SOUTH ISLAND.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4276, 3 December 1874, Page 3

SOUTH ISLAND.

OTAGO. Thrre are now 700 volumes of excellent books in the public library of Upper Shotover. An Old Colonists’ Association is being started in Southland. Twelve year's’ residence constitutes an old colonist. Workmen are now busily engaged in putting in the foundations for the engine shed at Oamara, and plate-laying has been commenced close to the railway station. Signs of the flourishing state of Milton are now apparent. New buildings are going up in all directions, and houses are almost at a premium. As mustering proceeds, says the "Lake Wahatip Mail, for shearing, it is found that the lambing season has been a frightfully bad one. Complaints reach irs from various quarters. Early half-breeds suffered most severely. An accident of a fatal character happened to a laboring man named Joseph Baxter, on Saturday week. He accidentally fell off a punt at Taieri Ferry, and was drowned before assistance could be rendered. Mr. J. Hislop, jeweller, Dunedin, has on exhibition in his window a magnificent cake of gold, weighing 12000z5., the product of the crashing of 250 tons of stone from the Cromwell Quartz Mining Company’s reef. The cake measures about twelve inches across and eight inches deep. Bishop Neville, of the Church of England, is on a visit to the Lake Wakatip portion of his diocese. During this visit his Lordship will be asked to consecrate St. Peter’s Church, Queenstown, and the ground set apart for Anglican burials in the cemeteries of Arrowtown, Skippers, and Queenstown. Forty-four of the children, boys and girls, of the Otago Industrial School, have now the handsome sum of £4OB 11s. 2d. placed to their credit in the Post-office Savings Bank of Dunedin. These earnings are paid to the depositors on the expiration of their term or when they get married, unless forfeited by bad conduct. A very handsome silver tankard, and a fishslice and fork, are to be presented to Mr. W. A. Young, of Palmerston, at a dinner to be given to him shortly by some of his fellowsettlers. The articles bear the following inscription:—“Presented to Mr. W. A. Young by his fellow-colonists in New Zealand, in recognition of his gratuitous and valuable services in the cause of acclimatisation, 1874.” ~..i- ‘ i— j —-1,,;.,,. n„ Molyneux, of which we heard so much some time ago, is at last in a fair way to get a trial. The Cromwell Argus states that the company have taken up a claim at Cornish beach, between the Bannockburn bridge and Kawarau gorge, a beech that acquired great renown in former days as a rich depository of the precious metal. The purchase of the steamer Peninsula by the Harbor Board has been completed, and the Board’s engineer (Mr. Simpson) and Capt. Thomson, accompanied by the Secretary (Mr. Gillies), have made a flying survey of and took soundings in the short and long channels every two minutes, to enable Mr. Simpson to ascertain which channel could be the quicker dredged, so as to enable the interprovincial steamers to come up to town. It was found that the short channel would require the deepest dredging. As Robert Young, a farmer living at Mosgiel, was driving a three-horse team along Princes-street south, at noon yesterday, says the Times of the 27th November, he met with an accident which proved fatal. He was walking at the side of the horses, when the leader shied at a stack of bricks, and swerving round knocked deceased over, and the dray wheel passed over Ids abdomen. He was so severely injured that he expired on reaching the hospital. Deceased lias no relations in the colony. Two runs were submitted for sale on Tuesday at Queenstown. One applied for by Mr. Kirkpatrick was purchased at the upset price of one-halfpenny per acre. This run is of the extent of 40,000 acres, assessed as capable of carrying 2500 sheep. The price is therefore £B3 6s. Bd. This run is between the Haast and the head of the Lake. The other is at the head of the Wanaka Lake, 0200 acres in extent, and capable of carrying 600 sheep. The price obtained was £l4O, or five-pence halfpenny per acre, the purchaser being the applicant, Mr. D. Cameron. Messrs, Sargood, Son, and Ewon, who have for some time conducted a very extensive manufacturing business in the old First Church, Dowling-street, have decided upon erecting a building, specially adapted, on the site. It will have frontages to High-street and Dowlingstreet, and, as one is 120 ft. in length, and the building will he carried several stories in height, there is opportunity for combining utility with architectual beauty. In order to secure these, the firm have invited competitive designs both in Melbourne and Dunedin, and about a dozen have been sent in, each of which displays elegance beyond what is usually sought in buildings for business purposes. In sucli cases, choice is somewhat difficult, and a decision has not yet been arrived at. CANTERBURY. The Hon. W. Fox will lay the foundation stone of the new Temperance Hall in Christchurch in the second week of December, and afterwards visit Dunedin. It was resolved, at a meeting held on November 21, to form a company, with a capital of £IO,OOO in shares of £lO each, for the erection of a new theatre. It is not proposed to call all the capital up, as it is estimated that £OOOO will build a theatre capable of holding 1500 persons. Immigration to South Canterbury, the Timam Iferahl remarks, appears to have died a natural death. The influx of laborers which four or five months ago promised to place this district in a more advantageous position than it had ever before enjoyed, has now ceased altogether ; the rate of wages is as high as over, and nothing like a full supply of hands can bo obtained by offering oven that; this year, asin past years, before immigration to the district began, the road boards have given notice of discontinuing much needed improvements during the harvest months ; and there seems to be every indication of dearth and difficulty _ in carrying on farming operations, not to mention public works, in tho course of the approaching summer. Even in Christchurch, where the majority of tho immigrants who arrive in the province congregate, there is no want of employment, nor has the rate of wages been materially affected by tho large additions which have been made to tho laboring population in the last twelve months. Yesterday (says the Press of tho 24th November) about 3.45 p.m. the fire-bell wx*

rung, and volumes of smoke were seen issuing from four cottages belonging to Mr. Merson, situated between London and Win-cbester-streets, at the back of the English Church. They were inhabited by Messrs. Russell, Kennedy, Marshall, and Nelson. It appears that the fire originated at Mr. Kennedy’s house on the first floor. The children were sent upstairs, and on their comi ,g down the fire burst out. The brigade turned out,, but were perfectly useless without steamengine and without water, and all they could do was to save as much of the furniture as possible, and cut down the trees in Mr. Merson’s garden to prevent the fire spreading. The wind was luckily from N.W., which prevented the fire catching the church, but had it been in the S.W. the roof and windows would have undoubtedly gone. The steam fire-engine was telegraphed for from Christchurch, but was stopped, as it was found that the block was burning out without any danger of igniting any other buildings. We are sorry to hear that none of the buildings were insured. No casualty occurred. Captain Kiddy and the brigade did all they could, but what can a brigade do without an engine and without water ? We hear it is the intention to form a fire police to guard property rescued from fires, and we hope this very useful corps will be speedily established. Mr. Henry Green, of Timaru, is about to have constructed a concrete grain store, of 38ft. Sin x 47ft. Sin.; front elevation, 17ft. 6iu,; centre, 19ft. Gin.; office, 13ft 12in.; with front, back, and two side entrances, for the purpose of facilitating the discharge of goods. It will have also an attic for light goods. This will be the first concrete warehouse in Timaru, and has the very strong recommendation of security from fire, damp, decay, and vermin. Mr. David Ross, of Dimedin, is the architect.