Page 2 Advertisements Column 4

West Coast Times, Issue 2739, 11 January 1878, Page 2

early, in order that he may have the whole of the circumstances connected with tbe Mikonui Water Race fully before his consideration, he cannot make any pledges an to I the course of action the Government may see fit to pursue. Tbe Wardsman's report for December showed that there bad been treated during the month in tbe Kumara Hospital Ward, one indoor patient and six out door patients. The indoor patient had since died in the Greymoutb hospital. The County Engineer calls for tenders for some works in the Totara District, in this day's issue. Not a bad plan has been adopted by the Maniototo County Council as thus narrated by a correspondent of un Oamaru paper :— The County Council have let contracts for roads in tbe County amountiag to close on £2000. Instead, however, of following up tbe old Provincial plan of putting on surfacemen, hither and thither, the Engineer, Mr R. H. Browne, has put iuio operation an idea of bis own, which is, to let certain lengths of roads to be not only forme j, but to be kept in repair for a year. This will be a much more satisfactory plan, and one which is likely to be the means of keeping the road in better order. Besides this, a considerable saving is effected. The contracts in total amount will be about £450 less than has hitherto been required to keep the same length of road in repair. The Engineer may therefore be said to have already ea- ned his salary. A settler at Healey in Otago rejoicing in the name of Malcolm M'Grogor, appears to have had a mania for issuing valueless cheques. He appeared at the Police Coui t iv Dunedin last week to answer nearly a dozen charges of this kind. He bad reccnUy deposited a marked cheque for £6 3s 6d with the Bank of New Zealand, Oui -im but almost immediately closed his accoi -Us, and having had a smattering of dealing in cheques, appears to have been seized with an infection for them, and had travelled tlie country between Otakia and Blue! ;'Q duping sundry believing publicaus ou the road.

The good folks of the Grey have collected some funds for tbe Indian Relief Fund, but have not yet remitted the amount to headquarters. A communication has since beeu received from ihe Mayor of Wellington to the effect that no further aid was required for tbe object. Some discu&sion ensued nt the last meeting of tbe committee as to what should be done 'with tbe money subscribed. Ultimately it was resolved that a meeting of subscribers be conveued to consider the matter. Wellington is now taking tbe place o Hokitika in regard to tbe number of deaths recorded. In December the deaths there numbered sixty three, by far tho largest number yet recorded. This is said to be in consequence of the defective sanitary arrangements. In the same month last year the number was thirty four. During the display of fireworks at Wellington on New Year's Eve, a rocket diverged and struck a boy named Blake. lie was not injured by the stick, but bis clothes were set on fire, and he was dreadfully burnt about the thighs and abdomen, with some danger of inflammation setting in. An , Oamaru telegram to the " South Cmterbury Times " states that the Whitaker v. Jones libel case has been arranged to be tried in the second week of March. Tbe correspondent of a Victorian provincial journal reports that the public of Melbourne have been surprised by the elopement of Mrs Derbin Willder, tbe wife of a well-know sharebroker, with a young gentleman, named Clutterbuck, to Tasmania. Mucb. sympathy was felt for both parties, for Mr Wilder was deservedly respected, while Mrs Wilder was a very talented and beautiful young lady, who will be missed from the block and social circles. The correspondent thu3 moralises on tbe matter:— "lam afraid city men— l apeak generally, and make no reference to any particular case — do not stop at home sufficiently. In their eagerness to make money, they spend the most of their time in town, leaving their better halves to solitude or to dangerous companionship. A wife should be courted after as well as before marriage." The late unsettled weather has caused serious disasters, many homos have been inundated and many of the people will be suffering from tbe effects of exposure and dreucbings, causing much sickness in the shape of rheumatism, colds, and fevers. Tbe antidote is to be procured — Try tbose extraordinary Indian remedies, Ghollah's gueat Indian Cures — They are the most certain and unfailing remedies, and can be had of G. Mcc, Chemist, Wholesale Agent for Hokitika; and of all chemists and medicine vendors. — Advt.