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Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 7 December 1880, Page 2

It is a fact beyond question that plans and specifications for the new Oamaru railway station are again in course of preparation, whether with a view to the employment of draughtsmen, or with the intention of keeping the people Qf Oajijaru cjuiet, op.both, we have been unable to ascertain. It has,' however, been suggested to us that it may be the intention of the Government to make use of these plans and specifications. A special meeting of the Bqrough Council was held this mprning tp confirm a resolution with reference to the LIO,OOQ loan for •waterworks purpogeg, There present —His Worship the Mayor, Councillors Blair, Hardy, Hassell, Headland, Procter, and Smith. On the motion of Councillor Headland, seconded by Councillor Smith, it was resolved, "That the resolution authorising the borrowing of LIO,OOO in debenture,?, in order to repay the liabilities of the Borough on waterworks account, at the date of the Municipal Corporations Act, IS7G, being brought into force in tjie Borough, and pledging as security for the said loan a special rate of sixpence in the £ be, and the same is hereby confirmed. Major Sumpter has received advices that the additional uniforms fpr the Rifles Band were to be shipped from Hgme early in November. It may be considered reasonable to hope that they will arrive in time for New Year.

Mr. M'Derniott, who, for some time has been postmaster and telegraphist in Herbert, was on Monday presented with a very handsome marble clock, in recognition of his civil and obliging disposition to the public in the discharge of' his duty. The clock was purchased from Mr. Thomas Sellar, jeweller, Oamaru. "Wo have been favored with a perusal of the Oamaru Caledonian Society's programme for the New Year's gathering. The total amount given in prizes amounts to L 195 7s 611, and of this sum LIOG is allotted to the first day. To show that all competitors will have a fair chance of securing a share of the inoney, we may mention that the second and third prizes are well proportioned to the first prizes. Thus on the first day L 59 is given in first prizes, L 3 L 10s in second, and Ll6 os in third; and on the second day the total amount given in first prizes is L 47 10s., in second L 27, and in third Ll4 17s 6d. Several important alterations have been made, a few hitherto not very interesting items have been cut out, and others having for their object the encouragement of new competitors inserted. The cups hitherto given for the largest number of points scored in various events have been struck out and the money added to the value of the prizes for different events. Taken altogether, the programme is decidedly the best that the Society has issued.

It is notified in another column that nominations of candidates with a view to electing a councillor in the place of Mr. A. C. Weir, who has been elected Mayor, of Hampden, will take place at the Mechanics' Instititute, Hampden, at noon on Tuesday, the 14th inst.. and a poll, if necessary, will he taken on Monday, the 20th inst., at the same place, opening at 9 a.m. and closing at 6 p.m. Nomination papers may be obtained at the Borough Offices. At the meeting of the Directors of the Caledonian Society last evening, a letter was read from Mr. R. Blair stating that he had lost four chairs through lending them to the Society on the occasion of the Caledonian concert. It appears that in returning the chairs borrowed, they were four short delivered, and on Mr. Blair attempting to get them afterwards, the custodian of the hall had declared thgt the whole of {;he chairs had been taken away. . The matter was referred to the sub-committee consisting of Messrs. Fleming, Sinclair, Mainland, and Rule to inquire into. Two men named Breen and Docherty, employed at the building in course of erection for Mr. Gibson in Thames-street, had a very narrow escape of meeting with a serious accident to-day. The two men were engaged in carrying a stone on a barrow up the gangway, when, through some defect, the gangway gave way, and the pjen fell a distance of nine or ten feet, fortunately without receiving any injury beyond a severe shaking, and will be able to resume work to-morrow morning. In justice to the contractor we must state that the men-had received instructions to carefully watch the gangway and report any defect they might observe. The Victoria Brewery (Mr. Rodgers') had a narrow escape of being burned down this afternoon. About three o'clock some of the neighbors saw smoke issuing from bejow the eaves of thp main building adjoining the engine house. An investigation disclosed the fact that the dividing wall was on fire, and a copious supply of water was quickly applied' to the burning part by a large number of willing workers, including some members of the Fire Brigade, In a short time the fire was extinguished, no other damage being done than the destruction of a portion of the building and the charring of a few casks. The ike, it appears, was communicated from the furI nace to some shavings lying in the room. Mr. A. H. Maude reports having held a sale yesterday of Municipal leases for a term of twentysone years. The attendance was large, but the bidding for most of the lots rather languid. • The following are the results; — Section 5, block 95, James Gemmell, at the upset, 20s per foot frontage ; section 6, block 95, Snmpter and Lemon, at the upset, 20s per foot frontage; section 7, block 95, C. Galbraith, at the upset, 20s per foot frontage ; section 8, block 95, S. Anderson, at the upset, 20s per foot frontage ; section 9, block 95 r Win. Waddell, at the upset, 20s per foot frontage; section 35, block -13, William M'Grenera, yearly rental Li 15s; section 1, block 15, J7 T."Evans, yearlyrental L 8 ss; part of section 16, block 41, Robert-M'lntosh, yearly rental, L 7 7s 6d. The pump and piping (far removal) pn gectioo 16, block ; 41, I fetched LlO, I

There were only two cases down for hearing, at the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning., 'ln orie- : a first offender for drunkenness] did not answer 'to his bail, which was ordered to be esjreatedy.. Annie Murdoch for. having used obscene language in a public place was fined 20s. The Presbytery. of Oamaru meets in St. Paul's session, room at noon to-morrow. Mr. "William Everest has been appointed Dog Tax Registrar to the Hampden Borough Council for the year 18S1. Captain Edwin telegraphs that there are indications of strong winds between northeast and north'and west. The glass will fall soon. " * The annual social gathering in aid of the Presbyterian Church Fund will be held at the Otepopo Athensaum on Tuesday, December. 14. Particulars maybe gleaned from advertisement in another column. Mr."Roberts' "combination" of L3OO on the Oamaru Handicap and Hurdles will close and be drawn to-morrow evening, at eight o'clock. Particulars in advertisement. The Philharmonic Society will meet for practice to-morrow evening at the Volunteer Hall at the usual hour. Subject—"The Messiah." We have been requested to to state that, as it is intended to publicly perform this work early in January, it is necessary that members should attend rehearsal as frequently and punctually _as possible. We hear that it is the intention of the Committee to present this favorite oratorio before the public in amannerthat will be alike oreditable to the Society and enjoyable to the audience. Not only are the various choirs of the town to be invited to take part in the performance, but there are to. be ample band accompaniments. In our opinion the Committee contemplate taking a step that will popularise the Society and increase its usefulness. We are also requested to notify that all musicians who are not members of the Society are invited to assist in the production of the ''Messiah,"

The weekly' meeting of the Directors of the Caledonian Society was held last evening. The chair was occupied by Mr. T. Kennedy, and there was a very good attendance; The minutes having been confirmed, soßie matters of a formal nature were dealt.with. The programme was again -gone over, and formally adopted. On the motion of Mr. Sinclair, seconded by Mr. Liddell, it was decided to insert a clause in the programme stating that any person who had .taken a first prize in any event for three previous successive years was disqualified. for competing for years, if was stated that this would not so far'affect any competitor, as no one had won any event for the past three years. : ' It was determined, on the motiop of Mr, B. Rule, spppnded by Mr. Aitken, that the (Society should not sell the privilege of charging at the gates. It was decided to sell the remaining privileges by auction, Messrs. Fleming and Hedley to be the - auctioneers. On the motion of Mr. Fleming, it was resolved that no refreshments should be kept in the Directors' tent, and that one of the booth proprietors should provide a luncheon at a fixed figure. It was resolved that • the band should be stationed outside the ring. Mr. R. W, Carey has arrived in Oairiayu for the purpose of making arrangements fpr the visit of Professor and Madame. Hasglineyer, the illusionists, ■ who will appear in the Volunteer Hall on the loth and 16th instant. Many of our readers -\yiU $o remembgr the Prqfesgor'a visit to the Colony, and. the cleverness of the trigks he then performed, but even these will, if report speaks correctly, be greatly surprised and pleased at his performance, as he has added many new tricks to his previously extensive repertoire. The clever performances of Madame Hasel'meyer add a still further charm to the entertainment. -The Professor, previous to leaving Melbourne, gave an entertainment at Go? vernment House, and this is the manner in which the Marquis of Normanby's Private Secretary writes to the Professor : " Government House, Melbourne, November 9,lßSQ.—Sir,—j am Greeted by the Marquis of Jformanby to thank you for the performance you gave at Government House last night, and to express His Excellency's admiration of the wonderful dexterity and sleight-of-hand which you. displayed in performing your tricks, which he thinks is certainly equal to, if not superior to, anything of the kind that he has ever have, &c., Fred. Le Patqubel, Private Secre? tary."Qn reference to our advertising columns will be seen the Abridged Prospectus of the Caswell Sound Marble, Portland Cement, and Mining Company (Limited), the share list of which close on the 15th inst."— [Advt.] .