OAMARU.

Otago Witness, Issue 1296, 30 September 1876, Page 6

OAMARU.

September 14th.

Since my last, Oamaru has been set on fire by the great kerosene case, tho particulars of which I see you have already published.

A discussion, conducted with no small amount of acrimony, has had for its hero the Rev. Mr Agnew. The gentleman in question appears to have become the pet of a certain portion of the community here, and there was consequently a howl of indignation when some one ventured to suggest that Mr Agnew's position would be better understood and his work helped forward if he would deign to make public his credentials. After some little delay, the reverend gentleman did write a letter to the paper, not,giving the information asked for, but — wellj it is impossible to say what the letter was all about. To my mind, it would have been well for the writer had it never been written. It certainly did no good. On the contrary, people said on all hands that it was a' piece of self-condemnation. Then Mr Agnew called at the office of the North Otago Times, and seemß to have made a clean breast of it to the editor, who filled his leading half column next morning with an apology for the reverend lecturer, who }s still here. -'

The Oamaru Amateur Christy's Minßtrels gave an entertainment a week or two ago in aid of the funds of the Mechanics' Institute; and a very successful affair it was, resulting in a substantial sum for the benefit of the Institute. The same gentlemen have offered to give another entertainment on behalf of the newly Btarted Benevolent Society, and their offer has, I believe, been accepted. It is to be hoped that the Society will prove a succes. I think it must, for the calls upon Oamaru benevolence in the matter of almsgiving have of late been very frequent and very heavy. Add to this the fact that the donors are by no means satisfied with the system or rather want of system, according to which the money has been disbursed, and you will easily understand that the prospect of a well organised charity meets' with general acceptance. The wonder is that some such movement was not started long since. I hope your information regarding the proposed reduction of there at of railway charges for the carriage of wool is correct. It is too bad that the high rate should have been maintained for so long. Recently there appeared an advertisement in the local paper calling for tenders for the carriage of wool by road from Marewhenua, in the event of the railway authorities not reducing their charges before the approaching season. If waggons can compete with railways, there must be a screw loose somewhere, and I do not think it is the waggons. A pennywise and pound-foolish policy will not pay in the case of the Provincial railways any more than it does in the Post Office or Telegraph Departments. "Halve the charges and double the revenue" is the motto which, acted upon, will prove itsolf true in the end here as elsewhere.

The New York Vaudeville Troupe is here just now. Its memberß have effected a com bination with Mr G. W. Collier, whose entertainment, entitled "Stage and Actors," forms portion of an attractive programme advertised for this evening. A Skating Rink has also been set on foot, and it promises to be a successful speculation. As I write, the rain is coming down in torrents. We have not enjoyed a real good downpour for many months, and the cry for rain was becoming very loud and very hearty both in town and country.