LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 160, 2 March 1871, Page 5

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

From Switzers last evening we learn that several fresh cases of scarlatina have broken out.

It will be seen by advertisement that Capt. Mackenzie is a candidate for the Mataura district in the Provincial Council.

• It will be observed by advertisement that Dr. Copland will deli .-era lecture on the Physiology of Temperance, in th? Schoolroom, on Monday evening, the 6th inst.

JohnNixox, a caipenter at Havelock, had his leg broken on Monday last. He was on horseback, and either the horse fell with him, or he fell off. He was conveyed to the Hospital.

A LIST of Mr. G. F. C. Browne's meetings, in the AVaitahuna distiict, will be observed in our advertising coluraus. Mr. Browne, we believe, is the only gentleman who has as yet publicly announced his intention of contesting the Waitahuna election.

The special attention of the electors and non-electors of Tuapeka is directed to a notice of meeting to be held in J tastings 1 Assembly Room on Tuesday evening next, to take steps to get all wbo iiie qualified placed on the Electoial 801 lof the district.

Me. Haugeton desires us to request those gentlemen who have been furnished with the set of questions on the Water Supply, to be good enough to forward the answers thereto by Saturday, or Moiiiiay next, at latest, to lih. Simpson, E.M., Couithouse, Lawrence.

Two children of Mr. Auld's, Wnitahuna, w^MaAaj'ing in his chaff house, when one of tffm^^f two of his fingers cut off by the macln^R The mother, with great presence of mind, immediately placed the seveied tips i;i their natural places, and held them there till the hand was bandaged by the doctor, and, stiangeto say, they seem to have commenced joining to the lingers.

A Switzfrs correspondent, writing under date 23rd Feb., says : — "Several cases of scailatina have occurred here, in one case, I am sorry to say, fatally to a youth named Anderson, who was supposed to be the first who brought the disease to this p'aca. Mr. Trethaway is also laid up with it. Four children of Mr. Eobert Allen have caught it. but are getting better-"

We are glad to learn that Mr. Sproule, in addition to his wiiting and commercial classes has included in his course of instruction a general elementary English education, suited for youths of all ages. From what we have heard and seen of the progress made by those under Mr. Sproule's tuition, we can strongly recommend parents to give their children a few months of that gentlemau's improved style of education.

We are delighted to learn that a good number of gentlemen have enrolled themselves for the purpose of forming a Fire Brigade in Lawrence. We look upon an association of this description as one of the most valuable that can exist in a compactly built town like Lawrence, aDd sincerely trust that it will receive every encouragement from the owneis of property. We have no doubt if the existence of such an institution is not the means of reducing the high rate of insurance now charged by public companies, at least some assistance will be given to the Brigade by these companies •whose lisk of loss, in case of fire, will bo considerably diminished.

The usual monthly meeting of the Tunpeka Hospital Committee of Management, took place in the Commercial Hotel, on the evening of Friday last, Mr. Bastings, president, in the chair. The following members of Committee were present, viz. : -Messrs. Abel, M'Swiney, Maclean, Harrop, W. D. Morrison, Farrer, Simpson, Hayes, and Drs. Halley and Stewart The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. There was no correspondence. The .Resident Surgeon's monthly report was laid on the table, from which we noticed that 14 patients had been admitted into the Hospital during the month, making the large number of 29 patients now in the Hospital. Mr. Abel read the Visiting Committee's report, which recommended an additional number of beds and bedsteads, and the necessity of purchasing a supply of potatoes. With regard to the mattrasses and bedstead?, the Visiting Committee were instructed to call for tenders for twelve flock mattraases and 12 bedsteads, and the necessary bedding. The Committee thought it advisable to wait for a month or two before purchasing a Bupply of potatoes for the winter months. Mr. Morrison succeeded Mr. Simpson as member of the Visiting Committee.

The Bazaar in aid of the funds of the Church of England, Lawrence, and for which the ladies of the congregation have been working so hard for some months past, was opened for the week on Tuesday last. This fancy fair is held in the Athenaeum Hall, which is tastefully decorated •with evergreens. On Tuesday evening there was a large number of visitors, and the scene presented was of a fairy d scription. It is not our intention this week to say too much of the many wonders of art which are there offered for Bale at a fabulously low price, but any one who has a shilling to spare, and a few additional small coins in his pocket, will be able to make presents to all his young frienda. The pleasure which alone is to be derived from witnessing the dexterous manner in which the sweet creature* sell their wares and their purchasers, and the agreeable feeling you experience in parting with your change to the plaintive tones of the pianoforte, so gracefully played by Mrt. and Miss Hanson, is jadfifieribabie. We hope that every person wbo Hi spare shilling, will invest it in visiting this of Art. If he has not a shilling, then he Jnt to borrow; one, for such a treat only occurs in Lawrence once in every three or four years. This evening, the Lawrence Christy Minstrels •will eing a few of their choruses, aDd still further enliveq the scene.

A miner named George Simpson bad his leg broken by a fall of earth in a claim at Waitahuna on the 20th ult. After being attended by Dr. Johnson, he was sent to the Hospital.

A meeting of miners was held in the Schoolroom, Blue Spur, on the evening of Monday, last, the 27th inst.. for the purpose of considering the subject of an increased water supply and to appoint delegates to wait upon C. E Haughton, Esq., at Lawrence. Mr. T. F Morris occupied the chair. In opening th> meeting, Mr. Morris said that the questioi which had brought them together was one o1 great importance, not only to the Blue Spur, j but to the goldfields in general, whose stagnation could be clearly traced to the want of a water supply to develope their great resources. Mr, Morris considered tho goldfields of the province as the chief if not the only source of wealth it possessed, and when they go down, its rotten politics would go with them. There was no other means of unearthing the riches of the province, excepting by some grand water scheme. It was for the meeting to decide what steps should be taken by the miners of the Spur towards increasing the supply of such a valuable commodity as water, and obtaining their share in the £300.000 loan about to be raised by the General Government. Several resolutions were adopted, and a deputation appointed from the different, claims to wait upon Mr. Haugbton. In our report of the evidence taken before that gentleman in the Courthouse, Lawrence, the resolutions will be found.

Greater remissness on the part of the General Government could not he imagined than has been shown to those 72 gentlemen in Tuapeka, who. four months ago, requested to he enrolled as a Volunteer Rifle Brigade, and have not yet received aiiy intimation either that their services will he accepted or rejected. If that is the manner in which our rulers intend fostering the military ardour of the youth of the country, •we fear, that iv the event of any active warfare being required, very few will be found prepared to volunteer their services. "We accuse the Government of neglect in this matter, knowing that it is not from any neglect on the part of Major Atkinson, the district adjutant, as it is chiefly through his energy that the Otasro volunteers have reached their present efficiency. We trust that the following letter, -which has been addressed to Major Atkinson by the hon. secretaiy of the Tuapeka volunteers, will draw forth an answer of some description from the Government, so that the youth of the district, who so nobly answered to the call, will be no longer kept in suspense. — "Head-quarters, Tuapeka Rifles, Lawrence, 22nd Feb., 1871. Sir, —I am instructed by the committee of the above corps, to remind you that it is now over three months since a memorial was forwarded to his Excellency the Governor through you, praying the acceptance of the services of 52 gentlemen as volunteers. I beg also to remind you that the Clufcha andUnmpden coips were sworn in one month after their memorial was forwarded to the Defence Office ; and in view of such being the case, I think a great injustice, not to say slight, has been done the 72 gentlemen, who at present constitute the corps. I find nothing in the Regulations limiting the number of volunteer corps ; nor do I find anything giving the Government a discretionary power in accepting the services of one corp? and not of another. We have been very much disappointed at not being gazetted by this time, after spending a considerable amount of time in preliminary drill ; and I have no hesitation in saying, that even were the corps gazetted shortly, the military enthusiasm which at one time characterised the movement, will never be resuscitated. Trusting you will let us know whether our services are to be accepted or not, T beg to 7-Pinain, yours truly, A. BURNS, Hon. Roc, T.R H. —John James Atkinson, Major, District Adjutant, Dunodin.