COUNTRY NEWS.

Evening Star, Volume III, Issue 807, 6 December 1865, Page 2

COUNTRY NEWS.

Dunstan. —Mr Thomas Gibbs, the spirited proprietor of the hostelry known as the Halfway House, Kawarau-road, has just suspended a wire rope across the Molyneux, to enable persons to cross and recross that river. The passenger has only to seat himself in a sort of chair, and with but little exertion on his part he is carried across the river in a very short space of time. To the uninitiated the affair looks an exceeding frail construction, but the most timid need not fear, the rope having been subjected to a strain of three tons without giving in the slightest degree. —Dunstan Times. An accident, fortunately unattended with any serious consequences, occurred to the up coach to Queenstown on Monday last. It appears that the Half-way House, where the passengers alighted to allow the driver to adjust the harness, the horses took fright at some dogs that were playing about and started off in the direction of the Molyneux. The drivei' managed to hold on to the reins, but was dragged for about fifteen yards, when he fell over a rock, and the wheel of the coach passed over his leg and arm. The horses in the meantime had smashed the fore carriage of the vehicle to pieces on the rocks, and pulled up on the edge of the river. We are glad to be able to state that the driver, though much shaken was not seriously injured. Messrs Ziecl’s express, happening to pass at the time, took the mails and passengers to the Kawarau, where they arrived but little later than usual.— lbid.

On Friday and Saturday last Dunstan and Hill’s Creek were visited with severe storms of wind, occasioning much damage to "buildings, especially those of a temporary character. The same storm extended to the Hogbum and Hamilton’s, its effects being also felt at Waikouaiti. — lbid.

There is every probability that the forthcoming Cromwell Races will be a great success. Those interested in getting them up have gone into the matter with a determination to do something, and from the large amount of support promised there is every reason to believe that the present year’s meet will not fall short of the last.— lbid.