Untitled

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 26 November 1880, Page 2

Late last night a mild south-easterly breeze sprang np, and blew a mist over the town that did little more than moisten the atmosphere. We have not heard whether or not the country was visited by this cooling and somewhat refreshing agent after the drying winds that have lately prevailed. Unles3 rain soon come3»the crops must suffer more or less according to situation and soil. Everybody is anxiously looking for a substantial downpour, which would suffice to ensure at least a fair harvest. But, although the weather has been exceptionally dry, and, what is worse, we have been visited by scorching winds that draw every particle of moisture from the surface,' the crops are not yet exhibiting any symptoms that should cause the least anxiety. The wish for rain, we are grateful to be able to say, fs created by an anticipation of disastrous conse- ■ qnences and not by their actual occurrence. There can be no gainsaying the" assertion that if rain does not soon come all crops must suffer, as well as the pastures. - The sky is. overcast at the time we write, but the indications which portend rain are not quite so decided as we could wish them to be, -

The Oarnaru portion of the female immigrants ex Dunedin arrived here by this morning's train. We have been unable to ascertain their exact number, as, being nominated, they were met by their friends at the railway station, and did not proceed to the barracks, as is customary-; but we understand that they were about i's in number, and of a good class. They will probably take up their quarters in the Servants'.Home after having vivited their friends, wheii, we suppose they v.-ili be open to engagement.

Our Waimala correspondent; writes: — There i:- not to note for the current week. The voucher has beea so close .wd sultry as to make even the pen a trouble. One of the most notable events of the past week was the laying of the foundation stone of the new Masonic Hall for the St. Augustine Lodge, No. 576, S.C. There was a very good muster of-the Brethren of the mystic tie, Oamaru coming to the front with a-de-putation that will be long and gratefully remembered by the local Lodge. The officiating officer was Brother P.M. M'N'eil, and the various details of the ceremony were gone through in a manner satisfactory to all. The next item-was our Mayoral election, the successful candidate being Mr. John Manchester, who polled S9 votes as against 58 for Mr. G. R. Freeman. We had quite a lively half-hour just prior to the declaration of the poll, during which period an express load of stump-orators addressed the constituency in a manner moi - e forcible than understandable, recalling vividly to one's mind the scenes on the steps of the Provincial Buildings, Dunedin at election tiirje, before the advent of centralism. Rain is threatening, and would be most heartily welcomed. Mr, William Darley was, at yesterday's meeting of the Education Board, promoted to the position lately occupied by , Mr. Grigg, resigned.

We are glad to see that the Rev. Mr. Barley has written to the Education Board, recommending that Dr. Richardson's lessonbook on temperance should Vie introduced into the public schools, and that Mr. Barley's letter was read and allowed to lie on the table. We have already drawn attention to the importance of numbering this excellent work amongst the educational books used by our school children, and trust that the Board will in this matter decide to act upon the recommendations of the friends of temperance and social improvement, as the Canterbury Board has done,

The Otago Education Board has resolved to give the Draughtsmen and the Clerk of Works one month's notice that tli£ir services will not any longer be required-;

Messrs. Fleming and Hedley's sale of Mr. Ward's property, advertised for the 4th inst., has beep postponed until the 11th inst.

This morning, after the drizzle of last night, the atmosphere was delightfully cool, and the streets of the town clearer of dust than we have seen them for days past. J?he Council employes watered the streets, therefore, with plight and main. Our "devil" suggests that the streets are seldom watered in hot, windy, dusty weather, because the dust gets into the eyes of the operator. We scarcely think this a valid excuse, and recommend ljim to " wet ■' them. We have reason to believe that if sufficient inducement offered the Railway Department would run a special train, leaving here about 5 a.m., to connect with the early train from Palmerston for Dunedin, on Saturday, 4th prox., and also a special from Palmerston to Oamaru, connecting with the ordinary train leaving Dunedin at 5.15 p.m. This would afford visitors to the Dunedin Agricultural Show, which is held on that day, an opportunity of spending about eight hours in Dunedin, returning home the same day, at single fares. If those persons who would avail themselves of such special trains would give their names in to Mr. Church or Mr. Loring, the Department would be in a position to judge whether there is legitimate demand for the service.

The hearing of a few civil cases was thonly business transacted at the Resident Magistrate's Court to-day. The following are the names of the players who have been chosen to represent the local club in the match Oamaru C.C. v. Dunedin Training College C.C.Balmer, jun., Cooke, Church, Finch, Gjlley, A, E. Hardy, J. Millington, Ripe, Newton, Snow, Sumpter, Walls, Warren, and Will. Players are requested to be on the ground at half-past 9 a.m. sharp. Mr. Gilbert Matheson, the leading chinaware ijiercha'it of Dunedin, has felt it to be his duty to chastise Mr. Solomon De Beer for—as Mr, Matheson says circulating slanders concerning him. Mr. Matheson, a telegram says, tweaked the little talkative fellow's nose, and has been bound over to keep the piece for three months. The sections in Peebles Township, advertised for sale by Mr. Geo. Greenfield tomorrow, have been withdrawn from sale.

"The total number of entries for the Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Show (says the"Dtago Daily Times) are already in excess of last year by about GO. In the long-wool sheep there will be great competition, the flocks of all the special breeders in New Zealand being amongst those to compete. The names of Messrs. J. 11. Russell, E. Menlove, James Allan, and the New Zealand and Australian Land Company, are amongst those whose stock is entered. In the dairy pro.luce class there is a great increase of entries in butter, cheese, bacon, and hams, in each of which the competition will be keen. The entries of horses are about 20 in excess of last year. Ofchtr entries are pretty much the same." Considerable interest is being taken in this event by a number of the settlers of this district, who not only intend to visit the exhibition, but many of whom will be exhibitors. It is strange that the Dunedin Society should act as though they desired that their intentions should be kept a dead secret to the people of this district. JS either the date of the exhibition nor the time up to which entries were receivable was notified here by the Association. Wo have endeavored to make up for this by inserting information from the Dunedin papers for the benefit of our readers. But it so happened yesterday that the tirr)e for receiving entries was extended to 10 o'clock last night. This change .was so hurriedly made that it was quite impossible for country settlers of this district to be placed in possession of the information in time to be useful to them unless telegraphed by the Association and published in the local papers with all possible speed. This is important. We had proof yesterday that it is so. A settler who desired to exhibit, but who had, through circumstances over which he had no control, allowed the opportunity to do so to pass by, as he thought, was heard to express himself to that effoct, when, the Dur.edin [■-pet's havinir just come to hand, a poison who receives them regularly, pointed to a paragraph stating that the period for receiving entries had been extended. He at onoe wired that l;e would forward by the express train the particulars of entry and the fee. He happened to be in Oamaru or that wou'd have been impossible, and the entry would have been lost. This is one instance only which happened to come under our notice of the desirableuess of the Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Association publishing jn Oamaru information concerning its shows.

We clip the following from the Otago Daily Times' report of the Otago Kducation Board meeting held yesterday :—" Upon the recommendation of the Finance Committee, j the apportionment of the L6OOO vote for ! school buildings was made as follows : ; Pukeiviti, Waiareka, Ngapara, and Caver--1 sham, additional class rooms; Waiwepa, new ; residence and adding old one to j | Bald Hill Flat, new buildings ; Flag Swamp, . enlargement of school; Blueskin, new resi- ; dence; Kaitangata, additions to school; Nevis, new residence ; Alexandra, repairs to residence ; Evansdale, Circle Hill, and Dunedin (George-street), completion of buildings. In addition there are minor sums for painting, rent allowances, school appliances, and completion of buildings for various schools. The Chairman pointed out the impossibility of the Board's meeting the claims for new schools throughout the district, and he suggested that the most pressing of these should be forwarded to the Minister of Education. Other members agreed that this would be a wise plan. The list of applications for the establishment of new schools was then gone through. Those from Windsor, Waimakaroro, Waitepeka township, Waiwera. township, and Tomahawk,' were declined as not heing of pressing importance. An application from Forbury for purchase of additional school grounds, and for increased

class-rooms was also declined for the same reason, and because it was considered Kensington school might accommodate a larger number of children. The application for the establishment of i new-school at Kauroo, Wiiiia&i,:was considered to be ohe' of most pressing and it was agreed to sanction.the establishment of a school, to be erected as soon; as possible. It was stated the nearest school was 20 miles distant."