Daily Circulation, 1500. The Oamaru Mail WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 1888.

Oamaru Mail, Volume X, Issue 4199, 29 August 1888, Page 2

Daily Circulation, 1500. The Oamaru Mail WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 1888.

The havoo that hss been played with the Central Otago Kail way works by the recent floods affords aome slight idea of the hazardous nature of the undertaking and of the burthen It is likely to be on oar railway system. Ballway sleepers, wheelbarrows, etc., took a voyage to Oatram, and several slips occurred. "The contractor for the superstructure of the Taierl Gorge bridge (says the Taierl paper) has found great difficulty in contending with the river, as be had to contend with no leas than four floods In four week?. When the first of these floods came he had just got his staging erected, and it was carried away. While a further staging erection was being prepared a second flood came, and on the subsidence of the water the work was continued on Monday, 31st ult. On the following Saturday two of the girdera were bolted to be secure against the fl:od, Next day, Sunday, the men kept at work, and on the Monday all the lower cords of the girders were riveted. When the third flood oame everything was secure, and on last Thursday, when the fourth flood occurred, the girders were all riveted. The next day all the scaffolding was to be taken down, but the fliod saved the trouble of doing so and carried it away. Prior to the scaffolding being swept away the river had risen 17 feet." It would appear that a canel in thiß locality would be more appropriate than a railway. The scheme would commend itself to a company. There seems to be all the elements necessary for floating a company, or anything else. In view of the visit of the Premier to the line during the recess, we would suggest that a search party be prsvlously Bent to ascertain the whereabou 4 * of tho works and colleot all the scattered fragments into one spot, In order that the Premier, who has promised to do so much prior to next session, may not unnecessarily lo6e time. It is to be hoped that the search party will supply themselves with a Pike, a diving-bell, and a waterproof outproof outfit, from top to toe. It is better to be sure than sorry, We hope that the efforts of the search party will not prove abortive. It is imperative that the Premier should do his utmost to discover, if possib'e, that which has co'-t the colony nearly half a million, and, we recommend that, if ever it ehonld be found, it should by buoyed, so that no similar difficulty might occur in future.

Wo ace requested by the Secretary to the Hospital Trustees to acknowledge with thanks the receipt of L2 2s, being half the proceeds of the rinking entertainment given by Mr Joseph Smith at the Union Skating Rink.

Mr J. Parker, who has for three years acted as station master at.Ngapara 1b about to be removed to Msheno, where, in the performance of his duties, he will have more scope for his industry and aptitude. The Timara Herald states Southland is experiencing the benefit of an Inflow of Australian capital. The Orepuki coal and shale measures have been sold to a i-ydney firm for L 12.000. They will erect w< rks for the distillation of kerosene and other oils from shale.

There was a very large attendance at last night'B meeting of Emmanuel Union, when the gentlemen members gave an entertainment. A miscellaneous programme, comprising singing, reading, reciting, and impromptu speaking was gone through, and as there was a liberal beatownl of applauae, it may be token for granted that the items were enjoyed by the audience. Kexfc week Mr Crawford will read a paper on " Fractica'ness."

The delay that is occurring in the commencement of the Naseby road is creating considerable dissatisfaction in the ranks of ( the unemployed. They hold that the monej was contributed by the Government primarily for the amelioration of their necessitous condition, and that, therefore, it is the duty of those to whom the money has been entrusted to ute it for that purpose without delay. From their standpoint this view is perfectly right. It cannot be expected that men who par force have to lounge away their time day by day, and whose homes are provided with neither fuel nor food, can sympathise with the discussion that is now proceeding over the rival routes by which the road ought to be taken. They allege that the question ought to be at once settled somehow or another, and suggest that the solution of the difficulty would be the adoption of the Maerewhenua route, by wh'ich a larje area of Crown lands would be opened up. Their intention is to bold another public meeting, but they will now await the return of Mr Bislop early next week, in the hope that he may be able to supgeat some settlement of the matter that will put a stop to tha vexatious and pitiable delay, through which they are suffering. We believe that Mr h isiop's counsels in the matter would be of signal service and that it might lead to an understanding that would be advantageous to all parties concerned.

At the Courthouse to-day, Mr Newton, on behalf of A. Johnston, applied for an order for the payment of ill Bs, costß in the oase J. Tohnston v. A. Johnston, brought in the District Court in which the defendant was non-Buitfd Mr Crawford, who appeared for Jameß Johnston, asked that consideration of the application be helc over for a week 'until after the decision of Judge Williaua at the Supreme Court sitting next week. His Worship said he had no objection to withhold making an order for the committal of James Johnston, providing the amount of costs were lodged with the Clerk of tha Court. Mr Crawford said he would undertake to have the money plaoed in tho Cl~rk •- hands. Under these ci;cumstanc=a his Worship ordered that the money be paid over on the morning of the sth September, in default 12 daye' imprisonment. We regret to that Mr Daffy, of Hampden, died at the end of last week, and was baried on Sunday last, Mr Duffy had been one of the very oldest residents of the district, and, at the time of his death, waa about 53 years of age. We have not been able to ascertain the immediate cause of his death, but he had for some time past been in a bad state of health. He leaves a large family to m urn their bereavement, whilst numerous old acquaintances will regret the loss of one whom they held In high esteem. We understand that the family is ltffc unprovided for, and tnat an endeavor will be made to realise something towards their support by giving an entertainment. A meeting of creditors in the estate of W. G. Martin waß held at the Assignee's office to-day. The Deputy Assignee stated that he had • got legal advice on the question of the refunding of the sums psid away by the bankrupt just prior to hia bankruptcy. The liabilities Bhowed LSOJ, and the assets, if the application to the Court were successful, would amount to about Ll6l. it was decided that one of the fraudulent preferential creditors be proceeded against at the next sitting of the District Court, to recover the amount paid him by the bankrupt jaat prior to his filing. The following members of the Excelsior Foothill Club will journey to Waimato tomorrow to play a match against the second fifteen of the Waimate Club Alexander, Familton, France, Hood, Jones, Kirk, lawson, Mahan, M'Dowell, M'Laren, M'Nab, Ogilvie, Procter, Smith, and Thomson. The above players are requested to meet at the Railway Station at 12.45 prompt.

Mr Blair has reported that the cost of carrying out Dr Coughtrey's scheme to avoid Pnrakanui cliff*, would involve a tunnel between 5 and 6 miles long, and that the whole cost would be abous L 750.000 as muoh as the whole cost of the line between Port Chalmers and Oamaru. It is understood that the Government will not adopt Dr Coughtrey's suggestion just yet, A meetißg of creditors in the estate of Wm. Bissett was held this afternoon. The Ueputy Official Assignee, who presided, read a letter from the Colonial Investment Company, refusing to agree to pay 5 a in the £, as per resolution passed at a meeting of creditors. The Company, in fact, made no proposal whatever. Mr Uonnell moved that the creditors instruct the Deputy-Official Assignee to take the necessary steps to proceed against the Colonial Investment Company to recover the proceeds of the bankrupt's sheep and their progeny, and all or any other stock and effects claimed on behalf of Bissett's estate ; and further, that the creditors guarantee the expenses pro rata according to the amounts of their proofs, 'ihis was seconded by Mr Hedley and carried. Mr Newton, who appeared for the Company, dissenting.

Between eight and nine o'clcck on Sunday evening (says the Lyttelton Times), quite a stir was caused in Rangiora aud Ashley by the circulation of a rumor that two Salvation Army lasses, on their way in a trap from Bangiora to Sefton, had been drowned in the river. A party searched the river-bed, but could find no trace of the trap or the occup»nts. In the meanwhile a messenger was sent to Sefton, and there found the lasses conducting an Army meeting in their usual lively fashion, quite unaware of the anxiet? felt on their behalf, It turne 1 out afterwards that the story of the drowning was concocted by an Ashley lad, and told to an .3rmy boy from Rangiora. who reported it in the latter town in good faith. The following is one of the latest notions from America The idea is to furnith beer to private houses direct from the brewery by pipes running through the streets as gas and water are furnished. It iB proposed to have a meter in eaoh house, and to collect the payment once a month. t-ir George Grey (says the Ofcago Daily Times) made an able and eloquent attack on the property tax to-night, on the third reading of the Appropriation Bill. Mr fish replied to Sir George Grey in a very warm speech. Mr Seddon Bpobe at length in support of Sir George Grey's amendment. The division must not be taken as an indication that the majority of the members of the House are opposed to a land and income tax. The inopportune nature of the occasion will account for the reception which Sir George's amendment reojived.

The Taieti Advocate Bays :—The New Zealand clergymen of various denominations must have had sn eye-opener recently when they were informed of the immense smonnt of money raised in the colony by the Solvation Army. The Bev. Mr M'Kerrow, at the Salvation Army tea meeting at Mosgiel on Thursday evening, asked whether the published Btnteme t concerning the Army's revenue was true ; and on being replied to in the affirmative observed that he would like to have the seoret of the Army's Bucoeas imparted to him. Captaia Bates, nothing loth to divulge the apparent secret, stated that the Army '' trusted in the efficacy of prayer ; when they asked the Almighty for money, and if it was right that they should have their request granted, they got it.'' The captaia oannot b9 Baid to have been in his reply very complimentary to the orthodox, denominations as, impliedly, either they do not -have much recourse to prayer for their wante, or are not deserving recipients of aid,

A telegram baa been received from the Rev, Dr Wannay to Bay that Mr Henry Lee and he will arrive in Oam«rn on Friday first, so that the members' meetiDg and the pablio meeting will be held at Emmanuel Church on that even'ng, at hours we sha'l advertise to-morrow.

A good Btory Is going the rounds just now (says the Lyttelton Times) against the mismanagement; of a station owned by a gentleman who seldom visits it in person. He begin to have his suspicions as to why the returns were gradually getting low, bo allowing his beard to grow, and disguising himself as a shearer, he visited the station. From the first man he met he inquired if he could stay the night, and was met with a cheerful response in the affirmative. Cn inquiring what sort of a plaoe it was to work on, his informant promptly replied—"Oh a d fine plaoe." "What part of the work have yon to do ? " 11 Oh, nothing mnoh, juat mess about, help the boss, and say ye 3." "What has he to do then?" '• Oh nothing muoh." There was a change ot management before the week was out. The Lyttelton Times says As showing the gradual rise of wheat, a card sent out by a leading firm of millers announces a rise ot 10s per ton all round, that is, fiour in sacks of 2001b is now 10a per ton dearer (on August 27th) than It was the day before. Reports are current of a very hardening tendency in the wheat market, and it is considered probable that many of the ehips now at Newcastle awaiting ooal will come on to this and other grain-loadiog ports, in ballast, rather than remain Idle during the colliers' strike, which has every appearanoe of being a prolonged one. Should FUch happen, it will strenethen the local wheit market, and enable holders to ship a little more fraely. Up to the present (writes the Dunedln Evening Star's London correspondent) New Zealand dairy produce has only proved indifferently successful. Against the cheese nothing can now be urged, save that the quality varies more thin is desirable. Retailers do not, as yet, take very kindly to it, (I quote the smartest cheesemonger in South' Kensington), but the stores (the Army and Navy especially) sell large quantities. The "7d a pound New Zealand cheeße" is, in fact, becoming a speciality at the Army and Navy Stores. All I wonder is, what does the exporter get per pound for it? The New Zealand butter, on the contrary, continues a failure. Often the quaity is, or has keen, good; but it varies so in color,.condition, and make-up that purchasers are often very dissatisfied. For example, a bntterman buys, Bay, twenty kegs or tabs (or whatever you call them) of New Zealand butter. The sample he tasted suited him exactly, but he finds that the kegs are not uniform in color and other essentials with the sample. The batter may be good enough, but there is not, enough salt in it, to suit his customers, or the color too nearly resembles that of margerine. The consequence is he is dissatisfied, and eschews New Zealand butter for the future, The difficulties in the way of the trade are, however, such as a few experts will no doubt Bmooth away, and once New Zetland dairy produce gets a good name with our retailers its future is assured. Mr Charles Duval, who is now In South Africa, has just written home to Ireland 3ome interesting details of a visit he has made to the grave of James Carey, the IJublln Town Councillor and notorious informer in the Pboßuix Park murder trials, who was fchot on the voyage out to the Cape by O'Donneli. Carey's body lies in an unenclosed graveyard on the rise of a hill at Port Elizabeth. None but colored prisoners who have died in gaol are laid in this miserable looking graveyard. Carey's grave is next to a Kaffir's, and oa a large white round store at the bead is written badly in lead pencil the words "J. Carey, the Irish informer." Some unknown person comes and writes this inscription when time or weather obliterates the words, and some bands of fluted iron are placed in a position so as to form the semblance of a cross. This cross is frequently taken away, but the mysterious hand whioh re-writes the epitaph also replaces the rode emblem of salvation as often as it is disturbed.

The following passage occurs in the Go. vemor's speech read at the opening of the Qasens'and Parliament recently :—" Over 113.000,000 has been expended to the 30th Jane, only paying interest at the rate of 2-17 th per cent. The success of the work of rabbit fencing Is very doubtful. Rabbits had recently been found considerably inside the border. The question, therefore, needs speoial consideration. Referring to the Land Act of 1884, the Act his been sufficiently long in operation to enable an estimate of its past and probable results to be formed. Ij 18:4 revenue deiived from leases other than pastoral under the Land Act of 1876 was L 238.888, and It was not unreasonable to snppose that had the latter Act continue! in operation the revenue would not have diminished. On the other hand, although as much land is being annually leased under the naw Act, with 3 ) and 50 years' tenure, as waß annually applied for nnder the Act which it repealed, yet the annnal revenue under the new Act was only L7OO0 —a sum insufficimS to defray the expenses of the departmental administration, and there is no indication of the rate of settlement nnder the new Act having increased."