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Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1025, 2 August 1879, Page 2

The body of Paul Fitzpa trick, one of the victims of the tunnel accident yesterday, was not unearthed till this morning, although the men were working all night,

Tiie crcat success wliich attended the sheep dog trial last year at Duntroon, has induced many of the residents of that part of the district to promote a similar trial this season. Preparations are now being made for the holding of the meeting at an earlydate, and we wish them every success. So far the movement lias met with considerable encouragement, and our informant tells us that already a large number of dogs are betnsr trained ic anticipation of the event coming off. Tiie farmers in the I'apakaio district arc apparently not going to let their annual ploughing match fall through. A meeting is t'■> he held at Pine's Hotel on Monday eveiu:t'_'. at seven o'clock, to make arrangements for the annual contest.

The railway bridge over the Maerewhenua liver at Ditntroon, intended for tin: extension of the Maerewhenua line into the Hakateramea Valley, has just been completed by the contractors (Messrs Allan and Stumbles), ft consists of seven 40-feet spans, and one oi 13 feet. It is an ironbark pile bridge. Its foundations are concrete, which is securely placed upon a rock bottom, 12 feet brlo'.v the level of the river, and the piers are of Oamaru stone, surmounted by ironbark timber trussed work. This bridge has been built at the instigation of the Government. LO7OO having been voted to carry the present Puntroon line to a point somewhere in the vicinity of Harris' Hotel. The bridge just finished has absorbed L' 7300 of this amount, and, whilst it appears to have been honestly constructed, it is certainly handsome in appearance. The bridge is purely a railway bridge, and the sooner, therefore, the line is carried over it to the other side of the river the better. We are pleased, ami the settlers of .Maerewhenua will be still more plea.ned, to hear that there is every probability of this being done shortly, as only a matter of compensation for land, which it is expected will be soon adjusted, now stands in the way. Several bridges further on towards the llakateramea Valley have also been just completed, with the exception of one over the Kurow river, which is about to be commenced, all the timber having arrived by the V*. C. W entworth. and other requisites having been placed on the ground. 'I liesc bridges have been constructed to the order of the Hakateramea Railway Company, being a portion of a line which starts where the Government one leaves off. The first of the bridges beyond Puntroon is placed over the \\ aikoura Creek, and consists of seven 20-fcet spans ; the second, called "The "Viaduct,'* is slightly curved, anil is taken over a deep gully, which drains a large e;;tept of country ditrinu rainy weather, and consists of six 20-feet spans; the tliird bridge is over the Otekaike river, between the AVaitaki river and the Hon. R. Campbell's residence, and consists of 39 20-fcct spans; the fourth bridge is over the Otiak, near the main road, and consists of 34 20-fcct spans and two of 12 feet. The fifth bridge is the one we have already referred to as about to be constructed over the Knrow, and will consist of 34 20fect span 3 and two of 12 feet, and will be finished in about seven weeks. All these arc ironbark pile bridges, and their cost will be about LfIOOO. ' Those just completed have occupied a much longer time in construction than was anticipated, as considerable delay was caused through the non-arrival of the timber.

At the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning, James Blair was iinol 5s for being drunk and disorderly, r.'ul Mary Wilson, on a similar charge, was convicted and discharged.

The Sciopticon exhibition given last evening in Wesley Church, in aid <>; iiic school funds, was very well atten led, .vd gave great delight, "especially to the juvenile portion of the audience, the comic pictures greatly pleasing them. In the House of Representatives yesterday, Sir George Grey, iu reply to a question, staled that l~y>o2 persons held property ta-.able under ihe Land Tax Act, and that 77,0."0 persons held land.

As Mr. M'Auly's children were re turn}n'i from school yesterday, ihe horse which ibev were driving s->icd at a passing dray, and p»'ccipualcd the buggy and its occupants over the dangerous embankment near the Junction H0,.e1. and not far from the scene of tho late fatal accident. Luckily, the bttgey did not turn completely over, and the youngsters were enabled to escape unhurt, though Homewiiat frightened. How many warnings wili our Councillors require before they see the advisability of erecting a fence on each side of this portion of the north road, for the safety of travellers?

During the month of July, 43 births, 6 marriages, and 9 deaths were registered in Oamaru.

About two months ago Mr. Levi Gale's horse became unmanageable whilst riding through Otopopo, and travelled half-a-mde on its own account before he could pull it i up. Tbis was caused by a pyrotechnic display which was being indulged in by a number of larrikins. Last Saturday evening, at about eight o'clock, Mr. Gale and another were on their road through Otepopo ; b.ut, when approaching the township, seeing that some rascals were amusing themselves in the same dangerous .manner that frightened Mr. Gale's horse before, they were compelled, fcr fear of accidents, to take a circuitous route instead of passing through the town. We point to this nuisance with the firm conviction, that it is only necessary to do so in order to* prevent its recurrence.