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Star (Christchurch), Issue 3358, 13 January 1879, Page 3

eluding figures indicative of very material improvement. It appears the number of vessels piloted during the last six months of 1877 was eighteen, representing a gross tonnage of 5934, and pilotage rates amounting to £85 3s. During the corresponding period of 1878, the number of vessels was 64, with a gross tonnage of 15,746, and £350 2s lOd of pilotage rates. A large number of vessels are exempt from pilotage, and this I return, censequently, only applies to vessels actually piloted by the harbour pilotage service. The poll of the burgesses re the water supply was rather a tame affair, and did not create that interest it was thought it would I have done. Only about one-fourth of the ratepayers recorded their votes ; the number for the proposal to borrow was 155, and against it 107. The Town Council is therefore empowered to borrow a sum not exceeding £100,000 for the purpose of carrying out the proposed Dunsdale gravitation scheme. Mr J. M. M'Donald, Crown Prosecutor, ' had an extremely narrow escape to-day. It was his intention to visit Ofceramika, aiid with this object he hailed a cab and proceeded on the road. When passing down Tay street the cab horse took fright at some object and immediately bolted. During its course down the street the cab came to grief, and Mr M'Donald and the driver (Martin Hughes) were thrown violently to the ground, fortunately Mr M'Donald escaped comparatively unhurt • the driver, however, was not so fortunate. Besides a very severe shaking, he received several cuts from which he will take days to recover. Considerable dissatisfaction exists at Eiverton and in the immediate neighbourhood, in the delay that has occurred in completing the railway to that place ; it is now four years since the first sod was turned. Mr Theophilus Daniel, of Eiverton, has presented to the Invercargill Athenffium a valuable contribution in the shape of a lithographed fac-simile of the "Declaration of Independence, ancl the Treaty of Waitangi, Under the heading " The Latest," the Southland Times this' morning publishes the following remarkable telegraphic message, neither placed not dated, which came to hand from Wakapuaka this morning : — "Africa, Arabia, Ollivier, Auckland, Cooper slow round, London Turkey slight, caught Baker, Ashby sixteen, Tread way bowled Ashby three, Wolf caught Frith first one, Baker bowled Fuller one hunch*ed, Napford caught Fowler, Fuller one, Major fifty- three, extras 72G. Buker Auckland ' Afghan Wolf, Major Auckland, Sometime Italy Turkey." Complaints are made regarding the scarcity of trucks on the railway here ; one promising local industry has been partially stopped in consequence.