INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 48, 23 December 1871, Page 2

INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

AUCKLAND. It is generally believed that tlie lire at Rawkeswood’s foundry was . purely accidental, and several of the neighbors have stated to us that they had long expected it from the close proximity of so many wooden buildings to a foundry where casting was frequently carried on. The “ Thames Guardian” thinks “ The Provincial Council has immortalised itself. The country is to provide tea and coffee for members at the rate of 25s per week each during the session.” During the recent fire at Auckland there was one very narrow escape, and had it not been for the promptitude and fearlessness displayed by a few bystanders, a life would undoubtedly have been lost. A man went into a small building which stood between the foundry and the block of buildings in Victoria street to rescue some valuables. It was then blazing fiercely, and the unfortunate mau had scarcely got inside when the chimney fell in. Some of the material struck him on the head, and he fell insensible. Blazing rafters were on the point of falling over him, when Sergeant Major Broughton and a few other courageous spectators observed the occurrence, and rushed in just in time to drag him out before the timbers of the roof came down with a crash.

Another supposed attempt at incendiarism was frustrated on the night of the fire at Ilawkeswood’s foundry. Whilst the fire was raging in Chapel street, a person passing along Karangahape Road, near to the Newton toll-bar, saw a bundle of rags saturated with kerosine, and smouldering close to the fence in front of Mr John Probert’s property. He at once stamped it out, and gave notice of the occurrence to the inmates of the bouse. NELSON. The Collingwood correspondent of the “ Nelson Examiner,” under date of the 14th instant, writes:—Yesterday witnessed the highest flood in the Aorere seen in it for some years. The rain must have come down in a perfect deluge up the country, for hardly had the rain continued for six or eight hours when the river was overflowing its banks. Williams and party’s ‘punt, built on the Aorere for dredging, was tom from its fastenings, swept down the river, and only saved from going out to sea by using great exertions. The whole of the machinery is lost upon the way, and the punt itself in a very shattered condition. What makes this loss the more to be regretted is, that the party were just on the point of commencing to work their claim. Our little harbor was not without its casualties : a coal boat belonging to Mr Cross, kept in the harbor with coals for the Lady Barkly, by some means got sunk with about ten tons coal on board. Some poor wayfarer from West Wanganui, endeavoring to cross some of the farther streams of the Aorere, was nearly drowned when rescued by the ferry boat. A narrow escape from a boat accident in the harbor concludes the list, but it is to be feared that much damage is done up country by this sudden flood. The up-country districts of the Grey Valley have been visited by the heaviest storm and flood known to have taken place since the settlement of the Grey Valley. Monday and Tuesday were oppressively close and sultry, and on Tuesday evening a liea\y thunderstorm came up from the north-west. It rained heavily during Tuesday night and at intervals on Wednesday. At noon on Wednesday the rivers and creeks began to rise rapidly, and by midnight the Ahaura River had risen 20ft above its ordinary level. The peculiar appearance of the sky on Tuesday evening indicated the approach of bad weather, but the result has exceeded the worst anticipations of the weather prophets. The towns of Little Grey Junction and old Ahaura wore completely submerged, and for some hours the inhabitants were in great danger. It is feared that in the lower country, especially about Camptown and the Twelve-Mile Landing, serious damage may be done. The loss of live stock is known to be very great, but up to this time no report of the loss of human life has been confirmed, although one man, a miner named Joseph Grey, is missing; he left Moonlight Creek on Wednesday, to attend the Warden’s Court at Ahaura on Thursday,, and has not since been heard of. His

mates took the bush track by way of Baxter’s Creek, but he expressed an intention of going down the main creek,: in which case it is feared there is very little chance of his escape. A man named Spinks was drowned in the Mangahua River, South West Goldfields, on the sth inst. At the time of the accident deceased and a man named M‘Gahey were making a trip with the boat, and on reaching a fall the tow line parted. M'Gahey succeeded in getting to the bank, but Spinks was carried down the river, despite the efforts of M‘Gahey, who succeeded in casting an oar within the reach of the drowning man. Since the accident the boatmen in the river, assisted by Mr Mindermann and men in his employ, have been engaged dragging the river to recover the body, but without avail, and there is'little hope of its being recovered. WESTLAND. Speaking of the late floods, the “ West Coast Times” of the loth says: —The largest flood with which Hokitika, has been visited since 1868 occurred yesterday. Early in the morning the rain poured down in heavy streams, and the river became unusually swollen. At high water it over-reached its banks, the wharf being covered to a depth of some seven or eight iuches. The flood very speedily spread over all the lower parts of the town, rendering all access difficult, if not impossible. Many houses were flooded, and the inhabitants removed themselves for safety to higherlying places. The flood did not subside until evening. At Grey mouth the river rose unusually high, damaging the protective works, and submerging a great portion of the town. The Hokitika £< Star” says : —The returns from the land sales in Westland have of late far exceeded the estimated amount. During the la-t month upwards of £IOOO has been paid into the hands of the Waste Lands Board. OTAGO. Some splendid specimens of auriferous quartz are reported to have been obtained in the Tokomairifo district. The Arrow paper hears that several business firms in Arrowtown purpose curtailing their bank business considerably on account of the increase of the stamp duties. The contracts for the supply of 40,000 sleepers for the Clutha Railway have been signed, the successful tenderer being Mr Thomas Pollock, of Balclutha. The tenders were for the supply of jarrah or totara sleepers, but none were received offering to supply jarrah. One half are to be delivered at Dunedin, and the other half at the Clutha. The totara sleepers are to be of heart wood of the best description, 7 feet in length, 8 inches broad, and 4-£ inches in thickness. 11 tenders were received for the supply of 20,000 sleepers for the Dunedin end, and six offering to supply the quantity for the Clutha end. The following is the list of tenders’ prices for each one of the quantity to be delivered at Dunedin : —2s 10fd, 2s 11-|d, 3s, 3s, 3s, 3s 3d, 3s 3d, 3s 3d, 3s 4d, 4s, and Os Bd. For delivering at Balclutha, 2s 9fd, 2s ll|d, 3s 3d, 3s 3d, 3s 4d, and 4s. The lowest price in each case is that of the successful tenderer. We understand it is expected that the whole of the wood for the sleepers will be obtained in the Clutha district. 4000 per month will have to be delivered at each place, the first intalment being made in January, and the last in May. We may add here that the plant for the railway is now being manufactured in Britain. Those interested in Orepuki as' a goldfield, will be pleased to learn that a higher price is given for the gold yielded by that district than for that produced anywhere else in New Zealand. We (“ Southland News”) have information from one of the banks which buys most of the gold, that it averages on assay close on 23 carats The following notes respecting the Otago settlement of Martin’s Bay were furnished to the “ West Coast Times” by a passenger who left there in the Waipara: — An indignation meeting was held amongst the settlers at Martin’s Bay shortly before the departure of the Waipara for Hokitika, when they unanimously decided to petition the Provincial Council of Otago, either to find immediate employment for the inhabitants* that they might have the means

! of subsisting, or else send a steamer to take them all away, as they were actually reduced to a state of dependence. The expression of opinion was unanimous that the settlers had been shamefully treated and neglected by the Otngu Government —We also learn that previous to the visit of the Waipara all the male portion of the little community who could possibly get away had gone over the Saddle. The inhabitants have been principally living, for some weeks, on eels, mussels, and such game as the place would afford at this season of the year. There are four families, numbering twenty - one inhabitants, mostly women and children, remaining in those lonely wilds without a protective head, a most deplorable state of affairs, as they have no certainty of obtaing supplies when their present stock, obtained from Captain Bascand of the Waipara, become exhausted. Some who have left have expressed great regret that they had been induced by the flattering prospects held out by the Otago Government to spend two of the best years of their lives in trying to settle that district. One of the settlers has cleared two acres of heavy bush timber ready for crops, but in consequence of the non-arrival of the Storm Bird from Dunedin, he was unable to obtain corn for planting this year. Notwithstanding all this, they speak very highly of the place. The climate is salubrious, the soil good, the river and the beautiful lake with the scenery round are grand beyond description. All that appears to be wanting to make it a thriving place is a little encouragement on the part of the Otago Government, and the opening of a bridle track from Lake M'Kerrow to the Wakatip. Gold has been found in considerable quantities at Little Martin’s and several other localities south of Martin’s Bay, which could no doubt be made payable if provisions could easily be obtained. The party who took the saw-mill to Martin’s Bay are still determined to put it into operation, as soon as they have a chance of doing a little trade by exporting timber, a vast quantity of which the country produces, viz., red and white pine, rata, totara, remu, and iron wood. Many who have left the settlement express a full determination to return and claim their land, and they would also induce others to come and settle with them, provided better treatment is bestowed upon them by the Government of Otago.