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Oamaru Mail, Volume X, Issue 4094, 24 December 1887, Page 2

The Oamaru Primitive Methodist Sunday Bohool will hold their anniversary to-morrow. Mr Biilings ii announced for the morning;, Mr Price will give an address in the afternoon, and the Hev. Boothroyd will preach in the evening. Jn the afternoon prizes will be given to the scholars for attendance, and the anneal treat will be given on Tnesday next. The officers of the Post Office and Telegraph Department, in Wellington, have sent us a circular, wishing us a " Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year." We cordially reciprocate these good wishes. The Caledonian Society's pyrotechnic display should, this year, be something well worth seeing. The fireworks are being sapplied by Messrs Brook and Co., pyrotechnists of the Chryßtal Palace, London, whose names are a sufficient guarantee of excellence. No expense has been spared to seoure a display that will be superior to anything of the kind ever seen in these parts. The arrangements will be entirely under the management of the Fire Brigade, . and that is another surety of success. For the. convenience of families, the display will begin as soon as darkness sets in, and- will conclude not later than 9.30. ■

The Waitaki High School Board of Governors announce one resident scholarship, tenable for one year, and open to boys under 14 years of age. Papers will be set in English grammar and composition, history, geography, and arithmetic. The competition will take place on 30th January, at a. 30. The names and certificates of age of intending competitors must be sent in to the Secretary, not later than the 26th January. The Christmas number of the Otago Witness is unusually attractive this week. In addition to soma excellently-written tales, there is a capital lithograph pioture of Quean Victcia. The paper contains a great amount of useful reading and general news, and should be jußt the paper for posting to Home friends, Mrs .Greenwood and her talented children gave the second of their varied entertainments last night tp an audisnee that was not

bo large as (ha occasion merited, though it was so enthusiastic, that during the earlier part of the' evening nearly every item was encored, It was unfortunate that they should have oome here immediately after the Majeronl Company, and immediately preceding the holidays.' The items on last night's programme were quite as attractive as those of the previous evening, and the piano performances of Miss Maribel were the most prominent, ihe same young lady's violin playing was also full of merit for so young a student of so difficult an instiumont. Bat 'the choice; of De Beriot's Crown of Diamonds was not, we think, a happy one. It is full of intrioaoies, and under the most favorable circumstances It would not take half so well with an audience as some plaintive popular ditty. However, it is a showy piece, well caloulated to display the dexterity of the performer. Master Greenwood is a plucky little fellow who cannot fail to elicit admiration wherever he may go, and the same may be said of Miss Bnby, whilst Mis? Agatha's versatility is remarkable, for she can either sing a good song, or play excellently on the violin, and Mies Nora, too, astounds with her manipulation of the piano. How her little fiogerß travel np and down the instrument :n octaves and massive chords with such facility i» a marvel. It is due to Miss Maribel that we should refer to her recitation of "Victor Hugo's "Poor People." It was a grand effort of memory, This retenliveness of memory is one of the most extraord/ntry features of the members of this clever family. Mrs Greenwood and her children will proceed to Dnnedin to-day, and we wish them a successful season in that city, with a confident hope that our wish will be realised where there is so much more scope for the display of a praotical appreciation of their talents.

Messrs Jas. Smith and H. P. Barnes, the agents of the popnlar Lynch family of Bellringers arrived in Oamaru to-day to mafee the necessary arrangement for the Company's farewell appearance (for one night only) on Tuesday January 3rd, for whioh occasion a specially selected programme, has been prepared. At the Police Court to-day, before S. E. Shrimski, Esq , J.P.. John Morris and VPilliam Carter were charged with having this morning broken into a store at Kurow and stolen therefrom a quantity of meat and fish, of tie value of 4s, the propertyof Bernard Delargy. The accused were remanded. We have been favored with a present of a bunch of magnificent Canadian thistles, a plant which, it is stated, has_ made its appearance in some parts of this district. itxpertß allege thit this is a very undesirable variety of a genus that possesses no other advantage than that one of its varieties is emblematic of the Scottish-Nation. There is a probability that this useless and unsentimental foreign Interloper will be nipped in the bud, or rather torn up root and branch, for.it dives so deeoly down and takes so tenacious a hold of the soil that, if it once obtained a footing it would beoome an intolerable pest. The sample left with us may •be seen at our offiop, by those who desire to become acquainted with this enemy. Our own correspondent at Hampden has favored us with the following account of the annual picnic in connection with the break-ing-np of the Hampden school, which took place yesterday in a paddock kindly lent by Mr Gillies, near the township. 'J hit year the funds to carry out the picnio were contiibuted by friends, and the affair was one of the most anooessfal of the kind that have ever taken place in the district. The attendance was very large, and children; and their parents and friends came from all quarters. Throughout the day games were indulged in, interspersed with refreshments of a mOBt varied and desirable kind, which were Bpread on tables in a large tent, eo that they could be partaken of undermost favorable circumstances. Substantial prizes to the value of five or six pounds were presented to the children, who in various ways exhibited their pleasure at the kindly forethought of their friends. Everybody, indeed seemed greatly pleased, and at the close of the day, the Kev. Mr Johnston proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the ladies and others who had contributed towards the refreshments and also the committee for the energy with whioh they had carried out the arrangements connected with one of the best picnics he had ever seen.

Tiie angling competition to be held at tbe Waltakl on Monday next is likely to bring forward a large number of competitors. A good many entries b«ve bsen made, includ : in? several from the Timaru district. Given suitable weather, there should be some good baskets made.

'The annual picnic and games in connection with the closing of the Whare Kurl and Kurow schools for the Christmas holidays took place yesterday on the racecoune. by tbe side of the Wsitaki River. This place was evidently designed by nature foi picnicking, and the bine gums and willows in the vicinity make it a picturesque one. Thither the pupils, parents, and friends wended their way early in the day. Mr Gortdard kindly lent his brake to convey the children to and from the ground. The ohildren seemed to enjoy themselves immensely, contesting with great spirit the different events, for which the Committee provided a very large number of attractive prizes. The amusement was kept up by young and old, in the shape -of tugs of war, races, etc At 4 o'clock,- after all had seemed to enjoy themselves to their hearts' content, nearly all returned' to Kurow to attend the children's concert, which wis held in the evening in Mr Goddard's Town Hall, which was kindly placed at the Committee's disposal-free of charge. The chair wasoecnpied by Mr'G. Orr, the Chairman of the Committee. The overture was played hy Mrs ■■ Sharp, An excellent programme, consisting of songs, recitations, and duets, was prepared by-Mr Kelly, the master, and- well carried out by the pupils, 'which reflected great credit on both master and pupils. By way of a change in the programme, Mr W. Hudson did some step dancing which was greatly admired. Mrs Kelly played the aconmpanimeats all through the entertainment. A collection was made to go' towards the expenses, when a very satisfactory sum was collected. Hearty votes of thanka were passed to Mr and Mrs Kelly, and- to'Mr Uoddard for the use of the Hall. The singing of the National Anthem brought the 'concert to a close, after which dancing was kept up with great spirit till the wee ami' hours of morning. We have much pleasure in acknowledging the receipt of a Christmas greeting (in the form of a handsome card) from the Oam?ru letter-carriers. We cordially return the compliment, *

The Duke of Buaoleuch is considered to be the richest man in Sco-land. In spite of this fact, however, he is sometimes hard up for money. He has an income of about L 300.000 a year; bat has five establishments to keep np, and so many poor relations, pensioners, etc., that this enormous amount of money quiokly disappears, under the great sponging process.

Among a list of serious accidents recorded in yesterday's Timarn Herald, is the frightfol death of a blacksmith at Hilton. While the'man (who had been out shooting) -was standing in the road talking to another person, and with tbe butt of the gun on the ground, it .exploded, and blew one side Of his face off, portions of the brain being scattered about. It is supposed that one of his children who was clobb by, maßt have touched the trigger.