Local News and Notes.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume I, Issue 10, 3 June 1863, Page 4

Local News and Notes.

An accident, which might have resulted fatally, occurred on the 30th ult, at the back of the Shotover Hotel, Arthur's Point, to a miner named Joseph Cooper, who was at work in a hole about ten feet deep.- The occurrence took place about 2 p.m. He was at work stripping, when, without a moment's warning, the bank fell in on him, and completely buried him. For about 20 minutes he was in that predicament, but however with the prompt assistance of about 50 miners and the police, he was fortunately extricated alive, but half suffocated.

Mr. Manders, we perceive by advertisement, will to-morrow expound his views to the electors of the Arrow portion of the Goldfields. We have received an intimation that another coach is soon to be started between Frankton and the Arrow, communicating with Queenstown by boat, similar to the line now running daily. Without wishing any harm to the boatmen, we cannot help expressing our desire that the necessity for water communication could be obviated, for what with tacking about in the intricate channel of the Frankton Bay—waiting for the wind at one time, and holding on your hair at another—together with the punt arrangement, this stage of the journey is not a very pleasant one, and is sometimes protracted to a most tedious extent. Is it not disgraceful that with such an excellent site for a road, the miserable distance between Frankton and Queenstown is practically as great as that between the former place and the Arrow ? A few pounds would form a first-class dray track, whereas now the traveller has in many places the option of taking to the hill, and climbing and sliding about in various depths of mire and slush, or walking half way into the Lake to get round some obtrusive rock that juts out into the water.

We have been favored with a communication from a miner located some miles above Skipper's, who relates that a short time back, he was awoke by his dog tearing off the the blankets from him; and on starting up found the bush on fire, and the flames in the close vicinity of his tent. He had scarcely time to seize the few articles of clothing constituting the wardrobe of a miner when the fire compelled him to decamp, which he fortunately did without sustaining other damage than that to his pocket. [As we have heard nothing before about this bush-fire, perhaps some of our readers may be able to enlighten us on the subject.] The Rev. Isaac Harding, of the Wesleyan Church, Dunedin, preached on Sunday morning last to a pretty numerous and orderly congregation, in the concert room at the

Royal Hotel. The services of a clergyman are greatly needed in this district, and pending the completion of the church now build-! ing, would it not be as well if a service j were held every Sunday, either at the camp , or in one of the numerous empty stores suitable for this purpose in Queenstown ? We recommend the consideration of this hint to the Church Committee. "Old chums" who were at the meeting at Bracken's Hotel, last Monday evening, prophesied that those of the audience who would adjourn to the Royal, after the meeting had concluded, would doubtless be rewarded for their trouble, as there was a "chiel amang them takin' notes" in the person of the to-all-familiar Thatcher, who was keenly watching throughout the meeting for points and characters whereon to exercise his own peculiar genius. Those less experienced, however, may well be excused if they doubted the probability, or possibility of such a feat being accomplished, and many an incredulous smile testified the doubt felt, if not expressed. True to his colors though, Thatcher was at his post, and amid uproarious cheers and shrieks of laughter, gave his version of the " Indignation Meeting"—many of his audience being those who had just left the aforesaid meeting. It is really surprising how he could have done it so rapidly and easily—full of pun, satire, and racy humor as it was, and is in itself sufficient reason for his title—the " Inimitable."

It would perhaps astonish a home reader to notice in the Mark Lane Express, or some other journal of a similar tone—" Flour has fallen considerably in price, owing to an advance of rats;" but we presume that no such feeling would occur to any one on the Lake, more especially any unfortunate storekeeper who had " speculated" at that remote period when roads were good and cartage low. Not long ago as high as £9O a ton, it has fallen to half that rate within the last fortnight, owing, we believe, in a great degree to the impossibility of keeping it for any length of time from the depredations of this destructive vermin. As we learn that heavy stocks of this commodity are on the road, it is not impossible that we may have it still lower yet. We have received several complaints from our Invercargill subscribers anent the delay or nondelivery of their papers. Concerning the delay, perhaps they are unaware that till very lately, by an express provision of the Post Office authorities, the newspapers posted in Queenstown were sent to Invercargill via Dunedin, though now that beneficial qrder has been rescinded. With regard to the non-delivery, we beg to assure our subscribers that their copies have been regularly posted; and if any irregularity exists, the Post Office officials are to blame.