The Provinces.

Cromwell Argus, Volume I, Issue 11, 19 January 1870, Page 2

The Provinces.

A correspondent of the Lyttelton Times writes that a large quantity of machinery, and also a number of operatives for the Welsh flannel and tweed woollen „ cloth company, have been shipped from England for Canterbury. According to the Wairarapa Mercury , the doer are thriving on the East Coast, a herd of five having selected the Awhea river as their haunt. The T/uimes Advertiser notices the death of Mr Richard M‘Elwain, at the extreme old ago of 97 years. The deceased was father to Mr George M'Elwain, who arrived here with Governor Hobson in 1840, and was the first gaoler appointed in Auckland. A meeting of merchants was held in Mr Edward Pearce’s offices, Wellington, on tho 10th ult., to consider the propriety of urging the Government to again subsidize steamers to carry the English mail to and from the Colony. The hon. C. J. Pharazyn occupied the chair. After some discussion, it was resolved that a deputation should wait on the Colonial Secretary at one o’clock the next day. In the last number of the Wanganui Times , Mr Walter Taylor intimates his retirement from the editorship of that journal. Wo are sorry that either from failing health or any other cause such a necessity should have arisen. We had not much to say to our local contemporary—less, indeed, than we could have wished—but its caroer was such a tirade of personalities and calumnies, instead of a discussion of honest differences of opinion, that there was nothing else for it. We are willing, however, to believe that the system indulged in was more the misfortune than the fault of the retired editor. He fell into bad hands, and probably felt unable to extricate himself from a false position. Be that as it may, he did us no hurt, and we not only bear him no grudge, but should be glad to do him any kindness. He meant well, and we hope his retirement will be followed by the reward to which many a laborious day and night have well entitled him. The Times , long in a state of hopeless consumption—wasting away—has, we presume, ceased to exist.— Wanganui Chronicle. Judging by a recent paragraph in the Dunstan Times, dead men are capable of communicating information not only in the spirit but in the flesh. Our contemporary reports tho following incident : “ An accident attended with fatal results occurred at the Nevis on Friday last, the victim being a Chinaman. Our informant, Mr Chin Chee, states that the sides of the claim in which he was working fell in and buried him, and before he could be extricated life was extinct I” —Oamaru Times. Thomas Webb Draper, news of whose arrest for forgery reached us by last mail, was formerly manager of the Bank of New Zealand at Mount Ida, Otago. He was the only son of the Rev, Mr Draper, lost in the ill-fated London. The Taranaki Herald says :—“ Captain Morshead has informed us that during last week his bees performed a feat hitherto unrivalled in New Zealand, a last year’s hive having swarmed four times in eight days. The swarms, he assures us, were all above the average size, and are now carefully housed, and can be seen by any one.” On the first day of the Hokitika races, Dec. 30th, a very sad accident occmrSd. A young jockey, named Morris Cahill, was thrown from tho horse Native, while riding in the Hurdle Race. He died in the Hokitika hospital on Sunday, January 2. The unfortunate young man was never sensible after the accident. The funeral took place on the day following his death, and is thus described by the Hokitika paper :—“ The body was brought over from the hospital, where the poor fellow breathed his last, and the procession started from the steps. The jockeys who had ridden at the same races, wearing colours, acted as bearers, and walked next the hearse. Next came lour ladies, two of them sisters of deceased. Nearly all of the members of the Hokitika Jockey Club were present, on foot and on horseback, as also a number of other citizens, who wished to pay the last tribute to a young man who had so suddenly come to his end. The procession turned up Revell-street, turning down Stafford street to the Catholic Church, where the usual ceremonies of that faith were then performed by the Rev. Father Martin. The building was crammed, a great many ladies being in attendance. After this the procession re-forraed, when the concluding service for the dead was read by the same clergyman, the deceased being carried to his last home by the jockeys. Throughout the proceedings there was evinced hearty and deep commiseration at the untimely fate of the poor young man.” James Wilson, the brave little boy who brought assistance to his mother, mortally wounded at the Matawhero massacre—the sad story of which is too well known to require repetition—has been awarded an annuity of «£fiO a-year, under tho “ Walsh and others Pension Act, 1869,” and leavd to select 100 acres of Crown laud in the Province of Hawke’s Bay ; Messrs Robert Wilson, of Turakina, and N..E. Beamish, of Rangitikei, being appointed trustees to whom the money shall be paid, and who shall select tho land.