GENERAL INTELLIGENCE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 259, 16 January 1873, Page 5

GENERAL INTELLIGENCE.

Tho Dakota brought only a portion of the English mail, the other portion of it having been behind time through the Atlantic steamer breaking down. The whole of the laud required for the railway between Invercargill audtbeMataura has been purchased and settled for by Mr Calcutt, the total amount, including some buildings, being only slightly above LSOJ. Dr Hector, accompanied by Mr Leonard Harper, of Christchurch, landed from the Luna at the 'I oi Tois on Wednesday m rning, and ascended the Mataura in a boat, for the purpose of examining the recent coal discoveries in the neighborhood of the Seaward Downs Station, where the formation is the same as that which has been explored ami partially worked at Waikawa, and also at the Toi Tois, by Mr Brnnton. Unfortunately, considering the excellent quality of the coal, no seam has yet been found at any of theje localities of sufficient thickness to render it probable that the discovery will turn out to be of economical importance to the Province. Dr Hector, bowlver, intends to recommend some further driving at tbe spot where the coal has been found. The operations at the Nightcap Hill, which were suspended during the investigation of the Seaward Downs discovery, will now be resumed.— Star, 9th. Referring to the Inter- Provincial Cricket Match, the Lyltelton Times says it promises, at present a somewhat easy victory to the Canterbury team, easier perhaps than is altogether desirable. A letter recently received from one of ttfe selected team is indeed very strong in the opinion that a very moderate lot will be got together to visit Christclmrch, and goes so far as to say, " we do not stand a ghost of a chance against youth s season." He is satisfied that neither Kett'e, one of the best of Otago players, nor Collinson, the captain of former team 3, Fulton, Macfar--lan, Maedojanell, and several others cau get away from busiuess for the match. It is to be hoped, remarks our contemporary, that future information will modify this opinion ; ' for although it is desirable that Canterbury should win, it is equally requisite that tht-re should be good play, which cannot be if one side is so much weaker than the other. The match, we believe, will be played during the second week of February, The annual meet : ng of the Presbyterian Synod of Otago and South. 1 ami takes place on Tuesday, the J 4th iust., at 7 o'clock, when the opening sermon will be preached by th« Rev. Dr. Stuart. The Evangelist anticipates important results from the deliberations of this meeting, which" will greatly increase the efficiency of the Church. In addition to the interesting matters arising out of the reports of the standing committees on the state of religion, temperance, missions, susteutation fund, sanctioning of now charges. &c, special interest attaches to ths reports which will be brought up respecting Sabbath schools, the emp'oyment of lay agents, the adoption of a hymn* book, and the. adoption of forms of procedure. Several very important overtures will also be brought under consideration relating to the provision which is ■to be made for the teaching of stu- • dents oi>tbeology?vthe administration of the ordinance of baptism, and the establishment of a fund for assisting aged and infirm minister!. These and many other matters which will demand consideration will necessitate economy in time and speech, in order to avoid unusual length of session. There is some probability of a match being played between a team of the Timaru Cricket 'Jlub and the Otago Lleven who are now preparing for the forthcoming Interprovincial match at Christchurcb. A letter was received yesterday from the Timaru people, requesting that arrangements be made for the game, and suggesting that it might be played on either the up journey to Christ- j church or during the return. —Star, Bth. A woman named M'Dougall, residing at \ the Bluff, was seriously gored l.y a bull last week. 'I he animal was standing with some other cattle in a gateway which M>b M'Dougall wished to pass through. She took up a stick to drive him away, when he charged her, his horns fortunately passing on each side of her waist, and tossed her into tho- air Tho woman's husband, David j M'Dougall, strange to say, had several ribs broken by an accident a few days previously, so that the calamity falls heavily on the family. The bull was subsequently sho f , We (New Zealand Herald) continue to hear from day to day of the extraordinary • curative effect produced by the free use of the waters of the hot springs in all cases of rheumatic and neuralgic affections. A gentleman well known to the community of Auckland informed us that, after suffering excruciating tortures for many weeks fr«»m sciatica, a fortnight spent at the hot springs has completely cured him. Speaking not only for himself, but for many others, our informant expresses a belief that were tbe surprising effects of these medicinal waters known throughout Australia, our shores would be rushed by thousands of invalids. Wo have received a few additional particulars of the burning of the Montezuma Hotel, St Bathans, on Friday morning Jast. Th re is some doubt as to where it originated : the proprietor gives it as his opinion that it broke out in the servant girl's badroom ; while she declares it broke out in the kitchen, where her master had placed a bucket of ashes the previous evening. The fire was discovered by the girl, who gave the alarm. Mr Mallo;>, the proprietor, is said to have been so stupefied by sleep and fright, that, after being wakened, he thought the fire was h'gher up the street, and went in that direction before he was aware where the fire was but before any help could be obtained the house was in a blaze. The inmates were unable to save any of their clothing. The place was uninsured ; and Mr Mallon estimates his 1< ss at LBOO. Georgia Clark/ one of the female performers connected with Chiarini's Cirgus r now per. forming in Auckland, is known fn California as "the lady with the iron jaw." She is accustomed to hang by her garters and hold a man, with a. strap around his body, by her teeth. A California^ paper Is of opinion that such qualifications would doubtless - enable her to^deyelojj.great strength of language when .so dispose^' ,. , An action was commenced in the Resident Magistrate's Court on tbe llth Jan. by Messrs Newman^ and Co., contractors, against the M«"«Jington Boad Baord "for LIOO, for work labor done and material supplied in a S contract "for cutting, tilling, and making Argyie street and Elgin road, Primrose Hill. The Evidence of George Wright, formerly a member pi the Board, was taken and the further hearing was then adjourned until Friday next. Mr Stout appeared for plaiM tiffs, and Mr Haggetb for the defendant*Keferring to the disqualification o^ cc l eBS • the Melbourne Herald says :— " the face of the report it is impossib*''™ g^f ßß . oll what part of racing law thP* ove reflation was passed. And it^2%3 ccm > Y l^' as if the present owr/V 3 P r e , eresa had J> een most urijustljg<r ted - The J e may have been a fc K* i ? and reasons for scratching Peerep^* 11 * 1 t ' iere were Dot one o£ tlie th J&d, turely furty-eight hours is suffi•Jfy notice for the public of a horse's withHow many times, we might ask, have many of our best trusted owners scratched horses on the post, without being asked to assign a reason ? And very justly 00 too, Mr Walters deserves [the sympathy tf tbe racing authorities of Victoria,"

The immigrants who arrived at Inveroargill by the Zealandia appear to be rapidly finding employment, as very few now remain in that town. Mr Steward, M. H.R.. has rccived a telegram from his Honor the Sup riutendent, advising th;>t he will vUit < amaru at an ea-ly date, with reference to public works in the district. He will be accompauied by an engineer. The following notifications appear in yesterday's Provincial Government Gazette :-— Na?eby to be a municipality and divided into three wards, to be severally called east, west, and south wards. Mr James Brown to be a manager of the Naseby cemetery; and Mr Thos Low, jun., to be an honorary inspector of sheep for the Province.— Star, 9th. M©3srs Henderson (Mr Brogden's agent), J. Carruthers (Government Engineer), J. Bel and Jerusalem Smyth have visited the Oamarii district— their object bring the immediate commencement of the WaifcakiMoeraki line. The North Otago Times understands that the whole mileage has been, or will be, carefully gone over, ami that a tender will be forwarded within five or six days on the part of the Messrs Brogden. Should this tender -be a reasonable one, the immediate commencement of the works miy be anticipated. A very sad and fatal accident occurred at Kaitangata on January 6th. It app ars that upon the school being dismissed, a number of the children commenced to play near the river. A little girl, nine >ears of age, daughter of Mr Alexander Keid, a respected miner, well known in Tokoniamro, went on the river bank to pluck some flowers, when a portion of the bank ga re way, an 1 she was. precipitated into the river. >everal parties at a short distance witnessed t ie accident, but so speedily was she swept out with the current that all attempts to rescue her were unavailing ; indeed, upon the parties reaching the bank of the river she almost immediately disappeared, and was not again seen to rise to the surface Although ev.ry search has been made for the body it hat not yet been recovered.