LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 106, 19 February 1870, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The English mail closed at Lawrence last night. Intimation of the day of the despatch was not received by the postmaster in time for us to give the usual notice to our readers.

The Church of England balance sheet as audited by Messrs. Armstrong and Twigge, appears in our advertising columns. We understand that it is anticipated that the Rev. E. H. Grainger, A.M., of All Saints, Dunedin, will perform divine service at the Blue Spur and Lawrenoe next Sunday week.

At the last Town Council meeting, the Inspector of nuisances pointed out several dangerous parts in the footpaths of Boss Place and Colonsay-street, which we trust will receive immediate attention. A temporary fence of some description is very much required between Mr. Wootton's and Mr. Gormley's houses, as the unprotected embankment there is dangerous to human life.

The following race meetings are advertised to take place this month and next — viz, Dunstan and Invercargill, 24th and 25th insfc. ; Clutha Feiry, 4th and sth March ; Switzers, 4th and sth March ; Tokomairiro, 9th and 10th March ; and Dunedin, 24th and 25th March. The last two meetings will undoubtedly be the best, as no other meeting clashes with them,

O» Tuesday evening the Eev. Mr. Menzie9 delivered a lecture on "Proverbs," in the hall of the Athenaeum. The lecture was considerably above the average, but we regret the attendance was very small. Mr. Menzies deserves the thanks of the Tuapeka residents for bis endeavours upon this and former occasions to supply a few hours of profitable instruction.

For the information and terror of those cattle owners, if there be any, who furnish the Board of Wardens with false reports as to the stock they are running, we have to state that Mr. Mackay, the Inspector of the Waitahuna and Tuapeka Depasturing districts has been empowered to muster and impound the cattle of any individual whom he supposes to be defrauding the Government revenue. We are glad this power has been granted, as a check will then be put upon unprincipled licenseholders.

It is with satisfaction we observe the Lawrence telegraph office undergoing an enlargement. This has been very much required ; in fact there is no other office in the province, with the exception perhaps of the one at Alexandra, which has been so much cramped for room as the Lawrence office. While referring to this improvement, it will not be out of place to suggest another. We believe all ourTuapeka readers who have dealings with the postal and telegraph departments, will bear ua out in the opinion that the vast amount of work in these departments renders it highly advisable that the postmaster should have some assistance. The Government would only be consulting the efficiency of the service and the convenience of the public, by appointing a youth to assiat Mr. Buck in the performance of his. arduous duties. We are certain that thenumber of mails received and despatched, in addition to the telegraphic work of the office, fully warrants such an appointment as wesuggest, and we shall be glad, on public grounds alone, to see the hint takpn up by the Government.

The Church of England Committee met on Wednesday evening last in the schoolroom* Present— Messrs. Meyer (in the chair), Bennett (secretary), Cox, Coxon, and Keen. It was, stated that Mr. Herbert was absent at Tapanui. The minutes of the last meeting, held Several months ago, were read and confirmed. Th& minutes of the general congregational meeting, were also read, in order to see what business thecommitteehad more immediately to transact The chairman presented the balance sheet which had been prepared by himself, and Messre., Armstrong and Twigge the auditors. It was* read and adopted. A vote of thanks to Messrs. Armstrong and Twigge for their valuable services gratutiously lendered, was unanimously carried. The appointment of collectors was then proceeded with— Messrs. Cox and Coxon for Wetherstones, and Messrs. J. F. Herbert and J. L. S. Keen for Lawrence and the other portions of the Tuapeka district. The committee then adjourned till the 9th of March.

On Tuesday afternoon a serious accident occurred to Mr. Husband, a miner, who was. engaged on John and party's claim, on the Blue Spur. It appears the unfortunate man met with the accident while executing a contract forf * a tunnel in the above claim. The precis»\ manner in which the keg of powder which waa \ close by his side became ignited, producing very \ serious wounds and bruises, is only a matter of surmise, as he vras working alone, and as far as we have heard was unable to give any clear^ explanation of the accident. It is supposed that while using the handle of his pick as s tamping rod, the iron part of the pick struck j stone on the roof of the tunnel, producing fir( and that a spark fell in the keg. Dr. Halle, who was in immediate attendance upon ih sufferer, informs us that the injuries consist f extensive burns of the face, arni3, and hand, and a severe scalp wound of four inches k length, and also a cut in the shoulder. The Doctor supposes the wound to have been cam id by the effects of the explosion forcing the n m against the roof of the drive. These accideifcs, we regret to say, are of too frequent occurrer :e, and we think it would show wisdom on ie part of the Spur miners' if they were to in fcitute some regulations amongst themselves by which more care would be taken in the exemtion of this dangerous avocation. '

The "Wakatip Mail" commenting on tl© miners' strike at Mount Ida, makes the followiig very forcible remarks upon the water monopy^ which we regret to say is not confined to Mouit Ida :— We recently saw in the Maerewhema district that one person alone had applied iornearly all the water that could be made aval, able for the command of certain localities. So. it is everywhere, and tly> water monopoly is h?. coming a grievance. Water-right proprietors are quite justified in getting as much as they can, and securing as much water as they lan. But is it politic for the Government to sign. away for a mere song these rights upon which the development and progress of the Goldflelda so much depend. We think a most grievous mistake haa been committed. The Government fix the price at which coals should be sold wlen they lease coal seams, and thus acknowledge their light to protect the interests of the public. The Assembly has created vested rights ir tbia water question, but we can see no reason! why it should not define the maximum price o b& charged for that upon which the prosper fey of this province depends. Difficulties do eiist in the way of legislation of this kind, but thjy are comparatively trivial. A Mining Board would meet and overcome them at once, and o can the Assembly if it choose. Under any c rcumstances, the Naseby miners have acted quite correctly in striking unanimously, and they have thus brought to light forcibly a terious grievance."