Untitled

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2084, 10 January 1870, Page 2

Volunteers, —lt will be seen from our advertising columns that Thursday next is to be a general half day holiday. J he grand Volunteer battalion review is appointed to take [dace at four o’clock. The Timaru Accident.—A telegram has been received from fimaru to the effect that the body of Mr Smallwood, drowned with Mr Balfour, was recovered on Satur r day last. It is not mentioned in what state the body was when found. Appointments. We perceive the JVtuo Zealand Government Gazette, 30th nit., contains the following appointments Mr John Hislop to be Superintendent-Collector under the “Census Act, Amendment Act, 1 St>7,” and Kerei Taiaroa to be Assessor for Otago under “ The Native Lands Act, 1865." ' New Settlements on West Coast.— As will be seen by our advertisement columns, parties desirous of proceeding to either of the new settlements at Preservation Inlet or Martin’s Bay, are likely to have an opportunity afforded them of so doing during ttie next few weeks, and we hope some enterprising colonists will avail themselves of it. Detention of Mails.—The late rains have r.rscd the Manuherikia so high that the fording place at Beck’s has hoc me impassible. The result is that both the up and down country mails were iutenupted. Our correspondent writes from Clyde on Wednesday evening, that np to that time the coach which left Dunedin on Monday had not arrived. Cromwell. — From Cromwell we learn that the holidays have now been brought to an end, and that the diggers from the outlying districts have returned to their work. The weather for some time past has been cold, and a good deal of rain has fallen. The Christmas and New Year sports were (piiet—a circumstance which is easily accounted for by tlio numerous fatalities that have lately taken place in the district. Educational. —It appears that in consequence of a misunderstanding between the Bev. Dr Moreau and Mr Sproule, there is likely to be a vacancy in the hcad-master-ship of St. Joseph’s School. The late examination of the pupils clearly indicated the general efficiency of Mr Sproule as master ; and whilst it would seem the number of pupils has increased threefold under his able superintendence, we trust the school may not sustain any injury from the threatened change. Mysterious Disappearance of a Chinaman.— On the evening of the 28th ult. a Chinese cook named Ah Toy disappeared from the Junction Commercial Hotel, Cromwell, under very mysterious ci rerunsfances. Immediately previous to the time when he was first missed he was employed bringing water from a neighboring race. Since then he has not been beard of, although inquiry has been made respecting him. He has left his swag behind him, also a few pounds due to him for wages The suspicion is that he has got into the lvaw r arau, and been drowned. Shocking Accident at Alexandra. —A shocking affair took place at Alexandra on Monday last. A slnioer named Thomas Geddics was employed at one of the hank claims removing some stones from the bottom of the face, when a heavy boulder got detached, and crushed his head into a Jelly against a projecting rock. The head was so severely lacerated that it had to he picked up piecemeal and tied up in a handkerchief. The following day an inquest -was held, and a verdict of “Accidental death” returned. Cricket. —The cricket match between the employes of Messrs Lutterworth Brothers and Watson and Sons, which came off on Saturday in Mr Anderson’s paddock, Caversham, resulted in a victory to the latter, -who beat their opponents by four runs. It is not to ho expected that equal play could be exhibited by a small number of persons chosen exclusively from two mercantile establishments as from players chosen for their skill in the game from a population of twenty thousand people. The chief interest in the match arose from the friendly feeling evinced in the contest, which we shall he glad 1o see spread throughout all classes in Dunedin, and trust that the example thus s< t will be followed by frequent contests of skill in this and other athletic games.—A match between an eleven of the Dunedin Cricket Club and an eleven of the Citizens’ Club, was played on the Dunedin Ground. The Citizens’ eleven were the victors. The Late Mr Balfour. —Out readers will remember that daring the late session the Provincial Council passed a resolution expressive of regret at the loss of valuable lives by the late sad accidents, apd expressive of sympathy with tne bereaved survivors. W r e understand the Speaker forwarded a copy of the resolution to Mrs Balfour, and also to Mr Patersons fathei, in Kdinburgh. The following acknowledgment from Mrs Balfour lias been placed at our disposal, and will, no doubt, be perused with interest “ Wellington, Jan. 3rd, 1870. My Dear Sir,—Will you convey to the Provincial Council of Otago my warmest 'thanks for the sympathy expressed by them through you, and which Pj shall always remember with deep gratitude when 1 am far away from New Zealand. Believe me to be very sincerely yours, C. Balfour. Jo the Speaker of the Provincial Council, Otago. ’ Cromwell. The funeral of Mr Garrett, who was accidentally killed a few days ago by a fall from his horse, took place

on .Sunday last. T|«..>ttcod»noe : large indeed ; it is. described as one largest funerals that ever took' place goldfields. The deceased was a memßfflr of the Dunstan Masonic Lodge, gency meeting of the brethren, ti&lc plMcc at Clyde early on the morning of Sunday. After having been duly constituted, the lodge was adjourned to the Kawarau Hotel, Cr mwcll, where an apartment was specially fitted up for the occasion. Here the lodge-: was joined by the district the solemn services for the dead wire read by the R.W.M. Bro. Pyke. The members w.:re then formed into procession according to the ancient custom, and joined, the general cortege in Melniore street, from whence they i proceeded in slow marching order to tue crave. The Church Service was read by the Rev. Mr Drake, and the Masonic Service was conducted by the R. W.M., who delivered a touching funeral oration at the .close. The proceedings from beginning to end were solemn and impressive. Warden’s Report. — Mr Warden Robinson, writing from Mount Ida under date November 30, reports : —Mining- affairs in the vicinity of Naseby present no items of particular interest. At Macraes, the Duke of Edinburgh Company are making good progress in the crcetion£of their machinery, which promises to be very substantial, This company has a very thick reef to work, and, with reasonable economy in management, can hardly fail to show a good return on the capital invested. At Hamilton the old workings have, by the stopping up of tail-races, been converted into a splendid reservoir of water about five acres in extent, ami in places as much as 25 feet deep. This work is the result of the enterprise ef Messrs Bremner Brothers, the owners of the United Water Race. This firm has reduced the price of water to 35s a week from Hogbaru head. This is decidedly a move in the right direction, and will, it is to he hoped, give an impetus to mining at Hamilton. The next ordinary meeting of tlie Otago Institute is announced to be held tomorrow (Tuesday) evening, at eight o’c.ock, at the Provincial Council.Chambers. 1 The prize-takers at the late Gathering of the Caledonian Society of Otago will bc°paid at Wain’s Hotel, this evening, between eight and ten o’clock. The cash and ticket-takers arc also requested to attend. The seventy-fourth meeting of the New Zealand Building and Mutual Investment Society will be held at the office of the Society, Princes street, this evening, at 7 o’clock.