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Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2353, 17 October 1870, Page 2

Provincial. —The Wallace, with his Honor the Superintendent, Messrs Reid, Duncan, and Mouat, members of the Executive, and the Commissioner of Police, lc r t the Port on Saturday evening for the Bluff. She grounded in the channel owing to the darkness of the night, and did not clear the Heads until yesterday morning. She will call at Port M olyneux, Gatlin’s River, and Waikava, and is expected to reach the Bluff at daylight to-morrow. Pout Chalmers Railway.— Anyone proceeding to the Port by steamer lately must have been struck with the extent of the progress made with tins work. Sections almost as far as Burke’s brewery have been let, and on each a considerable amount of work has been done. For a considerable distance below Black Jack’s Point much has been done in the way of forming embankments and making cuttings, and, judging by present appearances, in a couple of months the contractors will bo in a position to lay the permanent way from the brewery to the point. The contract for the bridge across Pelichet Bay has been let and a start with the work made. The energy displayed a; all poiuts speaks well for the promoters.

Princess Theatre. There was above the average attendance at the Princess’s on Saturday evening, when the drama of Jocri-sc, the juggler,” was pros uteri. The several parts were well filled, and the entire p c-ce went off in a satisfactory manner. The appreciation of the auditory was unmistakably manifested by hearty outbursts of applause. A great treat is promised this evening. “Frou-Frou,” that has attracted so much attention on the London and Melbourne boards, will be presented for the first time. No piece that has been produc’d in modern times lias aroused so much interest, or drawn fuller houses, than the representation of “Frou-Frou.” We may, therefore, anticipate a series of crowded houses.

Fire.—At twenty minutes to eleven o’clock lash night the alarm of fire was sounded ; but the shortness of the peal indicate;! that the fire was not of a serious character. It tuim-d out that an ignition of old material, in a house in Elm nw, occupied by a man named John Kirby, had alarmed the neighbors, but they quenched the flames before they had gained any hold. When the Brigade arrived on the spot, they found it exceedingly difficult to enter the room in which the fire was, on account of the quantity of rags and old stuff that lay about it. The room appeared to have been used more as a receptacle for old material than as a habitation, and its occupier was discovered in an upper room, with a number of banknotes and other valuables in his hand. It is said he is of very penurious habits, and the fire is reported to have been occasioned by the accidental falling of a lamp. The premises are insured in the New Zealand Office.

Political.—On Saturday evening, Mr Driver attended the North East Valley Sohoolhousc, according to announcement, expecting to meet a number of the electors there, but apparently no preparation had been made for holding a meeting, as the School was not open, and the key was to seek About twenty .persons were present. After some delay the key was obtained, and the candles were lit. Mr Heeves was elected chairman, when Mr Driver explained that he thought it better that he should postpone his review of the past session to a larger meeting to be held in a more central place in the district. He had put off the meeting for one night in consequence of the concert at the Drill Hhcd, and as it was Saturday night many were unable to attend. The meeting was therefore adjourned to a future day. Mr Driver left town this morning, and will be absent a few days. He will give due notice of bis meeting after his return.

Drowned.—A melancholy accident occurred at Edwards’s Ferry, Kawar.au River, about two o’clock on Monday afternoon. A man named Parkins, said to be a new arrival from Victoria, left Clyde by the Queenstown coach in the morning, and in passing through Cromwell he was observed to be the worse for liquor. Sergeant Cassels (to whom we are indebted for the particulars of the accident) happened to be going in the same direction on duty, and kept company with the coach as far as the Nevis Ferry. There the passengers dined, and afterwards went across in the punt with the coach. Mrs Edwards and Sergeant Cassels were standing at the door of the house when the punt reached the opposite bank, and they saw Parkins walk up the hill until he reached the sharp turn in the road about half-way up, when, instead of turning to the right, ho took the track leading to the left, which brought him to the top of a high cliff on the river bank. On reaching a point where the track becomes extremely narrow and dangerous, the unfortunate man was seen to trip on a sharp stone, when he lost his balance, and fell headlong down a slope of about sixty feet, striking heavily against the rocks as he went down. From the foot of the slope there is a perpendicular cliff some eighty feet above the level of the river, and the spectators saw, with a thrill of horror, the doomed man was dashed from the summit of the precipiece into the river below. For a few moments the body disappeared, but afterwards came to the surface and floated down the current, with the head towards the stream, for some distance, when it again sank and was seen no more. If not killed in this fall, the unfortunate man must have b en completely stunned, for no sign of life could be detected in the body while it remained iu view. The Sergeant immediately gave the alarm, and along with Mr Edwards, got into a boat and proceeded to the spot where the body disappeared. The man’s hat was picked up, hut they could find no traces of the body. They afterwards procured a grappling iron, and dragged the river bed for some distance, but all to no purpose. The following description of the deceased man’s appearance at the time he met his death may assist in hia identification About 35 years of age ; sft. lOin. in height; sallow complexion, thin visage i dark brown hair, cut short behind ; dressed in dark brown tweed coat, trousers, ami vest, with short AVellington boots ; wore a watch, with steel Albert chain attached.— Cromwell A rgus.

Mining Intelligence. —Tlie following, in reference to 1 lie Cromwell reefs, is from the local paper of Thursday last: —The result of the Cromwell Company’s crushing for the past month was 920 ounces of gold, and they have still a large quantity of excellent stone ready for the mill. They keep the ten head of stampers constantly going. The mine is worked by night and day shifts, and a considerable number of hands is employed, There is little doubt that the current season's worh will develop the great wealtli of the Bendigo reefs.—The Aurora reef is also worked day and night, and tlye mill is in full swing. The next washing-up is expected to yield over an ounce to the ton, which will give a good dividend to the shareholders, The reef is from four to five feet thick. Th? quartz is sent from the tunnel to the machine on trucks, by which means .cartage is done away with, and a great saving ■is effected.-—Work is being steadily carried on on Colclough’s reef, and the excavation of tljs site for the new machinery is all but completed. This company have a large quantity of stone brought to grass, and ready for the machine, which is daily expected from Dunedin. —Mr M‘Lougl)lin’s reef looks well, and he expects in a few weeks, to have a trial crushing of 50 tons. It is expected that the stuff twill yield from four to live ounces to the ton.--It js with great satisfaction we {Brum Standard) can report favourably of the prospects of the Table Hill Quartz Beefs. The tributnrs a few days ago washed up after ten days’ crushing, and the yield of gold wq« found to be 110 ozs. from about 127 tons of stone, or over 5 dwt. per ton. This is an improvement upon any crushing, and the men engaged in the work indulge in sanguine hopes that a pt’o*

portionate increase will regularly go on as the reef is more deeply worked. The tributors are now busily engaged in sinking a deep shaft so as to drive at a lower level. They purpose erectin'.' a whim, and to make other improvements to economise labour, and when completed they fully expect to he amply repaid. Our belief in the auriferous nature of all the land lying between the reef and the sluicing claims at work at Manuka Creek is daily getting more fully confirmed. Under such circumstances, we would suggest to the Government that the land now in Hundreds should be proclaimed a goldfield, and every facility granted to miners and parties of men to take claims.

We notice that the p.s. Geelong is announced to sail for Oamaru to-morrow (Tuesday) morning at 9. .‘lO. The annual meeting of members of the Caledonian Society, to receive directors’ report and appoint new directors, will be held at Wain’s Hotel, on Tuesday, 25th instant, at 8 p.m.