LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 419, 29 April 1870, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

One of the okh-st residents in this , district, William Michie, died in the Hospital on Saturday last, and was buried in the Clyde Cemetery on Mou- ’ day. The deceased’s remaing were followed <o the grave by a large mini- I 1 ber of pers ms. The funeral service j was read by the Rev C, S. Ross. An ad journed meeting of the oredi- ! tors of Robert Duncan, a bankrupt, ■ was held in the Districl Court, Clyde, * ou Monday last, before Mr. A. D. Harvey, when no creditors attended and no proofs of debts wers filed. Mr. Brough, the bankrupt’s counsel, applied tor a day to bo fixed for the final examination of tbe bankrupt, which was granted, notice to be adllertised in the Duns tan Times lu re Patrick Toomey the result was s'milar. Mr. J. C. Chappie sold by auction, on Monday last, by order of the Curator of Intestate Estates, tbe property of the late Mr. J. W. Geddis who, it will be remembered by our realms, was killed by a stone falling on him, about three months ago, while working in his claim in Conroy,s Gully, Tho total amount realised was about 150/ sterling. Tbe results of the late cm shings of stone at the Aurora Crushing Mill, Bendigo, are not by any means favor able, consequently our reefing friends are rather low-spirited. Tbe trial crushing from Lougbnan and Co.’s claim yielded only sixteen pennyweights to the ton, and from Colclough’s three ounces to the ton. A great diversity of opinion exists : some venturing an opinion that the machinery is not perfect in its goldsaving department, ond others laying the onus on the stone. If we were called upon to give our casting vote it would most certainly be on the side of the machinery, as it has not only been put up by one of the most practical quartz-reefers in the province, but it embraces every improvement that has been made in connexion with saving gold. We acknowledge receipt of report from the Educational Department of the province, from which we gather the following particulars. Clyde.— Nuuber of scholars who have attended school during the year, sixty-four: average attendance, fifty-six ; amount con m uted by Government, 100/. ; by district, 118/. 17s. 6d. Alexandra. Number of scholars, eighty-one ; average attendance, sixty-one; contributed by the Government, 112/. 125.; by the district, 153/. 11s. Cromwell. —Number of scholars, fifty-five; average attendance, thirty-eight; 1011trihuted by Government, 139/. 45.; by the district, 12G/. 12s 6d. Queenstown.— Number of scholars, seventynine; average attendance, forty-one; amount contributed by Government, 1621. 4s. 4d.; by tbe district, 125/. 16s. Arrowtown. Number of scholars, thirty-five; average at tendance, twenty; amount contributed by Government, 100/.; contributed by tbe district, 145/. 11s. Gd.

Cromwell was particularly busy yesterday, numbers having visited the township to attend the sale by auction ' of the property of Mr. J. W. Garrett, deceased. Mr. W. J. Barry, pretty ’ punctual to time, mounted his rostrum and stated the business of the day. 1 The attendance was good, but of bond j fide bidders for the principle lots there were but few. The conditions of sale being read, the properties, in the following order, were put up and knocked 1 down :—One fourth share in the Cromwell and Bendigo Companies leases, water-races, crashing machinery, plant, , houses, &c.—Mr. Hebden, 2,000/. One fifth share in the Golden Link Claim, situated between the two leasehold properties—Mr. ttebden, 700/. One sighth share in the Alta Claim, better known as Sam William’s.—Mr. Hazlett, 69/. One sixth share in the' Golden Grown, being No 6on the Bendigo 1 ine —Mr. J. Holt, 27/ One twenty fourth share in Claim No. 1 west of the Alta—Mr. J. Holt, 2/. Several horses, wearing ap- ‘ parel, and other property of the deceased was next sold, and brought 1 fair prices, the total amount realised, ; was nearly 2900/.. Mr. Barry aftevwards“offered a seventh share in the Aurora Company, claim and plant, which was bought in at 1250/.. Afterwards, a number of horses, itc., the horses appeared not to be exactly the sort wanted, but some few were sold at prices, ranging from 18/., downwards. Last evening great consternation was caused in Clyde by a large dog of the Newfoundland species, gal- ' loping down Sunderland Street with a kerosine tin attached to his tail The perpetrator of this foolish freak, i deserves some punishment, and let him he, man or boy, we sincerely hope the offence may be traced to him. We learn that the Clyde Town Council are at last moving in the matter of the disgraceful state of the road between Clyde and Cromwell, and, we must say, not before it was wanted. A letter has lately been sent to the Cromwell Council, asking their co-operation, which, by the report of the proceedings of that body, has been favorably received. We hope that the influence of the Corporate bodies may have the desired effect of having the road put somewhat in repair. At the present time it is re dly dangerous, and we should not be the least surprised, if a thorough 1 overhaul of the road is not ma.de 1 before the winter is over, to 1 have to ! chronicle some fatal accidents. 1 The PostMaster informed us last . evening, that the Tuupeka Mail did . not arrive at the Teviot till 0, p.m., consequently we could not expect to receive the Mail till this morning. The winter appears to be setting in 1 earlier than usual this year. Yesier- 1 day morning was a thoroughly wintry 1 one, and ice made its first appearance. The severity of the weather thus early in the season is considered by the dredge-owners as highly promising of a profitable season. We hope their sanguine prognostications wiil be fully and that Father Molyueux will be compelled to disgorge his hidden treasures for the benefit ot the enterprising shareholders of the dredging fleet. Mr. Charles Matthews is playing to very good houses in Melbourne. We are requested by the Clyde postmaster to particularly intimate that the Alexandra Mail closes at his office at 5 p.m. He informs ns the alteration is occasioned by the Dunedin coach on Monday morning not passing through Alexandra as formerly. By advertisement in another column, it will be seen that the opening of the Bridge across the Shotover is to be celebrated by a banquet, to be followed by a Bail in tbe Evening at Queenstown. The exact day is not as yet fixed upon, but it is intended to take place on or about the 10th of May next. The commercial intelligence by the last English Mail is encouraging. The demand for wool and flax being reviv od at advanced rates, it is to be hoped this will continue, as, the low rates that have ruled for some time past have had a most depressing effect. By telegrams from the West Coast, we learn that a disastrous fire lias lately occurred at Greyraouth, destroy mg property to the value of 4000/, the whole of which is uninsured. Among the unfortunates who have sufferred, we regret, is onr old and well respected late townsman, Mr. W Kettelty. The following we extract from the Daily Times’ telegrams : —“ The rumor that Te Koofi has been offered protection by the King is not credited in Auckland. The Southern Cross says that there may be some truth in it. but the Government have received no notice regarding it, and it is improbable. It has been suggested that an en tertaii ment should be given at Clyde on the anniversary of the Queen’s . birthday. We trust to see the sug- ; gestion canned out. The application of Messrs Foote and Rose for a lease to dig lignite at Ida Creek was considered by the ; Waste Lands Board at its last meet- , ing. The matter was referred to the , ! Provincial Solicitor fer his opinion, 1 before tbe lease could be granted.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Clyde Town Council lapsed for want of a quorum. The much talked of running match between Harris and Hewitt is expected to come off, upon the English pedestrian's return to Melbourne from Sydney. The following new and singular method of stopping a leak is from the New York Herald : —" It is reported that at the time of the collision of the feny-boat Mauhasset and the tug Phcenix, the steam wrecking boat Truxton, Captain T. A. Scott, happened to be quite near the scene of the accident. Captain Scott, not being ab'e to get the Truxton alongside of the ferry-boat, sprang into a small boat, and made his way through the cabin windows of the Manhasset, arriving in the engine room just as the bow of the tug was being extricated from the ferry-boat. As the bow was withdrawn, the water at once 1 ejan to flow into the aperture with great force, anJ in such quantities that the boat would have gone down in a few minutes, had not Captain Scott—who is a very large man, weighing about two hundred and fifty pounds—placed his body in the hole made by the tug, and calling for blankets and clothing, succeeded in keeping out the rush sufficiently until the boat was got into the slip, and afterwards planked up the break so that the pumps of the ferry-boat kept her comparatively free until she was placed <>n the dry dock, at the foot of Pike Street, where she now is. This is the firwt record of a leak of this size being stopped by a man's ' body at the risk of his own life. Pos- 1 sibly seveial hundred lives were saved 1 by the bravery of Captain Scott."