The Oamaru Mail THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1880.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 23 December 1880, Page 2

The Oamaru Mail THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1880.

The meeting of the North Otago Benevolent Society, held last evening to consider a proposal to amend one of the rules, was one of a more than ordinarily lively nature. It was not absolutely rowdy, for the members present could not by any stretch of the imagination be classed a3 rowdies, still, personalities were freely indulged in. But there was an amount of good nature and niirthfulness prevading the proceedings that rendered the two hours spent in discussing the vexed question at issue by no means tedious. However, much was said that it would have been better to leave unsaid. A tolerably fnll report is given elsewhere, but we have deemed it well to excise the personal element. It wiUb'e seen that the proposed amendment was carried. Mr. James Adamson makes the following complaint to us :—I am the occupier of the deferrtkl-payment allotment section 9, block 11, Livingstone district. My license to occnpy the same was forwarded, in due course, addressed to me at Oaniaru. But, although, as I expected the communication, I applied for it at the Post Office, Oamaru, on six occasions, the Post Office authorities changed the address" to AVeston, and tent it to a person living.there of the same name as myself. In consequence of this action, delay took place in executing the license which might have jeopardised my right to occupy the allotment. The Windsor railway employes were dismissed to-day.

The members and friends of the Oamaru Wesleyan Sunday School and the Oamaru Wesleyan Band of Hope have made arrangements.fora picnic on New Year's Day on a grand- scale, to take place on ths grounds adjoining Awamoa house, the use of which for the occasion has been generously granted by the Hon. M. Holmes. With so fair a site chosen, ft day's thorough enjoyment is anticipated. Mr. M'Leod is sending by the . outgoing San Francisco mail orders for a number of Haag's patent water motors. So far as we know, there are none of these at present in the Golony. But a circular is printed containing testimonials, which should be satisfactory guarantees of their efficiency. There is one thing certain beyond all dispute—they are cheap. We have ordered a three horsepower to drive our printing machines. On Boxing Day a match will be played on the Oamaru Ground between the Timaru Crusader and Oamaru Cricket Clubs. The team to represent Oamaru will .be chosen from the following players:—Messrs. G. Borion, Cooke, Church, Coates, Denton, de Lautour, Fenwick, Finch, A. O. Hardy, A. E. Hardy, Lintott, Moore, J. Millington, Nicolls, Eice, Sumpter, Snow, Tate, Will, Walls, and Warren. We remind those who intend to object to assessments which have been made upon ! their properties that forms of objection may be procured on application at the Post Office, Oamaru. I It is rumored in Timaru that the Timaru Herald will shortly change bands, Mr. James KindSid, a member of the firm of Kincaid," M'Queen and Co., died yesterday. We are glad to note that through the kindness of the Rev. Father Coleman, the children attending the Catholic School are receiving two lessons in vocal music per week, Mr. G. Brownlee.- being the teacher, and the book in use the New Zealand Junior School Vocalist, a capital work for school use.- Among the songs for practice the following are the favorites :—" The Old Black Cat," "Exercise Bone and Muscle," "The Daisy," "How Sweet are the Echoes," " Sing, Brothers, Sing," " Snowflakea," and " Lightly Row." The children enjoy their singing hour, and are encouraged by the constant attendance of - the Rev. Father Coleman and Mr. and Mrs. Joyce, the teachers of the school. -

"Augur," the sporting writer of ' the Australasian, says :—"Mata, the whilom champion of New Zealand, has been converted into a hack, and Mr. H. Haines may now be seen riding him up Collins and IjJourfee streets,

Mr. M'Leish, the Well-known stock dealer, yeSEtelajTbrOOght up by rail frbni JElderslie three fine polled black Angus bullocks. They will be offered for sale by auction -to-day for Chriscmas beef, and foc their size and excellent condition should fetch good prices. They are rather a curiosity -here, as well-bred animals of this breed, (as these three apparently nre) are rarely, if ever, seen in this district. —Timaru Herald..

A Holstein peasant, iminatructcd in microscopical research, and riot possessing the requisite iuMrv.ments of precision, lias devised for himself a new test for the presence of trichinre in pork. When be killed a pig, he was careful to send a portion of it—a ham or a sausage—to his pastor, and then waited the consequences for 14 days. If his pastor remained healthy; then he felt perfectly easy in his -mind, and well assured that- his pig fulfilled- the requisite condition of 'soundness 'of food, and he proceeded to uisp6se of it own family. This ingenious method of research ha? not been considered satisfactory by the 4istrijt physician.—British Medical Journal,

It will be seen, by reference to a letter from Mr, Creighton, of San Francisco, published in the report of the Acclimatisation Society's meeting, that-the. Secretary has received spnip geecjs of the vitis Arizonica, a wild vine of Amprjca, the fruit pf which 3*ields a. dense colored wine. The fruit is described as full flavored, and larger than that of the vitis Californica. Mr. Creighton says that several of the best American.wines "are from wjld stocks of a few years ago, and expresses his opinion tljat >ye should be able to grow a "very sound \yine" in Center, bury.—Lyttelton Times.