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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume IX, Issue 485, 17 June 1867, Page 2

Pl'elic Meeting in Connexion with the Late Floods.—A nu ; erously-attend-"d public meeting was held at the M'cance Hotel, on Thursday last, the 13th inst., in accordance with an nivertisement published in the local papers, “ to consider the damage done to public works by the late floods, and to devise means to prevent, i 1 possible, the recurrence of the like.” Imongst the gentlemen present were bis Honor the Superintendent; J. M; Balfour, Esq., Colonial Marine Engineer; Alfred Sheath, Esq , Telegraphic Engineer; the Provincial Engineer; and the two members for the Mean, e district. Ilis Honor, having been voted to the chair, opened the business of the meeting, and Mr B dfour, after a suggestion from Mr Powdrell, expressed his opinion that of two plans proposed for carrying off the surplus water, it would be more advisable to widen and embank tbo present river than to open a now channel because the expense would be much less, say £1,600 or £1,700 as against £IB,OOO. After a considerable

amount of discussion on the merits of the two plans, and the assistance to be expected from the Provincial Government, Mr Buchanan said that the meeting should decide how to raise the money —as, if the contribution were to be compulsory, legislation would be necessary in the General Assembly, so as to levy a rate on the lands of tne Meauee district, and it would be well to ask the members for the province (Messrs. M‘Leac and Ormond) to initiate such a Bill. The best way of afterwards carrying out the object was a question for tbo engineers. lithe money were raised by assessment there would be this advantage, that absentees could be reached. After some further discussion, Mr G. Peacock proposed tiie following resolution, winch was carried, viz. ; —“ That in the opinion of this meeting the owners of property on the Meanee should be rated for the formation and maintenance of the proposed works on the river, and that the members for the district be requested to bring in a resolution of the Provincial Council ailirming the necessity of this.” Col. Wmtmore then alluded to the state of the roads in the district, and proposed a resolution to the effect that, it wnj of first importance Government should vigorously prosecu’e the needful repairs to the roads and bridges, that the settlers might have access to the port,—which was withdrawn on his Honor’s assurance that the G-overnment was doing all it possibly could under the .circumstances, and that m case the settlers began tbo construction of a temporary emuauknieiiL to afford present protection to the district, it would be prepared to assist, oome complaint was made concerning the delay that would attend the action of tiie General Government legislation on the mat ter, but it was ultimately concluded to act upon the first resolution, get subscriptions, ana, with Government aid, proceed with tbs ueeofui repairs; a*, in tins Jut, there

would be no difficulty in providing fopsubscript! .ns paid at once being allowed for, A vote of thaoks to hi-. Honor for bconduct in the chair concluded the business of the meeting. Petty Larceny. —At the Resident Magistrate’s Court on Saturday a man namedJoseph Brophey was charged with stealing from his employer, ’William Campbell, a door lock, a Crimean shirt, a hair brush, a comb, and a piece of soap. A search warrant having been obtained, the articles were found in prisoner’s possession. He was found guilty and sentenced to three months* imprisonment. Supposed Case op Drowning.—A gen* tleman who arrived in town a day or two ago, has furnished us with the following: —On Saturday, Juno Bth, a young man a named Arthur Lambert, employed on Mr J. N. Williams’s station at Kereru, had to cross the Ngaruroro river on his way . home, and that he was swept o!f his horse and carried away by the current. Every search had been made for the body, but without avail. The deceased was highly respected by all who knew him.

Significant. —lt will be in the recol* ij lection of the public that some time ago—perhaps three months back —a party of' three men (old diggers, we believe,), left < -Napier in a northerly direction, with tha idea of prospecting for gold. Since- that time one of the trio has, on different occasions, visited Napier, and left again heavily \ laden with the good things of this life„, ’ I'hat same person arrived in town, as neap- j as we can remember, about a month ago ;• and took up his abode in a respectable \ lodging-house in Shakespeare-road,—evi-dently bent on resting from las labours. ( On the Bth inst., however, after duly pay--ing bis score, he very quietly “sloped,” without informing any one, not even his. landlady, as to where ho was bound. Tha departure on Monday last of another party on a prospecting tour, also in a northerly . direction, seems, however, in a measure to account for what, under other circumstances, might be considered the mysterious 1 disappearance of the “ old digger," inasmuch as it is shrewdly suspected by some I that, having heard another party was 1 about to start out, he had gone to apprise ' his two mates of the fact. The impression; generally in town is that the trio have been doing a good stroke of business, wherever they are.

Eaethquakb at Wellington.—Tha Independent, Juno 11, says:—“ A smart shock of earthquake was felt in this city about half-past six o’clock on t'uuday morning.”