LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 87, 9 October 1869, Page 3

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Another rich leader has been struck in the Long Drive Claim, Thames. We are compelled to hold oyer till next week our report of the opening of the Loyal Tapanui Lodge M.U.I 0.0. F. The green pulp left by the operation of flaxdressing has been proved to be suitable for horse fodder. This hint may prove serviceable at a time when oats are so scarce and dear. The receipts of the Wesleyan School anniversary amounted to the handsome sum of £17 2a. lid. The expenditure was £10 18s. 6d., showing a balance on the right side of £6 4s. sd. The usual Wetherstones fortnightly Readings came off on Wednesday evening. The atteni dance was very large, and the programme remarkably attractive. All the performers acquitted themselves admirably. THE Annual meeting of subscribers to the Tuapeka Athenseum takes place on Tuesday evening, the 12th instant. "We trust a large number will attend, and that the various questions connected with the management of this valuable institution will be fully and carefully discussed. On "Wednesday last, the bark Eucalyptus arrived at Port Chalmers, having on board 1000 trout ova for Otago, and 800 each for Canterbury and Southland. Mr. Clifford, under whose charge they arrived, also brought a tame kangaroo, a number of water-snails, and -several pens of prize poultry. At the sitting of the Supreme Court before Mr. Justice TFard on the 6th inst., Mr. Stewart applied for a decree against Vernon, defendant in the case of Bathgate v.^Vernon, to have certain mining and other property declared the property of Bathgate. The decree was granted, seven days after service being allowed the defendant to effect delivery, The Secretary to the Church of England Committee has, we understand, written to the Hon. Major Richardson requesting that gentleman to deliver a lecture here, for the benefit of the Church funds. Major Richardson's ability as a public speaker is so well known that it is almost unnecessary to express a strong hope that the response will be favourable. Mysterious rumours concerning the discovery of a quartz reef in this neighbourhood have been current for the past few days. A more welcome event could hardly happen, and we have reason to believe that there is some truth in the report. Unfortunately, the present Goldfields Act makes so small a provision for securing the rights of original discoverers, that a good deal of delay occurs before a man, having secured his right, can safely make his discovery public. From an advertisement in the " Daily Times" we learn that the Provincial Government have taken up a block of 11000 acres, forming part of Mr. Dillon Bell's run in Shag Valley, Mr. Bell has, with praiseworthy liberality, relinquished his right to depasture on the unsold portions of the block. The law under which that right is granted is undoubtedly bad and unjust, still the right exists, and due credit should be given to those who decline to take advantage of it. The election of a Superintendent for the. Province of Taranaki has resulted in the return of Mr. F. A. Carrington, by a majority of 92 over Messrs. Kelly and Richmond. Mr. Carrington is a settler of over twenty-five years standing, but has never until now made his mark in politics. Mr. Kelly is Member for New Plymouth in the Assembly, and was the favourite candidate with the more intelligent portion of the community. Mr. Richmond's name tells his history. Our Blue Spur correspondent writes as follows : — The recent rains, with the fine weather (not Saxby's) which has followed, have had a blessed influence on the gardens on. the Gabriels side of ttto Spur } they ate all luxuriant with. vegetation. I noticed, especially in the garden of Mr. Cousins, that the cabbage is nearly three yards in circumference ; one, indeed, which I had the pleasure of dining from weighed under twenty pounds. The strawberries and peas are in full bloom. Mr. Cousins (who is nearly four score years old) Las m«<2e a new garden oaVof a a piece of land which a casual observer would regards the fag end of creation, but which the old gentleman is confident will be turned to profitable account. Let no one say after this that our hills and gullies are valueless. "We ("Southland News") are in receipt of advices from Ruggedy Point (Stewart's Island) to the 15th ultimo. No fresh discoveries hare been made, and the miners-, to the number of thirty-three, were, for the most part, about to leave the locality. The JParden had returned, and, it was understood,* intended to remain until the result of the crushing at Melbourne of the quantity of stone sent there recently, was known. Mr. Irving and a party of five had

started overland to Port William, via the base of Mount Anglem — cutting a track, and prospecting as they went. Whatever the result of the latter, the former will be a most useful work. Mr. Irvine's geographical knowledge will enable him to collate reliable information respecting the mineral resources of the country traversed — up to thepresent time quite a t&ra incognita

The dseaded fifth has passed over without earthquake, tidal wave, or "atmospheric disturbance." It did not pass, however, without causing a good many excellent people great alarm. The inhabitants of Ross Place began all at once to take a deep interest in the state of the Phoenix dam, and. we are credibly informed some of them watched all the night of the sth and 6th. Abou£ 4 p.m. on Tuesday various awful rumours began to circulate. "Somebody" had received a telegram from Dunedin, which told a tale of havoc and disaster. A tremendous tide had laid most of the city under water ; the Superintendent had perished ; and the public offices been washed away. The effect on the nerves of some of the gentler portion of the community was alarming, the demand on the apothecaries for sal volatile being unprecedented in the annals of Lawrence.

Mb. Warden Robinson, writing from Mount Ida, under date September 30fch, reports as follows :— " Very dry weather has prevailed throughout the month, and latterly the miners have been running short of water. There is very little snow upon the hills, and if rain does not soon fall, the scarcity will become alarming. As usual at the close of the winter season, the Chinese who have been away to the river workings of the Molyneux are now flocking back to this district ; a fair number of them have set in about Naseby, but more have gone to Macraes. Accounts from the Marewhenua continue to be encouraging, but it is impossible to say for certain that the field will be permanently payable until some of the large races that have been applied for shall have been brought in. The number of European miners on the goldfield is 800, of Chinese 250 ; total, 1030 ; number of other persons, 1050 ; total, 2100. Wages vary from £3 to £3 12s. per week.

An inquest was held yesterday (Friday) at the Tuapeka Hotel on the body of a Chinaman named Ah Qaong. It appeared that he went to his bed at night all right, but was found dead in bed in the morning by his mates, who lived in the same hut with him. The usual jury of twelve were summoned, and their decision was given in accordance with the evidence, viz. natural causes. The deceased, who was only nineteen y<:ars of age, was one of the supposed females whose arrival caused some little stir about a month ago. It was well that Mr. Blewitt was in the district at the time, and, although discharged by Government, promptly attended. The Coroner would have been in a fix if he had to send for John Ah Loo, as days must have intervened ere he could put in an appearance. Let us hope that the Government will reconsider their decision in reference to their late servant, and that he will again be installed hi his old employ.