LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 190, 5 October 1871, Page 5

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

We beg to lemind our readers that the farewell soiree to the Rev. Dr. Copland takes place

on Monday evening next, in the Lawrence Presbyterian Church. Miss Edith Palmerston announces that she will re-appeav in Lawrence on the 14th inst.

It is announced by advertisement elsewhere that Mr. K. A. Sherrin will deliver a lecture on Spiritualism and Psychology in Bastings' Assembly Room, Laurence, on Saturday. We understand it is probable that Mr. Sherrin will lecture at Waitahuna to-morrow.

A CONTEMPORARY states that " immense numbers of oatapillars are to hi seen in the vicinity of Hyde. The- ground was' black with them for miles, so that butterfly fanciers' need not

■want for specimens during the coining season 1

But for the sake of several farmers in the vicinity, we trust that their fields will escape from such heed's-,, conveying: destruction in their path, as not> blade of grass is to be seen in the vicinity of them." " The goldfield at idam"s Flat has had its population considerably increased by the arrival there of about eigtfy Chinese, part of a recent importation to thecolony. and who seem favorably impressed wih their prospects in the field they have selected

A SCHOOL teachc at the West Taieri named Miss Carrie mystriously disappeared on the sS7th inst, while ol ft visit to some friends at Outram, and noraaces of her have as yet been found.', 'lt is. fared, however, from her footprints having ten ilearly traced to the river, that it is in thamirefttion the solution must be .sought. . i i \ The "Daily ines " understands that Mr C^tomore, solicir, has obtained from his Honour Mr. Justte Chapman, a wait of habeas for Jr. Caldwell, pv^rnor of the Gao 1 , 'lemam." •jng of him to shewkuse why John Willams, late .of domwell, is deiined a prisoner in- the Gaol, ■on the charge of ha^ual drunkenness. Intimation iias been given^eommitting Magistrates at Cromwell to shew ca\j c . In Iverseu 3*3 * clt" 1 ", Conrys Gulley, last week, .there was a of a l^ndred tons of soft mullock taken indiscriminate -which yielded tb» satisfactory return of 113n&, '

AN inquest was held in Robeiy Hotel, Ross Place, on Monday, on boily o{\ Chinaman, •who had died buddenly whilt bein'^ conveyed •from JBnngtowu to Lawrence. It appeared from the evidence that ' fi±e ', deseeded had been subject to fits for some time, an 3 Dr. Hallev who whs in ''attend-uice, gave it ah his opinion that death-had l>een caused by epilepsy. A verdict in accordance with the medic.il testimony uas-ieturnetl ' ' \ A JTEtTiN'G of 'the AVaste Lands Bn-w-d "-->» held bit the 27th ult., when Mr. 800 crick

M.'itliesbn applied to" purcht.se section 52, block IV., Shotover, which h.id been held by him under Agricultural Leasp. and staty'g that he had been unable to obtain blank forms of implication for purchase before the eipiiy oft the lease. It was resoUtitl that before any further action be taken in the matter, it be ascertained

whether the applicant bad applied in any way for the purchase of tWlund in the proper time A decision on an appycation from Air. Norimtn Prentice, asking fo/fln extension , of time to survey section 52,yblock VII, Waikaka was postponed. An application from Mr. John Laxon for a licence to quarry stone or. land adjoining Butel's w/wer-race, Surrey-street, Queen - town, wrs releired to the "Warden. Mr. Charles Colclough reqie&ted that the ground included in his garden* at Bendigo be not surveyed into town sections. The Board declined, at least in so far as thif matter was concerned, tointerfeie with the prcgrpss of the survey. A report fiom Warden Eorton on the proposed survey of additional sections at Roxburgh was read. It was resolved that the parties occupying the ground :md who applied to purchase, should make the survey al/ their own expense, the cost of survey to be added to the upset price and repaid to the present occupiers in the event- of their not being the purchasers. Mb. Smytfufs was further heard at the bar •of the House on the 29th ult. Mr. Travers addressed the House in opposition to him, and suggested the appointment of a Se'ect Committee on the subject. Mr. Reid replied on the debate on the Otago Land Bill in a splendid speech, which was chiefly a reply to Mr. Vogei's remarks, giv ing an account of that [gentleman's administration in Otago. In reply to Mr. Vogei's taunt of the Provincial Government having set the law at defiance by not bringing the Hundreds Act into operation, he reminded the House of the wanner in which Mr. Yogel set the law at defiance in the Goldfields agitation in 1867. His speech was a scathing one, and was loudly ap. plauded: The second reading of the Bill was carried on a division, by 29 votes to 24. The Bill now btands referred to the Waste Land 8 Committee. The Goldfields Bill was read a second time, several members urging the excision of all clauses relating to the Waste Lands. The Southern Escort arrived in Dunedin on Tuesday with the following quinirfcles of gold.-— Switzers, 892<>zs. j Lawrence, l!)87ozs. ; Waitahuna, 3500zf. A meeting of the Tuapeka Cricket Club took njace in the Commercial Hotel on Saturday evening last, Mr. Downes, Captain, in the chair. It was agreed to fix the subscription for the fceason at 7s 6i1., and to commence practice on Saturday next. A Committee of management was elected, Mr. John Grant beinsr chosen Secretary and Treasurer,.' From the general interest manifested in the matter, and the toII-

;known indefatigability of the Secretary and lkVeasuref, it is anticipated that the members" roll - will be greatly augmented shortly, and that the Club will prove an awkward antagonist to any oslier with wliicb. it may enter the lists., "

The usual meeting of the Town Council was held on Monday evening, Cr. Meyer, in the absence of the Mayor, in the chair. The minutes of previous meeting having been confirmed, a - letter' fiom the Prov. Govt., stating that his Honour the Deputy-Superintendent had extended parts XV., XVIIL, XX., and' XXII. of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1876, to the Municipality of Lawrence, was read and received. A letter from Mr. Frederick Bastings, stating that he was willing to reduce the rent of the Chambers to £12 per annum, was also received, and the offer accepted. A letter from- Mr. Middlemiss was also read, in which the writer requested the Council to offer section 14, block xii. for sale» stating that he had been'in expectation of seeing the section named put up for sale for some years past. A warm discussion ensued, fiom which it appeared that tlie section referred to had been applied for two years ago by Mr. G. Walker, but through some error, the minute of the application had been overlooked, being only recently discovered, when the Council decided to grant the application, and place Mr. Walker on the same footing as others who had applied for sections at the same time. Cr. Mears, in a warm speech, contended that the Couucil had no power to grant Cr. Walker's application, and that under the circumstances Mr. Middlemiss had fully as good a right to the land. "With a view to have the matter fairly and equitably discussed, he would move, " That the letter' stand over, pending a special meeting of the Council." The motion was carried. Several letters and accounts were referred^? the Public Works and Finance Committees. Some other business of minor importance having been disposed of, it was decided to fix the rate for the current year at Is in the pound, being the highest sum which the Act would allow. The Olerk was instructed ho again write to the Government, asking them to place the prison labour at the disposal of the Council. Owing to the unsatisfactory manner in which the curbing at the various crossings was cut and finished, t was agreed that the Town Clerk be instructed

to Jraw up a specification, setting forth the modus operandi, and to submit it to the Public Works Committee. The Council then adjourned.

The Cromwell Jockey Club have decided to hold their races on the la3t Thursday and Friday in December,

A Grpy Valley paper gravely informs its readers that a bill has been introduced in the House of Representatives having for its object the abolition of imprisonment for " death."

It is ru-Tioured in Timaru that 200 Chinese are going there iti order to be employed on the railway works which are about to be commenced between Tnnaru and Tenruka.

Thf Rev. Robert Seritngeour, late of Dunedin is now oificiatiug as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church iv San Francisco. The building\ve understand, is a large and handsome slruc Cure, having two spires, and fitted up in a lwosfc luxurious style, and c.ipable of accommodating 1,500 heiireis.

THE second tiial of Reichelt for arson wa s fenmnated at a late hour on Saturday, and resulted ia the acquittal of the acsuspil •- • "*" Th> Wutf-'- -- - -•■-'•■ttttnitic Club announce „1. . iiity will give a gr<tnd performance on Vlonady fcli& 9th inst.., in J .listing's Assembly Room, for the benefit of the Tuapeka Hospital.

Otfß worthy representatives seem to have h pleasant way of exchanging compliments, entirely thoirown. An exchange states that iv the Assembly, a few dnys since, Mr. Shepherd .■■Je^ignated Mr. Mervyn— another Otago goldfields member— a luughing jackass.

The Secretary to the Blue Spur public Lib)ary begs to acknowledge the receipt of Parliamentary Papers and "Hansard" No. 1 to G.

Oun Teviot readers will observe that a public meeting will beheld in the Commercial Assembly Room, Roxburgh, to devise steps for th« purpose of upsetting the illegal steps of the Waste Lands Board in granting Mr. Clarke's application for the purchase of 50,000 acres of land.

Fuom a .piess of matter, we are obliged to hold over our report of tlie Wesleyan Sunday School Anniversary, which, however, we may s - a'e, was the most successful colebration held in connection with that institution. Some excellent addresses were delivered, and everything Went off with the greatest eclat. The Rev. tlr. laett delivered two most eloquent sermons ou Sunday last.

The Alexandra correspondent of the " Dunstnn Times '" says :— A luckless individual got forty-eight hours in durance vile last week ; hut before the time of penance had elapsed our solitary police officer was called away on duty, and his charge was solemnly escorted to Clyde to serve out bis sentence. I hear he had about four hours to do when he arrived there, and he complains that sentenced to imprisonment, lift hail to trudge a weary walk to and from Alexandra. But then some people are never satisfied.

In the telegraphic sum nidi y, of yesterday the

■'Daily Times" says :— Mr. Reeves asked the Government to-day, if they intended to insitute an enquiry into the alleged sale of 50.000 acres of land in Otago to Mr. Clarke, with a. view to ascertaining whether the Waste Lands Board had exceeded its powers, and, if so, of taking the necessary steps to declare the transactions null and void. Mr. Gisborne replied that the Government bad called for a full statement of all the circumstances of tlie case, and their future action would, of course, depend on the facts. Till these were known they could express no opinion on the matter.

The portrait' of Sir Charles Clifford, lately hung up in the House of Kepresentatives, is thus describe'] by the eoi-respontleiit of an Auckland paper :— " As a likeness, the picture is good ;as a work of art, it is simply execiable. The face has on it a self-satisfied smirk, calculated to make an excited and puzzled reporter throw a bottle of"ink at it, and the fingers of the right hand are extended in a claw-like and most ungraceful position. 1 '