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Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 551, 6 February 1878, Page 2

At the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday afternoon, his Worship gave judgment in the case brought by Messrs. Wright and Hardy against Mr. W. Fenwick to recover the sum of L 66 10s. for breach of contract in not giving them the threshing of a certain quantity of grain as previously agreed, and for other and special damages. His Worship dealt with the matter at some length, and concluded by giving judgment for plaiutiff.s for L 29 with costs L 7 Os., the amounts claimed for g-neral and special damages being struck out. Immediately after judgment had been given, Mr. Balmer applied for a re-hearing of tiie case, on the grounds of surprise, and that material evidence hitherto unobtainable had come to tliu knowledge of the defendant, which would contradict that for the plaintiffs in nearly every important particular. Mr. Balmer was proceeding to say that he had been instructed to take criminal proceedings against the plaintiff's, but Mr. Hislop objected to such matters being introduced into an application for re-hearing. After some discussion as to the proper mode of proceeding in regard to an application for a re-hearing, in which the whole of the members of the bar present took part, Mr. Hislop consented to take notice for a fresh hearing of the case on Thursday next.

The action of the Canterbury cricketers in applying for the omission of the annual contest with Otago this season, in consequence of several of their principal players being unable to go to Dmiedin owing to the time they had given to the inarch with the. Australians, is naturally causing considerable comment in Dunedin. There seems a very great probability of these friendly struggles on the cricket field falling through altogether. It is to be hoped that the Canterbury people will yet reconsider their decision, and send a team to Dunedin. Surely amongst the host of good players in Canterbury, an eleven could be got together to do the trip and maintain the prestige of the sister Province. Seeing that last year, when the Otago men made a similar request on the score of the match with the AllKngland Eleven, they, in order to quell the outburst of virtuous indignation given utterI ance by the Canterbury cricketers, got together an eleven to proceed to Christchnrch and maintain the good feeling existing between the two Provinces, it would only be courteous and just on the part of the Canterbury players to make a similar effort this year. In fact, we think that the Otagonians have a right to demand that such a course should be followed. In persisting in refusing to send a team to Dunedin. unless they can get the very best players to take part in the match, those entrusted with the direction of cricketing matters in Christchnrch either show that they are frightened of a beating and losing the credit gaini-d by them in defeating the Australians, or they are guilty of alack of courtesy quite unpardonable.

I The Committee of the North Otago Rifle Association will meet this evening at the Royal Hotel, at 8 o'clock. Those Teaneraki gentlemen who desire to join the No. 1 Company Volunteers will meet this evening at the schoolhouse of that township, at 7.30. The Rev. I?. L. Stanford has resigned the pastorate of All Saints' Church, Dunedin; but his resignation will not take effect until tj;e expiration of eight months.

Messrs. Raid and Gray are constructing two reaping and binding machines, which, jt is said, will combine all the good points of the three machines that have been introduced into the New Zealand market. One of the machines is intended for the Henley estate ; the other is being made to the order of Mr. Duthie, of Tokomairiro.

The Tasmanian cable is interrupted, but telegrams can be posted from Melbourne. There were no cases down for hearing at the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning. The members of the Philharmonic Society will meet this evening at the Masonic Hall for practice. The monthly meeting of the Harbor "Board will take place on Friday next, at half-past 10 o'clock. The monthly meeting of the Committee of the Mechanics' Institute will be held tomorrow evening, at 8 o'clock. On Friday last Messrs. Eoyse, Stead, and Co., of Christchurch, paid the sum of LIP 37 2s. duty on cornsaoks, on account of Messrs. Royse, Stead, and Co., and Cunningham and Co. The regular monthly sitting of the District Court will be held to-morrow. The only business to be brought forward will be the applications in bankruptcy for final orders of discharge of Messrs. Tertius Hay M'Kenzie and Peter M Moroney. The usual monthly meeting of the Committee of the North Otago Coursing Club will be held at the County Council Chambers to-morrow morning, at 11 o'clock, when we believe some interesting matters will be brought forward. Thera are in the hands of native owners about 20,000,000 acres of land in the "North Island out of a total of about 30,000.000. In addition to this enormous area, it is generally acknowledged that the lands at present in. the hands of the natives is of a superior quality to any that has yet been purchased by the Government, which has generally succeeded in obtaining through its agents—who have invariably stood on one side rather than interfere with private speculators in effecting good purchases—land of the most useless description. Sooner or later, according to the manner in which the native question is administered, the majority at least of these 20,000,000 acres should become the property of the Government. The opponents of colonialising the land fund will probably change their views on that question then. But, if land speculators are to be allowed to have the run of it, it will gradually disappear without the country deriving any particular benefit from it; whilst the Government will be compelled to occasionally propitiate the natives or Unlit them.

A Maori named Te Maiharoa, but who goes by the name of Charles Myro, was arrested at the Breakwater this morning on the charge of altering and uttering a cheque. The cheque had originally been drawn by Mr. D. Sutherland, of Oamarama, in favor of one M'lntosh, for the sum of L2 Bs. (id. The amount had afterwards been altered to Ll2 Ss. Gd. in the most clumsy manner by pieces of paper being pasted over the sum in the body of the cht'que, and the figures at the bottom of it. The Maori, an intelligentlooking young fellow, changed it last night with Mr. M'Sweenev in payment for some boots. The fact that the cheque had been tampered with was not noticed at the time, as there was only a faint light in the shop ; Imt on being presented at the bank this morning the fraud was discovered, and information given to the police, with the result above stated. According to the statement of the "dark skinned" individual the cheque appears to have passed through several hands. The accused will be brought up up at the Resident Magistrate's Court tomorrow morning, and a remand will be asked for.

Mr. "William Jones Smith has resigned his appointment as District Station Masterincom necticm with the Oamaru railways. Mr. Smith came down from Christchureh to open the Oamaru-Waitaki line, the first line running into Oamaru, oyer two years ago. Since then the northern line has been completed to Timaru, and the Oamam-Moeraki, Duntrcon, Ngapara, and Breakwater lines have been opened, without the aid o£ any rolling stock, with the exception of a few engines in addition to that which was brought into requisition on the Oamaru-AVaitaki line when it was first opened. It is now eighteen years since Mr. Smith first entered upon railway work, and he informs us that he lias never before had to labour under the disadvantages which have characterised his career in Oamam, and we can quite believe him. "When he first undertook the charge of the Oamaru lines he had the sole management of the railways of this district, and was called " Assistant Traffic Manager." Railway matters worked too satisfactorily under this arrangement, and his powers were curtailed by making him " District Station Master" at the same salaiy. Whilst holding the old position, it was eligible for him to attend to the wants of the settlers, and although it was certainly a difficult matter under the circumstances, he did so to the best of his ability ; under the new arrangement he is necessitated to suggest to Mr. Lawson, who consults Mr. Conyei's, who refers to Mr. C'arrutliers, who knows as little about ojir requirements as any man we know of, and cares less, and the result is the systematic humbugging and consequent general dissatisfaction that have characterised a great portion of Mr. Smith's tenure of office. Things have gone on in this way for 'so long a period that Mr. Smith very wisely took advantage of the first opportunity of leaving so rosy a position Id another, who, we hops, will have better luck under the Sir George Grey Government, If the line is to be worked from Christclmrch and "Wellington, and we are to be left to the tender

mercies of Mr, Lawson, or Mr, Carruthers, or both, for every little service we want rendered by the Department, which, if it is granted at all, entails delay, drays will soon groan along our loads in place of the iron hois-, from which we had every reason to expect such great th ngs. Mr. Smith, at the end of this month leaves his present position, to undertake the management of an agency in Oamaru for the South

British Insurance Company, where he 'will have only one master to serve, and where business is conducted on business-like principles. Had a gentleman been retiring from such a position, where circumstances had heen such that he had been able to afford general sati-faction to the public in the execution of his duties, he would at least have been the recipient of the good wishes of everybody on entering upon his new career ; and we, feeling that Mr. Smith has been more sinned against than sinning—that he Has occupied a position which would have ended in a state of confusion in the railway department long ago, had many another man been in his place—trust that Mr. Smith will su ceed in his new undertaking, and we think that the majority of the public will go with us in this wish.

The armed division of the Grammar School Cadets were inspected yesterday, the Company turning out well. A number of new members joined. The unarmed division held their usual exercise drill this afternoon. There were ninety-five on parade. Owing to the continued increase of new boys, the dnll Instructor will have considerable difiiculty before he gets this force into proper shape. It is satisfactory to sec the new comers so willing to learn, and paying such attention to the exercise.

At the meeting of the Committee of the North Otago Horticultural Society, held last Monday, the following special prizes were offered : —203. for the greatest number of points obtained by a new competitor in class —, pot plants and cut flowers—amateurs, by Mr. C'onnell (President of the Society) ; the same gentleman will also give a prize of 20s. for the greatest number of points obtained by a new competitor in class —, fruit and vegetables—amateurs. 21s. for the best collection of herbaceous cut flowers, 2 exhibits or no award ; and an ornamental (lower stand, for the best three exotic plants, greenhouse or store, 2 exhibits or no award, both by Mr. James Patersou ; 12s. Gd. for the best hand bouquet, the same to he made in the presence of the Committee, by children under 15 years of age, by -Mrs. J. Patersou ; 2nd prize of o's. for best hand bouquet, the same to be made in the presence of the Committee, by children under 15 years of age, by Mr. Kidd ; and a third prize, a volume, "Language of Flowers," for best hand bouquet, the same to be made in the presence of the- Committee, by children under 15 years of age, by Mr. Stemson.

A meeting of the Oamaru Artillery Volunteers was held last evening after parade, at the Imperial Hotel. Present—Lieut. Greenfield (in the chair), Sub-Lieut. Kennedy, Sergt-Maior PToklsworth, Sergts. Cowie ami Elickey, Corporals Evans, Roulstoii, and Lindsay, and about twenty gunners. The minutes of the last meeting -were read ami confirmed. Sergt, Hickey bavin" given notice at last meeting of his intention to propose, "That the rule for providing for the standard height of all candidates for membership be struck out." brought forward his motion, which was carried unanimously. Several new member.? were admitted to the battery, and the election for captain took place. The candidates for the post were Messrs. O'Meaghorand Morton, and upon a ballot being taken, the choice of the Company fell upon the latter gentleman, after which it was formally proposed and carried unanimously that Mr. Morton be selected as Captain of the Company. The Chairman stated that the new uniforms would soon be out. A hearty vote of thanks was passed by acclamation to Lieut. Greenfield, for his labours on behalf of the Company while in command of it, which was suitably acknowledged by that gontle-

The usual monthly meeting of the Kakanni Road Board was held this forenoon in the Board-room, Tyne-slreet, when there were present—Messrs. Gilchrist (chairman), Booth, Klder, Meek, Hedley. Morton, Manning, Thomson, and Oliver (Kngineor). The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed, and the outward correspondence read and approved. A letter from the Waitaki County Council (held over from the last meeting) was read, asking for a report of what main arterial roads should be taken over by the County. The Hoard decided to consider this letter in connection with one from the Otcpopo Road Board r? the proposed bridge at Island s tream. It was resolved, "That as theOtepmo Road Board has refused to meet this Board in forming ar, approach road to the proposed bridge, Ihe County Ct.uneil be asked to tal<c the matter in band, and form a road line from Maheno Railway-station to the boundary of this district at Karoo River." A letter was read from the Secretary to the Education Board of Otago with reference to the proposed road to Bush Reserve, at Cape "Wain'now, in which ho stated that the management of education reserves had been transferred to the School Commissioners to be appointed under the Act of 1577 ; also, that no part of an education reserve could be alienated permanently without an Act of the Assembly. A letter was read from Mr. John "Wildish, complaining of the annoyance caused by cows and goats being tethered on road lines in South Oamaru, and asking that a ranger

be appointed." It was resolved that applications be invited for rangersliip, particulars of which will be found in our advertising columns. A letter was read from the resident engineer with reference to application from Board to Public Works Department, asking that a bridge be constructed on road line leading to Mr. M'Kay's paddock at Reidston, in which he stated that as the department had already provided a public and private level crossing, Mr. Conyers could not see his way to construct a bridge to give further means of access to Mr. M'Kay's land. A letter was read from Mr. Kenyon, I solicitor, Dunedin, re exchange of ro i..l | lines in South Oamani township; and also one from from Mr. Black, attorney for Mr. Fairfax Feuwick, intimating that he won'd comply with Board's request as to width of road lines. It was resolved that Mr. Mac-

Auley, Totara, be appointed a member for the Lambourne sub-division in the place of the late Mr. Wheatley. The Engineer was requested to have an extra culvert added to contract at present being carried out in Serrjentine Valley, and also to take steps to have the remaining portion of this road made practicable. Accounts to the amount of L 307 7s. 3d. were passed for payment, and after a vote of thanks to the Chairman the Board adjourned. A bright scion of tho aristocracy arrived at the Foreign Office some time ago with a note of introduction from his noble father to tlie following effect :—S -Vm-t. hearer is my eldest son, who will, I am convinced, be an ornament to the Diplomatic Service. He has the greatest talent for lying of any member of our family, which, knowing us as well as you do, your lordship will fully appreciate." ,

The Nelson Daily Times of Saturday says that the most exciting event of the week has bten the hunting of a Minister. Ton't start worthy reader ; only one of tho Parliamentary kind. You see, among the passengers by tho Taranaki was an ordinary traveller, enjoying the ordinary name of Shcehan, who was en route for Wcstport, and the honorable of the same patronymic being expected, it was only natural that a mistaken impression should obtain. The consequence of this error .was the adjournment of the Kducation Board for interviewing purposes, and behind these grave and reverend seigniors came a crowd of miscellaneous persons upon n, similar errand bent. The disappointment of the deputations may be imaginued, but it was not shared by tho cabmen, who held a meeting in the evening for the purpose of considering the propriety of subsidising some passenger from Dunedin to induce said passenger to travel under the nom dc plum/' of Larnach, in the faint hopethat interviewers would once again rush to the port in public vehicles.