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Oamaru Mail, Volume X, Issue 4202, 1 September 1888, Page 2

The following extract from a letter, dated 15th May. received by a gentleman in Riverton from his brother, who resides in Canterbury, England, shows why New Zealand matron brings better prices at Home :—We bay a good deal of New Zealand mutton and prefer it to Kngllah. It Is always tender and good. We give 6Jd per lb. for shoulders and 6d for legs—that ii 3d per lb. less than English mutton and better quality ; so yon see that It is appreoiated here.—lnveroargill Times. The attention of Catholics is Invited to an advertisement re country Catholio services, which appears in this issue. Those of oar coioniits who are apt to be carried away and made dissatisfied with their lot by the reports of Melbourne and the activity of its oommerclal life would do well to bear in mind the old adage, "Ie is not all gold that glitters." Kenta and the cost of living are terribly high In Melbourne, whioh, it may aim- st be said, is now only another name for Victoria. A townsman, with whom we were to-dav conversing on this question, said that when he visited Melbourne some time ago he had perioral experience T>f the extravagant prices that he had to p»y for everything. His hotel bill was alarming in Its amount, and everything else was marvellously dear. He wen l : into a draper's shop to purchase a pair of gloves and cnffj When the bill was presented he found that the charges for these articles were 7s 6d and Is 6d respective-y. He told the shopman that the prices for similar gloves was 2s lees in Now Zealand, and, for cuffs, 61 less. The shopman retorted, " We have to pay L 25 per week rent " Then said his customer, " Wrap up the articles. I will help yon to pay the rent." The popularity of skating Is suffering a very pronounced deoline. In Timarn there are two rinks—the Columbia, owned by the Columbia Company, and the fclite, owned locally. But there, as in Oam jru, the patronage has to fallen off that the Columbia Company are endeavoring to Bell oat, whilst the Klite proprietor also desires to sell a half share in his venture. It would appear that the eka ing mania has run its course and that oar yonng people are now desire us of some change in their mode of reoreation. Whilst the mania lasted it was all-absorbing, and It is just as well, we think, that it was short-li ed. On Thursday afternoon a practice of the Rocket Brigade wis held, when Qiartermafter Symons. who was in charge, put the men through some useful drill. Ihe muster was a good one, add considerable efficiency was shown in the management of the apparatus. At a special meeting of the Duntrcon School Committee, held last evening, Miss Grace Thompson was unanimously chosen for appointment as mistress of the >chool. There were 16 applicants for the position, many of them possessing the very highest qualifications. The Papakaio Debating Society held its usual meeting on the 30th nit, when a new star appeared above the horizon in the shape of Mr James Dunn, who gave an able and instructive account of libraries. He spoke of their origin, growth, and the foundation of the great libraries of anoient and modern times, and of the benefits to be derived from the same. At the close, Mr Darley, the Chairman, called on yonng members to aiffnalise the oooaaion by proposing and seoondiog a vote of thanks. They had new blood coming forward to read a paper, freah blood oaght to be ready in the debating portion of the night's work. This was at once responded to by Mr D. Cameron and Mr J. M'Dowell, and the motion was heartily responded to by the audience.

The annual meeting of the North r tago Permanent Building Society was held last evening, Mr Headland presiding. The report was read u follows :—The Committee hare the pleasure of presenting the twelfth annuU report. As will be seen by the balanoe-aheet, the remit of the year's operations is that a oredit balance is shown to the amount of £124 2s Id. Yonr Committee, however, strongly reoommend that this amount shall not be distributed in the meantime. The result which, nnder present circumstances, may be oonsMered satisfactory, has been brought about by the most rigid economy—as may be seen on reference to the balance-sheet, the small sum of Llsl 15s 2d representing the whole cost of management and general expenses. The Committee have every reason to be'ieve a better tone as to the value of property now exists, and that this long-Icoked for improvement in value will make the future operations of the Society mo r e profitable than they have been of late. The members of Committee who retire, bat are eligible for re-election, are Meters W. Bee and T, Williamson—For the Committee Gbofqb ScMPrER, Secretary. The report and balance-sheet were adopted as read. The following were elected office-bearers : Mr Headland re-elected President, Messrs W. Bee and T. Williamson Committee, Mr Mainland Treasurer, and Mr West Valuator. Mr fcumpter was re-appointed Secretary and Messrs Hislrp and Cresgh olicitors to the Society. The turn of L 7 10a was voted for the me of office and gas. The auditors' fees were fixed at L 5. This completed the business before the meeting. The Ngapara contingent of the North Otago Hussars will give their annual bill on on Thursday, the 13th Inst. A meeting cf the Blue Ribbon Committee was held last evening, when it was decided to hold a concert and social gathering cn the 24th iost.

The entertainment given last evening in the Oamaru South School was highly successful, alike artistically and financially. The largest room of the school building was crowded, the programme was well arranged, the performers were in good fettle, and the largeandience were evidently highly pleased, if we may judge by the applause they bestowed at the close of each item. If we add that as the outcome of the entertainment the school funds will be substantially augmented, it will be readily admitted that the Committee have good reason to congratulate themselves upon their efforts to promote a laudable object by a pleasant method. It is unnecessary that Wo should giva detaied criticism of the items comprising the programme. Suffice it, therefore, to say that Miss Bollenhagen eang with her customary taste " When the children are asleep" and "Canterbury Bells," the former so pleasing the aud.ence as to elicit an encore, which was responded to with " Tit for Tat"; that Miss White sang well " The Song for Me " and " Only Dreams," the latter being particularly worthy of praise; that Miss L. Procter's 11 Dear Heart" was the vooal pem of the evening; that Mr Walls gave fine renditions of his two songs, " The Plymouth Sounds" and "The Young Brigade"; that Mr Keid, in addition to singing " Let Me love Thee" and "The Mountebank," the latter in response to an enoare, pav? several admirable reoitations, of whioh '' me Fireman " was a mastorpieoe of elooationary effort; that Mr Slater tickled the audience immensely with his comic nonga "It always Comes Kound to Me " and " Never tike No for an Answer," which were redemanded, the singer giving " The Butterfly Dude" and "M'Sorley's Twins" ; and Mr Kemshed added variety to the programme by playing two solos—a se'ection Scottish airs and "II Balen " —oa the zitber violina, a decidedly novel musical instrument wh ise tone is not unlike that of the Japanese fiddle, but still not by any means altogether unpleasant. It only remains to be said that Miss Cook, in addition to playing two pianoforte pieces, acted as accompanist, the instrument used baing a piano kindly lent by Mr Farley, of the Dresden Company. After Mr Crombip, who occupied the chair, had obtained an expression of thanks to the performers, the proceedings were brought to a cleee with the National Anthem. We have been favored by a,perusal of the programme of a mußioal and dramatic entertainment that is to be given by tha Convent High School pnpils on Thursday, the 25th October next. The programme is an excellent one in every respect, and, whilst it is novel, it is also designed to display the ability of the pupils. The drama chosen for the occasion is " The Heir of the L'Kstranges," and the synopsis indicates that it will be both appropriate and interesting, and that it will also afford so ape for tbe disp'ay of histrionic abili-y on the part of the pupils. The incidental mnslc would, by itself, prove a performance sufficiently attractive to delight any aud'.ence, The proceedings will be opened by the playing of Koßsinl's celebrated and popular overture. " L'ltaliana in Algeria," on three pianos simultaneously, by five performers. As an entr'acte, the "Marohe des Troubadours" will be performed on three pianos by five of the pnpils, and the conclusion cf the d.ami will be signalised by\ grand duo, "Belisario," for two performers on two pianos. Then will be given the inimitable farce, " Box and Cox; or, Mrs Bounoer's Economy." This will be followed by a selection from Wagner's magnificent "Tanhauser," which'will be played as a solo on two pianos, and the proceedings will be brought to a close by the Kinging of the New Zealand National Anthem. Here is a programme good enough either for a monaroh or his people. But we must not omit to mention that the dramatio performance will be enlivened by scenio effects, the whole of whioh will be wronght by pupils of the school. This will, in every way, create additional interest in the event, and is an idea that refleots great oredit on the management. Now, all we have to add is that tbe proceeds of the entertainment are to be devoted to a fund to defray tbe cost of the scenery a"d stage, and all those other theatrical adjuncts whioh are too numerous to mention, and that, should the public patronage be such as to leave a balance, it will be spent in purchasing a piano for one of the schools, which ia greatly needed.

- A schoolboy was asked by his teacher, " Who is Sir Harry Atkinson ? " He replied, " A levier of taxea." The Lyttelton Times says that the first lambs of the season were sold at Addington on Wednesday at from 13a to 15s. The bntohers of Timarn, in oonsequence of the increased prices demanded for fat stock of late, have decided to raise the prioe of meat id per lb all round. The annual meeting of shareholders of the First Oamaru Permanent Building and Investment Society was held last evening. &oth report and balance-sheet were adopted as read, on the motion of the President who Expressed regret that no dividend could be decUred that year. Messrs Kennedy and Davidson were re-elected directors. Mr N. Lane was also elected a director, and Mr W. Christie shareholders' auditor. The meeting closed with a vota of thanks to the chairman. The following pari ionlars whioh have been supplied to us by a gentleman recently returned from Melbourne, will show that Mr Waddell is by no means alone in his opinion that Melbourne is bonnd to experience a serious check sooner or later. Our informant states that for a small box of a pla e, need as a tea and coffee house, the tenant paid a ren k . of 1300 per annum. During the twenty minutes wh'ch he spent in the place, there was only on» other customer. Here the visitor could get four ham sandwiches and a cup of tea fir 6d. Ia answer t) a question, the keeper of the place said the rent was killing her and she wonld have to give up. For a shop not co good as Messrs hica Bros., of this town, also used as a lolly shop, the tenant paid LIOOO a year rent; and, in reply to a similar question to that put to the coffee-house-keeper, the answer was the Bame : but, said the tenant, as high as the rent Is the owner cannot take less, as this bare'y pays hi-n 3 per cent, interest on his outlay. Mr Kstt, who is well known by many Oamarn people has a hotel in Melbourne, whioh our informant states may be olassed as a third or fourth rate one there, and for this he pays about LIOOO a year. A capital dinner of three courses, with a glass of beer, is supplied for a shilling, ana all drinks are sold at threepence etch. Many of the business plaoea have been erected and the ground bought with borrowed capital bearing interest at from five to six per cent., bnt notwithstanding the high rents many of the ventures are not returning three per cent, on the outlay on acoount of the abnormal aunts paid tor the ground.

7 ha fire-mile race on skatea for the championship and gold medal drew a large attendance at the Union Bink list evening. Pour competed, bat it rood apparent that the oonteat lay between Hood and Chriateson. The latter led from ths start, bat eventual;j he was passed by Hood, who looked like winning until one of his skates came off, and the delay thus occasioned him enabled Christeaon to win by four laps. Mr 0. Buist performed the do ties of judge to the satisfaction oi all concerned. A novel skating match is annonnoed to take place at the Columbia Rink in Christohurch. E»ch competitor has to have five skates on—one on esoh foot, one on eaoh hand, and one behind. Whilst a oancert at the Melbourne Rxhi* bition was proceeding recently, there was an interruption by the noise of hammering. Mr Cowan suspended the performance until silence was restored, and on the noise being repeated he eeated ooaduotin,?, and ordered the motey paid for admission to be returned.