Untitled

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 30 November 1880, Page 2

Sir Arthur Gordon arrived at Wellington yesterday, and was, we learn by telegraph, received with great rejoicings. A fleet of yachts accompanied the Hinemoa up the harbor, the Volunteers paraded and fired the customary salute for vice-royalty, and Ministers, members of Parliament, the civic authorities, and Friendly Societies were present in full force. Addresses were presented by tlie Mayor and Councillors, the Hibernian Society, and the Oddfellors, and duly acknowledged by his Excellency. Sir Arthur Gordon was then driven to Government House, where he was duly sworn in, and received three hearty cheers at the call of the Premier. A supplementary Gazette containing a proclamation of the assumption of Sir Arthur Gordon to the governorship of New Zealand, was issued in the evening. Mr. George Sumpter has been the means of bringing another English-bound vessel to this port. He announces in another column that the iron vessel Ardentinny wiU load with wool in December alongside the Oamaru wharf. Gradually but substantially the breakwater is being turned to good account, and the day is evidently fast approaching when Oamaru's imports and exports will figure prominently in the records of the Customs Department. A report of the continuation of the inquiry touching the murder of Miss Dobie at Opunake appears in another colnmn. The evidence, although not conclusive, points very strongly to Tuhia as the perpetrator of the foul crime, and however difficult it might have been to bring the crime home to him, ordinary people would have entertained little doubt he is the murderer. Tuhia has, however, dispelled what little doubt there wa3 by admitting his guilt. A telegram received last evening from Opunake contains the announcement of the fact, and a message received to-day confirms the statement, adding that the murderer expresses a wish to meet his fate. In last night's issue we published a telegram giving the programme for the tour through New Zealand by the Australian Eleven. We now learn that the team will play in Oamaru on the 17tli January, and we hope that our knights of the willow will show a just appreciation of the greatness of the straggle before them by attending assiduously to practice. With a few exceptions cricketers here apparently take very little interest in the game, for many of the best players are seldom seen on the ground unless at a match. If they desire to cut a decent figure in the contest with the Australians they will have to attend regularly at practice, and for their own credit and that of the town we hope they will do so. It may be a long time before our cricketers again have an opportunity of playing a match, likely to

create so large an amount of public interest, and they should use every effort to make the most of the opportunity to be afforded them by the visit of the Australians. While on this subject we might say that we "should like to see a match played with the Australians of a thoroughly Colonial nature. Were the matter taken earnestly in hand eleven representing the Colony might be got together, and the match might be made highly interesting. Of course, the cricketers of Canterbury, ''the premier cricketing province, would form the chief element in the team, and the arrangements for the match should be left principally in their hands. They have decidedly the best ground, and the largest share of the best players. The match, if it could be arranged, should therefore take place in Christchurch. There is an offence known to the law as compounding a felony, and we regret to learn that Mr. John M'Kay, aided by our morning contemporary, is treading on such forbidden ground. We read in our contemporary a paragraph with reference to the robbery at the Junction Hotel,"closing with these startling words :—"Mr. M'Kay estimates his loss at something over L7O, and intimates that should the thief return the papers and documents without necessarily exposing himself to capture, he will be under a o.ebt of gratitude.to him. The documents are of considerable value to the rightful owner, and. cannot be worth much to the purloiner." Whoever counselled Mr. M'Kay to take this step has been guilty of a wrong only excelled in extent by that committed by our contemporary in giving publicity to the unholy offer to shield a burglar. We sympathi e with Mr. M'Kay in his loss, but we protest against anything being done to shield the thief, and hope that Mr. M'Kay will not pursiie a course likely to lead to the staying of the vengeance of the law, and to give the.burglar an opportunity of carryr iug on his depredations elsewhere. Walter Rice, late Bailiff of the R.M. Court, was charged on remand at the R.M. Court tills morning with having embezzled a cheque of the value of L 8 2a ocl, the property of the General Government. The evidence of Thomas Paterson, a farmer at Ngapara, who gave the cheque to accused, was taken, and, on the application of Mr. Hislop, who appeared for the accused, the further hearing of the case was adjourned till to-morrow.

The weekly meeting of the directors of North Otago Caledonian Society took place in the Criterion Hotel last evening. The chair was occupied by Mr. Millar, and there was a good attendance. Tfye Secretary to tlie North Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Association ■wrote offering the use of the Show Ground for two days for the sum of Lls.—The offer was accepted. The report of tlje Ground Committee contained the suggestion that the stand bp not erected close to the ring, owing to the limited area of the ground.—Suggestion agreed to. Mr, Sinclair moved, and Mr. Fleming seconded, that a special prize be given for the best young piper; and it was ultimately resolved to give three prizes (L2, LI, and 10s), to be competed for by pipers under 21 years of age. It was moved by Mr. Fleming, seconded by Mr. Bee, and carried, that the President's and YiperPresident's special prizes be given for a champion race of 330 yds (scratch), open to all comers, and subject to the rules and regulations. The annual ball was fixed for October, 1SS1; the programme was referred to Mr. H. Aitken for revision; judges, liandicappers, and starter, appointed; and a sub-com-mittee elected to arrange for the grand stand. This ended the business, and the meeting ended as usual. The usual monthly meeting of the Kakanui Road Board will bp held to-morrow at 2 p.m. Captain Edwin weather is approaching from any direction between north and west and south-west. The glass will rise after 10 hours.

A cricket match was played to-day on the Old Cricket Ground, between the High and South Schools, resulting in an efisy victory for the former. The scores were—High School: First innings, 21 (Hook 9); second innings, 54 (E. Hewat 25, not out, D. Hewat 12, and Bee 9). South School : First innings, 28 (Grant 9) { second ipningg, 48 (Rice 17, Larkin 11). The Morning Herald says that only 1000 "unemployed" are working on the Government railways, that nine-tenths of this number are employed in the Middle Island, and 000 of them in Otago. It also says that it has discovered that the remuneration paid them is not 21s and 2Ss, but ISs and 245, per week. If our contemporary be correct, the number of men receiving this relief, which is barely sufficient to keep bo'iy and soul t n gether, has considerably decreased since Parliament rose, and there ;s good reason to hope that, as the busy season is approaching, the whole of the remainder will shortly be employed on work for which they will be fairly paid for what they do.