PROVINCIAL.

Southland Times, Issue 1335, 15 November 1870, Page 2

PROVINCIAL.

Dtjnedin. — We are indebted to an exchange for the following account of the coach accident at the Taieri : — It appears that the vehicle was the mail coach going" to Tokoraairiro, having on board 14 passengers — 3 on the box, 3on the back seat, and 8 inside. It was drived by Mr Henry iSettlefold, a well-known, experienced,, and careful driver, who has been engaged for 19 years as driver and road manager for Cobb and Co. On arriving about a mile-and-a-half beyond the Taieri Perry, or 23 miles from Dunedin, the nut, from some unexplained cause, fell from the axle, and the near fore wheel came off, the coach tipping over inwards toward the bank on the side of the road. The king bolt, which . is made loose as a precaution against similar accidents, fell out, and the horses went away with the fore carriage, leaving the body of the coach on its side. It appears that Mr Byrie was sitting on the near side end of the box, and that when the coach overset he held oq to the guard rail, being thereby swung round, and falling on his back. Asthe coach overturned, the corner of thebox seat came on his chest, his head and shoulders being under the coach, and the remainder of his body lying at- an angle: outside. Mr Nettlefold, with the assistance of some of the passengers, lifted up the coach from him, and bathed hi* head with water, bat to no avail, for after gasping a few breaths, the unfortunate man expired. ToKOMi-ißißO.— props reported jl few days ago in a languishing condition from the drought have been refreshed by the* seasonable showers of rain which fell last week. A more copious supply is mentioned as a thing of importance. — In the Taieri plains the potato crop is ready for earthing up, and otherwise reported to be in a very promising condition. — The building of a new steamer has been commenced on the banks of the Molyneux, to be constructed on the ordinary paddlewheel principle, and fitted with an engine of 30 horse-power. She is intended for the trade between Port Molyneux and the mouth of the Tuapeka. — At the firstnamed place a new flax mill has been erected with four machines wrought with a water wheel 20 feet in diameter. .The concern is'said to be turning out excellent samples of flax. ' Tuapeka. — The district of late baa been fruitful in accidents of rather, a serious nature. A miner named Robinson, working in one of the Blue .Spur claims, was crushed to death a few days, ago under very distressing circumstances. He was at work on the debris thrown up by a heavy charge of blasting powder, when one of the cement blocks gave way without any warning, caught him in its fall, and crushed his extremities in a terrible manner. By the tune he could be rescued he was so far gone that death, almost immediately ensued.— At Waitahuna another miner met with a similar accident, although the results were not quite so serious. -The leg of the victim in this- instance was bo badly bruised as to render amputation neoisflary.— • An

opinion has been expressed that the Blue Spur claims are carelessly wrought, and it is to be hoped attention will be directed to the matter. — A show of stud horses took place atLiwrenee a few days ago, comprising draughts, thoroughbreds, and sires for riding hacks and ponies. The only one offered for sale was " Clydesdale," for which £100 is said to have been refused. A mob of horses was afterwards sold at prices averaging; £3 and £4 per head. — At Waitahuna farming operations are completed. A fall of rain was spoken of as being welcomed alike by the farmer and the miner. The weather was upon the whole seasonable. — The rights of an electoral district have been conferred on Waitahuna, and a requisition has been adopted, asking a resident named Brown to allow himself to be put in nomination. — From Millar's "Flat we learn that every kind of crop is well advanced. Field potatoes had been earthed up, and the stem was about six inches above the ground. The Qoldpields. — The prospects at the reefing claims on the Upper Shot over continue favorable. What is said to be very good gold has been struck 30ft. below the previous level. A contemporary, by whom this information is communicated, adds—" ¥c are glad of these results, because many of the shareholders are Southland men (Mefsrs~"Cal(ler7~ Blacklock, and others), who have stuck to their investment with pluck. Mr M. J. Malaghan, of Qaeenstown, has been the chief means of introducing this capital into the district, and we are also glad for his sake to find the undertaking turn out well:" — Throughout the whole of the Queenstown and Arrow districts the mining interest continues to .progress satisfactorily. On the Kawarau several sluicing claims are turning out well. The returns are mentioned at from one to two onnces a man per week. — At Manuherikia a machine lately invented for raising water out of the river is on view, and strong pinions are expressed in favor of its probable success. An achievement of this kind would aid the river workings to an extent which none but the practical miner could fully estimate.