[BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.] (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) CHRISTCHURCH, Thursday, 4 p.m.

North Otago Times, Volume VII, Issue 157, 23 November 1866, Page 2

[BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.] (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) CHRISTCHURCH, Thursday, 4 p.m.

Weather on the West Coast very bad. The miners on the Kanieri are swamped out. Boylan, a storekeeper, whilst crossing tho Totara, was upset m a dray and drowned. At Arahura, three horses were carried out to eea ; the driver escaped. The Waimea Coach nearly shared the same fate, the body being washed to sea ; no live 0 lost.

We jue much pleased to notice that the early closing movement is to bo once moie adopted in thus place, commencing on Monday next, by our principal storekeepers and diapeis. The hours mentioned in the announcement bhould ceitainly allow ample time for all shopping being got tluough of an evening, and an extension of two houis on fcSatuiday evening for the convenience of parties fiom the country should also meet every want. We hope this renewed attempt at eaily closing will be longer lived than was the last. We have been put in possession of additional paiticulars respecting the Meuno ram imported by the Messrs Julius, is a puie Australian Merino of the Camden blood, five yeais old, and has been pronounced the best sheep in Austiaha. He took the first piize for thiee years in succession at the great Skrpton Show as the best ram in his class, and also gained the champion pme of one hundred guineas at the intex'-colonial show at Melbourne, beating the best sheep from all the colonies. The late owner was repeatedly offered high prices for him, but refused to sell to any breeder .in Australia. His chief points are, size combined symmetryjof carcase, great length of staple, density of fleece combined with peculiarly fine and soft wool, and an extraoidinary equality of fleece on all parts of the bodvf

Mr Clapcott, the Manager of the Bank of Otago's Branch here, requests us to intimate, for the information of the settlers in the Otepopo neighborhood, that he will in future transact the business of the bank at Simmers' Royal Hotel, Otepopo, in place of at Reynolds' Herbeit Hotel. The Royal Hotel may be better known as Hille's stone hotel. He will be there every "Wednesday, about 3 p.m. It appear that there dwell in this neighborhood some characters whose departure would not be widely or generally regretted. On Wednesday evening, Mr and Airs Hood, who reside in a, small hut near the Landingplace, had occasion to go out on business, leaving their door as usual unlocked. On their return they discovered that the house had been entered, and the sum of L18 in notes and gold abstracted from a purse. In another puise were cheques to the value of L41 6s., but these were left undisturbed, plainly proving that the burglar wai not a noyico at his trade. The police are making diligent enquiries, with what prospect of success we have not yet ascertained. We trust that this may be a warning to any persons who may be in the habit of leaving their houses unprotected, especially when valuables to such an amount aid at the command of any one who chooses to walk iu and do as he pleases. fh. public meeting of children, accompanied by a, number ot the parents and others, took place on Wednesday evening, in the Schoolho use. There weie considerably upwards of one hundred juveniles present. The Rev. C. Connor was the first to address them on the object of the meeting— the formation of a Band of Hope in Oiuiaru. He likewise lead from various works appropriate passages referring to the cause of Temperance and the oiganization of Bands of Hope. Mr N. Fleming, teacher, also addressed them in a style suited to theii years and understanding. The boys and guls appeared very much interested in tho subject; and at the finish, when the pledge was put before them for signature, no fewer than 75 names were adhibited/* The children appointed a committee composed of adults and six of their own number, as follows :—President, Rev. Mr Connor ; Committee, Mrs Connor, Mis Fleming, Mis Pyke, Dr. Fleming, Messrs Fleming and Mackay ; Masters King, Headland, M'Lean, Connor, and Mackay. It was intimated that the meetings of tho Band of Hope would be held monthly, and suitable liteiature obtained for the members. A procession was also spoken of as looming in the distance ; and it was hinted that some kind ladies might possibly furnish the boys with banners. Reasons were assigned why tho magic lantern could not be shown that night. The proceedings, which throughout were most interesting, were brought to a close by the Rev. Mr Battersby with a solemn and appropriate prayer ; after which the childien dispersed. A trotting match, for L5 a-side, came off the other day between a chestnut gelding belonging to Mr Paterson and one belonging to Mr Booth. The course was from Oainaru to Boundary Creek aud back, Mr Booth's horse getting a minute and-a-half s start. The match was won by Mr Paterson's horse ; tho time for the distance, ten miles, was about four minutes per milo. The hoises wero trotted against each other next day for the same amount. Mr Paterson's horse again came in first. The " Western Post" (Austialu) contains the following lettei from "W. J. Danger Esq., of Neotsfield, on tho Chineso sheep : — I have for some time been breeding coarse sheep, fiist commencing with the Chinese breed, aud I found them most prolific, hardy, and fattening, tho Limbs selling leadily in Syduey, and being very much liked as lauib. Tho wether (a saddle of mutton from which weighed 351bs) was bred and fattened by me. The mutton was considered of fine flavour. Wheu in England 1 sent out some Cotswold lams and ewes, 'they me very fine, the lambs eleven months old, for which I got the piize, astonishing most folks until looking into then mouths. I have ninety lams, fine size, for sale, but as no buyers are forthcoming, I am thinking of making wethers of the'tn. I have now got another good lambing (120 per cent.), and if inducement offeied I would keep a number of them as rams. At present thoie is a ready sale for them as lsmbs. I am keeping all the ewe lambs for breeding purposes, and am thinking of crossing them with Downs, but am not sure yet. The Chinese cioss would make an admiiable sheep for small fanns. Some of my ewes have had four lambs at a bhth, several three, and none less than two. There is no doubt that a long wool of the Lincoln desciiption, of [ a glossy appearance, will always sell, but there are few parts of the colony suitable for such heavy sheep. In our warm climate they would scarcely travel for their food." The "Post" remarks on the above— "It must be understood, however, that the wool of tho Chinese sheep is very inferior ; but as most of those who have inquired of us respecting them require a sheep that bieeds rapidly, and the lambs of which are quickly got into market, the Chinese sheep admnably fulfil the condition. We should, howevor, advise a cioss with Leicester in prefeience to tho Down.

The " Southland Times" reports the following : " About noon on the 13th instant, it became known that on the previous day three boys, sons of Mr Mortimer, aged respectively 13, 11, and 9 yean, had taken possession of a small boat that was moored near their father's house, for the purpose of going fishing. Tho day turned out stormy and dangeious fora small boat, even in the hands of experienced men, and when night came on, and the bovs did not appear, considerable anxiety as to their safety was felt. At daylight the father, Seigeant Shury, and a volunteer started in pursuit of the lost children, but few knowing of the occurrence. About 2 o'clock this party returned and reported that they had evidence of the children having reached the east shore, the boat haying been found there, and the footprints of the little wanderers distinctly seen on the banks. That they had tracked them for a considerable distance, and found they had been in a deseited hut on the previous night, but the tracks were lost in the scrub. This information spread with electric rapidity thiough the town, and tho n.ost prompt measures were taken to organise a seirch party to scour the country in every direction. A number of gentlemen offeied their services, and Mr Commissioner Weldon was prompt in making prepaiations for the transit of the paity across the water. In the meantime, however, Mr C. A. Koss, who is well acquainted with the bush in which they were supposed to be lost, started on horseback overland, while the mam search party were to cross the water in boats and continue their exeitions until the missing ones were found dead or alive. Guns, and the means of making signal fires, were collected, and the boat party were just upon the eve of starting, when Mr Hoss galloped into town with the pleasing intelligence that the Jlost were found - that he had met them steadily walking on the right road home. This ended the excitement ; but the subject should not be dismissed without a. meed of praise being awarded to those gentlemen who so promptly came forward and organised with a determination to seek until they found the children. Scarcely two hours elapsed fiom the report being spread, when every thiug was ready (men and appliances) for a careful search thiough the bush during the night. It is foitunate that thet good intentions were not required to be put into practice, but it should act as a warning to parents to check on its first appearance the inclination of their children to run into danger. These children must ha\e suffered greatly, as they must have been many hours on the water, tossed about by the winds and waves, in a state of helplessness, and then doomed to wander in an unknown bush during a s>tormy night. When they were met by Mr Ross, although fatigued they did not complain, but stated they had found some cabbage and rhubarb at the deserted hut which they had eat." The last fortnightly escort from the goldfields took into Dunedin 7163oza, 8dwts. gold.

The "Grey River Argus" of 1st instant has the following :— " We notice that Mr Armson, who was formerly connected with the Provincial Engineers Department in Otago, and now practising as an architect at Hokitika, has been elected Town Surveyor by the Hokitika Municipal Council. There were five candidates, viz., Messrs Young, Bull, Armson, Frew, and Millar." Mr Armson, we need scarcely remind our readers, was, for sometime prior to his departure for the West Coast, a resident here. They will doubtless be glad to hear of his prosperity in his new sphere of labor. A private correspondent of ours, writing from Greymouth under date 12th instant, speaks with much enthusiasm of the i iches and capabilities of the West Coast country, where there ai e not only new gold rushes constantly occurring, but the land is remarkably well supplied with other natural pioducts. He s*ys : — " You would stare if I had leisure to write you all the truth about this magnificent country — its extraordinary yield of gold, its coal, its timber, rivers, harbors, towns, and rapid development; and weie it written and all believed, few men would be left in Otago. A fresh rush is keeping tho people here all busily engaged." We are always gratified to observe the growth of colonial industry, and accordingly, whenever opportunity offers, deem it important to recommend any particular instance of it to the best attention of the public. We notice that the manufacture of soap in Punedin is assuming some prominence, and if, as tho announcement respecting the Albion Works sets forth, the quality of the article equals that of any imported, we have to heartily recommend it. Soap is, or ought to be, extensively used by all classes, and the quantity imported annually represents a, very considerable money value. The letentiou of this money in the Colony for profitable circulation, therefore, is an object to be supported. Wo direct special notice to the statement respecting the manufacturer's wool scouring preparation, " peculiarly adapted for bleaching and scouring wool." He intimates that the highest price has been obtained in the home markets by parties using this prepaiation.