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Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2132, 7 March 1870, Page 2

Taieri Election. — We understand Mr H. Howorth intends contesting the seat in the Provincial Council for the representation of the Taieri, vacant through the resignation of Mr A. J. Burns. Thatcher’s Entertainment. —Mr Thatcher has introduced a new song, containing hits in his pungent style. It was sung for the first time on Saturday evening. The" room was crowded. Mrs Thatcher makes her first appearance this evening. Resident Magistrate’s Court.— The only case before the Court this morning was that of Lange and Thoneman v. Morison, L2 17s, for which judgment was given for the plaintiffs by default. The Court adjourned to two o’clock. Literal.—A contemporary says : Messrs M‘Median, Blackwood, and Co,, have agreed to carry free from New Zealand and back any horse winning and receiving first money in any of the thirty-seven races to run under the auspices of the Victorian Racing Club. The Wesleyan Bazaar.—About Ll5O worth of goods were sold on Saturday, which, added to the previous amount of sales, brings up the tctal sales to L 620. There is yet a good stock left, and new goods are still arriving. We believe the drawings of the art union, postponed from Saturday, will take place to-ni-ht. The Weather.—This morning, between three and seven o’clock, the wind blew in heavy gusts from the north-east. We have not heard of much damage beyond a few trees being torn up, and some trifling injury done to different private dwellings. Rain began to fall about eight o clock, and continued with intermission for somo hours. This afternoon the weather cleared.

Civil Sittings.—ln the course of the proceedings in the Supreme Court to-day, it was stated that the common jury cases, Mackenzie v. Calder, and Driver v. Murray, were to be transferred to the special jury list, and that it was possible that the cases Driver v. Treweek, and Treweek v. Driver, would be referred to arbitration. In that case the trial of common jury cases wfll not last more than two or three days. A Warning. —To-day, a young man was fined at the Mayor’s Court for throwing some tobacco to one of the Ma ri prisoners working at the High School There can be no doubt that this and similar offences that are reported to have been committed, are sometimes the result of kin ily feelings to the prisoners, and many persons may he ready to ask what harm could follow ? It may be sufficient, without entering minutely into particulars, to say that such a practise could not on any account be permitted, not only because of the breach of discipline that would result, but because past experience has shown that very serious consequences might follow. It is the bounden duty of the public to aid the Civil Service to to the utmost of their power to carry out the sentence of the law, and however amiable may be the pity that induces kindhearted people to endeavor to alleviate the irksomeness of a convict’s life, the safety of

society requires that it should only be done with the concurrence of those in authority wlo could give abundant reasons for the strict regulations that are enforced. The young man who was sentenced to pay a fine in the Mayor’s Court this morning, was the first who lias been charged with this. olienee. He pleaded ignorance of the regulations, but should another be brought up on a like charge, the Bench will not accept that excuse, and will enforce the full penalty, thirty pounds. Warden’s Report.—Mr Warden Robinson, writing from Mount Ida under i date February 28, says : —“ Several of the race companies have reduced the price of water from 50s to 40s per Hogburn head per week, and in most instances the miners have accepted this concession, and gone to work. Some two or three companies are, however, still apparently resolved to maintain the price at 50s, and their water is therefore still uniet. The owners of the races which supply water for the workings at .Surface Hill state they have recently been at great extra expense in order to lead water on to that hill, and that it will not pay them if they reduce the rate. One of these companies, the Hit or Miss Company, has just about completed a work of some magnitude and difficulty, To bring their water on to Surface Hill, they have to cross a sort ot saddle or depression in the high spur, and instead of erecting flaming, they decided to construct a square wooden pipe to convey the water down the slope, and up again to the same level on the other side. The piping is made of two-inch kauri pine, specially ordered for the work, and all braced together with clamps at short intervals. The Naseby Waterworks Company are making good progress with the construction of their reservoir, and the iron pipes for the supply of the town are already on the ground. At Macrae’s Flat the Hulie of Endinburgh Company have nearly completed their crushing machinery, and may soon be expected to get fairly to work. The reef discovered between the Marewhenua and the Otekaike, as mentioned in my last report, is being vig >rously prospected. Claims have been o taken up on both sides of the prospector’s claim, and the reef found in three shafts extending over a length of about 700 feet. The prospectors in their application furnish the following particulars : Locality : On the spur of Ben Lomond, between Otekaike Station and Basalt Hill—bearing of reef nearly north and south, dip slightly to the west. Prospect; lOlbs of stone yielded 7grs of gold—say at the rate of_3Jozs to the ton. No gold was to be seen in the stone crushed. The prospectors also state that they have now found two distinct reefs in their claim—one about six feet thick, and the other four feet. The two re.fs rnn parallel, and are about 18 feet apart. The construction of the water-races for working the ground at the Marewhenua diggings is proceeding at a rapid pace in some instances, but a considerable time must elapse before the sluicing operations can be commenced.”

Destructive Fire at Invercargill. —At twenty minutes past one o’clock on the morning of the 4th inst., Constable Pierpoint, who was on duty in Dee street, became sensible of a smell of tire, and immediately proceeded towards the north end of the street to discover where it came from. On approaching the block of buildings comprising the Noah’s Ark and Mr Reese's grocery and hay and corn stores, the smoke was very dense, and it was soon observed that the latter buildings were on fire. It is here necessary to state that Mr Reese has been absent from Invercargill for some ten days past, and is expected to return overland from Dunedin either to-day or to-mor-row. Mrs Reese and family, and those in the Noah’s Ark, were by this time stirring, and the constable immediately ran _ off to ring the alarm bell, shouting “Fire! fire !” all the way. A number of people soon began to congregate on the spot, the lurid glare but too plainly showing where tlie devastating element was accomplishing its work of destruction. Mrs Reese was aroused by a crackling noise, and on getting up and looking round, found that the front shop was on fire. After calling up the neighbors, she bad baiely time to get the children removed, and was totally unable to save anything but a few trifling articles from the house, the flames having made such rapid progress in enveloping the building. I hose sleeping in the Noah’s Ark had likewise very little warning, but they managed to save a few articles that were easily removed. It was some time before the fire brigade reached the scene of the conflagration with their engines, and their efforts were first directed to the cutting down of the back part of the b’acksmith’s shop in the occupation of Messrs Stewart and Riddell, to prevent the fire spreading to several buildings in the rear of those which were apparently doomed to destruction. Willing hands plied ready axes, and a gap was soon made which stopped the spreading of the fire in that direction. A supply of water was then obtained, and the hose were kept playing on the burning pile, which blazed away for fully an hour and a half, reducing the whole to a heap of smouldering ashes. One half of the blacksmith’s, shop already referred to is left standing. Luckily the morning was particularly calm, what little wind there was blowing from the N.W.; and this, along with a few buckets of water, applied by Inspector Chapman and others, accounts for the box at the weigh-bridge being left standing uninjured. A large concourse of spectators from all parts of the town was soon on the ground, and assistance was willingly given whenever required. Mr Reese’s stock and premises were insured with the Now Zealand Company for the sum of LSOO, but this must fall far short of covering that gentleman’s loss. The other property was uninsured. Nothing is known as to the origin of the-fire.—South-land Times, 4th inst.