The Evening Mail. FRIDAY, JULY 26, 1878.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 716, 26 July 1878, Page 2

The Evening Mail. FRIDAY, JULY 26, 1878.

After a recess of seven months. Parliament was opened this afternoon. Owing to some bungling in Wellington either on the part of the Telegraph department or the Pres* Agency, we have not received a copy < f his Excellency's speech, or an account, of any kind" of the proceedings. Vice-1 legal speeches no doubt are very dry reading, but at a time like the present, when great reforms are promised by the Ministry, the Governor's utterances are rendered interesting, on account of containing somintimation of the intentions of the Govcrn-

ment. We are therefore surprised and annoyed at being treated in the manner we have b»;en by those who should supply information of so interesting a natur.-, au-l intend making some inquiry into th- matter with a view of finding out where the fault lies. We understand that a requisition, numc-

•ously signed by merehaots atui others, ha~ ojen forwarded to the Hon. the Commissioner of Telegraphs, asking that the Oamaru Telegraph Office may be k-.-pt open between the hours of 5 and 7 p.m., as i-s the case in

Dunedin and all other chief towns. It is to he hoped that the request will be complied with, a3 the change will prove of advantage to the general public. Mr. S. E. Shrimski, one of the members for the district, will leave for the North tomorrow moraine, to attend to his legislative duties. Mr. Hislnp will not. we understand, proceed to Wellington for a few days.

We regret to learn that the illn-=;= of Mr. Williamson, who has for some wars occupied the position of lighthouse-keuper lias became of so serious a nature as to necessitate his voluntary resignation of the post. Mr. Williamson has been a good and faithful servant, a fact which wa3 testified to by the Harbor Board to-day by the resolution parsed regretting the cause of his resignation.

At "he Resident Magistrate's Cou-t this morning, before T. W. I'.irker. Esfj., 1.'.M., Alexander Kyan, for indecent behaviour, was sentenced to seven days' iiupr : snnment. Three cases of breaches of the Corporation bye-laws were disposed of. the culprits b-ing charged with not having proper mntrol over their horses. James Hewson was fined 45.; William Rayner, 55.; and Thomas Hill, 3s. Gd.

A meeting of the Committee of the Early Closing Association was held last evening at Gordon's rooms. It w:is deeidrd t > give a I concert in aid of the funds of the Association on the 14th August, and the first rehearsal was fixed for Thursday evening next. A report, to be presented to the general meeting on Monday m-xf, was drawn up and adopted, and the meeting then clo.-sed. The meet of the Canterbury Hounds took place this afternoon, near the racecourse The hounds were followed by a very good number of horsemen, but owing to the late hour at which the meet took place, we are unable to give any particulars of the afternoon's sport. The half-yearly meeting of the Oamaru RiHe Volunteers will be held this evening, at S o'clock, in the Volunteer Hall. A football match, Colonials v. The World. will be played on the old cricket ground on Saturdav afternoon. Ga*me to commence at

2.30 sharp. All members are requested to attend.