Provincial Briefs.

Otago Witness, Volume 15, Issue 1562, 15 October 1881, Page 14

Provincial Briefs.

A draughts match between Tapanui town and country players is on the tapis. Mr Fiskin, of Ohatton, has purchased Mr Robert Muir's (Taieri) entire Wandering WillieThere were 112 on the roll of the Waitahuna Scuool last quarter. The average daily attendance was 82. The Miller's Flat bakers have suddenly raised the price of bread from 6d to Bd, although the price of flour is the same. Goods to the value of 30s were extracted through a broken window in the hotel of Mr Manson, at Swift Creek, a short time ago. The Otago Art Society intend to offer a premium of 10 guineas for the best picture, either iv oil or colours, painted entirely from Nature* The I'apanui people are crymg out m consequence of the scarcity of trucks. It ia aaid that it not unfrequently happens that there is not a single truck to be had. The InvereargiU Orange Lodge has passed a resolution expressing its g-atilude to the Hon. Dr Menzies for the "noble stand he has always made in favour of the Bible being read in the public schools of New Zealand." A lavge number of applications have been made for shares in the Guardian Trust and Executors Company, and there is no doubt that the Company will be floated. The county elections bave been postponed from the Recond Wednesday in November till the third (the 16fc!>). The second Wednesday is the Prince of Wales' Birthday. The Western Star sayß that it is rumoured that Government intend making the Nightcaps colliery railway the terminus of the Otautau-Wairio railway, inßtead of the Government township of Wairio, and that the goods and engine-sheds will be erected there.

Andrew Bane, a railway porter at Gore, while engaged in shunting some trucks there on Monday evening, slipped off the brake, and his foot got somehow jammed and badly bruised. It is thought he will lose two of his toes.

While Robert Howell was driving a one. horse dray across the bridge from South to North Riverton the other day, and when within about a chain from the end, the train from Oolac Bay came on to the bridge. The engine and several tracks passed the dray safely, but the guards of the passenger carriage caught the iron guards of the dray and broke them- TJhe engine was stopped, and the horse was unharnessed from the dray and led off the bridge, the dray also being taken off. The Invercargill police have received information that James Black wag killed on Otama station on Saturday. The unfortunate man, who was on horseback, was under the influence of liq uor, and got thrown. His foot catching in the stirrup he was dragged for some distance, receiving such injuries that, although alive when found, he died within half an hour afterwards. In a letter to the Daily Times the Hon. W. H. Roynolds says that while he is of opinion that a better government than the HallAtkinson one could not be formed out of the present Parliament, he does not hesitate to say that after tho election he would not be at all sorry to see thorn supplanted by men who will deal more fairly towards thiß Island ; that is, unless they will agree to modify thoir policy so aa to bring about so deairable a consummation. Hitherto Canterbury and Otago have been bled unmercifully, and It ia full time that this bloedinfr should cease. Tho following iniirus; items are by the Blue S}jur corrospo'uleut of tho Tuapeka Times :— " All the ciaim« are iv full swing, and the water supply is very plentiful. With reduction of wagen, aud laf&i-v quantities of cement going through tho mill, the shareholders are very well satisfied with the returns. Tho Waipori Water Company have five or Bix

hands employed cleaning out their race, in order to supply the Tailings Company with 500 inches of water daily, if required. The Gabriels Tailings Company will have water running into their new dam at the end of this week, and in the course of two months from date they will be in a position to know Bomething of the grand secret."

A sad accident occurred on Saturday morning last, an infant of three years, named William Scott, whose parents live in Great King street, being burnt to death. It appears that the child was left by his mother in his nightgown near the kitchen fire about 9 o'clock, and that while she was away the child's gown caught fire. On her return Bhe found the poor little fellow all in flames, and althoughshe at once rolled him in a counterpane, the _ infant was considerably burned, and died in an hour afterwards. Dp Borrows was sent for and was promptly in attendance, but the injuries sustained were of tooaevere a nature for his services to be, of any avail.