Daily Circulation, 1640. The Oamaru Mail. THURSDAY, MAY 24, 1894.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XIX, Issue 5953, 24 May 1894, Page 2

Daily Circulation, 1640. The Oamaru Mail. THURSDAY, MAY 24, 1894.

The gallant and high-minded gentlemen who constitute the Opposition in. the Onehunga Borough Council have received another check at the hands of the masterful woman who presides over that body. They were to have provided their friends with a cheap entertainment. " Come out and see the fun," said they ; and, in response to the invitation, the evening meal being over, crowds, with pipe and cigar and stick, sallied forth for a country outing, and to see a woman put through her facings. But the fun did net come off ; at least, not the sort of fun that the aforesaid gentlemen desired and expected. There was fun, but it was enjoyed by the wrong persons, and at the expense of the wrong subjects. The hour was approaching. The room was filling fast, many of the audience having, come all the way from Auckland. . The lady Mayor's two opponents were there, all glowing and expectant. In strolled the pleasure seekers with the air of people who knew what they were about, and who were not going to be turned out again, if they knew it. The room is filling fast; and now, at every little sound, all eyes are turned towards the door, to witness the entrance of the victim ; but both she and her henchmen delay their coming. Suddenly there is an ominous noise, as if of a rustling dress, and the murmur of many voices. "There she comes!" But she doesn't come. It was merely the shuffling of the feet of impatient men. How provoking. The two unhappy Opposition Councillors are now the cynosure of all eyes. They redden visibly, and wish that they had stayed at home. The auditors now begin to point at them, to talk at them, and to titter. The two unhappy men would like to get under the table—anywhere out of the way. It is like being in the stocks and pelted with bad epithets and worse potatoes and eggs. At length, an end is put to their misery by the announcement that the victim that was to have been, having heard of all the preparations that had been made to provide an entertainment for a crowd of gobemouches, determined that the female character would not, by her presence, eclipse the brilliant impersonation of the fool by her two opponents. As the audience left the room, theydoubtless felt and freely expressed the opinion that the lady Mayor possessed more true dignity than all the rest of them put together, though only a woman, and they went to their homes to reflect on the reality of the modern movement which has for its object the practical recognition of ability and virtue, even if they be possessed by only a woman."

Queen's Birthday. A life of 75 years and a reign of 57 years to-day, A meeting of the Cabinet will be held at the Hon. J. M'Kenzie's residence at Shag Point to-day. In the course of two hours, and whilst he was participating in the marriage festivities at Shag Point yesterday, the Premier received about two dozen telegrams from all quarters, which he devoured with apparent relish as a sort of dessert. Mr Raynor, of the Sydney Bulletin, wellknown in Oamaru, is appearing in Napier at popular concerts. His speciality is " character sketches, reminiscences, and lightning sketches." On Tuesday night as Mr Sievwright was returning from the meeting at Maheno he took his horse through the wrong ford at the Kakanui, and got into a hole with the water pretty well over his head. Fortunately, he managed to make his horse scramble out, or another sad tale of drowning would have to be recorded. The County Council would confer a favor upon travellers if it took steps to prevent them from getti'g into death traps of this nature. Mr Paulin telephoned the Dunediu Star at 9.20 a.m. yesterday : " The atmospheric disturbance noticed yesterday to the N.N.E. of this island, causing thefa-Upf the barometer, has been bicking in a W.N.W. direction since half-past three this morning, and is now W.N.W., 44degS., and again moving in an E.S.E. direction, and should cause strong N.E. winds, changing to the S. W. with heavy rain and cold, squally weather within thirty-six hours." Last evening, in St. George's Hall, Mr A. Ludbrook delivered a lecture entitled, " A Londoner's scamper through New Zealand." There was a very fair attendance. The speaker prefaced his address by making sympathetic reference to the recent fatal accident, expressing his regret that the meeting clashed with the benefit concert being given ; had he known of the latter sooner he would have made other arrangements. He then gave a lengthy account of his recent tour, which extended well nigh from the North Cape to the Bluff. He had visited Churches of Christ in the various provinces, and had also taken part in the public advocacy of the prohibition movement, delivering in all about sixty sermons and addresses during the trip. At the close of the meeting a hearty vote of thanks was unanimously accorded the lecturer for his interesting address. The following is the programme to be played by the Naval Band at the sacred open-air concert in the Severn-street Gardens on Sunday next: Cornet solo, " The Post in the Forest" (Mehden); overture, "Italiana in Algeri" (Rossini); song "Calvary" (Paul Rodney); euphonium solo, " Atilla " (Verdi); selection, "Moses in Egypt"; soDg, " The Better Land"; march " Gloria." A collection will be made, and the whole of the takings will be devoted to the Weller Fund. The annual report of the Otago Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for 1894 shows that during the year 117 cases of alleged cruelty were investigated and seven prosecutions instituted. Four of these cases were in Oamaru. The practice of working horses with bad sores is far too common in the country. One man, says the report, lost his place by refusing to so. The Committee would gladly give his name as worthy of honor, but fear that it might prevent his getting work in some otner places.

» We have received 6s from Mr E. T. Earl and 6s from Mr Burn for the Weller fund ; and for the Johnston fund Mr W. J. Hill has forwarded LI Is. We draw attention to the sale of work which is to be held to-inorrow and on Saturday on behalt of St. Luke's Sunday School Building Fund. In addition to the stall of St. Luke's Ladies' Guild, the Sunday School teachers and scholars also have a stall, to supply which they have been working diligently for some months aided by many con tributions from friends. There will be the usual refreshment stall and side shows, including several novelties. The evening entertainments will be of an unusually highclass character, especially the Swiss toy band and the illustrated songs and tableaux. The sale will be open free from 2 to 6 p.m. and from 7 p.m. at a charge of one shilling. On Saturday the sale will be.open at 10 a.m., when country visitors are invited to inspect the goods.