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Oamaru Mail, Volume X, Issue 3607, 28 August 1886, Page 2

The Hon. the Premier passed through Oamaru by the express train going north today. During his short stay here a deputation from the Harbor Board consisting of Messrs Sumpter (chairman), Reid and Meek, accompani-d by Mr Uislop, Vf.H.R., and the Secretary to the Board (Mr Forrester), waited upom Sir R. Stout to urge thai; »ome assistance might be given to the Board in the repairing of the breakwater. It was explained that the Board had no funds nor any power to borrow, and that they therefore were placed in an embarrassed position, as it was.urgently necessary that the breakwater sh u'd be repaired wir.bont delay. Sir R. Stou: replied that he fully recognised the urgency of the work and that the colo >y cnnld not afford to see so important a woik destroyed for the want of a little assistance, but he did not see in what way the - Government could do anythiog directly in the matter. 'I here was no money from whicn the Government cou'd give a sum, and, owing to the etrlng-nt nature of the piesent Appropiiation Act the Auditor-General wo»ld not pass any payment. However he would look carefully into the matter, and would consult his colleagues on his arrival in Wellington early next week. Mr Kignold has intimated that his engagements will not admit of his paying another visit to Oamaru.

The adjourned meeting of the Harbor Board was held in Committee this aftein <on to consider financial matters in connection with the repairing of the breakwater. There were present—Messrs Sumpter (Chairman) Borrie, Dalgleish, Meek, Holmes, Reid, and Connell. After some discussion the following resolutions were reported :—" That the employes on the dre <ge receive notice that the working of the dredge will be discontinued at the end of the present month." "1 hat tenders for the sapply of 2000 casks of cement be called for in Dunerfia ar.d Christchurch." " That the Secretary obtain the necessary data as soon as possible and prepare plans and specifications a tentatively for repairing tbe breakwater and for protective works outside of the same, those for the latter to be mbmitted to Messrs Blackett and M'Gregor fur repoit and suggestions." "That the standing Committee be ennowe'-ed to have tbe p e imiliary _ works proceeded with at once so that no time m»y be lost in eff. cling th* necessary repairs." The question of nuance was adjourned for further consideration at a meeting to be held on the 10th September. The Maheno people yesterday accorded a very liberal amount of support to the first show of the Poultry Association, but owi g to the weather there was not a very large attendance of people from beyond the district. w e should mention that the judges were Messrs W. Hart and G. M. Bruoe aod their decisions gave every satisfa tion, Mr Cbesgrove made, as he always does, an excellent Secretary, and the Committee may be congratulated upon the manner in which tba whole affair was carried out.

The Union Company's steamer Beautiful Star will not leave for Dnnedin till 9 o'clock to morrow morning, owing to the boisterous state of the weathbr outside. ' I The Inveroargill Times a few days ago received a telegram from a person in Oamarn, who was formerly a resident in Inverca'giU, to the effect that twelve members haveleft the Oamarn Garrison Band in consequence of mismanagement on the part of that institution, and have formed a City Band, which numbers about 20 members, and which has the " sympathy and support of the Caledonian Society, who give the instru- i ments belonging to the old Caledonian Band." There is bnt little accuracy in the statements In the Inveroargill Times' It is trae that the Garrison Band has occasionally daring its career, from one cause or another —chiefly the hard times—lost valued and valuable member?. But its loss on the present occasion does not nnmber more than four members, and those were pupils whose places it hopes to be able to fill without difficulty. Amoncat the other members are several who seceded several months ago, and we are informed that though the Garrison Band regrets their loss, for which there was no apparent real necessity, it hopes to be able to maintain its character for efficiency without them. The statement that the Caledonian Society is taking the new band nndsr its wing cannot be true, for the reason that the Society has not ben consulted in reference to the matter, and we are given to understand that the instruments h*ve been lent without the Society's oogaisance. However, that is a question with which we have no desire to interfere. Our only wish—and we think it is alsothe wish of the public—is to see Oamiru in possession of an efficient brass baud which shall be available on all public occasions, and which shall display even greater musical efficiency than has marked the career of the Garrison Band. Whether such a desideratum is to be accomplished by a division of Oamaru's tcant muaioal force and of the available income is a matter of whch we have grave doubt. Fxpe ience teaches that a multiplication of bands leads to general inefficiency and diesatisfacion.