Local and General News.

Mt Benger Mail, Volume I, Issue 51, 20 April 1881, Page 4

Local and General News.

Tlie alterations"ofpunt hours at Roxburgh | Punt are intimated in this issue. Attention is directed to an advertisement re 1 a watch lately found near Roxburgh, Lodge Hope of Roxburgh, 1.0. G.T. meets on Saturnay evening at tlie usual hour. ; Business Nomination of Officers, Sec. — A full ■ attendance is requested. The Rev. Mr Gray stated at his farewell meeting at Tapanui, that the Wesleyan con- : gregation there had during the last three years I raised ,£7OO. The partnership of Chapman, Strode, and ' Chambers (Tapanui) is dissolved by mutual consent*, and Mr Chambers intimates that he I will carry on the business in his own name. , His friends in this quarter wish him every i success in business. j Mr George Mackay (of Messrs Maclcay , I Bros., storekeepers, Roxburgh), a well-known citizen'of Roxburgh, who has just returned j j from a lengthened visit to England, arrived in Roxburgh last Wednesday evening, by Cobb I and Co.'s coach. Mr Mackay seemed to be ] in good health and spirits, and was welcomed I by a number of his old friends and acquainj tances. A correspondent asks us to suggest to the I new Committee of the Athenasum that they ■ might try to secure the services of Mr Bracken j for a lecture.—We quite concur in the sugI gestion. Mr Bracken is widely known as a I poet, orator and elocutionist, andjthen is he not j Paddy Murphy ? a name dear to all lovers of 1 wit and humour. The sale of Mr Maclennan's furniture and ! effects, &c, takes place at Roxburgh, on • Tuesday next at one o'clock p.m. Mr Burton is the auctioneer. At the close he will sell a : single buggy, on behalf of another vendor.

The Resident Magistrate's and Warden's r -Courts, will sit at Roxburgh this morning, fur the transaction of business. Mr Arbuckle, Auctioneer, Lawrence, has a trade notice in this issue, to which we desire to draw the special attention of our readers. The Blue Spur and Gabriels gully Sluicing Co. advertise their intention to construct a watf-r-raceof six miles in length bom the gorge at Tuapeka basin to the company's claim in Gabriels (iully. It is proposed to divert six heads of water. It i? stated by the " Herald " that the Rev. J. W Inglis, a popular minister in Victoria, will be invited to become the pastor of North Dunedin Presbyterian Church. It may be remembered that Mr Inglis made a very successful lecturing tour in Otago in 1878-9. The grazing right of the Ettrick Domain was sold by auction, last Saturday by Mr Burton, at Nicholson's Hotel, Ettrick. There was not much competition and Mr R. M'Leod became the purchaser for twelve months at is 6d per acre. The Domain extends to about 400 acres. year it fetched is 9J an acre and the year previous 2s 3d. We are informed that after all expense? are paid in connection with the recent races at Ettrick, a balance of is lrft to the good This must be considered a very satisfactory state of affairs, especially seeing the short notice that was given ; and speaks well for the energy displayed by the Committee A London cablegram, dated last Thursday, announces the death of Rev. Mr Morley l'unshon, an eminemt Wesleyan Minister, lie was born at Dom.aster in the year 1824, and was one of the most popular preachers in the Weslej an body. Besides his ability in the pulpit, Mr Punshon was a poet of considerable prominence.

Rain began to descend heavily in this neighborhood last Saturday evening and continued at intervals throughout the following day. The river rose considerably. This, although it may interfere somewhat with the lower workings on the beachesofthe Molyneux, is not an unmixed evil, for some of the claimholders are commoners on the Mount Benger Commonage where rain was much wanted to save the pasturage in some measure for the winter.

In the matter of scratching the horse Natator at ihe last Dunedin meeting, the I Hinedin Jockey Club at a meeting held on Wednesday last, after a long discussion adopted by a majority of one, a motion by Mr Dowse to the effect that the letters of Hon. W. Robinson and Mr Lance were highly unsatisfactory and the Club expresses strong disapprobation of the course pursued by Mr I Robinson and Mr Lance. At the last meeting of the Land Bond, Mr George Cock burn applied to purchase section i 35, block I, Eamslaw on deferred-payment. The application was refused, Mr Cockburn. | beirig already the holder of another section on; I drferred'payment.—Mr John LaWson's applica< i tion for an extension of 30 acres to his bush area at Waipori was referred to the Ranger for | repoit. —Adam Stevenson's application for an agricultural lease of sections 49, and 51, block | \, Crookston was granted. The "Tapanui Courier" says that Mr I Shennan's extensive Timothy grass pastures are domg remarkab y well and the sole of the grass is rapidly thickening. The quantities of seed used per acre are ten pounds of Timothy and two pounds of Alsike. Messrs Cullen Brothers (Crookstoi), have an experimental paddock of Timothy this season. Eighty-three pounds of potatoes were grown in Tapanui this season (?ays the "Courier"), by Messrs Mooney and Quin, from one seed obtained from Mr William M'Clelland of Millers Flat. The seed came originally from America, and the potatoes are said to be of excellent quality. Several of the tubers weigh three lbs each. —Mr M'Clelland is well known throughout this district as an enterprising and successful farmer. We have on more occasions than one, had to chrcnicle special instances of his skill and its gratifiying results, especially ; in the cultivation of clover. The Rev. F. Martin (who has been appointed 10 the Roxburgh circuit of the Wesleyan Methodist Chinch), preachrd at ' Moa Flat, last Sunday morning, and at Coal ! Creek in the afternoon. In the evening, the rev. gentleman officiated in Roxburgh, where, notwithstanding that the weather was very impropitious, a congregation numbering about forty was present. Mr Martin, who is a young I man and a fluent, easy speaker, preached from the words—" Lo, I am'with you always ! even unto the end of t.e world''—Matthew XXVIII, latter part of last verse.—The sermon was of a thoroughly practical character and was listened to with the utmost attention. The lesson read was St. John's Gospel XVI chap , and the hymns Fung were 198, 711, 696, 493 of the Wesleyan collection. The congregation as usual joined heartily in the singing which was accompanied by Miss Morgan at the harmonium, Mr Fish acting as leader of the choir. «^-- The Bishop of Dunedin (the Right Rev. Dr Nevill) appears determined to leave no stone unturned in order to secure the services of a I

clergyman for the cure of St. James' Church,

Roxburgh- The proposal to appoint a clergyman, who should do duty from Moa Flat to Speargrass Flat fell to the ground, and the Bishop lost no time in devising another scheme —vi z , the appointment of a clergyman for Tapanui and Roxburgh jointly. We hope this latter proposal will be carried in a shape that will give satisfaction in both places. The important point of the clergyman's headquarters js now under consideration. On the one hand, the claims of Tapanui are based on the ground that it has hitherto had a clergyman, and is situated in a wide and populous district. Roxburgh, on the other hand, points to the f»ct that it is practically ficeof debt and has a

parsonage, while it is ready to contribute to | j the salary of the gentleman to be appointed ! an amount equivalent to that promised from | Tapanui. To us it seems that the argument : drawn from Tapanni having hitherto had a ; ciergyman, cuts both ways. Roxburgh has " hardly ever " had one; Tapanui has never been able to retain one; and on the principle of ' turn and turn about" it would be only , fair to give Roxburgh a turn for once. Toe matter has been represented to the Bishop in that light, we believe, and on behalf of the congregation we hope His Lordship will i favorably consider their case. There is much i pastoral work to be done in this district, where the Church has not had a fair show for years. But for the efficient services of the lay readers, Messrs Cooper and Coop, the ' congregation must have iallen to pieces long ago. —«•-», - Friday last, being Good Friday, was ob- ! ■ served in Roxburgh as a close holiday. Divine service was celebrated in St. James' (Church of England) in the morning. Mr T. Coop officiated, and there was a fair attendance, i The weather being exceedingly fine, a number of the townspeople left in the course of the afternoon, to visit friends, &c. Several of i them made their way to the meeting at I Mackay's (late M'Cunn's), near Raes Junction, where a very successful soiree, concert, &c, took place, in aid of the church which has been : sanctioned by the Church Courts, and is about to be erected in that neighborhood. J The extensive new building now in course : of erection for Mr Broad (Queens Head Hotel, | Roxbuigh) is being rapidly proceeded with, the outer walls having now almost reached their intended height.—Preparations are being ' made, we observe, for the building of a Sunday School in connection with St. fames' congregation. The material has been laid down on the ground, which lies immediately behind the church. We have had an oppor(unify of inspecting the plans and elevation of the school, and are satisfied it will form a graceful as well as useful addition to the church property, which is already a very valuable one. Some uneasiness was manifested, on the ! arrival of the Dunedin mail last Wednesday j night, by a paragraph in the Dunedin papers as to a John Mouat being found dead at his residence in Walker-street. Several gentle men interested in gold mining (and also great readers of the newspapers, we are happy to j add) concluded that the person in question was the well known mining lawyer, Mr John I Mouat. They were relieved to find, however, that the deceased was an elderly man bearing I the same name, a laborer in Dunedin, who I was of eccentric habits, and lived by himself. He has left some means and a will in favor of | a sister in Shetland, of which he was a native. |

The Borough Council of Lawrence have been, iu the opinion of many people in this quartet making a deplorable exhibition of themselves. The late election of Mr Walker as Mayor gave umbrage to some members of Council, and they would appear not to have yet had the moral courage to reconcile themselves to it. At the Council's last meeting, the minutes were read and confirmed, and in accordance with the usual custom (and in terms of the by-laws), the Clerk proceeded to read the outward correspondence. Cr Storry objected, and argued that the Returning Odicer's letter intimating Mr Tuckey'a return for East Ward should be read first The Mayor ruled in favor of the usual prac'ice being followed, and the majority present supported the ruling. Tne minority refused to acquiesce in the ruling, and several members adopted the undignified course of calling each other names, and raising a ruction generally, Cr Storry seems to have made much of the Mayor saying he was no gentleman, His Worship's words being only (as reported in the "Times'') that Cr Storry's conduct towards him had been very ungentlemanly. After further discreditable squabbling, " the meeting ended in disorder," The whole thing was more like a row in Billingsgate market than anything else we can think of; but in the estimation of some people notoriety is as important and desirable as fame.

We have taken occasion to mention from time to time the unpunctuality which is prevalent in this district in observing the hours of meetings. It is | seldom that any quorum can be secured for at least half an hour after the time fixed for the commencement of proceedings. As a set-off' to that loose way of doiug business, we may note that, at the hour fixed for the meeting of St. James' Church Committee, on Wednesduylast, \ all the members of Committee were in j attendance, with the exception of one (Mr William Smith) who had sent an apology for necessary absence. As we do j not hesitate to find fault when the occasion arises, so we think it only fair to award praise where such, as in the case just mentioned, is fairly deserved. A poll of the electors of the Borough I of Roxburgh, re the water-works scheme i was taken at the Town Clerk's Office | there, yesterday, in terms of the statute. On the closing of the pool at six o'clock p.m., His Worship the Mayor declared' that 39 votes had been recorded in favor of the scheme, and seven against the scheme, which is now agreed to by the ! electors,

i Major Keddell R.M., and Mr Jeffery j (Clerk of Court), arrived in Roxburgh j yesterday afternoon, to open the usual monthly Court this morning. Messrs Wilson (Clyde), and Mouat (Dunedin) : have a!eo arrived. At the Dunedin Police Court last Tuesday, Mary M'Pheraon sued her j husband (a van driver) for maintenance. It appeared in evidence that Mrs M'Pherson had left her husband's house, ! and gone to cohabit with Dr Bakewell. j The Rev. Dr Stuart gave evidence to the I effect that he had endeavored to persuade the woman to leave the doctor and return ; to her husband, but she replied that j although the result were perdition she | would stick to the doctor. The Magisi tratp ruled that it was not a case for ' making an order on the husband. An estimate of the receipts and expenditure of the Tapanni Borough I Council appears in the local paper. The receipts are £OIO 17s lOd, and the I expenditure is—Kepayment of overdraft, ; £500; salaries, &c-, £llO 17s 10J. The | amount set apart for necessary public i works does not appear from this estimate. The "Oamaru Mail," which possesses ; the Opposition's secrets (if any) remarks: JFhat the Government administration and rpolicy will be subjected to rough hand- : ling when Parliament meets, there is | every indication. We do not see how I Ministers are to prevail in the struggle. i Even if they had not become entangled in the meshes of culpable misgovernment they would not, on the threshold of an election, suffer the tantalising reproaches j of a rallied Opposition. Their reply to i denunciations would be " Come and do it i yourselves." Last session they testily j issued such a challenge. If they repeat ' the experiment next session, the gauntlet i may be taken up. The first duly ordained Presbyterian | Minister who landed in New South ; Wales was the Rev. Dr Lang who, with | all his faults, justly deserves to be held I in grateful remembrance for what he was j enabled to do in connection with the | planting of Presbyterianism on this side of the globe. He arrived in Sydney in 1823 ; but Presbyterianism had an earlier origin among us than this. So early as 1802 we find a group of Presbyterian famines settled on the banks of the Hawkcsbury, the Australian Rhine, as it has been called. Though they had no minister, they resolved to meet together on tbe Lord's day to worship God accord* ing.to4he form of their fathers. that there a>e among tbe Mayors of England and Wales twentyi seven total abstai.ers. Tbe Emperor Alexander 111 has feeshadowed his inttntiou to bring about certain reforms in Russia, which will have the effect of ameliorating the condition of the peasantry and of lightening the burden of taxation. The well-known friendship existing between the new Czar and the Princess of Wales is considered as contributing to ensure cordhl relations between Russia and England. There is a curious prophecy, written over half a century ago, which is just now in process of fulfilment. In " Tom Cringle's Log," the hero, describing a journey over the Isthmus of Panama, writes :—" I should think, judging from my barometer—but I may have made an inaccurate calculati n, and I have not Humboldt by me—that the highest of the ridge is £l,sooft above the level of the ocean, and that it will be next to impossible to join the two seas at this point by a canal with water in it. However, I expect to see a j tint stock company set agoing some fine day for the purpose of cutting it; that is when the national capital next accumulates (and Lord knows when that will be) to a plethora, and people's purses become so distended that they require bleeding." The author, Michael Scott, died in 1830--years before the inception of the Suez canal; There are now between 400 and 500 Chinese on the Round Hill (Western district) goldfields ; and the local paper pertinently asks " How is it that the Chinese have monopolised this rich goldfield, and this, too, in spite of the hundreds of unemployed in the Colony, and the low price of labor during the past twelve months? Is it owing to the want of enterprise and perseyerence on the part of Europeans ? Whatever the cause, there is the humiliating conviction that a large tract of auriferous country, at our doors, has been allowed to drift into the hands of aliens; and the returns from which, instead of being retained in our midst, as they would be if the field were occupied by European?, are sent out of the country. The deputatiop of Chinese that waited upon the Minister of Public Works recently stated that their countrymen at Round Hill were making from £2 to £lO per week per man, and, judging from the gold returns, that is a very fair estimate." The following is something worth knowing and should be posted up in every hut or other abode in any outlaying district:—Every little while we read of someone who has stuck a rusty nail in

I his foot, or knee, or hand, or some other | portion of his body, and that lockjaw j resulted therefrom, of which the patient J died. If every person was aware of a | perfect remedy for all such wounds, and j would apply it, then all such reports ! must cease. The remedy is simple, .almost always on hand, and can be applied by any one, and what is better it iff : infallible. It is simply to smoke the I wound, or any bruise or wound that is ' imfhmed, with burning vrool or wollen ; cloth. Twenty minutes in tba smoke of , wool will take the pain out of the worst ; case of inn* immation arising from a j wound.