LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 414, 25 March 1870, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Escort on Monday last took down the following quantities of gold : Cromwell 838oz. Idwt. Blacks 7560z. Odwt. Clyde 3020z Odwt. Ida Valley 7 14oz. Odwt. Mount Ida 81ooz. 12dwt. Total ... 27250z. 13dwt. The first sitting of the Provincia - Council will take place on 26th April. The postponement was made in order to give time for issuing certain notices in connexion with the Port Chalmers Railway An important discovery has recently beennir.de in the Pine-hill district. In the course of surveying the ground f‘*r an extension of the road the party lighted on an out-crop of petroleum shale. The discovery was made on Government land Samples have been forwarded to Dunedin, with a view of testing its oil-producing capabilities. A telegram from Nelson announces the discovery of a new: reef at VVangapaka, a short distance from Colliford’s claim, and that it was rushed during the night by about eighty men. The prospects are reported as very promising. The Port Chalmers Bench of Magistrates was occupied on Tuesday and Wednesday last week In investigating a charge, of assault brought against Police-Sergeant Mallard and three constables of the force. The evidence was very lengthy, and the decision of the Bench was that the charge had been fully brought home to Sergeant Mallard and Constable Sulliva , the former having to pay a fine of 51 and the 21., with the alternative of im prisonment. By advertisement in another column it will be seen that Messrs. Theyers and Heck, the proprietors ot the Manuhevikia Brewery, have completed their arrangements, and are ready to supply goud wholesome ale in.any quantities. They also notify their intention to formally inaugurate their building and plant on the 2nd proximo, when they invite everyone to attend. We hope to see a- good muster on the occasion.

The New Zealand Herald says; “It is not because there is a lack of golden stone in hundreds of claims that no dividends are paid by them. We have a noticeable instance of this in one of the best claims at the Thames, when at a late meeting the balance sheet plainly showed the why and the wherefore of there having been no dividend for shareholders. Three hundred and six tons of quartz the produce of twenty week’s work, had been crushed for 639 oz of gold, which realized 1,4007. Shareholders had naturally expected that a dividend would be forthcoming, but the per contra account explained all. Each ton of quarz cost in labor to take it from the reef 21 7s lOd ; other expenses, including carting and crashing, amount f o 17 14s 2d, making a total cost per ounce of 4 1 2s, A very small margin is thus left for profit. Now it is manifestly absurd that quartz which will give on the average 2ozs. 2dwts per ton, should barely pay at the Thames, when, in Australia, from three to five dwts. per ton will give handsome returns. What is needed is a thorouh reform in the working of claims; strict attention by directors to the expenditure, that no need less cost, no wasteful extravagance goes on, that the work be let by contract, and that the contracts are lona fide in their character, and faithfully carried out by the manager. Too much is left to legal managers, the auditing of accounts is made a mere matter of form. A change, too, must be effected in the crushing arrangements on the field before shareholders can look for a profit. 17.145. 2d per ton carting and crushing charges is, of itself, enough to shut up -hundreds of claims that should be payable ones. Shareholders must look to these matters if they would have a change for the better in results of the Thames Goldfield. Our claims need to be ail Long Drives and Golden Crowns to stand such charges as thes' - . The following was published as an extra in the Daily Times on Saturday last: —The following are the results of the races which came oft’ at Greymouth on Thursday and Friday last:— Trial Stakes.—Economy, 1; Magenta, 2 ; liobin Hood, 3. Lottery Plate.— Prince Patrick, 1 ; Dick Turpin, 2 ; Sir Tatton, 3. Town p late.—Back1 ; Macrenta, 2. Butcher’s Purse.—Robin Hood, 1 • Trooper, 2 ; I Hurdle Rara.—Trump, 1 ; Blink Bonny, 2 , Brown Stout, 3 ; Hack Race.—Mazenpa, 1 ; Selim, 2 ; Moss Rose, 3. Publicans’ Purse.—Dick Turpin, 1 ; Skelton, 2 ; Sir Tatton, 3 Greymouth Handicap.—Backbite) - , 1; Magenta, 2. Selling Stakes.— Prince Patrick, 1 ; Deception, 2. Ladies’ Purse.—Dick Turpin, 1 ; Trooper, 2; Sir Tatton, 3. Westland Hurdle Handicap.—Trump, 1 ; Blink Bonny, 2; Brown Stout, 3. Consolation Stakes.—Deception, 1 ; Corsair, 2 ; Sir Tatton, 3. We learn that Cobb and Co.’s coach, which leaves Dunedin at three o’clock in the afternoon, had a narrow escape from a very serious accident at Green Island on the 18th inst. It appears that the men employed by the Telegraph Department had let one of the wires down across the road low enough to drag the driver and passengei s off the box. The horses got away with the coach, but were luckily stopped by being driven on to a bank by a horseman who followed them with a broken pole, the leaders escaping with a pair of broken knees. The accident was probably owing to the effect of St Patrick’s day on the workmen on the road.— Daily Times. The following account of the recent destruction of the Tararu lighthouse by fire is given by an Auckland paper : —“ It appears the lighthousekeeper was in the act of retiring to rest, when he was disturbed by the bursting of a kerosene lamp in the pyr mid building above his head, and the wooden structure was in flames. The family had barely time to remove a few articles of furniture to a place of safety ere the roof above them gave way, in consequence of two cases of kerosene, which was stored over-head taking fire. The pyramid, which was totally destroyed, was for some time in use on the Queen-street wharf, Auckland, whcie the lights were used to guide vessels coming into harbor, before their removal to the Thames lighthouse. The fire burned for about thirty minutes, and was eventually extinguished by,the exertions of the lighthouse-keeper, assistedby a number of men, fortunately without extending to any other building, or even destroying the lower portion thereof. Immediately on these facts being communicated to the Engineer-in-Chief he with great promptitude ordered a red light to be at once fixed on the lower portion of the lighthouse, and a framework to be commenced early in the morning. The red light will therefore be in its position, as usual, this evening. The name of the lighthousekeeper is Wetton. So narrow was the escape that Mr. Wetton’s two children had the hair of their heads singed by the fire. a narrative by Mr. C. D. Irvine, B.A. C.E., of a trip made by him to Stewart’s Island a few months ago is being published in the Soutldand News The foil owing is aspecimen ( ofthestyle. “ The flesh of the wood hen is dark and tough, and the whole bird re quires something like a four hour’s boil to make it yield with satisfaction to the masticatory evolutions of the o-chydroniyerous bimauian’s denticular appendages.’’

We learn that a most cowardly assault was committed on a party of Chinese miners, at Moonlight Creek, in the Wakatip district, by a lot of European ruffians, who not only set fire to one of their huts, but hurled down largo masses ot stone on to the roof of another. Several Chinamen were hurt—one seve ely. The poor Celestials were too much frightened at the time to be able to identify their cowardly assailants. On St. Patrick’s Day, the 17th inst., a race meeting was held on the Maori Point Racecourse, Upper Shotover, and, the weather being fine, attracted a pretty good number of visitors, many of whom travelled long distances to be present at the sports, and had no reason to be dissatisfied with their day’s amusement. The various prizes were well contested for, and the novelty of a lady jockey was introduced The Maiden Plate was won by Mr. Finney’s Gamecock, the Ladies’ Purse' by Mr. M‘Arthur’s Maggie, Shotover Handicap by Mr. Smitham,s Mailboy, Miners’ and Packers’ Purse by Mr. Aspinall’s Norman, and the Consolation Handioap by Mr. Poulter’s There was afterwards a race for the benefit of the funds of the Lakes District Hospital, which fell to the lot of Miss Kirk’s Flora, ridden by her owner. By advertisement in another column it is announced hat, on Friday next, Mr. George Fache will offer by auction, on the Galloway Station, the lease of a small farm, together with the live and dead farming stock, the property of Mr. W. Mitchell. Mr. George Fache sold, at Dry bread, on Saturday last, several thoroughbred horses, a buggy, a quantity of books, and other property, the whole of which yielded excellent prices. On Tuesday evening next an entertainment will be given at the Town Hal, Clyde, in ah l of the funds of the Dunstan District Hospital. When we announce that the company will comprise Miss Dolly Green and Messrs. Fieury and Milburn, assisted by gentlemen amateurs of local celebrity and of no mean talent, we think we have said enough to convince the public that an evening’s amusement of a very superior order will be provided. We hope to see a crowded house, and that the result of the entertainment will be a pleasant evening and a large addition to the Hospital funds. On Wednesday last, at Cromwell, Mr George Fache sold by auction a mob of fat bullocks, at prices varying from 77 to 107 2s. 6d. ahead ; a small draft of fat ewes [broken-mouthed) at ss. ; and a team of ten working bullocks, with dray, bows, yokes, and chains, for 1207 The above prices may be considered highly satisfactory, but, as the market is extremely limited, and as a large mob of mixed cattle (two hundred) is on the way, to be sold on the 7th of next month, we think the wants of the district will be supplied for some considerable time to come. Wednesday last the 23rd instant, being the twenty secondanuivers iry of the Province was held as a close Holiday by the Government officers and Bank employees throughout the District. The iron Telegraph posts that are to replace the wooden ones now in use are hud along the course of the new line as far as Clyde, when they will be erected it would he difficult to say, as yet they have not reached Lawrence. It is now nearly four years ago since we (Bruce Standard), in another journal, in a series of articles urged upon the public and the Government the paramount necessity for giving at tention to the planting and preservaton of trees ; and, in our capacity of delegate to the Agricultural Conference, we supported the recommendations of that body. It gives us pleasure to note that the Acclimatisation Society at its last meeting devoted some time to the subject of forestry; and we most cordially agree with an opinion lately given by Mr Yincent Pyke, at Clyde, that “a man who planted a tree in this treeless country was a public benefactor, and the man who kept goats to destroy that tree was a public male factor.” An Auckland correspondent of the Lyttelton Times writes ;—Mr. St. John Branigan goes hack to Wellington in a few days. His labors have not been of a very easy kind since his arrival in this province. His tour of inspection is completed, and his visit has embraced the most remote stations, such as Haroto and others near Taupo Lake. It is somewhat fortunate he turned up here when Kooti neared the Waikatos. By his energy and prompt decision the large body of our men, half famished and short of amnnition, which suddenly turned up near the Waikato frontier, were provisioned and supplied in an incredible short space of time, and not the slightest delay occurred to our troops then close upon Te Kooti. There was very little business transacted in the Resident Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday last, before Yincent Pyke, Esq., R.M. In a case of assault, Woodman v. Duffy, there was no appearance of the plaintiff, and the case ■was dismissed. In Leary v. M‘Donnell the matter was settled out of Court. In the case of Brough v. Adams judgment was given for the plaintiff. Edward E. Thompson, of the Nevis, applied for a billiard license, and E. Elliott, for a slaughtering license, which were granted.

DUNEDIN RACES. [BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH ] (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Taursday, Marrli 24, 5 p.m. The Dunedin Races commenced yesterday. The weather was delightful, and there was a very large attendance on the course. Maiden Plate. Southern Chief 1 Water witch 2 Tomboy 3 Sir Charles was scratched, which occasioned a good deal of disappoint rnent. The start was an excellent one. Tomboy went off with the lead, hut was soon overtaken by the Southern Chief, when a capital race ensued. Waterwitch afterwards passed Tomboy and challenged the Chief, when a most spirited race commenced, the Southern Chief winning by about two lengths. Trotting Match. Straggler 1 Ranger 2 Magie was first favorite, hut was distanced. Straggler took the lead, and, though the others strove hard, was never overtaken, and won by about seventy yards. Dunedin Handicap. Southern Chief 1 Lady Ellen 2 Atalanta 3 This was the great event of the. day Six horses started. Southern Chief got away with the lead, closely followed by Lady Ellen, the others well together. In the second round Lady Ellen and Southern Chief were running almost shoulder to shoulder. In the straight the Chief made a spurt, and came in a winner nearly a length in advance-. Taieri Stakes, Atlas 1 Wild boy 2 Bobby Burns 3 This was a splendid race between Atlas and Y/Hdhoy, the former winning with only half a length to spare. Ladies’ Purse. Tantrum 1 Musician 2 Won by three lengths. Banjo nowhere. Second Day, Thursday, March 24. Handicap Hurdle Race Of 757 Heats. One mile and a half. Musician 0 1 1 Don Pedro 13 2 Star of the South 22 0 Banjo 3 0 0 All the horses started well together, Pedro ending for the first halt mile, at which distance he was collared by Star of the South, who now loti by a few strides. In the straight running an exciting race took place between Don Pedro, Star of the South, and Banjo, iu which order they came in. Second heat Chance threw his rider, as also did Banjo and Sir Charles; the others kept the field and landed home in the above order. Third heat Musician and Don Pedro onh started The two horses jumped off on the fall of the flag, and cleared the first hurdle together. Musician now took the lead, and clearing every hurdle lauded home au easy winner. BENDIGO GULLY. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDF.NT.) March 14. The ordinary dulness of this township gave place to high festival last Thursday, on the occasion of the marriage of one of ouV lucky reefers, Mr. Hob Jen, of the Cromwell Company. < >n the arrival of the we lding cortege in Logantown salvoes of miners’ artillery were discharged from the neighboring rocky height, the men in the employ of the Company having drilled a number of holes and charged them in readiness for the advent of the happy pair. It was rather a startling welcome, and looked grand in the twilight. Good cheer was liberally provided by Host Perriam for all comers. Music and dancing succeeded and when the revel ended your correspondent knoweth not as the s'eepy god in his case had asserted supremacy. Thire is little novelty to chronicle in mining matters this week. All parties are pushing on work vigorously. The last excellent crushing of the Cromwell Company (nearly four ounces to the ton) appears to have given a fresh impetus to the place, which will probably be augmented when the Aurora Company waahes-up. This Company are putting through some fine stone just now. They have effected an improvement in the race, and are able, notwithstanding the scarcity of water, to drive five stampers in place of four, as they have only been able to do for the past fortnight. The additional five-head battery is nearly completed, and when the rain comes the Company will be able to rub off their list of applications for crushing stone, which list is. I believe, a tolerably lengthy one. A new reef was opened last week by Broadfoot and party, between Colclough’s and Richmond’s lines. A prospecting claim has been granted, and the reef marked off for some distance. The lode is well defined, ke ops well at the surface, is from a foot to two feet in width, and better than all carries gold in the entile length opentdt

Loughnan and party have a good deal of stone at grass, and intend having a trial crushing on the earliest opportunity. These remarks apply also to M’Loughlin and party, Smith and party, and others on the Aurora lino, and judging from appearances when tlio various quantities waiting are pulverised we may reasonably expect to see Bendigo Gully “ rise and shine,” The Postal nuisance is still unabated. How long, ye lawgivers, shall this state of things last, which is infinitely worse than in the early digging days of Otago ? If by any chance a letter arrives at the “local” post office it entails almost a days work on the unhappy recipient to obtain it. This is progression with a vengeance. The weather here for the past week has been remarkably fine, calm warm days and nights looking as if summer was loth to abdicate. It would be thought delightful were it not detrimental to the water supply, which is less than has been known for some years.