LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 143, 3 November 1870, Page 5

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A meeting of the Wetherstones Sports Committee was held in the Sportsman's Arms Hotel on Friduy evening last. Mr. D. M'Clu3key was unanimously elected chairman of the committee, and Mr. Cranley hon. secretary ex officio. The committee consists of Messrs Shumate, Donovan, Hart, Rlieuhy, Millard, M 'Bride, P. M'Cluskey, Kofoed, and G. Coxon. It was decided to hold the sports on the 26th and 27th of December, and to get a subscription list set on foot at once, and that a meeting of committe, for the purpose of making preliminary arrangements, be held in the Golden Age Hotel on Thursday (this evening) at 8 o'clock punctually. The committee have £7 in hand, a surplus from last year's sports, which will be devoted to the present year's prizes.

ON and after the Ist November, commission on money ordeis to the United Kingdom will be double.

The following memorial numerously signed by settlers, business people, and miners, has been forwarded to the Government by the Mount Benger residents :— " To his Honour J. Macanlrew, Esq., Superintendent, and the members of Executiveof Otago.- The memorial of the undersigned residents of Mount Benger humbly showeth that your memorialists view with alarm the privilege given to runholders on the goldfields of this province by the Amentle.l Hundred Regulation Ant, whereby they are empowered to select land on any part of their run to the extent of 640 acres, and that the exercise of that power by the runholders in this district, owing to the limited extent of agricultural land in certain parts of their runs, will CJinpletely. close them against settlement. That, taking into consideration the irrepaia'le injury which would be inflicted should tl c above mentioned Act be brought into operation, your memoialists believe it to be the duty of the Government, iv the interests of the piesent a: d future welfare of the inhabitants of this district, to take such steps as shall ensure to them their just right. Your menioralists, theiefore, humbly pray that the above mentioned Act be not btought into operation until the assembling of the new Council ; and that in the mean time immediate steps -be taken for throwing open blocks of land for agricultural settlement in localities, already indicated by the residents, and your memorialists will be ever grateful.

Mr. Gillies's Thomson's road steamer atrived by the J. Nicol Fleming. We may now soon hope to have proved by occular demonstiation the value of these road engines.

Wk learn that some very good-looking stone has been gut from the O.P.Q. Reef, which is again in full working order.

There is at piesent considerable agitation between the two rival towns of Clyde and Cromwell as to the future site of a courthouse and gaol in connection with the criminal sittings of the Supreme Court shortly to be established in the northern goldfields, each township claiming to be the most important centre of the district A large number of signatures are being obtained to both petitions set on foot. We trust that any division in the camp will not prevent the establishment of such a valuable acquisition to the goldfields as a District Criminal Court.

The Lawrence Amateur Dramatic Club purpose giving an entertainment on behalf of the Tuapeka Hospital, at Wetherstones, on Thursday, the 17th November.

We are glad to learn that the Government have completed the reconnoisance survey of the proposed railway from Tokomairiro to Tuapeka. It now lies with the Railway Committee to make strong their claim upon the Government, through the Provincial Council, for an early decision upon this all-important work.

A GRAND soiree and ball will be given in the shoolroom, Dalhousie (Tuapeka Mouth), tomorrow evening, under the auspicies of the Total Abstinence Society. Tea on the table at seven o'clock. A number of local gentlemen are expected to address the meeting.

Mr. Woodward, the Colonial Sub-Treasurer, who was appointed to adjust the accounts between South'and and the General Government, visited Lawrence last week for the purpose of auditing the General Government accounts here. His audit, we are informed, occupied only twenty minutes, which speaks well for the manner in which the accounts are kp.pfc.

The sum of £2.i0, if we remember correctly, was voted for the erection of a shelter shed between the Teviot and Campbells and the Poinahaka. If the Government will see that this vote is expended before arother winter comes round, they will be the means of saving, at least, a few lives. Everybody has heard of the beai t-rending scenes which have taken place on the Old Man Range, and which a shelter shed would have prevented.

On Thursday morning last, a miner named George Robertson, in the the employment of Messrs. Hales and Hinde, Blue Spur, was crushed to death by a fall of a large block of cement. It appears that Robertson was at j work close by the side of a large block of cement, which, by some unaccountable means, split in two, one half of it covering the unfortunate man, who was instantly killed. Deceased was a native of Durham, and was thirty-seven I years of age. He leaves a widow and three children. At his funeral on Sunday afternoon there was a very large attendance, upwards of one hundred oddfellows, seventy horsemen, and one hundred and fifty others forming the funeral cortege. The Rev. Mr. Beaumont read the Church of England service at thegiavc.

The Town Council has accepted the tender of Mr. H. Vye, for the sum of £30 15s, for fencii g the old cein?tery. The only other tender was Mi . Walker's which was £36. -

" A pig hunter's " letter cannot be inserted unless he sends us his name.

From the Provincial Government " Gazette " we observe that a master is wanted for the Waipori Government School. Applications to be sent to the secretary by the 6th instant.

PiTRicK Henderson & Co.'s ship J. Nicol Flmning, which anived from Glasgow at Poit Chalmers a few days ago, had on board 28 cabin and 193 steerage passengers.

We regret to learn that Mr. Roberts, rur.holder at Tapanui, met with an accident by which one of his arms got broken. Dr. M'Lauclilan was soon in attendance, and we understand Mr. Robeits is progressing favourably.

Agricultural lease certificates were granted by *he Waiden to the following gentlemen : -- Mr. R. Lancaster for 80 acres in the Crookston district, and Mr. C. A. Klingst, in the Waitahuna West District, for 50 acres.

A new map, on a large scale, of the town of Lawrence, including all the recent surveys by Mr. Adams of two and three acre sections, can now be seen at the Survey Office, Luwience.

Fkom a Wellington telegram, of tho Ist inst.. we learn that it is rumoured there that Mr. Main, M.H.R., is to be the Timaru Distiict Judge.

Mr. Bukton, of the firm of Burton Brotheis, Dunedin, the eminent photographic artis's, ha. anived in Tuapeka, and opened the htudio in Ross Place lately occupied by Mr. Gibb, We have had the pleasure of inspecting the specimens of cartes de visite and views which Mr. Button has on view, and would recommend all those who desire to see perfection iv tlie beautiful photographic art to pay Mr. Burton's studio a visit.

On the afternoon of Friday, the 21st ult., a chiiii ney in the house of Mr. John hiynics, Tapanui, caught tire, and was supposed to be extinguished after a considerable deal of labour had been expended upou it. About 10 o'clock at night, however, the fire again broke out, and burnt every stick of the building to the ground in about an hour aud a-half. The .nuiates had a narrow escape of being envelop ed iv the names.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Town Council lapsed on Monday last for want of a quorum. We are informed that a purple lecture will be given in the Tuapeka Oddfellows Lodge at 8 o'clock ] .m. by P.P.G.M. Bre. B.istings. AU officeis who are qualified to take P.O. degrees aie invited to attend.

Wk have repeatedly drawn the attention of the Government to the veiy sharp bend in the road a little below Mr. George Munro's house. 'J li's excellent specimen of provincial engineering has been the scene of accidents innumei»b!e. A short time ago Mr. Lancaster had a horse killed by falling over the embankment, and last week a waggon loaded with iron telegiaph posts toppled over, carrying the hoi-bes aud eveiy thing wiihit. An outlay of a £10-note would prevent all futuie accidents, and we sincerely trust the Government will not ask for any further sacrifice of life before they attend to their duty. Wk received by last evening's post a long repoifc of the Drybread mystery ease, giving the depositions of witnesses at the examination held before Vincent Pyke. Esq., Clyde, but we are compelled to hold it over till next week. I'he prisoner, Kosiah Boulton, was committed to take ber trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court. The Tapamu annual racas will be held on the 26th and 27 th December.

The usual meeting of the committee of the Tuiij-eKa Hospital was held in the Commercial Hotel on 'LUBsday evening, the 2>tn ult, Piebent- fllr. Uiistiugs, president, iv the chair, Meh3is. M'Swiney, Fanet, Thompson, Hiirrop. Dr. Hnlley, anil tut: secretary. Tlie minuses of previous meeting weie read and confirmed. Theie was not any correspondence. Complaints hud heeu made by some nieintiers of committee regarding patients being admitted into the Hospital who were able to pay, and who did not pay. With regard to one who had been admitted as a paying patient l>y Mr. .U'S.vii.ey's recommendation, that gentleman explained tlu circumstances of t.ie case, which weie enthei} satisfactory to the membeis or the committee piesent. i\lr. M .Heath, was placed on Vis>it ; iiK Committee in room or Air. I'itrrer, wtio retned by rotation. There being uo other business Leioie the committee tlie meeting adjourned. It is expected tbiit the Provincial Council, which is summoned to meofc on the I.3th Nov., will not sit above ten or fourteen days. Such being the case, it is surpiising to notice the g eat desire for political ho.iours exhibited by several gentlemen seeing this will be the last session of the present Couucil. We observe that no fewer ohan four gentlemen are coiitesting the seat for Dunedin city, rendered vicaut by the continued absence of Mr. Dillon Jiell. Our Teviot readers will be glad to learn that the Key. Father Maloney purposes, at an eaily date, delivering, 'at Roxburgh, his lecture on the " Wrongs or Ireland." The proceeds of the lecrure to be devoted to the relief ot debt on the Catholic Chapel. Mr. John Beigbton bus kindly consented to occupy the cliair on the occasion. We le'irn, upon good authoiity, that Mr Comii)isjio:ier Wclilon is prepaied to pi.tee a driil instructor sir. the service ot" t.ic !u..pek.t Volunteer liifle Rangers as soon as the company is loriDrid. A Fisw days ago Mr. Arthur Henderson, on his return rtom L'ciipeoi Mouth, was th own from his horse which shied iv turning round tilt corn r of Whitehaven-street anil Ross Piace. Beyond a severe bruise Mr. Henderson escaped any serious injury. We would draw the attention of committees of athenaeums and hospitals to the resolution carried iv the kiou.se of Representatives on the motion of Mr. Haughtou, Ju'y 21st, by which all newspapers printed in the colony can he posted free of charge to these institutions. The piacticeof affixing stamps, we observe, is still continued 'by most of the newspaper proprietois of the colony. We may state that it is not necessary that any nociricttion should be received fiom the Government to the efface that the resolution was enforced. The ciicketing season has ag.iin come round. Both the Dunedin and citizens clubs have played their opening mutches. The boating s>ea--on has also commenced. The Orngo Yacht Club made their opening cruise ou Saturday the 22nd ult. Mn. "Vogit, has accepted a requisition to st mil for Auckland City East for the House of Representatives. This Chinese giant has entered into a week's engagement at the Princess Theatre, Auckland. Tsk s.s. Auckland sails for the Fijis on the sth November,