LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 93, 20 November 1869, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Lawrence Town Council have had a plan drawn up by Mr. M'Leod Nicolson of a 10 acre paudock, which we believe they puipose recommending the Government to exchange for Municipal reserves amounting to the same acreage. The proposed paddock is situated near the Church of England Parsonage, on a sloping ridge, with a well-sheltered gully, and is certain, when leased, to realise a good annual Toturn to the Corporation.

"Wz have heard that the Government have refused to give the rnnholder compensation for the Island Block at the rate of ss. per acre. This appears to us very strange, seeing the mm of 4s. 6il. per acre was given to Messrs. Oargill and M'Lean for the Shiagle Block, which is not worth 6<l. per acre either to the Government or the people. "When the matter is submitted to arbitration, we apprehend a 1 higher' price "than ss. compensation will be decided upon for the best agricultural land in the Bengerjlißtrict.

A COMMUNICATION, signed a "Resident of Waipori," will appear in next week'B issue, also our Blue Spur mining report.

The English mail will close on Wednesday evening next, the 24th instant— for newspapers and money orders at five, o'clock, and letters at eight.

At the Government land sale, on Thursday last, suburban sections, in the neighbourhood of Palmerston, brought as much as £13 13s an acre— the average was £8 an acre.

Fbom the Government .Advertising Sheet we notice a long list of allotments in Lawrence, Wetherston.es, Havelock, Dalhousie, and Waiporf, to be offered for sale by auction, at the Survey Office, Lawrence, on. Tuesday next, 23rd inst.

The " Oamaru Times " reports the discovery of a reef richly impregnated with gold— it is situated on Mr Dillon Bell's rub, near Palmerston. Specimens of the quartz sent to Dunedin have been pronounced to be equal to anything obtained in Victoria.

A coach between Switzers and Lawrence, under the proprietory of Mr A. Matheson, of Switzers, has commenced to run weekly, starting from Switzers on Monday morning at 6 o'clock, returning from the Victoria Hotel, Lawrence, every Saturday morning.

Last Wednesday was a great day amongst the married population of Lawrence. The Rev. R. L. Stanford came specially from Tokomairiro. to perform the Baptismal ceremony. No fewer than sixteen christenings took place in the school-room in the evening, in the presence of a crowded audience," after which, Mr Stanford preached a most eloquent sermon.

A special meeting of the Hospital Committee was held in the Commercial Hotel on Monday evening to open the tenders for the fixing of the kitchen-range and other works connected with the Hospital. The following tenders were opened : - George Morison, £135 ; William Hears, £131 17s. ; Alex. Humphreys, £132 17s. 6d. It was then proposed, seconded, and carried, that the lowest tender be accepted. The meeting then dispersed.

A Sydney paper gives the following prescription for drunkenness : — " Sulphate of iron, five grains ; magnesia, ten grains ; peppermint water, eleven drachms ; spirits of nutmeg one drachm. One tablespoonful in a wine-glass of water twice a day. If the love of intoxicating liquor has entwined your very vitals, strict^ adhere to the above prescription, and not only the practice, but the very inclination for strong drink will subside in a short time."

The Sixpenny Popular Headings Committee at Switeers, commence a series of 12 entertainments on Monday next, the 22nd inst. The last session of these readings was extremely popular, and we have no doubt from the energy displayed by the Committee, that a still more prosperous session awaits them. We have not heard whether Mrs. I. N. AVood purposes assisting this season ; but in the event of her doing so, the success of these entertainments is guaranteed.

Some time back when it was reported that Mr. Commissioner Branigan was likely to be transferee! to the North, we suggested that as a parting blessing upon the Otagan force, which he had brought to such a high state of efficiency, he should repeal his stringent law which enforced the unnecessary use of the razor. "We are glad to learn that although My. Branigan did not carry out the suggestion thrown out by us, his successor, Mr. Commissioner Weldon, has given his subordinates the liberty of consulting their own taste and comfort in respect to this matter.

We are surprised at the utter ignorance both of law and of fact displayed by our contemporary the "Daily Times" in the following paragraph, which appeared in Monday's issue, notwithstanding the recent leaders on the subject: - " "We understand that it is the intention of the Provincial Government not to declare any Hundreds under the new Act until after, the next meeting of the Provincial Council." The Provincial Executive have not, and never had, any power to proclaim Hundreds ; the extent of their powers being to make a recommendation on the subject,

By the following telegram, it will be observed that however animated New Zealand statesmen become in the heat of debate, they never reach the pitch of excitement attained by their Sydney compeers :—" On the, morning of. the 2nd, the Legislature sat till three o'clock, as the Opposition were talking against time for the purpose of prolonging the debate o^ the Tariff. In the course of the morning a discreditable scene took place between the Lite treasurer and the present premier. The former characterised the latter as a boaster ' and a

coward, whereon the premier retorted by threatening to pnll the late treasurer's nose, and great confusion ensued. The, debate was resumed next day, the Opposition still endeavouring to waste time."

On Monday afternoon Lawrence was visited by a thunderstorm, the like of which has not been experienced for years. Although it only lasted for about half-an-hour, more rain -fell during that time than had done for the four previous months. Our new culverts and bridges were put to the test. The small culvert in Ross Place, for carrying the surface water by Gabriels' Road to the creek, which the roadmen had almost completed, was within two inches of being full, and had a large body of the water not been directed across the road on each side, another proof of the absurdity of these insignificant attempts at drainage would have been exemplified. To have made the culvert referred

to double the width would have involved but a very paltry additional. outlay, and,* no doubt, saved future expense and annoyance. The bridges lately completed by Mr Morison across Boss Place and "Whitehaven-street will, we feel oertain, suit ineir purpose admirably, but what steps our Municipal Council have taken, or are likely to take, to make a channel for the water between those bridges we have not heard. The first flood will bring4bi matter prominently before our city magnates.

The Glass Blowers completed their engage" ment in Lawrence on Wednesday evening, and have proceeded to Oamaru. Their entertainments have been highly appreciated by a crowded house on each occasion. On Wednesday evening especially the crowd in the hall was suffocating. Glass blowing operations being disturbed by the slightest agitation of the atmosphere, the windows of the hall could not be thrown open as they otherwise would have been. M

The fin>t anniversary of the Court Star of Tuapeka, A.O.F. is advertised to come off on the 16th December. We understand that great preparations are on foot to make the celebration of the event a complete success ;in fact to eclipse anything which has yet taken place in thp district. The afternoon will be devoted to a procession headed by the Brass Band, when the brothers, will turn out in full regalia. In the evening a supper and ball will be given. One new feature in the supper, will be the admission of ladies ; this course is adopted by the Foresters Court at TTaipori, and also by the Oddfellows there, and is found to add greatly to tb,e social character of these anniversaries.

The "Daily Times*' of Monday last contains the following telegram respecting the winners of the Melbourne races : — Maiden Plate. — Partizan, 1 ; Coeuv de Lion, 2 ; Detective, 3. Eailway Stakes.— The Baron, 1; Glencoe, 2. Cup.— "Warrior, 1 ; Monk, 2 ; Phoebe, 3. Warrior got off in front of everything for the first quarter of a mile, when he was joined by Sheet Anchor, Bishopsbourne, an,d Circassian. Warrior shortly after fell back, and Circassian made his effort, but was beaten. Warrior then came to the front again, and had it all his own way. winning as he liked by a. couple of lengths. Phoebe was a good third. Time, 3rain. 43sec. Hurdle Kace.— Dictator, 1 ; Maid of the Mist, 2. Darling Stakes.— Warwick, 1 ; Misty Morn, 2. A atEETZKG of the "Waipori Progress Committee was held ip the Gojden Age Hotel, Waipori, on Thursday, the. 4th inst. Mr, James Ritchie occupied the chair. The principal business was the election of a new committee for the ensuing 12 months. Eleven members were decided upon fa form a committee, and these were elected, a,s follows :— Messrr, M'Ledowney, T. Phillips, A. Lees, J. M-Cay, A. Dimond, E>. Cotton, J. Shackleton, W. O'Brien, O. Ryan, E. Keating, a.nd T. Wright. A meeting of said committee was then held, when Mr. M'Ledowney was, elected chairman, Mr. James M'Cay, treasurer, and Mr. Lees, secretary. A was decided, to hold the next meeting on Tuesday, the 23rd inst., and afterwards on the first Tuesday of eaph month..

We have been requested to. explain an error which appears in the Goldfields, Act Amendment Act published in our ipsue. of yesterday. It Seeing that clause 5 in ike Act as it now stands was added in tho Legislative Council, and the numbers of the succeeding clauses were consequently changed. The numbers of the clauses referred to in clause 13j however, were not altered. Consequently the clauses therein referred to as 8, 9, 10, and 11, should be 9. 10 11, and VI, which makes a most material difference in the effect of the Act. We undem stand that Mr Mervyn, M.H.E., intends in. the* next session of the Assembly to introduce a Bill to amend this mistake in the Act, and that in the meantime the Provincial Government purpose administering the Act in this particular according to, the intention of its framers, and not according to the actual, wording. — "Daily Times."

Tap "BCobart Town Mercury" gires the following telegraphic summary of the principal event of the Melbourne Races :— Melbourne Cop, a sweepstake of 20 soys., with 300 soys. added. The second horse to receive oO soys., and the third to save his stakes. Two miles.

. For this, the event of 'the meeting, there were 49 entries, the greater number of whom came to the starting point. Some of those who pretended to <be able tp t foreshadow the result, placed the following as the foremost horses : — Circassian, Australian, Charon, Strop ; while others placed them thus ; -Circassian, 1 ; Kestrel or Charon, 2 ; Australian, Strop, Palmerston, and Cymba well up. The result, however, disappointed all calculations, the following being the horses placed and their order : — Mr Uhdes's b g Warrior, 6 yrs, Bst Mb . 1 Mr Henderson's br c The Monk, 5 yrs, 7st 61b 2 Mr E. Lee's' eh m Phoebe, 5 yrs, 7st 101 b . . 3 This was a splendid race. The time was 3 minutes 40 seconds. The latest betting was 14 to 1 against Warrior. The odds against Monk and Phoebe were very great, as much as 50 to 1. Manuka was scratched.

His Honour the. Superintendent has addressed, the. following circular, signed by his secretary, to the members of the Provincial Council:— "Superintendent's Office, Dunedin, 17th November, 1869.— Sir,— I am directed by His Honour the. Superintendent to transmit herewith proclamation convening a Session of the Provincial Council of Qtago, to commence upon Wednesday, the Bth day of December, 1869> when it is hoped you will find it convenient to attend. The Superintendent directs me to inform you that the proposed Session has been convened specially in consequence of a difference of. opinion betwixt his responsible advisers and himself as to the most practicable method of securing the immediate construction of the Southern Trunk Railway ; and also in consequence of their desire' that no action should be taken towards the proclamation of new Hundreds (in terms of the Otago Hundreds Regulation Act, 1869), until the same shall have been considered by the Provincial Council. lam further to stat* that, with the exception of the two subjects in question, and perhaps that pf Immigration and' Re-union with. Southland, it is not intended, on the part of the Government, to introduce any question of general importance until the regular meeting of the Council at the termination of the financial year ; so that it is Ironed, the session now convened may be a 3hort%ie," ,

A brutal murder of a wife by her husband is lepprted from Lyttelton. The accused is a man aamed John Smyth, landlord of the Railway Hotel at that place. An inquest was held on the body of the murdered woman on "Wednes- i day and Thursday last, and disclosed the most '■ 1 horrible cruelty. A Canterbury contemporary states that the body was one mass of bruises, with wounds in the head. The woman had begn sat upon, thrown down and stamped on tfcijktbjoat "with heavy boots, and also bound hand and foot so tight that the cords almost cut into the flesh. She had been gagged and ; dragged by the hair of the head— all ending in . death. The cause of this act appears to have j •been, that the wife suspected her husband of , unfaithfulness, and in consequence took to ( drink. One witness stated that he had known ] her for two years and a half, but had never . seen her sober. Her husband had been re- ■ peatedly heard to threaten her, saying he would i " cure her or kill her," ar.d the latter alterna- ] tive he seems to have at length put into effect, i A man named Godfrey, cook at the same hotel, 1 was arrested at the same time as his master for < being accessory to the crime, but at the close of I the inquest he was acquitted of the charge ' Against him. The Coroner's jury, after a quarter /of an hours deliberation, returned a verdict of "wilful murder" against Smyth, ] •who was then committed for trial. —" Daily ■Times." .