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Oamaru Mail, Volume XX, Issue 6439, 25 December 1895, Page 2

The following are the holiday arrangements in connection with the local Post and Telegraph Office:—Christmas Day: Post Office, a close holiday ; Telegraph Office, open from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 7 to 8 p.m.. Telephone Exchange, open from 9 to 10 a.m. only. Boxing Day : Post Office, open from 9 a>m. to 10 a.m. only, all mails for despatch being closed at 10 a.m., and there being a delivery by letter carriers comencing at 8 a.m. ; Telegraph Office, open from 9 to 10 a.m. and from 7 to 8 p.m. Telephone Exchange, open as usual. It is notified elsewhere that allotments 1 and 60 (grouped)on theMaerewhenuaEstate, containing nearly 103 acres, will be open for application at the Land Office, Dunedin, on the 29th January, under the lease in perpetuity system, at an annual rental of 8s per acre. Theofficersof the Railway Department Bend seasonable greetings through the medium of a neat Christmas card. We heartily reciprocate. The Ngapara Caledonian sports will be one of the great attractions for to-morrow, and as our country friends do things at this gathering in a very thorough manner, it is bound to be a success. The arrangements have been-made oh a scale anticipatory of a large attendance, and there is every reason to expect that the promoters will be fully satisfied. It is scarcely necessary to give our readers a reminder that the Garrison Band's annual railway excursion and picnic at Moeraki will take place to-morrow. This will be the fourteenth event of the kind held under the auspices of the band, and as each of its thirteen predecessors has left pleasant memories, nothing need be said to commend to-morrow's event do pleasure-seeking holi-day-makers. So, too, of Moeraki, the scene of the great gathering, the beauties of which are too well known to require comment. The only point in connection with the event that may well be emphasised is that "this year the Bailway Department have granted really cheap fares for.the'excursion. Should the weather be propitious we anticipate seeing even a larger number than usual spending Boxing Day at Moeraki. The Northern Insurance Company (Mr J. M. Forrester) send their wall and pocket almanacs, ; The Palmerston races will be held tomorrow, and, as capital acceptances have been received, there should be a day's good sporting. The following may be expected to run forward:—Maiden, Hex or Vanquisher; Cup, Lady Somnus, Three-mile. Trot, Fairy.; District, Vandyke; Two-mile Trot, Daffodil or The Club; Novel, Dorothy; Flying, Molly Darling;

The Gazette notifies that Major Alfred Headland has been removed from the unattached list, New Zealand Volunteers, and has been appointed to the staff of the Otago Battalion of Infantry Volunteers. The value of the imports at Oamaru during November was L 3556 and of the exports L 6501. The principal exports were rabbitskins Ll4B, sheepskins L 719, wool L 3445, oats LSO, malt L 221. We remind our readers of the concert to be given in the Theatre Royal to-night. The programme is essentially a Christmas one, and as the vocalists are all well and favorably known, the numbers are popular, and there are no counter-attractions, thero should be a really good house. Three rinks from the Timaru Bowling Club are coming to Oamaru to-morrow to engage in battle with the Meadowbank and Phoenix Clubs. The streets last night were quite up to the customary condition of " crowdedness" on Christmas eve, and the shopkeepers appeared to be doing good business. The town was fairly quiet by eleven o'clock, most of the public having by that time wended their way homewards. No accidents or casualties of any sort are recorded. The customary carol service was held at St. Luke's Church last night, when a number of tuneful carols, anthems, solos, and a duet, were suDg, and the Rev. H. G. Gould delivered an interesting discourse appropriate to the occasion. The programme consisted of the following :—Carol—" Rine out, O, Bells," "The Manger Throne," "Soft tho Night is Sleeping," " The First Nowell." Solos—"The Holy Shrine," "The Star of Bethlehem," " Angels Ever Bright and Fair." Offertoirum, duet "They Shall Hunger no More." Also, hymns 60 and 58, and concluding voluntary, March in F, by Calkin. Mr J. G. Finch presided at the organ with his usual efficiency. Our Waihao correspondent writes :—A threatening morning and a drenching midday all but spoiled the children's picnio on Monday at the breaking-up of the school for the Christmas holidays. The afternoon and evening were, however, fine, and the programme arranged for the day was fully and satisfactorily carried out. Lunch at 12, games in the afternoon, tea between five and six, followed by a liberal distribution of gifts and prizes, were the proceedings in which the children were chiefly interested. But the elder children, aided by willing friends and still elder brothers nnd sisters, carried on the entertainment till toward morning, so that more than a complete round of the clock was spent in fun and feasting. Mr and Mrs Henderson, the Chairman of the Committee and his active wife, were in charge of the commissariat, and saw that supplies of all kinds were abundant. Messrs W. Stephenson and A. M'Naughton took charge of the musical department, while others contributed songs and dances, and all agreed that they had had a very pleasant time. For the information of those who contemplate attending the Garrison Band's annual picnic to-morrow, we may mention that excursion trains will leave Oamaru for Hillgrove at 8.45 a.m. and 9.30 a.m., Maheno at 9.30 a.m. and 10.15 a.m., and Herbert at 9.52 a.m. and 10.35 a.m., returning from Hillgrove at 5.50 p.m., and 7-Op.rn. On Saturday last Dr Reid, of Timaru, and Dr Cooke of Waimate, amputated part of the foot of the unfortunate man Alfrey, who met with an accident at the saw-bench on the previous day. We (Timaru Herald) learn that two farmers living near Timaru had a lively shindv on Sunday afternoon, in which sticks and gorse knives were said to have been freely used. The wounds inflicted were so severe that two doctors had to be called in to repair heads and attend to other damages. The " fight" will probably end in a court case, as the matter has been placed in the hands of solicitors. The whole affair arose over the straying of a cow. The " Dear Colleen Bawn" is coming to bid us a Happy New Year, and there is littlo doubt but the accommodation of the spacious Theatre Royal will be taxed to its utmost by the bumper house that is sure to welcome her. Speaking of the performance in Dunedin the Otago Daily Times says: The play, which demands the best professional skill to give adequate representation, was a severe "order," but—ably coached by Mr Brandon Cremer, and assisted by his stage knowledge and generalship—they proved equal to all difficulties, and their performance during the evening evoked frequent and enthusiastic rounds of applause. The lady characters in particular met with excellent portrayal, and the representation of the Colleen, sustained by Miss Kitty Blaney (who has recently returned from Melbourne), was a really artistic one. Mrs H. F. Mooney also gave a skilful rendering of the part of Ann Chute, as also did Miss Keating and Miss Adelaide Heley of their respective parts of tors Creegan and Sheelah, Mr Harry M'Cormack gave a faithful and finished portrayal of Danny Mann, while the Corrigan of Mr P. Carolin excellently displayed the unsavoury qualities of the wily attorney. Mr H. F. Mooney, as Myles-na-Coppaleen, deserves a word of praise for the verve and humor which he infused into his character ; and Messrs J. Geerin, T. Hussey, H. Myles, Costelloe, and Coughlin creditably enacted their different roles. Mails for Suva will close per Upolu, at -Auckland Office, at 4 p.m., 2nd January. The following are the appointments made by the Caledonian Society in connection with the New Year games and carnival: Moneytaker, Mr W. Singleton ; public gate, Mr G. Greenfield; member's gate, Mr D. Grant; grand stand, Mr I. Hurst; inside oval, Mr J. Everett; fence (games and carnival), Messrs Robert Pile, Chas. Williams, John M'Jennett, and T. Pratt; carnival, Messrs John Walsh, J. Longbottom, H. Gill, H. Ross; night watchman, Mr J. Bezett; lapboard etc., Mr C. Buist; bellman, Mr J. Wray. The Wellington correspondent of tho Lyttelton Times, commenting on the personnel of the Assets Realisation Board says : The Cabinet was anxious to appoint the Hon J.. M'Kenzie on account of his large experience with stock and farming, and of his intimate acquaintance, acquired as Minister of Lands, with land values throughout New Zealand, but as his necessarily numerous absences made it impossible for him to accept, and as he has many other duties of an onerous nature to attend to, it waa thought better to ask Mr Seddon to accept the position. The country has obligations which render the step taken very necessary. In the presence of the guarantees it is essential that the realisations should proceed under as vigorous a policy as is compatible with safety and working in harmony with the Bank of New Zealand. The strong step of appointing the Premier shows that the Government is determined to watch the whole business of the bank, and the realisation of the assets, with the care demanded by Parliament when it sanctioned the guaran tees, Tho Opposition and the Government are, you will observe, equally represented on the Assets Realisation Committee just as they were on the Bank of New Zealand Committee. To show that no time has been lost I mt,y state that the Government has already drawn up resolutions on the working of the Realisation Board, as required by the Act of last session. I have only to add that in. the course of a few days the Assets Realisation Board will be a going concern. The Labor Journal for December reports : Oamaru—Building trades : Fairly busy, in both stone and wood. Engineering trade : Dull.. Clothing trade: Busy. Retail trade : Still improving; very fair business doing. Unskilled labor : Very few men have applied for employment. The Wakatipu, on her voyage from Sydney ran into a.very dense fog, and for three days she had no bearing owing to fog, the passage being made by dead reckoning, but when land was first seen she was only half a mile off the usual course.

Some very special lines are now being shown at the Great Record Sale. Mothers requiring new suits for the r boys should go there. All wool colonial tweed suits, dark colors, in all sizes at half usual prices. Also a very special lot of pin spot and fancy light prints suitable for blouses, etc., 4|d reduced from Bgd. A clearing line of superior umbrellas were 10s 6d reduced to 4a. lid. Men's extra heavy mole trousers formerly 8s 6d now going at 5s lid. Strong cotton shirts with collars Is 9d. Twenty-five pieces superior white calico formerly 7£d a yard reduced to 4s 3d a dozen yards. Brown and Gibbard wish everybody a jolly Christmas and prosperous New Year.—[A»YX.]