COUNTRY NOTES.

Evening Star, Issue 4126, 18 May 1876, Page 3

COUNTRY NOTES.

{From our Exchanges.)

The settlers on the Herriot Hundred turned out lately and gave Mr Wm. M‘Kay a day s ploughing in consideration of the many services rendered by that gentleman for that young settlement. The manager of the Glenore tunnel (Mr Davies) expected to complete the lifting of the bottom yesterday; and the contract will now be ready for the rails. There is every probability of the work being finished to Manuka Creek early in June. There is a reported new rush about half-a-milc from Coorabe’s celebrated claim at Manuka Creek. Six claims were marked out yesterday, and great excitement prevailed. Up till dark a large number of people were making their way to the scene of the discovery. Andrew Ferguson, a resident of Manuka Creek is the prospector, and he has organised a party to work the claim he pegged off. A well-known travelling vendor of the frequently not very choice meat at Queenstown, and who enjoys the sobriquet of “Martin the Goatman,” has been arrested on a charge of sheep and cattle stealing, which has been carried on for some considerable time. It appears that from information received f'ergeant Morton found a large number of sheepskins and hides of different brands carefully concealed in his premises at Arthur’s Point.

A man named Richards drowned himself whilst suffering from insanity, at the TwelveMile, Lake Wakatipn. T tremendous flood came down the Molyneux on Sunday, doing a large amount of damage to miners on the banks. All day on Sunday mining plant, timber, and a variety of other articles were flowing down the stream; clearly showing that the flood had Come unexpectedly. The alteration of mail arrangements between Dunedin and Lawrence is not so had as a recent telegram made them out to be. There is to be a mid-day mail thrice a week from Dunedin by the up-country coach, which arrives in Lawrence on Tuesday Thursday, and Saturday. As showing the time that is now saved by the railway to the Waitaki, the ‘N. O. Times’ mentions that a consignment of fish was shipped on board the steamer Samson at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, arrived at Oamaru at 2.15 p.m., and vvas forwarded on to Waimate by the train at 3.15, arriving at that township at 6 p.m. Hitherto fresh fish to the people of Waimate has been a thing almost unknown. The foundation blocks have all been laid for another pocket at the Breakwater end, which will add another 17ft to the wall of the Oamaru Breakwater. Good progress is also being made with the wharf extension, three of the face blocks having been built i situ, leaving the same number to be completed.