OTAGO.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 656, 30 June 1870, Page 2

OTAGO.

(From the Daily Times, June 24 to June 2t, inclusive.) We are. authorised to state that Mr H. 8. Fish, junior, intends to contest the Mayoralty at the coming election. This makes the fourth candidate in the field, the other three being Messrs Reynolds, Griffon, and Wilkinson. We are informed that the lighthouse recently erected at the Nuggets will be lighted permanently on and after the 4th July. Mr Nanoarrow, the Chief Inspector, who made an official visit to the place, has found the light to answer admirably. The late rains have caused the creek at Oamaru to wash away the dam put near the Brewery Lagoon, the mouth having been allowed to remain closed ; the consequence has been that the creek has washed away the landing place, and work is almost entirely stopped until something is done. The expenditure of a few pounds now and then in keeping the mouth of the creek open and the dam in repair would save much inconvenience and pecuniary loss. As an evidence of the state of some of the roads in the Tokomairiro district, a correspondent says he the other day overheard the following conversation ; — A to B.— "Did you see anything of my team of bullocks up the road there ? " B. " No, but I saw some horns moving about amongst the mud." A. " Oh, its all right then, you didn't see the flag ? " B. « No, what flag ? " A. «i The puncher sometimes has to erect a flagstaff with a red flag on the bullock's horns to let him know whereabouts they are ; so long as the horns are visible there is no danger." We have received from Wellington the prospectus of the New Union Steam Navigation Company, Limited, established for the purpose of taking over and continuing the business of the N.Z.S.N. Co., and with a view to avert the inconveniences likely to result from the dispersion of that company's fleet. The new company has purchased the whole of the old company's plant, buildings, &c„ and also the s.s, Taranaki, for a total sum of £30,000. The capital is £50,000, in 10,000 shares of £5 each, the payments arranged on easy terms. The oompany propose to commence operations on* tbe 16th July next. The rainfall in the Oamaru district tbis year has been greater than during the same period of any former year since 1852, when, an old inhabitant states, there were similar floods. The consequences to the farmers jure very disastrous.' A large number of stacks of grain have been either destroyed by the wet or seriously injured ; and probably not more than half the crops will ever be brought to market in sound condition. There is a gleam of consolation, however, in the fact tbat the thorough soaking of the ground in this usually dry district will in all probability have a beneficial effect on next year's srop, and there will be a plentiful supply of grass. A singular case of trance has occurred at Maungatua, the subject being a young woman, about 19 years of age, the daughter of Mr Ross, farmer. It appears that she has been occasionally subject to violent fits for about two years past, and since the New Year has been confined to bed. During the time that bas elapsed since then, she has taken no nourishment with the exception of an occasional drink ; and during the 30 days preceding the 23rd inst. (the date -of • our information), she has. remained in a trance, apparently without feeling. She cannot be wakened, but is made to swallow a spoonful of liquid every 48 hours. The only sign of life is the heaving of tbe chest. She has been visited by three medical men, but aU tbeir efforts to arouse her to a state of consciousness have proved unsuccessful. A great deal of anxiety is felt in the Northern districts of the province as to. the -renewal of the restrictions on crossing cattle over the Waitaki into Canterbury. It was understood when the Ordinance to permit sheep to cross into Otago was passed in tbe Provincial Council tbat the Superintendent of Canterbury had agreed to remove the restrictions on cattle. We understand that correspondence has being going on between our Government and the Superintendent of Canterbury on the subject ; and as there is not a trace of disease in thiß province there can be no good reason why we should be prevented from sending our cattle into Canterbury, where at present they would command a better market. We trust no delay will take place in getting this very necessary con- ' cession from the Canterbury Government. ■ In Tokomairiro, on Thursday night, the ■

rain commenced to fall very -heavily, and Continued without intermission till the following forenoon. The river commenced rapidly to rise, and by midday considerable tracts of the low-lying portions of the plain were inundated. The rain having then ceased the river gradually fell and resumed its ordinary dimensions. No great amount of damage has resulted from the flood, although, no doubt, a few individual losses have been sustained. At He'ensbrook Flour Mills workmen had, for some time, been employed repairing the' damage occasioned to the dam by the flood a few weeks ago. In another two days a wooden facing would have been completed, which, it was expected, would prevent future damage. On Friday morning, however, ihe whole was again washed away, and with it a quantity of timber, workmen's tools, &c. Some damage was also again done to Mr G. E. Brown's water race, which was nearly swept away a few months ago. Tbe Main South Road, south of the township, was for a time flooded to a considerable depth by the overflowing of the north branch, but traffic was not suspended. --'lhe following extiact from a private letter by a gentleman long resident in Otago, and connected with the grain trade, and now in San Francisco, has been placed at our disposal by a business firm in town. We suspect tbe secret of the reason why California is able to export grain largely, in spite of high priced labour, whilst New Zealand is not, is to be found in the greater number of labour saving machines which agriculturists in the former country make use of, and some of which sre unsuitable to our damper climate: — "I am sorry to learn by your letter that business is so dull. Strange, that with tbe resources of Otago it should not be more prosperous. Here in California, where 30 to 35 bushels to the acre, with high-pri^-d labour, is the rule, they are sending a stream of shipping to Europe with grain; while you, who can average 50 to 60 bushels, with your wool, gold, flax, and fine grazing country, seem prostrate. It seems to me you only require a liberal land system, with means of transit, to become the finest colony in the world. California is not to compare with it." An amusing incident to all but the party Immediately interested happened near the Stuart street jetty a few days ago. A gentleman, well-known in aquatic circles, moored the yacht in which he intended to sail at the head of that jetty. On returning, he found the tide ■ was very low, and that there was just as much water as would enable, him to float her by dint of bard shoving. He shoved with a pole heel, but that would not do ; the yacht remained immovable. Undaunted, he took off his boots and stockings,' carefully placing them in the yacht, tucked up his trousers, looked determined, and then boldly sprang into the water, or mud. He commenced, to push, and the yacht went slowly forward till Bhe came to where the dredge had cut the bottom 6 feet deep, and as straight as 4 well. Here she, as was to be expected, floated with sudden and, to the unfortunate yachtsman, altogether unexpected facility, causing, him to receive somewhat more of a ducking than he had looked for. Tbe expression of bis countenance, and his general appearance, as he emerged to the surface, may, in tbe language of penny-a-liners, " be better imagined than described." A. West Taieri correspondent writes : — *- The heavy rain which fell last Thursday sight caused tbe river to rise again to half flood level, and for the fourth time during the present year the earthwork approach to the bridge was washed away. Surely the lessons the Government have had on this subject ought to have shown them that it is simply folly to cart earth and clay to this spot, only to be washed into the bed of the river after a few hours' rain. As a sum was voted by the Council during the late session, for constructing a timber approach, it is to be hoped that no time will be lost in commencing /the necessary works. At the present rat^, the amount that would be expended by the -end of the year in repairing the damage done by the river, would be sufficient to construct a permanent timber approach. The settlers of the district have held to consider the subject, and a deputation has keen appointed to wait upon His Honor the Superintendent on Monday, the 27th inst. (today), to urge upon the Government the necessity of constructing a permanent approach without delay. As matters now stand, not only is a great part of the traffic to the interior stopped, but the settlers are put to great loss and inconvenience, for if teams cross the bridge in the morning of a day, several daya may elapse before they are able to recross it. It is to be hoped that the pressure brought to bear on the Government will result in some practical benefit to the district." A good story reaches us from Fiji. A well-known gentleman, formerly, of Tuapeka, but at present in Fiji, attracted the admiration of King Cako Bau by his great height and powerful proportions. The chief, seeing him in the public room of tbe hotel, fixed himself at his side to measure their respective heights, but found his own stately form overtopped by a couple of inches. He then commenced feeling the arms and muscles of our Tuapeka Hercules, and finally put his arm round, his waist in what appeared to show a desire to test their respective strength. At least it was so understood by, Mt C— , who responded to the challenge by ' lifting the old chief as easily and in the same way as a nurse would a child, and depositing him gently in a sitting posture on the floor. Cako Bau got up with a grunt and considerable signs of temper, but at last consented to take a glass of ale and make friends. Next day Hercules happened to go out yachting with a party of ladies. On their return they 'Were landed in the dingy, leaving our friend and two other gentlemen to be sent for. It was flood tide and getting dark when Cako Bau, seeing his chance, " tabued," the boat. Of course, no native then dare to touch it. MrC and his friends, tired of waiting

for the dingy's return, and unconscious of the cause of the delay, bad no help for it, but were obliged to spoil new clothes and dart the sharks by jumping overboard and swimming to the shore. The style of revenge showed ' humour, and as Fijimen respect nothing so highly as physical force, pluck, and gool temper — qualities possessed by Mr C in a hjjj-h degree — we shall probably hear that this little incident has led to a good understanding between them.' During the past. three months dredging operations have been carried on with a view of allowing vessels not drawing more than 12 feet to discharge at Stuart str-et jetty. The channel, which has been dredged, extends from the red buoy near the end of the training wall to the head of the jetty, and is 100 feet wide, and 12 feet deep at higb water. It will be continued with the same depth to the distance of 200 feet alongside the jetty, in order to give the necessary accommodation for heavily-laden vessels. It is intended that vessels in the coal and timber trades shall be discharged at this jetty, in order that the Rattray street jetty may be available for steamers. No training wall haa been erected, but the silt is carried by a shoot 150 feet in length, which discharges it at a distance of 50 feet from the channel. It was at flrst predicted that the silt would be washed away by the action of the tide, but it has stood excellently to the present time. A strong current runs both in this channel and in the one leading to the Rattray street jetty. The silt which has been lifted during the past three weeks is composed of hard sand, shell:*, and boulders, many of the latter weighing 2£cwt., and testing the dredging apparatus severely. No damage was done, however, beyond a little extra wear and tear to the mouths of tbe buckets. Everything on board the dredge appears to be in capital order. The friction gearing with which it has been fitted has here proved itself particularly useful, as by its means the buckets stop working when they come in contact with boulders, or any other weighty solid substance, the remainder of the machinery revolving as usual. The discharging apparatus is in good repair, and has stood the work better than was at first anticipated. The bearings of the machinery have been refitted with patent needle lubricators, of a kind which has lately been imported here. Their peculiarity is that the oil escapes from them only while the machinery is in motion, and they are found to act more efficiently than any other kind. When the dredging work at Stuart street jetty has been completed, the dredge will be employed in cutting a channel off Black Jack's Point, in order that vessels may have a straight course to the Upper Harbour.