OTAGO.

New Zealander, Volume XVIII, Issue 1714, 13 August 1862, Page 4

OTAGO.

Bl the Dunedin we have received our files to the 2nd August. Our Auckland merchants and leading men might draw a salutary lesson from tho action taken by their own class at Dunedin. Coromandel is as i real a fact as Tuapeka or Waitehana. In Auckland, however, we are not yet awake, nor probably shall we be aroused until we hear a thundering knocking at the door, from the enterprising speculators of Melbourne and Sydney. The injudicious zeal of a portion of the Auckland press has caused our leading men to pooh pooh the real wealth of Coromandel as a myth—and tho consequence is that Coromandel is left to gradually develop itself, which, thanks to its own innate strength and not to its pscudo friends it is able to do. The following is from the Daily Times of the 30th. " That there will be tm immense influx of population during tho spring and summer months there can be little doubt, if we arc to jndge from the efforts which are being made in every direction to provide for tho accommodation of visitors. There are now thirty hotels and cafes and nearly twice that number of private boarding-houses besides restaurant*, and refreshmentrooms innumerable. Building operations aro progressing to an extent which was scarcely witnessed after the rush hud first established itself. There is scarcely a vacent piece of ground in the leading thoroughfares of Dunedin this is not being occupied for some business purpose, and the activity which is everywhere visible, not only gives an impetus to trade, but is an unmistakablo sign of the good confidence which is entertained, that a large and profitable trade is to be done during the forthcoming season." The following piece of information relative to tho action taken by the Town Board of Dunedin in the matter of the Gas Company, will not be without interest to ourselves at the present time. " An application has been made by tho Dunedin Gas and Coke Company to the Town Board, for tho exclusive privilege of opening up the streets of Dunedin, for the purpose of layinggas piping. This application was brought on for consideration by the Town Board at the quarterly meeting of that body on Monday, and was, after some discussion refused. In the first place, the application was unaccompanied by any statement as to the footing on which the public were to be placed, in respect to the price of gas; and in the second it was considered unadvisable for the Board to concede any monopoly, where the interests of the public were so intimately concerned. Competition in gas as well as other commodities, is far more likely to promote the public welfare than a selfish monopoly, and wo apprehend that the calculations of the Dunedin Gas and Coke Company have been based upon the intrinsic merits of the undertaking itself, and not relying upon exceptionable circumstances. It would therefore be unwise on the part of the authorities to check the free action of commercial enterprise, by granting monopolies, and in this we think the Board have acted properly in refusing the application for the particular monopoly we refer to." There is little or no news from tho Otago gold fields but with the improved weather of the coming spring we trust we may be able to chronicle a return to the old tune of a 15,000 and escort. A fearful accident had happened resulting in the death of two women. The following particulars we extract from the Times of the 2nd August. " A shocking accident occurred last evening at Saddle Hill, not far from tho Burgiddio Hotel. A light covered waggon known as Hardy's Express, which has for some time been plying between Dunedin and the gold fields, was on the road out from town, and about 7 o'clock in the evening, in passing along a part of the road where it is cut in the steep side of the hill, the conveyance went over the bank and was violently precipitated into the gully below, instantly killing two females who were travelling by it as passengers. "The particulars of this sad affair, as nearly as we can learn, aro as follovs: —ln descending a rather steep elope on the hill side, the oft horse shied, and the drivet, noticing the danger of going over the bank, applied the break, but without effect, for the horses became unmanageable and continued to approach the edge, and he had only time to throw himself off before the conveyance topped over and with the horses rolled to the bottom. The driver at once shouted for assistance, and was speedily joined by a farmer of tho neighborhood, who would appear to have been passing. On getting down the bank a sad sight presented itself; two women were lying dead or dying in the fern, tho top was off the waggon, and the vehicle itself seemed to have actually passed over the bodies of the women, as it lay beyond them. One of the women, Mrs. Mackenzie, the wife of a police constable, and who had been sitting on the box, was still breathing, and asked for a glass of water, but expired almost immediately. The other, Mrs. Walsh, who was on her way to join her husband at the Woolshed, was perfectly dead when found. A boy, whose name has not reached us, was tho only other passenger. He was quite unhurt. Tho horses also escaped unj tired. " Tho news of the accident was brought to town by Mr. Mnsgrove, K.M., of Tokomairiro, who happened to be coming by, and Dr. Hockin, and Dr. Wilson, and two troopers at onco proceeded to tho spot. They found both the women perfectly dead, lying where they had fallen as if asleep, with no marks of wounds or blood. The bodies were removed to tho Burgiddie Hotel, to await tiic inquest which will probably bo held to-day. The driver was taken in custody by the police ; one report says that he was drunk at the time the accident occurred, but upon that point we aro not in possession of certain information.— Otago Time.? August, 2.