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Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 2078, 3 January 1870, Page 2

The A 7 olunteeks. —Vv T e are requested to call attention to the annual inspection of the various corps, by Colonel Harrington. The Caledonian Games.—Owing to the inclemency of the weather, the continuation of the Caledonian Sports, which was to have taken place this day, has been postponed until Saturday next. Another Fire at Christchurch—A. destructive lire took place at Christchurch on the 2(!th ult. It commenced in the store of Messrs Beath and Co,, Cashel street. The lire raged for a considerable time, and many shops and other premises were destroyed. Princess Theatre. —There was a splendid house on Saturday evening to witness the “ Midsummer Night’s Dream, and the comic pantomime. The comic business of the pantomime was, perhaps, more perfect, and consequently more interesting, than on any previous evening. The house was convulsed with laughter throughout. Mr Willis, the artist, was, as usual, eallPd before the curtain to receive the hearty plaudits of the house. Caledonian Society. —The examination of candidates from the district schools for the prizes offered by the Caledonian society took place in the Provincial Council Hall this afternoon. The display of elocutionary talent on the part of the young ladies especially was highly satisfactory. The names of the successful candidates will he announced at the Games on Saturday. To a better or more satisfactory object the funds of the Society could not he devoted. Possibly such an attraction as that of this afternoon may not he so acceptable to or could not be so extensively enjoyed by the community as that offered at the Grand Stand, but it is doubtful if the latter will not confer more lasting benefit on the community than the former. It is a great pity the -Treat of this afternoon was not more publicly announced, or it would have been far more extensively patronised. The Weather. —The exceptional fine weather which has prevailed for the past two months came to a sudden cud on Sunday morning. Saturday (New Year’s-day) opened with a cloudless sky, and throughout, the day was enjoyable to a degree. _ Pleasure-seekers were extatic in their rejoicings at the fact that this year’s festivities would pass without a single wet day, to interfere with the programme prepared for the sports and recreation gatherings. On Sunday morning, about two o’clock, a sudden change took place. The rain commenced to fall in torrents, accompanied with a strong easterly breeze. This continued during the night and morning. About nine o’clock Maclaggan street began to assume the appearance of a raging torrent. The water poured down Breakneck, Rattray, and other hill sides with great violence. In Maclaggan street, opposite the Constabulary Station, and as far down as Rattray street, the water for a time almost reached from kerb stone to kerb stone, and serious fears wove entertained that the shops on both sides might be flooded. Mr Barnes, the City Inspector, with a gang of men, arrived about ten o’clock, and in a very short time all the culvert-traps were opened. The immense volume of water' found an outlet, and all the spectators soon felt confidence that the main culvert was equal to receiving far more water than it was at all likely to have, and all fear of tiro shops being Hooded was removed. The only instance of damage done was the Hooding of the cellar of the Shamrock Hotel, and that was very trilling. In George, Pillcnl, St. Andrew, and other streets in that locality the appearance was that of a sea, and at one time it was expected great damage would have been done, but fortunately, although Gcorgc-stveet was covcicd, the energy displayed in removing obstacles from the courses in which the water should How prevented any serious damage arising. The Water of Leith was higher than aye ever recollect seeing it. It came down with violent impetuosity, carrying away portions of the hanks, the recently-erected foot-bridge on the Port Chalmers road, damaged the budge erected by the Maori prisoners at the Botanical Gardens, and destroyed the cultivation in the flat land. At Duncan’s Flour-mills the stream was fearfully high, and at one time it was thought it would so overflow the banks as to form a new channel, and do serious injury to the buildings. By the energy of the gang of workers employed, with some difficulty means wore found to confine the stream to its natural course. Other damage was done which we have not space to particularise, but the faulty construction of the Government bridges was most conspicuous. The approaches to the new stone bridge were considerably luulcrmined, and at one time it was thought the bridge itself would go. In the afternoon the new shoot belonging to the steam dredge broke adrift, and might have come to grief if the prison dredging gang had not been called out, and worked with a will to recover it and place it at a secure anchorage. In justice to Mr Barnes, City Inspector of Works, we must record that he and the men under him were indefatigable in their exertions. He was hero, there, and everywhere throughout the whole day. Southland. —The Southland HiMS and the Southland Ncujs, the two tri-wcoldy papers, will Loin the commencement of IS/0>

only be published twice aweek. The Times, 29th ult., says :—“A very distinct_ shock of earthquake was felt in Invercargill somewhere in the neighborhood, at five o’clock on the afternoon of Saturday last (Christmas day). Pendant articles especially were visibly affected, swaying to and fro dining its continuance.” oAM.vnr. — The Ouiunm Tunes, 31st ult., says: —“The crops arc now rapidly ripening, and barley-harvesting will, wo believe, be commenced next week. The crops are unusually forward, and a very Large breadth of wheat ami nits will in a few days lie ready lor the sickle. TV e give this fact prominence, as there is very little labor obtainable just now, many men who intend to conic elo-.vu for tbo luu’vest being under the impression that the crops will not be ready for a month. ” The Dun,stan.—We cull the following items from the local journal ; —Mining operations have been stopped during the Christmas holidays, therefore wc have nothing now to report since our last issue. The miners from the ranges, a great number of whom came down to spend their holidays, speak very favorably of their prospects : wc never remember such a general expression of confidence in the resources and stability of the district as at the present time. —Information reached the police at Cromwell on Monday last that the body of a dead Chinaman had been found at the Bannockburn. An inquest was held before Y. Fyke, Esq., Coroner, and a verdict returned of “ Pound dead.” —Wc regret to learn that Mr H. Burton, of the firm of Burton, Brothers, photographers, who was on a tour of the goldfields has been compelled through ill health to return to Dunedin. Greymouth.—From the local paper we learn that on Wednesday, the 22nd ult., a fatal accident occurred. It appears that on the day in question, Dunne’s boat, deeply laden with coals, left the pit to come down the river. She had also, as passengers, five diggers and two drovers. When about two miles from Greymouth, the boat struck on a snag, which knocked a hole in her bottom, butbeing in partially shoal water, she did not sink, but drifted into the deep water, bumping along over the shingle. Several of the men here struck out for the shore, but the others stuck to the mast until she had passed over the deep hole ; the rest of the men then left her, and then it was discovered that one of the diggers was missing. None of the men in the boat saw the man, and it was only when they were taking to the water that a digger said, “ My mate is missing ; he must be drowned.” Three of the men could not swim, and the one who was drowned was one of them. It is said that the poor fellow who is drowned had thirty ounces of gold on him. The whole of the party came into Cobden, where their wants were relieved. The Clutha Presbytery.—We clip the following from the Bruce Herald, Jan. I: “The Clutha Presbytery met at Balclutha on Wednesday last, Rev. J. Kirkland, moderator. The minutes were read by Rev. Mr Bannerman, clerk pro. tern. Mr Robson gave in commission from Balclutha Kirk Session, which was sustained. No appearance, either in person or by report, was put in by the commissioners appointed to prosecute the call to Mr Watt. Report of committee on widow and orphans fund was given in and read. After consideration, it was resolved to record the thanks of the Presbytery to the committee, and to disapprove of the regu’ations sent down by overture from the Synod auent the management of this fund, on the ground that the "fund was not yet such as to warrant any more definite regulations, beyond the rule always adopted by the Synod for that purpose. It was agreed to grant moderation of call to Balclutha, the meeting for moderation to be held in the Church there on Tuesday, the 18th prox., at 2 p. m., Mr Connor to'preach and preside. Mr Kirkland was appointed to preach at Balclutha on Sabbath first, and intimate the same. The Presbytery having taken up the regulations proposed for the conduct of the Church Extension Committee deemed it unnecessary to report on the same, on the ground that the regulations mainly affected vacant ministerial charges ; whilst, in the opinion of the Presbytery, the proper work of the Church Extension Committee related, not to such charges, but to those stations that are unsanctioned, and that with the view of fostering them into ministerial charges. It appeared to he the mind of the Presbytery that church extension would be better gained through the action of the several Presbyteries, than through that of a committee sitting in Dunedin. The Presbytery adjourned to meet at Balclutha on Tuesday, the 18th proximo, at two p. in. Floods at Tuapeka.—The Tuapeka Times, Ist January, says : —“Tuapeka was visited by a flood on Thursday last equal to the largest known in the district. The Tuapeka River could not be forded, and the creek was not free from danger—the volume of water in the latter was immense. Several houses in Lawrence were completely inundated. The unfortunate .Junction Hotel never escapes even the smallest flood, but on this occasion the water stood nearly four feet high throughout the building. The new large culverts lately built by the Government considerably changed the course of that portion of these floods which comes from the hills surrounding the Hospital Elat. Formerly the water came by the foot of the hill in Whitchaven-street, but now it comes on tbc other side of that street, and the liability of flooding valuable property is much more imminent. Several of the houses were swamped—that of Mr Tuckey was the most lamentable. From Mr M'Nickle’s paddock there was quite a sheet of water, which skirted Mr Pope’s paddock and Mrs Poets’ garden ; it then turned towards Mr Armstrong’s house, and the old property of Mr Vause, whence it formed itself into a miniature Niagara in falling on Mr Tuckey’s premises. Having filled every crevice in Mr Tnckcy’s yard and brewery to a depth of two feet, the flood then crossed Colonsay-street, and passed through Mr Morrison’s timber yard, carrying with it several pieces of timber ; it then found its way to the large culvert, through which it was discharged into the creek. The principal damage done is the filling up of all the claims from "the Wctherstone’s downwards, and this is damage enough a good many of the miners concerned will be inclined to think. Part of the Wctherstones road was washed away, aud a good many boxes List, but we have not heard anything else in that direction. of serious moment. At the height of the flood Mr Greeves, with his wife and child, were fording the creek in a cart at Dochorty’s crossing, when both horse and cart were carried away. By the assistance of Mr G. Coxan and Mr S. Lccch the uufor-

tunato live freight was extricated from its perilous position, but the horse and cart were carried down the creek thirty yards. These Hoods would appear to have been general, as from our Alexandra correspondent’s letter we observe there has been a flood there. 1 luring the greater part of Thursday night a steady rain fell, and although the damage must be considerable, the benefit to the crops must also be considerable. By telegraphic information we understand that the flooding was renewed yesterday, and has not yet subsided. Tram-Railway*.— lt seems that the adoption of these trams as a means of conveyance has been decided upon in some localities even in England. The 'Times of September 9th says :—“ A prospectus has bean issued of -blic Tvam-lf ailway Company of Great Britain (Limited), with a capital of Lloo,ooo, in shares of LIO, to construct lines to act as feeders to railways, and to bring them into communication with outlying towns and districts. The proposed board of direction is respectable, and the engineer-in-chief is Mr Page, the architect of Westminster bridge, who has a system under which the cost per mile is estimated at L2OOO. Among the first districts contemplated for its introduction arc those of the Teign Valley Railway in Devonshire, the vicinity of the towns of Cambridge and of Bolton, in Lancashire, and the great iron and coal fields of Yorkshire. The experiment will be watched with interest alike for the benefit of shareholders in existing railways, and by the trading and agricultural classes at present removed from direct access to the chief lines of traffic. The members of the Court Pride of Dunedin A.O.F. arc, we notice, summoned to attend the half-yearly meeting, to be held at the Royal George Hotel to-morrow (Tuesday) evening, at eight o’clock. Business: election of officers, and matters of importance. A meeting of the Standard Property Investment Society, for the purpose of receiving subscriptions, &c., is announced to be held at the offices of the Society on Wednesday evening next, between six and eight o’clock. To-day having been announced as a half-holiday, the usual monthly meeting of the Hew Zealand Building and Mutual Investment Society is postponed until Monday evening next, the 10th iust.