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Southland Times, Issue 587, 5 November 1866, Page 2

Musical Jewellery.— C(h)oral. I

I The condition of the drains in Esk and Kelvin streets ar« of the most dangerous state. In many parts wher* they have been covered, the earth has caved in, displacing the timber and leaving open holes, in which any party missing bis footing might be "seriously injured. In Esk-stroet there are many spots of this description. On Saturday we saw three children in one of these holes, poised on a nob of earth, which, had it given way before assistance was rendered, would haTe precipitated them into a mass of liquid corruption, from which they could never have extricated themselves. Tn Kelvin-street it is still worse. The path from Esk-street to the Council Hall is wretched in tbe extreme. The drain is a cesspool of pollution, sending forth a miliaire of the most offensive character, while the pathway after a shower of rain is so slippery that no one can traverse it without running the risk of sliding in the channel of rank filth. It is therefore with satisfaction that we find tho G-o---vernment have taken steps, as far as possible, to remove tbe nuisance. The prisoners are now employed in clearing the drains and making other repairs in Deveron -street. We hope their operations will be extended to the streets we have mentioned. We understand that an offer has been made to the Provincial Government by a gentleman from Otago to finish the line of railway to Winton. provided that a lease of the line be granted for a term of years. Tt is understood that the Government, whilst disposed to consi Vr favorably an offer of this description, do not feel justified in entering definitely into any arrangement until the Council assembles, which may be shortly expected. Tt is to be hoped that pypry faeih'ty will be afforded to so desirable an undertaking. A public meeting will be held in the Theatre "Royal this evening. It is called by the Eastern District Committee, for tbe purpose of discussing the financial position of the province, and urging upon the Provincial G-overnment the necessity of making the East "Road. Mr Audlev, chief clerk in the Hokitika Postoffice, has been arrested on a charge of embezzling moneys contained in letters passing through the office. The population of the Okarita District, West Coast, is estimated at 1500. £500 has been offered for the discovery of an inland goldfield. The reward is the result of voluntary and liberal subscriptions. Some alarm bas been caused in Christchurch by the late overflow of the Waimakariri into the \von, which flows through Christchurch. The Provincial Engineer is of opinion that in tho course of time the Waimakariri will return to itsold course and flow through Christchurch. The new Provincial Council was opened on Friday, the 19th instant. Mr Tancred was elected fipeakpr of the Council. The.Superintendent in his address adverted to some of the measures he intended, with the advice of the Executive, to bring forward ; alluded to a plan which would be brought forward for selling rural lands on the West Coast ; requested power to spend a fair share of revenue in Westland and Timaru ; and trusted that fh« cordial understanding which he had es'ablished with the mi-hboring Provinces of "Nelson and Otago would be maintained. The Superintendent also said that he was advised that the line from Lyttelton to Selywn would be open throughout in about nine months. A late number of the Taranalci Herald reports that the news from the Sugar Loaves is of a very encouraging character. At the Alpha Well, on Saturday last, the gas violently forced the water, which usually stands 14 feet below the surface of the ground, several inches abovs the top of the bore, and some jets even rose to the height of two feet above the ground. The water was thickly mingled with oil,' and several gallons of the latter fluid were obtained. Some idea of the quantity of gas which comes up may be formed from the fact that a young man who went a few feet down the well after the effervescence referred to had subsided was. almost suffocated, and had he not been quickly drawn up, would have lost his life. The whole of the past week has been occupied in tubing the shaft to a depth of 60 feet from the top, and when the tubing is in working order ifc is confidently expected that great results will be attained. The Taranaki Petroleum Company have | suspended operations at Xo. 1 well, at a depth of I 310 feet, until the arrival of their steam engine ; and they are now sinking on the Island Mikotahi — they have got down some 60 feet, but as the stuff is very hard, their progress is necessarily very slow. The People's Petroleum Company are engaged in making preparations for more extended operations, and have stopped boring for the present. The Canterbury Times is responsible for the following : — " One important reßult of the Session just ended may be told in few words. Several of the most ardent supporters of the self-reliant and union policy, as opposed to Separation, now declare that they see no remedy for the grievances of the Middle Island, and no security for the future, except in that which, but a few months ago, they opposed so strenuously. Most prominent among theso converts to Separation are Mr Weld and Mr Fitzgerald. We clip the following from the Evening Post : — " September 26th was the fifth anniversary of the return of his Excellency Sir George Grey to this colony as Governor. On the 26th of September, 1867, the Governor's commission expires, and he will, in all probability, be succaeded by a nominee of the Derby Government, should there not be another change in the Home Government before then."