10 p.m.

Mails for Australia per Arawata close at the Bluff at 11 a.m. to-morrow.

The Bishop of Dunedin will he in Oamaru on Sunday next, 23rd iust., and will preach morning and evening. The Confirmation service will lake place in the afternoon. The hours of Divine service will be : Morning, 11 as usual; afternoon, 3.30; evening, 7 instead of (J. 30." As usual at this season, the sittings will be free to all, and the oll'ertory at the Confirmation service will be devoted to the purchase of prizes for presentation to the Sunday School scholars. AVe hope that the congregation will not lie sparing in their donations towards so good an object.

A horrible crime wis brought to light at North-West Bay. Tasmania, mi Saturday, November 10. It appears., says the llobdrl Tovni jlcrcuri/, "that a man named Lawrence Felon, who -was a small farmer in the neighborhood mentioned, left his house on the 10th of October, and tint, notwithstanding the most minute search, no trace could, be found of his whereabouts. Suspicion, however, pointed to a neighbor named Francis Sheran, of whom Felon had been known to entertain some fears ; and during the last few days the police authorities caused a sharp look out to be kept upon Sheran's movements, and he was on Saturday seen filling up a hole near his residence. This was subsequently inspected by the police, when it was found to contain the bot'y of the missing man, in a very mutilated condition, and shoving plainly that Felon had been cruelly murdered by som-i one. After this discovery had been made the police proceeded to Sheran's house, intending to arrest him, but they found that he had disappeared, and they had to remain satisfied with apprehending his wife. She-ran is 60 years of ago. He is a laboring man, and an Irishman.''