MARLBOROUGH.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVII, Issue 1725, 16 May 1862, Page 5

MARLBOROUGH.

{(From the Press. ) The Government Wharf at Picton. — The contractors for this wharf, Mr. William Akersten and Mr. Turner, completed their wort last week. It has now been passed by the Provincial Engineer, and we are informed has given great satisfaction to the authorities here. The shape of the wharf is rather peculiar, being something like an elongated V or a V, and is exceedingly well adapted for business. It gives, at little expense, a great space available for the goods discharged by vessels in deep water, and every beam and joist acts as horizontal bracing, adding very much to its strength. The depth of water at the end of the wharf is 17 ft. 6 in. ; its new made area, including earthwork, is about 18,400 feet. The deck wood-work of the wharf is 200 feet long, with a breadth at the end of about 56 feet. A substantial crane is erected at the end of the wharf, guaranteed to lift two tons. There is also a store capable of containing 600 bales of wool, a large cellar, wharfinger's office, bonded store, and two boat landings. Cbicket. — -The last match of the season was to hare been played by the single and married members of the Picton Club on Monday last, but it was found that the single members did 1 not muster strong enough to make a side, and sides were then made by the members present, who played until dusk. The stumps were then drawn, the game being unfinished. In the evening about 30 of the members of the club „ and others sat down to an excellent dinner at * the Tasmanian Hotel, and enjoyed a convivial and harmonious meeting. Melancholy Occurrence at Picton. — The inhabitants of Picton and its neighbourhood have for the last few days been very anxious about the fate of one of its most esteemed settlers, Mr. B. S. H. Brougbton, who lias been missing since Monday eveniug last. Mr. Bioughton left Picton, for his residence at Onahua, about seven o'clock on the evening of the 21st., in a small whale boat called the Rose, after playing in a cricket match which we have elsewhere referred to. The weather was very bad ; but the unfortunate man had frequently left Picton for his home in bad weather before, and though advised by his friends not to undertake the trip alone that night, resolved to do so. On the report of Mr. Broughton being missed reaching Picton, Mr. T. G. Baillie and several others immediately started to ascertain his fate, and returned with the sad tidiugs that he was nowhere to be found, but that his boat, which was stove in, with masts aud oars, had been found in the western arm of Double Cove Bay. Some other persons afterwards went in search of Mr. Broughton, aud four Maori boats were employed, but after exerting themselves to the utmost to find traces of him, all that could be found was his cap, coat, and vest, which leaves scarcely any doubt of him having perished in the gale which was blowing on Monday night. It is probable that the boat capsized, and that Mr. Broughton partially stripped himself for swimming, as he was an expert swimmer, and had accustomed himself to undressing in the water, but that through some unknown cause he was unable to reach the fibore. Accident to Mjbs. W. Adams. — A very distressing accident happened at Pictou on Monday last, the sth instant, to the wife of William Adams, Esq., Commissioner of Crown Lands, by which that lady narrowly escaped being killed.. Mrs. Adams was walking along Grosvenor square on the afternoon above-men-tioned, when ahorse belonging to Mr, C. H

Moigaii came suddenly nearherj and lxi"m> she could get out of its way the animal turned round and kicked her on the lower part of the face and galloped off. Lieutenant Luathaiu was close by the spot at the time the accident happened, and hastened to vender assistance, when lie found Mrs. Adams in a state of insensibility and bleeding profusely. Assistance was immediately ' diately procured and she was carried to her house, where she recovered her consciousness in a short time. Dr. Kilgoiu was promptly in attendance, when it was ascertained that a wound had been inflicted which nearly severed the flesh off the chin, and exteuded towards the cheek; several teeth were knocked out, and the jaw bone much injured. We are glad to state that Mrs. Adams is not considered to bo in a dangerous state, and that the last report we heard was favourable. It is to be regretted that some provision was not made in the Picton Town Improvement Act, which we expect will soon be in force, to prevent dangerous animals from running at large, and hope that the present unfortunate accident will have the effect of drawing the attention of our Council to the subject, with a view to the prevention of similar catastrophies. — Press, May 9. Serious Loss. — We are sorry to hear of a serious loss sustained by Mr. John Tiuline by the carelessness of his bullock drivers. It appears that one day last week three drays, loaded with wool, left Mr. Tinline's station in the Awatere, to proceed to the Boulder Bank. After travelling some distance round the Bluffs, the drivers found that a land slip had occuned, which impeded their progress, when, instead of turning back, they took the bullocks out, and went on to the Boulder Bank, leaving the drays in the tideway. When they again visited thespot, they found that the drays were all washed away. We understand that the drays have since been recovered, but out of tweutyone bales of wool, six were lost, and twelve more entirely spoiled.— lbid. Provincial Dilbt. — Instead of this Province being at the present time some £10,000 in debt, as has been stated by several parties of late, we are glad to be enabled to state, on the best possible authority, that, after making the Hsual monthly payments for this month, and satisfying all the claims of the General Government, the expenditure beyond the receipt has not exceeded £3,000. Wilh the prospect of a large land sale next month, our difficulties cannot be considered to be overwhelming. — Ibid.