PROVINCIAL ITEMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1419, 1 February 1879, Page 27

PROVINCIAL ITEMS.

Aiutow, January 27th. The inquiry into the legality pr otherwise of the last County Council election for Arrow Riding resulted in it being declared null and void, on account of electors recording one vote for property and another for miners' rights qualification, when entitled only to one vote, and also because votes were allowed to parties who were not on the roll. Oamaru, January 24th. Last night a number of gentlemen met to cay good-bye to Sub Inspector Sinitb, who is leaving Oamaru to take charge of the Marlborough district. The healths of Mr and Mrs Smith were heartily drunk, and the good wishes of all wave expressed for their future wtlfare. Sub-Inspector Smith left this morning for his new sphere of labour. There was no excitement co-day over the polling on the question of borrowing L 40.000 additional for water supply purposes. Tne voting on the question was as follows: —In favour of the Corporation raising the loan, 282; against, 9. Mr Henry Varley is creating quite a stir in religiou& circles. His service last night was largely attended, as was also his meeting for Bible-reading this afternoon. January 27th,, There was some trouble yestsrcluy iv gutting some of the immigiants ptr Taranaki to the barracks. Many of them were drunk, and fighting and general scrimmages took place. The barracks manager sent for Sergeant Beatty. One of the most conspicuous ot tha combatants was this morning sentenced to one month's imprisonment for his riotous couduefc. Some of the newly-arrived immigrants per Taranaki are proving 4 rather disagreeable eusto merp. One of them, named Greenless, was fined L 5 in the Resident Magistrate's Court today for disorderly conduct and obstructing the police. He only arrived yesterday. January 28th. The annual meeting of the subscribers tn the Oamaru Hospital was held tonight. From tho report it appeared tbat 121 patients had been admitted during the past year; 113 were discharged cured or relieved ; five died, and three remained. The total receipts from all sources amounted to L 1316, and the expenditure to L 1266, leaving a balance of LSO to credit. Mr T. 11. 'Brown was re elected president, and Mr Mainland vice-president. Drs Wait find Garland were nominated for the post of me-lical superintendent, and Dr Wait was elected. Tho election of a director of the Colonial Bank is creating a great deal more interest than is usually manifested in such matters. An active canvass for votes is going on heie. At the Resident Magistrate's Court to-day, George Stewart, charged with embezzling a cheque for L 27, was remanded to Lawrence. Mr W. M. Hay, of Ngapara, met with a seriqus accident last evening, but there are no particulars to hand as to the nature of the accident, or the extent of the injuries he received. Invergahgill, January 23rd. The Hon. Mr Biillanco returns to Dunedin to-morrow morning, being called there on urgent business, but ha intends to return next week accompanied by the Hon. Robert Stouk. It is expected they will remain for some time in Southland. The immigrants that arrived the other day by the ship Western Monarch are not going off by any m^ans so rapidly as had been expected, j The whole of the married couples are still in , the barracks, while a number of the single men | and women have not yet succeeded in obtaining ! engagements. A party of the Northern visitors proceeded to Kingston this morning by Bpecial train, and spent a most enjoyable day. The steamer which is being erected for the Wakatipu Steam Navigation Company by Kincaid and M'Queen, of Dunedin. is expected to be launched on Lake Wakatipu in about a fortnight's time. She will be named the Mountaineer. January 27 th. The whole of the immigrants who arrived the other day by the Western Monarch have now secured employment. In the majority of cases good wages have been obtained. Several of the married portion of the contingent are now eraployed on railway works. January 28th. A man named Bartlett was arrested this afternoon on a charge of forgery. He was brought before Mr M'Culloch, R.M., and remanded. January 29th. One thousand ounces of gold ha 3 been escorted to Waikaia from Switzers. It is the product of eight weeks' work. The Registration Offioer hero ia provided with forms to enable the clerks of Road Boards and Councils to register property under the ratepayers' qualification. The crops, taken altogether, are not really good. Turnips, owing to the ravages of a fly, have suffered conj.i<ier<ibl3', and the second crop that was in some instances sown has not flourished in consequence of the dry season. Grain h short and light, and the area of potatoes sown will scarcely supply local consumption. Pasture is unusually luxuriant. Considerable interest is being taken in tho approaching election for members ot the Bluff Harbour Board. Probably Messrs J. R. Cuthbertaou aud G. F. Maftin will ba brought forward_ for the town. For the suburbs, municipalities, and counties entitled to a member on the Board, several names are mentioned. Some samples of coal taken from Crown lands at Waiau were brought into town today. They present an excellent appearance, being solid, of good colour, and clean. Tho coal has been teated, and burns freely. A discovery of considerable interest to all who take an interest in natural history was made the other day on the banks of the Mararoa River. It would seem that a rabbiter in that locality found a bird, and on the strength of its peculiar, appearance he handed it over to

the manager of Captain Hankinson'a station. It turns out that the bird is a great curiosity, inasmuch as there are only two other specimens known to tbe scientific world. Dr Buller in his work described it as norhnis, the Maori name by which it is traditionally known being tokahc. In appearance it resembles the swamp hen, but is oE a heavier and larger make. The discovery will probably excite some attention amongst parties interested, as search haa often been inado for Ihe bird. Tho only two specimen 3 found have been sent to England, and are now in the British Museum. The body of the bird found tho other day was in a good state of preservation, and the skin hag been taken off and its skeloton preserved intact. The annual meeting of subscribers to the Southland Hospital was held this evening, when there was a full attendance. Mr Hall, the president, was in tho chair. The report and balance-sheet were read, and revealed a moat satisfactory state of affairs ; the subscriptions during the year had increased, but still mo*e was needed. 205 indoor patients were treated during the year, of whom 138 were discharged as cured. The number of out-door patients was 1061. Only twelves death occurred during the 12 months. The number of patients admitted was 79. The balance-sheet showed that the total raceipts amounted to L 1967 103, and the total expenditure to L 1667 12^. There was a credit balance in the bank of L 74 17s 7d, and with subsidies due and debts due by the Government brought the assets of the Hospital up to L 369 17s 4d. The new Committee consists of all the old members, with the exception of two who retired. The names are— Messrs Hall, Perkins, Saunders, M'Kay, Willoughby, Roche, Moffett, Cheyne, and Jacobs. Balclutha, January 29th. Captain Andrew has just arrived here, and states that at daybreak this morning he was awakened at his residence at the Big Mill, Catlin's River, by the large boiler blowing off. He arose, and observed the engine-house and portions of the mill on fire. All hands were aroused, and succeeded with difficulty in saving all the timber except 5000 feet. The store and other buildings, the mill, and plant are completely destroyed— three saws being all that was saved. By this catastrophe 50 men are thrown out of work. The mill and plant was one of the best in the province. Captain Andrew estimates his loss at LSOOO. The origin of the fire is unknown. The insurance has not yet baen ascertained.