OAMARU.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVII, Issue 45, 28 February 1890, Page 15

OAMARU.

(From our own Correspondent.)

On Sunday, the 16th met., Masses were celebrated here at nine and eleven o'clock by the Key. Father O'Donnell. After reading the Bishop's Lenten Pastoral, he referred at considerable length to Lha part of it which made reference to the N.Z. Tablet. He requested every one to do his or her best for the Tablet by becoming subscribers to it, and by inducing others to do likewise. During the course of his remarks he stated that the Tablkt had championed the Catholic cause, more particularly that of education, when they had no other organ through which they could give vent to their thoughts, and that it continued still to do so ; that it was conducted in a firstclass manner, and was a paper of whirh the Catholics of New Zealand might and did feel justly proud. He afterwards preached an appropriate sermon on tbe Gospel of the day, and in the evening delivered an eloquent address on the Seven Dolors of our Blesaed Lady, which was listened to with marked attencion by the congregation present. Since last I wrote we had a visit from the New South Wales team of cricketers, who played a match with the local men, and defeated them rather easi'y, our men not pl&ying up to expectations. The visitors expressed themselves as highly pleased with what they had seen of Oamaru and its surroundings, and of New Zealand as a whole.

A laige and representative meeting was held here on Friday nighf last for the purpose of co-operating with the Kurow people in their efforts to induce the Government to have the lands (Crown) in South Canterbury cut up into smaller areas. Mr. David Dunn, Mayor of Oamaru, occupied the chair, and introduced the subject. Af er several speakers had given their views on the subject, resolutions endorsing the petition of the Kurow settlers in their request that the Station Peak, runs, the leases of which shortly expire, should at once be placed on the market in Bmall grazing areas, were moved and carried unanimously ; also a resolution that there should be a more liberal administration of Crown lands with a view to closer Battlement. It was afterwards moved and carried that these resolutions be forwarded by the chairman to the Government, requesting them to give effect to the wishes and wants of the people. After the usual vote of thanks to the chair the meeting, which had been very orderly, was brought to a termination. It is to be hoped these petitions will have the effect with the Government that they are intended to produce, and that, if any alteration be made, it will not be left until the last moment, otherwise we may have a repetition of the Otekaike runs' affair, which is a thing not to be wished for.

Fith are very scarce here just now, no doubt owing to the number of sbarks which are roaming about our harbour. A gentleman informed the N. 0. Times the oiher day that he had seen over 100 sharks outside the breakwater, (none of which seemed less than 14 feet in length), indulging in all sorts of freaka. They saemed to have gathered togttheraH if to celebrate their victory ovur the small fish which they have diivenfrom our shores. Four young men had rather a lively experience with one of these monsters the oiher day. Whilst out in the boat fishing they had observed numbers of small sbarks which they caught and placed in ihe boat along with numeronß small fißh which they bad previously captured, and where just preparing to return home wnen they observed a shark over 26 feet long making

for them. There hair stood on its ends v the shark came right alongside their frail craft and continued to go round and round it. One of the four was for using the oars on the monster, whilst the other of the party's suggestion was to remain as motionless as possible, which was the coarse adopted. They gave all up for lost, and commenced bidding farewell to this world when the shark made for underneath the bo»t and remained there & few minutes. As they seemed likely to be kept prisoners all night (for it was now nearly eight) they determined to throw oat the fish which they had in the hope that the shark would rivet his attention on it instead of on them. This was done and with success. I fancy they broke the record for the distance between where they were and the breakwater, certainly they did it in very fast time, and their drooping spirits were soon revived when they reached terra firma, where they vowed they had had enough of fishing and boating to do for a life-time. We have had as yet no break in the weather, though at the proseot time there is every protpect of one occurring. Wells ara running dry and it is now we experience the benefit of having such a splendid water supply as we undoubtedly have. The crops are all pretty well cut now and the yield is expected to be up to tha average of former years, which is, taking the exceptionally dry season, etc., into consideration, very good and far better than was expected a short time ago.