KAIKOURA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6168, 2 December 1880, Page 6

KAIKOURA.

[PROM OUE OWN OOEBBSPONDBKT.J Nov. 26. The mail service between Ealkoura and Blenheim on the north, and the Waiau on the south, has changed hands from Blick, of Blenheim, to Gordon Gibson, nf Ksikoura. The Northern line has been sub-let to Lovell, who has carried these mails under Blick’s contract for many years, and given the great* est satisfaction from his regularity and obliging disposition, and the inhabitants are very glad of his re-appointment. The Read Board held their monthly meeting in the Court-house on Monday, Kov. 22 ; present—Messrs Dickenson (chairman), Close, Doddomeade, Alldridgo, and Harnett. The following resolutions were passed “ That Mr Thomas Boyd bo allowed two weeks’ extension of time to complete his contract on Rorison’s road; also, that 0. If. Fox be employed for eight hours a week impounding, at 12s per week.” Several tenders for forming Killarncy street were opened, and the tender of Mr Connor, £9, was accepted. The Secretary was instructed to write to the County Council informing them that the application for grant ef £2OO recently made by the Boaid was for improving the road from wharf' to town side of cave, and also metalling the Eohai road from Mount Fyffe to Little I.udstone. It was decided that the road from Mount Fyffe main road to the Lyell Creeek be formed, at an estimated cost of £153 9s. Applications for the office of Valuer to the Board were received, and the tender of W. Jamison at 2a 6d per cent was accepted, Mr Goodall informed the Board

that he was erecting a large shod at the port for itoring produce, and requested permission to lay and maintain a tramway. The application was agreed to on certain conditions. It was resolved to form the road past Howard’s at the Kohai, and the tender of W. Adair, at 11s 9d a chain was accepted, to be finished in six weeks. James. Boyd’s tender for cleaning ditch at Keenan’s at 2s fid per chain was accepted. £5 were authorised to bo spent on Sohoolhouse road, and £6 on the Terraco road. The Board then adjourned. A meeting of the Committee or the Kaikoura Library was held on Saturday, Nov. 20, at the Club Hotel, the Library being engaged t present—Messrs Knowles (Chairman), Arber and M'lnnes. Tenders for building a public library and reading-room wore opened, as followsSandford and Clark, £114; James Clark and O. 8. Maplesden, £147 10s; Clark and Tnglis, £152 ; Cook and Adams, £166; A. Pearce, £174 l4s. The tender of Sandford and Clark was accepted, and in the event of their not signing the contract, the next lowest to be taken. The name of Charles Bailey was recommended to the pounty Council for addition to the Committee.

On Friday morning, a young whale was observed by Paget and his partner (fishermen of South Bay) in difficulties among the rooks in that bay, rather a heavy sea being on at the time. It was spouting repeatedly, and making furious efforts to escape. They launched the whaleboat, and bore down upon it, but it died just before they reached the place, having literally beaten itself to doatlj, and almost run itself ashore. It proved to be a bull of the bottlenose species, and measured 15ft in length by 9ft in girth. After some trquble, owing to the surf and rooks, a rope was fastened to its tail, and the other end taken aboard the boat. Pageb’e mate commenced to tow it to an offing, preparatory to getting it round the reef to the small harbour where they keep their boats. Paget could not get off to assist his mate, who hoisted sail, but as he found himself going to leeward he took it in, and settled down to pull a full-sized whale-boat with a pair of paddles, towing a whale astern, with half a mile before him. Paget and your correspondent stood on the shore watching him, when, suddenly, something seemed to go wrong, and the man was nearly overboard, but recovered himself and pulled steadily on. When he got in he told us that soon after he began to tow, an immense number of sharks attacked the whale and himself at the same time; one very large one seized his paddle by the blade and snatched it out of his nand, he, however, got hold of the end, and after a tussle recovered it from the shark. The sharks then tried to tear the whole in pieces; but, he pulled for Ms life, seeing that they were the Taniwha, a most savage ■ species wMoh frequently attacks boats. On a previous occasion, in the same bay, a dingy was seized by the keel and shaken terribly. So long as the boat was keptmoving the sharks could not get hold of the smooth sides of the whale, as it kept turning round, but once, when he slackened to change Ms position, two of them managed to steal a mouthful each out of the blubber; and to show that they had respectable mouths, each bite was eighteen inches long by ten wide. They only gave up the ohose 150yds from the boat harbour. It seemed probable that these monsters had chased the whale ashore, and were waiting for him, if not, their scent must be very keen to be so soon attracted to it. The captors intend to exhibit it for a -few days, at their fishery, and then try out the blubber, when they expect to realise a barrel of oil. The carcase will afterwards be towed to where the sharks attacked it, in the hope that they may still be about; as two or three lances have been procured, I look forward to some sport, having received a polite invitation to take part in the fun.

The County Council held a special meeting in the Court-house on Wednesday, Nov. 24, for the election of a Chairman, and for considering the closing of a public road; present—the Chairman, (Mr H. A. Ingles), and Messrs Harnett, Arber and, Davidson. The Chairman having read the clause of the County Councils Act relating to the annual election of Chairman, Mr Harnett proposed, and Captain Davidson seconded—" That Mr H. A. Ingles be re-elected Chairman.” Carried unanimously. The Chairman proposed, and Mr Harnett seconded—" That the road as specified be stopped.” Carried. This concluded the business of the special meeting. Mr Ward having at last meeting been requested to give a report on the best of three routes to the Green Hills, his report was handed in and read. The Chairman said there was not the slightest doubt that the line pointed out by Mr Ward was infinitely superior to that proposed by Mr Sullen, which is practically almost impossible. After considerable discussion, it was proposed by Mr Harnett and seconded by Captain Davidson—“ That Mr Ward’s report be adopted, and that he be instructed to survey the Kahautera route as the main line south.” Carried. The Chairman reported that he and Captain Davidson had inspected the new Court-house, and found that the building had been completed with the exception of a few small items, and that the work bad been executed in a most creditable manner. The Chairman stated that Mr Ward and Mr W. Stanton wanted a track made to the Clarence. The former offered £5 os bis share for doing the work. It was resolved—" That a sum of £2O ba voted in addition to Mr Ward’s donation.” It was decided that Mr Stanton be authorised to put a man on for one week to clear ruts in the river bed, &o. Messrs Bnllen and Arber were appointed to inspect Messrs MTnnes and Clemente’ contract now completed. John Hintz applied for relief, and enclosed a certificate from Dr Fossell that he was incapacitated from earning a living. It was resolved —" That as the applicant has property, the request cannot be complied with.” Sundry accounts were passed for payment, and the Council adjourned.