Local and General.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1013, 16 September 1881, Page 2

Local and General.

Mr Wm. J. Barry is applying for an auctioneer’s license.

By late Wellington telegrams wo learn that Mr Pyke has left for Dunedin.

We have received Bills, Parliamentary papers, etc., from the Government Printer.

Section 1, Block 1, Ophir, previously gazetted as a site for an atlwmeum, has been exchanged for Section 3, Block 111. The Acclimatisation Society informs Mr Dalgleish, who takes a great interest in acclimatisation affairs, that some hares are being caught, and will ho forwarded to the Cromwell district.

Ninety two names have been added to the Dunstan district electoral roll, and printed as a supplementary roll, whilst some 20 have been removed from the old roll through death and other causes. Wintry weather is still the order of the day, and the heavy rains since our last issue have done considerable damage in some parts of the district by reason of the creeks and rivers getting high. We are reliably informed that the late severe weather has played sad havoc with the lambing. On one extensive station in this district the average is not expected to be above 30 per cent,, instead of the customary 70 or SO.

The Lowhurn Sporting Club have issued the programme of the races to be run on October 21. The total amount to bo run for is L 45, without deduction. As this meeting is to be held in the week following the Clyde meeting, and a week before the Wanaka annual meeting, it should bo a success.

During a discussion in the House last Friday evening, a little scone was enacted between Mr Seddon and Mr Pyke, during which Mr Pyke complained to the Chairman of Committees that Mr Seddon had called him a liar. The Chairman refusing to take cognizance of anything said privately, Mr Pyke said the matter would have to bo settled in the lobby of the House, to which Mr Seddon assented, but whether the meeting took place does not transpire. On his last trip to tbo Lakes on magisterial duties Major Kcddell had a very narrow escape from a serious accident, and had it but occurred a few miles on cither side of w'here it did, in one of the narrow gorges where the road overhangs the Kawarau, nothing short of a miracle could have prevented the loss of life. It appears that one of his horses was seized with a fit of staggers, and in its agony broke the pole of the buggy, and the harness. Beyond the delay of getting another conveyance or 1 horses, no other inconvenience was ox- erienced, but wo leave those who know the road between the Kawarnn Gorge an 1 the Arrow River to imagine what m ! e .

The name of Theodore Brown is to be added to the list of defaulting consultationists. Our Auckland agent wires us as follows: “Theodore Brown bad mark; stop his consultation advertisement.” It is not our business to refuse advertisements whether from consnltationists or other persons, but we connot too strongly caution investors in the little game against parting with their money before they are satisfied of the bona tides of the promoter. The Tuapeka County Council, at its last meeting, resolved to write to the Government, asking them to undertake tie construction of the Beaumont bridge, on account of the county being deprived of revenue depended upon for this and other important works. We scarcely expect Tuapeka to receive a favorable reply when Vincent County was refused assistance in aid of the Alexandra bridge. However, we shall see.

The poetical deity of the “Mount Ida Chronicle ” has been excited because the mounted police are to carry the Nevis and Ida Valley mails—or that august individual would have us believe he has a penchant for poetry. _ However, the next time he inserts a selection from a comic opera, perhaps our contemporory will acknowledge whence it is derived. “ The Pirates of Penzance ” is a very nice opera, and if it is worth quoting from, surely it is worthy of acknowledgement. Verb. sap. A meeting of delegates (45), representing fifteen temperance organisations in and around Dunedin was held in that city last Saturday evening, when it was decided to obtain candidates favorable to the temperance movement to stand at the forthcoming elections to the House of Representatives for the several electorates in and around Dunedin. Vigilance Committees were also appointed to learn what candidates are likely to come forward, and to ascertain their views with regard to local option. It is also reported that the licensed victuallers have a similar organisation ; and, still further, that the run-holders—alive to their interests—purpose nominating one of their class for every constituency in the country. It wants but the agricultural and commercial interests—and why not the ntwspaper interest?—to enter the field under their respective banners, and the free and independent voters will have a lively time of it.

Hares are plentiful in Hawkes’ Bay. Terrific heat is prevailing in England. Mr Ormond is in receipt of a salary of L 30,000 to L 400,000 a-year. The German residents of Christchurch have celebrated the anniversary of Sedan by a ball. A beet company is to bo started at Auckand, and SOOac are to be devoted to the cultivation of that root in the Waikato.

Astronomer Proctor says the world will last 50,000,000 years yet. That will do. Any man who demands more (says an exchange) is a hog. Sunday dances are spreading in London, and threaten to become a regular social institution; whilst about the suburbs people play lawn tennis regularly. In Wellington the other day a lorry, to which two horses were attached, was blown over the wharf, and both the animals were drowned.

From July 1, 1880, to March 31, 1881, the number of immigrants that arrived in New Zealand was 833, of whom 702 were nominated.

It would be quite easy to pay the Natitual Debt by imposing a tax on beauty. There isn’t a woman living in the country who would not demand to be assessed.

A Sydney paper states that it is pretty clear that the wrong Chinaman was hung for the Naseby murder, and that the real murderer has since been “boycotted” by his countrymen

Fred Archer, who rode Iroquois, has become rich from his profession as a jockey, and bids fair to be a millionaire. Two years his professional earnings during the 12 months were L 17,000

A Bendigo newspaper reports the finding at the root of a tree, by some little ciiildren named Paterson, of a nugget of gold weighing HOoz, which computed at L 3 15s per ounce, mounts up to a tidy sum. Lord Denman drives a horse about the streets of London that wears spectacles. It was found to be near-sighted, and the kind hearted owner successfully tried the experiment of putting on rectifying “ specs.” There is every probability of a good deal of fresh blood coming to the front in Canterbury during the general election. Mr J. J. D. Enys, of Castle Hill Station, is announced as a candidate for Coleridge. The following obituary notice, from the “Tapanui Courier,” tells its own sorrowful story “ Death.—Waikaia.—ln the House of Assembly, this session, of Hallism and secret plotting, the electoral districc of Waikaia-”

The political situation has been represented by a cartoon, which has been circulated in Wellington. Sir George Grey is represented tugging at a rope in the north, Mr Macandrew pulling at the other end in the south, and the Ministry cutting it in the middle.

A Building Society cannot legally build. Such is the ruling of the Chief Justice of Victoria. Its proper business is to lend money to its members to enable them to build, and anything more is ultra vires. In no true sense of the word is a Building Society, then, a building society. A priest was murdered recently at Gaunat, France, by a fanatical Freethinker. The victim was carrying the elements of the holy sacrament through the streets to a dying man, when ho was grossly insulted and suddenly stabbed several times with a knife. The priest with some difficulty was rescued from the criminal, but died soon after reaching the Hospital.

An aged gentleman at Bristol named Whittick committed suicide by preparing a pile of wood, sprinkling it with paraffin, setting it on fire, and then getting on top of the heap and remaining there until burned to death. The affair created great excitement, the deceased, an independant gentleman, being well known and respected.

The “ Pall Mall Budget ” says there seems to be little or no doubt that the legal proceedings to which Mr Bradlaugh is° a party will culminate in his bankruptcy, and as he cannot appeal for re-election until ho obtained his discharge, he is not likely to appear next session as a member of the House, unless the legal proceedings take an unexpected turn.

In reply to a correspondent who seeks enlightenment as to the origin of the term “ stonewalling,” the “Daily Times” says “ Wo are under the impression that it was originally imported from America, and has some connection with General * Stonewall ’ Jackson, so called from his indomitable courage ”!! Neither the celebrated general nor the idea of courage are at all associated with the term which has its origin in what it purports to be—a stone wall. Such an obstruction erected across ■> path prevents further progress, and also enables the obstructor to assail from behind c vcr those who would remove it. This is very much the nature of the late obstrucoa of business in the House. General Jackson and indomitable courage, indeed !