RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION. WELLINGTON, August 22.

Otago Witness, Volume 25, Issue 2321, 25 August 1898, Page 27

RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION. WELLINGTON, August 22.

The Public Works department has re- • ceived instructions to proceed at once with the construction of the railway between Blenheim and the Awatere, a distance of about 15 miles. The work is to be carried out on co-ojDerative principles under the supervision of Mr S. J. Harding, at present assistant engineer for the Pifblic Works department at Hunterville. The terminus will be about the centre of the Starborough estate, recently purchased by the Government for close settlement.

I Six brewing companies in Melbourne show a net loss on their last reports. The loss is attributed to over-capitalisation and competition. During the first woek of August there died in U)e Orange district (New South Wales) five peroons the total of whose ages wa-s 407 years. Forged £1 notes on the Bank of New South Wales! are said to be in circulation in Newcastle. They are numbered A (over 5)

735291. A youth was fined £4 14s at In1 vercargill on Monday last for firing a gun in a public place and wilfully damaging the shelter shed at Tisbury station, tin denied that he fired wilfully, alleging lli;»t> the locks would not stand at half-cock, "o he earned the gun at full cock, that it st:u<-'; against the doorway and one barrel was fi;ed by the shock. Some boys deposed that they paw the youth put the gun to his shoulder. Major Keddell did not belieye the youth's story, and said that his metnod of carrying a gun proved him to be an idiot, who should not be allowed at large with a loaded gun with children about. He might think himself lucky that he was not there on a charge of manslaughterr