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Oamaru Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 5083, 19 September 1891, Page 2

Mr A. B. Worthington, LL.D and M.A., late Major in the United States army, lectured in the Athenzeum Hall last nigbt on "Personal Reminiscences of the American Civil War." There was, as usual in Oamaru, a lamentably small audience, so small, indeed, that it is a wonder the lecturer was not utterly disheartened. Those who did attend, however, were treated to a lecture of vivid interest. Mr "Worthington possesses a pleasing delivery. He speaks deliberately, and the simple language heemploys servesbut to intensify the horrors of the scenes he depicts. He began his lectr .-e by briefly pointing out how the existence of slavery affected both the North and South. Tracing the gradual growth of sentiment and public feeling on the question of slavery, he brought his listeners up to the Missouri compromise, and thence through the long course of events which terminated, after President Abraham Lincoln's election, in the secession of South Carolina and the opening of the great civil war by the attack on Fort Sumter. Thence the long course of hostile engagements was traced with a fidelity and picturesqueness which only an actual participant could

impart, the acme of graphic description being reached in the lecturer's wild word picture of the famous field of Gettysburg. Mr Wortliington was warmly applauded at the close of his lecture, as indeed he was frequently at intervals during its course, and the few who had the pleasure of listening to him, will bear with them in future a far better knowledge of the beauties, the horrors, and the cause and effect of the American civil war than they had prior to Mr Worthington's address. The North Otago Jockey Club, with commendable enterprise, have acted immediately upon the resolution arrived at to hold a spring meeting, and the approved programme appears elsewhere in this issue. The Club have decided upon a two days' meeting, to be held on October 22nd and 23rd. The programme comprises 15 events —seven on the first day and eight on the second—and the stakes have been so arranged as to draw horses of all classes together to compete. There are the two regulation events for horses over the sticks, three trots—invariably productive of much difference of opinion among the artful ones who can " spot the winner —and numerous flat races, both sprint and distances, for district horses, and also open events. The stakes amount to L4SO, and consequently good fields should be the order of the day, more especially as the time has been well chosen to suit outsiders. We trust that the Club will find the meeting a financial success. Its prospects at present are rosy. The dates of nominations, auceptanc.es, etc., will be found in our advertising columns. The sporting scribe of the Timarti Herald put up something very like a record yesterday in his morning tips for the day's racing. He picked one horse straight out for each event, with the result that he named the winners of five races out of six, his sixth tip running second. This, considering that big fields were the order of the day, is so me tiling entirely exceptional. The quarterly summoned meeting of the Protestant Alliance Lodge will be held at 8 o'clock on Monday evening next. Fishing licenses for the forthcoming season may be obtained from Mr H. Watson or the Secretary of the Acclimatisation Society. We draw attention to the postponement, for one week, of the sale of horses, plant, etc., in the estate of H. Mathie. The date of the sale has been altered to October Ist.

A public meeting will be held in the Empire Hotel, Palmerston, at 7.30 p.m. 011 Tuesday next, for the purpose of making arrangements to accord the Hon. J. M'Kenzic a public reception on his return from Wellington at the end of the session. The Consolation Handicap at the Timaru meeting yesterday was won by Wayland by the shortest of heads from Coinage. Liberator and Quibble also started. Wayland paid a dividend of L 4 0s (3d. During the day L 2173 went through the machine, making L46G3 for the two days. A service of song, entitled " Breakers Ahead," will be given in the Ngapara Athenceum on the evening of Friday next. The local choir have been practising assiduously for some time past, and there is, therefore, every prospect of a most successful entertainment. The proceeds will bo devoted to the augmentation of the school funds. A grand concert and kindergarten performance by the pupils of the Convent Schools and the members of St. Patrick's choir will (be given in the Public Hall on Thursday next, September 24th. This will be the first time 011 which the children of the Kindergarten will display their drill and exercises, and in view of the popularity of the system this feature of the programme should, in itself, prove attractive. In addition there will, however, be instrumental and vocal selections and a cantata by the pupils. The musical ability of the Convent pupils requires no special mention from us. The public have already been often accorded ample evidence of its exceptional nature. William M'Leckie was charged at the Resident Magistrate's Court, this morning, with attempting to commit suicide at Hampden. Accused, after the information had been read, and without being asked to plead, said—"l am guilty." On the application of the police, the case was remanded until 11.30 a.m. on Monday. The Loyal Ngapara Lodge, M. U. 1.0.0. F., iutend having a concert and ball on Thursday, the loth of next month. We understand that an energetic committee are at present hard at work making arrangements, and it is expected that this will be one of the largest turn-outs ever seen in Ngapara. In the House of Representatives, yesterday, the Hon. Mr Ballance moved that tho amendment made by the Legislative Council in the Municipal Corporations Act Amendment Bill, which consisted of reinstating in the Bill the clause that had been struck out by the House exempting charitable institutions from rating be agreed to. Carried by 43 to 9.—A Message was received to the effect that the Council insisted on its amendments in tho Electoral Bill, and a conference consisting of Messrs Ballance, Seddon, and Earnshaw, was appointed to confer with the Council.—A Message was also received that the Council insisted on its amendments in the Land Bill. A conference consisting of Messrs Ballance, J. M'Kenzic, and Duncan, were appointed. As a consequence of the summary treatment which the Payment of Members Bill has received in the Legislative Council (says the Otago Daily Times' correspondent) about twenty members of the Lower House who supported the Bill interviewed members of the Cabinet this evening, and asked what the Government proposed to do regarding the measure. The Premier replied that it was not intended to revive it at this late period of the session, but it would probably be brought forward again next year. Some discussion took place regarding the action of the Council in rejecting this and other measures passed by the House of Representatives, when Mr Ballance informed tho deputation that the Government would recommend some appointments to the Legislative Council.

In the Legislative Conncil yesterday, the committee appointed to draw up reasons for the Council insisting oil their amendments in the Electoral Bill, brought up their reasons, which were agreed to. The House intimated by message that they disagreed with the Council's amendments in the Public Trust Office Bill so far as clauses 5 and 11 were concerned. The Councildecided to insist on the amendments, and a committee consisting of the Hons. Steven, Stewart, and Bowcn was appointed to draw up reasons for insisting. The Hons. Stevens, Walker, and Whitmore were appointed managers to attend a second Conference on the Selectors' Lands Revaluation Bill. The Hon. Messrs Stevens, Miller, and Fulton were appointed a Committee to draw up reasons for the Council insisting upon its amendments in the Land Bill. The Committee appointed to draw up reasons for insisting upon the amendments in the Land Bill brought up their report, which was agreed to An adjourned meeting of the Kakanui Licensing Committee was held this morning, there being present: Messrs Morton (chair), M'Lenuan, Mitchell, Walker, and Thomson. The police reported that the repairs to the Criterion Hotel, Kakanui, had been satisfactorily effected, and the license was therefore allowed to remain. There was no other business.