The Tuapeka Times.

Tuapeka Times, Volume I, Issue 48, 9 January 1869, Page 2

The Tuapeka Times.

, with the dear ones at home. The solitary miner, who, in his lonely cabin, scrawls by a dim uncertain light the story of his perils and his hopes, must rise from the task a purer and a better man. The innocence of childhood, the fond teachings of a gentle mother, the hard struggles of a kind father, are called vividly before him, and he turns to his dreary toil softened and improved. And if this is true of the miner, whose case, owing to his surroundings, is more sinking, it is not less true of every other class in the community. The feeling is indeed the best ally of the clergyman — the most formidable enemy of depravity, vice, and crime in these far islands of the South Pacific. But unfortunately our rulers' think nothing of sentiment, have no idea' of ruling men by their emotions — think of nothing, in truth, but the regular payment of their own salaries. Hence, instead of affording every - facility for intercourse with the Home Country, they do all in their power to thwart and prevent so desirable a state of things. It would almost appear as though they dreaded truthful accounts of a country they had described as an earthly paradise, half garden of Eden, half Vale of Cashmere, should obtain sufficient circulation to prevent more unfortunate dupes starting for it, and thereby compel the squatters to pay a fair rate of wages. This month they have succeeded in stopping all communication with home, and we can only express sorrow at seeing a journal like the "Daily Times " stooping to become the accomplice or tool of such a party. A paragraph about a week ago appeared in that journal, stating there would be no Panama Mail in January, and was duly copied by other newspapers. People naturally grumbled; but there was no help for it, and every allowance was made owing to the difficulties of the mail company. But on the 4th, a different face was put on things. Notice was given that on the following day the mails would close in Dunedin, and the up-country districts were thus virtually de-6<WT-ed from intercourse with Europe. Whether this springs from a political motive, or is simply the result of a reckless disregard for public convenience, it cannot be allowed to continue. No man can tell what misery and anxiety the laziness, stupidity, or inefficiency of an official may have caused. At least a week's notice should be given of every mail, and the information should be published in a manner likely to reach aIL That the omission of due notice, and the neglect which allowed a statement like that in the " Daily Times " to go uncontradicted, arose from .gross carelessness, we are the more inclined to believe because a change was made last week in the day for the forwarding of the Switzers and Tapanui mails, and the hour of the Mount Benger ones, without any public notice whatever. This alone caused us personally great inconvenience, and we must here offer an apology £o our subscribers in those districts for not forwarding their papers. We are forced to apologise, in fact, for not knowing what we, had no opportunity of discovering. But it is not Kof irregular despatch .and delivery we have to cornWhile some districts of no ar importance are suffering m ■ ••^'■fM" h^Bl'

M 9. Cops b»a sold oat his share in the "Dunstau Times," which is now owned by Mr. Fache. "We have received the prospectus of an evening journal, about to be started in Dunedin by Mr. G. Bell, late of the " Daily Times." It is to be called the " Evening Independent," and promises to treat all subjects in "a fair, candid, and impartial spirit," and declares its absolute independence from Provincial or General Government trammels. If this be correct, ire have great pleasure in welcoming the stranger, as the want of a really unbiassed daily newspaper has long been felt in this Province. The first number will probably be issued on $he 11th inst ; and the price, we presume, no more than a penny. Wk have received the first number of a new additjpn to our local literature,— the " Evange. list;" edited by Dr. Copland, and published by Messis. Jlfatthews 'and Fenwick. It is excellently got up, and printed in a dear, ] readable type. The articles are of course devoted to the discasskm.of. religious questions, and are highly readable and instructive. We have great pleasure in heartily wishing success and prosperity to the new comer. • v Messbs. Swannick and Russell, owners of the John Bull claim, Cement TTffl t Wetheratones, have now been at work since April last. They have been working on the cement for the last five weeks, and have, we believe, been rewarded for their patience by most encouraging prospects. Our readers will observe a share in their claim advertised for sale, and many, we have no doubt, will be glad to get a "slant" on the "Wetherstones Blue Spur. The promising nature of the cement makes it more to be regretted that Government should carelessly allow the deep shaft to go to wreck and ruin when so near a successful termination. *S A Waitahona. correspondent writes as follows :— The ball announced last week came off on Monday evening, and was decidedly the most successful affair of its kind that has ever taken place on Waitahuna. Dancing-rooms being connected with hotels has previously been the drawback to a complete success ; but on Monday night the fair sex mustered stronger than on any former occasion, and the room, which was tastefully decorated, shone resplendant with youth and beauty. The brightest flowers from miles round graced the scene with their presence ; and among them I noticed that- Lawrence, Evans Flat, and even Tokomairiro were represented among the fair sex. On entering the loom some hour or so after the commencement, I was perfectly bewildered for a few moments, and almost fancied I was in Fairyland, so dazzling and bright was the sndden change from the gloomy outside. Quite artistic skill had. been" displayed in arranging leaves to form the letters V.R., and the words, "A Happy New Year to All," while every available place was tastefully decorated with scrub and flowers. Mesdames Burton, Hickey, Baylis, and Master Lewis discoursed sweet music from Harmonium or violin, and the light fantastic toe moved in mazy whirl until old Sol's beams, eclipsing the artificial light, told it was broad day, I think the Assembly Boom Committee are deserving of great praise for giving us such a treat, and carrying out the affair so successfully, not a single bitch having interrupted or marred the harmony of the proceedings from beginning to end. The raised portion of the room was reserved for refreshments, which were supplied ad libitum from a long table, which was attended by some of the Committee. During the interval, Messrs. Devonshire and Bitson, by request, sang; and a more pleasant aud sociable gathering it would be almost impossible to meet with anywhere. (&Ib, Macandrew is determined to show favour to TFaipori, and we have no doubt his action will make him highly popular in that place,— as popular, indeed, as he might have been throughout the Province had he not turned his coat and betrayed his friends. Arrangements have been made with Messrs. Cable for throwing open several thousand acres, as commonage, and tenders are called for the construction of a bridge 1 over the Lainmerlaw Creek. We trust he may exert himself to add direct postal communication with Lawrence to* the benefits conferred. t <^^«r-}in the estimates a very remarkdeliberate injustice of all namely, the reduction Mr. Barbor has been service, and has won stay in Tuapeka, and to him and to stationed. at

Divine service in connection with the We»J^H leyan Church will be held by Messrs. WhitesidJM and Bloxham on the 11th inst. at Evans Flat, ifl Wb mentioned some time ago that a pound^| had been erected at Tapanui. ThU step, it^| appears, has caused great dusatiaf ac^>n in tbijH Mount Benger district, and a memoruMfttbeeiifj^l numerously signed against it. We understaadH the Superintendent has expressed hi* willingiS ness to refrun from gazetting the TapanuijH pound until the memorialists have had an opj^| portunity of expressing their dpinion. Msssbs. Siminonds and Shaw, Waipori, hav«l disposed of their chum and two races to Meun.^| * ■ It appears that H.B.H. the Duke of Edin.fl burgh— better known as Prince Alfred— willjH visit New Zealand about the end of March. It is high time some preparations were i being madcjfl for his reception. " '• *T ]H THE hour of departure for the Saturday ooach fl to Teviot has been altered from;B km. to 6 a.m. 9 At the same hour the Tapanui and Switzenjfl mails leave Lawrence, prssengen for those fl places changing coaches at the Junction Hotel ffl The Lady Egidia, ship, which sailed from M London on the 6th October last, arrived at Port fl Chalmers on the 6th inst. She brings 42 pas. 9 sengers and an assorted cargo. - 'fl On Tuesday, a patient in the Hospital, nuned 1 William Crook, but better known as "Brickie," ] who was suffering from 'delerinio. tremens, be. * % came bo violent that, to prevent his disturbing [ the other patients, he was removed to the lock- * up, wheroheahortiy afterwards died. OnThurs- i day, an inquest was held, and a verdict of " Death from natural causes " returned. ' **Wk have received a copy of the " New Zealand Almanack and Bradshaw" for 1869. It 9 contains a large amount of useful, and an equally jfl great amount of useless, matter. On turning ' to the directory, we found Lawrence had received very bad treatment, being represented at containing only two hotels and a cafe", while the Municipal Council seemed concentrated in tht person of the Mayor. Various other inaccuracies occur, *ut much allowance must be made for a first attempt, and there are, so many good points toprnuein the production, that it can easily bear a little criticism.) To beat it is, :we suspect, m "not for Joe." . M Owing to an error on the part of the person M "making up "last week's paper, the following I paragraph was omitted in the report of the W Waitahuna entertainment -.—After a «hort in- fl -terval, the Glee Club gave,. "Here's a health I to all good lassies," and both sentiment and 1 rendering received and deserved abundant M praise. A lady followed with "Nelly Brown," % which she sang very sweetly, and was encored iM and gave "Kathleen Mavourneen." Mr. Robin, son supported the character of the Waitahuna * comiques by his rendering of/the "Lost child," which convulsed - the audience with laughter and led to bis being encored, when he substituted "Jack in the water." Mr. O'Keefe followed with " Ever of thee," and was loudly&^lfoded. 1 Mb. J. Hughes, M.P.C., arrived in^rence I on Monday evening, en route for Horseshoe j Bend, where he was to enter into negotiation* 1 with the Hon. Mr. Clarke for the throwing open \ of the whole island or swamp there. It seems strange that the Government should be so ill- ! informed as not to be aware that Mr. dark left some time ago for Victoria ; and Mr. Hughes I 'has been despatched on a sleeveless errand. W« § learn that the Superintendent is -very anxioum 1 to have it generally understood that this con- 3 cession is not a "sop • " but we would remind ] him of the old proverb— gui f excuse t'accute. '*>£*. We are glad to see that tome of our local \ athletes were successful at the Caledonian So- 3 ciety> gathering. J. Tyson took the first prize 1 for Cumberland wrestling ; and E. Tyson ranked I second, the latter also taking second honours for 1 Cornish wrestling. J. Tyson was also one of | two winners of a prize for the best dressed com- J petitors on the ground. i The Bey. M. H. Martin being absent for a i change of air, Mr. At 'Lelland has been requested I by Mr. Martin to take the service at the Bine 1 Spur on Sunday afternoon, at the usual hoar— "' 3 o'clock. Oub Blue Spur mining correspondent reports as follows :— 1869 has arrived, and the olaim - holders are in full operation. Five or six companies have washed up within the last -two or ; three weeks, and the results have been very ■ satisfactory. The Blue Spur Sluicing Company; which is under contract by a party of tributers, I lam sorry to say has not turned'out as, well at 1 was expected. Messrs. 4/brrison and. Co. fired j jjtheir blast on Saturday hut, something over 1 |Htwt. of powder being used, and it proved • ] K&eat success. The Otago Sluicing Company 3 BBHttaet on Wednesday evening hut with 23 \ '^^■Piowder, which threw ont the debri t rtS e sfi /£t effect,, like so much slacked lime. gS^jg^JjSr^*" -»• dangle drift ; they ■MH|j|^H!tment for the present. The I are making preparation. A

Mb. Bobibt Buchanan, Waipori, has, we are informed, collected the handsome aum of £86 15i. 6d. for the Tuapeln Hospital. Such a regult v highly creditable to Mr. " Buchanan's gnergy, and to the)lib«talifcy of the Waiporians. W* observe the Mount Ida races advertised _4»-Uke ptacc on the same day as the Tuapeka ones. We trust some anmngement -will be made to prevent this : as Tuapoka was first in the field, it would be a graceful act of cour-^ tesy in the Mount Ida people to postpone their meeting. ' • % - a leader dated January 7, the "New Zealand Suu" talks with refreshing modesty of its lofty position as a " metropolitan jour lyfl," and' wita-'cominendable humility compares itself to the. "Pall Mall Gaiette." It is «ry severe on those miserable productions, up-country journals, which, of course, in ability and information w», uijterly eclipsed by its brilliant' effulgence. "We would advise the 41 Sunftnot to be too much puffed up, nor to pre. «ame too much^n the supposedjgnorance of London journalism on^e part of its contemporaries. It may be that persons attached to the staff of even a "miserable up-country paper" have occupied positions for which even the august editor of the " Sun" would prove iwfit..>/ . - •