The Oamaru Mail THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 1904.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXVII, Issue 8563, 18 August 1904, Page 2

The Oamaru Mail THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 1904.

In the course of a letter to a friend in Oamaru Color-Sergeant M'Kenzie says: "We have just returned from the range after winning the Kolapore Cup. It was a great achievement, and a very difficult shoot—wind jo to 14 degrees at 600 yds. We were heartily cheered and congratu-. lated. Colonel Collins was simply speechless with joy, and with tears in his eyes he shook hands with the team individually."

The ifayor has received a reply from the Defence Minister stating that as soon as the Boer guns arrive in the colony the application from Oamaru will be considered.

The annual meeting of subscribers to the Papakaio- ploughing match will be held in the Papakaio Hall on Saturday next. The National Mortgage Company have been forwarded two fine Elephant Swedes grown by Mr James Fulton, of Totara, from 6eed supplied by them. The specimens weigh 27|lb and 24|lb respectively.

The local agents have been notified that the Bangatira will visit Oamaru on Saturday to load frozen mutton and a. small aniount of grain. It is expected that she will take about 8000 carcases from this port. . We remind our readers of the organ recital in Columba Church to-morrow evening by Mr Timson, of Dunedin. This gentleman has the reputation of being a brilliant performer and has given recitals in Christchurch Cathedral and other places besides in his own church.; His style, differs from that of the' other' organists who have given recitals in the Columba Church, so it should be of great value educationally. Ifiss Dielil's soli- are well chosen, being good, though little known, hence unhackneyed :numbers. >The : choir is always welcome, and we are sure'they will add to their already high reputation. As this, is the last recital of the season, none, should miss this opportunity of hearing the new organ, if they have not already done so. A concert and dance in aid of the Island Cliff School funds will take place on Wednesday next, August 34th, when the Is l and Cliff minstrels will assist.

At the National Rose Society's show, which took place in London on July 6th, in the nurserymen's jSection, the silver medals for best blooms were awarded as follows:—Hybrid tea, Mildred Grant, shown by Messrs Cant and Co., Colchester, one of the finest blooms-in the show j hybrid perpetual, Ulster, shown by Messrs A. Dickson and Sons, New.townards; tea. rose, white Hainan Cochet, shown by Mr George Price, Longworth, Berks.. In the amateurs' sections, Mr E. B. Lindsell, .Hitchin, had the best hybrid perpetual, a fine' Frau Karl Denschkj; the Rev. F. B. Bnmside showed the best tea rose, a good wliite Maman Cochet; and 'Mr E, M. Eversfield, Horsham, had the finest hybrid tea, a beautiful Mildred Grant. -

The Wellington Post states that the opponents to the Bible-reading in schools, and to the use of a Biblical text-book, are organising a representative deputation to wait upon the Premier to urge him not to include such a text-book in the curriculum of State schools. The Premier has promised to receive the deputation immeidiately after his return from the south. According to the Ashburton Guardian, a Dromore farmer, who has hitherto placed very little faith in poisoned grain as efficacious in the destruction of small birds, has had the value of this year's preparation brought home to him in a most convincing manner. He procured a bag of the grain from the County Council, and, desiring to tender a luxury to his poultry, he scattered the grain promiscuously about his yard. Next morning he found practically the : whole of his poultry dead. According to this story, he gave the dead poultry to the pigs, who also succumbed, as also did several cats who had eaten the flesh of the poisoned hogs. .. A correspondent, writing in the 'Wellington Post on the subject of the color worn by the New Zealand football team on Saturday last, 'says :—"National colors should have some significance, and surely black .cannot be typical of *God'6 own country." Whatever colors are- chosen, black could still be worn for football as white is worn for cricket; the colors could be shown on the collar of the jersey and the tops of the stockings, and the fernleaf could still be used as a badge. I think a combination of colors would suit best, and red and green, or red, white, and green strike me as a very appropriate selection. Whatever colors are chosen, however, should become the national c'olors,-and now is the time to endeavor to do away for ever with black as our national color."

Major Taylor, the negro cyclist, evidently forgot during his lengthy stay in Australia the disabilities to which his color subjects him when on his native soil, writes the American correspondent of a ■Melbourne paper. The other day he landed in San Francisco from the mail steamer, and had not been five minutes ashore before he was pointedly reminded that in America a very strict and urideviating line divides the negro from the white man. As he left the wharf he climbed into an ■hotel bus. He was at once invited to step down. The same result awaited his entry into a second bus. The hotel runner in each case informed Taylor that even if he were driven up town the hotel would have no room for him. A sergeant of police gave the cyclist the names of severalhotels where colored people are received. "Not my kind of hotel," haughtily replied Taylor. Not only did the better class hotels refuse to receive Taylor and his wife, but at none of the restaurants where he would care to eat would the waiters take his order. Disgustedly he left for the Eastern States by the overland 'train the same evening. It is not at all likely that he was treated with any greater consideration in the Eastern cities than in San Francisco. These newspapers gave the incident all the piquancy that vivid contrast would lend it by picturing Taylor as a, social lion in Australia. He was, so they said, extensively entertained, and was the guest of people who stand high in Australia's social life.

■One of the most stupendous publishing works undertaken since books were -written is now in progress at the University Press at Harvard. It is an edition of Dickens, each set comprising 130 volumes, each volume costing £250. Only ten sets will be issued, and all have been sold. One Englishman, who will enrich his library by this rare possession is the Duke of Westminster. Humors about the undertaking have appeared in various papers. A professor of Harvard University just now visiting London has given some interesting particulars. The books are being printed on real parchment, such as was in use in Plantagenet times. The secret of treating parchment so that it would serve book purposes has been lost for centuries. It was rediscovered at the Boston Bindery, and will be utilised in the preparation of this unique work. Following . the ancient fashion, every page will be illustrated by hand-drawn designs in dainty colors. Italian and French artists have been en- | gaged to supplement the labor of the Americans. Each volume will be bound in levant/-inlaid with color and ornamented with solid gold. Although a. large staff are employed, the "last volume will not be delivered till the year 1912. When these details are considered, the price of each . volume, about what is given for a modest water-color, does not seem so fantastic as at ifirst sight., Regarded as a tribute .to the genius of the novelist, the undertaking is unparalleled. . In Chambers this morning, before Judge Williams, Messrs Lee and Grave obtained leave, on the executors' jpetition, to leas© lands in the estate of Robert Morrison, of Herbert, deceased. ~'','■ T -, At the meeting of the Otago Land, Board yesterday, T. J. Wilson, lessee of section 26a, Windsor Park Settlement, applied to allowed take another gram crop off 25 acres of the section,—Referred to

ranger for report. J. <B. Steel, lessee of section,so, .'Windsor Park Estate, applied for permission to sow down with barley and grass an area of about 20 acres of the section.—-Banger Atkinson reported in this connection, ir - The- ranger's recommendation was adopted. - The.;;Waihemo County Council submitted • statement of proposed expenditure of "fourths" from small grazing run section 3, block IV, Highlay district.— It was decided to ask the Council to supply an authorised plan for record. Banger Atkinson reported on the application by Frank Gdanitz and M. Joyce to occupy sections 10 and 11, block XXIV., town of Hampden.—A- license was granted to 'M. Joyce at a rental of 20s per annum. At the meeting of the Education Board yesterday, claims for half-cost of improvements were granted as follows: —Kartigi £2 10s, Oamaru South £2 6s, and Otepopo i£9. A discussion then ensued regarding a suggestion to remove a room of the Waianakarua School to Inch Valley, but this was left for the architect's decision. The 'Committee of the .Oamaru Middle School wrote asking the Board to pay the cost of a crossing to the teacher's residence.— Declined. The Committee of the Oamaru South School requested the Board to have the school heated by steam pipes.—Consideration deferred. ; A chess match between the Oamaru and Timaru Clubs will begin on Saturday night next. The teams in the order of play will consist of—Oamaru: 'Messrs Adair, Burns, Craig, Archdeacon Gould, Messrs Banks, ■Mowbray, Earl, Kennedy, Lindsay, Bice, Williamson, Armstrong. Timaru: Messrs Mason, Cox, iCuthbert, Hassell, Cresswell, T. Mara, C. Mara, Gourley, Werry, MAlister, Walton, Collins. Play will commence at 7 o'clock. The teams have agreed to play without clocks. Mr Jackman has consented to act as umpire for Oamaru at the Timaru end.

From an advertisement which appears in' this issue, it will be noted that W. Cleiand and Co. have engaged a first-class certificated plumber from Melbourne, and are now prepared to undertake all classes of up-to-date.work at the shortest notice. The people of Oamaru will have an. opportunity during the week and on- Saturday next of securing big parcels Drapery or Clothing at marvellously, low prices. Penrose's are now selling off their whole stock over the' counter at auction prices every day of the week, and on Saturday next, 20th mat.;, commencing at 1;30 sharp, a big auction sale will be held, when -a large quantity of new goods will be offered for sale, without the slightest reserve. Blankets, sheetings, pillow cases, towels, flannelettes, calicos, table damask, shirtings, forfars,»rugs, curtains drills cretonnes : tin trunks ■ floorcloths, linoleums, carpet squares, men's suits,: boys' suits, youths' suits, men's 6ox, shirts, pants, singlets, collars,, 'hats, ties, macintoshes, 51 tweed suit lengths, 50 serge suit lengths, dress tweeds, cashmeres, voiles, mantles, corsets, etc.—PENROSE'S Drapery Establishment. Andrew. Watson,- Auctioneer. • Side Combs, splendid selection, from 6d pair; also large Loop Pins, Back Combs, extra large Hair Nets, Hair Frames, etc. just opened. MISS M'NICOLL Art T-, pository, Sole Agent for Hendy, Hair Specialist. Dunedin.