LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 425, 10 June 1870, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The last Escort, which left Clyde on the 30th ult., took down the following quantities ol gold ;

The accounts which arrive from all parts of the district respecting the state of the roads, are to the effect that they are in a deplorable condition. Up or down is the same. It is with difficulty that waggons can get along at all. If the present weather continues it will entirely stop all traffic. The question of cheap meat has been discussed for some time past at Alexandra, and we are glad to notice that Messrs. Judge and Jenkins have opened a new butcher’s shop and are now supplying the public with meat of the best quality at greatly reduced prices. Mr. O’Regan has also reduced the price, as will be seen by our advertising columns. We shall be glad to see our Clyde friends follow the example. Cu Monday last the sixth instant, a serious accident happened at Duncan Robertsons crossing over the Manuherikia, owing to the high state of the river. A waggon, belonging to Mr. Low, of the Galloway Station was returning from Alexandra with a ton of coal and some bags of flour, for use on the station, when attempting to cross the river at the above crossing, was swept down with the stream. After a deal of exertion the horses (four in number) were rescued, but one of them has died since from injuries received at the time of the accident. The driver had a very narrow escape, and when he j reached the shore he became insensible from exhaustion. The waggon and its contents are still in the river, but they will be recovered as soon as the water subsides. A man, of the name of Crossan, of Speargrass Flat, had a narrow escape from drowning while crossing a mob of cattle, belonging to Mr. Richard Lancaster, over the MolyueuX river. Had he not been a good swimmer he must have lost his life. The horse reached the shore in safety From Bendigo Gully we learn that a rumor is prevalent there that an accident has taken place on the Lake Wanaka, resulting in the drowning of two men. ‘ ft is unable, at present, to Ascertain their lames, but in all probability particulars will be had in a few days. We would draw attention to an advertisement in another column, notifying that the owners of all stock depasturing on the Dunstan Commonage not paying the assessment on the same by the 27th inst. will be legally dealt with. The frequent flooding of the firms on the Taieri have been very detri mental to the prosperity of that district. Some of the farmers have concluded to abandon their possessions, and even the more plucky talk of “ one more trial,” and it is quite probable that, should another flood occur, the fertile plains adjacent to the Taieri will be almost deserted. It is to be hoped that engineering talent will discover a means of obviating the disastrous effects of the excessive flooding of the Taieri. Mr. Walshe, who was shot by Mr. Supple, the barrister, in Melbourne, has died from the effects thereof. Supple has been charged at the City Police Court with “shooting with intent to kill ” When asked whether he had anything to say, he replied, that “he did not mean to injure Mr. Walshe, but he intended to kill Mr. Smith.” The police asked for a remand for seven days, which was granted. At a meeting of the Cromwell Town Council, held on Monday last, it was resolved, “That the Town Clerk acknowledge receipt of letter from Provincial Secretary in reference to the subsidy, and inform him that, as the Government refuse to pay the subsidy due the Corporation, instructions will be given to Messrs Haworth and Hodgkins, solicitors, to institute proceedings for recovery of the same.” Sergeant Thomas Neil has been appointed inspector of weights and measures, under the “Weights and Measures Act, 1868, for the district of the Dunstan.

We take the following from the Daily Times telegrams:—“ The Luna, ' with Mr. M'Lean on board, arrived at Napier on the Ist. inst. She also | brought three prisoners one of whom, ! Kaiama, has been in our hands three j times. He was first captured at Tan-1 ranga, after which he took the oath of allegiance; secondly at Hungahungatoroa, and then sent to the Chatham Islands. The present is his third capture, There are several witnesses against him on board the Luna, and it is hoped that a conviction will be obtained. Karama is supposed to have been one of the leader's in the Poverty Bay massacre. A correspondent, writing from the Cardroria, says things are about as usual, all hands being fully and profitably employed. Since the late rains the roads are in a deplorable condition, and, in addition, the Chinese have in some cases constructed races right across them. I understand that Mr. Warden Beetham has issued special instructions to the Officer in Charge in regard to this matter. The Young Pirate Company have bottomed all over their paddock, and have improving prospects as they develop their ground. Davis and party, at the head of the valley, are bringing in a head-race, which will take them four months to complete. In the Provincial Council Mr. Shepherd moved, “ that this Council approves and hereby empowers the Executive Government, if they consider it advisable, to enter into time contracts for maintenance of roabs, especially those requiring metalling.” Mr lieid said that it was intended, by way of experiment, to let the Main South and Main North roads in tenders of one mile each, and steps would be taken with regard to these roads. He thouht it questionable, however, if wheth r it would be advisable to extend the experiment to unformed roads Mr. Hutcheson thought it would be as advisable to extend it to unformed reals up the country as to the main trunk 'iues. Mr. Hay would support the resolution, and was glad to see that the Government had come round to his way of thinking. He had tabled resolutions with this object for the last three sessions, and had no doubt that not only would the Government save money, but that the roads would be made better than thev were. Mr Fraser hoped the Government would extend the experiment not only to the main trunk road into the interior. The road between Clyde and Cromwell would, in particular, be greatly benefited. Mr. Hughes, in supporting the resolution, hoped that the Government would ex- . tend the experiment beyond the metalled roads. The road between Tuapeka and Alexandra was a case in ! point, that showed the necessity of j this being done. Mr. Mollison thought that the Government would do better to let the contracts for the, ten, or twenty miles, than for one mile. Mr. j Haughtou was fax Durable to the ' motion, and thought the system ought to have been adopted years ago. He i referred to the present system of road making by day labour as being one of j pic-nic parties. Mr. Keid explained that, although the contracts were for one mile, any person might contract for five or fifty miles if he choose, Mi. Shepherd, in reply hoped the Government would throw open contracts of tea or twenty miles, and then capital- . ists would come in who would int’-o-duce stone-breaking machines and other appliances. The motion was put and carried. From the Australasian we take the following ' “ln pedestnauism things are very quiet. The engagement of Hewitt, Bird, and Topley has terminated, and they are still at Sydney. Topley has won a seven-mile match, and Bird and Hewitt have run for several small stakes. The three-hun-dred yards match between Hewitt and Harris, the Victorian champion, is off, Hewitt having forfeited his first deposit of 20 1. Biix.’s matches with Higgins are also off for the present at least, if not for good Football has taken the place of cricket, and the note of preparation for hunting has been sounded, Sam Waldock being s 1 ill master of the Melbourne bounds, and Mr. Mount at the head of affairs at Ballarat.” Mr. J. C. Chappie sold, at Alexandra, on Tuesday last, about thirty head of mixed cattle, at an average of 51 per bead. The following is an account of the seven mile walking-match which took place at Sydney on the 7th ult., betweecn the English pedestrian, Topley, and Baker, of Sydney, Topley being at the scratch, and Baker three hundred yards a head “ Both competitors were heartily cheered by their , friends on issuing from the pavilion, attended by their trainers (Steve Forster with Baker, and T. Dodd with Topley), and appeared in excellent condition. Both went away at a great pace, and for the first twelve ’ laps (three miles) Topley gained about twenty yards in each mile, Commencing the fourth mile Baker was leading sixty yards, but Topley still i continued gaining, and was only L twenty yards behind at the close of the twentieth lap (live miles). Baker held his own for the next lap, but Was only about five yards a-head in the i twenty-second ; in the next lap (the I twenty-third) Baker gained five jards, 1 and Topley, putting on a spurt, closed with him, the two passing ihe post together at the end of the sixth mile.

Topley, in the seventh mile, endea--1 voured to pass to the front: but Baker was equal to the occasion, ; and either kept level or was a yard or !so a-head of Topley. The match here I became very exciting, and it was only | about one bundled and fifty yards from home that Topley took the lead, Baker stopping about fifty yards from the post, when all chance was gone ” Time : fifty-seven minutes and ten seconds.

Queenstown ... l,842oz. 17dwt. Arrow 62 loz. 2'lwt. Cromwell 615oz. Odwt. Clyde 252oz Odwt. Alexandra , ... I25oz. lOdwt. Dunatan Creek 53Goz. Odwt. Mount Ida y. XOlToz. Odwt. Lawrence 793oz. 3dwt. Waitahuna ... 214oz. 14dwt. W aipori 31 loz. Idwt Palmerston ... 116oz, 1 Odwt. Total 6,444oz. 17dwt.