LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 127, 14 July 1870, Page 5

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ws are informed that a subscription list is set on foot to procure a bell for Mr. Richard Heritage, town bellman.

At the sitting of Court Star of Tuapeka on Tuesday evening last, the half-yearly election of office bearers resulted in the appointment of Bro. John Bennett as Chief Ranger, and Bro. David Herd as Sub-Chief Ranger.

The nomination of candidates for the Mayoralty takes place in the Council Chambers, on Saturday, at 12 o'clock. We have not heard of any candidate for the honourable position, but we are informed that Mr. Bastings is quite agreeable again to hold the reins of office.

Fbom advertisement it will be observed that Mr. Keen will offer for sale, by publio auction, the whole of Mr. Hopkins' library. Very few of the residents, who are intellectually inclined, have failed to visit Mr. Hopkins' library, wMch is one of the most select to be found within a radius of fifty miles. Indeed, we question if a similar collection of the woiks of our modern authors can be found in Otago. We have no doubt this sale will afford the public an opportunity of obtaining some of these works at a very cheap rate.

Dr. Cabb has had a very successful professional tour in these parts, having had if not overflowing houses at least well filled houses in Lawrence, TTetherstones, Blue Spur, and TFaitahuna. The numerous antics performed by those gentlemen who were put under the mesmeric influence created great mirth. We understand that the Doctor made a great on. slaught upon us last week for inserting a certain paragraph wMch had become current coin from its appearance in nearly every colonial journal. The story, as a story, was too good to be lost, and we only regretted that we should have been amongst the last of the press who had given it currency. If the paragraph referred to has given the learned doctor offence, or in ajiy way injured him, we beg most sincerely to. apologise. We merely inserted it in the form in which it has gone the round of the newspaper press. From advertisement in another column it will be seen that Dr. Carr intends giving a few more entertainments in the surrounding districts.

At the last meeting of the Waste Land Board, the following business in conneofcion with the Tuapeka district was transacted : — With, regard to the depasturing of cattle within the Waitahuna Hundred, the opinion of the Provincial Solicitor was that the settlers on that Hundred had no right to pasturage on that part of the Hundred situated within the goldfields boundary : and it was resolved that the rangers be accordingly informed of the fact. The. following applications to purchase agricultural leases were granted, viz, :— D. Ross, for part of sections 1 and 2, block X., Hillend district. Peter Robertson, sections 103, 104, and 110, block 11., Tuapeka East district ; Richard Lancaster, sections 6, 7, and 1, Crookston district j William Holland, section 17, block IV., Tuapeka East.

The usual fortnightly Readings took place in the Atheuseum, Lawrence, on Thursday evening last, and were well supported by the public, notwithstanding the counter attraotion effected by Dr, Carr's entertainment on that night, With one or two exceptions, all those gentlemen who had promised to assist on the occasion, were present. J. Mauafc, Esq., occupied the chair, and the programme was gone through in a manner creditable alike to the performers and to the Athenaeum Committee, several of the gentlemen securing to themselves the honour of an encore. The next entertainment will take place on Thursday, the 21st insl, when a first-class programme will be submitted, and we hope to see an overflowing house on the occasion.

"It?" It? naver rains but it pours," is a true old saying, and has been verified by a string of accidents which happened in the vicinity of Lawrence during the past week. Friday, the Bth inst. being a court day at Waitahuna, Mr. Jofen Copland, solicitor, accompanied by Mr. Simpsou, YVardeu, and. other gentlemen, went there, and after the business of the day was concluded, started back for Lawrence. Mr. Copland was. riding side by side with Mr. Simpson, and was mounted on a young and very spirited herse. When nearing the fluming, a short distance from Chalmers's Half-way House Mr. Cepland let out bis. horse, and weafr on at a canter, Mr. Simpson following &t a. walk, when almost at the fluming, Mr. Simpson came up just as Mr. Copland was pitched off, and, seeing the horse getting away, immediately made chase, thinking that Mr. Copland had not suffered any injury. Dr. Stewart, who was a short distance behind, and not knowing anything about the accident (as Mr. Copland had been thrown into a ditch) rode past, and was surprised when he saw Mr. Simpson coming back. Mr Simpson informed Mm of the occurrence, and they immediately turned back and found Mr. Copland insensible. Dr. Stewart, on examination, found that he had received a fracture on 'the left side of his skull, and at once sent to ;Mr. Chalmers for a cart, and conveyed the unfortunate gentleman there. The accident occurred between 5 and 6 o'clock in the evening, and Mr. Copland was iusensible till jierfc morning, when it was deemed expedient tomove Mm to the residence of his brother, the Rev. Dr. Copland, which was done under the care of our medical men. He is progressing slowly. It is somewhat singular to relate that the stone en which Mr. Copland fell was the only one to be found within a radius of thirty or forty yards. The next accident happened to a man named William Banks, aged sixty. It appears that Banks was crossing the Tuapeka

Creek, about five or six miles from Lawrence, on a plank when his right foot slipped off it, and got jammed between two rocks, thus losing his balance, he fell, and suffered a compound fracture of his ancle joint. He was at once conveyed to the hospital, where, under the care of the surgeon, he is getting on as well as can be expected. The next casualty occurred to a man named Ferguson, who, it seems, on Saturday last was riding to the Blue Spur on a horse which he had recently purchased, when the beast stumbled and threw him, causing a fracture of the collar bone. He was conveyed to the hospital also, and is getting on very well. That is the third accident that has befallen Ferguson within the last week or ten days. On the same day Mr. Jas. Robertson, son of Mr. Peter RobeLtson, was thrown from his horse, and was insensible for half an hour, but we are happy to learn that he is none the worse for the mishap. The last accident we have to record happily passed off with a severe shake and bruise— it happened to a man named Francis Vivian, at Tuapeka Month. It appears that Vivian, while repairing the hose at his claim over a pretty high precipice, lost his balance, and fell over on his shoulder, inflicting the bruise referred to.

The young men of TFetherstones have taken preliminary steps for the formation of a debating society. Twenty-one names were enrolled at a meeting held on Monday evening. The first meeting of the society will be held on Wednesday evening next, at half -past seven o'clock.