The Evening Mail. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1878.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 757, 13 September 1878, Page 2

The Evening Mail. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1878.

His Worship the Resident Magistrate delivered judgment this morning upon the summons issued at the instance of Mr. W. Smillie, calling upon Messrs. D. Borrie and J. G. Nicolls to show cause why their election as members of the Waitaki Road Board should not be declared null and void. His Worship spoke strongly with reference to the conduct of Mr. Peter Aifcchison in persisting in holding the election at Wilson's barn, contrary to the resolution of the Board and in contravention of the Gazette notice appointing the Papakaio Schoolhouse the polling place for the subdivision. The summons was dismissed, with full costs in favor of the defendants.

At the meeting of the Council last evening it -was stated that the cost of the reception of the Governor and party on the occasion of the opening of the railway to Dunedin amounted to over L2oo—double the sum voted jointly by the Council and the Harbor Board.

It has got abroad that the Hon. R. Campbell intends to use his utmost endeavors to prevent the cutting up and selling on the deferred payment system, of the 9000 acres selected by the Waste Lands Board for that purpose from the Otekaike estate, and that that gentleman, in order to achieve his object, was proceeding to have planted 400 acres in the middle of the area mentioned, with the object of securing three acres of land for every one acre planted with forest trees, in accordance with the Act. We are glad to be able to give this rumor a most authoritative and unqualified contradiction. So far from Mr. Campbell having any intention such as that ascribed to him, he has intimated to a number of the employe's on the estate, who are desirous of taking up the land, that he will oiler them every facility to enable them to do so. As representations were made to us that we should use our endeavors to prevent the injustice which some people thought was about to be done, we deem it to be our duty to state that the injustice existed only in the imagination of some scandalmongers. From the report of the Corporation gardener, read at last evening's meeting of the Municipal Council, it appears that even the plants in the Severn-street reserve, designed to beautify, are not deemed sacred property by some petty thieves. According to Mr. Kidd, "Some person has been at work pilfering holly plants from the Severn-street reserve." It is a pity that the scoundrel cannot be caught and made to do something useful on the reserves.

The monthly meeting of the Waitaki branch of the Educational Institute of Otago will be hold to-morrow, at the Otepbpo schoolhouse.

The members of the local branch of the Eailway Employes' Benefit Society will meet this evening, at S o'clock, in the Goods Shed. Our morning contemporary was issued this morning in a new and improved form, a column having been added to each page: Tlie torrent of progress must b'e stemmed, but if it has been rendered necessary to inpreaso the size of the North Otago Times and the expense of its production, it is only reasonable to suppose that the exigency, which necessitated the alteration will bring "more grist to the mill. Our contemporary is worthy of congratulation for the improvement it has effected, and the settlers of the district should be pleased to be able to say that their morning "paper will bear favorable comparison with the morning papers of other places. Railway communication may somewhat revolutionise the newspaper business, as it does everything else ; trains may inundate us with literature cheap enough in all conscience, but they cannot supply us with representative papers. It cannot be said with truth that all the interests of Dunedin and Oamaru are identical. The people of Dunedin would, of course, like to see our town shrivel up into a hamlet—a mere stopping place for travellers, and. the country residence of the Dunedin merchant princes —and the papers "printed in that city are just as thoughtful for the interests of their pet place and careless for the interests of Oamaru. We, too, eatohing the contagion, have taken the necessary steps for increasing the size of our sheet within a month or so from now to the size of the Dunedin Star.

The International Circus, of : which such nattering notices have appeared in the Colonial Press, are announced to appear here on Wednesday and Thursday next. The large number of the performers and the exciting nature of the performances will probably, as usual, attract large audieuces. On Thursday, there will be a mid-day performance for the young people and those who reside in the country. Messrs. Hayes and Benhamo are the proprietors. Messrs. D. and L. Maclean sold to Messrs. Fleming and Hedley yesterday for L 750 the Clydesdale draught stallion Young Vanquisher, formerly the property of the N. Z. and A.. Laud Company. Messrs. Connell and Moodie, acting on behalf of Mr. James Lees, applied, at the last meeting of the Waste Lands Board, to purchase sections 20 and SO, block XI., Oamaru, as ordinary rural land. It was decided to offer the same by public auction, the upset price being fixed at 20s per acre. The net proceeds of the late entertainment at Livingstone for the benefit of the Oamaru amounting to L 6 7s. 6d., were today handed over to Mr. Lemon, the Treasurer of that institution. The people of Livingstone are deserving of thanks for their liberality. We have had the pleasure of viewing a magnificent dappled brown Clydesdale colt, the property of Mr. John Macfarlane, of Timaru, and. formerly of Oamaru. He is now on his way from Dunedin to Timaru, and we think it a pity that his proprietor did not let him tarry here. He is a genuine looking animal, by the celebrated imported horse Prince of Wales, dam Clutha, by Emperor. It augurs well for the excellence of our horse stock in the future when we get such sires brought amongst us. The usual meeting of the Harbor Board which was to have b6en held to-day, lapsed from want of attendance. Messrs. G. Sumpter (Chairman), J. Meek, and Steward ; were present. Last evening's Young Men's Association soiree was eminently a success. The Volunteer Hall was crowded by a select audience, who seemed to thoroughly enjoy themselves. T}ie Rev. A. B. Todd, president, occupied the chair, and in his introductory address, referred to the good work that had been accomplished by the Society, and the impioving effect of such institutions on the characters of young men. The entertainment was interesting and varied. In various parts of the room were placed curiosities, the majority of which possess great merit, and which were kindly lent for the occasion. Vocal and instrumental music was contributed by Mesdames J. Booth, and Branton ; Misses Todd.and M'Caw ; and M- ■. . G. Jones, J. and D. Booth, and .. ■j. a : Mr. Sumpter and Mr. S. K. Smith g-'v-/-chosen readings and recitations. The various items in the programme were creditable in every respect, with the exception of the unpleasantness that arose from being compelled to listen to a Brmsmead piano out of tune after hearing the harmonious full tones of Mr. Longford's. An interval of half-an-hour between the parts was spent in partaking of fruit and inspecting the curiosities, and although the audience was far too large to admit of easy access to the exhibits, it is a matter for gratification that the reverse was not the case. A little disappointment was occasioned because of the absence of the telephonic experiments ; but the committee, who were as much annoyed as the audience, were not to blame. The mechanician of whom the necessary instruments were ordered studiously avoided keeping his engagements, and thus the disappointment arose. Votes of thanks to those who had lent the exhibits, to the performers, the Committee, and the Chairman were passed, and the meeting concluded with the National Anthem.