SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1870. "Measures, not Men."

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 107, 26 February 1870, Page 4

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1870. "Measures, not Men."

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Thatcher, the inimitable, purposes visiting Tuapeka ab an early date. We are informed that Mr Attfield, of Clyde, has purchased a si.xth-share in the Aurora claim for £1350. Our fleet of wool ships are rapidly getting filled up and taking their departure. Already five or six have sailed, and several are advertised for March. By advertisement in the " Otago Daily Times " we see that the first of the new line of steamers to England via San Francisco will leave Auckland on the 2nd April. By advertisements it will be observed that two of our bakers have reduced the price of bread from one shilling to tenpence per 4-lb. loaf, which we think is more in accordance with the times.

The circus now at the Dunstan is expected to visit Lawrence in the course of a week. The Auckland papers say that private telegrams state that the Matoaka has arrived in London, having been dismasted. Fhom a Wellington telegram we notice that a man named Abraham Dowsett was found drowned jn the harbour there pn Wednesday morning. The Waikouaiti election resulted in the return of Mr. Mitchell. The number polled stood as follows :— Mitchell, 119; Ure, ?9 ; Thomson, 22. A contemporaby states that Mr. David .Randall, of Glen Paia, South Australia, is now on a visit to Dunedin for the purpose of endeavouring to introduce Glen Para wines. The General Government may be congratulated on having obtained the fastest steamer that has yet entered New Zealand waters, they having purchased the steamer Luna, late of Sydney. Mb. John Copland, who has for a short time been residing in Lawrence, has been duly admitted by His Honour Judge Ward to practice as a solicitor before the Supreme Court of New Zealand. The letter signed "Builder," and a communication from Mr. 0. Kous Martin, Eeturning Officer for JFallace County, received by us too late for publication, will appear in qur next issue. From a Sydney telegram we notice that a rumour has been revived that a white man, the last survivor of Leichhardt's exploring party, is living with the blacks a long way north-west of the Warrego district. The crops in the Tuapeka district are being gathered in rapidly — they are above the average. The wet weather which has done so much damage to the crops in Tokomairiro and the Taieri has done little or no damage in the Tua? peka district. No doubt our up-oountry friends would, like to be informed as to +he departure of the Melbourne steamers, we shall in future keep them posted up in these. The next steamer that sails is the Gothenburg via the Bluff, on Mgnday, the 7th March. At the Waste Land Board meeting on TPednesday last, the prices of sections in the Beaumont (Dunkeld) township were fixed at £5 per section. Mr. W. D. Morrison applied for a bush license, Tuapeka West district ; applicant tp provide sketch of country. The following are the weights for the Mdtaura Handicap, to be run for on the 3rd inst. :—: — Goodman's bl m Little Nell, aged, &>t 121 b ; T. Pollock's o m Penelope, 6 yrs, Bst 121 b; J. Jorrick's cc; Big Boss, aged, Bst 91b ; A. Barbavy's b g Renown, aged, Bst 71b ; A, M'Donald's b g Socrates, aged, Bst. The Secretary of the Waitahuna Cricket Club desires us to acknowledge the sincere thanks of the club for the handsome manner in which they were received an d entertained by the Tuapeka cricketers, during the match played last week. They never met a more courteous and manly set of men, with whom to lose was even a pleasure. We learn that the two sharpers, who were recently apprehended in Melbourne for swindling a "Madame Veeler" by selling her a shoddy silk dress for £4, have arrived in Otago, bringing a lot of shoddy and sham jewellery. Our fair ladies of Lawrence, and the up-country districts, will do well to be an the alert, as the sharpers have very insinuating ways. From the Provincial Govermnant " Gazette " we notice that 2046 acres in the Cairn Hill district, and 1160 acres in the Benger district, both situated on Run No. 369, have been thrown open for agricultural leasing purposes. We are much pleased to see this, as it will in some measure compensate the settlers and miners in those districts for the great loss they sustained by the sale of the Island Block. We have to acknowledge the receipt of " Hansard " No. 1, containing part of the debate on the " Otago Hundreds Regulation Act." The speeches are pretty fully reported, and reflect much credit upon Mr. Bell, whose patience must have been severely tested. We had no idea that our members could speak with such fluency as their reported speeches exhibit. A meeting of settlers was held in the house of Messrs. Stevenson and Gamble, Beaumont Ferry, to take steps to remove the sheep at present grazing on the Beaumont Commonage. It was resolved that a letter be forwarded at once to the Inspector of the Tuapeka Depasturing District praying that he might take immediate steps for the removal of the sheep. We are informed that the General Government have approved of the recommendation of the Provincial Executive, and confirmed the appointment of Mr. Borton as. Warden for the Mount Benger Goldfield. This appointment will be hailed with pleasure by the residents of that widely scattered district, whose interests have been s^eatly neglected since their late Warden's removal. Our respected townsman, Mr. Mears, met with a serious accident a few days ago. It appears he was driving home from Duuedin in a buggy between the East Taieri and Otakia when the breeching gave way and the horse bolted, upsetting the buggy, and violently throwing out Mr. Mears. It was at first thought that some of his ribs were broken, but we are glad to learn such is not the case, and he is progressing favourably. We are glad to learn from an extract in a home paper that Mr. Chas. Wilmot, late of the Princess Theatre, Dunediu, has made a gieat hit at home. Ho was, when the mail left, playing at the Croydon Theatre with immense success in the farce of "Mr. and Mrs. Toodles," and Burnand's Burlesque of "Dido." In the latter piece Mr. Wilmot appeared, and was very funny as the Queen of Carthage. So much for Colonial talent ! From Wednesday's "Gazette" we observe that tenders are called, for the 11th proximo, for gravelling a portion of the road from Tokomairiro to Tuapeka, between the end of contract No. 425 and Whitehaven-street. Specifications to bo seen at the police station, where forms of tender may also be obtained. We also observe that tenders are called, for the Bth March, for the formation of a portion of the road Teviot to Alexandra, near Roxburgh. Particulars to be obtained at the police station, Roxburgh. We have been asked by a correspondent if there is a different law for Chinamen than for Europeans, as he finds the former are allowed on Tuapeka Flat to prosecute their ordinary work on Sunday without any interference. This, we may inform our correspondent, is a matter which calls for the immediate attention of the police. Sunday is, and always has been, the poor man's day of rest, and we should be very sorry to hear its hallowed quiet disturbed by the money-grubbing Chinaman's pick and shovel. WEhear many complaints of the inconvenience of the alterations recently made in the Dunstan, Teviot, and Tuapeka mail seivice. At present the mails for the Teviot, Jlfanuherikia, and Clyde close at the Post-office, Lawrence, at five o'clock every Wednesday evening. The mails from these places arrive two or three hours afterwards on the same evening, thus preventing the possibility of replying to any correspondence. Surely some slight alteration might be effected by which a few hours would be allowed to answer communications. The 4900 acres on Mr. Smith's run, recently thrown open for agricultural leasing purposes, have, we are informed, been again withdrawn— the object of the Government being to wait until the Assembly sanctions the amended Otago Hundreds Regulations Bill, when the proposed Beaumont Hundred, which includes the above mentioned 4900 acres, would be declared. Why this vacillating conduct ? The people of Tuapeka were content in the meantime to take what they could get, and accepted the block upon Mr. Smith's run as a proof of the desire of the Government to encourage settlement in the district. Mr. Smith, with more than a squatters liberality, withdrew his right to restrict settlers on the block from grazing their cattle, and now we suppose all this will be upset for another twelve months. When shall these things end ?

There are (says the "Southern Cross") any amount of claims being sold up by orders from the Warden. The promising mines that a few months ago were worth £20,000 with a paid up capital of £15,000, where are they now ? One claim, with a high-sounding golden name, was sold for 13s. Poor shareholders, who bought mat 25s a scrip, how long will it be before you are again troubled with gold fever? But never' mind, you will have many, many brothers, in misfortune, The other day an accident happened to a boy four years old, the son of Mr. Cavanagh, Tuapeka Flat, which might have proved more serious than it happily did. It seems that the boy, in company with" another child, was playing on the flat, when his companion pushed him into a hole about two feet deep. The boy fell on his left arm, which was hurt considerably, so much so that his mother thought it was broken, and instantly brought the poor little fellow to Dr. Halley, who quickly relieved the mother's fears by stating that the arm was only severely bruised. Mothers ought to take this as a warning, and not allow their children to play in such dangerous proximity to abandoned holes, at the risk of their lives. In a recent "Gazette" the Secretary for Lands and Works closed the main road between Havelock and Tuapeka against traffic whilst the contract for pitching was going on. There was no necessity whatever for this step, as the traffic is not sufficient to materially hinder the contractors in proceeding with their contract. We do not wish to question the legality of the step taken by the Secretary of Lands and Jfarks, although that is a point which might be raised ; still, seeing that it is unnecessary to put the public to extra expense for freight, we would suggest that the road be again gazetted as opened, for at present it is so to all intents and purposes. In gazetting it the Secretary would do well to intimate that the contractor is not allowed to charge tollage, which we know for a fact he has been in the habit of doing. A " foreigner's picnic " was. to be held in tl c Buller district on the 14th February. The " Westport Times " says .—". — " It is not to be a meeting of aliens such as those who refuse to drink the Queen's health, or who insult Kepublicanism by pretending to patronise that noble human invention. It is not to be altogether an assemblage of thos.e who, though living under British institutions,, have n«S befn 'to the manner bora.' It is not to be a Fenian demonstration— thank Heaven. It is to be a meeting of la lies and gentlemen who, though not born on British soil, have probably been cradled there, and who, whether cradled there or not, have attained maturity and wisdom sufficient to believe that the British flag is not a bad one -to live under, and who tare a. notion that there are worse ways of killing the weary days qf "Westport life that by holding a picnic." Now that the Government is directing its attention to the road between Tokomairiro and Tuapeka, we would suggest that some steps be take.n to make the three or four miles of new road between Manuka Creek and the Bound Hill available for traffic At present the large sum of money expended upon that portion of the new road is sunk to no end or purpose— weie a slight cutting made at the end of the conti act referred to, the poach, and even waggons, would be able to take advantage of it, and strike over a spur to the right, bringing them on to thp qld road at Cobb & Co.'s changing stage, at the foot of the Round HilL For a very triflin.g sun; this work might be done before the wet season spfcs in, and thus avoid that veiy heavy pjnch which takes its rise at Manuka Creek. We suggest this as their is no hope whatever held ou.tj for getting the I road formed right through to Havelonk this winter, and as the Government have delayed so long in carrying through the road in question, we trust they will accommodate the people of the district by expending a small sum in making the tenipQ.ra.ry cutting suggested. - - o c A contehpotury, writing of sly-grog sellingmg, says :— '-Last week the Queenstctwn police cleverly succeeded in obtaining a conviction, against a notorious sly-grog seller at SkippeiJ named Purdq. The traffic \n Mi-. Pqido's hajfH| has been going an for a considerable time *st but so completely were his plans arranged that he has hitherto succeeded in evading detection. .Recently a change was made in the district police force, and, to us.c an ecqjesiastical phrase. I Sergeant Fox determined to improve the pScW, sion, by bringing Purdo to justice. ' The new constable was rigged out in the orthodox style of a sturdy digger, and proceeded to make the acquaintance of Mr. Purdo at a time when that gentleman was least prepared for the active supervision of the police. Spirituous liquors freely changed hands, and in, due course Mr. Purdo was arraigned bofore a bench of Magistrates at Queenstown, to answer a charge of having neglected to provide for himself a license before assuming the responsibilities of a "host." The offence was indignantly repudiated, but on the constable reminding Mr. Purdo, i of the number of nips he had disposed of on the occasion referred to, he (Mr. Pu^do) saw to his dismay that he had likewise disposed of his chance of escape from the peaal clause of the Licensing Ordinance. A penalty of £25 was imposed, and at the same time the police were ; highly complimented for the tso,t they had digplayed in the affair.