According to custom, the steamer, after being loaded at the jetty near the railway yard, was brought up river to the upper landing on Monday, this course being always adopted so as to ensure no loss of time in the run to Clydevale and the other districts up-river served by the boats.
Under ordinary circumstances the boat would have left on the up-river run at 8 o'clock this morning.
All was well when Captain Butler and the boat's crew departed for their homes last evening.
Only one of the crew, the fireman (Mark Hansen) slept on the boat when she was in Balclutha.
On this member being approached to-day he said that he went to bed on Monday night about 11 o'clock, when everything appeared to be as usual.
About 2 o'clock this morning he was awakened by hearing plates falling in the galley, and leaving his bunk to investigate, he discovered that water was rushing into his cabin.
The steamer had a heavy list, and when the fireman hurriedly emerged from the cabin he tumbled into the river, from which he safely emerged, and ran to alarm Captain Butler, who resides about half a mile away.
It was obvious to the captain and fireman on returning that nothing could then be done to right the boat.
She had a heavy list to starboard, and her keel was resting on the rocks at the bed of the river, the mooring ropes holding her in that position.
• Steady progress is being made with the installation of the automatic telephone service throughout New Zealand.
The undertaking is a long and costly one, but when completed will effect a great saving to the dominion and ensure greater efficiency in working.
The Courtenay place and Newtown stations (Wellington) are now practically complete.
Another station is likely to be established at Kelburn.
In time a new station for the automatic system will be built at the back of Government Buildings.
The automatic system will be extended over the whole country, and when finished will be found to be a great improvement upon the present system.
Unfortunately, the war has seriously interfered with the delivery of plant necessary for the installations already decided upon.
• An Onehunga tradesman is now in a position to estimate the value of the law in helping him to collect long-standing accounts. Some time ago (says the Auckland Star) he obtained judgment against a debtor for £13, and £3 costs.
The debtor was ordered to pay the total amount of £16 at 1s per week.
The creditor congratulated himself upon getting the order, and remarked that it would take only six years and eight weeks to liquidate the account.
Since then, however, he has discovered that the order of the court holds good only for one year, so that to get all his money he will have to apply for a renewal of the order each year, at an annual cost of £1 15s, made up of court costs and travelling expenses for the debtor.
If all goes well and the court favours each application for renewal, the account should be liquidated in 16 years and 48 weeks.
As all costs will be added to the original debt of £13, the debtor under this process will pay £44.
Under an amendment of the Act, passed last session, the debtor may apply to the court at any time to have the order varied, which will be granted if he can satisfy the court that he is no longer able to pay 1s per week. - ODT, 9.12.1914.
• COPIES OF PICTURE AVAILABLE FROM ODT FRONT OFFICE, LOWER STUART ST, OR WWW.OTAGOIMAGES.CO.NZ
