The gold returns from the various Com panies on the Thames, for the week ending December 11th, are set down at 1083oz. 15dwts. Of this amount, 3030z. were from the Cure, and 2930z. from the Caledonian. All consumers of water in Kensington and South Dunedin are required to make applica tion to the Corporation of Dunedin^ before January next, if they wish for a continuance of the supply ; otherwise the water may be cut, off. ■Shearing is being carried on at Stud holme's, Parker's, and M 'Lean's stations, Waimate. At the two latter the work will be finished about the close of the year, and at Mr Studholme's about the last week in January. ■ The Timaru Gas Company commenced laying down their main gas pipes on, the 220 d, but instead of placing them in the roadway, are tearing up the pavements. The citizens have presented a protest to His Worship the Mayor. • ' 'We have received from the Provincial Government the' Ofcago Roads Ordinances of 1871-72-74, and 75, with notes indicating the several sections amended or repealed/ It is p> inted by Mills, Dick, and Co in a very neat and handy form for reference. Operation* for the widening of Princes street South will be commenced in the course 1 of abuut a week. A cheque for £6666 13s 4d has been handed over to their solicitors by the Corporation, as the first instalment of the compensation awarded to tho tenants. It ia reported that a rather serious accident happened at Portobello, on Monday, to Mr Stephenson, collector to Messrs Finulay and Co. He and his wife and family were thrown from a two-horse trap, and all were badly bruised. We have not heard parti cularsi - , .The Siverton co-respondent of the South laud Times/ writing under' date of 23rd December, states that the body of the late Mr Charles Smith has ndt as yet been found, in spite.Of _the. most strenuous exertions of the Police and others, the former being still in. active search*. The Bruce Herald states that Mr Peter Clark, of Balclutha, met with a Berious acci dent on Saturday evening last. He drove in hisbuggy over a cutting five feet, in depth, ana was thrown upon one of the wheels with auch force that the cap of his knee was smashed to pieces. 