THE PROVINCES.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 158, 7 December 1874, Page 3

THE PROVINCES.

OTAGO. The first season for trout fi. hing i ■ New Zealand opened to-day, says the uti r ->f the Ist, and by daylight this morning numerous disciples of Izaak Walton were wending their way to the Water of Leith and oilier streams in which fish have been liberated by the Acclimatisation Society. We have heard of several anglers who had good sport, one gentleman taking home by mid-day 13 b weight of trout, and another 81b weight; but there wore, on the other hand, many who, from the want of skill or of luck, drew blanks — not even getting a nibble. Mr R. JBcetham, R M., has handed us ( iVakatip Mail ) the following telegram, which wc publish with pleasure, as showing that the Government do not intend to abandon Martin’s Bay. We arc only afraid that relief, or a service of this nature, comes too late. We do not, however, express a definite opinion upon this point:—“ To Warden Beetham, Queenstown. —The steamer Maori will commence West Coast steam service first week in December,” The following items are from to-day’s Bruce. Herald: —The Superintendent purposes coming to Tokomairiro on cither Ihursday or Friday next, to fire the first glossed or finished kiln of pottery at the local works of Mr W. M. White. This will be the first event of the kind in the colony, and will doubtless bo regarded with due importance. —Dr Haast, Provincial geologist of Canterbury, paid a hurried visit to the extensive beds of moa bones located near the mouth of Shag River, on Thursday last. Arriving from Oamarn by that day’s coach, he, in company with Mr Rich, at once set off lor the chosen spot, and returned in the evening with a rare haul of specimens, which wc ob served being classified on the following morning, in readiness for conveyance north wards by Friday’s coach. 'Three complete heads were made up from the collection obtained. Several of the stone implements used by the moa hunters in preparing the monster birds for food were also obtained. We learn from Mount Ida that the arrangements of Lieutenant Crawford for observing the transit of Venus are nearly completed. The telegraph wire has been diverted to the site selected, aud great hopes are entertained of a favorable obsei vat-ion. Some difficulty is apprehended owing to the prevalence at this season of the year of grass fires, the smoko from which on a hot day hangs in thin vibrating clouds for a long time, causing more or less obscurity. It is to be hoped that the runholders will take precautions to prevent the shepherds from firing the grass on the Bth and 9th instant. Messrs Brogdeu and Sons arc now proceeding with the construction of the stations on their sections of the Dunedin and Clutha line. The following works have been undertaken —At Mosgiel, a passenger station and platform, aud goods shed, 60ft x 30ft, The same kind and extent of work also is to be done at Grcytown. At Waihola, a large passenger station and offices ; a platform 150 ft long, already erected ; a goods shod 100 ft x 30ft ; and an engine shed. A station at Kaitangata road crossing, on the Clutha section, is also in course of construction. A fatal accident occurred in the vicinity of Port Chalmers yesterday morning, says the Guardian of the 4th, about 9 o’clock, adding one more to the already long list of like melancholy cases in the district. The deceased, whose name is William Gibbs, was working a ballast quarry at Kilgour’s Point, on the Dunedin side of Sawyer’s Bay, with his mate, William Hoskins, the two being at the time engaged in driving a drill for blasting. They were standing on a ledge about 4ft from the floor of the quarry, and above them was a perpendicular face about oft high. This appeared to them to be perfectly secure, no sign of liability to give way being noticed. While engaged as above stated, about three tons of stone directly above them suddenly gave way. Hoskins, who was using the hammer, sprang off the ledge and escaped untouched, but Gibbs was forced down beneath the heap. Griffith Jones was the only other man present. He was at the time loading a lighter at the quarry, and he and Hoskins immediately extricated Gibbs, who was then alive, and having a small boat handy they put him into it and brought him over to the head of Mussel Bay, Gibbs lived until the boat was about 200 yards off the head of the bay. On their arrival medical aid was sent for, but was of course unavailing, as life was extinct before the shore was reached. The body was then given over to the police, who removed it to the morgue.