LOCAL. AND GENERAL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 129, 28 July 1870, Page 4

LOCAL. AND GENERAL.

Mb. C. D. E. Ward has loft for Hokitika a 8a 8 District Judge. The English Mail via San Francisco closes at the Post-office, Lawrenco, to-morrow evening at 8 o'clock. The prico of admission to the Wetherstones Congregational Church soiree was advertised aa 3s. It should have been 2s. 6d. We are glad to learn that Mr. John Copland has so far recovered from his late accident as to be able to occasionally visit his office. Mb. Fish has been elected Mayor for Dunedin ; Mr. Smifcham for Cromwell ; Mr. Udall for Oamaru ; and Mr. Theyers for Alexandra. We understand that our late townsman, Mr. J. M. Clark, is at present in Sydney, speculating in horses for shipment to. the Fijis, as horses are scarce there. Tae election of councillors for the West Ward takes place on Saturday. The candidates areMessrs. "W. D. Morrison, C. Bryant, P, Uren, and Dr. Halley. , H.M.S. Rosabio has returned from searching the Bounty Islands for traces of the Matoaka. She found nothing. The Blanche is daily expected from the Auckland Islands. The young woman, who was tried last week for feloniously stealing a broach, the property of Mrs. Henry, and whose sentence was deferred, has beon sent to gaol for two months. W\z observe by advertisement that the Dunedin starting place for Cobb's Coaches, has been changed from High-street to Manse-street, next TFaiu's Hotel, instead of the Empire as formerly. The usual fortnightly Readings will take place at Wetherstones this evening, in the Schoolhouse, at 8 o'clock. From the excellence of the programme we expect there will be a bumper house. W E hear that a valuable cow, the property of Mr. Donald M'Kinnon, of Beaumont Ferry, has been maliciously killed. Active inquiries are being made by the police to discover the perpe-^ trator of this dastardly act. , "We received a copy of the " Illustrated New Ze*l'\nd Herald " with a coloured Supplement. The papers steadily but we think a few more New Zealand views would enhance its interest and increase its circulation. The Athenaeum Readings came off last Thurs. day ; Mr. Stenhouso occupied the chair. Tho progiamme was good and well carried out, but, owing to the counter-attraction of the Collins Variety Troupe, the attendance was limited. Yesterd.vt morning a man named Todd, who had recently taken up a claim adjoining Mr. Coombe's, ilfanuka Creek, died suddenly while at work in his claim. We have not heard of the cause, but we understand an inquest will be held on the body. What are the cattleowners of Tuapeka thinking of ? They have not yet nominated any of their number to act as wardens for the extensive depasturing district at their disposal. TFhatever steps they intend pursuing must be token before Tuesday next, the day of election, if an election should be necessary. Although we have had some professional "darkies"' amongst us, the Lawrence Christy Minstrels are nothing daunted, and are determined to try and out-strip these itinerants. They are practising with great assiduity, and purpose giving a benefit in aid of the funds of the Lawrence Grammar School next full moon. By reference to our advertising columns it will be seen that Mr. J, P. Armstrong, the well v known dentist from Dunedin, will pay the good folks of Lawrence a visit. Our jaw-aching friends can get their teeth stopped, cleansed, or extracted without pain, and at Dunedin prices ; so they ought to avail themselves of this chance. The "Fiji Times" of the 4th June, writes: — News is just to hand of the wreck of the schooner Maafu. She went ashore on the Louthalu Reef on Tuesday morning, at 1 a.m., while taking the passage between the Kandavu and Louthalu Reefs, near the mouth of the Rewa Rivrer. All hands saved. The Maafu was on her return trip from Tanna with sixtyfour native labourers. We are indebted to Mr. Nicolson for the results of the l'ecent sale of town sections, which were as follows :— ln the township of Havelock, twenty-seven sections, averaging £4 per section. In block 11., Tuapeka Ea&t, section 20 at £1 per acre, £15 5s 10d. In Lawrence, 14 sections averaging £2 9s per section. In Dunkeld (Beaumont) 2 sections averaging £6 5s per section. In Tapanui, 9 sections averaging £5 9s9dper, section. The benefit given by Dr. Carr to the funds of the Tuapeka Hospital, on Monday evening last, was a great success. The Commercial Assembly Room was crowded to excess. Dr. Carr was peculiarly happy in his lecture and fortunate in, his mesmeric subjects. The amount netted by this benefit was somewhere about £30. The thanks of the district are due to the doctor for his kindness in aiding so handsomely the funds of the Hospital. The "Fiji Times" advocates the employment of Fiji labour more generally than it has been employed. The principal labourers avail-^ sible in the Fijis, as in New Caledonia, appear to be the Tanna Islanders, and they cannot supply the demand. It seems strange that where there are so many natives, a sufficient number cannot be got to supply the comparatively small, demand for labour in these islands. Failing Fijians, the "Times", advocates Chineac* labour.

The electji in for Mayor for the Municipality of Milton re? 'il ted in the return of Mr. Goodall by a large r aajority. The "Bruce Standard" states that U le announcement was received with loud and p| olonged cheers ; and some of the more enthusj astic of the crowd placed the successful candl date in a chair, and carried him to his residence) amidst the applause of the byestandera. THe Congr egationalists at TTetherstanes purpose holding a soiree in the Schoolroom on Friday, the sth August. From the earnestness in ■which the i 'riends of that denomination in Wetherstone; s aro entering upon their duties, we have gre?, t hope that their first soiree will be a very sup cessful one, and be the means of Btrengtheniu g their hold upon this district, where they have but recently had a stated minister. The Collii is' Variety Troupe gave an entertainment b,\ ; Bastings' Assembly Boom last Thursday tfl. a pretty good house. The first feature of the entertainment was "Young America," $he fearless acrobat, walking on a small wire n )pe from the Commercial Hotel to the Victory i Hotel, surrounded by splendid illuminations. The boy first walked across, and then walked backwards and back again amidst the plaudits of the crowd. It will be seen by referring to our advertising columns that this talented company are going to give some more entertainments in the surrounding districts and oneinLawrmce. We trust they will be well patronised. FEOM advertisement it will be observed that a meeting is to be held in the Tuapeka Athenaeum on Saturday evening, for the purpose of taking steps to get up a ploughing match in the district. Lfc is anything but oreditable to a large and increasing agricultural district as Tuapeka is becoming, to think that the settlers are so far behind other districts in that spirit of emulation which characterises nearly every other district in Otago. Two or three disinterested parties have taken the matter in hand, and if they receive that encouragement which such an important meeting deserves, we shall look forward to a most successful match. We trust to see a large muster of farmers at the meeting on Saturday evening. We extract the following from the "News of the World," anew paper published in San Francisco, a copy of which we have been favoured with: — Amongst the passengers who arrived in San Francisco by the first vessel of the new line, we notice the name of Captain BaWwin. This gentleman was selected, 'sv? understand, to report upon the variova industries of pur state f or the New Zealand Government, and has been busily employed hi doing so, since his .arrival in our midst. The New Zealand Goyernment, by the inauguration of this line, and &s)>/ the anxiety they thus evince to become accmainted with the great resources of California, nre deserving of the greatest praise. Captain Baldwin's report, if thoroughly carried out, ought to be a valuable document, and that it will receive the careful consideration it merits, we have no doubt, judging at least by his antecedents. A very sudden death occurred on Thursday last hi the neighbourhood of Docherty's crossing. It appears that the deceased, a man named Sunn, a shepherd on the Spylaw Station, had been a patient in the Tuapeka Hospital some week or two ago, suffering from aneurism of the aorta, and, being slightly better, went home purposely to arrange some private mattprs, and then return to the hospital. On leaving the hospital, Dr. Stewart told him that, from the nature of the crease, he might die at any moment. On returning he had succeeded in reaching Mr. Hopkins' on a waggon, the jolting of which appears to have hastened his death Air. Hopkins kindly gave the poor fello.w the use of his horse, but he had only succeeded in getting within about two hundred yards of Docherty's crossing, when he asked Mr. Francis, who luckily was passing at the. time, to assist him off the horse, as he felt very iIL He then fell into Mr. Francis's arms, and was removed to the nearest house, where he died in great pain about an hour afterwards. Drs. Stewart, Halley, and M'Lauchlan, were in immediate attendance on the deceased, but their assistance was unavailing. On Saturday last the nomination of councillors for the Municipality of Lawrence, took place hi the Council Chambers. At 12 o'clock noon the Mayor took the chair. There was a considerable number of ratepayers present. The only nomination papers lodged in the box were for the M iddle and East Wards. Mr. Kichard Williams was duly elected without opposition for the Middle Ward, and Mr. William Me«ars for the East Ward. On being called- upon to address the ratepayers, Mr. TPilliams said that he was not well up in municipal affairs, but hoped soon to get acquainted with them. He looked upon the position of councillor as an honourable one, and he could only say that he would do his best to further the interests, of the ratepayers. Mr. Herbert wished to ask Mr. Williams a question, on which Mr. Mouat said ' that such a course was quite unprecedented after the election had taken place. The Mayor ruled that it would be out of order, as Mr. Williams might unconsciously commit himself. Mr. Mears thanked the electors, for returning him a second time to the honourable position of councillor. His views and the course of action he had adopted were so well known, that it was quite unnecessary for him to make a speech. He would, however, be glad to reply to any questions that might be asked him. Several questions were asked Mr. Mears, tte answers to which, appeared to give satisfaction. For tho West Ward, the Mayor stated he was compelled to resort to the compulsory clause in the act, and called upon the ratepayers present to propose one or more of their number as councillor for that ward. The following gentlemen were then duly proposed and seconded : — Mr. W. D. Morrison, Mr. Philip Uren, Mr. Ohas. Bryant, and Dr. Halley. The Mayor then stated that a poll would take place on Monday next, the Ist Aug , at Mr. J. Williams's hou3e, corner of Kilmarnock-street. The nomination of auditors then took place, the only candidates pro-nosed-were Mr. Armstrong- and Mr. Keen, who fjave therefore declared elected. The meeting va^ then brought to a close, '