LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 135, 8 September 1870, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

We would remind our readers that the Wetherstones Readings take place to-night.

We have to acknowledge the receipt of "Hanbard" No. 10 and 11, and a batch of Parliamentary papers.

A' whale, upwards of 70 feet in length, has been washed ashore near the Bell Rock, Taranaki.

A ball was given to Commodore Lambert on Thursday last at Wellington. Both Houses adjourned, and about 300 persons were present. The Governor presided at supper, aud proposed Commodoie Lambert's health. The Duke of Edinburgh also was present.

A waggoner named W. Colgan committed suicide by hanging himself to the roof of his waggon. It appears his waggon got stuck in the roads, and being refused assistance, he committed the act in despair. At the last meeting of the Waste Lands Board, application was made to have sections 10, 11, and 12, block XXIX., section 1, block XXVIII. 4 and section 2, block X., Havelock, forfeited by the late Mr. Wylde, offered for sale by auction. It was agreed that the land should be sold by auction.

The Kent, which sailed from Melbourne on the 15th of February for London via the Cape of Good Hope, reached Blackwall on the 25th of May, occupying 97 days from the Heads. An old colonist, writing to the " Home News," speaks highly of the rqu.te as being the mildest and best for invalids.

A veritable case of lynching happened at the Thames on the sth of last month, A man named George Perston was seized at a claim, and submitted to a shower bath of warm tar.

Tend*.ks were lately called by the City Council of Dunedin for the painting of Bell Tower. There were several tendera sent in, one of which was £95, while the accepted ten-. der was £13 15s. One of the Councillors suggested that it was a new chum's fiist go-off.

The bridge over Gabriels Creek is at last finished, and will prove, without doubt, a great boon to the inhabitants of Gabriels Gully. The bridge is substantially built, and reflects the highest ciedit on the contractors, Messrs. M 'Donald & Co., of Peel-street.

Sixty-one passengers, principally discharged men from the 18th Regiment, with their wives and families, arrived in the barque Constance at Auckland, from Sydney, on August 14, to settle in this colony.

The new San Francisco mail service, having Port Chalmers for its New Zealand terminus, is absolutely independent of the other colonies. The vote on the Supplementary Estimates is for a new service, commencing in January next. Any contribution from Australia is to be applied in reduction of the New Zealand subsidy.

At a meeting of the Athenseum Committee, held on Saturday evening, it was decided to discontinue the Readings after Thursday the loth inst., previous to which date extraordinary efforts, we understand, will be made to get up a good programme.

The Rev. Father Maloney will deliver a lecture in the Oddfellows' Hall, Waipori, on Tuesday evening, the 20th instant. From the well-known eloquence of the rev. gentleman, we have no doubt he will have a large audience. The Rev. Father Maloney will lecture in Lawrence in a few days of which due intimation will be given,

The Total Abstinence movement is gaining ground fast in Tuapeka, and other districts of Otago. A very enthusiastic meeting was held at the Blue Spur on the evening of Friday last, when upwards of 20 persons pledged themselves. From our advertisement columns it will be observed that a meeting of those friendly to the cause is to be held in Tapanui

We have to apologise to our Manuherikia subscribers for the irregularity with which they have received their copies of the Tuapeka Times for the last month, In future, to avoid any similar irregularity, we shall send the papers through the post-office.

The William Davie, from Glasgow, arrived at Port Chalmers on Tuesday with 168 passengers—completing the voyage in 81 days.

We would remind our Teviot readers of the soiree, in behalf of the funds of the school, which takes place in the schoolhouse to-morrow

evening.

We are compelled to hold over the following communications owing to the late hour they were received last night ;— Our Balclutha oorrespondent's letter ; a letter from Mr. Sandison, Waikaia Bush ; a letter from Mr. Donovan, Shamrock Hotel ; also, a communication signed " Acclimatisation,"

In our report of the meeting of the Tuapeka. Railway Progress Committee in another column a letter will be observed from the Provincial Secretary showing that the Government will undertake the preliminary survey of the rail-, way from Tokoraairiro. to Lawrence, and will further give the committee e/ery assistance in carrying out the objects they have in view.

We paid a visit the other day to Messrs. Uren & Co.'s ooal pit, and were pleased to observe several improvements in the working of the pit since they purchased it. A tunnel has been driven into the seam to a distance of 60 feet, and we were informed the coal improves as the drive is continued, A tramway has been constructed, by which the coal is brought to the surface, and considerable manual labour avoided.

It seems that after all Mr. George Morrison, was not very far from the mark when he told people that he had used some coal from the reserve behind the Hospital. If those who. were hard to believe that a good seam of coal existed at the place referred to will take a walk over and examine it for themselves, they wil § find as beautiful a seam of coal as could be desired,

Foi^owing the lead of Mr. Wa Finnimore, who claimed and obtained compensation for losses sustained by him during the late campaign in the Waoganui and Patea districts. three Patea publioans have caused petitions to be presented to the House of Representatives. They were presented by Mr. Kelly, and are as follows :— By Robert Campbell, of Patea, for £704 Bs, as compensation for his public-house having been closed by otder of the military authorities. By Alexander Simmonds, of Patea, for £2200, as compensation for his public-house having been closed by order of the Defence Minister. By John Casey, of Patea., for £2000, as compensation for his public-house having been closed by a similar order.

Our up-country townships seem to be better off than San Francisco for footpaths. A correspondont of the "Daily Times," writing from there, says :— " If Tuapeka, the Manuheiikia, or the Dnnstan had pathways such as those you find in San Francisco, the Mayors and Corporation* would be daily chastised wilh whips of red-hot wire ; the local papers would, rend them, the inhabitants stone them, in their rage and fury. Here, the civic functionaries, are safe ; like Gallio of old, the Press and people care for none of these things. If a man falls iiito one of these pitfalls, breaking his leg or his neck, as the case may be, what then ? Why, serve him right, that's all. He should have taken more oare of himself."

The people of Queenstown are doing their best to get the Winton Railway extended to their township, The following is from the " Wakatip Mail " :-" In accordance with resolution of Town Council, telegrams weie forwarded by the Mayor, B. Hallenstein, Eaq., to the Colonial Secretary, Colonial Treasurer, to Mr. W. Wood, Superintendent of Southland, and to Messrs. Haughton and Bradshaw, urging; desirability of extension of Winton Railway to. Lake Wakatip, and pointing out the great advantages to be derived by all the northern gold6elds of Otago. Mr. Haughton very promptly replied by a satisfactory message, as will be seen by the following, which was deapatclied from the Government Buildings, Wellington, at 6 50 p.m., and reached here at 6.55 j

— 'The Mayor, Queenstown, — I have already urged the desirability of extension of "Winton Railway to Wakatip, and am preparing memorandum of particulars to lay before the Cabinet. —Haughton.' "

At the Criminal Sittings of the Supreme Court, held in Dunedin before Mr. Justice Chapman, David Storey was convicted of larceny at Switzers, and was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment with hard labour. — Samuel Taylor, for forgery and uttering at Oamaru, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment with hard labour. — John Paterson, who was charged with burglary at Kyeburn, the jury returned a verdict for the milder offence of larceny, was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment with hard labour-.— Frederick Lange, late rate collector at Lawrence, pleaded guilty to the cbarge of embeggUng certain gums of money the property of the muicipality, he was to be sentenced yesterday. -^John Gough was charged with stealing, on the 11th Jury, last, a horse, saddle and bridle ; also, a cheque valued; £16, the property of Mr. TFalter M'lvor» an hotel-, keeper at Switaers, and was sentenced to two years' imprisonment with hard labour on thefirst indictment, and one year on the second, making in all three years. —John A. M'Dermott, for stealing a silver watch, the property of Charles Dougherty, was sentenced to nine months' imprisonment with hard labour. — Joseph Gibbs, for obtaining goods under false pretences at Bendigo Gully, was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment with hard labour. —George Rennie pleaded Guilty to the two indictments charging him with being concerned in the gold robbery at Clyde— sentence was deferred. — Malcolm M'Lennan pleaded Not Guilty to the charges preferred against him, and his case was to come off yesterday. He is to be defended by Mr. Barton.

The Lawrence Athenaeum Brass Band has again made a start, having received an addition of five new members. At a recent meeting of the committee, Mr. D. F. Francis was duly elected leader.