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Inangahua Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1291, 31 August 1883, Page 2

Mails for the Australian Colonies United Kingdom and Continent of Europe via Melbourne per Waihora will close at the Bluff at noon on Friday 31st inst. The next sitting of the District Court in Reefton will he held on the 24th of September, but as yet there is no business of importance set down for hearing. The friends of Mr John Wallace will be sorry to hear that he is in a very critical state of health. Mr Wallace has been unwell for some time past, but is now confined to his bed. Just before the close of the performance in the Oddfellows' Hall on Tuesday evening last a commotion arose. amongst the audience in the back seats. All faces were instantly turned in the direction of the door, and a good deal of excitement was manifested by those Bitting near the stage, as well as by the performers, but beyond seeing a dozen or so persons rushing out, and the front door being thrown open, there was nothing to explain the interruption. After a few seconds the performance was resumed, but people sat uneasily, as on the verge of panic, the pervading impression being that something was wrong. A few minutes later the curtain fell, and it was then whispered' about to residents of the Buller Road that there was a house on fire in their locality. This led to an immediate stampede on the part of those owning property in the threatened neighborhood, but the audience, small from the first, had by this time thinned down to only a few dozen persons, so that anything like a block was impossible, and everybody filed out in good order. Had the Hall been crowded, it is impossible to say what the consequence might have been, but that there would have been something of a panic, and consequently some danger to women and children is not one of the least improbable contingencies. The doors of the Oddfellows' Hall are large for the size of the building, and, in all cases of sudden alarm, except such as the bursting of a lighted kerosene lamp, would probably meet the exigencies of the occasion. It may, however, be as well, to point out that in the event of any real danger from fire in the Hall those sitting near the stage have a ready means of exit by way of the stage, there being large doors at the rear. A knowledge of this fact by the audience should deter a general rush to the front door. The Globe Company's works are now nearing the point of completion, and before many more days elapse the stampers will be in full swing. Water has been let into the race, and on Saturday next, at 2 o'clock, the contractors will start the battery for a trial run. The aerial tramway will be in working order by the early part of next week. "Bounty " Bligh was the first man to take possession of New Guinea for the British Crown. On the 17th September 1792, at half-past one, Bligh sent two boats on shore, under the command of Guthrie, his first lieutenant, and after the British colors and the usual ceremonies on such occasions, he took possession of the island and the neighboring lands of New Guinea in the name of his Gracious Majesty King George 111. This was on North Possession Islands, just north of Bank's Island. Present on this occasion were Lieutenants skew, Ogilvie, Waters, and Mr Midshipman Flinders. For'sinking spells, fts, dizziness, palpitation and low spirits, rely on Hop Bitters. Notice.