Untitled

Bruce Herald, Volume IX, Issue 805, 23 May 1876, Page 5

The Milton Post-onice will be closed all clay to-morrow, the anniversary of the Queen's birthday. To-dny all mails will close at 8 p.m. Mails for transmission via San Francisco will close at Milton at 4.45 p.m. on the 30th hist. A correspondent writing from Baleluthn, SfITS : — " I observe that since my writing to you some few issues ago respecting a tri-daily mail to and from Dunedin, Milton has been favored in this matter, but poor Balclutha has, as yet, been taken no notice of. I expect we shall require to go to the trouble of getting up a petition." Last night Mr Eccles, the manager of the Milton Pottery Company, showed us some excellent samples of crockery- ware which had fust been taken from the kiln. On Fridaj ]asi, when the men were about to bum some Bagger 3 for future use, Mr Eccles determined to see what could be done with some of the unbaked ware left by Mr W. M. White, Some bread -pans, water barrels, toilet sets, jam. jars, jugs, piedishes, and cups and saucers were placed in the kiln, which was opened yesterday. Some of the articles are of a pnlo cream color, splendidly glazed, and of Ilrst-class quality, with a "ring" as clear as a bell. Some of the larger articles, which are of a rich brown Color, look remarkably we'l, The way in which tho last kiln has turnod ov.t augurs well for the success of the Pottery Company. A few days ago we mentioned the fact that ftfounted-Constable Alexander Aitehison was seriously ill, and that his n>odioal attendants regarded his recovery as very doubtful. We now pegveb tp hnye to record Mr Aitchison's death, which occurred at s-lx o'clock yesterday evening. The immediate cause of death was disease of the licart. but the deceased had been suffering from a j complication of ilisoydprs ; and l)is illness was a very painfiil odp : lie vptained his consciousness until the last. lie was about forty-four years of age, and had. seen a great deal of service in the police force in this Colo-;y and Victoria. He was present at the Ballarat riots in December, 1854, and left Victoria to coijio over here with the jate St. John Branigui, JJe was well known for many years as the driver- of tlje gold esoorfc in this Province, and liad been stationed in. this district for about nine years. During his long term of gerviee in the Police Force, Mr Attehison earned for himself the reputatjgn of being a thoroughly reliable and trustworthy officer-, and his death wi|l be deeply regretted by a large number of friends, who admired his straightforward, manly, geniaj character. lie leaves a wife and six children, f jph# funeral will tuke place op Thuffiday uext,

i A 'Gazetts' notice states that Mr Q-. W. '' Pogson has been appointed a member of the I Licensing Court for the district of Macraes. ; A Melbotthnb paper etateß that Frank Hewitt, the English pedestrian, and Davis, •who is con-* nected with Wilson's Circus, will probably run a match for £1000. The billiard tournament at the White Horse saloon is still going on. The highest score that has yet been niode is thirty-nine, but there is no doubt that it will be beaten. The Melbourne ' Argus ' is authorised to state that the differences which have unhappily existed between Madame lima de Murskaand the family of her late husband have been amicably arranged. We understand that the cricket bat, offered by Mr J. J. Atkinson to the highest average scorer during the cricketing season just over, will be presented to the winner, Mr Q-eorge Dickßon, tomorrow evening, at the Commercial Hotel. At the Resident Magistrate's Court, Milton, on Saturday, before Mr Alfred Jones, J.P., Mary Forbes was charged with having boen drunk and disorderly in the public streets. She was fined 20s, with the alternative of seven days' imprisonment. Tjie annual elections in connection with the Tokomairiro Road Board will take place ou Hie Bth of June. The names of the retiring members for the different subdivisions will be found in our report of the meeting of the Road Board held on Friday last. The good people of Oainaru are still troubled by earthquakes. A telegram dated Oarnaru, May 20, says : — " A very sharp shock of earthquake, accompanied with a loud rumbling noise, was felt here this morning at 4.30." The bridges on the Tuapeka branch line of railway between Clarksville and the Glenore tunnel will be finished this week. It will then be possible for the contractors, Messrs Smyth, Wain and Co , to place an engine on the line, and complete the ballasting -without delay. The daily passenger train that runs between Stirling and Ivaitangatn, is very well patronised by the travelling pnblic. Grain and other produce has also been conveyed over the company's line, and in a short time a regular supply of coal will be sent from the mine. We regret to learn that Mr Cteo. Coombe's horse Right Bower has broken down, and will not bo able to run at the race meeting at Dunedin to-morrow. -On Saturday, after the Bower had been galloped, it was noticed that something was wrong with his off fore leg, and shortly after he became so lame that it was found necessary to throw him out of training. A fabtst of Chinamen miniug on Mr Murray's property at Manuka Creek arc reported to be getting plenty of gold. lhey pay Mr Murray a royalty of 25 per cent., and he supplies them with n portion of the material used in carrying on their operations. We have not heard any further reports with reference to tho new rush near Mr Geo. Coombe'a claim. I Instances of the benefit of life insurance are continually cropping up. The Thames 'Stur' says : — " We learn that Mr James Augustus Billings, who died in the Thames Hospital on April 10th, had insured his life in the Government Department for £200, and had paid only one premium, so that by a commendable forethought on the part of deceased provision has boen made for his wife and children." i The following special telegram dated Christchurch, May 20th, appeared in Monday's ' Times ' : — "lt is currently reported in towu this evening that a noled character here named [ Brighton, fish-hawker, bottle collector, and general dealer, has been left a colossal fortune, comprising eighty thousand pounds in cash and a large landed estate at home. These figures are probably exaggerated, but I believe rumour ia substantially correct. The man has a wife and a large family to share with him in his good fortune." The " funny man" of the House has not lost his old habits. It appears that every day Sir Julius is to be seen in the luncheon room of the club at Wellington enjoying a salad, which dish forms the chief piece de resistance of the meal. Attention had been drawn to the Premier's penchant for salad, and Mr Mantell entering the room one day with a friend while Sir Julius was thus engaged, a*ked the former what lines in Milton's account of tho creation the Premier put him in mind of. His friend gave it up, when Mr Mantell quoted as follows : — Kach day upon the green ami tender herb The gentle dvw (jew) descends. The ' Mount Ida Chronicle,' writing of the Naseby Sludge Channel, s^ys — " The Government should feel gratified that, in spite of the myriad of jeremiads sung in the oars of its members, and of its own unbelief, the channel promises to be so reproductive. We are not speaking of guess — of a supposition judged of from tho top of a prospecting hole, and a knowing shake of the head. Let thoso who doubt go and bco. Lot them borrow a tin dish, and, with Mr John Oreighton's courteous permission, jump down into the huge ditch, and test the quality of the ground, If they are not satisfied as to the futuro position of Ifascby as a gokifleld nfter walking for half a mile on gold, they must be unbelievers indeed. Every inch of the ground along the Main Gully is marked off in c'aiir s, but those claims can only bo worked provided that the channel is kept deep enough, The work is progressing with great 'rapidity — while we write 130 meu being employed. It is expected that tae paving will begin ne*t week," It appears to be certain (says the ■ Mount Ida Chronicle ') that the determination of main bl ; .inch lines of railway will be considered by the Assembly this session. It is to be regretted that no action is being taken to urge upon the Government the wisdom, qf obtaining data as to the feasibility of taking up a central branch line from Mosgiel into Strath Taieri. We believe fifteen or twenty miles of railway would open up the Strath Tfticpi Plain. If this is the case, the route would be entitled to the highest consideration, as its extension up Strath Taiori, across Mnniototo, down Ida Valley, and from thence across to Die valley of the Manuherikia, would earn itself in successive instalments, A uyiug survey of the country between Qutrain and Strath Tajey-i would give all the information needed. The extension of a line up Strath Taieri is aX matter of no difficulty or exn.en.so, £»no] from Kye* burn the roulo l'aa been already laid off by Mr Upjle, We believe the Provincial Government ( would be glad to justify the Masgicl railway by « proving jt to. ha $ railway thafc is capable of ' legitimate aqd beneficial extension, However it i may be ohtajned, tho information should be available when the Assembly has branch railways J ' under consideration, 3

The trotting match between the horses Frost and Quicksand, to have taken place on the Tokomairiro Eacecourse on Saturday last, has been postponed until after the Dunedin races.

A Victoeian newspaper says that gold has again been obtained from reefs at great depths. From the Oriental Company's claim at Stawell at the 1060 ft level, the yield was 48oz sdwts from 7b tons of quartz. At Chines, from the Port Phillip Company's claim, between the 900 ft and I,oooft levels, a crushing of 20 tons yielded 220z.

The sale of the late W. A. Tolmie's stud docks at Clifton and Carterhope is looked forward to as a big meeting of fancy stock breeders. Host Stanbrook of the Crown Hotel, Balclutha, has received instructions to prepare supplies of edibles, &c, &c, for no 1e33 than 350 persons. The sale takes place on Thursday and Friday next — on Thursday at Clifton, and Friday at Carterhope. The Balclutha Municipal Works Committee have carried out their instructions re getting out an engineer from Dunedin, for the purpose of taking certain levels for street formation, &c. The engineer arrived last week, and quickly despatched his task. The main street at Barr's Hall during the late wet weather assumed the appearance of a lake, in place of a thoroughfare. This no doubt will not exist much longer, au experienced inspector of works having been appointed, and tenders for various contracts called. It will be observed by advertisement that Messrs Potter and Doull, of the Balclutha steam sawmills, announce that they are prepared to supply first-class timber at the Clutha Railway Station at 13s per 100 feet, or at their mills at 12s 6d per 100 feet. This is a considerable reduction in the price of building material. Messrs Potter and Doull anticipate doing a large trade. They have just received another boat from Dunedin, and intend putting on another crew for rafting purposes. A fire occurred last night week at Wangaloa, which resulted in Mr Donald Mitchell losing his entire stock of grain, and the destruction of a steam thresher which was employed to thresh out the stacks. It appears that the fire broke out about midnight, and before it was discovered had gone too far to be subdued. As to the cause of the fire no clue ha 3 been obtained. There are various opinions about it, but up to the time of our going to press nothing definite had cropped up. An inquest was to have been held last week, but the weather was so very unpropitious that it had to be postponed. The delay will give the police a better chance of thoroughly investigating the matter. The foresight of Mr Robert Crainond, Mayor of Balclutha, in erecting a goods shed and cutting a siding at the Riverside Railway Station at Balclutha, has proved a great boon to tho tradespaople of the Clutha, as they receive and despatch their goods at a considerably lower cost than before. Had this step not been taken, the cost of transit of goods to and from the Stirling Station during the winter would have boen very much higher than at present, yet some people are selfish enough to murmur at Mr Cramond being allowed the privilege, which has proved beyond dispute to be of vast importance to the inhabitants of Balclutba. A conRESPOXDENT writes : — "A few evening ago I met a legal friend of mine. He appeared to be suffering from nervous excitement, and clutching me by the arm remarked that he should like to have a private interview with vne. We adjourned to a parlor in a certain hotel, aud he then unburthened himself. Ho had concocted a joke, lie did not wish me to laugh, in fact he did not expect me to laugh, all he asked of me was that I would listen. I endeavored to compose my countenance, and when I felt sure that my personal appearance would have made an undertaker's mute envious, I told him I wa3 ready. He said 'When I went into town on the 12th iust., to hear Mdlle. Do Murska, she was ill ; I went to town again on the 15th inst., and then found that she had become permanently iller ' (Ilia). I have put in the parenthetical explanation for the benefit of readers. My le^al friend fled after he had delivered himself of this masterlj piece of wit, and ho has not yet been arrested."

Mr M. L. Raphael, who acted as business agent to tho Allen. Opera Troup during their New Zealand tour, has arrived at Wellington to undertake similar duties on behalf of tha Sirnonsen company. Mr Raphael supplies the following items to a Wellington contemporary : — Since the Allen Opera Company broko up in India, Mr and Mrs Allen (Miss Alice May) have gone to England, the hitter having met with such success in India as to warrant the assumption that she would do vrell in a larger sphere than the colonies. Mr Hallam, who, it will be remembered, lost his wife (formerly Miss Hattie Sheppardo) , while performing in Wellington, and received much public sympathy, ha 3 entered anew into the estate of matrimony with Miss Christie, one of the corps de ballet, and will follow the Aliens home. Mr and Mrs Vernon, Mr Rainford, and other old Wellington favorites have returned to Australia, Mr Templotan js playing with the lister- Company in Melbourne, and Miss Lambert, Mr Levisou, and now Me Raphael have joined the Simonsen Company,