The Evening Mail. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1877.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 512, 20 December 1877, Page 2

The Evening Mail. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1877.

At the Resident Magistrate's Court, Hampden, yesterday, before T. W. Parker, Esq., R.M., Victor Olson, boarding-house-keeper at Trotter's Creek, was fiugd LIS on two charges of sly-grog-seliing. It appeared from the evidence that the defendant had supplied a quantity of beer in a kerosene tin to labourers on the railway,

Pressure ou our space compels us to hold over Sir George Grey's speech at Auckland. A special meeting of the oommittee of the Horticultural Society v?as held last averring at Albion House. There were present—Messrs. Conuell(in the chair), Steward, Kidd, Sternsou, Simpson, Spratt, Leigh (hon. sec), Paterson. Accounts amounting to L 36 10s. were passed for payment. The thanks of the Society were accorded to Mr. Lewis, of Timaru, for his kindness in acting as a judge at the show and waiving his expenses. A vote of thanks was psssed to Messrs. Galbraith and Co. for use of timber. It was decided that silver medals as per sample submitted be given f<;r second prizes instead of bronze, as previously decided. The Secretary reported that the points obtained at the late show were :—Pot Plants and Cut Flower, Gardners' Class—Mr. Heywood (gardener to Mr. Jolm lteid), 72, Ist; Mr. Council, 4G, 2nd ; Mr. Ireland, 29, 3rd. Pot Plants and Cut Flowers Amateurs : Mr. Ireland, 43, Ist. Fruit and Vegetables, Gardeners : Mr. Hey wood, 24, Ist ; Mr. Hartley, 11, 2nd ; Mr. P, M'Cijsker, 9, 3rd. —Total points in all classes to count towards gold medal : Mr. W. Heywood, 96 ; Mr. J. Ireland, 72; Mr. B. Connell, !2. It was decided that the President and Secretary should be a Committee to arrange for the engraving of the medals, and to report when they are ready for the distribution ; the Committee to endeavor to arrange so that they may be distributed at the monthly meeting on 7th January. A vote of thanks having been accorded to the Chairman, the meeting terminated.

Ab'oufc 250 persons attended the social gathering in connection with the Otepopo Presbyterian Church, which was held in the local Atiienamm on Tuesday evening. The chair was occupied by the Rev. Mr. Ryley, who congratulated the congregation on their prosperous and happy condition, and dwelt at some length ou the financial state of the church. He also paid a high compliment to Mr. Anderson, the leader of the choir, for the marked improvement they had made under his tuition. The Revs. Messrs. Baird, Christie, Clarke, and Stevens addressed the meeting during the evening, and were listened to with great interest. The choir sang several of Moody and Saukey's hymns in a highly creditable manner. Mr. Livingston provided the eatables, which, it is needless to say, were done full justice to by both old and young. The usual votes of thanks having been jiassed, the Benediction was pronounced, and the assemblage dispersed,

We have received, through the courtesy of Mr. Wheeler, newsagent, Dunediu, a copy of the Melbourne Punch's almanac for 187 S. It is exceedingly well got up, the cartoons and jokes being almost, if not quite, equal to those of the London Punch, while its. appearance can scarcely be exeejled in any respect.

We would again remind our readers that Mr. JFidler's lecture on " Oliver Goldsmith," in aid of the Mechanics' Institute, will take place this evening, at the Volunteer Hall. We hope to see a full house, for the Institute is greatly in need of funds to pay for the additions shortly to be made to its literature.

As we were passing along Thames-street this morning, en route to our daily duties, we caught a glimpse of an elegant structure, apTiareutly composed of the most approved materials, in a shop window. We were due at our office half an hour previously, but we tarried and gazed steadily, the while all the visions of our youthful experiences at Christmastide crowding into our memory. It was a trying moment, for notwithstanding that we had just partaken of our matutinal porridge, we remembered too well the pleasurable sensations imparted to us by the eating of Christmas cake to feel disinterested at the sight. For a few moments we were riveted to the spot, until it dawned iipon us that gazing was very unsatisfying, and we interviewed Mr. Earle, who said that he could not give us a piece, but that for five shillings lie would bestow on us a ticket by which we might shortly become the happy possessor of ihat or some other cake. We accepted the alternative.