Latest Intelligence.

Colonist, Volume XIII, Issue 1278, 24 December 1869, Page 4

Latest Intelligence.

SHOCKING AND FATAL ACCIDENT AT TIMARU, CANTERBURY.

THE COLONTAIi MAETNE ENGINEER (MR. BALFOUR) AlfD ANOTHER GENTLEMAN DROWNED.

LATEST NATIVE NEWS —A FIGHT WITH TE KOOTI IMMINENT.

Weiungioit, Dec. 19. At Timaru, on Saturday evening, December 18, a number of passengers went off in a surf boat to the ; 9.8. Maori, then in the roadstead. When some dis- * tance from the shore the iurf line fouled. A boat: was put off from the steamer to the assistance of the ' surf boat, in which there were fourteen persons. The steamer's boat succeeded in taking all on board with- : out accident, and then started off for the steamer, but when within a, few yards of her, capsized bottom upwards, throwing all into the sea. Some of them regained the boat, and some were saved by ropes and life-belts thrown from the Maori. The shore life-boat put off and rescued one man, a passenger, T?ho was clinging to the boat. All were saved excepting Mr. Balfour, Colonial Marine Engineer, and Mr.Smallwood who were ajifortnnately drowned. Amongst the other passengers weee Messrs. G.B. Parker, Joel (Dunedin), Captain Malcolm of the s.s. Maori, and Mr. Menzies (picked off the boat). Mr. Smallwood was teller of the Union Bank, Timaru, further accounts state that the boat was washed by a lie^vy roller against the steamer, causing her to capsize. .She went to the windward side of the steamer, but for phat reason is not known. The bodies have not yet bee# .recovered. Wellington, Dee.£o. Mr. Ba)lfW*s tfU&ith lias caused great gloom hei-e. > He is most deeply regretted. The Flying Squadron mill visit Wellington on the 20th January, and Auckland on the ,Ist of February. Te Kooti has reached Maveayqp,, iifty miles from Tokangamulu. Kewi's messenger toid&im to.remain quiet. Te Kooti said he was goiug ( to QCo|jan|[amiitu to make his own laws. The King natives ore $3g 4 embling, and a fight is likely to take place. December 23. By later news we learn that Te Kaotj, with several hundred men, is within a couple of days' march fr,om Tokungamutu. Kemp and Topia (the Upper Wangamii chief), with a considerable force, are after him with the determination to capture him. Bkbnbeim, Deo. 22. The Provincial Council hns sat for two days being inacAle to agree to the choice of a Superintendent; Mr. W. H.'Eyes and Mr. A. P. Seymour were the candidates. At 230 p.m., the Council was prorogued liy Mr. Eyes ; the numbers were then understood to be—For Mr. Eyes, 9; for Mr. Seymour, 10. A '

petition to hi* Excellency the Governor for Mr. Eyes'g removal has been signed by the Speaker and twelve members. Westpobt, December 21. A fire has occurred on the premises of Messrs. Dutton and. Anderson, bakers, Gladstone-street, There was not sufficient evidence to show the origin of the fire.—On Saturday last, a fire broke out in a house, known as Stewart's Waterman's Arms Hotel, on the Esplanade; it was supposed to be the work of an incendiary. Luckily, the damage done by both these fireß (which make four within a fortnight) was very trifling. A body of Volunteer Night-watchmen has been formed, with a view to check incendiarism. Dt/NEDIff. Late news from the Fijis states that a European and four natives, whilst travelling from Tumime to Naeaki, Island of Tanaa, bad been killed and eaten by the natives.