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Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 525, 7 January 1878, Page 2

An accident occurred at about twenty minutes past ten o'clock on Saturday night, that, under a little less favorable eirciun r stances would have ended in loss of life. Mr. William Bee and Mr. Sncuce were ' apprised by a person who had heard shouts in the creek immediately opposite their store, that a man was in clanger of beiug drowned. They immediately proceeded to the spot with a lantern and rope, and with the assistance of others succeeded m dragging the miserable wretch like a drowned rat to the shore. The man was many years ago a cook at the Star aud Garter H<>tel, and when he fell i to the water, had evidently been violating the principles of Good Templary. The refreshing tonic properties of the creek water re-instated reason, and he gave evidence of returning consciousness by very coolly (what else could be expected under the circumstances) remarking, " flow do you do, Mr. Bee." It is to be hoped that the narrow escape wijl be a warning to him. Had he fallen in ha f an hour Liter, in all probability he would never have been taken out alive. At the conclusion of the rifle contest between the Otepopians a.id Hampdenites. which took place at Hampden on s aturda* last, mutual cheers were given by the contestants. Capt. Dichl then marched thmen to Host Sh.irwin's hostelry, where a sumptuous dinner, provided by the Hampden team, was awaiting their arrival, Having afforded practical proof of their appreciation of the efforts of Host Shervvin to administer to their sharpened appetites, the usual toasts were given and responded to, interspersed with songs and recitations After having spent a few hours very pleasa tiy in this manner, the Hampden men accompanied their brothers-inarms to the statioii, and three hearty cheers were given by each te:m as the train moved off. Mails for the United Kingdom via San Francisco, per Australia, close at Auckland at 2 p.m. to-morrow ; and mails for Australia, per IV.rarua, close at Hokitika at 8 p.m. to-njoms.v. A meeting of the directors of the Caledonian Society is announced to take place at the Criterion Hotel, at S o'clock tins evening. That most useful monthly publication, "Bradshaw's Guide "is again to hand. Established under difficulties, it has become to popular that there are iesv business men who do not subscribe to 't. Tue success which it lias met with is conclusive evidence that such a work, containing as it does a fund of Colonial information, was much required.

The immigrant ship Canterbury was expected to be admitted to pratique to-day. •• The monthly meeting of the Committee of the Horticultural Society will be held at Albion House this evening at 8 o'clock. The ..Caledonian sports were concluded today by two gentlemen residing in Tynestreet. Event—Throwing heavy hammer. Both beat. During the contest the combatants received strength and patriotism to undergo the severe ordeal by reading an ;icco nt of th". late dinner and the speeches cl livered thereat from the Mail. The Alleen troupe will appear at the Masonic Hall to-nitht. Nol having witnessed any of their performances, we cannot offer any opinion as to tht-ir merits ; but, judging from the following, the company is a clever one, and presents a novel programme. Tie South Canterbury Times writes, after remarking that the company is very superior to many such companies that ■ iccasionally visit us :—" Alleen is by far the best lady gymnast seen in Timaru, and fully des rved the loud and prolonged appl.iu.~e that greeted her at the termination of the very difficult and dangerous feats on the trapeze. She has s-ucii an oasy and graceful way of doing the various tricks, that ladies do not feel at all alarmed at witnessing them, which is usual at exhibitions of this kind. The one-legged trapezan, Mr. Elder, was again thoroughly successful, and was repeatedly and deservedly applauded, and the same may also be said of the other male performers. Mr. J. W. Marshall contributed greatly to the success of the entertainment by his singing. The two little prodigies (the Masters Elder) again delighted those present by their comic 1 neg-o delineations, as well as by their clever step-dancing, and were encored everv time they appeared."