LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 187, 7 September 1871, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

We learn form the Provincial Government " Gazette" of the 30th ult. that Crown Grants in favour of the aftermentioned perso; s are now ready for delivery : Aitken, Annie, section 10, block i, Tapauui ; Betts, T. G., section, block xxvi, Queenstown ; Do. section 3, block xxviii, Queenstown ; Brennan, Patrick, section 19, block ii, Alexandra ; Breuer, H., section 7, block xxviii, Queenstown ; Cameron. Thos, section 1, block be, Roxbugh ; Clarke, Win., sec4, block xxix, Queensfcown ; Gvofka, J. T., section 1, block xxx, Queensfcown ; Creig, George, section 16, block viii, Tapanui ; Huff, W, G., section 14, block vii, Queenstown ; Johnston, R., section 14, block xvi, Queenstown ; Kirkpatrick, J., section IG, block xxviii, Queenstown ; Lancaster, Richard, section 6, block ii, Dunkeld ; Mackersy, John, section 18, Mock ii, Alexandra ; Malaghan, M. ' J., section 22, block x, Queenatown ; Matheson, Duncan, section 3. block xxix, Queenstown ; Mayne, J. P., spction 3, 4 and 5, block xxx, Queenstown ; M'Conochie, W., section 13, block xxix, Queenstown ; Pasco, J. H... section 9. block xxx, Queenstown ; Powell, Catherine, sections 1 and 2, block xxiv, Queenstown ; Pyke, V. and others (trustees for Church of Eng'and, Clyde), Sections 5, 6, and 7, blocfci, Clyde ; Robertson, <T, YT,, acotion 16, Mock xxvii, Queenstown ; Robertson, J. W., section 14, block xxvii, Queenstown ; Roberts, R. W.. section 1, block xviii, Queenstown ; Rowell, J., section 12, block xxix, Queenstown ; Shore, W. A., section 15, block xxvii. Queenstown ; Stan homo, J., section 17, block xxvii, Queenstown ; Uric, Jas., section 4, block ii, Tapanui ; Urquharfc, A., section 11 block xxvi, Queeustown ; Wan-en, W., section 8 block xxvii, Qneenstown ; Williams, G., section 15, block viii, T.ipanui ; Williams, R., section 6, block xviii, Queenstown.

A telegraph station will shortly be opened at the Arrow.

Mr. Macasskt has been elected to the Provincial Council for Waikari, having beaten his opponent, Mr. Hepburn by 21 votes.

At the Mayor's Court, Dunedin, the other d.ay n. Ohinnman was committed for fcial for having attempted to commit suicide. It would seem that the unfortunate a .d slightly romantic Hoathen had been crossed in love, for when he was arrested his pathetic exclamation was : "Me die, me die ; Minnie inakee.fQol of me ; give me knife 1"

A letter signed "A Subscriber," Evaus Flat, shall receive attention in our next issue.

A Waipoki correspondent writes as follows : —A public meeting was'held at the Oddfellow's Hall, Waipori, on Saturday, the 2nd inst., for the purpose of forming a Miners' Association. The meeting was well attended. Mr. Samuel Cauldwell occupied the chair, and Mr. J. Cox was elected secretaiy. The Chairman, having: stated the object of the meeting, introduced Mr. James Ritchie, who, in a speech of somelength, dwelt on the absence of unity atnemgat the miners, and the necessity of co-operation for their own protection ; also, on the benefits likely to be deiived from saoh an association as it was proposed to form. He then read a copy of the rules of the Arrow Association, which met with the approval of the meeting. Mr. D.. Wilson moved, and Mr. J. Ritchie seconded,, " That a Miners' Association be formed."—Carried. Proposed by Mr. E. Teague, and seconded! by Mr. T. Vivian, " That the entrance fee be2s 6d."— Carried. Twenty members were then, enrolled. After which, it was proposed by Mr. J. Ritchie, and seconded by Mr, T. Gormley, "That a Committee of thirteen he elected." — Carried. The following gentlemen were duly elected : Messrs. T. Gormley, J. Ritchie, S. Cauldwell, Wm. M'Kean, D. Wilson. E Teagae, E. Clifford, S. Hosa, M. CWlighfHi, M. Blackmore, T. Driever, A. Grant, and T. Butterworth. A vote of thanks to the chair closed the proceedings. At a Committee meeting held immediately afterwards, Mr. S. Cauldwell was elected Chairman of the Association ; Mr. M'Kean, secretary ; and Mr. J. R-itchie, treasurer. The sinking of a shaft has been commenced at the Laminerlaw reef. The late manager of

the O.P.Q. Company has taken up a quartz claim close to this reef, and has written to Melbourne to ascertain the cost of machinery.

Mr. Burtonshaw, we are informed, who is connected with the new reef, Waipori, has a sluicing claim close to, out of which he has tatcen alaige number of specimens, which is a further proof of the richness of the reef.

We regret having misstated in our last issue that Mr. W. Hall had been appointed bailiff at Hokitika. We are informed, however, that Mr. Hall has been promised the first vacancy that occurs.

The escort, so* far as we have ascertained, is as follows :— Lawrence, 2063 ozs. 4 dwts ; Switzers, 1089 02S. 15 dwts. ; "WooLLed, G22 ozs. 11 dwts. ; "WaiUhuna, 447 ozs. 3 dwts. A growl comes from "Waipori against the Chinese being permitted to monopolise every gully and flat in the neighbourhood. The Heathen in that district numbers about 500, and is a formidable competitor to his white brother. Gieat dissatisfaction is also expressed in consequence of the great inconvenience miners aie> put to in getting miners' rights. We lv&ve repeatedly advocated the ftutho'ising of some competent person in the district to transact this an 1 other necessary business ; but as it is evident, ihe re is no prospect of their wants 1 eing attended to without some strong public feeling being expr^sse I in the trat'ier, it remains with the ye >ple themselves to take decisive action; Surely their Progress Committee is sufficiently strong and vigorous to do something after its long na]>.

We perceive by our Tapamu correspondent's letter that on the 31st ult., two Chinese were drowned while crossing the Pomahak.i at Capt. M'Kenzie's ford, the punt having got broadsideon to the stream an 1 filled.

A CONCEKT comes off at Waipori this evening a part of the proceeds of which is to go towards purchasing property for the Christy Minstrel Club, and the balance to the Tuapeka Hospital,

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Town ' Council was held on Monday evening, at which the Mayor presided. The minutes of last meeting having been read and confirmed, a letter from the Crown Lands Office referring to cert.tin sections placed at the disposal of the Council was read ; as also was a letter from the Government, stating, in answer to the petition forwarded by the residents in Ross Place through the Council, that there were no iunds at the disposal of the Government to perform the desired workaj. Permission was granted to Mr. Humphrey to deposit bricks and sand opposite his premises. G. Burrows' tender for cleaning channels, &c, at £20 per annum, also for keeping the reservoir races, fire plugs, hose, &c, in a state of repair at £15 per annum, was accepted. Several accounts were referred to the Financial Committee. The Reserves Committee's report, in which was recommended the sale of certain sections, was, after some uninteresting discussion adopted. Regarding the sale of municipal leases, it was agreed that the Mayor should supervise the drawing up of the necessary documents. It was also agreed that no lease should be issued until a sum equivalent to the cost of the sectioa or sections h<i<l been paid. On the motion of Mr. Meavs the Town Clerk was instructed to, to write to the Commissiorer of Police for permission to retain the services of prisoners confined in Lawrence Gaol, to form roads. &c. Tho Council th'-M adjourned for fourteen days.

The Weatherstones Readings ooine off as usual this evening. The Athenaeum entertainment last week was well patronised, a capital programme having been arranged by a few in. defatig.ible members of the Committee.

Tiie weather during the last two or three days has been exceedingly boisterous, and a great quantity of snow has fallen, and still lies thick on the ranges.

The yield of gold at Switzers is gradually increasing. The amount sent down by escort this week was over 1000 ot..

The first sod of the Kaipara railway, North - Island wi^s turned on the lßt inst. * "*

A " Times'" telegram, dated Auckland, September 31, says that Caledonian are at £135.

TVfi have received a letter from Havelock signed '* Settler," which, being unaccompanied by. the writer's real name and address, wecannqfc publish,

VTb learn from " Cromwell Argus," that a tnan named Thomas Carpenter, late a servant to the Royal Standard Quartz Co. was charged recently before Vincent Pyke Esq., R. M. with j having stolen amalgam in various quantities from May last, and committed for trial. The total value of amalgam alleged to have been stolen is £160 5s Id.

Speakino of the Table Hill Reef, the '" Bruce Standard " says : Good news from the Table Hill Reef ! The party who have recently been testing the Ocean View Reef have washed up, and as a result of three weeks' work with nine men a return of 45 oz. of gold has been obtained, being a yield of from 4to 6 dwts. per ton. The men engaged in the work are well satisfied, and entertain a sanguine hope that the quartz ob_ tamed from a greater depth will give even a more satisfactory return. We should he gkd to learn of their continued success.

THE " Daily Times " says : Ornitholgists -will he interested to learn that a new species of duck has made its appearance in the province. One out of a flock of fourteen of the strange bird was shot recently at Kitangata Lake, and we have had an opportunity of inspecting the skin which was forwarded to town. The bird is somewhat smaller than a brown teal. It flies very high, and whistles in its flight like a widgeon. The plumage is gererally a dove or yellowish fawn colour, head included, with some white feathers near the tale. The breast is golden brown stripped with bhek, going off towards and legs into yellow, and white feathers stripped with black. The legs are strong, and are longer than those of the common wild duk. The wings are long and of an ashen colour. The beak which is about the size of a duck's, is black and white, with a horny tip like the widgeon. The flight »f the birds when together is rather heavy, and the flock flies in the shape of a wedge, like wild geese.

MB. E. Carew, of Blacks, and Messrs J. C' Chappie and James Taylor, as mayors of Alexandra and Cromwell, are gazetted as Justices of the Peace. Mr. Carew is also appointed .Resident Magistrate for the district of Blacks.

An Improvement Committee has been formed at Cardrona.

The public school at Tynedale, Sydney, has been burned down. The fire is supposed to have been caused by an .incendiary.

A WRITER in the "Wellington " Independent " says that he believes the number of the Maori inhabitants of the North Island is 32,301.

Mr. Anthony Tkollope lately sat in the Speaker's gallery of the Victorian Assembly, during the Budget Speech of the Treasurer.

Mr. CHAKI.ES AVilmot an old favourite of Dunedin playgoers, has for the present refused •offers of engagement for the purpose of devotinjr himself to the management of his txveru, the famous old '" Coal Hole," in the Strand.

The Council of the Dunedin University hare decided on allowing ladies to become students.

The "Oitmaru Times" of the 23th insfc., says :— " The notice of motion taMed by Mr. Macandrew, in the General Assembly, to move a series of resolutions having for their object the abolishment of the existing Piovincil>ystein, and erecting the Middle Island into one Province, with a Lieu tenant-Governor, is likely to meet with general support. We hear that petitions in favour of the proposal are being got up in this and the neighbouring Provinces ; also that one is in the course of preparation, by gentlemen in this district."

The " Wanganui Herald '" contains an ad vertisement to lawyers, inviting tenders for ■bringing actions against the edito.rs of the "Evening Herald" and the ""Wanganui •Chronicle " for having placed the name of the advertiser to " an indictment " for drunkenness in the E.M. Court.