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Dunstan Times, Issue 923, 26 December 1879, Page 2

Vincent Pyke, Esq., returned to the district on Tuesday, looking well after the arduous duties of the session.

Our subscribers and supporters are informed that our Calendar for 18S0 is now ready, and can be had on application to the office of this paper or of our numerous agents. To-day (Boxing Day) and to-morrow the Presbyterian Church Bazaar and Gift Auction at Alexandra will be open. There will also be Caledonian Sports there on the same day. The privileges extended by the Public Libaray have been grossly abused of late. The Home News for July, and the Illustrated London News of the following dates: June 7th, 14th. 21sb, and 28th, July sth, 12th, and 2!>th, have been conveyed—in other words, stolen—from the table of the reading room, which is opened free of charge to all and sundry. This is greatly to be regretted, because it reflects disgrace upon the community at large who enjoy the use of the room gratuitously ; and it may lead to the withdrawal of the public use of the room altogether The culprits should return the abstracted papers.

The election of a Councillor for Matakanni Bidin ;, Vincent County, rendered vacant by the retirement of Mr \V. Greenhank, took place on Saturday last- There were two candidates for the office—Messrs John S. ronach and John Cole Chappie —and resulted in the return of Mr Stronach with a majority of 5 votes, he polling 47 against his opponent’s 42.

The Cromweil Annual Rice Meeting tabes place to-day and to-morrow. The chi f event of the on e ing is the District Derby, which is to be run for to d iv

W« hive received a subscription list he i led *• Tin - Uh trim Br «.id Minors \lenio-

rial Khm I,” t igether with a cir«u ir from I lie lion See. wh rh sets out that l>y ’lie dentil of Mr Broad his c i'low an I family

have 1) en left totally unprovided for It his therefore been decided to raise a fund limp ing the subscript ions to two shillings an i sixpence. We shall be happy to reeeiv • subscriptions in iieha f.

A notice interesting to persons who have not yet paid their land tax is published in another column.

Tiie contractors of the Manuherikia Bridge a e progressing with their work. The tunnels for :he moorings have proved more trimVesante than was anticipated ; it is thought, however, they will he completed by the new year, when the erection of the superstructure will be proceeded with. Tt is hit'll time this structure was eomple ed, as scarce a time when a small rise in rdie river occurs but that some unfortunate whom business or ph asme leads across has a fright by bis horses eith'-i----heing stuck in the mu I, or go floundering into a deep hole but just then made by the current.

We have to acknowledge the receipt of the second number of The Voice, an American Monthly, devoted to voice culture.

The sale by Auction, of the household furniture and effects of Mr James Samson Alexandra, on Monday next, presents a good opportunity for parties furnishing, and as the sale is without reserve there should be a good attendance. George Fachc auctioneer.

The (Jiutha County Council has decided to proceed with the erection of the Balclulha Bridge. The building of bridges just now appears to tie a specialty, there being no less than a round dozen contemplated or umler construction within a radius of little more than a hundred miles, viz, Balolutha, B aumont, Teviot, Alexandra, Clyde, Rocky Point (6 miles above Cromwell), and another 25 miles above Cromwell, the whole spanning the Clutha ; two across the Manuherikia, at Ophir and about one mile above Alexandra ; one across the Hawca River, one at Nevis, one across the Kiwarau close to Arrowtowu, and one across the Taieri between Naseby and Hyde, besides any number of foot and pack bridges across small side streams ; the travelling public have accordingly no great cause to complain. There are still, how-

ever, one or two river crossings on the main lino of road between Clyde and N^goby

that would be the better if they were bridged. These are at Muddy Creek and across the Mannherikia at the White Horse Hotel. This latter crossing, from the constantly increasing quantity of drift sand that pours into the river here from the St. Balkans diggings is daily getting worse and worse, and we suppose it will not be till a one serious accident happens that it will be attended to.

Lillie, the Queen of Skates, and Professor Taylor, gave their entertainment on Monday evening last in the Town Hall, Clyde. Unfortunately the evening was wet, the attendance accordingly was very limited, nut withal each artist strove to give equal satisfaction as if there had been a full bouse, and so far succeeded that they were ficquently accorded full rounds of applause, and as each left the only regret was that the performance was not to be repeated. Lillie is the perfection of grace as she glides round and about the room on the skates with that peculiar rolling motion of the body that is given to it when skating. A dance (varsoviana) and song, in which the Professor joined, was remarkably phasing. The Professor on the skates is particularly good and fairly' surprised his audience, while with a pair of Indian clubs he shewed his great strength The entertainment is of a class suitable alike to gentle and simple, ami well worthy support. During the evening a number of the audience put ou the skates, and their mishaps added materially to the amusement. Mr Davis’s performance with the Stereoptikon and chromatropes was given in the Town Hall Clyde, on Thursday evening last, to a fair audience, the high sounding words, doubtless tending to the latter. During the evening a number of valuable gifts were distributed, the which made up for any little dissapointment that may have been experienced The Company was due at Cromwell on last evening, whence they' proceed to Arrowtown, Queenstown, &c.

We have received West’s New Zealand Musical Magazine No. 2. It contains nine songs, two waltzes, and a schottische. The published price is one shilling, ami we can rec unmend it to all musioions. The number received can be inspected at our office. By a private letter received in Oamaru a da> or two since, the North Otago Times learns that the people of Wellington "count with comparative certainty upon another and final Maori war.” The writer, whose position enables him to speak with authority; a Ids, “ everything here points to it.” By our Exchanges, we learn that the appeal agamst the election of Mr Fish, as M iyor of Dunedin, on the grounds that MiFish was at the time of his election interested in some Corporation contracts, has been upheld by Mr Simpsm, R.M. whom the case came before. At the meeting of the City Council, when Mr Walter the defeated candidate presented himself for installation, a scene of indescribable con fusion took place. The defeated candidate expressing himself in strong terms not only against the person, whom he was pleased to designate Mr Walter, hut against the decision. Mr Fish was atronudy supported by his supporters in the Council, and was escorted by them out of the Council. We have to acknowledge, the receipt from the General Government Printer of Batch of Bills, and other Parliamentary Papers. At the sitting of the Education hoard held on the ISth instant, it was decided that the request of the Ida Valley School Committee to sell the old school building, on the condition that the proceeds be expended on improving the new grounds, be granted. Further communications were received from Nevis regarding the complaint by the chairman of the School Committee against the teacher, and the Board resolved to take no further notice of the matter.

The Maniototo County had an overdraft of L4OGO 4s 0 1 at the Bank of New Zealand on the doth September last. A periodical in the interests of Freemasonry is to he published in Dune lin on the 3rd January, and will ho continued monthly. It will he called the New Zealand Freemason, and will supply a long felt want to the craft.

At a recent meeting at Nottingham, in England, Dr Kenealy presiding, to promote the candidature of the Tichhorne Claim mt for Parliament. “Captain” Jack Barry was one ot the speakers, and he behaved in a most extraordinary and eccentric manner.

In the recent cricket match. East Melbourne v. Tasmania, Horan scored 250 not out, Gaggm luO, Campbell 9-1. Boyle 70, Alloc 04. Elliott 49, Walshc 42, Trapp IS, Musgrovc 5, Hastings 17, and Logan 2, the extras (31) increasing the total for the first innings of the Melbourne team to no less than 742 runs. This having occupied ihe two days, (it having been arranged that it should be a two days’ match) settled it.

A recent Gazette notifies that the undermentioned telegraph offices will tie open to the public till midnight every evening (except Saturday, when they will be open till 10 p.m.):—Auckland, Grahamstown, Napier, Wellington, Christchurch, Timaru, Uamaru, Dunedin. MrTitchener, master of the Industrial School, yester lay received from 1, Abraham, of the Queen’s Cigar Divan, the following note:—“ With your permission I will endeavour to collect sufficient goods to give the children a Christmas feast.” Mr Abraham’s example is one that will no doubt bo followed by other citizens. In the District Court, Queenstown, at its last sitting before Judge Harvey, Mr Turton, solicitor, asked, on behalf of creditors (including lumselt) in the Homeward Bound Company, Macetown, for a wluding-up order, and filed affidavits to the etiect that the Company wa» unable to pay its debts. His Honour, after argument, ginn ed summonses to show cause why the Comjrnny should not b« wound np.