COUNTRY NEWS.

Evening Star, Issue 3630, 10 October 1874, Page 3

COUNTRY NEWS.

[From our Exchanges. ) A Waihola correspondent of the * Clutha Leader* writes ;—Tbe railway locomotive passes us several times a day with material and ballast By the time you go to press I have no doubt the line will be made and the locomotive running to within less than two miles of the station at Milton. I am told that more men have been’on the lino, and that the contractors will now finish it at the rate of a mile per week. ,A fi fe broke out in the store of Messrs J. and R. Lees, Gatlin's River, during the forenoon of the 2*2 nd ult. It appears Mr R. Lees had left the premises about halfpast nine o’clock in the morning, there being -then a little fire in the fireplace of the back room. Shortly afterwa- ds the store was noticed to be on fire by Mr M‘lntyre and Mr Hungerford, teacher, and by their exertions tlie front premises and part of the stock were saved. The books of the firm were destroyed. Messrs Lees’ loss is estimated at L2QO, The fire is supposed to have originated by sparks having been blown from the fireplace which had caught in the lining of the room. The recent rains have caused cracks at the approaches to the Chain Hill taancl, which it is said will necessitate the removal o' about 10,000 yards of extra earth on the Dunedio side before the opening of the tunnel for traffic, which is still expected to be accomplished in eighteen months. On Wednesday last, Andrew, son of Mr David M'Laren, carpenter, Milton, met with a severe accident. Being on a visit to Mr Marshall’s premises, he commenced to drive the soda-water machine, when his hand accidentally got amongst the c >gs of the wheel. The bone of one of his fingers was com pletely broken, while other two were severely lacerated. Mr M‘Lelland, schoolmaster. Blue Spur, has resigned his appointment. he was, on the occasion, presented with a handsome walnut writing-desk by his pupils. Mr Dalziel, a new arrival, has been appointed his successor. A survey party have arrived at Lawrence from the Provincial Engineer’s office, Dunekin, to lay off the railway line from Lawrence to the Beaumont. They will no doubt complete the survey as far as Roxburgh, before returning to town. A correspondent informs ua that the part ridges supposed, to have been seen at Timber Dully, near Roxburgh, turned out to be Maori hens. A groom, known as “ Billy,” was drowned atthe Waiwera on Wednesday night whilst watering his horses. The stream was over the river banks at the time, and the body at latest advices bad not been recovered.