The Oamaru Mail SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1880.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 18 December 1880, Page 2

The Oamaru Mail SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1880.

I The lessee. Mr. J. Bezett, has just refilled I the Baths with sea water, and he has also I thoroughly cleaned the whole place. A j fresh water shower is now available for those S who prefer a douche of that kind before ; dressing. Altogether, the Baths are now in first-rate Oakland reflects great credit on the management. At the Volunteer parade last evening, Major Sumpter handed to Captain Headland a handsome liqueur stand, which he desired might be competed for by the members of No] 1 Company. He remarked that ho gave this as a parting gift to the Company, with which he had so long and pleasantly been connected. The competition for this prize will, we believe, take place early next year, and in order to render the contest more interesting ami to give every member an opportunity of winning it, Major Sumpter has determined that points shall be allowed to those who are not first-class mai'ksrnen. Tiie handicaps, as framed by the Major, were read last evening to the Company, and displayed a careful study of the shooting of the dillerent members. It is probable, we believe, that another prize will be given, and this will add very considerably to the interest of the competition. I Mr. Bice, Head Master of the South School, desires to thank the following gentlemen for the books, money, <fcc., they have given for children's prizes :—Rev. Mr. Fenton. Messrs. Procter, Lane, Mollison, Bullied, Loring, Ilood and Shennan. T. Falconer, Ronayne and Ccttrell, Glen, A. J. S. Headland, Edwards, Cagney, Gemmell, J. Mitchell, and others. j

A painful accident occurred yesterday tc a mail named Robert Clinton. He was unloading one of the vessels in the port when a piece of timber fejl upon his toes and caused such injur}. - that he \ras conveyed to the hospital. We omitted to state last evening, in our report of yesterday's proceedings at the Hiyii School, that Master Ajbert King took first prize for recitation. We regret that the omission occurred, more especially aa Master King proved bj" his effort that he is worthy or every encouragement. We a'so omitted to state that Miss .Jessie Barclay received an extra prize in the 4th class, ana that Misses Mary Everett and Jessie Barclay obtained certificates of merit in the same class.

Writing in connection with the Palmtrston show, our own correspondent informs us that so close was the competition for general excellence in butter that the four Judges were obliged to call in a fifth to act as umpire before a decision could be arrived at.

At the conclusion of the parade last evening, No. 1 Company held a meeting for the election of a Committee to arrange with the 'officers for a series of rifle matches. The following were chosen a Committee:—Corporal Will. Lance-Corporal Kay, Volunteer Harding, ftnd Bandsman King.

We refer ouv readers to an advertisement in another column regarding the Waimate Horticultural Society's lirsfc show, which will be held on Boxing Day. It is evident thai the promoters of the event have their wits about them. They intend to accept all exhibits free. This should have the effect of prodncing a good display, a;i4 gaining for the Society some reputation in starting its career. The Caledonian Society's sports 1 will be held on the dp.v, and the two : events will doubtless render Waimate 1 attractive during the holidays to & large number of the people of this district. Subscribers who have not yet paid their 'subscriptions to the Gifford second annual art union are-requested by advertisement in {mother column to forward the amounts of the tune to Mr. Kerr, hon. treasurer, at the National Bank. •On Christmaa Eve there will be a carol service held in St. Lube's Church, comj jnencing" at 10 o'clock p,m. The rev. the ; incumbent, who is expected back from the eouth iii a few days, will preside. A special feature will be the singing of a number of boyß who have bcaa carefully trained for gome time past. • -

"Captain Edwin telegraphs Bad weather is approaching .from any direction. The glass will fall two-tenths, with backing wind, but it will again rise after eight hours, when there will be a bard gale between the southwest and Bouth-eafct,

| Instrumentalists who are desirous of takiDg part in the performance of the "Messiah are requested to meet for practice at nine o'clock sharp,- at the Volunteer Hall, this evening. The band parts of the oratorio will to hand, -

The Directors of Caledonian .Society will rileet at "tfie Criterion Hotel, at 8 p.m. on Tuesday next, 21st December. Strawberry forming is new, in any rate, although for some years'". effgrtsT have been made, in th'is direction: W&afe glad, however, to learn that Mr. J6has Hartley, of Ivartigi, has made a start in this line. We learn that he has now two acres of fine fruit in full bearing, and that he has realised close upon L2OO up to the present time on his early crop. The chief market for this fine fruit is Dunedin, and we understand that 2s per lb. was obtained two or three weeks ago' in that market. Straw-, berries are now bringing 9d a pound to the producers, from Southern markets ; but, if even 4d per lb. could be obtained on the average by -the grower, aided by a readymoney market ajid good demand; there'can be very little doubt of the success* of this class of small fruit producers. Cole's American Circus will perform in Oamaru on Monday next. Circuses always do attract large audiences in the Colony. People will go to such entertainments whether they can qffoi'4 tg 4? go or not, and there are not a few who seera to consider that they need such a means of. relaxation to counteract the harassment they, are ..subjected to at the hands of disgustingly importunate creditors, or to. allay the smitings. of conscience which arise from inability or disinclination £o carry out the injunction " Pay that thou owest.' 1 ■ A meeting of the North Otago Horticultural Society was held last evening at--Mr. Ansted's residence. Present—Messrs. Lemori (President), Ansted, Coll'.s, Dawson, Falconer, Pox, Forsyth, Jones, Maloney, and Heywopd (Secretary). Routine .business having been transacted, the following statement in connection with the late jSKow was made. Receipts at the door, -first- day, Ll2; second day, L 4 Ss 9d ; . fruit stall,' LI; members' tickets, L2S 10s ; total, L 45 ! 18s" Gd, It was resolved that advertisements" be published intimating that all claims against the Society must be rorv/arilqd to .the Treasurer on or before the 24th instant, and that a special meeting be held on the 29th for the purpose of adjusting and paying amountsrlue on account of prize schedule. It was resolved that all accounts in hand , should be paid. The President sftiil: that, with the permission of the meeting, Mr. Anstqd would read a schedule which he liad prepared, and which ho thought might advantageously be substituted for tije schedule, already printed. He (the President) was of opinion that if any alterations were to be made at all, they should be made at once. He had heard complaints that suiiioieni time 1t.,! ujs been given in the case of the schedule of last show, Mr. A:stcd read the schedule, and. Messrs. Falconer and Forsyth suggested soveral improvements in the same. ■ After some discussion, Mr. Falconer moved, and Mr. Jones seconded, '• That- a sub-committee consisting of Messrs, Ansttd, Forsy th, apd the mover be appointed to revise the schedule, arid report at a meeting to be held on Wednesday next, at 7 p.m. A vote of thanks was acportled to the Rifles' Band for having performed gratuitously on the second night of the show, and to the chair. The meeting then terminated.

There was a very good turn out of Volun? teers at last evening's inspection parade. The Artillery, No. 1 Company (including many of the Teaneraki contingent), and the High School Cadets mustered in strong force, but the Citizen Cadets were poorly represented, as will be seen by the following parade state Staff, Major Suinpter and ,Statf-SergeajitrMajpr M 'Plfcrgon ; Artillery, 1 lieutenant, 3 sergeants, 1 bugler, and 8Q gunners ; No. 1 Company, 1 captain, 1 lieu r tenant, 1 sub-lieutenant, 3 sergeants, and 35 men ; Citizen Cadets, 1 captain, 1 lieutenant, 2 sergeants, 1C cadets : High School Cadets, 1 captain, 2 sergetuus, 80 cadets; No. 1 Company's Band, 1 bandmaster, 1 sergeant, 20 bandsmen. There was a large gathering of spectators, including ijiany Indies. After the several corps had been inspected by Major Sumpter, the battalion, headed by tjie Band of No. 1 Company, had a short march out, Qn returning to the Hall a number of movements were gone through, the bayonet exercise of the Artillery and No. 1 Company, under the command of Captain Headland, being watched with partijular interest. The battalion was then formed, into hollow square, when Major Sumpter handed their commissions to Captain Headland, Lieut. Clark, and Sub-Lieut. Bennett, of No. i Company. In doing so, he congratulated Captain Headland upon having the command of so excellent a Company, and the Company upon possessing so efficient a captain. Major Sumpter then, on behalf of No. 1 Company's Band, presented to Bandmaster Pheloung a handsome silver cornet, valued at 25 guineas, in recognition of his gratuitous services during the past year. He also presented the following prizes:—To Cadet Hedley, a medal, presented by Capt. Peattie ; to Corporal Ronayne (cadet), a book, presented by himself (Major Sumpter); to Sergeant M'Naught (cadet), a medal, presenFed by Mr. Lindsayand to Cadet Baker, a book, presented by himself (Major Sumpter). It was arranged that the next Church parade should be held on the first Sunday after New Year's Day, the parade beiusr to St. Luke's Church. ° : I