Daily Circulation, 1640. The Oamaru Mail. SATURDAY, JULY 14, 1894.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XIX, Issue 5997, 14 July 1894, Page 2

Daily Circulation, 1640. The Oamaru Mail. SATURDAY, JULY 14, 1894.

The Railway Commissioners are evidently coming to a right view of the purpose for which the railways were constructed. At anyrate they have at least had a lucid interval, in which they have placed upon record their recognition of the fact that, though various extensions cannot for some time be expected to yield a profit, they are valuable as a means of opening up new country and, by giving access to timber, coal, and settlement areas, enlarging the productive powers of the colony. Those are the purposes for which the construction of railways was sanctioned, and the knowledge that the Railway Commissioners have at last awakened to the fact, tardy though their awakening has been, is very encouraging news. If Mr Gay can only get hold of them before they suffer a relapse we may rely upon it that he will succeed in his mission to Wellington, and obtain for the Oamaru building stone such a concession in railway rates as will lead to an early development of an important industry upon a scale not hitherto contemplated as within the bounds of reasonable probability. It is, we learn, stated by the Commissioners as in contemplation to reduce the charges on produce in such a way as to help settlers, and to also reduce the rates for the conveyance of everything calculated to render the land more productive. If things go on in this way we shall expect to find the Commissioners coming, without the aid of Parliament, to a sensible view of the question of the unjust special tariff between Dunedin and Oamaru. The sanity of the Commissioners once thoroughly accepted as an established fact a vast field for speculation as to the good they may do the country will be opened out to us. But it is too early yet to indulge in speculation. A quantity of correspondence is again unavoidably held over. Correspondents will not bear in mind our adjuration to be " brief as first love" during the_ session, consequently their communications must take their chance. Mr Power acknowledges a further contribution to the Weller fund of L2 12s, collected by Mr Joseph Kelly, Weston, as follows:—Robertson and Kelly ss, George Piper 2s 6d, Michael Gilligan 2s 6d, Edward Fitzgerald 2s, D. Genge 2s 6d, Dan. O'Brien 2s, Joseph Mitchell 2s, Michael Doyle 2s, James Renton Is, F. Hill Is, William Isdale 2s 6d, A Friend 2s, Hugh Wallace 2s 6d, James Cooney 10s, James M'Mahon 2s 6d, Thomas Burke 2s 6d, J. Keast 2s 6d, W. Mowbray 2s 6d, A. Knox 2s 6d. Messrs Armstrong and Gordon, of Weston, have given two bags of potatoes as their donation to the fund. The Bruce Herald says that an agent travelling in the Clutha district is said to have booked 280 gallons of liquor last week for delivery to private customers. Mr Paulin predicts:—"Strong to moderate N.E. winds, and rain in about 16 hours." The Post Office officials are advised by the San Francisco agent that the Americaa railroads will be available for the mails for New Zealand leaving London to-day. As an instance of smart cabling work, it may be mentioned that the question was asked by a message despatched at 4.44 p.m. yesterday, and the reply reached Wellington at 0.19 p.m. to-day. The anniversary services in connection with the Columba Church will be held tomorrow. The congregational soiree will be held on Tuesday evening when addresses will be given by the Rev. Mr Clark, (of Palmerston) and others. Anthems by the choir, vccal solos, and instrumental selections will vary the proceedings. The Rev. Mr Skene (of Melbourne), who is at present supplying Knox Church, was to have been present, but word has been received that he will be unable to attend. A public meeting of the New Zealand Workers' Union will be held in St. George's Hall at 8 o'clock on Monday next when matters of importance, to all classes of workers, will be discussed. A threshing mill belonging to Messrs Clark Bros., of Reidston, was destroyed by fire on Wednesday mprning last. The mill had finished threshing and. was standing on the district road ahout 150 yards from the main road at Reidston. The mill was left all right at 11 o'clock on Tuesday night and at 7.30 next morning it was found to have I been burned. There is no clue as to the origin, but incendiarism is suspected. . The mill was insured for L 235.

In the House yesterday, the Hon. Mr Oadman, Minister for Justice, in answer to Mr Duncan, said that there wa3 no objection to short-sentence prisoners at Oatnaru being placed on the Bame footing as at Wanganui and New Plymouth, provided no extra expense were incurred. Our Waihao correspondent writes:—The Waihao School Committee last night held their annual concert and dance in aid of the prize fund. The weather waß favorable and there was a good attendance. During the first few hours of the dance the room was overcrowded, but by careful management and good temper that inconvenience was surmounted. It is anticipated that the proceeds will reach a good average, and th« committee, parents, and children ar« to be congratulated on the result. Several singers who promised to help were prevented through illness, but those who appeared did not spare themselves, and the programme was quite filled up. Songs were sung by Mrs A. Phillips, Miss K. Davis, and Messrs A. Phillips, VV. Freeman, W. Tresroning, M. Ryan, and J. Morris. Messrs Byan, J. n ike, and T. Wesley contributed several dances. At the close of the concert Mr Geo. Morton, Chairman of the School Committee, thanked the audience for their attendance and called for three cheers for the ladies and gentlemen who had given their assistance at the concert. The call was responded to heartily. The room was then cleared for dancing, and this amusement varied with songs, mainly comic, was kept up till the hours of the morning were lengthening. Mr Thomas accompanied the singers and played for the dancers, while Mr Drayton acted efficiently as M.C. Abundant and excellent refreshments were supplied by the Committee.

Our Wellington correspondent states that definite statements are being circulated in Wellington to the effect that the National Bank directors in London are negotiating for an amalgamation with the Bank of New Zealand.

At the Magistrate's Court this morning, before Major Keddell, S.M., John Kelly, alias Kelly the Rake, paid his periodical respects to the Bench, and was convicted and discharged with a caution on his undertaking to leave the town at once. Ellen Keegan was charged with disorderly behaviour while drunk, in Thames-street, last evening. Accused pleaded guilty. Constable Smart stated that he had arrested accused on the footpath of Thames-street. She was very violent. Sergeant O'Grady stated that several ladies had been interest-

ing themselves on accused's behalf. They h«d made a home for her on several occasions and she invariably broke it up. She was an intolerable nuisance, and would not keep from the drink. His Worship said that accused seemed to have no selfrestraint, and had lost all self-respect in an inordinate craving for drink. She had wilfully broken up all ties of home, and apparently cared nothing for her own flesh and blood. She was one of those objectionable characters who were responsible for the present agitation in favor of prohibition and the prevention of the sale of liquor to moderate drinkers. She ought to be iu a home for inebriates. Accused was convicted and sentenced to 14 days' hard labor.

A special service for young peoplo will be held in St George's Hall to-morrow evening, when Mr Ludbrook will preach upon " Tho Wondrous, World-embracing Love of God." Old and young are alike invited. The Rev. J. A. Will, of Waiareka, who is about to leave to take up his chargo at Tuapeka, will preach at St Paul's to-morrow, morning and evening.

Mr David Milligan lectured last night before a Wellington Presbyterian Church Literary Society, his subject being "A trip to America."

A concert and dance will take place in the Pukeuri Schonl on Friday evening next when the proceeds will be in aid of the school funds. A very varied programme has been prepared including Mr Towsey and others from Oamaru. A most enjoyable evening may be anticipated and after the concert there will be a dance. With reference to Mr Duncan's request to the Government to take steps to at once raise the duty on grain, so that Australian imports of the cereals may be called upon for the same amount of duty as is levied at Australian ports on New Zealand wheat and other cereals, a deputation of farmers waited upon us to-day to express their appreciation of Mr Duncan's efforts in this direction, and to ask us to convey to him that appreciation and a request that he will use his utmosi endeavors to have his suggestion given effect to. As matters stand at present farmers in New Zealand cannot compete with Adelaide wheat. If the duty were raised from 5Jd to say Is, this would be obviated, and farmers would find a market for their wheat ai once. Mr George Robikson, surgeon-dentist, will pay his usual professional visit to Waimate on Tuesday next, 17th inst.—[Advt.]