The Oamaru Mail. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1880.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 9 December 1880, Page 2

The Oamaru Mail. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1880.

So far as the public is aware, no inquiry has been held into two late occurrences on the line between here and Dunedin which might have produced serious consequences, j and even loss of live. First, there was the falling of an euomions stone on the Port Chalmers line just as the Oamaru train was approaching the spot at which it fell. This was occasioned by blasting operations, for which some contractor is responsible, Fortunately, warning was given in time to enable the train to be stopped, or there might have been a fearful smash. What appears strange to us is that a blast should have been fired just at the time when the train was expected to arrive at this point, and the public will naturally be anxious to learn that steps have been taken to prevent a recurrence of such an untoward event. Then there is the straying off the line of a horsebox in the vicinity of Seacliff, which indicates that either the said horse-box or the line must have been faulty. Has anything been done to lessen the risk of a similar occurrence ? The public will never feel at home in travelling on the crazy line between here and Dttnedin unless they have some assurance that the department are putting forth every exertion to render such accidents humanly impossible. The department may have done iti duty in this respect: but they should adopt some means of informing the public that they have done so. It would be quite excusable if they descended from their high pinnacle to create public confidence in place of public apprehension. The Rimutaka iim was everything that could be desired from an otneial point of view, but the unhappy period arrived when it was nevertheless the aoene of one of the most shocking public misfortunes that have occurred in the history of the Colony. We are convinced that the department should conduct publicly its inquiries into railway accidents. The heads of the department are responsible for the proper conduct of the affairs of the department; but under the present system, they are only nominally so. A casualty occurs, and some subordinate is dismissed the service, but hs may have been made a sacrifice at the shrine of his superiors. So long as inquiries are conducted nnder cover of secrecy, so long will this gross injustice and public fear prevail. In the case of officials, no check is so wholesome as the knowledge that the eye of the public is watching their movements. We commend a consideration of this important subject to the authorities whose business it is to attend to such matters.

The Ardenfcinny is now alongside the Breakwater, and fully prepared to receive consignments of wool for be desired that those who have wool foi shipment will take the fullest advantage pi this favorable opportunity, and that they will do so promptly. Last night, there was a very good muster for the opening practice of the " Messiah " at the Volunteer Hall, and we were glad to see, in addition to the members of the Society proper, that several ladies and gentlemen took part in the choruses for the first time. There can be no doubt that, though the heavier and more classical productfons of the old masters do not find favor with the general public, and, in fact, often fail to secure a good house when given in Oamaru, yet those performing—vocalists and instrumentalists —tako a keen interest in such works as these, and manifest clearly that they thoroughly appreciate the magnificent talent of Handel and Hadyn, and markedly distinguish between their works and the more ephemeral efforts of glee writers ct hoc yenns oinue. yS'e have received another letter from Mr. Shaw, in which he delivers himself of his opinions in z. manner better suited to his own circle than to the general public. Editors are not troubled with a superabundance of sensitiveness, but we must decline to permit onr paper to be a vehicle for the conveyance of coarsely impertinent remarks towards ourselves, or anybody else. However, we will be just, and rectify an error to which Mr. Shaw has drawn our attention. It was in the year 1577 that Mrs. Shaw was first fined in this Colony for sly grog-selling. We wrote it so ; but the compositor inserted a figure 5 instead of a 7, and made it read 1557. We regret the occurrence, especially if it will operate injuriously towards Mr. Shaw or his wife. Mr. Ketten, the distinguished pianist, will not, we are informed, perform in Oamaru. The reason for this change in his programme ii not very clear, seeing that an enterprising gentleman in this town offered Mr. Ketten the handsome sum of LSO for the "house" for one night. We think it fortunate for that gentleman that the offer was not accepted. Mr. "fc etten is beyond doubt very clever, but his entertainment is not one that is at all popular, as evidence the lack of attendance at his Dunedin performances. If he had brought a fiddler with him to vary the entertainment by playing some Scotch "sangs," his takings for one night in Oamaru might have been worth half the amount offered. With Haselmayer and the circus in the field, at a period when people are saving their shillings for the Christmas holidays, Mr. Ketten's outlook was not a very bright one. The following business of interest to this district transpired at the yesterday's meeting of the Waste Lands Board:—J. Shackleton applied for lease of 20 acres of section 2 of 22, block 8, Oamaru, in order to erect a pound. The application was declined. —The Clerk of the Palmerston Road Board wro.te on behalf of that body disapproving of the extension of time granted to the lessee of Shag Point reserve, and inquiring whether the lessee had given any guarantee of coal being produced before too expiry of the term. The letter was read, but no action taken upon it.—Sections in block 8, town of Reidston, Oamaru district, were classified as town lands, and the npset price fixed at L 7 10s each.—Sections in the township of Maheno, Otepopo district, were fixed at the npset of L3O per acre.

Mails for Australian Colonies, per Arawata, close at Bluff on Friday, 10th insfc., at 11.30 a.m. Telegrams will be accepted at the Oamani office, accordingly. We have been requested to state that, owing to the absence of the vendor, Messrs. Fleming and Hedley's sale of freehold sections, advertised for Saturday next, has been postponed until the 18th inst. The Committee of the Ngapara Caledonian Society invite tenders for the gates of admission to the grounds during the forthcoming sports ; also for temperance refreshment booth, the same to be sent to Mr. W. Gruar, secretary, not later than the 13th inst. at 8 p.m.

Owners of horses should note that entries for the Kakanui Handicap and the Publicans' Handicap, to be run at Kakanui on Boxing Day, are due with the Secretary at Kakanui at eight o'clock to-morrow evening. All the hopes, and doubts, and fears of tin's community in reference to the Oamaru railway station will be set at rest by an advertisement which will appear in our issue of the 11th inst., calling for tenders for additions to the Oamaru station. Tenders will be received at the Public Works Office, Dunedin, on or before noon of the 22nd inst., and specifications and general conditions may be seen at the office of the stationmaster, Oamaru. The North Otago Horticultural Society's Show will be continued to-morrow, in order to give visitors to the races every opportunity of witnessing it. We hope that the consideration the Committee of the Society has thus shown will be appreciated, and that visitors and others will take advantage of this extension of time to patronise an exhibition which, although not large, is notable for the excellence of its exhibits. ilr, James Tyerman, who some months ago delivered several lectures in In vercargill, died at Sydney on the 26th November. He was formerly a Primitive Methodist minister, and afterwards joined the Church of England. He was latterly a Freethought lecturer and Spiritualist. Mr. Tyerman was connected about fifteen years ago with the Primitive Methodist body in Christchurch. At a school examination in Christchurch recently a class of young children were asked : " If you can get a dozen buns for a shilling, how many can yon get for a penny?" One worldly-wise urchin astonished the examiner by promptly replying, "Two, if they are stale ones." There is something like excitement in medical circles just now, writes the London correspondent of a Scotch paper received by the last mail, in regard to the announcement of what appear to be startling discoveries by French physicians. A short time since M. Pasteni, an eminent physiologist in Paris, gave out his belief that the day would come when almost all epidemic diseases might be prevented by inoculation, in the same manner that small-pox is prevented by vaccination. He had already succeeded in proving that the principle might be advantageously applied to fowls, to protect them from the species of cholera to which they are subject. Now, Professor Toussaint announces that he has discovered the means of saving sheep and cattle from ' the terrible effects of the foot and mouth disease, which yearly destroys so large a number of animals. If this news l,e true, the professor will have proved a benefactor to the race, of men as well as quadrupeds. His mode of procedure is to take some blood from an animal which has died of the same disease, and simply to defibrine it by means of heat, and this done, to inocculate sheep several times with it, and the animals are un:ih!« to contract the malady. The only question which remains is as to whether the good effects continue for any length of time, and we may safely suppose that the inooculation operates as a safeguard as long in the animal as in the man. Several French physicians are now pursuing similar investigations on a large scale. . They believe that a new era is about tn dawn, inVhieh contagious diseases may have their preventives. The quarterly meeting of the Presbytery of Oamaru was held in St. Paul's Church yesterday, at noon, when the following were present : Revs. J. Steven (moderator) J. Cameron. Todd, Ryley, Smith, Summers, Clark, aiid Christie ; and Elders R. Jackson, Goodall, Falconer, Scott, and Milligan, It was explained that the Rev. Mr. Waters had declined the charge at Upper Waitaki, and the Rev. Mr. Todd proposed, seconded by theßev.Mr. Christie, "Thatthe Presbytery again apply to the Church Extension Committee to get Mr. Waters or another preacher sent to Waitaki " —carried. It was also resolved, "That Malvern Hills Station be worked in connection with the Upper Waitaki a''strict." The following overture to the Synod was read by the Rev. Mr. Ryley : " Whereas union among professing Christians is a duty enjoined by the Great Head of the Church, and whereas the two branches of the Presbyterian Church in New Zealand hitherto acting as separate organisations are one in doctrine, discipline, and worship, and as many of the difficulties which formerly stood in the way of an incorporated union of the said churches have been removed in recent years ; and whereas the i unification of these two bodies would be the means of increasing their influence, and of placing Presbyterianism on a broader and firmer basis in this young colony ; it is therefore, humbly overtured by the Presbytery of Oamaru to the reverend the Synod of Otago and Southland, indicted to meet at Dunedin in January, ISSI, to take the subject of union with the sister Church of the North into its serious consideration, and to devise such means as in its wisdom may seem best for securing the object herein contemplated." Mr. Falconer ' seconded the motion pro forma. A long discussion on the overture them took place, and it was ultimately agreed to, the Revs, Steven and Ryley being deputed to support It before the Synod. A remit from Synod re supply? ing vacant congregations was brought up and approved of. The Rev. Mr, Todd pro? posed, and the Rev, Mr. Cameron seconded, " That a petition be sent to the Synod, ask? ing that the Presbytery for Oamaru district should meet at Oamaru." The motion was lost by the casting vote of the moderator. An application was made by the South Oamaru Committee for grant for church site, sections 21 and 22, block XL., belonging to the Church trustees, and for a grant for building purposes. The application was refcrre t to the Synod, with a recommendar tion in its favor. An application for a grant for a church at Kyeburn was also approved of. Mr. Falconer wished to know whether the information he had received that the teaching of the Catechism was omitted in some of the schools was correct; and. was informed that the Session should be asked about the matter. This ended the business, and the Presbytery rose at three o'clock. The next meeting will take place at Otepopo on the second YVcdnc-sday iij March,