OTAGO.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 15, 6 May 1871, Page 2

OTAGO.

[From the I'imes.] There appears to be a special fatality connected with the lignite mines and pits opened at Green Island. A few j days ago the pit which supplied the best I fuel in the district was completely des- t troyed. A furnace fire was kept burning at thejbottom of the air shaft to carry away the foul air generated underneath. A volume of carburretted hydrogen, it is supposed, escaping from some old working which was built in, coming in contact with the fire, became ignited, and the flames shooting forth as from a fiery furnace, destroyed the greater portion of the plant. The airshaft soon collapsed, and the whole became a total wreck, entailing a severe loss on the proprietress, Mrs Doig, and the lessee, Mr John M Cabe. Fortunately there was no one below at the time, otherwise a loss of life would certainly have been the result. This is the fourth pit in this locality which, within a few years, has been destroyed by fire. The principal cause of fires in these-pits is the allowing an accumulation of dross to remain. When this dross is heated a current of cold air frequently causes its ignition. If it were periodically removed there would be no danger of fires. To compensate in some degree for the loss sustained in the Abbotsford district, Mr. David Andrew has opened a coal mine in the Chain Hills, close to the road leading to the North Taieri, which promises to be very successful. We understand that Mr A. J. Burns when in Scotland recently, with the view of ascertaining the cost of the complete " system" of machinery for the manufacture of New Zealand flax into bagging and other coarse fabrics, placed himself :n communication with Messrs Pearce Brothers, the well-known en-gine-builders and machine makers in Dundee, Having considerable experience in the manufacture of machinery for spinning jute, the firm furnished Mr Burns with an estimate of the smallest " system" for that purpose. This they state would cost £2,182, delivered in Glasgow, and would weigh 64 tons. £SOO, however, in addition, would have been expended in necessary furnishings, such as driving belts, bobbins, reeds, combs, shuttles, driving bands, and pickers. An engine of 15 horse power would be requisite if this " system" were driven, by itself. The cost of a suitable engine and boiler would amount to £440 in addition. Messrs Pearce Brothers estimate that this «*system" would produce 1466 yards of sacking per day of eleven hours of actual work, or 8666 yards per week of. 65 working hours. In a letter sent to Mr Burns prior to his departure from Scotland, they state they desire to mention, injustice to any machinery which hereafter may be sent to New Zealand for spinning and weaving v the phormiwm tenax, that spinners in Dundee have found it a very difficult material to deal with.

We understand that specimens of totara, blue gum, and red pine, from wood which has been under water during the last eight years, and removed in order to allow of the extension to the Kattray-street Jetty being made, are to be forwarded to the Government offices, and possibly to the Museum. Of these woods, the "totara has stood the test far better than either of the other two, as it looks in the centre of the specimen as fresh as wood does when about to be driven down for piles, and bears hardly a sign of wear on the outer edge, The other specimens, on the contrary, have throughout a sodden appearance, and are far more decayed in the part exposed tp the water. Amongst the Chinese passengers who arrived per Whirlwind from Hong Kong at Dunedin, there was one passenger, says the " Tuapeka Times," who deserves a passing notice, whose name is Leang Chun Wah. This. gentleman has arrived here to administer to the bodily ailments of his countrymen and Others wty>

he has diplomas from the proper authorities at Hong Kong, having passed a bffU'antigxiimination and attained the d f " '■" f O. We understand that h

man of the giant who was late 3t us. There is a peculiarity"al...,7T,ig this man's professional custom which is well worthy the attention of all who require medical treatment, viz., "no cure, no pay." We recommend this to the medical faculty in Otago, as we think it is a step in the right direction, and the suggestion, coming from the Flowery Land, is perhaps deserving of attention. A correspondent writes that ", a most disgraceful state of affairs has existed at Teviot fere some time past. The place used as a lock-up is a cell measuring about eight feet square, without window or ventilation. On Friday last this place was occupied by four persons, two being lunatics, one of whom was almost constantly praying, while the other was partially paralyzed and suffering from apoplexy; the third occupant of the cell was a prisoner committed for some offence, and with'a sprained ancle; the fourth was a man apprehended for drunkenness, and whose conduct was most violent. Fancy this strange collection of men being all thrust together in such a place, for even one night ?" A correspondent writes :—"On going to a certain public office in this town, I found the door closed, and saw written across a printed notification the words « Back in half-an-hour,' in a hand which would have delighted Lord Palraerston. But the writer did not say when he left, and as it was pasted on the door it had the appearance of a standing order about it. Beneath was scrawled —'Please publish hours of attendance for benefit of disappointed calleis." Mr Edward Barber, the proprietor of the Union Hotel at Hamilton, and who was also a mail contractor, left that place last Saturday night with the mail for Linburn, and was found on Satmday night, at about 8 o'clock, lying quite dead on the road between these places, having been thrown out of his buggp. The deceased a wife and two children the latter of whom, till the receipt of the news of the accident, were attending th© High School. The shock of earthquake felt in Dunedin on Wednesday was also felt at Waitahuna at about two minutes to 4 p.m. The direction was from N.E. to S.E., and the shock lasted a few seconds. It was proceeded by a heavy dull noise, and tremors as of distant thunder. The day was beautifully calm and cloudless.