(From Our Own Correspondent.)

Otago Witness, Issue 2623, 22 June 1904, Page 24

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

OAMARU

.^.uxiu>,, .Jim.. i"t. Ah a meeting of the Oatnaru Presbytery to-day the Rev. TT. Hewitson's circular on the subject of missions was considered, 'lhe

following motion was moved by the Rev. R. J. Porter, seconded by the Rev. W. Nicol, and carried: — "That the thanks of the Presbytery bo given to the Rev. William. Hewitson for his circular lotter ; that ministers be requested to bring the claims of our Church's missions before their congregations and Sabbath schools at least one© every year; thai a branch of the P.W.M.U. , be established in every parish connected : with our Presbytery ; and that, by the help cf God, we resolve to do all that lies in our power to create and maintain a strong missionary spirit amongst our people." At a mo&ting of Oamaru merchants on Monday afternoon it wa; decided to form 'a> chamber of bommeree in Oamaru. A provisional committee, with Mr W. H. Res© as chairman, was appointed to mako a can- , vass for members and bring up a report on. j tho subject of rules at a meeting to be held! j a month Hence. \ June 15. A large hotel on tho hill, known a? the ' Junction Ho*el, was destroyed by fire this afternoon. The fire was communicated from a wooden portion at the rear of the stone building. As tlie walls were lathe and piaster throughout the main building ths fire f.pread rather slowly, and the • building would certainly have been saved Lad it not been that the pressure of water ; vvsis very poor, and ihe brigade could do lhVio to slay the progress of the work*^>f destruction. The house was owned by Mr 1". Corcoran, and occupied by Mr Thomas Tansey -as licensee. Most of the furniture anl contents were palvagfd, but both of the» psrties named are heavy losers. The insurances on the building are £1900 with the Norwich Union, of which a portion is reinsured with the North German office, and on the contents £500 with the New Zealand. The hotel was for some years occupied by the late. Mr M. Fagan, formerly of Palmerston and Dunedin. June 18. Two fires have occurred on the hill in Oarnaru in the last few weeks, at both of which the lack of pressure on the water mains was se-riously felt in the operations. of tho fire brigade ; and the. Underwriters' I Association of Otago and Southland has cvi- ' dently noted the circumstance, for the | Borough Council on Friday evening had a communication from the association asking" what is the maximum and minimum water pressure on the hill. The information is to i be supplied. At the council meeting his | Worship the Major, Mr J. M. Brown, was appointed a delegate to the Municipal Asso- | ciations' Conference to bo held in Welling- ; ton next month. The erection of the borough abattoirs, with the danger of the rejection of unsound stock ' by the Government inspector, has brought 1 home to stock-dealers and butchers the need for taking some steps to protect buyer and I seller against loss. A circular has been addressed to farmers, agents, fat stockdealers, and producers of fat stock in this | district suggesting that a fund should be created out of which any loss that may occur to either party by condemned ftock may be> paid. The suggestion is that the agent for | the vendor should retain Is per head for fat \ cattle and Id per head for sheen, whether in public or prnate sales, with which to create the fund. These amounts, it is stated, have been found more than sufficient in more ! than one district ir. which such funds have been created, and the rate has been leduced after funds have accumulated. The circular suggests that agents should take the initiative, and lay the matter before the Farmers* Union.