COUNTRY NEWS.

Evening Star, Volume III, Issue 803, 1 December 1865, Page 2

COUNTRY NEWS .

Oamartj. —A quantity of refuse deposited in an old stable at the rear of the Star and Garter Hotel was observed to be on fire on Sabbath morning last, about half-past 8 o’clocK. The walls of the building being close to the place where the fire originated, the whole erection had a very narrow escape from total destruction. As it was, the flames had creeped up the side wall, and were just peeping out of the roof, when they were observed in the nick cf time, and promptly subdued. The wool store of Messers Dalgety, Rattray, and Co., immediately adjoins the old stable referred to, and it may easily be inferred that, had the fire once gained the mastery, there would have been no probability of preventing the destruction of a large amount of property. The cause of the fire is unknown. —Oamaru Times, 30th Nov.

On Sunday morning last, about half-past ten o’clock, a fire occurred at Muddy Creek, the property of H. J. Miller, Esq., whereby the stables, &c., in the occupation of Mr Clayton, were destroyed. It is reported that the cause of the fire was a child playing with matches. Having lit one, it was dropped to save the fingers from being burnt, and, falling amongst some straw, the whole place was speedily ia flames. One of Mr Clayton’s horses is said to have been destroyed.— ldid. . On Tuesday, the self-acting punt constructed at the Kiirow Ferry, by Mr Cristian Hille, Accommodation House Keeper there, carried its first load across the Waitaki. The river was at its lowest, and the velocity of the current was much diminished as compared with what it had been a short time previously. The waters, however, at that part of the river, still rushed down with great impetuosity, the occasional ripple on the surface of the boiling torrent only telling the more of the resistless nature of the current which rushed on its course to the ocean. About midday, Mr Gore being on the Northern or Canterbury side of the river with the punt, commenced to re-cross with a load of a few bales of wool and a couple of horses. The onward movement was at first very slow, the current near the Canterbury bank of the river being only of moderate strength, and the punt was made to present a very slight resistance to the waters. Shortly the rushing of the current against the bows of the boats resembled the noise of a steamer going at a rapid rate, and soon the punt was well over half the river. Suddenly, however, a slip was observed to take place in the wire rope ; down it fell, till in the middle of the river it lashed the waters, and the scene was one of almost breathless excitement. There were two or three men in the punt, accompanying Mr Gore across, but they either did not realise the position of imminent peril in which they were placed, or they maintained a spirit of great foi’titude and much presence of mind. In a short time the punt reached the bank, the security increasing, of course, as it neared its destination, not only on account of the weakening current, but also of the lessened strain on the rope. It was ascertained that the rope had given way on the Otago side of the river, it having been drawn from its fastenings about 18 or 20 inches.— lbid.

Wakatip.— We are glad to give currency to a statement that will be acceptable to those interested in the Upper Shotover district. A gentleman accustomed to erect bridges over the reaches of the interior of California has visited the district, and he is prepared to throw over the Shotover at Packer’s Point a wire suspension bridge upon libei'al conditions. We believe these consist in one third of the cost being paid by Government ; the contribution, including approaches, not to exceed to £SOO. The bridge to carry fifty tons and accommodate dray traffic. The builders to have a toll fixed both by the Government and the wishes of the inhabitants for three years certain. — Mail , 2STov. 25th.