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Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1170, 16 January 1880, Page 2

We had almost arrived at the conclusion that the unseasonable weather of the past few days had come to an end, and that henceforth glorious sunshine would take the place of heavy rain for a time, when our anticipations were rudely dispelled by a heavy clap of thijuder. This occurred at about mid-day, and was followed by qther claps and lightning, accompanied by heavy showers of rain and hail. The storm appeared to be travelling in a northerly direction, and soon passed over the district, though we fear it was of a sufficiently lengthy arid severe nature to do some injury to t]ie crops, Misfortunes never come singly, very truthfully says an old adage; and this would seem to be the case in regard to many farmers in Canterbury. They have, within the past few days, suffered no small loss through the unseasonable rains of the past few days, and now we are informed by telegram that rust had made its appearanpe amongst the crops at Ellesmere. It is to be hoped that the rust will not prove of a serious nature. The Kakanui Meat Wot ks are being got into order for the approaching preserving season. We believe that they will in future be conducted with a view t.> make them pay, and we trust that all concerned will, in this respect, have every reason to feel satisfied. We gee no reason why they should not. Similar works elsewhere arc remunerative, and, with the facilities to hand, they should, with good management, be .«<? here.

It is notified in another column that the valuation list for the road district of Otepopo for the present year may be inspected at the Board's office. Objections must be lodged at the sclioolhonse on or before February 15. Particulars may be ascertained by reference to advertisement.

The monthly inspection of the headquarters companies of Volunteers will be held at eight o'clock this evening. An advertisement, which has emanated from the Australian Mutual Provident Society, gives notice that at a special meet? ing of the members of the Society, to be held in Sydney on the 2Sth inst,, several alterations in the bye-laws will Le considered.

The Misses M'Caw will re-open their school on the 26th instant. Mr. Anstead's Windsor House School will resume studies, after the Christmas vacation, on the 2nd of February next. rumor-is, current that -an express will shortly bevrruii from "Oamaru to-Kakanui 'Month- The population has k so: increased that more'feequent and regulaitcommanica*tloh betweeh'these-Wo places has .become a pefcessAyi ;'OnA ,:iye feei;-:sure ;thafc_anyone "having sufficient enterprise to embark in the project will be fairly rewarded. The High School Cadets met this afternoon and agreed to .hold a picnic at Oaklands, in;. a -paddock-kindly granted for the purpose by Mr. Elder. Arrangements .Were •made*"for" Ta'cing "and ' Shootiug- for prises will, also .take place should a convenient piece of ground be got. It has' beeii arranged with the railway authorities to convey the corps in carriages attached to the 9.30 a.m. train, returning at 7.25 p.m. .

A correspondent sends us the following from Ngapara, under yesterday's date : " To-day has been a red letter day in Ngapara. The greatest event of the year 1880, so far as it has gone, took place in a paddook adjoining the township, kindly lent for the purpose by a well-known and respected resident. It took the form of fete, wherein " all hands " had a great ado, and may be designated as a picnic. The procession started from the township at about half-past eleven o'clock, headed by three of the '' lost tribes," who accompanied the party as far as the creek, and played some well-known airs (about here), amongst which "The Old Folks at Home" showed prominently to the fore. After a short and sweet march through mud and mire the party reached the desired haven, and at once entered upon the general routine of picnics. After all the gear was put into working order, the sports of the day commenced. The running, jumping, and, in fact, the sports in general reflected great credit upon the turn-out,' and especially on the indefatigable energy of the ladies of the Committee. After spending a very pleasant and enjoyable day, the whole party returned very much satisfied with the day's proceedings. The attendance at the Volunteer Hall last evening, when the Gem Burlesque and Comedy Company gave a performance, was only moderate ; but what it lacked in numbers was made up by the boisterous nature of the applause. Some delay was occasioned in commencing the performance owing to the key of the piano not being forthcoming. A burlesque and pantomime without scenery was bad enough, but without music ,they would have been unbearable; and the management therefore decided to play a farce while a hunt was being made for the key, and " A Kiss in the Dark " was selected, Mr. Hydes as Pettibone being exceedingly amusing. After a further delay, the piano was opened amidst the uproarious applause of the occupants of the back seats. The pantomime of "Harlequin Mazourka" was then proceeded with, and, despite the lack of fitting seenery, was made very amusing, the dialogue being smart and the burlesque affording plenty of opportunities for introducing songs and dances. The singing and dancing of Miss Amy Johns, Miss Maud Vincent, and Miss Madge Herrick tended greatly to make the performance pleasing, and Messrs. Wilkinson, Hydes, Ashton, and Stark each worked hard to make the burlesque go smoothly ; but it was very hard up-hill work, and that the company succeeded in amusing the audience at all is a matter of astonishment when the number of drawbacks to be contended against are taken into consideration. Of the pantomime the less said the better, for in the absence of scenery, stage-room, and all the necessary concomitants of that class of entertainment, it was a sorry affair indeed. Mr. Hydes during the evening explained that the company had not had time to fit up the scenery brought with them, for the purpose, but said that on their return from Timaru they would assuredly show the panorama of Zululand.

Discussions in Presbyterian Synods are generally characterised by an amount of calmness and serenity that renders the reports of the meetings very dry reading, and it is seidom indeed that they are disturbed by such a display of warmth as was shown yesterday. The Rev. Mr. Bannerman, while supporting a motion in favor of erecting and endowing a new Chair in the Otago University by separating the subjects at present included under the Professor already appointed, said that the present occupant of the Chair for Moral Philosophy and Political Economy had himself expressed his willingness that the subjects should be divided, and had so intimated to the Synod. To this a voice cried No, no ; and thereupon the following little scene took place : —The Rev. Mr. Bannerman : It is a well-known fact.—Professor Salmond : It is simply incorrect.—Dr. Copland : I beg to state that it is so.—Professor Salmond : Then I beg to state that it is not, —Rev. Mr. Bannerman : I beg to state that within the last eight days Professor Macgregor told me so himself.—Dr. Copland : I have it in writing from Professor Macgregor, with authority to read it to this Synod. It was given to me when I first proposed to bring this subject up.—Rev. Mr. Bannerman :—I inform this Synod that Mr. Macgregor told me so himself, and I told' Mr. Macgregor I would use it in this discussion. Mr. Macgregor's letter was before this Synod on a former occasion, and Mr. Will knows it. —Rev. Mr. Will: I deny it.—Rev. Mr. Ryley i Mr. Macgregor's letter was in my hands last Synod, and I presented it here; but some parties raised an objection to; my reading it, and, in deference to their opinion, I refrained.—Professor Salmond : A letter a year old ?—Rev. Mr. Bannerman: That letter was withdrawn simply because an explanation that would have been disagreeable must have been given. I believe the Professor has expressed his willingness to have the chair divided.—Professor Salmond : No; no ! —The Rev, Mr. Bannerman thought that any man appointed to such & chair would be only too glad to have his attention limited to one portion of the subjects, and he believed himself warranted in making the statements he had made. The speaker was then allowed to proceed, but another little scene occurred directly Mr. E. B. Cargill commenced speaking, this time a question of order and not of veracity being the occasion of the outburst of warmth ; but again and again were the generally calm and placid deliberations of the Synod disturbed by scenes more in keeping with discussions of Municipal Councils than in a body of ministers of religion. At length it was decided, on the motion of the Rev. Sir. Morice, to establish a Professorship of English language and literature, political economy, and constitutional history,

It is no uncommon thing for th e lflhoriijg classes to strike a light for their pipe on their trousers, but this practice is fraught with great danger. A man named Henry

Wilson, of Shields, was returning by the ferry to his home at the close of his day's work, and he struck a match in the way mentioned, when all of a moment he was enveloped in flames. In little more than a minute all the clothing he had upon him was reduced to ashes and he: was dreadfully burnt.' With the assistance of the other passengers he was dressed and taken to his lodgings, where he lies in a precarious state. His • clothes seeni to have been saturated with chemicals while following his employment.