LATE SHIPPING.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 5018, 28 May 1889, Page 3

LATE SHIPPING.

IMPORTS, In the Grafton N.M. and A. Company, 50'tons general merchandise. Consignees— Miles, Archer and _ Col, Fortune, Brown, Zander, Shepherd, Hibbard, Poarpoint, hfoyris, McKibbon, Owors, Coira, Mahoney, Agents, Gibson, U.S.S. Co. The s.s. Hauroto will leave for Sydney via Lyttelton and Wellington on Monday next. The s.s. Brunner is duo hero on Thursday to discharge 400 tons of coal on account of the Westport Coal Company. The s.s. Herald will leave on Thursday for Lyttoltqc, Wollißgtoa Greymouto.

The Frisco mail was to bo brought down by a special train this afternoon, and was expected to arrive here about four o’clock. A ruffianly assault was committed between 12 and 1 o’clock on Friday morning, on Shakespeare road, Napier, by six men, on Dr Moore, who was much ill-used, and only saved himself from serious injnry by rushing into bis residence.

A fire brigades’ competition was held at Gisborne on Friday last. Four teams from Hawke’s Bay contested. All the events except one were won by the local men, and out of £l2O prize money the visitors took only £25. The times are said to be some of the fastest yet made. A southerly swell set in last evening, and this morning heavy breakers wore pounding on the Ninety Mile Beach. There is probably some relation between this ground swell and the fogs that prevailed yesterday and the day before ; and even with the great storm which our cables describe as now raging in SouthEastern Australia.

The lowering of the roadway and footpath in George Street, opposite the post office, besides wasting the ratepayers’ money on an unnecessary work has necessitated "trouble and expenditure on the part of the Gas Company, who have to lower their rider and service pipes under the path. What are those “ adopted ” levels, which are no more levels than was the natural surface ? The Navals’ annual ball was held in the Columbia Eink building last night, and was the most successful ball ever held by the corps The room was handsomely decorated, and the floor had been well prepared. Mr C. 0. McCarthy’s string band furnished excellent music, Mr Alfred Williams was an efficient M.C., and the catering of Mr W. Jones was all that could be desired. There were about seventy couples present, all dancers, all seemed to enjoy the gathering very much, and dancing was kept up till about four o’clock this morning. Among the invited guests present were Colonel Bailey, commanding the district, and some officers of country volunteer corps.

The following from the Napier, News of Wednesday last will interest our readers : “Mr J. Qoodall, who is Engineer of the Harbor Board, and has been in receipt of £IOOO a year, yesterday had his salary reduced to £SOO, to take effect on and after November next. The committee appointed recently to report on the financial position of the Board made this recommendation, which was carried into effect after a somewhat lengthy discussion. The Board find that economy is necessary in their present financial position, and have made a sweeping redaction in the remuneration received by their highest salaried officer. A jump from £IOOO to £SOO is certainly a rather big one and townspeople are wondering whether the engineer will stay under the Board after November at such a salary. At the meeting yesterday the Mayor, and Messrs H. Williams and J. H. Vautier expressed the opinion that £SOO was too low, and a motion that his salary be £6OO, supported by the trio, was lost, all the other members being against the proposal. The report of ihe committee was then adopted.” What is the Clifford boat-lowering device ? Mr A. P. Clifford, of Dunedin, writes to tho Star about an invention of his brother Charles (now dead) which he asserts has on several occasions proved most useful in saving life at sen, from the promptitude with which it enables a boat to be lowered, and he refers to the fatal accident of that kind on the last trip of the Alameda. He tells the following in connection with this invention. “ Over twenty-five years back, after spending £6OO in bringing ray brother’s boat lowering apparatus before the Steam Navigation Board of Melbourne, I induced that body to make it compulsory that all steamers leaving Melbourne should carry it. In tho year 1872 I paid a visit to England. On my return to Melbourne in 1876 I went on board one of the Now Zealand steamers and found none of her boats fitted with the apparatus. I was referred to Captain J. M'Lean. I asked him how it was tho vessel was not provided with Clifford’s apparatus as tho Act required. He said she was provided. I told him I had examined all the boats, and not one was so fitted. He admitted such was the case, but added that tho Act said the ship should carry the apparatus that the did so carry it; it was down in the hold.”