Untitled

Southland Times, Issue 654, 8 April 1867, Page 2

We learn that a number of miners, known as Fryatt's party, made application recently for an extended claim at Colac's Bay. This party has been working for some time a prospecting claim,: but the nature of the country is such that a greater area is required for the profitable development of the auriferous ground. The application sets forth that an outlay of upwards of four hundred pounds will require to be incurred in constructing a race, and that water will have to be conveyed across a considerable portion of swamp. The area will comprise 640 feet frontage to the sea, by 360 feet -from high water mark. The men are industrious and practical miners, and it speaks well for their energy in determining to overcome more than ordinary difficulties. We may state that the application has been acceded to. We shall look with interest to the development of this branch of mining. The Invercargill Post-office Savings' Bank is now in full working order. The General Government guarantees on sums lodged from la up to £200 5 per cent., and from over £200 to £500 4 per cent. This is an institution that commends itself to the public a3 worthy of support. We learn that during the short time it is open, (since the 20th of March), upwards of £60 had been lodged. At the Resident Magistrate's Court on Friday a man named John Bond was brought up on the charge of having no visible lawful means of support. Sergeant O'Keefe proved finding the prisoner in bed at a house frequented by bad characters, and that he refused to give any account of himself, threatening "to do for " his unwelcome visitor, who, he alleged, *' was always bothering." Prisoner made a statement to the effect that " he worked as hard as any man in the province for his living, as could be proved by reference to the managers of the Companies' | stations." Being the first appearance of the prisoner, the Resident Magistrate accepted his account, and he was discharged with a caution, A second charge against Bond for using obscene language was proved. He pleaded that "it was not very bad," and that it was elicited by the rough usage of the police when taking him to the lock-up on the first charge. Fined 40s, or seven days' imprisonment with hard labor. Mr M'Culloch advised the prisoner that if he were again brought up for similar offences a long term of imprisonment would be inflicted, and that he had better go up country to work again as soon as possible. Prisoner (defiantly) — "I am going to work in town." From the English journals we learn that the Queen has directed that the decoration of the Victoria Cross may be conferred on persons serving in the local forces of the colony of Mew Zealand, or who may hereafter be employed in the local forces raised, or which may be raised, in the colonies and their dependencies generally. A New South Wales paper has an account of a " desperate . encounter " between two_ constables : and an aboriginal . whom they were desirous of arresting, which in its high sensation style leaves the novels of Captain Mayne Reid far behind. The narrative makes the police fire some eighteen shois at the blackfellow at short range, he returning their favors with " boomerangs, nullahnullah, heleman, and tomahawk," weapons of which he seems to have had an nnlimited supply at hand. He at length smites one of the police from his horse, springs on him with " a demoniacal yell," and is just about to tomahawk him, when he is brought down with a bullet through the lungs. Slightly checked by this, his eyes flash fire, he gives an exultant taunt, throws himself into the river, and escapes. He is afterwards seen while undergoing a surgical operation performed by other blacks, who are cutting out the bullet with glass bottles, and is finally arrested. Whether the narrative is given on the authority of the constables or of the blackfellow does not appear. We learn by last mail that ouv Victorian friends are now favored with the presence of a prodigy who can point but, by means of what he terms a " divining rod " the precise locality where water is to be found by sinking fjr it. In connection with the visit of this celebrity to the naturally drouthy district of Ararat the local paper has the following amusing anecdote :— "One day last week, when the water diviner was staying in Ararat, he amused himself by pointing out the existence of springs in certain locations in the town. According to "indications" a number existed in Barkly-street, and others under the floor of private dwelling. In one instance, we are told, when prosecuting his search, ho entered the bar of a certain hotel, and ■was surprised to find his rod indicate water at every step he took ; unable to: account for so singular a phenomenon, he inquired what sort of a place was beneath the floor, and though informed that it was the cellar where the landlord stored all his wines and spirits, yet he was evidently unable to arrive at a satisfactory conclusion as to the number of indications given by bis rod. On making a still closer and more private investigation, however, he learned that the landlord had just been watering all Ms grog j this information, it is heedless to gay, at once solved his doubtj, We are not prepared to vouoh for the authority of the above i we tell the atory preqiwlj 6| it Wftft reiate^toui," •;;..■ ■■■■ f ;;: ■.;":■

Many Will remember the late famous race from Shanghai to London, the tea clippers Taeping, Ariel, Serica, and Fiery Cross— a race wonfby the Taeping by a few minutes only. On the voyage out again to China, says the Melbourne " Argus," the Taeping made the run to the Cape of Gbod Hope in some thirty-five days, and - put;, . in at Algoaßay for medical "assistance to Captain" : Mackinnon. He was so ill, suffering from dysentery, that he sent on the ship in charge of the mate, Captain Mackinnon remaining in the hospital at Port Elizabeth. After a time he was discharged as cured, and engaged a passage for England by the mail steamer. He died, however, 6n his way to Cape Town to join the steamer. , Despatches reached -Melbourne by the last mail ordering the immediate departure of the; battery of Royal Artillery stationed there to Penang. They will sail in about six weeks, or so soon as' the means of transport can be pro* vided. • •"-;' ' • '■'-- ■ -