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Oamaru Mail, Volume XX, Issue 6331, 12 August 1895, Page 2

The attitude of tho Otago Daily Times on the licensing question Jb wonderfully free from prejudice. If our metropolitan contemporary leans to any side at all, it is, we think? on the side of radical reform. This is indicative of the revulsion winch is taking place in the public mind in regard to a-trade which is so carried on in the majority of cases as to shock the propriety of even the least susceptible; and people are now asking themselves the question: "What need is there that we should cling to a th_ ng wmcn is so dUasfcrbus to our beat interests 1

An "In Memoriam" service, in memory of the martyred missionaries in China, was held in St. Luke's Church last night. The service was suitable to the occasion, and the Rev. Canon Gouldpreached fromHebrewsxi. 37 and 38. Mr Williamson sang "My aoul is alhirst for God " as an offertorium. The Caledonian Society's Directors will meet in the Counly Council at eight o'clock to-night. The Rev. Mr Morrison, who was to have preached at St. Paul's yesterday, missed the train owing to the delay of the Wellington sceamer, and consequently he did not reach Oamaru on Saturday. The Rev. Mr Todd occupied the pulpit in the morning, and the Rev. Mr Marten in the eveuing, an exchange of pulpits taking place between the two gentlemen named. Yesterday afternoon the Anglican service at Vukeuri was of an "In memoriam" character in memory of the late Mr J. s. Dalzetl. A contingent of St. Luke's choir attended to help the singing, and the hymns and sermon were suitable to the occasion. Mr J. T. Oakden played the dead march at the close of the service.

The Rev. Mr Bannerman will give his missionary address in the Enfield schoolhouse to-morrow night, net in Columba Church, as announced in error in our Saturday's issue.

At the Magistrate's Court this morning William Delaney was charged with failing to obey an order of the Court to contribute to the maintenance of his wife. Accused was remanded to Naseby at 11 o'clock on Saturday. At the Magistrate's Court this morning, before Major Keddell, S.M., Thomas Rainforth, who did not appear, was charged with being drunk while in charge of a horse, at 4.30 o'clock on Saturday afternoon, i n Tyne street. Constable Lemm, who arrested accused, stated that accused was beating his horse and shouting and yelling out. The horse was rearing and plunging, and he was afraid something would happen, so he arrested accused and lodged him in gaol. Accused was, ex parte, convicted and fined 40s, with 2s costs.

At the Magistrate's Court this morning before Major Keddell, S.M., Thos. Evans was charged with assaulting Frank Gray, on July 30th at Maerewhenua, by striking him on the face and kicking him. Mr Crawford appeared for plaintiff and Mr Roll for defendant, who pleaded not guilty. Frank Gray, miner, Maerewhenua, stated that on the day in question he had occasion to go to defendant to serve a notice of objection on him, in a matter coming before the Warden's Court. He found defendant mending a fence, and the latter spoke to him quite friendly until he offered him the notice of objection. Defendant took it with one hand, and knocked him down with the other. He was dazed, and defendant kicked him while down. He said : "You have no witnesses, and I'll give it to you. You are taking away the living of my wife and children." Plaintiff got up and walked away. The kick broke his watch. To Mr Roll: He prepared the notice himself ; it was an ob' jection to an application for a headrace, Ihe trouble arose out of that. He did not ask defendant what he meant by applying for the water when he knew he could uot get it, and that it was a d d dirty trick. Catherine Jenkins said she saw Evan3 working near her place. She subsequently saw Gray with his face bleeding. Michael Buckley saw defendant with his face bleeding on the afternoon in question. For the defence, Thomas Evans stated that Gray came up to him and asked what he meant by applying for the water, and that it was a mean, dirty trick. He (witness) answered; " You know I've a wife and family to keep, and I'll get it granted if I can." Gray answered : " If you do you'll get your head punched." He asked : " Who'll do it!" and Gray said : " I will, and b quick about it." Gray then struck him, and he retaliated Jby knocking him down. He did nob kick him. To Mr 'Crawford: Gray struck him on the forehead. He himself was not of a quarrelsome nature. He never had a row with Bloomfield. His Worship, after commenting on the grave discrepancy in the evidence of the two parties, dismissed the case.

From an abstract of the report and a statement of the account for the year 1891 of the Royal Insurance Company we gather the following interesting particulars through Mr Church, the local agent. The Royal enjoys the largest fire premium income in the world, the total receipts for 1894 being L' 2,032,449. Out of this sum L1,185;374 was paid for losses, and after deducting all expenses and adding interest on investments, a balance of L 216,054 has been carried to the profit and loss account. The Royal is now almost as much an American and Australasian as an English office, having planted itself firmly in almost every city throughout America and Australasia, and having head offices in Liverpool, .Chicago, and Melbourne—all names suggestive of great enterprise. It possesses large reserves, and these with the paid-up capital present a total of over L 3,250,000 as a guarantee to policyholders. Like all the great British fire offices, the Royal had made its way from small beginnings by unswerving allegiance to sound business principles. Its life as well as its fire department shows progressiveness, and, after valuing liabilities by the severest methods, a surplus of L561,759i» shown for the five years ending 31st December last. Of this L 436.158 has been alloted to policyholders. The bonaß notices will be transmitted to New Zealand policyholders as soon as received from Home.

Our Ngapara correspondent writes :—The weather has, I think, taken a chango here for the better, the past few days having been fine spring weather. Ploughing has been stopped of late, but the frost has entirely disappeared and work will commence I hope anew. There seems to be a raging disease among ducks and other sorts of poultry a Ngapara district, as several breeders have been the losers by their disappearance. Seemingly they (the ducks) make awuywitb themselves in some mysterious manner ana are lost to view, leaving not a feather to trace them by. Surely they cannot taw melancholy, and commit suicide? In w Awamoko district I have heard of quite a quantity of fowls of one sort and otherprize and otherwise-not only makine ott with themselves but taking fowl feed along with them, and any other produce that may be within reach. It is supposed they ate tired of the long continued frost, and map for the land of Pot for change of air. Nearer the White Stone City several hneaoi clothes, with line attached, have aifiaPj peared, making I suppose for the three bau racket. You can see for yourself the a»; appearances vary according to the diatrici. Ducks, hens, and clothes. A little girl named Ada Field, aged J years and 9 months, strayed from her home at Gundagai and was subsequently »uw dead. The body was quite warm, and oonw not have been dead more than half an how. She was only about five miles from n» home. Notwithstanding the very »« numbers of men who had been searching i" bush it was a black-tracker who tow* »" tracks, which were followed to within short distance of where the poor child b puuj was discovered face downwards. *»«' fully cold weather had prevailed, and z& i mystery how she lived so long. It « fa lieved that she must have seen the se»» parties, but she was very timid and wo" hide if she saw a stranger. We are glad to learn that Mr Arthur B« who left Oamaru a few months ago" successfully passed the examination wine" necessary to allow him to enter the ixv * Conservatorium. Mr Holt intends W» i main in Germany for 12 months, .*"e»j will return to England to finish hißmusw* education. . j A number of the Oamaru North ben girls journeyed to Waimate on play a match at rounders with.the «"» girls. The home team won by « P The visitors were entertained-at mnt and subsequently went for a trip tnw » the Gorge. „ tur . A football -match at Waimate on.»» ._ day between the Oamaru North anu mate schoolboys resulted in a the Waimate by 16 points to 3. . The Magistrate this morning c °"J™ beiD g very strongly on the offence of person drunk while in charge of _ horses " io g and informed the police that, »«wm such offenders to bail they must regar j offence as a very serious one. J*e> » ao6i . he was personally cognisant oi reve this dents which had occurred *ro ug d, practice, but which had been wmprj» He would deal very severely with any cases coming before him.