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Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1009, 14 July 1879, Page 2

A correspondent writes to the effect that there are men in the employ of the Corporation who clo not need their present employment. One of them, he s.iys, " has nioney out at interest," and " another lias property worth thousands " —not bad things either in times like the present. He argues that the Council should give employment, as far as possible, to people who really require it, and who would do it just at well as the opulent laborers now in their employ, alul says that there are men in this town, with wives and families, who have not an atom of firing or a bit c-f food to eat, and this at a time when the weather is keen and the appetite is ravenous. It the Council could render some assistance to the needs', by giving them employment even at the expense of those who. our correspondent says, now have it and do not require it, they would be acting charitably without stepping aside from the path of strict duty—aye, they would he performing their duty in tints acting charitably.

At the Resident Magistrate's Court today, before T. AV. Parker, Esq., 11.M., (Iconic Byrnes, alius John Kerr, charged with being drunk and disorderly in '! eesstreet yesterday, was fined ss. Richard Beatty. ulia-i Millins, for being drunk and disorderly yesterday, was fined ss. He was also fined '2os. or five days' imprisonment for using obscene language. Andrew Gray, for driving two cows through the streets of the town within prohibited hours, was fined Ss. Jamc3 Campbell pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawfully permitting gambling in his licensed house known as the Railway Hotel, at Xgapara, oil the Stli inst. Inspector Thompson prosecuted, and called Edward Aitken, who deposed that he remembered the Sth inst. There were a number of people in the hotel, and it was proposed to have a throw of the dice for drinks, each person putting down a shilling, the winner to take the balance after paying for the drinks. A dispute arose as to who should throw first, or as to how the dice-box should round, when a tight ensued, during which sonic blood was drawn. Defendant said he had tried to put a stop to the game as soon as possible. His "Worship inflicted a penalty of LI 10s., with LI 15s. Gd. costs. A general meeting of the promoters of the Oaniaru Coffee Palace will be held in the AthctuL'um at 7.30 this evening, for the purpose of receiving the report of the Provisional Committee. The case of A. A. Solomon v. South British Insurance Company, which was to have been heard on Monday next, was settled out of Court on Saturday last. This was a claim for LIOOO insurance on stock damaged and destroyed by a fire, which occurred in Thames-street, Oaniaru, on the 4th of January last, and for which amount a writ had been issued. The defendants in the case have agreed to pay the sum of L 7-30, plaintiffs legal expanses amounting to L 75, and to refer the balance of the claim (L 250) to arbitration. This case has been proceeding for seven months. Our Livingstone correspondent writes as follows :—The sixth annual general meeting of the Mining Association was held in the Schoolroom on Saturday evening. Mr. Roberts occupied the chair, and read the annual report, after which a ballot was taken for retiring members of Committee. Four new members were elected, •viz., Messrs. R. Nicholson, H. Howe, F. Rotting, and J. M'Quade. Mr. Roberts was reelected Chairman, without opposition, and Mr. Kennodc was elected Treasurer. I enclose herewith a copy of the report referred to above. [TJiid report is published in another column.] The late i ains have caused very considerable damage to the wittertraceg here, breaking them away in many places. This, fol owed by severe frosts, will so delay the necessary repairs that serious loss must follow, not only to race-owners, but to those inin.ers who depend on them for the indispensable snpplv of water for their sluicing operations, and should the weather not soon improve, distress in sonic instances is inevitable. The flood in the river was, perhaps, higher than on any preceding occasion sinec Maerewhenua has been known as a goldlic-id ; it was, in fact, so high as to overMow the p'atforn; of the bridge 1. :low Livingstone, but without, so far as i can learn, doing it any damage. The largest parcel of books co;v*:g!":d to the Atiienxurn for some years can.e to hand ; to-day. It cortuins nca ly 350 volt;:::cs of standard literature, science, art, political economy, history, biography, and fiction, the latter especially being largely represented. To give a list of the looks would make tiiii notice rather longer th'.n our space would allow, but we may mention that Stanley's Dinry Continued, Livingstone's Last Journal, History of the Russo-Turkish War, and numerous other works of interest just lately published, together with the latest novels by Harrison Ainsworth, William Bhck, R. I). Blackmore, Rlioda Bronghton. Wilkie Collins, Mrs. Craik, George Elliot, Geo. ilacdoßiltl, Mrs. Oliphant, Mrs. H. Wood, Miss Yonge, &e. Wo understand ! that this consignment makes iip ali tlje incomplete sets of standard novels in' the library, and readers can now obtain any of the novels published by their favorite authors. It gives us pleasure to record this step in the right direction, and we trust the Committee of the Institute may see its way tojhave a similar parcel every six months, as

nothing •will keep up the public interest in the affairs of the Athenreum so much as plenty of good and new reading matter. The New Tees-street Hall was again filled last night as full as it could hold with a most attentive audience. Two addresses j were delivered, which were pointed and practical. The entire service occupied something under the allotted 60 minutes. T l " singing by the choir was remarkably good, both before and during the service.