PROVINCIAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4124, 1 February 1875, Page 2

PROVINCIAL.

THE PRIZE-FIEI^G. UPSETTING OF THE PONTOON. TWENTY-FIVE PEOPI.E IMMERSED IN THE It ITER. NARROW ESCAPE OF SEVERAL PERSONS FROM DROWNING. [fp.oji our own correspondents.] THAMES, Saturday. Tuf. Moanatairi crushed 530 tons for 233 ounces retorted gold. The Bird-in-Hand lodged 40 ounces 2 dwts. vetortcd gold. The Golden Spur Tribute crushed G toa3 for "21 ounces G dwts. gold. The company crushed 31 tons for IS ounces retorted gold. Immediately after the conclusion of the firing for the championship, a most alarmin" accident happened to a number of perso;is who were returning home. .As intimated before, at tbo camping-ground the river has to be crossed l>y a pontoon, which are merely five or six barrels, to which are lashed .i few boards, making a raft safe enough for six or eight persons. Upon this some twenty to twentv-tive persons foolishly crowded, and when they got a few feet from shore the pontoon began to go down on one -Mi\ and a rush was made to the other, wliiC" 'i■■■ i the effcct of precipitating the whole <-f v e ../owd into the water. At first, the who crowded either bank of the river were highly amused, but it was shortly seen that many were in danger, and the 1. J a hter wa3 changed into shrieks. A number o. Ai '.id Constabulary were in their tev.t ar i hearing the alarm, they rusi;m:. "-..id ing the state of atlairs, jump ::. I;. .; r .i ; swam out to several who wre .. unil near their last moments, jncii •" jene has not been witnessed here before. Strong men who were on the raft, and splendid swimmers, were laid hold of by others, and were in danger of being drowned but for the timely arrival of the Armed Constabulary and others. In the confusion of the moment, many gallaiit acts were done, and the Armed Constabulary — O'Brien, Connell, Vellevfj Bay, Wellsman—with Messrs. 11. Adams, Healey, Allom, and many others, ars deserving of the highest commendation. O'Brien and Connell fetched several out, and a cry was raised for the third time that two more were under; they again >v<.;*. in, pipes in their mouths, and got il eir i;;en— O'Brien's man almost done for. Sunday, 5.25 p.m. It is said that a protest will be lodged against Skinner receiving the Bell, on the ground of his sight having been tampered with. It was not Christie, as ytu reported in yesterday's issue, who had measured hi 3 powde: ; it was Skinner who was reprilnindeu. The match North versus South will be fired to-morrow. Names of competitors for the North are—Skinner, Leigh, Hoskins, Elder, Blythe, Armstrong, Gilbert, Chase, Murray, and Gascoigne. For the South—Wilson, Goldie, Christie, Blatch, Richardson, Tomliason, Sutton, McLaren, Munyai d, and Fox. There was a magnificent church parade toFcvir rifles were fished up out of the river -day, which belonged to Volunteer' who eve on the pontoon when it upset. COROMANDEL, Saturday. ."j j Tokatea manager reports during the , jek having got about 60 lbs. picked stone . ' .Siege level, about 150 feet from Bismari:i boundary. Goid has been seen in the stope from the same rise. They have sta ted to work on the tribute leader. Royal Oak manager reports 500 lbs. specimens from vise, gold shewing freely in roof and both ends; also got parcel of specimen in No. 1, where the small vein junctions. In breaking down the <juartz on No. 2 in winze got a few lbs. specimens. The leader is looking better defined and larger since the report of over 150 lbs. more specimens taken out. Plutus crushiug is finished, and 31 ounces 7 dwts. gold obtained. The Everton low level is in nearly 320 feet, and water is coming in rapidly, and it is supposed they are near the leader. Peter's claim Imished a trial crushing of four tons, and 3J ounces of gold. ALEXAXDRA, Saturday. The annual sports came off yesterday, under the patronage of Sir Donald McLean. A large number of Europeans and natives were present from surrounding districts. The entries were numerous, and prizes well contested for, the natives takiug a go«xl share. Sir Donald McLean is still here. He appears to have his hands full of business, judging from the number of his visitors.