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Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2128, 2 March 1870, Page 2

Telegrapiiic.—Com muuication with all the West Coast stations has been interrupted, so that it is just poadble that the Gothenburg, which is overdue, may have arrived at Hokitika. Thatcher’s Concerts.— There was the usual largo attendance at the Masonic Hall last evening. There will, wo understand, be some now locals given this evening, which are pretty sure to draw a crowded house. The Cromwell Reefs. — We are indebted to Mr W. J. Barry, of Cromwell for a sight of the following telegram received by him this morning :—“ The trial crushing from the Garrick Range reef washed up last (Tuesday) night. The average yield was 7 ounces 7 dwts. to the ton. 1 he Aurora is looking splendid ; so is the Victoria Lea l. We may add that the amount of atone for the trial crushing was six tons. The Provincial Hotel. —We understand that the trustees of Mr L Court handed over the Provincial Hotel, 1 heatre, Ac., to Mr Hbbald, the proprietor of the land; and we hope this favorite house of business will soon bo ro-opened under favorable auspice?. We trust also the Theatre,

so long closed, will again become a favorite place of amusement ; and we hear it is likely to be so. Wesleyan Bazaatl — Notwithstanding the very unfavorable weather yesterday, the sa'cs amounted to over one hundred pounds. To-day there was a Jar"" attendance, and there is every probability that that amount will be much exceeded. Original Discoverer oe Gold in Otago.— The Bmce UwaM ob-c ves“ Mr Oabriel Ilea* 1 ! is popularly known as the fiist discoverer of gold in th * Provine* of Otaco, hut, like many other popular delusions which mav for a time remain nnchal eng'al. s eh is not the fact, as the following evidence udi prove—Tie truth of which can l>e. easiiy a"testod, as, wi hj tin* exception of the late Capt. Oar ill and Mr Valpy, tlm parties nam d sell occupy influential p : -Lions in our midst. The following are the faots, shmtly stated In 1853 (eight years before Gabriel Read’s discovery) Mr Sin-lair aceompmicd Mr Vaipy, who was th'*n the holder of the Tuapcka run, in a journey thither, and b' iiu.' a native of Broadalbane (Perthshire), win re minerals abound, he has always been in the habit, when traaelling, of observing th" nature of f> e country traversed and its mineral resources, and all the more so that the Australian g Id discoveries wrre coating so much sensation. Having e inpe 1 for the night on tho banks of the Tnapeka stream, nearly opposite Gabriels Gully, he awoke early next morning, and while washing in the stream observed signs of gold. He then determined to visit the locality shortly thereafter, with shovel and tin dish, to prospect the ground. Becoming himself the holder of tho adjoining Waipon run, during tho same year he retail ned to Tuapeka, and spent two hours in. digging upon the banks of tbe Tuapeka river, washin" the proceeds roughly in a tin dish ; and, observing that gold was .present in the soil, he placed the washings in his handkerchief, which ho conveyed homo to the Waipon station, where the more careful wash ng piocess was completed ; the result being 2 <z 10 dwts of cold for his two hours wo ik With this prospect he next morning set out for Dunedin. a*M at once eal ed upon Mr J. H. Harris, whom It* re pie ted to accompany him to lbs Honor tho Superintendent ( apt Cargill), and on obtaining an interview, and exhibiting the prospect (Mr Macaudicw happened also to lie present m the room) Captain Cargill at once declared that if the discovery of gold were made known it would ruin the Province for ever, as strangers would rush the country, and carry off the benefits to tbe ruin of tbe settlers. Knowing that Mr Sinclair, wh* m he accompanied to Otago in the John Wickliffe, was a Freemason, he strongly urged secrecy, uhich Mr Sinclair promised, and to which promise he proved faithful throughout. Mr 'Sinclair informs us that about the time of G-abnel Read claiming tho reward, ho reminded those in power of his prior claims. He was then invited to a public dinner in Dunedin, hut, residing so far distant from the metropolis, and being s > far advanced in years, he declined the honor. Surely it now becomes ns as a Province to make Mr Sinclair some tangible presentation, which might lv- handed down to future generations, in commemoration of his valuable discovery, and fabhfnl adherence to his promise not to reveal the fact.”

Theatrical. —Speaking of the perform anci sat the Theatre Loyal, Chrischurch, the Lyttelton Times of Thursday says The whole of last week was devoted to the pantomime of “Cinderella,” and the management had every reason to feel gratified at the amount of patronage bestowed upon ic by the public. For a performance to have a run of six nights in Christchurch calls to mind the first days of the drama in this city, when crowded audiences assembled nightly at the Royal, notwithstanding that the prices of admission were almost double what they are now. The secret of the success of the season, which has been so successfully inaugurated by the present company, may be attributed mainly to the fact that the management has been more fortunate than others which preceded it in presenting such a cla-s of entertainment as is most acceptable to the majority of playgoers. Mb Nel and the Tiger.—ln an article on “Lying as a Science,” in Temple Bar for Septi mber last, a Capo story is quoted as a fine specimen of the lie romatic. The story is about a Mr Nel, who, in an encounter with a tiger, first of all held it up by tbe ears, aud subsequently, while in the timer’s grip, “got his gun against the body of bis fierce antagonist, while the latter-till retained his hold, managed to poll the trigger of th ■ remaining barrel w.ih his teeth. Ihe shot told ; the tiger rolled over dead, and Nel was saved.” This is a quotation from toe stoiy as given by a colonial paper, and copied into the Times some three years ago. The writer of the article on lying says : “ L ave out the tiger, and, in a quiet smok-ing-room, just poll a trigger with your teeth, if you can.” Perhaps Mr Nel can explain how the shot was fired ?

Tokomairiro. —We take the following items from to day’s Bruce Herald : Mr Joseph Mackay is a candidate for the representation of the Queen in the Provincial Council, rendered vacant by the resignation of Mr A. J. Burns.—The second competition for the Ladies’ Prize, valued at L3O, offered to the Bruce Rifles, took place on Satm day, when Private Gillies was highest scorer with C 3 points.—Mr Kennedy,_ the celebrated Scottish vocalist, intends taking a tour through Australia and New Zealand. — In the East Taieri steam engines seem rapidly to take the place of the original horse-power. Three of these have arrived during the last fortnight.— Mr E. Palmer intends starting a tlax manufactory.—The foundation stone of the Milton Athenanim was laid cu Saturday with masonic honors. ~ Eiiteeii tons of quartz havi-g been procured from the new cutting of the Table Hill Quartz Co.’s reef aud conveyed to the stampers, toe same (five heads) were put in motion in the afternoon of Monday last. The machinery notwithstanding the length of time, it has been idle, was found to ho in excellent order, and did its work splendidly. The crushing w b continued yesterday, the cleaning up will bo today, and the retorting to-morrow. The value of the now quaitz wi'l then be accurati ly ascertained, but from the specs of gold seen in the -tone. little fear is entertained as to the sucoe i sof the trial. An accident of rather a dangerous character occurred in the East Taieri, on the afternoon of Sunday last. Ir, appears that while Miami Mrs Clegg, of Dunedin, were d iving out in a spring cart to Tokom dnro, and when at the 21 mile post, the horse gjbhcd and backed to tiro bank, when horse and cart rolled over into tho Taieri river. Assistance was fortunately at hand 3 the horse was ro*

leased from the harness, and with the assistan oof Mr M ‘Kegg’s boat was got safely out of the river. The cart was then mile uled, and also got out without any serious damage. Mr and Mrs Glegg fortunately seeing the danger, jumped out before it tipped over, amt was thus saved a drciiehng, if not something worse. This accident will surely be taken as a warning by the Government, that many parts of tho road where it adjoins tho river are quite dangerous, and ought to be fenced at once, to prevent serious consequences ensuing. Important Insurance Question. — The following interesting question has risen out of tho late lire in Sydney. The destructive lire which occurred (says the Herald) at the \ ireular Quay, will entail a loss of about Lot), 000, which is stated to be covered by insurances, some of winch are likely to give rise to compliea ions. 'Che stores contained portions of the cargoes of the Underley, Sir John Lawrence, Tamaua, and Canaan. In some c ises bills of lading have been signed for wool which has been destroyed, hut the respective agents have protected the r ships by lire policies covering the wool while in store : Tho Underley by LIO,OOU in the Imperial Sir Jobs Lawrence by L 10,00() in the Liverpool and Loudon, Tamaua by LSOOO in the ydney, Canaan by LSOOO in the t'acitic. "Os ales these sums there are policies held by several lar. e shippers covering any wo. J they may have store i tu yd.iey, and the pol cies of one office cover tho risk from the time the wool is slured until it is delivered in London. A legal difficulty also presents itself as to whether offices are liable from tho date of issuing policies, such policies being granted on the faith of a bill of lading, which expressly describes the goods as “shipped in good order,” &c. Almost all tho marine policies issued by local offices contain a clause distinctly stating that the companies’ risk does not commence until the wool is stowed. A other question is the case of parties who have Heating policies covering any wool they may have in Sydney. Does not the storage receipt given by the woolpressers on behalf of the ship release the shippers and insurers, and transfer the liability to those whose policies cover the responsibi ity of the ship from the tune of the wool i eing received in sto;e until it is un ier ship s hateiies? N early every office in Sydney is interested in m irine insurances on the cargoes of the four ships named ; but the only lire insurances covering tbe cargo ashore are those meirioned. There is no means of ascertaining what brands of wool are stowed on shipboard without discharging tho ships here or waiting until they arrive in Finland. Under the most favorable circumstances, some months will elapse before tho losses are entirely adjusted.