The Evening Star SATURDAY, JANUARY 2, 1875.

Evening Star, Issue 3701, 2 January 1875, Page 2

The Evening Star SATURDAY, JANUARY 2, 1875.

The Christmas washing-up of the Cromwell Quartz Mining Company was Bißozs. from about 200 tons of stuff. We hear that a carrier, named Adam M‘Leod, was killed by falling over a precipice in the Taieri district while driving to Dunedin to attend the Caledonian aports. The ‘ Tuapeka Times’ has been requested to say that the statunent that the local Jockey Club decided to allow Mabel to run on the 1 uapeka course was incorrect. The Club have not as yet given the matter any cons, deration.

A discovery, wh'ch promises to be one of very great importance, has just been made on the lands of the Kaitanuata Coal Company, at a spot known as -Capstick’s Creek. In sinking for the purpose of testing the strata for the proposed branch line to Kaitau,i,ata a seam of coal was struck, which has since been ascertained to bo not less than twenty-one feet thick.

At Timaru, on Christmas Day, a laborer named Wil’iam Carter drank himself to death by swallowing at a draught a panmk n full of raw brandy. He immediately became unconscious, was removed to the hospital, and notwithstanding every effort to restore him. died about two hours after admission. The cause of death, was apoplexy brought on by the drink he had taken. The Bates-Howard season at Wellington is proving a very remunerative one to the lessees, and the local papers report that the management are placing the different plays •n the board in a manner which should merit a continuance of patronage. Ox Boxing night “The Streets of New York” was played to one of the largest attendances ever seen in the place, and dress circle seats in the remotest corners were held at a premium. Rather an exciting deer hunt is reported to have taken place at Tapanui, on Thursday last, Mr John M'Kdlar, and a party of ge itlemen, who happened to be out scouring the flat, started a large buck, to which they gave chase. After a long pursuit they succeded in bringing it to bay. On being depatched the animal was found to weigh not less than 21Olbs. Its captors intend having it prepared and forwarded as an addition to the Otago Museum collection. A rather serious accident occurred in Princes street south this afternoon A young man named James Wilson was breaking-in a colt in a cart belong ng to Mr Petersen, grocer, and having no control over the horse it bolted at a furious pace, turning over the cart, win hj fell on the driver, Wilson when picked up was insensible, and was removed to the shop of Mr Morris, saddler, where stimulants were admioiatered and he recovered sensibility. He was afterwards re moved to the Hospital. He was chiefly huit about the head and face.

The wool clip this year is universally reported to be turning out well The ‘ Wakatip Mail ’ says that throughout that district it has been much larger than was expected. The Upper Taieri correspondent of the * Waikouaiti Herald’ also says;—“lt is gratifying to report that the present clip of wool is taming out much better than its predecessor, From all parts of the district

we learn that it is far superior in staple and to las:, year’s. Taking into consideration the fact of experiencing a very stormy spring, and other minor matters relative to the subject, the flockowners may be congratulated upon securing such a j-plen* did clip in the face of the many drawbacks in the early part of the season. A most disgraceful exhibition took place opposite the Golden Age Hotel, Stafford street, this afternoon. “An eye-witness” informs us that upon a man applying for admission to a house, not noted for its respectability, he was refused entrance by the female occupier, who made use of the most disgusting and obscene language, whereupon he xetorted in equally bad terms. This is not the first or second time our attention has been called to scenes of a like nature having occurred in broad daylight iu this neighborhood ; and in the interests of the public generally, and particularly of those who have to traverse this street, it would be necessary to provide a constable especially to look after this locality. We (‘Clutha Leader’) are in a position to state positively that active steps are about to be taken for the construction of the branch line of railway to connect the Kaitangata coal workings with the main line. Representatives of the coal co pany have been for some time past in comimu ication with the Biogden firm. The negotiations have so far advanced that in-tractions have been given to prepare preliminary plans and peoitications for the work, which will be ready in the course of a day or two. The ength of line required in the first instan e will not exceed live mites, and at a rough

estimate the formation work will not exceed 13,001). This is of course exclusive of sleepers, ballasting, plate-laying, rollin. -took nr. in fact, anything else bub the bare formation. A very successful temperance fete was ueld at Plueskm yesterday, under the inspices of the Pride of Waitati Lodge. L ' .G.r. A procession numbering from hree to four hundred was formed at tin dchoolhouse, and headed by the Port (Jhai mers brass l and inarched through the township, and then proceeded to a paddock in the neighborhood, where an abundant iUoply of refreshments was provided by the lodge i'he sports usual to such outings were gone into with great zest, and kept up with spirit fcdl about five o’clock. At eight o’clock a concert was held in the Schoolroom, the whole proceedings terminating with a dance. About forty visitors were present from Dunedin, including the G.W.C.T. Bro. Andrews and the G. SVS. Bro. Mills both from Christchurch. Visitors were also present from Waikouaiti and surrounding districts. Some of the immigrants by the Nelson

seem to be rather troublesome if we are to judge by the conduct of a number of them last evening. A man named Stokes, who arrived in the Hind os tan, was arrested by Constable Piuoney for being drunk and using foul language, and before the ceil could, be locked the constable was surrounded by a crowd from the b>rracks, who demanded that the prisoner should be let out, and a few minutes afterwards the constable was overpowered by a very disorderly mob and tao prisoners released from his custody. Two men named Hercus and Gay, both “ Nelsonites,” were afterwards arrested as ringleaders, but the others wh * assisted in the affray have not yet been apprehended Later in the evening Sergeant- ajor Bevan and four policeman had to proceed to Caversham tquell a disturbance which had broken out there, and to bring the prisoners to town, as it was feared that an attempt to release them would be made. It is understood the through line of railway as far as the Mosgiel crossing will be ready for traffic v ithia the next mouth or six weeks. It was currently reported that an arrangement would be made between th • Government and the contractors whereby the line would be wrought as far as possible pending completion of the Chain Hibs tunnel, A'e (‘ Clutha Leader’) regret to learn that

doubts have arisen as to the practicability of that coarse being followed. The subject wa' mooted a few days ago to the Superintendent, and very li tre prospect, we understand, was held out in that quarter of the line being at work soon. So far from that, his Honor gave it to be understood he would not be at all surprised if its opening were to be delayed until the tunnel was finished, or until the Green Island branch 1 ne had been continued over the hill, and brought to rejoin the main line at some point or another along the Taieri Plain—the latter being considered the most likely to bo the first accomplished work of the two. The New Year was welcomed at the Por by a display of fireworks from the shipping and by the inhabitants. >nme of the vessels alougs de the railway pier pre ented quite a g-y appearance, hmnin : blue light* from their yard-arms, and firing a number of rockefs, while the people on shore seeuiing

not willing to be outdone, kept up a similar display with a continual fire of crackers, blue lights, [rockets. *c. The Port Chalmers Brass Band turned out and played some excellent music. Yesterday the Port bad quite a lively appearance. The Good Temp lars held a p'c-nic at the Recreation Ground, and the VVesleyan t'unday school chi .’ren with their teachers and friends, had a da>’s outing at Deborah Bay. The chief pic-nic of the day was the Port Chalmers Annual Picnic, which was held near Lane’s Kock, and passed off very satisfactorily, but owing to the threatening weath r the sports had to be brought to a close much sooner than intended, Tne excursions made by the steamers Bruce Golden Age, and Jane, were well patronised. Police protection is much wanted at Clinton, from which plac a , according to the * Clutha Leader,’ accounts continue to come of a doleful nature. This is what a correspondent writes On Christmas Eve we had it very hot. A heavy drinking bout took place, which culminated in a row, amidst which blows freely exchanged, and empty bottles and other missiles sent fiying about, to the danger of life and limb. During the heat of the broil the well-dis-posed portion of the inhabitants abut themselves up in their dwellings, so that I am only in a position to furnish a statement of net results. Two or three scalp wounds were sustained, a number of bauds and arms were badly bruised, and as for broken noses and * plugged-up ’ eyes. I am quite sure they could have beeu counted by the half-dozen.

This is a very promising commencement for the holidays. How we are going to get through them lam sure 1 cannet tell. That we’ll hare a few more bruised limbs and ba tered countenances amongst us before the year is out may be set down as certain. I only hope ami trust that the present lawless s ate of the district will not result in manslaughter or murder.”

The adjourned meeting of the Loyal Leith Lodge, I.< t.0.F., will be held on Monday evening, at 8 o’clock. The art union in connection with All Saint’s Bazaar will be drawn this evening at 7 30, and the unsold articles will be put up to auction at 8 o’clock. We are desired to draw attention to Messrs Hay and Co.’s extraordinary cablegram, for detailed particulars of which wo must refer our readers to our advertising columns, and leave them to draw their own conclusions from it.