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Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 17 August 1880, Page 2

The Okarita goldfield bids fair to absorb some portion of the unemployed. We have of late received numerous telegrams announcing the departure of parties from Christchurch for the new field, and we learn that it lias been found necessary to put on additional coaches to the West Coast, in order to accommodate the large numbers bound westward. The movement has now spread as far as Oamaru, and we have heard many able - bo.lied men talking of trying their fortunes at Okarita. A number of them left last evening by the steamer Grafton, and it is probable that others will follow in the course of a few days. In reply to Mr. Bowen's question as to whether or not the Property Tax is to be levied in the Chatham Island, where the inhabitants are not represented and have received no benefit from the Public Works expenditure, the Premier said that if all who were unrepresented were exempt from taxation, the revenue from that source would be meagre indeed (cries of " Yes— Sclwyu, Jvaiapoi," &c.). He further said, "The Government have considered this matter very carefully, and have concluded that it would perhaps be wise to add the Chatham Islands to the constituency of Akaroa." Roars of laughter followed this joculat' speech, and the hon. member for Akaroa (Mr. Montgomery) laughed as heartily as anybody. When he had sufficiently regained his characteristic gravity, however, he rose and said that he would not think of depriving his hon. friend the member for Kaiapoi of that to which he was justly entitled. The Colonial Secretary (Mr. Dick) was, in his peculiarly lugubrious and sepulchral Celtic style of oratory, descanting upon the Municpal Corporations Aofc Amendment Bill in a very mixed manner the other night. The Colonial Treasurer was at lii 3 elbow and seemed exceedingly uncomfortable, if the deepened furrows in his brows were any indication of the misery that rankled within, and scribbling a note, he handed it |to his colleague. Our readers are perfectly well acquainted with the Hon. Mr. Dick, and can, perhaps, imagine liis manner on receiving the missive. Thinking that it was, perhaps,, a useful hint or two connected with the subject pii v/hich he was •--peaking so wanderingly, he suddenly stopped—the Committee the while on the liptoe of anxiety—perused the note, saw that it was a recommendation to "shut up, : ' and stumbled once more to the bitter i end.

Captain Edwin telegraphs : —Bad weather is approaching from any direction betweeu north-east and north and ■west. The glass will fall again within 12 hours. Tlrs afternoon Captain Edwin telegraphed that there are indications of a further rise of the glass, and the sea making. He also says we may expect a very cold night. The usual monthly meeting of the Committee of the North Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Association will be held on Thursday next, at the usual hour. The business is important, as there are two notices of motion, given at last meeting—motions involving the principle of giving the option to the largest prize-taker winning cups to take money instead ; and of substituting after " pieces of plate" the words "other articles," in place of silver cups. There will also be discussed the question of private prizes, and the expediency of exhibitors being required to make special entries for these prizes. Other general business will be attended to. Meetings of Road Boards will be held in the offices, Tyne.-street, to-morrow, as follows, viz. : —Waiareka Board, at 11 a.m.; Waitaki Board, at 1 p.m.; and Kakanui Board at 2 p. m.

The concert to be given under the auspices of the Caledonian Society op. Friday in aid of the Hospital and Benevolent Society bids fair to be one of the greatest financial successes that have been achieved in Oamaru for a long time. Already a very large number of tickets have been disposed of, and still the sale goes on merrily, thanks to the energy of Messrs. D. Sutherland and IST. Fleming, At the Resident Magistrate's Court today, before T. W. Parker, Esq., R.M., John Gordon and Robert Slimer were each fined ss, -with the alternative of 24 hours' imprisonment, for having been drunk and disorderly. The Star of Otepopo Lodge, 1.0.G .T., will hold an anniversary entertainment and soiree in the Athcnfeum, Herbert, on Friday next, when a representative of the Grand Lodge is expected to be present. We were shown to-day by Mr. E. J. Downing, manager of the Bank of New Zealand, a very interesting parpel of twelve geranium plants, which he had received by post per Chimborazo, from Mr. Scannel's "Home for Flowers," Swanley, Kent. The parcel was enclosed in a minature wooden crate and the usual brown paper wrapper. The roots of each plant were neatly enclosed in a thin gutta-percha wrapping, and to judge from what we could see of them, they were all alive and healthy. Should this experiment prove successful wo may yet sec j plants that were grown in the conservatories of the Old Country exhibited at our New i Zealand horticultural shows.

Arrangements for the exhibition of Thompson's Confederate Diorama in Oamaru have been completed, and the Diorama will occupy the Volunteer Hall during the whole cf next week. The agent (Mr. Whittington) is in Oamaru perfecting arrangements, and the whole of the paraphernalia, comprising two railway truck-loads, will arrive this evening.

We have been favored with copy of the first numberjof Messrs. Moss, Rainie, and Co.'s "New Zealand Pastoral and Agricultural News." It is intended to supply persons abroad with a fair idea of the extent of the Colony and the abundance of its resources, and it fulfils this end very well indeed. Net the least useful of its contents are some hints upon land purchasing. It also fills the position of a business circular for the firm whose names are giyep aboye.

Mr. Samuel Gibbs, Mayor of Oamaru, has been appointed a Justice of the Peace under the Otago Municipal Corporations Empower"ing Act, 1865.

A. concert will be eiven to-morrow evening, the anspinns of the Pride of Maheno i.O'iee, I.oin the Maheno I'uulio Hail. The proceeds will be in aid of the building fund.

A meeting of the Committee of the Oamaru Football Club was held at the Royai Hotel yesterday evening, Mr. A. 0. Hardy in the chair. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. The following team was chosen to represent the Club in the match with the Timaru Club, to be played in Oamaru next Saturday afternoon: —Back, W. A. Coates; three-quarter-backs, A. B. Church, W. VT. Cook ; half-backs, Blakely, Jones; forwards, A. 0. Hardy (captain), E. Booth, Clayton, Forbes, M'Donald, Legge, Johnston, Grenfcll, Robinson, and H. Snow. Emergencies—H. Moore, R. Williams, D. Church, and E.. Balmer. A challenge was read from the Orakanui College, and it was decided that the second fifteen should play them at Oamaru on the 4th September. The Secretary having stated that the President, Mr. Otterson, had paid the expenses in connection with the dinner to the Dunedin Zingari Club, it was resolved, ; on the motion of Mr. Clayton, seconded by Mr. Jones ; "That the Secretary be directed to thank Mr, Otterson for his liberality. Messrs. A. 0. Hardy, E. Booth, and F. Forbes were appointed a sub-oominittee to make the necessary arrangements for the reception of the Timaru team. A vote of thanks to the chair brought the meeting to a close. The Duke of Manchester, tho popular President of the Royal Colonial Institute, is about to pay a visit to Australia and New Zealand. He will visit the Melbourne Exhibition, and will be able, by a personal visit, to testify to the value of his Canterbury settlement. We may be sure (says the European Mail) that the colonists will give him'a hearty reception.

Messrs. Grant and Poster have arrived tjafely in England, Mr. Grant, writing on June 14- to p, friend in Auckland, says : "We spent some time in America, and only reached Home on May 21, after a very pleasant voyage. My son will put our report into the hands of the publishers in London some day nesj; week. We retain very pleasant recollections of our visit to the Antipodes, and I have no doubt that many will come out to the Colony as the result of our favorable report. Of course, there is nothing decided except in a few cases, but my time seemed to be fully occupied in hearing and answering questions. I shall have to leave my sons to look after the farms, and devote the summer almost entirely to New Zealand niatters. I believe that several will come to the land of sunshine and cheap land. If several farmers come out, it is possible I may come out to assist them in the selection of farms. The farming pursuits here are rather bettor than when I left Home, but still very dull—money very scarce, and farmers generally have lost heart as well as money.

Astronomers say that the planet Neptune is so far from the earth that if Adam and Eve had 011 the first day of their existence started on a railroad train and travelled steadily day and night at the rate of thirty miles an hour towards Neptune, they would by this time have traversed only a little more than half the distance to the vaporous orb. The human race is therefore to be congratulated upon the fact that Adam and Eve did not undertake any such foolish trip.

Michael (who was fresh caught) writes " iEgles," engaged himself as groom and inan-of-all-work at Gum Creek. Coming in from a drive, his master told him to wash the buggy and put it in the shed. About an hour afterwards, going out to inspect the result, Mr. found the pole in the shed and the buggy exposed to the weather "Why, Mick, didn't you put the buggy under shelter ?" " Well, sur, I put the pole there, but sure enough the buggy wouldn't go in." After it had been explained to him that he should have reversed the position of the vehicle, ho admitted hi 3 mistake, saying, "Sure, sur, I didn't think of that;" and then, brightening up with an explanation, added, "If the horses lxad been in I'd have done it right !"