LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 170, 11 May 1871, Page 5

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The fifth an livers.iry of the AVaibahnna Lodge of Oddfellows will be celebrated by a soiree, concert, and ball, this^Thursday) evening, in the Assembly Room, Waitahuna, at 6 o'clock. We regret to learn trom a "Daily Times" telegram that Mr. Morton, formerly Inspector of Police in Otago, and who resided in Lawrence, has been sent to Auckland from the Fijis for medical treatment, as he is suffering from mental depression. He was sent to the Lunatic Asylum. The " Southland News " learns that the bodies of three of Mr. M'Nab's four children, who vecently died with symptoms of dysenteiy, are to be exhumed for the purpose of further examination and analysis. The inquest will be held on Thursday next. THE editor of the " Wakatip Mail " was probably a little drowsy when he transcribed the following portion of a telegram relating to the late tragedy at Caversham. The italics are ours :— "This so preyed on MThee's mind, that en Monday he killed his daughter, aged four years, with a carving knife, almost severing her head fiom her body ; and then cut his own throat. Slie died yesterday." The following extraordinary advertisement appears m a late Auckland evening paper :— '■ The proprietor of a small retail butchering establishment requires the services of a gentlemanly young man, where an uncomfortable home would be sufficient remuneration for his services. Must be a first-class shopman ; slow at accounts ; good collector indispensable. Also, look after shipping ; act as waterman, &c. Must be staunch in harness, a3 he will occasionally be yoked in the hand-cart. Not to object to petticoat government. Must not understand foreign languages. — Address, enclosing testimonials, to Alberta, 24, Post-office. The following is the return of the population in the Naseby Census Sub-District within three miles of township : — Europeans. Chinese. Naseby Township - 530 4 „ District - 321 104 Total - 851 108 Married. Children. Naseby Township and District - - 112 266 The total population in the Mount Ida District is 3494 Europeans, and 204 Chinese. The following remarks are made by the ''Nelson Colonist" when commenting on a charge recently given by Judge Gresson to a, Grand Jury : — " Eighty thousand pounds is stated by Judge Gresson to be the sum which the punishment and repression of crime costs the Colony of New Zealand in. the year 1869. L 80.00 0! -in a country endowed with a good climate, offering a life of comparative plenty and comfort, when the state of the mass of the people in the old country is considered : LSO,OOO, to pay in one yeai for the repression of crime ! The subject is too serious for mere talk ; let our readers ruminate on the fact and its causes. Something like L7OOO a year is paid by Nelson province for educational purposes, and with that sum between two and three thousannd children receive something like plain education, which all lovers of advanoemenb are striving to improve for the sake of future men and women of the Colony ; L7OOO is only the eleventh part of LBO,OOO. Think of it."

' We regret to learn from a Roxburgh correspondent's letter of the 6th inst., that a rise had taken place in the river whioh had stopped moat of the workings. The drawing for Mr. R. Ayling's art union took place at the Coal Creek Hotel on the Ist inst., No. 93 being the winning ticket, the holder of which was Mr. J. Burton, butcher, Teviot, who is now the possessor of a double seated buggy and a pair of chestnut horses, which only cost him LI. There were only nine tickets left in the box when the lucky one turned up. We regret to say that the death roll at Tapanui has been further increased by the decease of Mr. A. Buntine, well known in this district, who died suddedly of heart disease early on Thursday morning last. The "New Zealand Wesleyan," of Christchurch, a journal conducted by the Rev, A. R. Fitchett, contains an authoritative denial of the report recently circulated that that gentleman was about to be ordained a minister of the Church of England. In reply to a telegraphic request signed by the Superintendent of the Episcopal school at Wanganui, asking him, if the report was true, to offer himself to the Bishop of Wellington as their pastor, Mr. Fitchett says : — '.' Thanks. Statement entirely without foundation. Could not be tempted by anything lower than a bishopric. (Signed) A. R. Fitchett. To Mr. R. Davis." Mr. Fitchett adds : " The editor thinks it unnecessary to add anything to the above, except that he is grateful for the esteem in which he appears to be held in his old circuit, and that he regrets that his friends in the Episcopalian Chinch there should have been so egregiously misled." We observe from an advertisement in another column that the Rev. R. L. Stanford, of Tokomairiro, will conduct divine service morning and evening next Sunday in the new church, Lawrence. Mr. M. Hate will offer for sale, on the 19th instant, at his auction rooms, Ross Place, all the unsold sections in the township of Lawrence, Wetherstones, Waipori, Dunkeld, and Dalhousie, aud suburban sections adjoining Lawrence, comprising one acre to three acres each, in blocks 54. 56, and 60. Mr. Hay will also offer for sale sections in the undermentioned townships : —Waikaia, on thegiound, on Tuesdry, 16th inst. ; Tapanui, on the ground, on Thursday, the 18th inst ; Havelock, on the ground, on Tuesday, the 23rd inst. OUR Blue Spin correspondent leports ;— The poll for tbe election of a Delegate to the Mining Conference of the Tuapeka district was declared here on Sautrday, at two o'clock, by the Returning Officer, H. J. Abel, E»q. There was neither the successful nor the defeated candidates present, and there were only three citizens in attendance. The Returning Officer did his duty courteous^ by taking off his hat and making hid bow to the only miner present, stating the number polled for each candidate. It is very surprising that such apathy should be displayed — it was so much so that the Returning ufliesr was allowed to depaifc without the usual vote of thanks. The successful ca>nhJ:ite. I have no doubt, will make amends for the seeming dscourteousy shown to that officer. It is reported here that the Jury have been dismissed on the Great Extended Co., v. Hales and Co's case. We ought to have a judge appointed to our own cheek, to be resident on the Spur. What do you say Mister Editor ? WiIPORI is again left without a gold receiver, Mr. Harvey having been removed to the Arrow, on account of ill health. Seeing that this circumstance is a source of great inconvenience aud annoyance to the inhabitants of this important district, we would suggest to the Government the propriety of authorising the resident constable to issue miners' rights, &c, on certain days to be appointed, granting him a small salary for hi 3 increased duties. It may be on the score of economy that the Government have not appointed a successor to Mr. Harvey, or because the work is so limited ; if so, we think the adoption of our suggestion would meet the exigencies of the case, and prove a benefit to all concerned. Mr. James Ritchie, of Waipori, who has been elected a Mining Delegate for the Tuapeka district, invites the miners of the district to forward to him, in writing, such suggestions regarding the wants in the various localities, more especially the Blue Spur. We trust this laudable endeavour on the part of Mr. Ritchie to obtain a thorough knowledge of the requirements of the miners will be met by them in the same spirit in which it is made, and that every facility will be afforded him of so doing. It would be well if the other members of the Conference would adopt similar measures, in order to post themselves up in matters affecting the mining interest in their several districts, so that when they meet in solemn conclave they may be able to offer the Government an amount of valuable information which may lead to an era of prosperity for the goldfields, hitherto not enjoyed. The usual weekly meeting of the Waste Land Board took place on Wednesday last. The members present were the Chief Commissioner, Mr. J. T. Thomson (in tbe chair), and Messrs. Cargill and Haughton. Applications to purchase sections 29, block X., 52, block V., Waitahuna East, by Mr. Peter Cook, and section 87, block 11., Tuapeka, by Mr. Alexander Louden, and held respectively by them under agricultural lease, were granted. Mr. Caleb Douglas' application for a co.il lease at Welshmans Gully was, the Warden's report having been read, declined, the lessee of the present coalpit being under engagement with the Governmeut to supply the public at a reasonable rate. The application of Mr. J. W. Goodger to purchase 18 acres in the township of Cromwell was declined. Applications for ground f or plantation purposes were referred Government.

The Wetherstones Readings will be resumed this evening : we hope to see a good attendance.

In the Supreme Court on Saturday, before Judge Chapman, the hearing of the case of the Great Extended Sluicing Company (registered) versus Hales and another was resumed, when, his Honour having summed up, the jury retired, and after two hours had elapse 1, sent in a message to his Honour, asking if a verdict of three-fourths of their number would be accepted. His Honour expressed his willingness to accept it, if the parties concerned would do so. Mr. Macassey assented ; but Mr. Smith declined to take such a verdict ; and the jury consequently had to renew their deliberations. Ultimately they were locked up for the night, and being unable to agree, were discharged at 10 o'clock on Sunday morning. On Monday, before the regular business of the day commenced, Mr. Macassey (for the plaintiffs) asked his Honour to fix a day for proceeding with a new trial. After some deliberation, his Honour promised to set down the case for trial at the June sittings. From the vital importance of this case, and its bearings upon the future workings of the Spur, we thought it advisable, even at considerable expense, to obtain a verbatim report of the speeches of counsel and his Honour's summing up, in order that a record might be made for future reference in the event of other similar cases which we fear are only too likely to recur. In our next issuo we shall give the speeches of counsel on both sides and his Honour's address to the jury, which together, we trust, will prove invaluable not only to those immediately concerned but to the mining community at large. By a telegram received last evening we are informed that the Nevada arrived at Port Chalmers yesterday at one o'clock p m., entering the Heads at dead lo%v water. The officers of the vessel, who have been feted at the North, are to be entertained at Dodson's Provincial Hotel, Port Chalmers, to-day by the inhabitants of the Port. We have received a letter signed "Veto," which we must decline to publish, as it casts unkindly reflections upon a gentleaian whom we know to be undeserving of them, and who, wo m:iy inform 4V Veto," is not the author of any of the letteis he refers to. A GRAND banquet is to be given in honour of the return of the liberal* members to the Assembly and Council in the Athenaeum on Thursday, 18th inst., when it it anticipated that a number of members of the Assembly and Council will attend and take psrt in the proceedings. At the Mayor's Court, Dunedin, on Saturday last, Peter Kme was brought up on a charge of having, at C.iven>ham, on the 25th ult., assaulted Agatha M'Phee, now deceased, with intent, &o. but was discharged, as there was no evidence to prove that he was guilty of the offence of which he was charged. Mrs. M'Piiee was the unfortunate woman who, after murdering her youngest child, inflicted the wounds upon herself of which she died. A report of the tragedy appeared in our last issue. The opening of the Provincial Council is postponed to the 25th May. The Readings in connection with the Lawrence At heweum will La recommenced on Friday (to-mo;ro\v) evening, when tho-.o who ile light to see instruction blended with amusement, will have an opportunity of passing a very enjoyable evening. We are informed that a capital program in cc has been arranged by Messrs. Downes and J. C. Brown, who have secured the assistance of several ladies and gentlemen, whose names alone are a sufficient guarantee of a great success. Mrs. Hanson has kindly consented to act as pianist qp. the ocoa-