Untitled

Dunstan Times, Issue 1077, 15 December 1882, Page 2

According to all accounts the English cricketing team are making a clean sweep of everything that comes before them, so far they having been victorious in every match they have been engaged in Mr Mervyn, in the Tuapeka County Council, has tabled a motion for the divi sion of the Tuapeka County. The new county to comprise the Teviot and James Ridings and the head quarters to be Roxburgh. A fire by which property to the value of a million and a quarter sterling was destroyed, occurred in Wood street, London, on Friday last, the 81 hj inst. Forty engines and three hundred firemen were engaged in its extinction. The Tuapeka County Council finds itself somewhat embarrassed with an overdraft of £SOOO, and it is suggested to suspend al works for a few months. Mr J. C. Chappi", in another column, announces an immporUnt sale at Tinkers, on the 22ud and 23rd inst., on account of Messrs McCullough and Shephard who are about dissolving partneiship. In the Warden’s Court, on Monday last, at Alexandra, a number of Chinese tor mining without the requisite permit (a miner's right) were each mulcted in a fine of £1 and betw'een seventeen and eighteen shillings cosis besides being ordered to supply themselves with the necessary document. The late seasonable showers have had the most beneficial effects on all growing crops, and of putting the farmers in good heart. We have received the second number of the latest addition to New Zealand journalism in the shape of the Lake County Press, a twelve page demy quarto of five columns each, aud published by Messrs Sandford and Hornsby at Arrowtown. The proprietors show a large amount of energy and push in bringing out so large a paper, and we hope they may receive that amount of support their venture requires to keep it going. A prospecting claim on tho western slope of the Old Man Range, about three quarters of a mile from Mr Jas. White’s claim, was granted on Monday last in the Wardens Court, Alexandra, to Messrs Wookey and Cavan. In suppoit of the application it was averred that tlio discovery was a rotten reef containing loose gold in payable quantities, and it was anticipated a solid reef would be met with at no great depth, there being every indication leading to that belief. An extraordinary meeting of shareholders of the Eureka Gold Dredging Coy., as previously noticed by advertisement, will be hebl in tho Company’s offices, Dunedin, on Monday next, the 18th inst., at 3 p.m. Business to increase tho number of shares in d capital. Local shareholders who can- , end tho meeting should be repreliuctwl by proxies.

New silver coin to the value of £22,700 was received by the Government, per ship Or»ri, from the Royal Mint, in exchange for old and worn comment Home some time ago. The new consignment has been lodged in the Bank of Now Zealand, whence it will be put into circulation. The trial of tho Lough Mask murderers has resulted in the jury disagreeing and being discharged without giving a verdict. A fresh trial will take place. Tho cricket match between teams representing Christ’s College (Canterbury) and the Otago University resulted in an easy victory for tho former. A terrible mining accident has occurred in the Australasian Gold Mine, Victoria* through the outburst of water. Forty men were employed at the time of the accident, but of these only fourteen escaped, the remainder being entombed. The scene at the month of the mine when the disaster was known, was most distressing. All hopes of rescuing the men under ground has been abandoned. A young man named George Henry Hall was arrested at Clyde on Tuesday evening by Constable Nestor and Sergeant Fleming on a charge of having stolen a quantity of gold from Arrowtown. He was brought before the Justices on Wednesday morning and remanded to Arrowtown. We beg to draw the attention of our readers to an advertisement which appears in another column of a concert to be givon at Ophir on Thursday, 23th December, for the benefit of the Sunday School Library, A good programme has been arranged and we hope to seo a large attendance. “ What have the Australian Cricketers made by their tour ?” is a question frequently asked, says the European Mail, but one which will never be satisfactorily answered. Striking a probable sum, however, it is believed by one who is likely to know that the n-t gain at the close of the American matches must have reached £16,500. This would leave a nice little sum for each member of the team, the amount being estimated afrer deducting all expenses. Boyle, as the best bowler, in addition to his share, takes back with him a splendid diamond ring, the present of a colonial gentleman resident in England ; while Murdoch, at the hands of tho same gentleman, is the recipient of a gold albert guard as the best bat. Property holders will do well to bear in mind that Wednesday, the 20th inst., is the day on which all forms should be sent to the Commissioner, at Wellington. We draw special attention to the advertiseuient of sale of propeities in the estate of G. W. Goodger. Many of them are desirable properties and should not long remain in the market. A good story comes from Limerick. Two years ago Miss Ellard, the owner of a fine estate at Newtonellard, Oola, was fired at, but, fortunately, both she and her coach, man escaped the bullet of the assassin. Shortly afterwards police protection was afforded Miss Ellard, two constables being drawn fur that purpose from the New Pallas station. One of them, named Sheeliy, a fine young fellow, acquitted himself so well that Miss Ellard resolved to render his protection a permanent duty. The sub-con-stable is now tbe Husband of a beautiful wife, and a landed proprietor, with an income of some £IO,OOO a year. The happy pair were in London, spending the honeymoon, when the mail left. The washings up of tho claims at Tinkers gully is just now fully engrossing attention iu that quarter. Tne two claims, generally known as the “ B ue Duck" and Murphy Bros, are the richest, but many of the others are valuable properties and turn out no insignificant quantities of the precious metal every now and again. Tne “ Bine Duck” has just completed washing, after about a S“ven months run with the very satisfactory return of 2,50!) ounces, Murphy’s claim has also undergone a similar process after running for two seasons, the yield is kept a secret, but rumour puts the quantity down at somewhat about 2000 ounces. A most extraordinary case of disputed id i ntity, which recalled some of the main features of the celebrated Tichborne trial, was recently heard in the Central Criminal Court, Melbourne. A man named Geoiga Hector Gonlan, alais Henry John Simpson, was charged with having committed bigamy, and the whole question at issue was whether ho was identical with a man named Simpson, who married Jane Hogg, in Edinburgh, in 1848, or was a man named Gordon, who came to the Colony in the ship Monteagle, in 1854. In 1871 tho prisoner was married to Jane Roony, inFitzroy, as it was alleged whilst his wife (Jane Huge) whom he had deserted iu Daylesford, in 1862, was alive. The brother of Jano H ,- pg, who came to the Colony with Simpson and wife, swore that the prisoner was Simpson, also did several witnesses who had known him in Daylesford, as well as a gentleman who was pres nt at the wedding in Edinburgh. On the contrary, several passengers by the Montoagle swore that the prisoner was Gordon. The jury in the case found that he was Simpson, and was consequently guilty of bigamy; but the judge, who inflicted a sentence of nine mouths, said he thought it his duty to lay the matter before the Executive for further inquiry. Wo have received from the Government Printe- a batch of Parliamentary papers, including appropriations chargeable on the Consolidated Fund and on the Public Works Fund. A return showing the several amounts paid during the past year as gratuities and pensions amounting in the gross to £30,352 ; and a repo. t on the surveys of New Zealand, accompanied by five beautifully lithographed in colours maps. One an index map of New Zealand, the others being two each of tho North and Middle Islands showing tho larious surveys. Altogether this report is of great value and well worthy of keeping for reference purposes.

Mr W. F. Forrest advertises his Christinas sale, for one month only* when cheap bargains can bo obtained. Woodyear and Ross’s Circus gave one of their entertainments at Clyde on Tuesday evening last, and one at Ophir on Wednesday evening. On both occasions a very large audience was present, and wo can safely aver the utmost satisfaction was afforded them. No larger show of the kind ever appealed up-country, nor better artistes. The ’riding was the weakest part of the show, bnt the gymnasts more than made up for any deficiency. A number of these were more than ordinarily clever, and in their contortions really led to the belief that they were boneless. This was particularly so in the person of Signor Bartolo, the Man Serpent, who may safely depend on never breaking his neck. The performers on the horizontal bar were wonderfully agile, while Joe Kitchie, the Japanese, as clown, contortionist, and sleight-of-hand, was no mean adjunct of the"show. As a avhole, it is the very best affair of the kind we ever lememher to have seen upoountry, and the spirited proprietors richly deserve the good fortune that is following them. Mr Boss kindly and courteously supplied us with the following information respecting the takings on the gold-fields : Arrcwtown, L9O . Cromwell, L 125 ; Clyde, L6O ; Blacks, L7O. Last night they showed at St. Bathans, and r to-night they will at Nasehy. On Thursday last St. Michael’s Episcopalian Church, Clyde, held a large concourse of people to witness the maniage ceremony performed between Ethel Maude, second daughter of W. 6. Rees, Esq., of Calloway Station and Mr Spence Turton ot Cromwel', Solicitor. We don’t know much about ladies’ dresses, or the difference between Brussel’s point, and washing lace at three yards a penny, we shall therefore not atteraot a description. We can only say the bride looked quite charming in a magnificent white brocaded silk, and the four bridesmaids were equally captivating in pink sarine and white straw sailor hats. Alter the ceremony the biidal party, which was a pretty numerous one, drove to Gallowav Station for I re.ikfast. Th e Cromwell Argus of Tuesday states: —“Yesterday afternoon, about four o’clock an alarm was raised that the Cromwell Bridge was on fire. The cry turned out to be well founded, for on reaching the structure flam s were to be seen proceeding from under the footway on the south side. A strong breeze was blowing from the north which considerably increased the dancer. The hydrant was quickly fixed to the nearest fire plug and sufficient length of of hose (about 100 yards) attached with all speed. A number of townsmen clambered along the girder to the soot where the fire was, near the middle of the bridge, and soon had a steady stream of water bearing on the burning timbers. In ten minutes the fire was comp'etely quenched, before any serious damage had been done. The timbers being old and well tarred burned with great intensity, and nothing less than the water supply available could have saved tho bridge. This is the second time the structure has becu on fire within the last three years, and probably from the same cause, the careless throwing down of a match by some passer by. From the immense bulk of timber of which tho bridge is constructed there is a danger that should such an accident occur at night when timely warning might not be given, tho whole would soon be a mass of flam* beyond human control. The utmost care should therefore be exercised by smokers and others as to the disposal of matches etc.” An ai’ial trip from London to New York in 24 hours ! Such a feat, says the European Mail , can haidly be said to have been dreamt of before, and certainly never entered into onr philosophy prior to the ex- I perimenta recently made in Paris, where a new aerostat or balloon has been tried with most remarkable results. The new aerostat is cigar-shaped. At either end is a fan affixed to a transversal shaft worked by a five horse power engine. The engine emits neither sparks nor flame. It works the fans between seven and eight hundred revolutions a minute, and has been found to impart an incredible speed to the balloon, even ■when steered dead in the eye of the wind. The fist experiments having proved successful, and shown that balloons could be made to move against atmospherical currents, the construction of the aerostat was improved upon. The cigar was divided inter--nally by means of a transverse cloth bulk\head or deck, leaving the upper part for 'gas and the lower for machinery and passengers. But this has again been improved upon, and plans have just been completed for the construction of a thin steel haloon, with air-tight compartments, to be worked by botli horizontal and vertical centrifugal fans. This aerostat is designed to carry 1000 passengers, and to make the journey between Paris or London and New York in less than 24 hours. The machinery has been designed, and will be constructed for the, inventor of the haloon, Mr E lison. Mr Charles Norbcck, the well-known Russian engineer, is conducting the experiments in .^France, An artist who saw Arahi in Alexandria last winter draws this sketch of his personal appearance “ A tall, heavy-faced man, sullen, swarthy, with only a pretty clear eye to soften the general harshness of expression, and a black moustache to hide ano particularly finely curved mouth. His legs are as unattractive as his face. The underpinning looks too frail for the rest of the body. He is a bulky man ; not pussy or Falstafhan in girth, but a broad, thick chested fallow, built on the lobster pattern Take him from his heavy head to bis spindle lees, Arabi Pasha reminds one more of a negro than ot the agreeable aqd pleasant aoed gentlemen one meets among the Arabs and Egyptians.” According to tho Turkish Minister at Washington, thn “name of Arahi is not to be pronounced as Arabi nor Aral ee, but as Arasi, with the accent on v the middle syllable.”