OAMARU NEWS NOTES (From Our Own Correspondent)

Otago Witness, Issue 2692, 18 October 1905, Page 69

OAMARU NEWS NOTES (From Our Own Correspondent)

lAMARU, October 4.

At the Magi»w. 1 ..-e's Court to-day Robcrfc Walker, of Oamaru, was charged with having wilfully set fire to a shop and dwelling owned by Mary Ann Marshall on Sunday, August 13. Major Keddell S.M., after hearing the case for the prosecution, decided there was a case for a jury, ann committed the accused for trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court in Oamaru, fixing the bail at £200/' in accused's own recognisance and other sureties amounting to £200. Mr White, of Timaru, prosecuted, and Mr J. MacGregor, of Dunedin, appeared for the accused. The evidence was exactly similar to that given at the inquest some weeks ago, but the prosecution, in addition to alleging that the circumstances are suspicious, n,ow attempts to prove as amotive the exaggeration by accused of his claim on the insurance companies interested. The Oamaru Chamber of Commerce today decided- to call a general meeting of members- and others interested, as well as representatives of local bodies, to consider what is to be> done to secure adequate representation for this district at the NewZealand Exhibition, to be held next year at Christchurch. Mr S. G. Munro (thecommissioner) has intimated that ho will attend, and the meeting is to be held on Friday, 13th inst. A very successful show of spring flowers was held here on Tuesday. The show consisted only of an exhibition (competitions' being limited to decorative classes), but a fine display was made by a large number of lovers of floral beauty. For a firsfc effort it proved successful beyond all expectations. Otcober S. Messrs M'Eerrow, Borrie, and Aikinsott hsv-s completed the valuations of the Corriedale and Totara Estates, which they were asked to make, and have forwarded their report to the Land Purchase Board. Dr Levinge, the well-known fancier of Ayrshire cattle, has been in this* district) from Christchurch acquiring animals from the best-known herds in North Otago, more particularly those of Messrs W. Cowan andl D. Isdale, and indirectly from the Chetnol© herd, once owned by Messrs Rogerson and Fleming. The Camaru branch of the Educational Institute has expressed its approval of Mr Seddon's proposal that Education Boards should send the names of not more thansix applicants to school committees wheni vacancies have to be filled. October 15. Mr G. S. Munro, Commissioner "for the New Zealand International Exhibition, on Friday evening met over a score of gentlemen interested in the representation 'o£ North Otago at the Exhibition. The feeling is that this district should be represented not only by exhibits of manufactures, but also by the produce of the district, and the question arose how this could be financed. Mr Munro drew attention to the possibility of legislation being passed this session to enable local bodies to vote money out of their funds for such a purpose as this, and it was agreed to communicate with the Premier m support of this proposition. Thf. meeting unanimously agreed thai it was desirable that North Otago should be specially represented at the Exhibition, and appointed a large committee to promote the matter, Mr W. H. Rose (president of the Chamber of Commerce) being nominated for the chairmanship of the committee, it being recognised that it was largely owing to his initiative that the matter was taken up. The Waitaki Plains Station, which is at pivsenfc under offei' to the Government ab £4 per acre, is evidently well esteemed. I learn that a private syndicate offered an advance on the above figure, but received the reply that the owner was not desirous of selling, and would only do so if the estate were required for purpose? of closer settlement.

In common with Lumsden, the township of Waikaka enjoys the distinction of being ii two electorates, the main street bemq th*> boundary. In the case of Waikaka, however, one side of the. street is determinedly no-lieen.se (being in Clutha). whil* the other side (bein^ in Wakatipu) is noi. Candidates for the Clutha electorate, speaking at Waikaka, are- compelled to give :'iely addresses in Wakatipu, the hall "beans i a that district.