Daily Circulation, 1500. The Oamaru Mail WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 1888.

Oamaru Mail, Volume X, Issue 4071, 28 March 1888, Page 2

Daily Circulation, 1500. The Oamaru Mail WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 1888.

Friday next being Good Friday there will be no isane of the Mail on that day, and Monday's issue will be published in time for the morning trains, advertisers would oblige by sending in their notifications for that issue on Saturday evening.

We are glad to be able to state that the removal of Mi Detective O'Brien has been deferred for the present. We are sure that there will be a hope throughout this community that this reversal of the intention of the authorities will lead-to the retention here of Mr O'Brien's services.

: It is an interesting fact, worth noting, that Captain Cuthbert, the unfortunate master of the ill-fated ship Pleione, was a son of Captain Cnthbert, who was master of the Star of Tasmania, which was loßt on these shores on the 3rd of February, 1868, before onr harbor works were commenced. The younger Cnthbert was, we believe, third mate of the Star of Tasmania when the sad casualty ocenrred, and was afterwards, and previoua to his assumption of the oommand of the Pleione, oaptain of the Himalaya. The Hon. Mr Mitchelaoa was, during bia recent visit to Southland, shewn a sample of gam that iB found in considerable quantities amongst the coal in the Nightcaps Com* pany's coal mine, Mr Mitchelson assessed the value of the gnm at about L 46 per ton, and as he has for many years been in the gum trade in Auckland, hia opinion on such a subject is worthy of respeot. The gum ia more or less mixed np with the coal, but Mr Handy side, who placed the specimen before the Minister, expressed his belief that that difficulty might be got over. Atrial shipment has been sent to London.

It will ba remembered that a short time ago Mr Murdoch waited on the Hon. Mr Mitche'aon, at the time of hia passing through Oamaru, and complained to him of the iDjustice to settlers who travelled on the Windsor line, through the railway department not providing Saturday return fares for Fridays, seeing that no trains ran on Saturdays, and that Mr Mi tchelson promised to favorably consider the matter, in answer has been received to the effect that the concession asked for will be granted. The Karow residents are reminded that a Harvest Home Ball will be held in the Town Hall this evening. Dancing will begin at 8.30. Ladies will be admitted free, but a oharge of 2s Si will be made for gentlemen.

Early this morning a four-roomed house the property of Mr F. Chase was bnrned down. The house was situated near the Woollen Factory and occupied by Mr T. Manaell who is at present away from Oamaru, The Brigade did not lose much time in getting to the scene, but on account of the distance and the high wind blowing the destruction of the place was nearly complete on their arrival, Mrs Mansell and her three children had a narrow .escape. The insurances are, L6O on the furniture in the Equitable office, and LIOO on the building in the Union office,

kt a meeting of the Abo'imatisation Sooiety to-day, it was decided that do aotion should be taken against any person holding a license and who should be found fishing for trout on Easter Monday. It was resolved not to extend the fishing season, as the fish were much advanced towa r ds spawning.

William Stewart and John Pallia were brought before Messrs Scrimjeour and Sanderson, J.P.'s, this morning, charged with creating a disturbance in 1 hames-street by fighting, Each defendant was firei 20a with the option of going to gaol for 48 hours. Timothy Began, aocosed of drunkenness, wai discharged. For having no visible means of support, the same accuaad was sentenced to three months' imprisonment in the Du-'ediu gaol, with hard labor. In another column an advertisement appears calling a treating of the Awamoko settlerß in the local schoolhouse on Saturday evening next, to discuss the proposed harbor loan question. We again draw attention to the concert to be held ia the Totara School to-morrow evening for the purpose of raising funds for the school. The concert will commence at 8 o'clock, and a dance will follow at the close of the concert. Children will be admitted at half-price.

The Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce here has recaived the following from Mr Richardson, acting for Mr Mitohelaoo: " Grain rates. The Government has decided to make no alteration in existing rates." Awork sale in connection with St Stephen's Church will take place in the Mechanics' Institute, Hampden, on Tuesday next. There is a large variety of articles to be offered, comprising elothing, and useful and fancy goods. The proceeds are to be devoted towards a parsonage for the East Coast Mission. The Bev. W. Cruden wili thankfully receive subscriptions or other I asßistanoe towards this objeot. On the Bhow ground to-morrow at noon Messrs Fleming and Hedley, Keid M'Lean and Co.. and Wright Stephenson and Co. will offer for sale one of the best, if not the best, collections of " blood" stock ever brought together at an auction sale in the colony. The quality of the stock bred by the Hon. Mathew Holmes, whether horses, cattle, or sheep, is too widely known to need a recommendation from us. Should the weather prove favorable the sale will ceive to attract a larga number of buyers frcm almost all parts of the colony. We have received from Dr o'CarroP, health officer, New Plymouth, a p unphlet entitled "Cure for Diphtheria —The constant Steam Treatment—By J. Murray Gibbs, M.8.; with appendix by P, J. O'Carroll, L.R. C.5.1," In an introduction Dr O'Carroll referß to the expedients adopted in large cities of the Old World to secure cleanliness and thus prevent the creation and spread of aontsgious diseases. Be refers to the necessity for drainage, general cleanliness, ventilation, and avoiding overcrowding—things that are too often disregarded in colonial towns. He dwells upon the necessity for observing the utmost precautions in the isolation of parties suffering from diphtheria, and the destruction of everything that comes into oontact with them, and in proof of the necessity for this care mentions the circumstance that " a kiss oaused death in the family of the late Princess Alice." His treatment ot diphtheria patients he explains, is simplicity itself —it consists in keeping patients constantly In an atmosphere of blue-gum steam, for which purpose be recommends the use of the leaves themselves as containing "a sort of volatile oil drawn off in the steam " He does not say that the remedy is an infallible one ; but he has come to the conclusion that it is the moat effectual one available, after having tried all the other expedients known to the faculty. Fortunately the dread disease diphtheria is scarcely known in this district; but it is well, nevertheless, that we should become as fully as possible acquainted with its prevention a.nd cure. To the people of those parts of the colony that are subject to the scourge, Dr O'Carroll's little work should prove of gieat value. An inquest was held yesterday afternoon at the Globe Hotel before Mr H. A. Stratford. Coroner, and a jury, of which Mr Wansbrough was chosen foreman, touching the death of Frederiok Palmer, who was found, with his throat cut, in the Severnstreet gardens, yesterday morning, and of which we gave the particulars in our last isßue. Ihe depositions were taken of Constable Lemm, who removed the body to the Globe Hotel; of Drde Lautour, who made an external examination of the body, described the wound in the throat, which had the appearanoe of being Belfioflicted by the right hand, and stated that there were no other recent external marks of violence, but that deceased had two black eyes which were EOtof recent infliction; and of Edwin Stallard who had known deceased for 25 years. This witness was in company with tha deceased all the previous day, going from one hotel to another, and although Stallard did not keep sober, deceased only had two glasses of brandy and water. They went to Mrs Bunting's, for tea, at 5 o'clock, and after tea deceased complained of being ill and went to lie down, getting up again between 7 and S o'clock, when he took the medicine Stallard had procured for him and returned to his bed about 9.30. He had no suspicion that deceased would do away with himself and they had always been on friendly terms. The jury's verdict was that deceased committed suicide by cutting his throat while in a state of temporary insanity. The Oamaru Bifles will fire two matches on Friday next against Palineraton and Waimate. The team to proceed to Palmerston will confiat of Captain Forbes, Color-Sergt. Kay, Sergeant Kelly. Privates Kingi Scott, Tempero, Andrews, M'Gregor, Macdonald, and Koss. The match against Walmate will be fired in Oamaru and-the team will consist of Lieutenants Bennett, and Piper, Ser-r geant Line, Privates Ba-t, Frame, Leslie, Smith, Moore, Pratt, and Maynard; emergencies, Maguire, Cross, and Swanaon. Undress uniform will be worn, with white helmets and waist belts. A practice will be held on Thursday morning. The cold, boisterous weather now being experienced here and elsewhere in the colony has led people to ask, "Are we getting a taste of the blizzard that recently caused such misery and devastation in some parts of America ?" However, we have suffered but little discomfort eo tar, much less damage, and our experience of the past 24 hours should lead us to be thankful that we live in a country in which terrible meteorological manifestations are unknown. High winds and a rigorous condition of the air have their advantages as well as their drawbacks. If the roofs are not taken from over our heads and we have plenty of wraps, food, and health, we can eat and sleep all the better for a struggle with the elements, and it la certain that high winds are the beat hygienic agenciea that exert themselves in our behalf. It is Bald that the storm has nearly blown itself out, and that the barometer is rising; and though at the time we write the w-nd aho is rising, the hailstones ruthlessly peppering our window panes and roof with a solid persistency, yet there are lucid intervals when sunshine bints that the centre of our system has not altogether abandoned us to darkness and despair. Fortunately there is no reason why anything like ordinary weather should now do more damage in the case of our farmers than to necessitate a postponement of their operations ; and, if we are blessed with a season of genial sunshine after this—and we usually have kirfdly weather up to the end of May—prior to our being plunged into winter, then we shall have but little of which to complain —except, perhaps, of the hard times, and that complaint has now become eo ingrained that we, as a people, would lose our chief characteristic, and, indeed, our identity, if we failed to make it aa regularly as we take our meals.