RIVERTON.

Southland Times, Issue 1717, 21 March 1873, Page 2

RIVERTON.

♦ I (FROM OTTE OWff CORRESPONDENT ) On Saturday, 15th inst., a charge of assault was preferred by Mr Alexander M'Kenzie, farmer, residing on the Limestone Plains, against Mr W. A. Lyon, of Islabank. The case waa heard by Messrs Petchell and Daniel, J.P.'s. According to the statement of the compl.iinaut an unpleasant feeling bad prevailed for some time between the parties. They met accidentally on the road near town, on Friday morning, Bth mat., when, after some " words," lyon challenged M'Kenzie to fight. M'Kenzie would not, and Lyon then struck him oa the head with hie fist, and then tried to pull him off hia horse, in which, however, be did not seem to have succeeded. Thia was the assault complained of, which, however, defendant denied having committed. The charge was dismissed on the ground that no corroborative evidence had been produced by the complainant. The Jane Anderson, from Melbourne on the 6th, arrived here on the 16th inst., bringing a lull cargo of general merchandise for Messrs Whittingham Bros, and Instone. The James Paxton, which has been on the slip for some time pait, undergoing extensive repairs, will soon be ready for sea again. The Maories here are making their ÜBual preparations for starting on their annual mutton-birding expedition. Amoug the improvements which are going on, the most noticeable are the new powder magazine, which is being erected on a mud flat in the river by Messrs Beer and Gunn ; and the new mill and workshops projected by Messrs Reid and Son on a fine site in Palinerston-street. Those spoken of are a new saw-mill in the Longwood, and the bridge over the Jacob's Kiver, the completion of which is looked forward to with much anxiety. Our streets have been much improved of late, and if the nuisance caused by wanderiag herses and cattle were abated, it might be possible to keep them in good order.