Interprovincial News

New Zealand Mail, Issue 360, 4 January 1879, Page 20

Interprovincial News

.An occasional correspondent of the Wairarapa Daily, at Mauriceville, says that a hush lire broke out in that district a day or two ago, aud destroyed two cottages. The fire has since been svtppresstd. VVitii reference to the contemplated triweekly mail service to Gladstone, it is stated that the estimated co-<t for the first ysar is £75, of which amcuut one-half will be provided by the Government aud the other by the settlers.

The NZ. Herald of the 20th says that the driving of the first pile in the bridge over the Wailato River at Hamilton took place on Wednesday with considerable ceremony. Mr. I. W. Vialou, the late Mayor of that Borough, delivered a speech in which he expressed the hope that Hamilton in the course of a few years would be clas-ed amongst the leading ci'esin New Zealand.

Yesterday evening (says the Dunedin Star of December 27) two boys named Hyder and Wills narrowly e-caped bei >g drowned in Carey Bay. It appears they had been playing on a small raft f >r some time, when, owing to the strong wind, they got adrift in the bay and both fell overboard. Their dangerous position was seen from the Bhore, and a boat put off to their assistance. There being no oars in the boat it was some time before they were rescued, and the boy Hyder was just sinking for the third time. He was taken to the Crescent Hotel and attended to by Dr. Drysdale. Mr. F. F. Williams, of thi3 town (says the JN apier Daily Telegraph) having forwarded some copies of that paper to the Earl of Beaconsfield containing the report of the public meeting to congratulate the British Ministry on the result of the Berlin Treaty, received the following reply by the San Francisco vnail : "The Earl of Beac >n-field presents his compliments -to Mr. F. Williams, and while thanking him heartily for the colonial papers that reached the Earl early last month, together with Mr. Williams' card, he trusts that gentleman will accept the Premier's patronage, and still support, as hitherto, the gre it Conservative cause. —Whitehall, October 22, 1878." The Hatches Bay Herald says:—" For some days past, the grass about Te Au'ce, along the line of rail, has been in a state of conflagration, and it is rumored that the fire was occasioned by sparks from the locomotive passing on the line. Yesterday the fire a-sumed more serious proportions, and his destroyed crops belonging to the Hon. H. R. Russell and Mr. Purvis Uu-sell, and even threatened the township of Waipukurau. Mr H. R. Russell estimates his loss up till last evening at £SOO, and has telegraphed to the Government at Wellington that he holds them liable for that amount. He has also communicated with the insurance companies, warning them of the serious danger to the ' risks' they have in the neighborhood of Waipukurau." The Dunedin Morning Herald says :—" A ctreMil perusal of Sr George Grey's speeches at Grahamstown and the Thames has only confirmed our opinion that it is time for the Premier to retire from business. We siy this in all serioosuess and sincerity, and without the slightest feeling of disrespect. We are quite sure that we have as sincere an admiration of the gallant knight, and as true a regard for his fame, as any, the most servile, of his adorers ; and it is precisely this deep re-pect for the man that makes us resjret the iufirmidesof the politician. We are, moreover, sorry to say that we are not alone in this fueling of regret. Our contemporary, the Daily Times, which cannot be suspected of any disloyalty to Sir George Grey, has been fairly compelled to change its tone of nnqual fied approval for one of almost unqualified apology." Some time ago some samples of copper ore from Uizsky Sound were stmt to England by the director.* of the company, for the purpose of havinsr them tested. From a private letter received in i >unedi< lat dy, and quoted by the Otou/o Times, it appears that the samples were tested by the analyst to the Bank of England. The:result was a yield of >.ver 30 per ceut. of copper, and also 2oz. of silver and ldwt. of gold to the ton. This result is considered highly aati-faotory. Two tons of copper ore from r>up=ky S >uud were sent H me by a Glasgow vessel saints months ago, but had not been tested when the letter was written. The result of this trial will be sent out by the aext mail.

Mr. Vesey Stewart has joined Mr. A. S. Rathbone in the proprietorship of the Bay of Plenty Times. The paper, from the Ist of January, is to be considerably enlarged, and a notable" feature will be the publication of a monthly summary for transmission Home by the mail via San Francisco. Under its new proprietors, who have further made some important additions to their staff, a very wide circulation in the East Coast aud Hot Lake District may be anticipated. The fifteen large passenger carriages brought from luvercargill to be used on the Christ - church section on New Year's Day are collected at Oamaru, and are likely to remain there for some days as the traffic beyond the Rangitata is completely suspended in consequence of a portion of the bridge being down. This stoppage has proved a great inconvenience to business men and others. It will probably be several days before the damage i 3 made good and through traffic resumed. Tenders have during the last few days (says the Press) been accepted by the railway authorities for the supply of 15,000 tons of coal during the year 1879 for the Canterbury aud Otsjjo railways, the total am uut of the contracts being something like £25,u00. The whole of this coal is to be delivered at Lyttelton; Dunedin, and luvercargill, in quantities as may be required. The contractors for the Lytteltou portiou are Messrs. Cunningham and Co., for the Dunedin portion Mr. James Mills, and for the luvercargill portion Mr. C. W. Turner. At the present time the railway authorities are testing the native coal, but it is said not with satisfactory results. It is stated that when the Newcastle coal is wet it burns all the better, but that when the native coal is in the same condition it will hardly burn at al,as it absorbs moisture too readily. The result of nearly all the trials, as far as they have gone, is alleged to be to prove a very great superiority of Newcastle over New Zealand coal for steam generatiug purposes. A curious case of blood poisoning has recently occurred, that should be made public, as it shows how careful persons Bhould be when they are not in good health, and when their avocations compel them to handle wool. Mr. G. Davies, of Mr. Douglas McLean's station, Maraekakaho, last shearing, while assisting at the wool pressing, pricked his finger with a thistle spear. No notice was taken of the accident for some time, till the intensity of the pain and the swelling that arose necessitated a doctor being consulted in town. The thistle point was then extracted, when it was discovered that it had carried with it into the finger a fibre of wool. Notwithstanding the extraction of the extraneous substances the finder continued to gather, and gradually became corrupted. Mr. Davies had again to come into town, and after Dr. Spencer and Dr. De Lisle had made an examination, amputation was determined upon. The operation was successfully performed, and we are glad to report that Mr. Davies is now in a fair way towards the recovery of health and spirits. The Dunedin Morning Herald of December 23rd says :—" At a meeting of the provisional directors, held at Messrs. Kempthorne and offices, the following gentlemen were duly elected thedireciors of the company for the first year, in accordance with the articles of association, viz., Messrs. Henry Houghton, Dr Burrows, R. A. Low, W. Elder, Basil Sievwright, T. W. Kempthorne, and E. JProsser ; Mr. Hanghton being elected chairman. Considerable satisfaction was expressed at the number of applications sent in, considering the dull state of the share mark;t. The total number will ,not be known until the country and Melbourne returns come in. Messrs. T. W. Kempthorne and E. Pr>B«er were appointed managing directors, and Messrs. Wm. Elder, J. V. Ross, Wm. Fife, and M. M. Irving appointed to check and examine stock, &<\, on behalf of the shareholders, at Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, and Auckland. Stock will be taken at once, aud business commenced on behalf of the new firm on the Ist proximo.

The annual examination of the New Zealand University commenced on Friday, the 27th instant, and will last a fortnight. There are this year a larger number of candidates than in any previous year. For the junior scholarships there are thirty-nine competitors, of whom nine are rrom Canterbury. Twenty-five undergraduates come up for the degree of 8.A., for fourteen of whom this will be the final examination. Seven undergraduates compete for senior scholarships; six for third year scholarships. Two graduates are coming up fur honors, and one for the degree of M.A. The Prcxs says that as the University examiners are in Melbourne the ret'u't of the examination will probably not be known before the mid.lie of February. The examination is held simultaneously iu Dunedin, Chri tchurch, Wellington, Nelson, and Auckland. Supposing all the fourteen undergraduates abovementioned pass successfully this year, there will then be twenty two gr duates of the New Zealand Universi y, and the convocation of the University (which requires thirty graduates), may be expected to be established in three years' time.

Under the heading, ' : A hint to colonists," the London correspondent of the Wanganui Chronicle says :—" I had very recently to make inquiries for possible openings for a lad of good promise and pares who is a victim of prevailing depression. I tried every thing, but it was useless. At last it was put to me delicately that the best of all businesses at the present moment is that of a drngjist. It requires ouly an ordinary education and three years' apprenticeship, very little capital, and ouly enough courtesy to secure clients. Even if people are poor thray fall ill ; poverty may be medicine, but it requires other adm xtures to secure perfect health. I am assured that a successful chemist makes more than the doctor, and he must be a very poor stick indeed if he cannot gain an income. A London druggist, in a g->od neighbor hood, mt<es a rapid fortune. There are hundreds who are making over a

thousand a year, and I had some named to me that were known to be making not one, but many thousands. A very successful chemist may reckon upon an income nearly that of a Lord Chamberlain. The difficulty in the way, however, is pride.

OIST INSPECTORS OF PUBLIC WORKS. (From the Dunedin Morning Herald.) The persons who appointed the Inspector of Works referred to below must have had great faith in the contractor. The story possesses the singlar merit of being true : A short while ago a contract was entered into by the Government for the election of a certain building not a bunded miles from Duuedin. The work of getting forward material had beguQ, when the contractors received a formal notice that Mr. Shadow had been appointed to act as inspector of the work, with whom the contractor was to consult iu all cases of doubt and difficulty. This notice was duly forwarde I to the works by the contractor, for the inform ition of his foreman in charge. Thee >ntracoor had, however, to visit the works a few days afterwards, when he was introduced to Mr. Shadow. As there had been discovered some discrepancy between the specification and the plan, the contractor then and there asked Mr. Shadow (after readiug over the clause referring thereto, and showing it on the plan) what was to be done under the circumstances? To his dismay the reply was, "Ye maun dae the best ye can." " What," said the contractor, "am I not to'd t-> consult you iu all cases of doubt or difficulty ?" " Maybe, but ye see I dinna ken onything about it." " Are not you a mechanic ?" " No." " What in the name of goodness, then, are you ?" " I'm a collier ; and ye maun be as easy as ye can wi me, as I ken naething about it." It may be asked if such a man as this (who is said to be an aver ge sample of the lot) is fit to bo trusted with the expending of large sums of public money ? Who made such an appointmeut ? We feel quite satisfied that if the suggestion of "Observer" in the Herald of April 17th had been carried out, a great benefit would have accrued thereby. Are these inspectorships refuges for the destitute friends of officials, or those who had befriended them in d ays gone by ? It is well to show gratitude, espec ally when it costs you nothing ; but it is not well that the public should have to pay the piper.

THS COAL AT MOKAU. (From the Auckland Weekly News.) On Tuesday last we publi-h ;d an account of the visit of Dr. Hector to the coal seams at Mokau, and by the arrival of the steamer Mokau in the Manukau yesterday, we have further details, and have seen the coal, which appears to possess all the qualities claimed for it. On Sunday, Kewi's canoe was loaded with two tons of the coal, and taken down to where the Mokau was lying. On the Monday steam was got up, and Dr. Hector, Rewi, Te Wetere, Epiha, Taonui, aud a number of Maoris were taken up the river as far as the steamer could safely proceed. The boats then went up some four or five miles further, to where the coal seam crops out on the bank of the river. Apparently, there is a large quantity of the coal, and Dr. Hector said it was the best coal in New Zealand. Two tons were taken down to the steamer Mokau, where it was practically tested on the voyage to Manukau. The engineer is thoroughly satisfied with it in all the qualities. Rewi having given his consent that the coal should he worked, and there being already several settlers iu the district, there is no reason why coal from Mokau should not be soon in the market, and why the working of the seam should not cause the opening of the Mokau country. We are informed that the river could be so improved by the removal of snags that a steamer could go up so as to lie alongside the seam, and load in the most expeditious manner. Within a few miles, at the Waitara, there is always a market for coa 1 , and auy coal which is according to the specimen we have seen would command sale and a high price at Wellington. We commend the subject to the attention of Mr. Macandrew. By assisting in the development of this fiald, the Government have several important objects to gain. A piece of the coal can be seen at the Herald office.

DAMAGE TO THE RAN GIT ATA RAILWAY BRIDGE. (From the Timartt Herald, December 28.) Once more th it wonderful example of engineering skill—the Ranyitata railway bridge —has suffered considerable damage by floods, and been rendered, for a time at least, utterly useless for goods traffic purposes. The hot nor'-wester of Thursday uight had the usual effect —melting masses of the winter's accumulated snow, and causing it to be discharged in volumes of water down the Rangitata, River. On the early train from Ashhurtou yesterday morning arriving at the north end of the main bridge, there was no appearance of auythmg being wrong, and it accordingly proceeded to cross in that slow aud cautious manner which has wisely been deemed necessary since the fl >ods of three or four months back. When the train had reached the last span but one on this side of the bridge over the river proper, the engine was suddenly felt to sink, and the driver, seeing at once that there was imminent danger of going through, reversed it, and returned back to the north side. It ■was certainly very fortunate that he did so, as it afterwards turned out ; the chances of the train bringing up beneath the boiling waters of the Rtagitata, had he proceeded further, were very great. The state of affairs at the bridge was immediately wired to Mr. Jmes, the District Statiou Master at Timaru, who ordered the uptrain from here, which was waiting at Orari for that from Ashburton, to pr >ceed on to South Rangitata, and get the across the river if possible. On arrival at the river it was found that none of the northern passengers, five in number, had been allowed to cross,-owing to the shaky state of the bridge. However, the southern passeu•gera—about twenty all told—were eont over

by trolly or on foot, aud those from the north brought back. During the rest of the day the admirable arrangemeuts male by Mr. Jones prevented much delay occurring to the passengers and mails, special trains being despatched to bridge over the space between the express trains. Our reporter visited the Rangitata about sir o'clock last evening. He found comparatively little water in the creek, while in the main stream the volume, although great, was nothing to be compared to that of the previous two floods. The water was then going down rapidly, aud had fallen six or eight iuches during the afternoon. On reaching the south approach to the main bridge a dip of between two and three inches was noticeable in the rails at the further end of the first span, while the line, as far as the eye could see, presented a very wavy appearance. A closer examination showed that the first row of piles from the embankment had been completely undermined, aud were apparently hanging clear of the bottom. They were swaying and swinging about in the current, aud were only kept together by the stroug sheeting aud by the framework and planking of the upper part of the bridge. As he walked along the bridge, our reporter s-.ates he felt the whole concern trembling visibly, although the current was really nothing extraor liuary. The damage to tbe span in question was evidently caused by the approach turning the stream, and thereby throwing it with full. force at angles to the bridge, and fair against the sheet-piling. The piles themselves seem only to have driven a foot or two into rhe shingle, and, of course, as soon as this was scoured away, they were left hanging. During tie afternoon the span in the middle of the bridge, which was injured by tbe previous fl>>od, and which was iu course of repair, again gave way, and the piles were left clear of the bed of the river. I; will take a week at least to streugtheu the bridge sufficiency for heavy goods traffic ; and in the meantime the business community must suffer accordingly. Passengers may cross in safety in the meantime, and the trains from Timaru will be rua to as near the proper time as possible. An. almost general hope is expressed that the bridge may be swept away entirely before auy lives are lost ; and while we hardly share in this sweeping desire, yet we are fully convinced that until a new structure takes the place of the present one, there will be no safety to life, or hope of a continuity of train running.

STARTING NEW SURVEY. (Prom the Patea Mail, Decemoer 28 ) On Tuesday, the 17th December. Mr. W. Williams, Land Purchase Commissioner, left Carlyle for the purpose of formally starting the t-urvey of the Kaitangiwhenua Block, comprising about 200,000 acres lying between the Waitotara and Wheuuakura Rivers, lately purchased for the Government. We have gathered the following particulars from a reliable source:— Mr. Tisdall, of Napier, the successful tenderer for the bouudary survev of the block, left Waitotara with about 20 uatives, who had been engaged for the wok, and proceeded in three canoes up the Waitotara River, at the end of the previous week, having with them instruments, tents, provisions, &c. Another party of natives who were interested in the bl ck also followed, having with them a quantity of small arms in addition to ordinary stores. Three other surveyors, who had been engaged to survey land on the Waitotara side of the river, proceeded up river the same day as Mr. Tisdall.

Mr. Williams, with his party of natives iu two canons, left Waitotara shortly after hia arrival there on Tuesday, reaching Papatupw the same evening. By dint of strong pulling, the party arrived on Wednesday night at Temamanga, having landed aud p irtaken of food about midnight at Te Puaw, a place belonging to the chief Te Rakie. Ou Tuursday morning an early start was made, and Piraunui, the end of their j-mrney, was reached about 9 o'clock, though but a few miles as the crow flies, is reckoned to be over forty mdes distant from Waitotara by the* river, and is situated on the west bank. Just above this point, aud runninginto the Wdtotara River from the east, is the Manganuiotahu Creek, the largest tributary met with on the journey. The cour.-e of the river is very crooked, in places almost doubling ou itself, forming tongues of beautifu! level land of the richest quality. Smooth water is met with for the most part, and excepting occasionally where ell weirs have been cou-trucced or timber has fallen across it into the river, the canoes spin along at a merry pace. Some of the ell weirs are difficult to get through, and stores have to be unloaded aud c irried for short distances, and the cauoes hauled along with ropes. Betweeu the rapids there are reach s of gently flowing streams from one to between two and three 'miles long, indicating the gently rising: nature of the laud. The fallen timber which now and then obstructs the passage could easily be removed. The river in times past appears to have been thickly peopled, as judged by the many remains of fortifications and now deserted plantations to be met with. The inhabitants of the river are now few. The tongues of land formed by the winding course of the river comprise fiats of very rich soil, which have been c!e>red of native growth and laid down in English grasses and planted with frnifc trees, altogether showing a high state, of cultivation, and forming some of the prettiest homesteads to be met with in New Zealand. The confiscated boundary line lies between Temamanga and Piraunui, and its position near the river was formerly known to the uatives by a solitary white pine not far from the actual boundary. The pine still stands, and a curious tale is told by the natives of its first appearauce. They believe it was formed in one night from the body of one ol their young men—that iu fact he was transformed from a man to a tt-ee as a living memorial of the evil which, had befallen them.

*1 tie arrival tit Mr. Williams and party at Plraunui was the signal for a great demonstration, liraunui itself is a beaut.ful spot, being situated on a large flat formed by a bend in the river, is laid down in English grasses, and has an abundance of fruit and other trees, with poultry, sheep, and cattle, and other comforts and conveniences uncommon with natives living inland. The native whares have been well and neatly built, and together with the clean white tents belonging to the parties who had preceded Mr. Williams formed as pretty an encampment as could well be conceived. Fully 150 natives were present, many carrying small arms, and immediately Mr. Williams arrived there was a general commotion, all flocked towards the landing plae, a salute was fired, and a song of welcome started by the chief Te Pika (who had gone up the river with Mr. Tisdall), was taken up by others, and speeches and songs of welcome were continued all day and until past midnight, Mr. Williams having occasionally to reply. Survey operations having been started, Mr. Williams, wich his party of natives, returned to Waitotara, hiving started about six o'clock on Friday morning, with the current, and having strong pullers, reached Waitotara in one day.