The Sun.
London, England, 1865-01-04 00:00:00

An Adventure in the Bush,

Mr: J. P. Donnelly,, who is on a visit to Messrs.
C. and C. A. Brown, at Matapiro, had last month
a narrow escape from a " very unpleasant position."
Finding himself alone at the home station on the
afternoon of the 24th June, Mr. Donnelly deter-
mined to go to the out-station at the west end, about
ten miles off, with the intention of enjoying some
pig hunting on the following day. He accordingly
started with his blankets, and, fortunately, a piece
of bread and a pocket-flask of brandy ; and having
only at the last moment thought of taking the bread
(the out-station being short of flour at the time), he
carried it in his hand instead of packing it on
the saddle. Having started somewhat late in the
afternoon, darkness overtook him when among
the small hills about three miles from the out-
station ; and as the whare is not an easy place for
a stranger to find in the daytime, Mr. Donnelly
thought it would be useless to attempt it by night ;
so he returned on his tracks, and reached the Ma-
tapiro Flat in safety. About this flat he appears to
have wandered for about three or four hours, when;
on his horse refusing to proceed, he got off and tried
to lead the animal, carefully feeling his way step by
step, when in an instant he found himself hanging
over he knew not what, with, every chance of pulling
the horse on to him. He let go the bridle and fell, or
rather partly slipped and partly fell over 40 feet, when
he was brought up by a' mall piece of flat a few yards
wide, very much bruised, but no bones broken. He
expended the fewmatches he had in exploring the lo-
cation, but finding he could make nothing of it he re-
signed himself to his fate, and passed a miserable
night waiting for morning. It rained hard, and the
wind was high, so that it was all he could do to keep
his limbs from chilling by rubbing first one and
then another, while his ankle being slightly strained
did not mend matters. When day broke he found
himself part of the way down the precipitous banks
of the Ngaruroro. He could go about 100 yards
each way ; but there was the precipice above, and
a fearful fall below of 200 feet on to the shingle.
He found a place where, by going down a hole like
a chimney, he could get at a tiny stream of water.
but could see no way out. He passed the whole of
the 25th in trying to climb up first one place and
then another—" cooeying " without intermission
—with, however, not the smallest probability
of anyone hearing him. He managed to put
up a small shelter about 2ft. high, and, hoping for
better luck next day, passed another miserable night.
On the 26th he tried to make a flax rope, but the
flax was all rotten, and the heavy stones with which
he first tried his manufactures invariably broke
them, so he again paced his limbs backwards and
forwards, trying first one place and then another,
as before, occasionally going down the chimney to
replenish his flask with water. He felt very thirsty,
but not all hungry, eating very sparingly of his
bread. This day he fancied he saw some men try-
ing to catch a horse, and " cooeyed" more repeatedly

than ever ; but the horses and men were all cab-
bage trees, and night again closed in upon him with
no improvement in his prospects. On the 27th he
again commenced his weary pacing up and down,
and fruitless attempts to climb up the face of the
precipice, till about noon he found himself growing
weaker, and then resolved to try one last chance—
that was either safety or certain death. He had
seen the place at first, but left it as quite a last re-
source, the chances being so very great against suc-
cess. At the end of one of his boundaries there was
a shelf of clay, leaning at a very considerable angle,
and extended more than 100 yards. At the end of
this the bank was not quite so steep, and there were
some scrubs growing. Mr. Donnelly having made
up his mind that the time was come, took off his
boots and socks, tied his garments to his limbs, com-
mended his soul to God, and started. Step by step,
he cut a foothole with his pocket knife ; the least
shake in the clay, the least slip of a foot, would
have launched him into eternity. An hour passed,
he was still safe, still working steadily on. In ano-
ther half-hour he had reached the scrub, and in ten
minutes more was on the bank, thanking God for
his escape from a very unpleasant position. Mr.
Donnelly is a good deal bruised, and considerably
reduced, but otherwise not much the worse for his
adventure.—Hawke's Bay Herald.

The New Year's Congratulations,

PARIS, Jan. 3.

At the reception, on New Year's-day, M. Troplong, the
President of the Senate, addressed the following speech to
the Emperor :—" Sire,—Upon this day, which families
celebrate with joy, the great French family again manifests
its sentiments of gratitude towards its revered chief. The
Senate is only its faithful echo in laying before your
jesty its hopes for the duration of this beneficent and glo-
rious reign, and its wishes for a long and happy future to
the Empress and the Prince Imperial."
The Emperor replied :—" I thank the Senate for its good
wishes. Every year, at this period, legitimate hopes ma-
nifest themselves in the midst of certain apprehensions.
But if we look back, we almost always see that the hopes
have been realised and the fears have vanished. I am happy
to believe that the same will be the case this year ; and I
reckonupon the Senate to maintain with me that confidence
in the future which alone assures the destinies of a
people."
His Excellency Duke de Morny, President of the Corps
Legislatif, addressed his Majesty as follows :—"
The Corps Legislatif is happy to offer its congratulations
and its good wishes to your Majesty upon the occasion of
the new year, for it knows that every fresh year aug-
ments the strength of your Government, and increases
the attachment of France to your Majesty and your
dynasty."

_
The Emperor replied—" I am always happy to receive
the congratulations of the Corps L6gislatif, and to thank
it for the loyal assistance it has constantly afforded me."
His Excellency M. Vuitry, the Minister presiding over
the Council of State, addressed the following observations
to his Majesty :—" Sire,—l have the honour to present to
your Majesty the members of the Council of State. Deign,
Sire, to accept the respectful homage of the sincere wishes
we all entertain for the happiness of the Emperor, the
Empress, and the Imperial Prince."
The Emperor replied—" I am very glad to take this op-
portunity at the renewal of the year of thanking the Coun-
cil of State for its zeal and devotion ; I have no doubt
that the great labours by which it is occupied will further
contribute this year to enhance the reputation of that
body."
When the Grand Chancellor of the Legion of Honour
presented to the Emperor the deputation from the great
officers of the Legion and the Council of the Order, his
Majesty said to the Count de Flahault :—" I am.happy to
see at the head of the Grand Chancellery of the Legion of
Honour an old general of the First Empire and the last
aide-de-camp of the Emperor."
President Vaisse addressed his Majesty as follows, in the
name of the Court of Cassation :—" Sire,—Allow me to
hope that your •Majesty will kindly deign to accept the
New-year's wishes and the respectful and faithful homage
of the Court of Cassation."

The Emperor replied :—" I thank the Court of Cassation
for its good wishes and the distinguished manner in which
it fulfils its high mission."

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE,

BETTING AT MANCHESTER.—TCP,DAY.
WATERLOO (COURSING) CUP.
15 to 1 agst Lord Uffington's nomination (taken)
20 to 1 agst Mr J. Jardine's nomination (taken)
25 to 1 agst Mr Heywood's nomination (taken)
25 to 1 agst Mr J. Knowles's nomination (t. & off.

THE TWO THOUSAND.
500 to 100 agst Liddlington (taken)
10 to 1 agst Broomielaw (taken)

THE DERBY.
sto 1 agst Liddington (offered)
9to 1 agst Breadalbane (taken and offered)
25 to 1 agst Brother to Minie (taken)
30 to 1 agst Broomielaw (taken freely)
1,000 to 15 agst Congress (taken)
1,000 to 10 agst Whirlwind (taken)

Now ready, G. Snwrox's Derby Guide, is. G. fl.
Wok), Sporting Library, Connaught-terrace, Hyde-park ;
Sunday Times Office, Fleet-street ; and all agents.
PRICE ONE SHlLLlNG.—Ninirod's (Editor of the " Turf"
" Analysis of the Derby, Two Thousand, and Oaks ;e,
together with a copious index of dates of the most re•
markablo occurrences.—,‘ Turf" Office, 3, Shoe-lane.
Fleet-street ; and Glenie's Sporting Library, Connaught.
terrace, Hyde-park, W.

Tnt CHARMS OF TEXAS.—Sometimes, while
Young Texas is breaking in a mustang,
he may be threat-
ened at one moment by wild cats above, and snakes
below, with, perhaps, a bear, a boar, or a panther within
hail. But he comes safely out of any difficulty. With a
firm, sure seat in the saddle, one hand at least is free. His
lasso is ready, his barrels are all loaded, his knives
and daggers sharp. lie tames his wild mustang, so far as
a Texan's notion of " taming" goes, and rides home to
dinner, without giving so much as a second thought to the
little brushes with wild- cats and rattlemakm—Dickeas
" All the Fear /?eutai."

THIRD EDITION.

SUN OFFICE, 6 o'CLocK.

ALGIERS.

A letter from Algiers of the 29th ult., in the
Patrie, states that a rumour was current in that
city that Marshal de Mac-Mahon had been detained

n Paris by the Emperor, Who, .wishing to make
lihnself perfecrly aeluainW with the state of affairs

in the colony, was disposed to shortly pay a visit to
Algeria. The Empress, it was added, would stop
at Nice during the Emperor's absenoe.

THE FIGHT FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP.

RENEWAL OF THE FIGHT.—(THIS DAY.)
This morning the South-Eastern Company were
patronised by a couple of hundred sporting men of
various classes, who were anxious to avail them-
selves of a train to the place which they had fixed
upon for the fight which they failed to bring to a
successful issue yesterday.
Just before eight o'clock they found that they
had made a mistake, and that the South-Eastern
Railway did not run to the right place, whereupon
they rushed to the Brighton station at London Bridge,
and to the amazement of the officials demanded
tickets for Holley. The arrangements on the
Brighton line are always good, and this sudden de-
mand, just as the train was preparing for departure,
in no way disconcerted them. The tickets were de-
livered without much difficulty, and :a few
.addi-
tional carriages having been put on, . the train was
on its way.
At Holley the whole body of men got out, and
made their way to Copthorn, which is on the border
of three counties, Kent, Surrey, and Sussex. It
was a very quiet unfrequented spot.
The fight lasted 37 minutes, during which time
18 rounds were fought.
Wormald was declared the victor.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

SOUTH-EASTERN.

The proposed new extension lines of this company are
intended to commence py a junction w;th the Greenwich
line near Deptford-creek and terminate by a junction with
the London, Chatham, and Dover Company's Greenwich
line, on the north side of Croom-hill-grove, thence to
Charlton, on the North Kent line, Sand-street, Woolwich,
and to Cranbrook. The company also Propose to take
lands for improving their Woolwich Arsenal and Spa-road
stations, at Burrage-grove, Spray-street, and New-road, in
Woolwich- and Plumstead, and in Blue Anchor-lane and
Spa-road, Bermondsey, for which purposes they propose to
raise £255,000, together with an additional capital of
• £650,000 for the general purposes of the company.