OREPUKI.

Western Star, Issue 778, 26 September 1883, Page 2

OREPUKI.

(FROM OHjl OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

An adjourned meeting of tlie Licensing Committee was held in the courthouse here on Saturday, the 13th. The members present were Messrs G-einmill, Currie, Burry, Griffith and Miller. The Chairman (Mr Gemmill) stated that the meeting had to consider certain orders given to Mr Hopgood at last quarterly meeting, to build certain additions to his hotel at Colac Bay, the order not having been complied with. On the present occasion, Mr Hopgood handed in a written statement co the effect that he was unable to comply with the orders of the Committee, owing to the survey of the township at Colac not having been completed in time. A. short discussion on the subject ensued, after which it was resolved to grant extension of time until next quarterly meeting. Constable McChesney certified that fire-escapes have been provided by the Eagle and Shamrock hotels, Orepuki. It is rather amusing to read some of the hotel advertisements after having paid a few visits to the establishments they hold forth, “ superior accommodation,” “ wines and spirits of the be-ff brands,” Ac, The accommodation has to be seen to be believed ; as for the spirits, one trial will convince the most fastidious that the brand is far superior to the contents of the bottle. Having occasion to visit a couple of bushmen recently, and while engaged in conversation in the hut, in pops the cook of an adjacent “ pub,” with the intelligence that a distinguished, visitor had arrived, at the same time requesting as a loan a bit of fresh butter and a handful of tea. 1 strongly suspected that the visitor for whom such luxuries was being provided, must be a member of the Licensing Committee. Efforts are being made in this district to organise a branch of the Blue Ribbon Army, but up till the present time, the results have not been encouraging. At a public meeting held in the schoolhouse recently, a stirring address was delivered byMr John Crawford, a local temperance lecturer and District Deputy for Wallace County in the 1.0 G.T., the subject-being the origin of the Blue Ribbon Army, and the baneful effects of alcohol on the human race. The audience seemed deeply impressed during the delivery of the address, and at the close a number donned the ribbon; but alas for the frailty of human nature, the impression vanished like a morning cloud, and like the early dew. Not a few of those who donned the ribbon adjourned to the Shamrock and Eagle to take the oath, i meeting of members of the Array only was held in the sclmolhouse on Friday last, for the purpose of electing officers, Ac., in order to be able to carry on the war more effectually against the drink traffic. Mr John Crawford was unanimously elected President; Mr R. Stewart, vice. ; Mr D. McGill, Secretary and treasurer; Mr John Fitzgerald, junr., with several other influential gentlemen, were appointed to act as Committee. The talent and influence combined nf the officers elected cannot fail to work a sweeping reform in the drinking customs of this district from this dale.

I had intended to till in my space with a few lines to “ Colac notes,” but instead, I will conclude with an anecdote about a young gentleman, who had acquired a habit of interlarding his conversation and writings with la tin quotations. Addressing a small audience at one time, he became indignant at the apathy shewn to his extraordinary talent, and informed his audience that he finished his education at two colleges. “Ave” replied one of his listeners, “ that just reminds me of a calf my father on *e had. That calf sucked two cows, and the more he sucked the bigger the' call; lie grew.”