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Bruce Herald, Volume III, Issue 125, 30 August 1866, Page 2

"We regret to report that a serious accident occurred yesterday to James Haben, who is om,. ployed, on tlie farm of the late Mr Joseph. Lanr;, While he was carting in oats, one of the horse.? he was driving (a young one,) became unmanageable, which turned round, knocking down theman who was with him, and fiercely rv. ? lied, upon Maben, knocking him down also, and then-stamp-ing on the top of him, cutting him severely on the head and other parts of the body, Fortun^oly assistance was at hand, and Dr. Fcvgufon avus immediately sent for, who dressed the wounds, and we are glad to state that he is now considered out of danger. We cannot help feeling'annoyed and indignant, whenever we observe public works being undertaken and performed on the principle of ' How not to do it,' — a very marked instance of this came under- our notice a few days ago, at Port Molvneux, where repairs are being executed on the Jetty, of such a. nature aud iv such a manner, as will inevitably prove to bs so much money thrown away. The plan adopted seems to have been gone- into, without the slightest consideration or regard to tho future, a moments reflection convincing, us, that the continued action of the water on tho bunks of tb-3 river, will very shortly remove 1 large -portions ox land, and in consecnJUHM.-e tho Jetty and Jetty-shed will be surrounded with Miitcr, thereby entailing another outlay of public money, which could have been obviated by a simple, vet strong embankment- on tho sides of the river r.-bovc the Jetty. We trust this will engage tho attention of those who ought to be responsible for the credifttblo performance of such necessary works. B&lclutha is exhibiting many signs of advancement, and amongst others, we are glad to observe that tho Bank of Otago is having ejected a new and substantial building, which has been found necessary to meet the requirements of the district, as we are informed tho business of that establishment has lately increased to a rcry considerable extent. There are also other private buildings in course of erection ; the confidence entertained by individuals in tho stability of the town, may be gathered from the fact, that several of these are being built of brick instead of wood, which are apt *to convey, the idea of temporary prosperity only. Ouf-readers will be pleased to learn that the successful laying of the Cook's Strait Cable is now completed, and telegraphic communication established betwe&n Dunedin- and Wellington* The following message w&9 the- first received : — '' Wellington, August 26th, 1866.. "To Superintendent of Otago, Dunedin. " Tha Governor of New Zealand congratulates the Superintendent and Inhabitants of the Pro. vince of Otago, on the establishment of the Telegraphic communicatiou between the two Islands of New Zealand. " G. Gbey, Governoa. of New. Zealand.' The following reply was sent : — "The Superintendent of Otago reciprocates His Excellency's congratulations on the establishment of telegraphic communication between; the two islands of New Zealandl "B. CHagkhtt, " Deputy -Superintendent of Otago; ''His Excellency the Governor of *' New Zealand, Wellington." The escort arrived in town at tile jisual horn*, on Friday evening, bringing down a total of 5,434 ozs.. 5. dwts., 1053 ozs. being, feom Tua.peka,

Some idea of what we pay for the luxury of Representative Government may be formed from the folio-wing little bill which has been presented, bearing the signature of Mi' Stafford :— ' A return showing the estimated daily cost of the sitting of both Houses o£' the Assembly, distinguishing the estimated amount ©£ honorarium as heretofore allowQd. to; members, cost of lighting, firing, and sakries,of clerks ov other officers temporarily emijloved during the session. Legislative Council, honorarium, say 14 members, £14 ; extra clerks, two at 15s r>ev diem, £1 10s. ; extra messengers, two at |10s per diem, £1. House of Representatives, honorarium, say 57 members, £57 ; extra clerks, four at 15s per diem, £3; extra messengers, four at 103 per diem, £2. General expenses, li<*htin«* and firing, estimated at per diem, £-i; total £82; 10s. Only the members now in attendance are included in the above. Tluj number might be about 16 more. The permanent officers are not included in the above.' At a general' meeting of the shareholders of the Panama, New Zealand, and Australian Royal Mail. Company, says the ' Home News' of June 26, the report o£ the directors v/as unanimously agreed to. The payment of the dividend was delayed, and, a resolution v*as carried empowering the directors to raise a sum of £100,000 by way of debentures, pe,ying 6 per cent, to sucli of the shareholders who would take them up> The position of the company TEag. hold, to be very cheering. Wo notice from 3 return of tho Customs' Revenue at the Ports of New Zealand, for the quarter ending the 30th day of June, 1?66,— that tho totel omowit collected in Dunedin, was £<1.[,097: tho corresponding quarter ©£ 1865, being £5-1909. In Oamaru, tho wco-un* thisyear" being £1,32-1, as against £705 last year. | Total fo/otago, being in JS66. £45,721, being ! higher than any other ono of tho Provinces. 'Auckland for *]:•£• same period, being. £41,316. Wellington, £18,355. We •i-.av.e giver., elsewhere a pretty full account of the escape of two prisoners last week from Duneain gaol— the subsequent pursuit, tho death of one, and tho capture of tho other. Ah inquest was held on Monday, on the body of Langham, who was shot by one -of tho constables, tho evidence given was in every respect similar to the description furnished in that account, we thcusfore think it unnecessary to saj-ir.pre, than that i a: verdict was found of 'justifiable homioiAe, 1 , with a rider attached, giving prai«o and credit to I the police for their arduous exertions in the performance of their duty. On Thursday last the 23rd instant, a meeting of j the Wardens of North Tokomariro Hundred, was held in the Exchange, Hotel, Milton, to con- 1 sider what steps should be taken in reference to the Plcuro-pneumonia disease, now prevailing m tho district of Waitahuna. After a good clral of discussion, it was fully decided, that a subscription ba raised from amongst the Liccnsehokkrs of the North Tokomaisfro Hundred, and to memorialize tho Superintendent, asking him to advise the Government to supplement by au equal: amount, any cum that might bo subscribed by | • the Licenseboldora. It was further resolved, I" that this sum should be devoted to the puvpasc •of iaclcuiv.ifying any LicKioeliolclcvs, vho n-J^.t be cr.lled v^cn to destroy and bury any of theUdiseased beasts in accordance with tVo OrJ;uau;e. This prompt action on tho part of the Wardens deserves caimnqutlatibn, and we trust these measures will hare tho effect of modifying, if they do not remove this fearful scourge. The London ' Times,' of the 31st May, contains a criticism upon a paper read by Mr Gavan • DiiiVv before tho Society of Arts; in winch tho reader combated the alleged failure of reprc3cv.tativo governments in tho Australian colonies- The 'Times' sn, vs !—• Whatever ghovtco-.ni^gs tiie Australian ictoinbti-ation n:ay bo guilty of. no | ono of any influence in this country dreams of roreriir^ to tho old plan of government by tho Colonial Office, or cf depriving any self-governing colony of its legislative independence, except tit its own requost/Ono tiling needful to the colonies is a true constitutional spirit, and a habit of not pushing things to extremes, and a disposition to acquiesce on proper occasions by consenting to a perhaps unpalatable compromise for the sake of the common weal.' On the night of Tuesday, the 21st instant, a very daring robbery was committed on a dray, in which there was . a, man of the name of Sinclair asleep at the time. It n-ppeews that he had been engaged plotting near the Sound. Hill, Waitahuna, and was in the habit of using tha dray as his sleeping place. Tlie party or parties engaged in the robbery very cooly cut the tarpaulin, oztraeting a pair of trousers, and cutting tho pockets out, in which- there were fire one pound notes, getting away without in tho least disturbing the sound sleeping ploughman, They then went to the tents of the surveying party under Mr G-. M. Ban*, and' finding; the men absent they succeeded in robbing -Mieni. of.' the rations. However, notice having been shortly, given to the police at Waitahuna, we are glad to hear that one at least of the scoundrels has been secm-eel, of the name of Couroy, and safely lodged in the lock-up at Waitahuna. One of tho notes i.as been identified, by Sinclair, which he was enabled to do, from one of the corners being torn and loose. In another column will ba found the address of Mr Main to the electors of Tokomairiro, and also tho requisition to- Mr- Landels, signed by 70 of the electors, with his reply consenting to stand as- a candidate. We understand that Mr Main was a. passenger by last night's coach. We trust the contest will be conducted in a fair and honorable manner, and every, elector, on the rol use his privilege of voting. , In one of: our Dunedin contemporaries, we are soKry- to observe a notice of the death of the Eev. J. ]?: Eoinienschneider at the Mission Station, Otago Heads, on Saturday, 25th instant, in the fortyninth year- of his age. We believe it is now over six- years, since tho Eev. gentleman took charge of the Maori Mission in this Province, and we know he has during that period been devotedly zealous and untiring in hi a exertions on behalf of 'the Maories.. Previous to his entering upon his late charge, the Rev. gentleman had been engaged in the work of the Ministry for many years, jn the Northern Island. It is with very great pleasure we recall to memory — the interesting lecture delivered by the deceased in Dunedin— in the Eev. Dr. Burns church, about six years ago, shorily after arriving in Otago, when he graphically described his experience amongst the natives of the Northern Island, and related many ,amusing anecdotes connected therewith. We are sure that his death will be greatly regretted by a numerous circle of friends, to whom he had e»deared himself by many amiable and piaus traits in big character.

It has very frequently been observed that in the ordinary affairs, of this life, the man who conducts his business quietly,, taking things by tho- ' smooth handle,' is generally the most successful. In communities, however, we believe in a little wholesome agitation— when grievances require redress ; any one who has travelled between* thaClutha Ferry and Port Molyneux must admit that the state of the road is such, as should excite the settlers and others to bring before theProvincial Government their right to have some money expended in the district. We do not feel surprised at the complaints of outlying districts about- the inattention of the Government to their wants and requirements, wheninthoW arepa and Puerua localities, portions of the road are left in an almost impassable state ; surely one or two surface men might be advantageously employed, if tho poverty of the treasury-chest cannot afford any greater outlay. We have been requested by J. P. Maitland, Esq., E.M., Clutha, to intimate that he has received from the Acclimatisation Society, a number of fine pheasants, which, he has turned loose a few days ago. We think it almost unnecessary to say more, than simply to state the fact — to ensure from the settlers 'and. others in the neighbourhood, the care, attention and protection which should be afforded these bird3 — that they may increase and multiply. There is no reason why they should not in a few years be found in considerable numbers, as in Auckland, if only every one would carefully abstain from, molesting oc disturbing them for the first year or two. The c Wellington Independent," of' the 18th, says : — ' We desire to dsaw the attention of our legislators to the fact, that the Jjjtu'ful. disease a£ Rinderpest is raging frightfully at Panama, with which place Wellington is now placed in immediate communication by means of the steamers carrying the English mails. This is a. most, serious fact, and demands that instant action should be taken, in order to reduce to the minimum any chances of the contagion being brought to our shores. Every steamer from Panama has at least one cot on board, and even only one may introduce a. scourge among us, the consequences of which might bo fearful." We learn from the 'Southland Times,' that in the Otcramika Hiradre-J, ami on iho- banks of the Mataura, tho operations of one company — for we understand the various estates, which may well be called such, arc to be amalgamated — are deserving of. notice. It has at present about 50,500 acres of land fenced, a good deal of it subdivided, and a large portion under cultivation. lln addition to this it possesses 46,000 acres, j which it is intended to bring under cultivation jas speedily as possible. There are five steamj 'ploughs at work, turning up the soil in preparation for culture, and. three more are expected, I besides which, there arc sixty pairs of plough liorses in constant employment. From two to three hundred men are daily engaged in clearing j ami breaking up land for the ploughs. There is a Hour and oat-mill in course of" erection, which is to be workud with an engine of twenty-five hor?c-pawcr, and two steam saw-mills have been in constant work for months. The perfect appointment of everything on these cshttcs is such us is seldom or never ssc.i in a now colony, and is quite equal to the highest culture in tho home j country. We understand that the instructions to the managers of .iiec-J vaviovis- properties are to lay down at least 10,000 acres yearly in English grasses. Tho cartage alone from Invcrcargill forms no incon:iu'o:\\blo item ii tho expenditure and would justify the belief that a railway construotcd in this direction would prove a remunerative undertaking. Twcniy horsca, besides covert:! bullock teams, arc in dcily employment cartir.g between Invovoargiil ftnd the different properties, at an avcrago of four pounds per ton.' Our Balwlntha readers. Trill be glad to team, that the erection of thc-Clntha Bridge is to be proceeded Avith almost immediately ; it is definitely expected to bo finished by Ist October, 18U7. We ore- pleased to know that endeavours were used in its design by Mr J. T, Thomson, Engineer o£ Roads and Works, to bring into requisition as much native material a3 could be found in Otago-;. tho iron find wire will necessarily have to be obtained from Melbourne or England, but all tho timber is to be black pine or totava, which will bo readily procured at no greatdistance from the site, and of course local labor will be employed, which will prove a large item of the expense, Tho limited funds ;at disposal, materials at hand, and other considerations in il need the adoption of the proposed style of bridge. To enable the bridge to bear the strain of floods, bringing down a body of water 25 feet in depth, and at a rate of 5 or 7 knots an hour and the shock of floating bodies, extraordinary precautions have been taken iu)the design of the piers ; each p.er consists of a row of piles placed closely together and braced ; the number of piles is 33. The total length of the bridge is 679 feet, and its width, within the railings 14 feet ; provision has been made for three times the greatest possible weight that can be at any one time placed on the bridge. The planking will be placed first diagonally than transversely. The drawbridge consists of two leaves, each of which is balanced, and raised or depressed by east-iron quadrants, worked by a spur wheel and pinion. Equr struts under the drawbridge support the passing load when the drawbridge is down. As we stated last week, the contract has been taken by Mr Murray, for £13,580 6s. Bd. The Wellington correspondent of the • Lyttleton Times,' speaking of the decadence of tho Maori, race, says : — Two gentlemen, whose official duties. have recently taken them separately over all this island, have made, independently of one another, each his own estimate of the number of Maories now existing, It has been supposed that the native population varied from 40,000 to 50,000 persons ; but one of these estimates gives the number at 34,000, the other at 27,000, 1 certainly not over 30,000.' We feel great pleasure in making it known to our readers, that the late Tradesmen's Ball Committee, in terms of their advertisement, have been able to declare a surplus in hand after payment of all expenses, and that the amount, £5, has been devoted to charitable purposes, viz : — the Otago Benevolent Institution, the Secretary of which has acknowledged the receipt on behalf of the Committee of that invaluable institution. We may congratulate the Ball Committee upon their economy and success in managing their Bocial gathering, and to hope that their next undertaking will be still, more successful.