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Oamaru Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 5099, 8 October 1891, Page 2

The Honorable John M'Kenzie arrived in Oamaru this afternoon, with the object of attending to several matters in the district connected with his department.

At last night's meeting of the Athemeum Committee, it was stated that subscriptions were not coming in as freely as they should. People should bear in mind that the institution cannot be conducted without ready money, and the least they can do, if they participate in the privileges provided, is to pay their subscriptions promptly and punctually. The subscription is small enough in all conscience compared with the advantages accruing from membership. The total shipments of wool from New Zealand during 1891, up to August 31, were 8622 bales, being an increase of 751 bales over the corresponding period of last year. The total shipments from Australia and New Zealand were 73,633 bales, being a decrease of 1486 bales over the corresponding period of last year. The decrease is entirely in the Queensland returns, all the other colonies showing an increase. From a table issued in the War Cry, it appears that in 1890 Oamaru contributed more to the Self-denial Fund than any other corps in the colony. L6l 2s 6d was the contribution. Invercargill came second with LSB 8s 6d, after which came a considerable gap, Dunedin being third with L3B. At the meeting of the Land Board yesterday J. M. Willetts applied for a license for coal-mining purposes of 10 acres of section 76, block 8, Awamoko.—License granted for three years at LI per acre per annum. John Willetts, sen, applied for a license for coalmining purposes of 10 acres of section 76, block 8, Awamoko, adjoining the section applied for by his son.—License granted for three years at LI per acre per annum. A meeting of the Kurow Jockey Club will be held in the Bridge Hotel at 8 o'clock tomorrow night. Since Tuesday last (says the Press) the sale of potatoes at Rangiora has dropped from sixpence per sack to an appeal from one holder of a large stock to the public to cart them away " for nothing." There is a decided contrast between this state of affairs and the price in 1863, which went up to L 23 and L 24.

At the Resident Magistrate's Court, Palmerston, yesterday, before H. A. Stratford, Esq., R.M., and J. 0. Mackenzie, Esq., J.P., three landowners in the Macraes district were each lined LI and costs for breaches of the Rabbit Nuisance Act, on the information of Inspector Miller, of Oamaru. Tho monthly meeting of the Oamaru North School Committee will be held to-morrow evening.

The monthly meeting of the Athensum Committee was held last evening, when there were present Messrs Forrester (in the chair), Lee, Gould, Whitton, Davidson, Allen, Barr, and Harvey (hon. see). A vote of thanks was passed to the Hon. S. E. Shrimski for his gift to the institute of the Proceedings and Debates of the National Australasian Convention for 1891. It was resolved to order the New Review. It was decided to procure a few new novels from Mr A. Fraser. Attention was drawn to the fact that the subscriptions had not come in so readily of late. Accounts were passed for payment, and the meeting terminated. The Daily Times Riccarton correspondent writes :—A heavy fall of rain yesterday and last night prevented work at Riccarton this morning beyond cantering round the centre of the course. Cutts, as usual, was out before daylight, as was Charlie O'Connor; but Stratford contented himself with walking his horses round the roads after breakfast. Both Mr O'Brien and Mr Webb gave their horses some good half-pace work on the centre, and there will be no doubt about the condition of the Lonsdale Lodge horses at the Metropolitan meeting. They are more forward collectively than any other team about here.

Our Palmerston correspondent writes : The Hon. J. M'Kenzie proposes addressing the electors somewhere about the middle of next week and previous to the banquet to be tendered him, which is fixed for Friday, the 16th inst He leaves for Oamaru by this evening's train, on his way to Livingstone, where he has some departmental work to engage him. At the beginning of the present week (says the Daily Times) Mr George Matthewson, who has been for some time in the Railway Goods Office at Dunedin, and has gained the name of being a thoroughly efficient officer, was transferred to Oamaru. Prior to his. departure Mr Matthewson was presented by his fellow officers here with a silver cigarette case and silver matchbox. The presentation was made by Mr S. J. Loring, the district goods agent.