LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 118, 12 May 1870, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Mr. B.OLLESTON has heen elected Superintendent of Canterbury by a majority of 903 over Mr. Moorhousc. From a Wellington toiegraui in yesterday's "Daily Times," we notice that a free pardon, to date from the ltth inst., is to be granted to Tricker. Thk " Cromwell Guardian," aftsr a shoit existence of about six months, has been obliged to succumb to its more powerful contemporary, the "Argus." We are informed by Dr. TTallcy that he, accompanied by Mr. Farrer, collected the handsome sum of £o2 Bs. 6J. for the Benevolent Asylum last week. We have to acknowledge the receipt of a copy of the "Evangelist" for May, from which we have extracted a very interesting article on the Goldfields, considered under their religious aspect. The British and Foreign Mails will cUrae afc the post-office, Lawrence, as follows : — Via Suez, this evening at 8 o'clock ; via San Francisco, on Sunday, the 29th inst., at the same hour. Mr. David Evans, of Evans' Flat has opened his coal pit for the winter season, and advertises good coal at the pit at 12s. a ton. The pit is situated in close proximity to his houae, and the road being good, it is easy of access. The Oddfellows and Foresters of "Waitahuna will hold their anniversary in the Assembly Boom there this evening. A large attendance is expected. It is pleasing to observe two friendly societies uniting in celebrating their anniversary at the same time, and unde^the same roof. In fact that is just how it sft^p^ be: The object and end of .both, societies are alike.

We, hear great complaints from Waipori merchants about the difficulty they have in procuring any kind of revenue stamps. There are none to be had in the township. This seems to us very bad management on the part of the Government, or their officials especially, as there is not only a post-office, but also a gold receivers office in Waipori, the usually recognised mediums for supplying these necesssary duty stamps. To-mobrow evening the Tuapeka Mouth School is advertised to be opened. This school lias recently been erected by the inhabitants, with the usual liberal Government assistance. Mr. Koscow, who contracted for the building, has done himself credit by erecting a neat structure, which is well adapted for the requirements of the locality. We hope to see a crowd of the well-wishers of this school assembled tomorrow evening at the social meeting, which will be held in the new building. The Rev. Mr. Keall and several other gentlemen have promised their presence. The Athenaeum Readings must suffer a fui*ther postponement. The music difficulty is not yet overcome. We learn, however, that Mx. Burton, late of the Teviot, is again in the Tuapeka district, and there is every probability that if he will accept an engagement from either the English or Catholic Church, the Athenaeum Committee will be able to secure him for the Readings. We sincerely trust Mr. Burton will make up his mind to devote his attention to Tuapeka, as there is, to say the least of it, a good living here for a steady man. We are informed that an accident happened to the machinery of the Cromwell Quartz-mining Company, Bendigo, yesterday week. It appears that a three-inch nut became detached from the water-wheel, and falling between the pinion and driving-wheels, smashed several of the cogs, and of course caused a stoppage of work at the battery. It was found necessary to order new pinion and driving wheels from Dunedin, and the manager expected that it would be about six weeks before the machinery could be again got into working order. About half the number of hands employed by the company have been paid off ; and Messrs. Logan, Gooager, and Hebden have decided to take advantage of the temporary stoppage of crushing operations to put up their additional five heads of stampers — so that they will be enabled to commence work with the full battery when the repairs are completed. By advertisement in another column it will be seen that Rainford and Western's celebrated troupe of christy's minstrels, 13 in number, will appear in the Athenaeum on Saturday and Monday evenings. -JVom the very crowded houses the troupe have had elsewhere, we should recommend their entertainment to the people of Lawrence. Mr. Rainford has already gained the good opinion of the New Zealand press, and Messrs. Howell and Sayers are acknowledged to be the best tenor "darkies" in the colonies. The step dancing of Mr. A. Carrol cannot be too highly praised, it is inimitable, especially the " Morocco boot dance," which brought down the house in Dunedin. There is also a small piece, the " Four o'clock train," which will be one of the leading features of the evening, and which is extremely laughable. The prices of admission being within every one's reach, we have no doubt they will have a good house. YESTEEDAY twelve men were brought before theßesidentMagistrateattheinstigafcion of James Capstick, charged with stealing a billy to wit an old nail can and a pair of old leggings. It appeard that these men had been taking a threshing machine up-country, and seeing a nail can lying on the side of the load, which, to all appearance, had been thrown away as of no use, thought it could be made suitable for a camp fire. On enquiring of some one close at hand, they were informed that it was of no use, so they pitched it on the waggon, How they accounted for the leggings being in their possession, we have not heard, but the crowd were arraigned before his Worship, and after evidence was heard, ten of them were at once set at liberty, and the two who had been the principal actors in the farce were admonished at some length of the great sin of appropriating any article not their property, even although they might stumble across it on the King's high-way. This wholesome advice having been tendered, these two great offenders were discharged and set at liberty. We regret to be informed that the contract of Mead and party for pitching and gravelling the road between Lawrence and Havelock has been stopped on account; of the work being considered not in accordance with the specification. We are not at all surprised at this result. If people will tender for work at a price insufficient to pay for labour, their attempts to fulfil their contract must prove a failuve, as they have in the present case. But the public convenience has to suffer thereby. The contract for the road in question should have been completed some months ago, and now there is no probability whatever of anything further being done towards its completion till next spring. The Government have shown great remissness in their attention to the main line of road between Manuka Creek and the Teviot. Another ■winter with its wretched travelling and high freight is upon us, and literally nothing done during the year by the Government to mitigate the evil. Little more than half the amount voted for the road between Tokomairiro and Tuapeka was expended, and between Tuapeka and the Teviot the roadmen have filled up many of the deep ruts with whatever came most handy to them, but that is the extent of the road making which has taken place on that part of the road.