INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4244, 27 October 1874, Page 3

INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

OTAGO. All the single women who came by the Invercargill readily met with engagements at the Caversham Barracks, as domestic servants, at wages varying from £26 to £4O a-year. The supply was by no means equal to the demand, as we are informed that double the number could have obtained situations without any difficulty. Many persons who deferred visiting the Barracks until too late, were disappointed, as the whole of the girls were engaged early in the day. About ten single men were also hired at the Barracks in Piinces-street, at the current rates of wages. That there are many baptised heathens in our midst, remarks the Otago Daily Guardian of a day or two ago, has of late been questioned, ~ but we think the veriest optimist will admit that *C there may be some truth in the proposition, after reading what we are about to relate, and for the accuracy of which we vouch. In a certain locality not more than a hundred I, leagues from Dunedin there resides a married woman, whose husband some time ago deserted her for the society of a mistress, with whom he has since lived in open shame. There was one young child at home with the wife, and it lately sickened with the measles. Its recovery was hopeless, and the mother sent to her errant husband to tell him that his child was dying. Tardily obedient to the dictates of nature, the husband reluctantly visited his wife’s abode, and remained there through the night, during which the infant died. His absence aroused the anger and jealousy of the abandoned woman who had allured him from his home, and early in the morning she re- \ paired to the wife’s house. Then ensued a scene over which we would gladly draw the ■■veil, were it not that we desire to point a moral. The two women —the true wife and the false—confronted each other. Taunts were freely exchanged, and angry words soon gave place to blows of mutual hatred. Over the dead body of the unconscious infant these women actually fought with such blind fury as only jealous women feel. And during the disgraceful scene the man—father, husband, paramour —stood helplessly by, unable to part the combatants. We will not prolong the story ; but we ask, are there not unconverted Christian-heatheni in our midst, requiring the . aid of the evangeliser fully as much as the savages of the South Sea Islands ? An accident has happened to Mr. D. Proudfoot and Mr. George Turnbull, which might hare had a fatal termination but for the circumstance that the tide was at ebb at the time. They were riding in a buggy along the Vaux-hall-road, and, on approaching the bridge the horse shied at two men who were fishing. Mr. Proudfoot jumped out, but Mr. Turnbull, who - was driving, held on to the reins, and tried to urge the animal forward. In spite of his efforts, however, the horse backed over the seawall into the bay, which, fortunately, is very |, shallow at the spot where the accident hap- ' pened, though a few yards further on it is 30ft. deep. The occurrence was first witnessed by ■■ ■■? lady, who at once gave the alarm, when Unstable McLaughlin, of the Anderson’s Bay ation, promptly procured assistance. On .•riving at the scene of the disaster, the contable found the buggy and horse still in the water, but, with some trouble, the horse was eventually rescued in a much-injured condition. It seems that the animal was so deeply imbedded in the soft mud that it tasked the united strength of eighteen or twenty men to drag him on to the bank. The buggy was smashed. Neither of the gentlemen sustained any injury, barring a thorough ducking, of which both had an equal and sufficient share. The Meadowbank Estate, East Taieri, the property of Mr. G. M. Bell, has been sold by Messrs. Driver, Stewart, and Co. The estate, which consists of about 4SO acres, was sold at prices ranging from £ls to £2O per acre. “ Beach-combing,” common enough on the West Coast and in Auckland, is not much in favor in this province. The golden sands of the Coast have, however, attracted a number of gold-miners of late. Between the Mataura and the Molyneux there are now, as we are informed, about 100 miners, all of whom seem to be tolerably well satisfied with their earnings. Many of them have settled down very comfortably, building cosy huts for themselves and families. The inhabitants of Green Island are complaining of the delay in the construction of the branch line to the coal pits. A few chains , of the line were formed some months ago, but b since then nothing has been done. Cobb and Co.’s afternoon coach to Milton (writes the Tokomairiro correspondent of the Daily Times) met with an accident on Wednesday evening. When near the Waihola tollgate the horses shied at a wet place on the road, caused by waggoners watering their horses, and swerved off the road, upsetting the * coach. There were five or six passengers, all of whom escaped uninjured. One of the 'river’s legs, getting jammed under the coach, 'as sadly bruised, and the flesh a great deal >m. Immediately that the accident was reard of, Mr. Crawley, agent for Cobb and Co., u Dunedin, started off with a fresh coach and brought up the passengers and Duff. Medical /assistance was at once sent for for the driver. Messrs. Cargills and McLean are now connecting their wool and com warehouse in Princes-street South with the Dunedin and Clutha Railway line by means of a short branch line extending along the southern side of their store to the street. As this line is of the same gauge as the Port Chalmers and Clutha lines, it will enable the firm to receive or despatch goods to or from their store, in a very labor-saving and effective manner. Since the present seasonable change in the weather set in, increased action has been displayed at the new pier works. Port Chalmers. The filling in, or reclaiming process, is being vigorously pushed ahead by the sub-contractor, Mr. Farquharson, and so is the extension of the inner end of the pier; a day or two will see it connected with the Railway Pier. It is, of course, satisfactory to note the progress of this important work, but yet we could wish it further advanced, and fear that it will not be completed in time to serve the turn of the coming season. A plover of the kind known as the Australian thick-kneed plover, says the Times, was shot beyond the Junction two or three days ago. Such a bird has not been seen in the colony before, and this one has either escaped from some vessel at Port Chalmers or has been a chance visitant to this place. An accident attended with rather serious results lately happened to Dr. Stewart, of the Lawrence Hospital The doctor, with Mr. Abel, Clerk of the Resident Magistrate’s Court, had been to Waitahuna, and on their return to Lawrence the shaft of the buggy broke short off. This frightened the horse, which became unmanageable and bolted, eventually capsizing the vehicle over a steep bank. The doctor's ankle was much hurt, and the buggy was smashed. Mr. Abel jumped out when the horse bolted, and escaped without injury. Concrete, as a building material, is becoming quite the rage. We are informed, says the Times, that two fine private houses, to cost about £IOOO each, and to be built of concrete, are shortly to be erected in Dunedin, and. that a private residence also of concrete, for one of our city merchants, is to be erected during the Bummer at a cost of upwards of £3OOO. This building will have upwards of twenty rooms. Mr. Hardy, who is the architect for the foregoing, has also in hand plans for the gas works buildings at Mossgiol, which are to be built of concrete, and has just completed a , house of the same material for Mr. Smail, of . Mossgiel. The house is proof against wind, rain, damp, and rats. We also learn that % stone-breaking machines are ; being fitted up, and others are being imported, to supply metal for concrete, ’ As to the cost of build-

ing in this way, we find that professional men differ. Wo may say, however, that we know of good three-roomed cottages being put up in this material for slightly over £9O each. Dr. Weber, aged forty-two, a native of Bavaria, has died at Tokomairiro, after a short illness, from congestion of the lungs arising from a diseased t heart. He had been in practice in Tokomairiro for tha last fourteen years. New banking premises for the Bank of New Zealand are about to be erected at Clutha Ferry. Alternative tenders are being called for in wood or concrete, and the building is to be proceeded with with all convenient speed. CANTERBURY. The education rate in the district of East Christchurch this year is tonpence in the pound. The barque Natal Queen,'from Hobarton, says the Lyttelton Times, brought two thoroughbred horses, but owing to the fact that a certificate was not procured at the place of shipment that the horses were free Rom disease, they could not be landed here. The matter has been under consideration by the Government, but owing to the want of the noceessary certificate required by the Ordinance, permission to land cannot be given.

Shortly after six o’clock yesterday evening, says the Lyttelton Times of the 24th instant, Mr. W. F. Warner, of the Commercial Hotel, Cathedral-square, detected an escape of gas in one of the rooms lately added to the old building, and on examination found that the plasterers had carelessly left the gaspipe open in the ceiling. He corked up the end of the pipe, and then struck a match to light his pipe, when an explosion immediately took place. Both Mr. Warner and his barman were thrown off the plasterer’s scaffolding, which they had ascended to look for the leakage of gas, on to the floor, and were severely burnt, but especially Mr. Warner. Medical assistance was promptly called in, and the injuries to both the sufferer's attended to.

Some curious cases come before the Magistratea’a Courts from time to time. At,Kaiapoi, the other day, a man named Thomas Hutt was charged on the information of his wife Jane Hutt with refusing to contribute towards her support. Complainant stated that she was the wife of the defendant, who resided at Moerald Downs. She had been living apart from him for some time on account of the bad treatment she had received from him. She had been illused by the accused some time ago, and she did not apply to him again for support till about a month ago, when he refused to take her back or provide for her. When she resided with accused ho never gave her a change of diet. It was nothing but fat bacon from day to day, and when she spoke to him about it he said if she did not like to eat the bacon she could eat the rind. In answer to Mr. Thomas, the witness said she was a widow when the defendant married her. Her former husband died in the hospital at the Dunstau in Otago. His name was Robert Doig. She could not read, but a woman named Mrs. Everett read a letter to her, which stated that her husband was lying in the hospital very ill. A short time afterwards she was informed by the same person that her husband was dead. This was about four years ago. She was quite sure that her husband was dead before she married the defendant. A witness named Archibald Bissett was called for the defence, and he stated that some time ago Mrs. Hutt informed him that all she knew about her husband’s death was that she received one letter stating that he was lying in the Dunstau Hospital very ill. Complainant was married to Mr. Hutt when she made that statement. Mr. Thomas submitted to the Bench that the defendant was not entitled to support the complainant, as there was no proof of her former husband's death. He was satisfied that complainant’s first husband was still alive, and he had been inf ormed that she wanted to get rid of her present husband so that she could get married again. His Worship said he would adjourn the case for a month, so that the. hospital authorities at the Dunstan could be communicated with. Complainant had been receiving charitable aid for three weeks, and she would continue to receive it till the hearing of the case.

Last evening, says the Press of the 22nd inst., a very painful accident happened on the Southbridge line, about a mile and a half on the Christchurch side of Lincoln, by which two men received very serious injuries. As an engine with eight empty trucks attached was coming down the line at a steady rate of speed, it, from some cause at present unexplained, ran off the line. The engine did not, however, leave the track at once, but for a distance of about twenty-four yards kept bumping from sleeper to sleeper, till one gave way, when it turned over on its side, and lodged in the bank on the side of the line, the trucks at the same time running off in the opposite direction, and cutting through the railway fence, landed in Mr. Wills’ paddock Three men were on the engine at the time the accident happened, viz., Mr. Townsend, the engineer, Mr. Merrin, the stoker, and Mr. Smith, the chief gauger on the line. Mr. Merrin and Mr. Smith fell under the fire-box of the engine, and consequently received very severe injuries, Mr. Smith having his thigh bone broken, while Mr. Merrin had his collar-bone fractured and his face dreadfully .cut, and otherwise very seriously shaken. Mr. Townsend fortunately escaped uninjured. Mr. Townsend dragged the two sufferers from their painful position, and having let off steam, called for assistance, which speedily arrived, and traps having been procured, they were brought on to the Christchurch Hospital. No cause is yet assigned for the accident, the line at the spot" being nearly, if not altogether, straight; and as far as could be ascertained there was no mark of any obstruction having been placed upon the rails. The track at the point where the accident occurred is not yet ballasted.

LYTTELTON HARBOR WORKS. (From the Lyttelton Times.) To a casual observer, it would appear that little actual progress is being made in the prosecution of these works; but, on inquiry, it will be found that the extension of the breakwaters—that from Officers Point and the other from Naval Point—is being pushed forward by the contractors with all reasonable expedition. Since the present contractors undertook the work—about eight months ago—the breakwater from Officers Point has been extended by about 350 feet, while to the old portion of the breakwater a width of fourteen feet has been added. There are several thousand yards of stone, varying in weight from one to five tons each, and even upwards, readyto go into the works for facing purposes; and so far as this portion of the work is concerned, the contractors are sanguine that more progress will bo made in the next six months than has been made during the six months that have just expired. In addition to the facing stone, there is available a large quantity of material for filling in purposes, and two more largo mines are in preparation to meet the demand that will arise when the material now at command has been absorbed. As the workmen advance further into the hill, the material shows signs of being of a very much harder nature, and in consequence of this they experience a greater difficulty in pushing forward their mines, One great obstruction which the contractors have met with is the difficulty of disposing of the clay with which the rock is covered. Although the clay is scattered over several places, it is found to be so much in the way as to retard the works very considerably. To such an extent does it act as an obstruction, that the contractors sec no other means of disposing of it than by excavating the rock below tho rail level, and filling up the vacuum thus created with the clay. On the works at Officers’ Point one five-ton crane, one three-ton crane, and a steam engine for hauling the trucks out are constantly employed ten hours a day. About seventy men and eight horses are also employed from day to day, in addition to eight smiths, to do tho necessary smithwork. In order to obtain tho required amount of water for the use of tho engines and horses, tho contractors have laid a pipe from tho tank, opposite Miles and Co.’s store to Officers Point—a distance of about 1300 ft. In this manner they are enabled to utilise the water from tho tunnel, an advantage which is thoroughly appreciated by the contractors. With regard to the breakwater from Naval Point, its construction was

discontinued from the 22nd of August until the 22nd instant, in consequence of the great quantity of clay which had to be removed from the top of the quarry. A large mine, containing 15001bs. of powder, was fired on Tuesday morning last, with a result which has been most satisfactory to the contractors. The construction of the breakwater has been recommenced with vigor. Preparations for another large mine are already in progress, so that it will be ready to be fired as soon as the present large quantity of rocky material is disposed of in the extension of the work. During the time elapsing between the 22nd of August and the 22nd inst,, an average of thirty-two men was employed in the removal of the clay, which was found to be as great an obstruction at Naval Point as at the opposite breakwater. The work at the Tunnel-mouth Jetty has not progressed so satisfactorily as the contractor's could desire, on account of the delay that has been caused in the delivery of the necessary piles—the first shipment not being according to specification. The Atlantic, from Jervis Bay, N.S.W., is hourly expected to arrive with ironbark piles, and the work will be prosecuted with all possible expedition immediately after her arrival. Meantime, the contractors are proceeding with the completion of that portion of the jetty which has been already run out; and altogether it may be said that the whole of the works under contract are being pushed forward as rapidly as could be expected when all the circumstances are taken into consideration.

MARLBOROUGH. On Wednesday last, says the Marlborough Express of the 24th inst., a deputation waited upon His Honor the Superintendent, consisting of Messrs. Joseph Redwood, Joseph Ward, Captain Baillie, H. Dodson, and S. Bowler. Mr. Redwood presented a petition signed by 163 persons, praying the Government to erect a bridge at the present ferry site, instead of the composite bridge on the railway. The deputation pointed out that there would be an expenditure amounting to about £2OOO in the purchase of laud, and other charges incidental to the work, and that a toll-keeper would have to be maintained, while a bridge over the ferry would only cost £3OOO to £4OOO. His Honor said, in reply, that he could not see how he could take any course other than that laid down in the last two sessions, the Council having twice voted the money for the composite bridge. Further than that, he could not see where the money was to come from to build a bridge at the ferry; and it would require them to husband their resources for at least three years at the rate of the recent vote, even if they had the money to spare after providing for numerous other requirements. During that time the public would be suffering ; while, on the other hand, there would be a bridge for use at once, and which would save a considerable distance in travelling. He thought it would be better to go on with the present railway bridge, even although it should be seen desirable hereafter to erect one at or about the site of the present ferry for local traffic. There seemed to be a misunderstanding on the part of the deputation that the Province was contributing some portion of the cost of the railway bridge, but this was a mistaken view, as the entire bridge was being constructed out of colonial funds under the vote for railway construction. The costliness of law was shown at Pictou tile other day. A man was sued for town and education rates levied on sixteen sections, and amounting to' £2 3s. 9d. Thirty-two complaints were laid against the man, and he had to pay sixteen pounds sterling as costs !