The Oamaru Mail. TUESDAY, JULY 20, 1880.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 20 July 1880, Page 2

The Oamaru Mail. TUESDAY, JULY 20, 1880.

Some time ago we commented upon the action of the Ministry in seeking to appoint an Inspector of Gaols, with a salary of LGOO a-year and travelling allowances. We pointed out that the appointment of such an o!iieer was not an absolute necessity, and that, seeing that for many years we had done without an Inspector of (>aols, it was scarcelv reasonable that so heavy an addition should lie made to onr expenditure at a time when economy is the watchword of all parties in the Legislature. "We are therefore pleased to learn that Mr. Stewart has given notice of his intention to ask the Government if the Inspector of Prisons has been appointed, and if not, if the Government do not think that in the present financial position of the Colony such an appointment is not desirable. Mr. J. B. Fisher, the member for Buller, is apparently anxious to have the duty upon chaff removed, and the Ministry are, according to the statement of Maj<?r Atkin* son in the House of Representatives yesterday, considering the propriety of remitting the duty. Are the Ministry and Mr. Fisher aware that annually tons of excellent straw is burned in this district owing to the want of a remunerative market ? We mentioned a few days since that it was reported' that a number of under-clerks in the Government service had received tice that their services would be dispensed with. Before giving credence to the report we telegraphed to Wellington to ascertain the correctness of the rumor, but, strange to say, nothing was known there outside of official circles. The rumor, however, was apparently well grounded, for we now learn that a number of officials in the Telegraph and Postal Departments have received intimation that their country ijo longer requires their services. Amongst the number is Mr. W. Gordon, the counter clerk in the Oamaru Telegraph Office, who has for eight years been in the service, but who, unfortunately for himself, does not appear to be entitled to compensation under the Act of IS7I. A number of leading citizens have taken the matter in hand, and have, to the number of 4S, signed a petition tG tlje Hon. the Commissioner of Telegraphs, to re-consider the matter. This step has been taken, not on Mr. Gordon's ac ount, but in the interest of the Department at Oamaru — the requisionista rightly considering that the presence of a counter clgrk is an absolute necessity in the Telegraph Qflicg ol so important a town as Oamaru.

At the weekly parade of No. 1 Company last evening there were present 36 of all ranks, and some capital drill was gone through. Acting-Major Sumpter afterwards held a rigid inspection of arms, and annoanced that all arm 3 at present issued to the corp3 would be called in for the purpose of being overhauled, prior to re-issue. Forty stand of new arms (Sniders) have been received, and these will prove very welcome to the battalion, which has hitherto been short-supplied. Mails for the Australian Colonies, per Tararua, close at the Bluff at 11.30 a.m, on Friday, 23rd inst. Telegrams will be accepted at the Oamaru Office accordingly. There was a good attendance at Wesley Church last evening, when the Rev. J. J. Lewis, of Waimate, delivered a lecture on " John Bunyan." The pastor of the church, the Rev. J. Crump, occupied the chair, and the Rev. J. Foster opened the proceedings with prayer. We have not space to follow the rev. lecturer through his long and able lecture, but we may say that the subject was treated in a pleasing and telling manner. The life, the works, and the struggles of Bunyan were graphically painted, the language used well befitting the subject. The audience were, in fact, treated to a brief and interesting biography of one whose name will ever remain fresh and green in the memories of all classes of men. At the close of his lecture, ilr. Lewis was accorded a hearty vote of thanks. During the evening the choir of the church sang several suitable pieces very creditably, and Miss Crump (harmonium) and Mr. H. Powell (cornet) materially assisted in rendering the proceedings thoroughly enjoyable. Captain Edwin-telegraphs :—Bad weather approaching from any direction between north-east and north and west. Glass further fall, and southerly sea decrease soon. We would advise all who have any knowledge of, or love for, pretty things, to visit in their walks about town the shop next Mr. Wansbrongh's, in Thamesstreet. Mr. Fryer has collected there a srallery of engravings, lithographs, chromos, and oleos, which are to be disposed of by art-union, and we trust he will be' able to fill his list quickly, and let his collection be scattered about in the home 3 of the people of onr county and town, to be ornaments to the hcfuse3 and silent teachers in art to the children. He who wins the highest prize will possess a fine steel engraving of a stirring scene in our national history—a scene very different to that of which we now read—that we are preparing to run away from Cabul. No. 3, " Meditation," is a fine chromo—perhaps, the finest of all; the yearning look of the lady has something in it which fascinates the thoughtful observer. Nos. 9 and 10 are excellent, and should go together; they are full of color and interest. Nos. 5, 6, and 8 are also very fine chromos after Rowbotham. Among the chromos of medium size we like best Xo. 25; and .63, a colored litho, is a fine shadowing forth of a pretty piece of woodland scenery, made more interesting by the children on the bridge watching the brother at the water's edge. No. 28 is a marine piece, with abundance of vitality in it. No. 4 is particularly worthy of notice, and makes an Englishman of rural training think with horror of the coney poisoners of Southland. | Of the oleos, No. 14 has no superior, and i we trust it will find a place in the home-of some good Catholic. Nos. 15, 18, GB, 84, S5, 91, and 92 will find loving admirers among the boys, being all pretty and good pictures of animal life ; whilst 34 and 35 are worthy of close inspection, and should fall to the share of some lover of the chase. We have no hesitation in again recommending our readers to give Mr. Fryer a call, assuring thc-in they will not be disappointed. To-tiay'.s Lyttdton Times says : —Yesteiv day was an extremely heavy one at the I'olice Court, so far as the amount of the fines was concerned. The breaches of the Building by-law, produced L3O, besides co3ts. The total amount of fines was about LSO.

At Palmerston North a new local industry has been started in the manufacture of portable canvass boats, whi.ih, when dis-t'.-ii'li.'l aud in sailing trim, will carry three passengers comfortably, but which, when folded up, can be easily carried by one man as phc weight is only forty pounds.

Instructions have been given to the Public Works Department to use no more foreign timber for sleepers. On this "the -Wesit Co&st Times remarks : —As, however, we are [not likely to have any more railways for yiears to come, these instructions are given just a little too late. As a certain M.H.R. would say, " Just like Holiver !" The wife of "one of our most respected citizens" announced to her husband that she intended to embrace the tenets'of' Elder' Sorcnson's faith and become a Mormon. . Instead of bejng. dismayed. the husband, calmly acquiesced, and observing that he should retain the children, tendered his spouse-a cheque to pay her expenses to Utah. Strange to say the lady didn't seem to like it, and has since made no further mention of the matter. This (says the local Star) is positively true, and occurred in Auckland a few days ago. It will be remembered that our message ■with reference to the match between the Australian Eleven and Eighteen of Brougliton was unintelligible. From the cablegrams published in the Melbourne Argus we find that the match commenced on the 10th instant. The Australians went in first, and were all out for 107 The Home team followed, and before time was Galled had lost eight wickets for sixty runs. The ground was heavy, and run-getting was rendered difficult in consequence. The match was resumed next day, when the innings of the Home team closed for 106 runs, or one less than thpir opponents. The latter in their second innings put together 9S runs, all out. The Eighteen followed, and had lost 11 wickets for 51 runs when t)>e play was brought to an end. The match was thus dra'"\yn, ISi-oughton having six wickets to fall and 49 runs to inake to win. A large.number of young men who have, left here for South Africa will not find things so rosy there on arrival as they expected. Several of the Cape papers complain of trade depression ; and others say they already possess more single men. than they" kno\y what to do with. The Natal Mercury Qt & repent (l%ko, for instance, gays ;—r" Durban at pvesent ie in the unenviable possession of a large number of young men, • many of, whom are of good birth and parentage, who are wasting their substance, such as it is, ' waiting for remittances'or ' for something to turnup.' Some have been to the front and returned ; some have gone to England and come back ; some never did any work heua ( q>nd sortie boast that they never wjll; some run up lengthy scores at hotels, and they cannot pay ; others hire horses and avoid the charge' for engagement; but the class referred to may be sderi at any one or other of the canteens of the town, doing literally nothing but drink or ptyy billiards until the landlord's patienceis exhausted, and l}o turns them out to.prey.upgn sopjebody el§e.'!