KAITANGATA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2209, 2 July 1896, Page 26

KAITANGATA.

June ,29.— The Kaitangata Rifles fired their final competition for prizes presented by Meßsrs 'T. B. Smith aud H. Browp on Saturday. Volunteers G. Aitcheson an'd'J.' Smith were the winners, with an aggregate score of 110 and 109 respectively. Masonic— The local brethren of the mystic tie at thair monthly meeting on Tuesday evening were honoured with a visit from the following , Grand Lodge officers :— V. W. Bro. Barron, 0.M. ; Bro. Burton, P.G.S. : Bro. Wetherilt, P.G. Dhv C. ; and W. 13ro. Rev. W. Ronaldson, grand ' secretary. ' Thb BfIUNiNEa Inquiry.— ln a mining community suoh as Kaitangata it is but reasonable to suppose that considerable interest would be manifested as to the result of the Brunner Commission. Amongst men of theoretical knowledge alone the report made will appear consistent, but to men of practice it is.if we are to judge by the feeling of practical miners here, very inconsistent. The re"pdrt says, "All the miners were agreed that the mine was not a dry and musty one," yet It gives the cause of the explosion as a blownout shot igniting coal gas, and explosion of coal dust raised f>y the concussion." Great stress is laid in the report on the fact "that the representatives of the miners attributed the outburst to ordinary firedamp, y*t could not indicate where an outburst of firedamp could occur suddenly to '(Produce" the. great force of the explosion." The cause of the explosion is ' held by many to be either a sudden collapse of. the roof in the'abandoned workings driving.the firedamp out to Where work with naked lights ,was proceeding, or '^-Borne person unauthorised visiting a,,part. of, the mine where work was abandoned, and where 'a sudden full of tbe barometer would cause a sufficient quantity of gas to accumulate. - Mine ' Inspection.— Mr J. Gow, inspector of mines for Otago, paid \m half-yearly viiit of inBpection to jtois district during-the paßt week. .Financial Matters —Messrs A. Lee Smith and 7. B. Reid paid a two days' visit to this coalopolis last week, -and now the man in the street has it that a »lice of the banking bridal calca has been consumed not' a hundred miles from Kaitangata. , Prohibition.— The prohibitionists of 1 Bruce are determined to put forward a candidate in opposition to Mr Allen. A conference of delegates 1b to be held at Milton for the purpose of selecting one, and I hear that Mr W. A. Mosley is likely to meat with good support. The local option poll will also receive attention, and I understand that members are closely watching the eeyeral licenced premises so as to be able to discuss with candour,, the amount of Sunday and after hours' traffic conducted by them,, also the extent to which the supplying of children, of tender jears is tolerated.

Charitable.— A committee of lady residents ' are ra-sing subscriptions on behalf of ihe you g - man Gribbeu, whVlest his hand by a gun accident. Their efforts, I am pleased to say, are so far very successful, and hopes are entertaiued that a sufficient sum will ba raised to put the unfortunate young fellow into a business so as to enable him to earn a livelihood. Progress.— Mr D. B. Sievwri«ht, of Balclutha, has opened a branch of his boot and shoe factory here.