DUNEDIN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3359, 14 January 1879, Page 3

DUNEDIN.

[special.] Jan. 13. • Last evening an elderly lady going to church trod on a wax match, and fell with bucli force on the pavement that she was ' rendered for Borne time insensible. A large; Bible and hymn-book which she carried prevented her using her arms to stop the fall. The City Council are taking active steps to prevent any waste of water, as the reservoir is getting rapidly empty, and a water famine is feared. The civil sessions of the Supreme Court commenced this morning. The first case was Smart against Brogden and others, a claim for £608 for material supplied to defendants while plaintiff was a sub-contractor xinder them, in the construction of the Otago railways. Evidence is now being taken. (From flic Correspondent of tlie Lyttelton Times.) DUNEDIN, Jan. 13. A fire occurred in George street at eight on Sunday night, which destroyed a house belonging to Mrs Ridley, occupied by Mr Scott. The building was destroyed, but part of the furniture was saved. The supposed cans© "was. the \ipsetting of a kerosene lamp. The insurances by Mrs Ridley in the National are £200 on the building, £100 on the furniture, and £50 on the piano (saved) 5 by Mr Scott, in Union, £100 on furniture. Fi/o hundred sheep were smothered in a paddock last week, in tho locality of Deep Stream, near Palmerston. The Attorney-General left town for Christchurch this morning, and is expected to return with Mr Macandrew in a week. Both will probably take part in the railway opening demonstration at Inveroargill. Soveral cases of assaulting Chinamen, by youths of the larrikin class, have occurred lately. A boy named Arthur Stoneham had a narrow escape of drowning on Saturday. He foil off a bridge at Pelichet Bay, and a Btrong current carried him thirty yards before he was rescued by a young mun named Robert Walker, who gallantly jumped in after him. Tho contract for the new Bank of New Zealand will be one of tho largest ever undertaken in Otago, except for public buildings. Tho amount is expected to be close on £30,000, and there is considerable excitement amongst contractors as to who will bo successful in getting tho job. The report as to tho scarcity of teachers hero, circulated throughout Australia, baa caused a number of that class to leave Victoria. Many have arrived, and others are to come. They appear to be suitable men, and will speedily obtain employment. It is improbable that through railway communication will be opened between Dunedin and Invcrcargill before Jan. 21 or 22. Scarcitj of railway material is assigned as the cause oi delay.