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Southland Times, Issue 941, 27 April 1868, Page 2

An accident which might have been attended with fatal consequences occurred on Bluff Hill last Wednesday night. Those who hare ascended the hill will probably remember the sentry-like box in which the signalman resided during rough weather : this, although of small dimensions, contained valuable property, such as two codes of signals, telescopes, thermometer, &c, belonging to the Government ; it also was crammed with goods belonging to the Bignalman, chiefly nautical instruments, the owner having formerly been master of a sailing ship. On one side of the house was a rough atone chimney, and »s it was economically built, the lintel instead of stone or iron was formed of wool, which, after being exposed to the heat, became hie bo mucli tinder. About eleven o'clock the inmates of the signalman's house were aroused by the workmen of the contractors for the new house (Messrs Scandrett), who, seeing a reflection of the fire, got up just in time to 6ave the house and possibly the lives of its occupants, as the high wind was blowing the fire down on the roof of the house, and in a few minutes it would have been in flames also. A correspondent at the Blufi writes : — " The residents of Cairpbelltown were somewhat surprised this week by observing a team of bullocks steadily climhing the steep ascent known as Bluff Hill. On enquiry I find that the contractors for the new house for the signalman determined to make a road fit for a bullock team, and, to the astonishment of not a few, appear to have bucceeded. They must have expended a good round sum, although it is not unlikely it will repay them. The advantage the new road will be to those visitors to the Bluff who do not mind a little* exertion to enable them to have the best view the Province affords, will be great indeed. The following are the representatives of the different districts who will compete for the General Government prizes on the 27th inst. : — Waikato, Private Forbes, 53 ; Tauranga and Opotiki, Sergeant Small, 53'; Hawke's Bay, Captain Kennedy, 53 ; Wairampa, Corp. Tankersley, 50 ; Wellington and Hutt, Corp. King, 58, Private Harris, 59 ; Taranali, Private Hoskin, 56 ; Nelson, Private Drew, 63, Private Moore, 63; Marlborough, Private Grey, 60 ; Canterbury, Private Dixon, 64, Sergeant Brass, 65, EnsignBeswick, 62; Otago, Captain M'Farland, 72, Private Chisholm, 66, Private Curie, 65, Private Stevens, 65, Sergeant Taylor, 66, Lieut. Walrs, 65, Private Robertson, 64, Private Key, 63, Private Richardson, 63, Sergeant Christie, 62, Lieut. Shand, 59 ; Southland, Private Crisp, 61. Auckland, Wanganui, and Bangatieki do not send representatives this year. The cadets who go up to Wellington, are, Nelson — M'Q-ee, Adams) Gully, and Locke ; Wellington— Bowater ; Blenheim — Tait ; and Otago — Gibson. The latest information as to the Queensland goldfields iB contained in the following telegrams furnished to and by the Governme.it of that colony :— " Brisbane, 21st March, 1868. The rush now taking place from Sydney and other places to the Gympie and Kolan diggings is a very senseless one. So far as this Government are aware, Gympie is a good permanent diggings for a limited number, but is more fully occupied The acting commissioner reports most unfavorably of the Kolan, and predicts great want and desti* tution among the hundreds now rushing there." " Brisbane, 23rd March, 1868.— The rush to the diggings recently reported in the vicinity of 0-d.yndah is quite unwarranted ; and I would ask you to give publicity to the fact that neither at Gvmpie Creek nor elsewhere in this colony are the yields such as to justify the expectation of certain success. No doubt much gold has been taken out. Some few have made money, but an immensely large proportion of the people have been losers by throwing up certain employment to swell the number of diggerß. The thing -Hm beea ,

greatly overdone, and I would frisk to caution peoplo not to bo too sanguine of success at any of our goldfields. Time and enterprise may develop richer fields. There is already a larger population than the goldfield can maintain." " Gayndah, March 19, 1868. — Arrived from Kolan last night. Prospects not good. About 120 men there now, and hundreds on the road from Maryborough, misled by false reports. If they all persist in going on, there will be starvation and riot. I have sent telegrams to Golden Fleece and Maryborough to try to stop the rush. — John O'ConNELI BIIGH, Acting Commissioner." The " Otago Daily Times" says :— " It will be seen from our Wellington telegram, that what we stated some weeks ago to be probable has now been carried into effect— that Mr CD. Ward* the District Judge of Wellington, has been appointed Acting Judge for the Otago and Southland District of the Supreme Court, during the absence of Mr Justice Chapman, who is about to 1 visit England. Mr Justice Chapman intends to return from Victoria in time to sit in Bankruptcy on the 4th May, and there is also an appointment for a sitting in Banco, at which about half a dozen rules nisi, for new trials, or to set aside verdicts, will be moved for. The following letter recently appeared in the " Argus" on the capabilities of the Fiji Islands or a place for settlement :— Sir,— Your advertising columns announce the approaching departure of the s. s. Albion for the Fiji Islands and Japan. Now, Sir, having a few pounds at my disposal, I I am looking about to employ them profitably. It seems, from all I can gather, the present moment offers few inducements to settle in Victoria. What with the deadlock (and no Chubb to bo fi.und to open it), the fall in wool beyond precedent, and the uncertainty in mining, I am somewhat at my wits end to know what to turn my attention to. In perambulating your streets my eyes were arrested by largre placards, in flaming capitals, " Fiji and Japan," and not knowinsf anything of either, I had to forage up my friends who I thought knew a little of Japan, and I was met at once in my inquiry as to the cost of living that decided me instantly in not going. I found that to exist decently one has to pay £1 per day ; that only large capital could possibly lead to success ; that one would have to battle against the China and Indian experience of long-estab-lished mercantile houses; and as I possessed neither the capital nor the required experience I abandoned the Japan idea. Well I ferreted about, and got some information about Fiji ; and really what I got has alrcost determined my movements. And I'll tell you what I heard, and perhaps some of your numerous correspondents better posted will say if it be correct. My informants told me that with a little capital I could make a comfortable income in cotton, sugar, maize, and coffee-growing ; that the markets in Australia are always ready to receive the produce, and at remunerative prices.; that land of the best chocolate soil can be obtained at from 3s. to 6s. per acre ; that beautiful streams water the whole group; that cattle thrive well, but not sheep except for carcase ; that the climate for nine months of the year is truly splendid, the other three are heavy rainfalls; that the agreements with the natives are considered binding if registered in the B. M. Consulate at Ovalau ; that there is no venomous creature in the whole group. Now, let me ask you another question — what communication have the Fiji's with the colonies ? Frequent, as there are vessels constantly going from- JSTew-JZealand-Tmd— Sydrrey; NuVfJ-BiF^T~ must confess I was somewhat pleased at Fiji prospects. Still I shall be better satisfied if you will kindly give me your opinion on the matter. At present I am not profitably engaged, and Fiji appears to hold out inducements which other countries do not. — " Inqttibee."