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Southland Times, Issue 1720, 28 March 1873, Page 2

The man named James Smith, reported in our last issue as having been seriously injured while working ia the bush on Mr Young's station at Otapiri, was received into tho Hospital on Thursday morning. It appears that about 9 o'clock on the morning of the 24th inst. Smith was working in the bush alone, on a range about two miles from the home station, felling a largo kohai tree. Having cut partlj through one side with the axe and cross-cut saw, he was cutting with the saw on the other. The tree was hollow, a fact which Smith did not suspect, and consequently it came down suddenly much sooner than it would other- , wise have done, injuring him soriously. The left leg is supposed to be broken in several places, the thumb of the left hand has been severed, and other severe injuries have been sustained by the unfortunate man. He was found nine hours after the accident, and a messenger was at once despatched to Winton, and Dr Monckton was brought up by a special train. The sufferer was in the first instance taken to Mr Dundas's, Glenure, being the nearest house, and thence removed with some difficulty to Wintoa station, whence he was forwarded to the Hospital. The services rendered by Constable Tuohy in connection with the affair are highly spoken of. Smith is a native of Scotland, about 39 years of age, a single man of most respectable character, and a good bushman. A reference to our telegraphic news will show that a correspondent of the Otago Daily Times vouches for having seen a live moa. The story, which has recently been current in town about this rara avis, was not thought worthy of ' reproduction in either of the local papers, but now apparently comes back to us through " the wiret." The Provincial Council will meet on the 6th May, at noon. The firing for the rifle and sword-bayonat presented to the Artillery corps by Mr Hannah was commenced yesterday. The men turned out well, and the scores hitherto have been very creditable. At the meeting of the Municipal Council on Thursday evening the Miyor and all the rjonucillora were present. The minutes of the special meeting (held in private) on Wednesday for opening tenders for debentures, were read aad confirmed. It appeared that a tender for the whole sum of £3,503, at £102, had been accepted. The following tenders were accepted : — James Hay, gravelling Kelvin street, including footpath, £104 19s ; James Hay, gravelling Jed street, £38. Tbe following interesting figures ara from the , Superintendent-Collector's '' Account of Land in Cultivation and of the Agricultural Produce thereof," in the Southland district for the year ending February, 1873 : — Number of holdings — In the electoral district of Mataura, 362 ; • electoral district of Riverton, 303 ; electoral district of Wallace, 67 ; total, 732. Land broken . up, but not in crop — Mataura, 2211 acres ; Riverton, 3902^ acres ; Wallace, 1083 acres ; . total 7196£ acres. Sown in wheat — Mataura, 748 l acres ; Riverton, 2349| acres ; Wallace, 509fc ■ acres ; total 3607? acres. Estimated gross pro- [ duce of wheat — Mataura, 21,867 bus ; Riverton, ; 72,855£ bus ; Wallace, bus ; total i 111,927* bus. Oaten hay-— Mataura, 2417i 1 acres ; Riverton, 454£ acres ; Wallace, 835i acres ; I total, 3707$ acres. Sown in oats for grain — ' Mataura, 2961J acres; Riverton, 6285 acres; [ Wallace, 325 acres; total, 9571£ acres. Esti- : mated gross produce of oats (grain only) — ' Mataura, 84,012 bus ; Riverton, 204,756* bus ; 1 Wallace, 10,630 bus ; total, 299,398* bus. Sown 1 in barley — Mataura, 54* acres ; Riverton, 1121* ' acres ; Wallace, 27i acres, total, 1203 aores. Esti- ' mated groBS produce of barley — Mataura, 1085 ' bus ; Riverton, 34,066 bus ; Wallace, 825 bus ; total 35,976 bus. Sown grasses (hay) — Mataura, 473 ' acres ; Riverton, 40fi| acres ; Wallace, 322 acres ; I total, 1201f acres. Estimated gross produce of grass hay — Mataura, 643J tons ; Riverton, 505* torn ; Wallace, 504 tons ; total, 1653i tons. . Permanent artificial grass (including the pre- , ceding") — Mataura, 27,597 acres ; Riverton, 7931* , acrei; Wallace, 1301* acres; total, 36,879f [ acres. In potatoes — Mataura, 345| acres ; Ri--1 verton, 219* acres ; Wallact, 61! acres ; total, [ 627 acres. Estimated gross produce of potatoes — Mataura, 2038 tons ; Riverton, 1100 tons ; . Wallace, 294J tons ; total, 3432J tons. In other : crops — Mataura, 2449 acres; Riverton,629£ acres; : Wallace, 130 acres ; total, 3209* acres. Total number of acres under crop, including gown grasses — Mataura, 36,573* acres ; Riverton, 19,041i acres ; Wallace, 3191 acres ; total, 58,805* acres. Quantity of lait year's crop re--1 maining on hand when the form waa filled up— 1 Wheat, 440 bus ; oats, 11,590 bus ; barley, 230 : bus. At the meeting of the Land Board on Tuesday, 25th inst., there were present Messrs Baker and • M'Arthur. The following applications were , granted: — John H. Menzies, 500 acres, Oreti 1 Hundred ; John Brown, 64 acres, Mabel 1 Hundred ; George Webster and Richard Gibbs, ; 360 acres, 358 acres, and 120 acres, Hokanui . district, run 148 ; John Wilson, 210 acres, New 1 River Hundred. Applications from Kenneth M'lvor, D. M'Arthur, John Speuce, David 1 Spence, James Spence, and Richard Spence, each for a lease of 80 acres in the Wario District (Mount , Nightcap coalfield) under the

17th clause of the Southland Waste .Lands Act, | Amendment Act, 1867, were deferred to the next full meeting of the Board. The application of A. Ross for a sawmill ]u;en33 o^er 430 acres in the Wuimatuku Bash was allowed at request of applicant to stand over for a week, to enable a sketch of the ground to be made. Josoph Hitch applied for 50 acres at Pacerson's Inlet as a site for a whaling and sealing station. This application was also postponed for consideration by a full meeting of the Board. Tho application of John Coucher for the ri^hfc to construct a water race for his saw-raill in the Longwooilßush was referred to the Commissioner of Crown Lands, the Board having no power to grant it, but recommendie^ tho Commissioner to give Mr Coucher any protection in his power. It was decided to declare the Waiinatuku Bash open for saw-mill licenses. The promoters of the last Hokitika Exhibition are already making preparations to hold another during tho next Christmas holilays. The new part of the Auckland wharf has been coated with lar and then sprinkled with sand with a view to its preservation. Dr Cuthbert Featherstonhaugh, of Melbourne, has been selected as Surgeon-Superintendent to the Hokitika Hospital, his appointment to bo dependent upon the production of the originals of testimonials and diplomas. Notice is taken in the Sydney papers of a new patent lining for saddles and collars, the value of which is that it not only prevents but cures sore backs in horses when used for saddle lining, and has th« same effect on their shoulders when applied to their collars. It ia a preparation of indiarubber vulcanised and prepared so as to nearly represent a sponge, being perfectly porous. It is described as a most invaluable discovery for stud -masters or stock-owners. Referring to the progre»s of the harbor works, the Oamaru paper says :— A block weighing about 100 tons was made in situ last week, and another large block is now in progress. The wall will be completed some 26 feet farther out in about three weeks, and everything will thea be ready for working the steam crane, and depositing the blocks now lying on the Reclamation. A Btrike has occurred among the miners employed in Thompson's pit, Kaitangata. The price hitherto paid was 5a per ton, which the men consider too little. The Dunedin Star gives the following particulars of the purchase, for £30,000, just made in Napier by Mr Thomas Calcutt, on behalf of himself, Mr Harris, and Mr Eich, of the freehold and station properties of Joseph Rhodes, Esq. The Grange property comprises 1500 acres, together with 3500 acres leasehold, 9000 longwoolled sheep, inclusive of the largest stud flock in the Colony. The Matapiro run comprises 22,700 acres, with 15,000 locg-woolled sheep, together with herd of cattle, horses, implements, and all improvements. It is said that the shares in the National Bank will shortly be allotted. Eight hundred and seventy-six individuals in the colony have applied for 41,740 shares. A Dunedin coiate-nporary gays that it is stated on the best authority that under no circumstances will Mr Fox continue as Premier after Mr Vogel's arrival ia. Wellington. The Governor, prior to his departure, offered the Premiership to Mr Vogel, and it is understood that he accepted it. Mr Whitaker, of Auckland, has been offered a seat in the Upper House, but he has not yet accepted the offer. The latest intelligence from Clyde is to the effect that the Pneumatic Company hare atruek good gold. The yield from the last bottom of the tube is eight ounces. An effort is being made by the Westland Register to incite the inhabitants of Hokitika to take fresh interest in tho project of establishing a Gas Company. The West Coast Times learns that there are only two men working at the recent rush at the Blue Spur, the others being driven away by the quantity of water to be contended with ; but as soon as the two at work have bottomed, should they hare good prospects, a tail— race will be put in and other claims will be worked. The Grey River Argus hears that a telegram has been received from the General Government accepting th» recommendations of the County Council as to the reduction of the number of Wardens in Westland, and it is said that, according to the telegram, the reductions will involve the retirement of Wardens Price and Aylmer. The number- and value of the Colonial Prizes for this year, won by the representatives of each district at the prize firing, are as follows : —

We have been requested to call attention to the farewell sermons which will be preached by Mr Rish worth next Sunday, in the forenoon and evening, in tbo Wesleyan church. There will also be a tea-meeting on Monday evening in the schoolroom, at which Mr Rishworth will deliver a valedictory address.

A Steange Regiment. — The India troopship Jumna, has arrived at Spithead, bringing the 20th Hussars ; — a corps which has never before been in England — the headquarters and four batteries of the D Brigade, Royal Artillery, a few time-expired men, and eleven lunatics. The 20th Hussars go to Colchester ; the headquarters and three batteries of the artillery to Woolwich, and one battery to Exeter. An individual possessing unmistakable evidence of African extraction (says an j American paper) was arraigned for larceny. The Judge, as of right, was dignified, and said with severe presence : i " Are you guilty, or not ?"— " Sar ?"— " Did you steal those clothes ?" he repeated. — " Golly, boss, 'clare never done it."—" This man says you did."—" He ain't nothing but white trash.'' — " And what are you ?" — " Me ! Why, don't you know me ? I rid with you in the procession ; 1 helped to lead you home when you wer ' tired' that night. Don't you 'member me now ?" There was the suddenest nol. pros, in that darkey's case that judicial annals afford an example of. So much for the advantages of good society.

T-j. .• . No. of Prize -rr , District. pri2eß- Winnerg> Value. Auckland 6 5 £37 Thames 31 9 267 Wellington 5 4 33 Otago ... 41 15 197 Nelson and Marlboro' 3 2 15 Westland 2 1 17 Canterbury 1 1 8 Napier 1 12 Armed Constabluary ... 3 2 ll Total £587