LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 96, 11 December 1869, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A Chinese camp has been formed at the Nivia. We observe that the Post Office, Swifczers,, ha^i been opened as a Savings' Bank. Ho fewer than six of the business men of Roxburgh were fined one shilling each at the _?a t court day for not holding business licenses. ][t is said that a party of practical miners intej id to develope another coal-field, situated in a 1 ocalifcy whence Lawrence and Tuapeka Flat c^j lid be profitably supplied. '. By a speoial in the " Australasian " we learn tliat Cherie by Stopkwell, out of Chere Amie r wfm the Cesarewitch. handicap easily, John Ei ivies gaining second honours. During the past week several partiesJ^^ sti krted on prospecting tours. Several of these agj composed of old, Victorian mineis, who are veji y sanguine of success, Payable reefs are expected to reward thejr efforts, .A. match between. Mr. G. Williams' wellknown, horse. Fire-eater, and the equally celebrated local performer Magenta^ will be run on the Tapanui race course, on New Tear's day,, for £1( * a side. Sch< )oi<mastebs would appear to, be rather scarce at present. At all events this is the natural . conclusion from there beins.no less than five ad vertisements in the Provincial Gazette calling for applications from qualified teachers. Op 1 ate several agricultural correspondents of the '■.' Daily Times " hay-e recommended the introduction of the, humble bee in order to enable Jlpnners to grow their own clover seed. The ad jon of these, insects is necessary to distribute tiie pollen. "We understand that the stomachs of the poultry , alleged to have been poisoned at Spylaw Sta tion, the scones, and a portion of the vomit o f the sufferers is to be sent to Wellington for analysis. Constable Purdue will have to go North in charge. The work in tlie deep shaft, is progressing., rapidly. The donkey shaft, being sunk over the supposed site of the gutter, is already 15 feet down, and the^ contractors expect to bottom, before the end of the week. As yet there are, no signs of payable wash. On some of the a djacent runs the lamb-crop has been very bad. On one we hear the losses exceeded 70 per ■ cent— a proportion chiefly occasioned by the vant of sufficient hands to attend to the flock; . This years' clip is also said to be considerably below the average. The usual meeting of Town Council did not take place on Wei^ esday evening owing to the want of a quorum. A special meeting was summoned for. Thursday evening, but owing probatly to the heat of. the weather, only one of the Councillors put in an appearance, and the meeting in consequence lapsed. In the Resident Magistrate's Court, Dunedin, on the Bth inßt , the c^se of Lange and Thoneman v. Clarke was called. As the cause of tbif .action brought for flour alleged to have been sold by plaintiff's agent to defendant was admitted to lie at Tuapefca, the Magistrate dismissed it as beyond his jurisdiction. Thb special telegrams in the " Argus" by last English mail contain the following additional items:— The republican movement in Spain has beeif suppre^sei-— THe-Greit Eastern is ready to start with the Anglo-Indian cable. The Earl of Derby is seriously ill, and gradually sinking. No intelligence of the missing ship Matoaka has been obtained,

' A OBANT of £50, for the erection of a schoolhouse at the Tnapeka Mouth, has been made by the Government. The contractor. Mr. Ro SCO e has been instructed by the Committee to proceed with the erection at once . ON Saturday last the Tuapeka Mouth Prospecting Company had a meeting, when provision was made for purchasing the tools necessary to open out the reef. It was stated that a amall seam of auriferous quartz had been already struck. BoiaND and CantwelTs claim, Tuapeka was sold, by order of the "Warden's Court, on Saturday last. The purchaser was Mr. Lewis, <*ne of the former partners — the mm given being £207. The action of the purchaser caused some dissatisfaction among the mining population, THE Wesleyan anniversary sewrices will be pon&acted in $ha chapel, Colonsay-street, topu>rnnv morning and evening by the Rev. W. Keall. On Tuesday a public tea will be given jn the chapel, at 6.30 p.m, after which the meeting will be addressed by the circuit minister jind several friends. The Tnapeka Jockey Club have commenced in right earnest to collect subscriptions for the forthcoming races. We have seen several of the ljsts, and a good number of respectable sums appear on them. Let us hope the Club this year will offer as good inducemnt for a successful meeting-as Mount Ida and the Dunstan are offering. On the sth inst, a fire was discovered on the premisef of Mr. Onslow, draper, Westport. It very soon extended its devastating influence, andin a short time made a complete wreck of all the principal places of business in the town. The value of the property is estimatedat £15,000, and, none of it is insured. The fire originated by the bursting of a kcrosine lamb. "We have had the pleasure of inspecting- some photographs coloured in oils by Mr. Douglas Love. Mr. Love is well known as an artist of no ordinary pretensions, and the taste displayed j in these works is wpII worthy of his high reputation. The effect is, in many cases, almost equal to a portrait in oils, the photographic minuteness of the likeness being well relieved by# few bold tpuches of the brush. We hope all the local lovers of art will pay a visit to Mr. Love's studio, and give due encouragement to fljs efforts. We are not aware whether the people of Wetherstones are regarded as too virtuous to need the presence of a police officer, or so vicious that it is hopeless, continuing the services of one ; but certain it is hi future they are to be deprived of the services of any member of the force. We have frequently urged retrenchment, but not Qf this kind, which is. a reduction of efficiency. The prun-ing-knife might be applied with greater effect jn higher quarters, but we fear none but dubbung economies are likely to find favour with the present controllers of the expenditure. AT the usual meeting of the Waste Land Board, on Wednesday, the application of Mr. M. Dale to purchase sections 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, block XXL, Havelock, was declined,. The request of Borland and Wilson, that the Board should reconsider its decision in reference to a «ant of land for saw mill purposes at Blackeugh Burn, was also refused. The letter of Mayor of Alexandra suggesting that the •ale of town sections should be held at the camp, was approved. It was determined that unsold surveys in Roxburgh. E. should ba eanoelled, and the Government advised to abandon the educational reserves there. THE remains of the late Mr. Benjamin Lewis, of Waipori, were conveyed to the Waipori Cemetery on Tuesday morning last. The funeral was one of the largest which has taken place in the district. The respect in which Mr. Lewis was universally held, and a grateful appreciation of his character, induced the greater number present to accompany the funeral all the way to Waipori, and many, who could not conveniently come to Tuapeka, joined j the company on the road. Mr. Lewis had resided at Waipori since the first of the rush, j and was widely known for his honesty and integrity of purpose, and his courteous and obliging manner. He will be long remembered by all who were acquainted with Mm . We have great pleasure in announcing that .the Rev. Mr. Menzies, Congregational niinurter, ■who lately arrived by the Timaru from England, will hold divine service in the Athenaeum Hall on Sunday evening the 19th instant. Mr. Menzies, since bis arrival, has been occupying the pulpit of Mr, Johnson of Dunedin, whose illness prevented Mr. Menziea from . visiting Tuapeka earlier. He has.had several invitations from other districts, bukthjfe being the first to make application to him, induced, him to give it the preference. We believe there is a considerable number of the Tuapeka residents who belong to the Congregational ,body, so that this will be an opportunity for them showing their ' strength ; and if they. muster in sufficient numbers, we believe it is the intention of the committee to retain Menzies in the distrito, if possible. A FEW days since, a meeting of the inhabitant* of Waitahuna East was held at Paddy's Point, to take some steps to get a school established in their large and thickly populated district. Mi % . Grundy occupied the chair ; and the following resolutions were brought forward and carried :— Proposed by Mr. Fraser, and seconded by Mr., Blair, "That as the district is capable of lopporting a side-school, steps should be at once taken to, if possible, establish one." It mi proposed, seconded, and carried, "That Mr. Hielop, the Inspector of Schoolf, should be ■communicated with regarding the matter." A committee, consisting pf Messrs. Tyson, Steveneon, Fraser, and Blair, was appointed to act in the matter. The proposed site is the Government coal reserve, about fifteen chains from the <main road, and, we believe, a v6ry likely place for a school. It is to be hoped the committee will agree among themselves as to the site.

A TBoyriNG match, between Mr. James Smith's gelding Rattler and Mr. Parson's gelding Kildare, for £5 a-side, is to come off on Boxingday. The trot is to be held on the "Wether-stones-road, and is likely to attract a number of spectators. Although Rattler gives Kildare a hundred yards' start, he is the favourite with the betting fraternity. A VALUABLE draught torse, belonging to Mr. Treloar, Tuapeka Flat, was killed in rather a singular manner some days ago,. The horse, it appears, had been tethered in a small paddock, and from some fault in knotting the rope round its neck, it acted like a slip noose, and suffocated the poor brute. Mr. Treloar had paid £40 for it some little time previous. On Monday evening, the entertainment on behalf of the Deep Shaft at We^herstones will come off in the Sportsman's arms. We would strongly advise those of our headers, who had not the pleasure of witnessing the Christy's first entertainment not to lose this opportunity, whatever may be their opinion of the Deep Shaft, as it is one of the finest treats going. The preparations for the Forresters' anniversary, on Thursday next, are progressing famously. The tickets, especially the double ones, are selling wen, and a most enthusiastic gathering is certain, both in the afternoon at the procession and in the evening at the supper and ball. The new feature in admittidg ladies to the supper is highly approved of by the fair sex, and we hear they are likely to turn out in arge numbers. Auckland has been appointed one of the stations for the observation of the transits of Venus in 1874 and 1882, by the English Government. It is to be hoped that the authorities hi the different provinces will make some provision for auxiliary observations of so impoi-tant an occurrence. It is curious enough that Capt. Cook's voyage, resulting in the discovery of New Zealand, was undertaken, to observe this phenomenon, . From Scotch papers we learn that the Kildonan (Sutherlandshire) diggings continue to be "worked by some sixty or seventy miners, whose earnings average from 10s. to £1 per diem. The majority, of these are old colonists out for a holiday, the high license fee and crown royalty preventing the unemployed p^ J of the district from trying th,eir hands at gold mining. It is expected that few if any of the parties wiU. continue working through, the winter months. Fbom an advertisement in another column, our readers will gather that this year's Wether- ' stones Christmas Sports will prove, in all likelihood, as attractive as ever. The prizes offered are sufficiently libera) to induce the best men to come forward, and the addition of a two-mile walking matph to the programme will, we have no doubt, occasion one of the keenest and most exciting contests ever seen hi this district. The right to erect booths on the gronnd will be disposed of by public auction on Thursday, the 16th inst., to subscribes of £2 2^ The Switzers Dramatic Club, we are informed, is likely to give a benefit, at an early date, in behalf of the Tuapeka Hospital. This is onl-£ what the Switzers district is in duty bound to do, after the benefits the inhabitants have derived from the Hospital. It is trne they are about to have an hospital ef their own, and will doubtless find the demand upon their resources quite enough for them, but still, an effort on their part to in some measure reimburse Tuapeka will be an acknowledgement on their part which in the present low state of the Hospital funds will be gratefully received. MR. M. M'Carthy, of Mount Benger, was recently admitted into the Tuapeka Hospital, suffering from dislocation of the right shoulder. It appears that upwards of two months ago he had a fall from his horse, and v/as attended by a medical man, who, however, strange to say, failed to detect the dislocation. From the first of his appearance at the Hospital, no hope was entertained of the attempt at reduction being successful—so long a time had elapsel ; but the most vigorous efforts, were made, nevertheless, by Drs. Stewart and Halley ; still the unfortunate man is doomed to be for life in his, present state ; whereas, within a reasonable time after the accident reduction would have been an easy operation. ON Sunday last, a "W&itahuna resident, named Joseph "Wylde, was admitted into the Tuapeka Hospital. It appears that for soma years past he has suffered from hernia, which within the_few days previous to his coming into hospital had largely, increased anp become painful. On admission, it was suspected by Dr. Stewart that it was a oase of what is known as strangulated hernia, and an attempt, was made the same night to reduce it, but without success. On Tuesday, the symptoms being quite unmistakeable, the operation for strangulated hernia was.sknfully performed by Ihr, Stewart, assisted by Dr. Halley. The patient died daring the same night. We understand he- was possessed pf considerable property, and was well well known and much esteemed at TFaitahuua. He has no gelations here, but lias a son in England. His age was upwards of fifty. From, a private source ,w» learn that an old and well-known colonist— at one time a fellowcitizen—died very suddenly the other day at Dunedin. "We allude to Captain G. C. Budd, whose adventures among the. Maoris of the North Island, by whom he wa,s taken prisoner some thirty years ago, were often the theme on which he held forth to amused and.wordering audiences. From our informant we gather that Captain. Budd .had become- an inmate of the hosptai; ' that bis illness was not considered dangerous, and that a few minutes before his deatd he was chatting- gaily with a fellow-pa-tient. His waß a chequered career— that of a genial Mark Tapley, and, truth to tell, somewhat druthy soul. One of his characteristics was a fondness for Latin and Shakspearian quotations, of which his femd seemed inexhaustible. We are not aware of his having lest any relations in the colony. — " Southland Jfewi."

John Smith has been sentenced to death at Canterbury, for the murder of his wife. One of the principal hotels in Waipori has the following sign painted in bold letters over the doov : — <! Meals, Is ; beer, 2 A. ; stabling, free ! " Great excitement prevails in consequence — everybody getting drunk, and numerous assaults taking place. At the sitting of the Provincial Council held on Thursday, the time of members was chiefly taken up by a discussion as to how their eloquent utterances could be best reported. The Government agreed to lay on the table all papers relating to the sale of the Island Block. Addresses were carried to the Superintendent, recommending the reserve of 600 acres for public purposes at Queenstown. and for the reserve of 4 acres opposite blks. XV. and XVI., Waikaia, as a township. From American advices by the Suez Mail, we learn that Mr. Seaward has moderated his tone in reference to the Alabama claims. The Spanish Government have indignantly repudiated the proposed American mediation in Cuba. They have despatched a fldefc of nineteen additional vessels against the insurgents, who have, however, been reinforced by a party of Yankee freebooters. Among continental items the greatest prominence must he given to the contemplated abdication of Napoleon 111. in favour of the Prince Imperial, who is only fourteen years of age. Pnuce Napoleon, the most able of the Bonaparte family, is spoken of as Regent, but as he is far from popular it is more likely the Empress would be placed in that position. The Emperor's health has long been in a precarious condition., and it is feared there is liltle hope of complete recovery.