TELEGRAMS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 619, 27 April 1878, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

1 v WELLINGTON. April 26. Reporters for the press will not be allowed to be present at the forthcoming native meeting at Hikurangi but an arrangement will be made for supplying the papers with the result of the proceedings. Sixty pounds of stone from golden point reef Queen Charlotte's Sound have been crushed here preparatory to being tested by Dr. Hector. In to-day's "Gazette" it is notified that in terms of the resolution of the House of Representatives the Government will give a bonus of LSOOO for the first produce of not less than five hundred tons of marketable sugar from beat grown in the North Island, and a like sum for the same quantity made in the Middle Island. April 27. The Colonial Insurance Company was registered this morning, under the Joint Stock Company's Act. ALEXANDRA. April 20. Several canoe loads of flour, sugar, &c.. have gone up to Hikurangi to-day. A huge number of Natives arc assembled at in J fails as L->Wi.-r Walk;*to. Natives ;-iv ■ xp-..-c:ted to-morrow in four war canons. i It: is ilonb: "\O. if R-.-v.-i. wii! Ik'. p-.'f.T.-ur a-IT-:;nry Fisher and Waiter Coktr. storo-1-o-epers, PaIhKTSCo:! North, charged with conspiracy to defraud their creditors, have been tried at the Supremo Court. The ease lasted two days, and the jury returned a verdict of gut! !y on all the counts. Sentence is deferred till Saturday.

TIMARU. April 27. The chairman of the Harbor Board has received a telegram to the efleet that the Commission has met and approved of Mr. Goodall's plans for the mole for Timam Harbor. The news is received here with great satisfaction, and the people of Timaru anticipate a speedy commencement of the work.

BALCLUTFA. April 20. At the meeting of the Glutlia County Council, to-day, a letter was read from the Minister for Public Works stating that the Government had agreed to make Kelso the termination of the WaipahiTapanui Railway, and had given instructions to carry out the same.

AUCKLAND. April 2G. The Auckland Jockey Club have disqualified M'Gee, the owner, from running horses on the Auckland turf, and M'Gee junr., the jockey, has been suspended for twelve months, for alleged pulling of Falcon in the Selling Race. The resolution is to be forwarded to the Southern Clubs. The Governor met with an enthusiastic recepton on his arrival at Hokianga. He was entertained at Innoheon by the principal residents. The ship Telegraph and two French vessels fired a salute of 21 guns'; all the vessels were decorated. There was a splendid display of fireworks. The Governor has gone to the Heads, to Mr. Webster's place.

CHRISTCHURCH. April 26. The sale of Mr. Nosworthy's racing stock realised L 9,102 12s. The principal bor3es sold were —Traitor, 550 guineas ; Aurifera, 425 guineas; Telltale, 300 guineas ; Sure, a filly foal by Traducer, 375 guineas, to Mr. Seaton ; Na while, a filly foal by Traducer, 400 guineas, to Mr. latching; Naiad, a two-year old filly, 455 guineas, to Mr. Stead, from Australia ; Norseman, a yearling colt, 475 guineas, to Mr. Redwood ; Merlin, 300 guineas, to R. Ray. April 27. At the adjourned inquest on the body of tho boy Steele, additional evidence was given showing that Mrs. Steele had been :i.,:un to beat the boy cruelly ; and shortly before lie was fouaJ iu" a wounded, state ; she.was heiird to threaten to knock his 1 brains out with a poker. A verdict ot ■ manslaughter was returned against Mrs. j bieele. I

ENTERTAINMENT AT NGAPABA,

One of the most enjoyable entertainments "we have ever listened to took place last night at Ngapara in aid of the District School, when the schoolroom was comfortably filled by an audience that came from far and near. ISTeil Fleming, Esq., occupied the chair. The entertainment was worked up by the School Committee, Sir. Reicl (Chairman) having been most energetic in securing the services of no les.-; than twelve of Oamaru's best musicians, whilst, wo understand, JLessrs. W. -j(.-&-.ui>, Oouiiu, K. Litile, andLawrie (SvCi-eiary) busied themselves in making ■the local arrangements, which were exe. Rent. Sir. Finch, of course, presided at t.'io piano, and although that instrument was terribly out of condition, having been lately " tuned 1 ' by an expert from Oamaru, he adapted himself to circumstances, and did remarkably well. Amongst the other performers from Oamaru we noticed Mrs. Kinnear, Mrs. Fraser, and Miss Beveridge, and Messrs. Fraser, E. Booth, Mitchell, Walls, and Jones. Mr. Finch having played a galop, the Chairman, in the absence of Mr. Murdoch, called upon Mr. Jackman to take his place, and on to the platform marched a lad of about 11 years of age. Master Jackman, notwithstanding his youthftilness, accpiitted himself well by singing the " Bonny Boy in Blue," and at tiie conclusion he received a storm of applause. The Chairman paid the singer a very high compliment, and requested him to yield to the desire of the audience by singing another song, which he did. Mr. and Mrs. Fraser sang " Come o'er the Moonlit Sea" (from " Masaniello") with

great precision, and with excellent taste ; and, as might be expected by those who are acquainted with the vocal ability of these two late and valuable additions to the Oaniaru Musical World, were loudly applauded. "The Irish Immigrant" was sung by Mrs. Kinnear, whose voice and musical taste enabled her to infuse into her performance the pathos necessary to its correct interpretation. As an encore Mrs. Kinnear repeated the last verse. Mr. Murdoch followed with " My Native Highland Home," which he sang in true Scotch style ; and, on being vociferously applauded, sang another song of the same character. Mr. Jones played, as a violin solo, " The Blue Bells of Scotland," with variations, and as an encore, " The Harp that once thro' Tara's Halls." The reading by Mr. Piper was most comical.

and kept the audience in a continuous state of mirth. Mr. Piper pourtrayed a trentleman who was in the habit of spending his evenings in conviviality, and who invariably returned home rather the worse for this pastime ; but he nevertheless persisted in assuring his wife that he knew where to draw the line. The next piece was the fine old melody, " Within a mile of Edinbro' Town," which was adapted as a chorus and sung by the full company. This was, to our mind, one of gems of the concerted music of the evening. But Mr. Fraser's " Pilgrim of Love " was also a piece well chosen and admirably sung. In it the performer's beautiful voice was fully displayed. Mr. E. Booth, another of our best vocalists, sau.u' "In Happy Momenis," and was followed by Mi.ts Rewriuge (from Dimedin), who ■rendered in c:u>o:t! s'vie "Who's that fappingat the garden gat- ;"' Fortius !.,,,. .; ••■,■; ■ :. :.>';••' wood o' CYaigie

L-o " i :■:..■'.•'!<.-};( !y. ::.i.rs. rrasor men sang "'They're a' :i teasing me," a real old .".iooi.cn so>v_;, which that lady performed in ;i true Meotoh stylo with the proper amount of cultivation. As we expected, this song was encored, and the audience were treated to " Kate O'Brien." Mr. \-j. Booth sang pathetically "Down by i.i.o deep, sal sea." Mr. Jones played •"' The Last Rose of Summer," Mrs. Kin- I near sang " Wont yon to tali me why, Robin { " raid, being encored gave. " We'd better hide a wee ;" Mr. Murdoch characteristically sung "The plough boy," and, as an encore, "A' body's like to be married but iuo." Mr. Walls sang "Close the shutter, Willie's dead," very feelingly ; and Mr. Mitchell sang the papular air "''Little footsteps." The Chairman here remarked that he thought he ought to be permitted to say a few words before the audience dispersed. The thanks of the ooinmunity were duo to Mr. W. Reid. That gentleman had dene a deal towards getting up tiie entertainment. He was of opinion that the performers should be thanked for their kindness in having come so long a distance, in some cases at inconvenience, to delight them. Mr. and Mrs. Fraser were strangers, and from what he had heard, they would be a great acquisition to the district ; as for Mrs. Eraser, he thought that the people of the district would not let her alone. Now that they had had an evidence of her talent, they would want to hear more of her. Thanks were also due to Miss Beveridge, who was "on a visit from Dunedin. It must not be thought that lie had specially singled out the performers whose names lie had mentioned because lie thought them better , entitled to thanks than the rest. Of course, ecual thanks were due to all ; but he had mentioned the names of the strangers in order to ensure them an introduction and a reception. Ho had never been present at so good an entertainment, and he felt sure that those who were present would have something to tell those who were absent that would not onlymake the latter feel disappointed, but cause - them to resolve that they would patronise the next entertainment, and lill the schoolroom to overflowing. Mr. and Mrs. Fraser then sang the duet " Peace to thy Spirit," after which Mr. W. Reid proposed* a vote of thanks to the chairman, which was carried by acclamation. Mr. Fleming said that ho would always be glad to accept the invitation of Mr. Reid, or that of the gentleman who iefc the room because he thought that Mr. Reid was coming in for more than his shave of the credit, to talcs pare at, such meetings, either as Chairman, or in the more humble capacity of a singer. He had merely > mentioned Mr. He id's li.-nue ;<s that of the ! oui7 >.;oui !'j'.j!;i'.i ',viih whom he had bem' 0!.:0,',; of ■ .:,; ;•, ~;o.'l C'.-'..iiilil:.e.' had done their share of the work. would ! always be glad to assist them, more espe- [

cially in anything connected with school matters. Mr. C. Jessop having requested the Chairman to sing " Auld Lang Syne," Mr. Fleming invited the co-operation of all present, and thus ended a most enjoyable entertainment. As usual, a dance was subsequently indulged in by the lads and lassies. (For continuation of tie us sec fourth page.)