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Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 11, Issue 834, 12 March 1867, Page 3

Day and Martin.— We understand the thoroughbred horse "Day and Martin" has become the property of Mr. John He,slop of Puketapu. The price has not transpired. We hope Mr. Heslop will receive the encouragement he deserves for his spirited investment. At an early period we shall give the full pedigree and performances of this horse, who is really entitled to stand high in the estimation of horse breeders in this province. Hokitika Kiver. —- Under the active superintendence of Mr. Rochford, the diversion of the main stream of the Hokitika river into the new channel preparing for it is progressing apace, and providing we are spared the visitation of floods, the work will be quite completed by the expiration of ten days or a fortnight at the furthest. The gravel bank is already intersected by a canal through which the water runs freely, and when the dam is a little further advanced will, by the increased flow caused by the backing up of the river, widen and deepen considerably. At least, such is the belief of the District Engineer and his assistants, who are sanguine that the plan adopted will prove an entire success. We partially concur with them, but at the same time consider the result to be an open question, for a heavy rush of water through so lengthy and narrow a cutting, may have the effect of bringing down the sides and thus block it up. The dam will be most substantially constructed of pontoons filled with heavy gravel, each pontoon being 30 feet long 12 feet wide on the bottom, the sides having a rake of 1 foot to each foot of perpendicular height. They will be strongly built of sawn timber and closely planked. As the dam is to extend in a direction diagonal to the course of the stream, its length will considerably exceed the absolute distance between the banks, and it is calculated that eighteen pontoons will be required to. complete it. The pontoons will be supported by a row of piles connected by heavy girders. Yesterday witnessed the finish and launch of the first of these huge boxes, which was floated down and moored to a pile in mid-stream. I—West1 — West Coast Tims, Feb. 20.