LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 190, 28 September 1871, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

AT a sitting of the Clutha Presbytery on the 20th inct., the call form the North Dunedin Presbyterian Church to the Rev. Dr. Copland was sustained.

M'Cay and pahty lately erected the largest wheel and pump in Waipori, below the, old Maiden City claim, on the Waipori River, and great results are expected.

We are informed that in this and other districts, at least one half of the Chitiese miners are without miners' rights. We are surprised this state of things is allowed to exist, seeing that a large amount .of revenue is in this way lost. Booth, Olkmenson and pabtt have obtained

a certificate for a race from the "Waipori river thirty miles in length, which will command all the spurs on the south gide of the river. The apse, is said to be an excellent one.

Messst Adams and Cotle have comjrated the survey of the proposed line of railway from Tokomairiro to Lawrence, and in a few days the plans will be submitted to the Governnent. filr. Yogel in his Financial Statement said that only those railwas's would be constructed which, would pay working expenses. As this line is one of the very few that will pay expenses, we may expect it started shortly.

We beg to call attention to the anniversary services in connection with the Lawrence Wesleyan Sunday School. The sermons and addresses will be delivered by thejßev. F. W. Isitt on Sunday first. The tea and public meeting will be held on the following Tuesday.

Our Tapanui Correspondent, writing under date September 21st, says :— I have to relate the finding of the body of one of the Chinese who were drowned at Cap. M'Kenzie's crossing on the 31st August last. George Ching, was found in a shallow pool of water on the river bank, a little below Glenkenith Station, on Sunday the 17th. Word was sent to the police, and the body was taken to the Commercial Hotel, and an inquest was held by Cap. M'Kenzie J^i*., on the 19th., when a verdict of " Accidental drowning " was returned. He had on his person a cheque for £16 16 sod., and Some gold, about three qu arters of an ounce. He had been working (mining) on CapM'Kenzies run for some time, and was a good shearer. He was a native of Singapore, and often spoke of money he had invested with some company (Chines) about the Teviot. The police produced some Chinese documents at the inquest, which, if inspected, may turn out to be of value to his relatives. He was one of the first Chinese immigrants to Victoria. Thin is the onlyitem of importance I have to relate since my last.

Ox Sunday, the 17th inst. the Wesleyans of Coal Creek commenced the Anniversary Services in connection with their Church. Sermons were preached by the Circuit Minister, Rev. W. H. Beck, to large and attentive congregations. The usual Tea Meeting was held on the Tuesday, followed by a Public Meeting. A Hymn being sung, and prayer offered, the financial report was read. The Chairman stated that the Trustee had found it necessary to provide extra seats to accommodate the attendants at Public Services, and also that it had been resolved to erect a fence in front of the Building, and otherwise improve the Church property. This outlay will be fully met with by tha collections made on the past Sabbath, and tho proceeds of the tea, which together amounted to about £25. Addi esses were given by the Rev. H . Bull, Messrs Clark and Bloxhain of Lawrence, Manual and Tamblyn of Coal Creek, and the Circuit Minister. The Church was will filled during*the meeting, and the remarks of the various speakers were evidently appreciated by the audience. "Votes of thanks were heartily accorded to the ladies and batchelors for their liberality in supplying the tea, and to the gentlemen who had addressed the meeting. The Doxology was then sung, the Benediction pronounced, and a pleasant and successful meeting brought to a close.

We beg to acknowledge the receipt of a batch of parliamentary papers, including" Hansard."

The " Illustrated New Zealand Herald" for this month contains a view of the workings at the Blue Spur, several Fijian scenes, and other excellent engravings, and is on the whole an attractive number.

On Thursday last an unfortunate Chinaman in Gabriels Gully, in a fit of tempoary insanity, plunged headlong down a forty -foot shaft. He was at once hauled out of the hole by some Europeans, assisted by the man's mates, and c >nveyed to the Hospital, where he received the immediate attention of Dr. Stewart, who, after a careful examination, said bis patient had sustained a fracture of the skull and other injuries. It appears from Mr. Blewitt's interpretation of the statement of one of his mates, that the night before John had been heard by his mates to say that he had seen the apparitions of three Europeans and two Chinese, one of which afterwards took the form of a cat, and that theso ghosts had threatened him with instant death by fire if he did not destroy himself. He attempted to obey the cruel mandate, with the result already stated. This species of hallucination is common among the Chinese, who are firm believers in • ghosts, and cases are of almost daily occurrence where John is in communication with visitants f rom Spirit Land — some good,' bearing glad tidings ; others evil, with death in their looks. We hear that under the skillful care of Dr. Stewart, the sufferer is slowly recovering.

The Wetherstones readings will terminate for the season this evening, when theproe'eedings will be wound up with a- dance. We anticipate a large attendance of the. public.

The Lawrence Grammar School Committee have convened a : public meeting for two-morrow evening to consider the- New Education BiH.

The meeting takes place in the Athenaeum

Mb. J. P. Armstbosg, Surgeon-dentist is no win Lawren ce. having taken the premises lately occupied by Mr. Coverlid in Peel-street, where he proposes fco practice in his profession for a short period.

The " Evening Star " learns from a private acource that a motion is to be tabled by a private member of the Lower House in favour of the reduction of postage on newspapers for circulation in the ColoDy to a half -penny; and that there is a« probability that the proposition will receive the support of the Government. At a meeting of the Waste Lands Board held^j on the 19th inst, Messrs. Gillies and Street, fJ^ Mr. William Elliot, applied to purchase section 6, block XVIL, Shotover district, and held by him under agricultural lease. The application wag granted. Mr. TV. J. M. Larnach, on behalf of Mr. Joseph. Clarke, applied to purchace 43,000 acres, being part of rans 215 and 212^- The application was approved of, and afterwardf granted, . -

Last week Miss Edith Palmtrston played to , good houses at Blue Spur, Wetherstones, and Waitahuna.

A MAN named Rowland was received in the Lawrence Gaol the other day from Roxburgh, where he was sentenced to three months' imprisonment for ohtaining provisions and liquor under false pretences.

MR. Rose Gcnn last week purchased a oneBixth share in the Lawrence coal pit from Mr. Tonka for £200.

Applications for depasturing cattle on the Waipori Commonage are to be made at Lawrence. Why could not these applications be made at Waipori, thus saving a great amount of trouble and annoyance to the residents ?

The case of Police v. Isted for stealing a horse was heard at the Resident Magistrate's Court on Monday. The prisoner was committed for trial. The report of the case we are compelled to hold over till next week.

A WRITER in the "Southern League " of the 16th inst., makes the following comments on the charge recently made against Mr- Hayes. "An infamous case of perjury has been tried here, the defendant being the much respected William "Hayes, of Lawrence. Evidently he has been the victim of a most diabolical series of persecutions which should never have risen to the dignity of a prosecution ; and both Mr. Maccassey and Jndge Chapman remarked that a. law should be introduced, which would preclude the possibility of any man putting the. criminal law in motiou to entrap a fellowcreature. Mr. Hayes simply misquoted what a Judge said ; a,\d this alleged terrible offeuce was dignified or degraded (call it which you wish) by the granci name of perjury. A legal monomanic here, who has a disease called Affidavit-on-the-brain (nob yet included in the nosologicai tables), being the chief misleader in this dirty prosecution of a most honourable man. Charles Lamb was once playing 100 with a blacksmith fresh from horse-shoeing. Seeing his dirty fingers, Charley cried out, 'Ah, if dirt were trumps, what a fine hand you've got ! ' With some certain persons dirt is always trumps.

At the usaal monthly meeting of the Hospital Committee, held on Tuesday, it was resolved to endeavour to keep on the institution until the end of the year, and to retain the present servants until then. It was also agreed to send the chronic patients to town. The necessity for getting in subscriptions as early as possible was discussed. Mr. M'Swiney stated that Bishop Moran would shortly be in Lawrence, and that the Eight Key. gentleman would no doubt be willing to lecture for the benefit of the Hospital were he written to, and requested by the Commit tPC to do SO. If; was resolved, therefore, that the request be forwarded to his Lordship. The \Tairahuna Dramatic Club having offered to give a performance in Lawrence for the benefit of the Hospital funds, it was resolved to accept the offer, and to fix the entertainment for Monday, 9th October, Regarding the unauthorised holders of subscription Jists. the services of some of whom would cause confusion, the President agreed to see them, with a view to lessen the complexity of the matter.

A meeting of those who are willing to become rnembeis of the Tuapeka Cricket Club i's to be held at the Commercial Hotel on Saturday evening, "We trust there will be a good muster, and that the club will commence practice at once, bo that they may have a long season before them, and be prepared to challenge some of -the crack clubs, and beat them too.

Our Blue Spur correspondent, writing under date 27 th September, says :- -An accident happened last Friday to a man named Michael Koughan, working in Morrison & Co.'s claim. He and other two were clearing the tail race, which is erected on a flume about 10ft. high across the gully below the crushing machine, when it gave way, and precipitated the three men into the gully, with a stream of 400 inches of water and gravel on the top of them. Messrs. M'lntosh and Gunn escaped with little injury, but, unfortunately, Roughan got buried in the debris, and but for the exertions of the other two would have soon been smothered. Dr. Stewart was soon in attendance, and did all that could be done to lelieve the poor fellow, -who is very much cut and bruised, but, I believe, has sustained no serious injury, and, I am happy to say, is progressing favourably. It appears that the flume got blocked up, and the water runuing .over it undermined the supports. All the claims are in full vrork. The Nelson Company and the Extended Company are about washing up, and the Greafc Amalgamated Company will soon be starting to the same interesting operation.