Local and General.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 52, 29 January 1884, Page 2

Local and General.

South Pacific Petroleum Co, (No Liability).—The following official report has been handed to us for publication:—Mr. Isles, accompanied by Mr. E. if. Ward (a member of the local board), and Mr. Craig, of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., who left for the springs on Saturday, returned to town about 10.30 on Sunday night. The works and surroundings were carefully inspected, and Mr. Craig, who saw them for the first time, was highly pleased, and saw no reason why oil should not be struck at no distant date, now that the bore has been put down a considerable depth, and also judging from the very encouraging surface indications to be observed in so many places on the block, showing clearly that oil is somewhere near, and in large quantities too. Mr. Price, who is presently in charge of the works, has made good progress, notwithstanding the various obstacles he has had to contend with for some time back, the water having failed, for one thing, and some other accidents, which, though trifling, were sufficient to retard progress to some extent. In order to prevent, as much as possible, the water-supply becoming short in future, the old engine and boiler have been removed from the derrick to a place close to the creek, and are now being used to work a force-pump which has been fixed up, to force water through about 800 feet of one-inch piping, which has been laid down and connected with the derrickt A branch of this pipe has also been run across to the dam; so, in the event of one place failing to supply the necessary quantity of water, it can be obtained from the other without the least delay occurring, The depth of bore on Saturday night was 382 feet, and the pipes down to 367 ft. The strata has much improved lately, and Price states that he will now be able to drill a considerable distance ahead, and dispense with the use of pipes for some time. Oil was seen last shift on Saturday night, and everything was working most smoothly, Prospects are decidedly much better than they have been for some time. News of a still more encouraging nature may be expected to reach town shortly, It is to be regretted that untrue statements are circulated disparaging to this Company. Vesterday we heard the pipes had gone off plumb, which fortunately proved to be untrue, and, considering the great importance this industry is likely to be to the district, it is right the Company’s local manager should be careful that none of the employes circulate indiscreetly any reports for or against the Company, Samples of oil and paratin butter are on view at the Company’s office, where latest advices can be obtained.

Concert. —The entertainment to be given this evening, at Macfarlane’s Hall, should be well attended, as the programme is a welb selected one, and will, we should think, be done justice to. The first part comprises sacred pieces, and the latter secular music. Doors will be open at 7.30, and the performance commences at 8 o’clock.

Volunteers.—The J Battery will parade for the usual monthly inspection on Thursday next, at 7 p.m.

Paddocking Accommodation.—Mr. R. Finlay, of the Sea View Hotel, Tologa Bay, invites special attention to his paddocking accommodation.

A Jolly Tar.—The N.Z. Time* of the 21st inst, says “ The vagaries of a seaman of the steamer Aorangi caused amusement as well as excitement on the Queen’s Wharf yesterday afternoon. He had apparently found no difficulty in obtaining as much liquor as he wanted, and having got into such a state that he was indifferent as to what he did, he had a quarrel with one of his mates, who, however, confined himself to chaff. The elevated tar eventually announced his intention of jumping off the wharf, and, while jumping about on a stringer, nearly fell in. In the end he bet half-a-crown that he would jump off the yardarm of his ship, and, the money having been staked with a bystander, he ran up the rigging as nimbly as a monkey and along the yard, and, having reached the end, indulged in a few hops and they jumped off. On rising to the surface he indulged in various gambols, being, apparently, quite at home in the water, and then made his way back to terra firma, to find that the stake-holder had disappeared ; whether for good or only for a joke did not I transpire. The jump from the yardarm is said to be no less than 75ft.”

Goon Investments.—-Seeing that comfortable places of residence are not always obtainable in Gisborne, the cottages advertised for sale by Messrs, Porter and Croft, in another column, should be readily purchased—more especially as the terms are easy, and the localities of the dwellings good.

Shocking Fatal Acuimnt at Tb Bhisoa.— The Wairoa G«ard/««, of the 19th instant, reports:—lnformation was received here yesterday afternoon to the effect that a shocking fatal accident had taken place at Te Reinga the same morning, resulting in the death of David Ellis, a workman employed on one of C. Lloyd’s contracts. The information to hand is very meagre, but from what we can gather it appears that the deceased was working with Roberts, and during the morning put in a dynamite blast

to remove some papa on one of the cuttings ; he had no proper dynamite fuse, and was using a make-shift powder fuse; when the light was applied he found the blast was going off quicker than he expected, and called out to his mate to jump clear ; Boberts did so, and next thing that was seen was the hat of the unfortunate man dying in the air; the body was picked up immediately, the head of the deceased being almost blown off. The body was wrapped in a blanket and information sent to Constable Shaw, who proceeded

at once to the scene of the accident.” The Guardian of the 33rd instant says The unfortunate man David Ellis, who was killed at Te Reinga on Friday by an explosion of dynamite, owed his untimely death to sheer carelessness in the use of that dangerous explosive. The deceased was about 35 years of age, and unmarried (at least, so far as can be ascertained); He is believed to have relations living somewhere about Opotiki. The body was interred at Whenuakura on Sunday, the coffin being taken up from Opotiki to Te Reinga in pieces.” Coast Road,—The Napier Telegraph reports that "news was received here recently that the Coast Road, between Hawke's Bay and Wellington, had been closed against travelling sheep, owing to the presence of scab in some of the country through which the road passes, The consequence of this order was that some 5,000 sheep, bought in this district by the Gear Company, were prevented from proceeding on their journey. We now learn that the Wellington Sheep Inspector has relaxed the restriction after a further inspection of the country, and that the Company has been enabled to complete their requirements for their Lady Jocelyn and Bombay shipments.”