LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 428, 1 July 1870, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Onr Lakes correspondent sends us the following telegram :—“Queenstown, Thursday, 4.50 p.m.—To all appearances the weather has set in fair, and I am of opinion that it will continue so. The Lake is falling with great rapidity, and the roads are improving hourly.”

At the usual weekly meeting of the Waste Lands Board, held on Wednesday, the 22nd mst, the Board approved of the valuation for improvements made on section 1, block XLYL Clyde; likewise of the recommendation of Mr. Warden Pyke, to have additional sections surveyed in Clyde,

By reference to advertisement in another column, it will b« seen that an amateur musical and dramatic performance will take place, at the Town Ha'l, on Tuesday evening next, for the benefit of local institutions. The object for which these entertainments are to be given should draw a large attendance, and we hope to see the endeavours of those ladies and gentlemen interested in the getting up of the same justly appreciated. In another column will be found a letter in which the writer suggests that the state of the weather throughout the colony should be notified from one telegraph station to another. No doubt this would prove a great boon to the public.

A correspondent writing us from the Upper Manuherikia says.—On Thursday last it commenced raining, and continued until late in the evening when it turned to snow, soon enveloping the face of the earth in a snowy tnantle. On Friday a thaw set in, which speedily dissolved the snow, causing perfect torrents-of , water to flow from every gully or hol'ow and converting the low lying country into perfect lakes. Traffic for the time was completely suspended as the creeks Under ordinary ‘ circumstances, inconsiderable. dribbles of water, Were roaring torrents. An accident happily unattended with serious results, occurred at the Ida Valley Quartz Reef. The ground having become thoroughly saturated with water, a portion of the main tunnel fell in, confining for a time two men who were at work there. They were both extricated from their perilous situation, suffering nothing further than the fright. The reef has suspended operations in consequence of having no timber, and the roads being so bad that they are unable to obtain any. On Friday last morning the Dunstan Ranges presented a remarkable appearance. The range and flat, as far as the eye could reach, w>_re covered with Snow, with the exception of just that portion embracing the Drybreacl and Devonshire diggings, which were completely bare, making a strange contrast. ’i he sluicera are quite jubilant in having such a plentiiul supply of ’ water. If the season is detrimental to some, others have benefited by it.

A meeting was held at the- Clyde School-room, on Tuesday evening last, for the purpose of appointing a Committee to organise a series of Winter Evening Entertainments, for the benefit of the funds of the public institutions of . the district. Mr A. I). Harvey was in the chair. It was decided that the following gentlemen should form a Committee of Managements Messrs. V. Pyke (chairman), A. D. Harvey, A. Christophers, T. George, J. H. Cambridge, M. Marshall, and b. lugs. Mr.: I ‘gs was appointed Honorary Secretary and Treasurer. The following resolutions were then adopted : That the first entertainment should take place at the Town-hall, on Tuesday, next, the sth July, and the programme to comprise songs, concerted music, readings, and the farce of “ Box and Cox ; ” That the price of admission be fixed at 2«. 6d., children to he admitted at half-price) That the proceeds of the first entertainment should be given in aid of the Clyde School Funds ; That a Subcommittee, consisting of Messrs. Christophers, Cambridge, and Ings should be authorised to carry onf all necessary arrangements . for the performances. . ... ;

With respect to the New Zealand Commissioners, a correspondent writes to the Wanganui Chronicle, from London, as follows; After all, Featherstone has not done any good. His first interview with Lord Granville was decisive. Featherstone made a capital and elaborate speech,'telling the Secretary for the Colonies all about New Zealand’s wrongs, and what was wanted to set them right. To the intense astonishment of the Doctor, Lord Granville, at the conclusion of the speech, slapped him on the back in a jocular manner, and said' Look here old man, it’s no use jawing. We won,t give you any troops, and we won’t give you any money. But look here, as you and Bell have come all the way from New Zealand to see me on this business, I’ll do all I can to make you as comfortable as possible You can have a snug dinner at the club. I’ll get you presented to the Queen, and everything considered, you’ll have a good time of it ’ It seems that Dr. Featherston philosophically acquiesced in this. He did get presented to the Queen, and being dressed in full Court Suit remarked to a friend, in leaving the precincts of the palace, ‘ Well, I don’t know whether I looked like a fool or not in.that ridiculous costume, hut T telt awfully like one.’”

In our last issue we drew attention to the fact that Mr. W. Sraitham was a candidate for the honors of the Mayoralty oi Cromwell. We hear that the present Mayor, Mr. G. W. Goodger, will contest the election with him. a numerously signed requisition having been presented to him to allow himself to be again nominated for the office.

"We have to acknowledge with thanks the receipt of the first number of the Colonial Hansard; likewise, a batch of Parliamentary papers and reports.

Our Lakes’ correspondent informs Us of the loss of the Shot-over Dredge during the late floods. The loss is a very severe one to the shareholders, the cash cost, independent of time and labor, being over 500/. He also informs us of the drowning of a miner at the Big Bench, Shotover, who, in company with his mate, was attempting to sa re a boat. From all acounts the damage done by the floods in the Lake district is very considerable.

A sad accident occurred at Cromwell on Saturday last, resulting in the drowning of a boy fourteen years old, named James Scott. The lad was engaged collecting the wood that came down with the flood in tho river, and whilst in the act of grasping a piece floating bye, slipped in. The accident wasobservedby several, whoattempted to rescue the poor boy, but without avail.

It is notified in the Provincial Government Gazette that sittings of the District’Court of the Otago Goldfields, in addition to those already appointed, will be held as follows:—At Lawrence, on August 9th; at Naseby, on September 14th; at Clyde, on September 19th; and at Queenstown, on September26th. We have received a letter on the subject of immigration, the land, local industries, <kc., but its length compells us to hold it over until our next issue.

A patient in the Dunstan District Hospital, named Charles Rock, died on Wednesday and' was buried iu the Clyde Cemetery yesterday. On Wednesday nig.ht last a fire occurred at the Cornish Arms Hotel, Cromwell. The chimney ignited and the flames rose fully six feet upwards Mr, William Smitham mounted a ladder, fortunately at hand, and with the assistance of Willing hands and a plentiful supply of water, succeeded in extinguishing the flames. Luckily it was a calm night, and comparatively little damage was sustained. The inmates wore unconscious of the conflagration until some one rushed in from the s‘r et with the alarming news. Late last evening we recened a etter from Cromwell, bearing the signature of “ Sign of the Times,” but as we consider some of the allusions therein border very closely upon personalities, we decline to insert it. We are merely the exponents of public opinion, not the redressers of private grievances.