LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 434, 12 August 1870, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Escort winch left here last Monday took down the following quantities of gold:—From Queenstown one thousand and ninety-two ounces eight pennyweights ; Arrowtown, eight hundred and thirty-six ounces seven pennyweights ; Black’s, three hundred ounces; Mount Ida, one thousand six hundred and ten ounces twelve pennyweights. Mr. Weldon, the Commissioner of Police, arrived at Clyde on Wednesday morning last, to investigate into the iate robbery of treasure from the Camp. The Police are very reticent, therefore we are tunable to give any information. We may say, from what we have been able to glean, that nothing has presented itself from which the slightest clue can be traced. Mr. William Fraser, M.P.C., addressed the electors at Clyde on Monnay evening last. As we publish a report of Mr. Fraser’s meeting at Alexandra, held on evening, and are over-crowded with matter, we feel constrained to hold over our report. Mr. Fraser was well received on both occasions, and votes of confidence in him were passed at each meeting. On Wednesday evening last, the menbers of the Manuherikii Total A bstinence Society gave their Anniversary Soiree at the School-honse, Alexandra, which was very successful. There were about one hundred and forty persons present. Great pleasure was afforded to those present by the performance of Mrs. Murphy and Miss Ratcliffe, which ladies gave songs and recitations. Messrs. Vause, Simmons, and others also contributed greatly to the enjoyment of the evening. The entertainment wound up with a trip on the “ light fantastic," after which the company dispersed, all having thoroughly enjoyed themselves. The surplus (which is to go to the Alexandra School Funds) will amount to something considerable, hut we ate not aware of the exact amount. The second of the series of “ Winter Evenings Entertainments" is fixed for Tuesday evening next. The programme is a most attractive one, and as the proceeds are to go to the funds of the Dunstan District Hospital, we hope and fully expect there will be a very full attendance.

; It is our painful duty to record the , death of a gentleman well known to . mano of our readers. We allude to Mr. James Livingstone Henderson, who for some years past resided at ' .Alexandra, and occupied the position i ot Town Clerk. Mr. Henderson had been in a delicate state of health for some time, and, on Saturday evening last succumbed tothe ravaging disease that had afflicted him for many years. ' The deceased geit'emm was universally esteemed and respected for his strict integrity and the kindliness of bis disposition, and we fear that the gap his death creates will not so ea ily be filled up. The funeral took place on Tuesday, and was ,attended by nearly the whole of the inhabitants of Alexandra, and by many from Clyde and surrounding district, and the cortege , consisting of the whole of the available vehicles presented an imposing appearance as it wended its way to the cemetery, where the body was interred' The Rev. C. S. Ross, officiated, and delivered a most impressive address, most forcibly demonstrating the uncertainty of life. The weather is everything that can 1 lie desired by all classes of the community, and the public spirit is somewhat recovered from the depression under which it has been laboring foi some time past. The roads are materially improved, and traffic is not so difficult or dangerous. The news from the various mining localities are encouraging, in fact, a season of prosperity is apparently dawning. T'rom Bendigo Reels, the weather being . mild, the crushing mills are pounding , away right merrily, and to all aci counts with extraordinary results, an average, of four ounces to the ton is reported as being obtained from a ! large crushing at the Cromwell bat tery. The Aurora is looking better i than ever, a reef five feet wide, • thickly impregnated with gold having been struck in the m tin tunnel, the stone appears to be a continuous lode, ' In the Nevis and Bannockburn disi tricts, the miners are busily employed and from appearances remuneratively. , The dredgers on the Molyneux are at length released from their compulsory inactivity, and with but few exeep--1 tions are hard at work, in some parts of the river, the current is toostiong i to allow of much headway being made but a few more days fine weather will remove that difficulty. At the Half Mile Beach, Alexandra, Michael Kett and party have a strong gang of men employed, in about a week they anticipate reaching the golden vein. Thisparty has combatted the difficulties that has beset them most zealously, and it is to be hoped the river will continue at so low a level as to enable them to obtain sufficient gold to repay them for their outlay, the Hit and Miss claim, Frenchman’s Point, is j likewise being worked by a large mob I of men, this party also expect striking 1 gold in a few days. \Ve beg to acknowledge with thanks the last number of Hansard. and other parliamentary papers. A few days ago Messrs. Richmond Beetham, R , Mr. James Hazlett,J,P., and Mr. William Fraser. J. P., held an inquiry touching certain alledged irregularities on the part of Mr. W. Hall, bailiff for the Dunstan District. The investigation was conducted with “ closed doors,” so we are marble io give details ; but we ! a,te given to understand that the report of the Commission has been forwarded to headquarters for final decision. The Lancashire Bellringers, on Wednesday evening, appeared in their popular entertainments at the Townhall, Clyde, and succeeded in giving entire satisfaction and eliciting, after each piece they performed, rapturous applause. Mr. Daniels, baritone vocalist, and Mr. Burton, the negro deliniator during the intervals between the performances on the Bells, successfully claimed the attention of the audience, and rendered the evenings amusement the most enjoyable. On Thursday evening the company performed at Alexandra. We are sorry to say on either occasion the audience was limited. In the District Court, Clyde, on the Ist instant, (in bankruptcy), Bruce Simpson filed an affidavit verifying statement of assets and liabilities. Mr. Brough, as counsel for the insolvent, applied for an order of adjudication. The order was made accordingly, and the firs* meeting of creditors gopointed to be held at the Courthouse, Clyde, on the Bth hist. On that day the bankrupt surrendered, but as no creditors appeared and no proofs of debts had been tiled, the meeting was adjourned to Monday, the loth inst. Yesterday, William Henderson, storekeeper, Gentle Annie, filed a declaration of insolvency. The Dunstan Jockey Club advertise, in another column the programme of their Spring Meeting, appointed to take place on the 16th proximo. A few days ago a fatal accident occurred at Butcher’s Gully. James Itivers, a miner, was working in his claim, when the earth from above fell upon him, killing him on the spot. Subsequently an inquest was held, the jury returning a verdict of accidental death After the funeral a subscription was raised for the benefit of the widow, when about 3(F. was collected. We have received official information that, from this date, postage on inter-provincial letters will be 2d. per half-ounce, instead of 3d., as hereto-, fore I

An Inquest was held at Harding’s Hotel, Cromwell, on Saturday last the sth inst., by Vincent P,ke Esq,, Coroner on the body of James Scott, who it will be remembered by our readers was drowned in the Kawarau River, during the late heavy floods, whilst catching drift wood. William Mayne the principal witness in examination deposed, that, on the 3rd inst. he discovered the body lying on the beach about four miles from Cromwell, and on the following day informed the father of deceased of the discovery James Scott on oath said he proceeded in company with the former witness down the river Molyneux to the place indicated, and identified the body, as that of his son whom he last saw alive on the 24th June last, he had the body removed to Cromwell on the following day. The jury returned a verdict of accidentally drowned. The funeral took place in the afternoon, which was numerously attended. Mr. C. O’Neil during his speech on the financial statement, cited therefrom the following portion with which he fully agreed ;—“ It will in future be profitable for the Provinces to encourage matrimony to the extent of finding the gold wedding ring, and, perhaps, in due time, the cradle in addition” but lie would go a stage further’ As there was plenty of land in the Colony, he would give as a birthright forty acres of land to every child rocked for the first time in the colonial cradle, and lie would have this arrangement in force until the end of the time estimated for completing the scheme proposed by the Government. There would thus be established an additional system of immigration and colonization, which would be lasting and beneficial to the Colony in all future time.—He then refers to the industries of the Colony, and says:—“ Wool he believed, was rising in value at home, and gold had every sign of the greatest prosperity in >■ ew Zealand ; the Thames was better than ever; Otago richer than ever, and only a few days previously a considerable reef in Nelson had yielded, out of fifty tons of ordinary stuff one hundred and fifty three ounces of £4 gold. £2oo’ooo was proposed by the Government for water works on goldfields; that sum would doubtless be most useful, and would do a great deal of good, hut he could not feel satisfied until he saw a million expended in such works, which would not only be doing a very large amount of benefit, but would yield a handsome return to the Government. The necessity for a water supply was ably and forcibly shown in a petition which he had the honor of presenting this Session from the Mayor and Town Council of Cromwell. Several persons have informed us that they felt a slight shock of earthquake yesterday afternoon, about two o’clock. We learn that Lowther Broad, Esq formerly warden on Otago Goldfields has been elected as member of the Provincial Council of Auckland, for the Thames constituency, for which community he is a most suitable, and will without doubt, from bis great experience on all mining matters, prove himself to be a most trustworthy and effective representative. The Dunedin Echo, writing on the late robbery of treasure from the Clyde Camp, says “ This unfortu nate affair has given rise to considerable talk during the week. That there is great blame to be attached to the officers at Clyde tor their leaving so much treasure unguarded in a badlylocked wooden house, all must admit. We hope, however, that justice will yet be vindicated, and the committers of this crime against society soon brought into the presence of bis Honor Mr. Justice Chapman and twelve good and true men.” The Government have intimated their intention to shortly issue instructions for the election of a Board of Wardens for the Clyde Comm mage also for the gazetting of Mr. Williams yard as a Pound, and that gentleman us Poundkeeper. .