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Southland Times, Issue 749, 13 November 1867, Page 2

In the Police Court on Monday, 11th November, a man named Mackay was brought up charged, with shooting, with intent; to Mil, Mr Stanfield, landlord of the Plough Hotel. The whole of the evidence appears in our other columns. The Court was crowded, and the greatest interest appeared to be iranifested. The prisoner was committed to take his trial at the next criminal sitting of the Supreme Court. We understand the case will be heard on Thursday next,

On Monday, the lltb. of November, the trial trip of tha s.s. Waihopai took place in the Now Hirer Estuary. There were between 30 and 40 gentle* men on board. The trip wai a complete success. It will be necessary to revert to the commencement of the building of the steamer — the first ever constructed in Southland — in order to trace the difficulties, and show the ultimate success which rewarded the perseverance and untiring energy of her builder. Mr Fuettelkow, some considerable time since, laid the keel of the Waihopai, at first intended, we believe, for a sailing vessel, but subsoquentlv altered to a steamer. The work progressed slowly, owing to more than ordinary impediments existing — th« wood — kauri — of which she is chiefly built, had to be imported from Auckland, and her machinery, constructed in Melbourne, required the personal superintendence of Mr Puettelkow, who was thus compelled to absent himself for some months. However, at last, the machinery was made, the vessel was built, and j nothing now remained but to fit her out for sea. The difficulties, howeror, it would appear, had only commenced. . The veaiel having been built in the centre of the town, half-a-mile from the water's edge, required to be placed on a cradle with wheels, constructed for the purpose, in order to oonvey her to the side of the jetty. After about a fortnight's struggling through the streets, some days moving the length of herself, at other times getting "bogged," on which occasions it would require the united exertion* of about fifty bullocks to place her in " straight running," she at last arrived at the beach, where after some further delay, she was successfully launched, and her first public trip proved her to, be a thorough good little seagoing craft, and a decided acquisition to her enterprising owner, Mr John Ross, a merchant of this town. The Waihopai steamed away from the jetty at one o'clock, and proceeded " several miles down the river at the rate of eight knots, against tide and wind. Her engine worked exceedingly well, notwithstanding that the appliances for fitting were of the moat meagre description. Scarcely any vibration was felt during the run, which lasted about an hour and a half. She answered the helm admirably, turning on her own keel for the return trip. Her dimensions are aa follows : — length, 70 feet over all ; beam, 16 feet ; depth, 7 feet ; she has a flush deck with deck house ; is schooner rigged, and built of kauri and totara timber. Her register is 45 tons, but she is capable of carrying about 50 tons of cargo, exclusive of coals. Sho possesses a high pressure engine of 15 horse power, but capable of being worked up to 20. The engine is very neat and compact, ana was built atLangland's Foundry, Melbourne- She is driven by double propellers, constructed on the most improved principle, with disconnecting gear, which permits of their being uashipped at a moment's notice. Her boiler is also built on an improved principle. Instead of the fire going through the tubes, the water goes through them instead, a plan which is found to quickly produce steam with only a nominal consumption of fuel. During the trip the boiler was only worked up to 40 lb; but, in case of necessity, it can be worked up to 90 lbs per inch. She is commanded by Captain Fraser, who has been long and favorably known in the Dunedin trade. We trust that her voyages will bd quick and prosperous. We understand the new bridge over the Mataura, on the Inrercargill and Dunedin road, undertaken by the Otago G-ovemment, is so far complete a3 to admit of horse traffic to and fro. The structure is represented as very creditable, and the site well ohoseni The bridge is of one span of 120 feet, substantially supported by strong wire ropes, across a rocky chasm, through which the river flows, of full 30 feet in depth. We learn that the roads in the Eastern district are in a frightful condition. The ground has become so soft, from the recent heavy rain, as to render traffic almost impossible. The Prince of Wales' birthday was observed as a close holiday, but owing to the unpleasa nt state of the weather but little amusement was permitted. It rained without intermission during the whole day, and the streets presented anything but a lively appearance. The cheap excursion trains to the Bluff were not availed of ; partly on account of the want of publicity, but chiefly in consequence of the inclemency of the weather. His Honor Mr Justice Chapman is expected from Dunedin in the Tararua, which may probably arrive at the Bluff to-morrow. It is to be hoped. that the Qovernment will perceive the necessity of covering the drain in Eskstreet, leading to the railway station. It is at present in a most dangerous condition. At any moment we may hear of a serious accident, as there is a number of children constantly playing in the vicinity » The weather for the last few days has been exceedingly unpleasant. High winds, piercingly cold, together with heavy falls of rain, have ushered in the " summer " in Invercargill. It is satisfactory to learn that Mr W. Stanfield, landlord of the Plough Hotel,. Harri3ville, on whose life such a dastardly attempt was made on the night of Saturday last, is progressing favorably towards recovery. Telegraphic communication with Wellington has been interrupted for the past few days. A number of the poles have, we believe, given way, somewhere between Christchurch and Marlborough. The meeting of the Pastoral Aasociation, which should have taken place yesterday, lapsed in consequence of there not being in attendance sufficient members to form a quorum. We learn from the Dunstan Times of the Ist inst., that a " Coroner's Inquest was held on the body of a man supposed to have been murdered near Switzer's diggings. The Jury, after considerable deliberation, returned a verdict of wilful murder against some person or persons unknown, A man named William Shepard, alias ' Billy Nuts,' has been arrested on suspicion. Two other men, a father and son, named White, are also suspected ; the police are on their tracks, and it is to be hoped to clear up the mystery, they will soon be caught. By way of Dunedin we learn that a man named White and his son were arrested charged with the murder The following description of the prospects of the new goldfield discovered in tho Nelson Province, some months since, is taken from the Nelson Examiner of the 19th ult .— " A good deal of interest having lately been excited aa to the proßpects offered by the district of Oolliugwood to the miner, consequent on alleged recent discoveries of rich ground there, we have been at some pains, to ajoertaia the real state, of affairs in

Collingwood, and, fortunately, hare teen furnished with very full information, on which we place the utmost reliance. The claims at present worked are chiefly in Appo's Q-uily, Bedstead Q-ully, Q-olden Q-ully, on Appo's Flat, and some rivar claims on the Aorere ; and, excepting the latter, are partly ' deep-sinkinga ' and partly 'facings.' The first claim we Bhall mention is tho ' G-len Gyle,' in Appo's Q-ully, a ' facing,' which pays exceedingly well, and promises to be highly remunerative for many years. The adjacent country rery much resembles that in the neighborhood of Ross Town, near Hokitika. The sinking in Appo's Flat has been carried to a depth of 110 feet, without bottoming. The shaft is dry, and although the stuff gone through is not favorable — looking, the owners of the claim are sanguine of reaching payable ground, and are bent on fairly ' bottoming.' Wilson's claim, near Washbourne'a Flat, gives employment to a number of men at wages, and yields a very handsome return to the owner. The washdirt iB very deep, and will be a payable claim for several years. On Washbourne's Flat, the scene of the late rush, there are several deserted sinkings, the only claim persevered with being that of the prospectors', which is now carried to a depth of seventy feet. Although the prospects are not so good as they were, the owners are still sanguine of ultimate success. In Bedstead and Q-olden Q-ully, a party of six men have possessed themselves of the ground formerly leased by the Nelson Qold-Mining Company. Two men are engaged in working the claim, while the remaining four are occupied in cutting a water-race to the Parapara, to enable th«m to get an ample supply of water for sluicing purposes. The value of this ground will be understood, when it is stated that the earnings of the two men engaged in mining furnish handsome wages to the whole party of six. At Eocky Eiver a 'facing' claim iB worked at considerable profit, the men earning from £15 to £20 a week each, and the surrounding country is of a likely looking character. At the Quartz Ranges men are earning from £10 to £12 a week each. The bottom is generally of blue clay throughout the district, and the washdirt red gravel. The general appearance of the country in the district of Collingwood strikes the practical digger most favourably. We have conversed with several intelligent men who are well acquainted with the other goldfields of New Zealand, and they declare that no ground they have seen appears to hold out a better promise of success. The country is frequently likened to the Waimea and Totaira goldfields, on the West Coast; it is fairly supplied with water, and is very easy of access. Most of the claims at present worked are held under lease, which will operate against a rush taking place- to Collingwood; while, on the other hand, the system of leases is well calculated to insure the steady development of the field and its permanent occupation. Although Collingwood was known to be a goldfield eleven years ago, the district has never been fairly prospected or worked. The men who have Btuck to the district, and done well there, as doubtless many have done, aiv. not experienced diggers. What the district requires, to lay its hidden treasures open, is a body of experienced miners, a few hundreds in number. The known auriferous ground it is believed would give remunerative employment to from 1000 to 1500 men, but were that number present on the field, new prospects would be discovered, so that it is impossible to estimate the number of diggers the district would really maintain. A gentleman who has recently visited the district speaks of it in the following terms:— 'Much attention is now being given to Collingwood by miners and others, in various parts of the island, and it is very probable that during the next six months there will be a very considerable increase in the population. I do not anticipate a rush, nor would such a rapid influx of people be desirable. A gradual increase is what will most benefit Collingwood. Altogether, looking to the goldfield, the abundance of coal and other valuable minerals, the sheep and dairy farming, &c, the prospects of Collingwood are very healthy, and give ample room for the belief that ere long Collingwood itself will be a busy and thriving town."