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Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 69, 5 June 1869, Page 2

The English mail closes at the Post Office, Lawrence, on Monday the 7th June at 8 p. m. "We understand there is to be a meeting in the School, Blue Spur, on Monday evening next, in order to organise a mutual improvement and debating society. All those interested in the improvement of the mind should attend.

Considerable inconvenience has occurred by the General Government having failed to open the Money Order Officp. and Savings Bank at the Teviot, which was gazetted as being open several weeks past, Thk following is a Iht of the prize? to be drawn at Mr. Love's art union, advertised in anoiher column :— lai prize. Tuapeka Mouth Saw Mill ; 2>id. Port Phillip Heads ; 3rd. Tuapeka Flat ; 4th. dam, looking west; 5(.h. Wetherstones dam, looking east ; 6th. Otago Heads : 7th. View on Tuapeka Flat ; Bth. Sketch of the Chinese Township. We are pleased to learn that efforts are being made for the purpose of establishing a public library at the Teviot.

A cohrespojtdent describes the condition of the road between the Beaumont and Moa Flat as "perfectly awful;" and mentions that on the 26th ult., the mailman had to leave the coach at the Junction Hotel, and to carry the mail on horseback the rest of the way. This state of things arises, it is said, from the fact that the various " gaffers " knock off work whenever the weather is in the least broken— a proceeding which entails no loss on them, as they are paid regularly, while the men are only paid for tlie time they work. The result is that a storm often destroys the work of weeks.

The Lawrence Athenaeum Readings are advertised to take place on Thursday evening next, 10th inst, on which occasion we hope to see the Committee's efforts to amuse the public rewarded with a crowded house.

Dbedgdtg continues to be snccessfully carried on in the Teviot district. The Kearsage is working some ground at the head of the Island and below the Teviot Gorge. The Yorkshire Company's dredge is carrying on operations in a profitable manner a litfcle above the township, and the Perseverance Co.'s boat is engaged on its old ground, and obtaining a very fair return .

The following reply to the memorial recently prcseuted to Government praying for the repairing of the road from Tuapeka Flat to Smith's Bush, has been forwarded us for publication :—: —

Land and TVorks Office,

Dunedin, 2oth May, 1869.

Sir, — "With reference to the petition which you recently presented to his Honour the Superintendent from residents at Lawrence and Tuapeka Flat, I have the honour ta acquaint you that it has received the consideration of tfhe Government, and it has bran resolved to grant a subsidy of £2 to £1 for the repair of the road to Tuapeka Mouth, to the extent of £150. Any further sum that may be required will raquire to be raised by private sitbsciiption. I have the honour to be, &0.,

D. Reid, Secretary for Land and "Works.

M. Hay, Esq., M.P.C. The matter is of so great importance to the

whole community that little difficulty should be experienced in raising th» required £75. *Tlie greater portion could be obtained by subscription, and any balance might be easily provided for by an entertainment.

The township of Roxburgh is going ahead, and new buildings are springing up on all sides The Roman Catholic portion of the community have accepted the tender of Mr. Norton for the erection of a new church. The Bank of New Zealand Building is progressing, and altogether the place seems to have acquired a new impetus.

At a meeting held in the Athenaeum on Monday evening last, it was resolved to form a Debating Society, the first meeting to take place on Monday, 14th instant.

The usual "Wetherstones fortnightly readings came off on "Wednesday evening. The hall was crowded to the door, showing a marked contrast

to the array of empty bencbes displayed at the Athenaeum entertainment. The good people of AVetherstones are, however, united, and without and petty jealousies of one another, so they are able to surpass Lawrence on every public occasion. The various perfoimers acquitted themselves entirely to the satisfaction of the audience. "We believe the School Committee purpose lining and improving the Schoolhouse ; and certainly they deserve every assistance in their efforts, as they valiantly endeavour to help themselves.

The wet weather of last week flooded the Tuapeka Creek to such an extent that Cantwell and Co.'s dam, Tuapeka Mouth, was washed away, and Mr. Richard Brown's footbridge completely destroyed.

THE Assembly was opene^fen the Ist instant. The Governor's speech contains nothing very startling. The native war is to be pi'o&ecuted vigorously, and the "needful" raised by means of a guaranteed loan and increased taxation. During the debate on the Address, Mr. Cracroft "Wilson promised to bring forward a scheme for carrying on the war without anew loan.

The Half -Yearly Report of the Otago District Committee M.U.1.0.0.F., shows the continued prosperity of the Order in this Province. There are altogether fifteen Lodges comprised in the District, having 1,252 members, of whom 1,078 are good on the books, and holding property to the value of £9,197. During the last half year, three members and two members' wives died, showing a very small death-rate for so large a membership'

The "Waste Lands Board have sanctioned the application of David Evans for the purchase of sections 44 and 46, block 111, Uuapeka East. Mr. Brown brought up, on Thursday evening, the report of the Committee on. the Bladk's, Mount Bengev, an<l Tuapeka Petitions. It recommended that the whole question of throwing open land on the Goldfields should be remitted to Government, and suggested that some responsible person should visit the various districts and report.

Our Blue Spur Mining Correspondent reports as follows :— Livingstone and Co. have fired their blast, the charge consisting of 26 cwt. of powder. The charge was a very good one, although it did not pulverise the cement as much as some of their former ones, owing to the haidness of the strata. The Great Extended Co. fired a blast on "Wednesday evening last, the charge of powder feeing 21 cwt. The atmosphere was very clear at the time the explosion took place, and I rather expect you heard it at Livrren.ee The blast did all that could be expected. The British American Co. fired a small blast with 15 kegs of powder, in order to take out a corner block for a heavier charge. The same Company have an injunction placed on their claim relative to the tailrace- The dispufcants are Messrs. Tuckey and party. Mills and Co. fired a small blast, and are making preparations for another, which will take place next week. The time is fast approaching when the Spur will have to be fiumed from north to south, in order to convey the water to the claims. The Waipori Co. have summoned the Nelson Co. for bunging down and destroying a portion of their water race. It will} require an expert geologist as well as acute lawyer to decide the question at issue. The frost set in three nights very severely. By all appearance the temperature is now moderating, or otherwise some of the claims would be idle, especially those where the sun cannot shine upon the workings, and thaw the frost out of the Inmps of cement.

We regret to hear that a severe accident happened to Mr. Downey of Hospital Flat a few days ago from his cart running over him. Under the care of Dr. Halley, we are glad to he informed, he is making good progress towards a speedy recovery.

Our "Waitahuna correspondent's letter arrived too late for insertion this week.

The receipts of the Tuapeka Building Society last evening amounted to the large sum of £243.

The Provincial Council met on Thuisday,the 2nd inst., for the last time this session, when a motion of Mr. Hay's, "for leave to~ bring in a Bill amending the Municipal Ordi- J nahce, 1866," was negatived by the casting vote' of the Speaker. The Speaker, in his address, announced that one of the Government would' visit the various localities on the Goldfields, •with a view to ascertaining the wants of the people,

Re Edward Croker.— Mr. Harris appeared" in support of an .application for a final order, and Mr. Haggitt to oppose on behalf of the petitioning creditor. The bankrupt -was examine I,< rind- after counsel had addressed the Court in support of and against the application, His Honour gaVe the judgment. He said he was very sorry to say that he concurred in many of the observations made by £he learned counsel, who appeared on behalf of' the petitioner. The circumstances of the case were, to say the least of them, peculiarly bad, and he did not think he could do justice except by suspending the certificate for six months. The certificate was suspended for Bix-months.—* 1 Daily Tftnes."