LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 198, 16 November 1871, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The British mails, via San Francisco, will close at the Post-office, Lawrence, on the evening of Wednesday, the 22nd instant. Most of the potatoes in the Clutha district were destroyed by a severe frost, which visited that district on Saturday night last. Mkfsbs. ilPLeod and Co., the contractors for the formation of the southern end of the Clutha railway, have about 100 men employed on their works, which they are pushing forward vigorously. We are sorry to learn that Mr. Coombe's filly, Swindle, which in consequence of an accident Ifc1 fc received iv the stable, was unable to run at the Canterbury races, ja still laid up, and it is very questionable whether she will recover in time to take part in the present season's racing. On Friday last, an inquest was held before \Y. L. Simpson, Esq., Coroner, in the Duke of Edinburgh Hotel, Beaumont, on the body of James Burn, who met with his death on the previous Wednesday evening by being crushed by the wheel of a waggon passing over his body. George Rogers, who was driving the waggon, gave evidence as to the accident to the effect that when descending the-Big Hill on the Beaumont side, deceased was in the act of pressing down the lever of the break when the chain gave way, and he fell before one of the wheels, which ran over his body. Dr. Halley, who had been immediately sent for, but was too late to render any assistance, gave evidence as to the post mortem, examination which he had made on the body. The liver of deceased was ruptured, and five ribs fractured. Mr. Cranley, of Wetherstones, identified deceasedj, whom he had known for several years. The jury returned a verdict of " Accidental Death."' A. Napier telegram says that it is believed To Kooti was wounded in a conflict with the Uriweraa. His followers have left him, and ar& all coming in. It is considered probable that he has surrendered himself to the Uriweras, who will hand him over to the Government. We understand that the size of the Commercial Hotel, Milton, is to be largely increased by the .addition thereto of the old Tokomairiro Hotel, formerly the property of Mr. Goodall. This addition will make, the Commercial ' perhaps, the largest jjijwsountry hotel in the .colony. Tenders (pjr $»<.yQrl( will be called for I next week. ' The Chinese population on Adama and Millers Flats, Manuka Creek, is steadily on the increase^ -"

ON the evening of Wednesday, the Bth inst., the Key, R. L. Stanford, of Tokomairiro, delivered a lectuie on Education in the 4.tbena3um, Lawrence, In r aid lof1 of the funds of Trinity Church. The Rev. G~P. Beaiimont occupied the chair, and introduced the Key. Mr. Stanford, who delivered an eloquent lecture, and was frequently applauded during its delivery. As we are informed it is contemplated to have- the lecture printed in extcnso, we refrain from giving any report of it, which, from tlje limited space ! at our disposal, would compel us to condense it in such a manner that it would be neither just to the lecturer, nor to his subject. A vote of thanks was heartily accorded to the rev. lecturer, and a similar vote to the Chairman, terminated the proceedings. TgE last of the pleasant entertainments known as the Wetherstones Readings will be given to-night. A& aauul, at the close of the readings there will be a dance. The Municipal Council of Balclutha is making great improvements in that pi etty little town. Several of the back streets have been formed and gravelled, and others will shortly receive similar treatment. And, wonderful to relate, the mania for getting into debt, which seems to hold possession of most governing bodies in this colony, has not found favour in the eyes of the Corporation of Balclutha, although they would have every excuse for drawing against their expectations, as the Provincial Government has not paid them a single penny of the subsidy they are entitled to. All the improvements have been effected out of the lates collected, and certainly the Council deserve high praise for the economical and judicious manner in which they have Administered the finances of Municipality. Mr. Thomson's water lifting apparatus will have its capabilities fairly tested at Balclutha. Mr. Doull who is about erecting a flour mill on the bunks of the Clutha at that town, intends to have the machinery thereof worked by a wheel turned by water supplied from the river by the apparatus in question. Should the experiment prove successful, there is no doubt that Mr. Thomson's invention will come into general use. • Chjeap coaching is the order of the day beI tween Balclutha aud Dunedin, Mr. YeeniVs opposition having provoked Cobb and Co. to lesort to their usual tactics in such exigencies, viz., carrying passengers at nominal fares, and offering free passages. Messrs. Cobb & Co. have two coaches on the road, one of which pertinaciously hugs that of Mr. Yeend. and the driver of which attempts, by the above-mentioned devices, to take from the latter any passengers he may have secuied. The charm of Cobb & Co.'s name, once so powerful, seems to be on the wane, for despite their strenuous endeavours to allure the travelling public into their coaches by the tempting bait of free passages, Mr. Yeend is well patronised. Therk is every prospect of the flax manufacture being vigorously and remuneratively prosecuted iv the Clutha district during the coining year. While on this subject, we may state that an enterprising firm engaged in this industry finding the prices they received for their manutacture in England not satisfactory, shipped a quantity direct to America, where it met with ready sale at remunerative rates. This should encourage perseverance in the manufacture of this article, as the extension of the commercial relations of New Zealand will correspondingly increase opportunities of its being brought into general use, and have a highly favourable influence in its price. The crops in the Clutha and Totkomsiiriro districts are looking healthy, ami there is every prospect of an early and abundant harvest. The heavy and continuous downpour of rain duriug the greater part of the 9th prevented j the anticipated cricket match being played. I In the afternoon, however, some enthusiastic ! cricketers got up a scratch match, and played for two or three hours. The road from Waitahuna to Manuka = Creek is at last being attended to. About 40 men are now engaged in making a cutting on the saddle of the liouud Hill, and the contracts for the formation of the road on the flat below Wnitahunu have been let. Mr. "Watson, of Tokomairiro, has obtained two of the contracts. The Prince of Wales Birthday was generally observed as a holiday in Lawrence, hut the inclemency of the weather during the greater part of the day prevented it being enjoyed much. The tailings on Manuka Flat having accumulated to an inconvenient exteut, Messrs. Hardy and party have commenced the construction of a tail race, which will discharge their tailings at the bridge below Gardner's Hotel. Messrs. Coombe and Co. have also pegged out a tail race. Mr. Coxhead, of Dunedin, will shortly arrive in Balclutha, and in Mr. M'Ewan's gallery purposes to practice the photographic art. Mr. Cox head's pictures are said to be excellent, and we have no doubt he will be well patronised. The movement for the establishment of a school at Manuka Creek is piogressing favourably, and in a very short time the necessary buildings will be erected. The site ehoson is nearPighunter's Flat, and the materials for the building will be catted from Tokomairiro hy some residents of the district, who have offered to do so gratuitously. It is anticipated that there will be an average attendance of about 40 children at the school. Tenders for the erection of the building are now invited. The Rev. Mr. Stanford will repeat his lecture on "Education " at the Atheuasuin, Waitahuna, on Monday, the 20th ins taut. MR. John Hay, editor of the " Wellington Independent " was found drowned in Wellington harbour hist Sunday. A bullock driver named John Smart sustained severe internal injuries by his waggon passing over him, on the evening of the 7th inst., from the effects of which he died on the 10th inst. The recent entertainment given at Waitahuna yielded the Benevolent Asylum a net sum of £31. The following is a statement of the amounts received and expended :- Cash and produce collected by the ladies, £22 10s ; tickets for entertainment, £17 10s ; expenses, £9. WE regret to hear that Mr. M'Oarthy's splendid entire Young Blaze has died. Regarding the Moa Flat sale, the " Australasian has the following :— "The Otago Government wants money, and Mr. J. T. Clarke wants land. The former has an overdraft of £90,000 at its banker's ; and the Victorian millionaire has so large a balance lying unemployed in the hands of his bankers, that his superfluity of cash occasions him more uneasiness than 99 out of every 100 impecunious men experience by reason of its scarcity. Under these circumstances, Mr. Clarke, poor man, having only a few hundred thousand of acres in Australia and Tasmania, has become the purchaser of 45,000 acres of land in one block, on the Moa, Flat, in Otago. It seems tliat in August last the Bank of New Zealand put the screw on the Government, and informed the Executive that unless its overdraft was promptly reduced below the maximum allowed by law, no further treasury orders would be honoured. Had this threat been carried into execution, the consequence would have been disastrous to uoauy private individuals having large claims on the Government, as well as to the credit of the Executive. In this emergency Mr. Clarke, by his agent, appears upon the scene. Of course he had never heard of the action taken by the Bank, and was only influenced by a desire to acquire a small homestead of his own. He put himself in communication with the Executive in Dunedin— four members of it, including the Superintendent, were absent in Wellington— and applied for the fee simple of the itfoa Plat Station, comprising 45,000 acres, of -which he was the lessee. His application was! granted. No^ouly bo, ha was allowed 2s u'd per acre aa oompehßatian,'uncl ten a.cres.in the. hundred for surveying the block; which includes 5,000 acres, of ohoica agricultural-land whiqh had been, laid out in Beatxojrni for settle.m,e,n£ Fortunate; . Mr. QlaVke f Necessitous province* of Otagotf Opnol-tynely' yuportunate/ B"a.nk of IJew .Zealan^Vl*" '■* : " ' : Cjows -were sold at 25s each last week^aif Balclutha,. '

A share in the HorseShoe Claim, Big Hill, / Haveloek, changed hands last week for the Sum J of £275, Mr. Tanton, of Lawrence, being the fortunate purchaser. At the last meeting of the Waste lands Board, Mr. Chepple, auctioneer, wrote, asking whether he should put the Hawea block, which at the last sale had not all been sold, again up for sale by auction, and if commission would be allowed him on the valuation ou improved sections put up for sale. It was resolved that the land be not again put up for sale by auction, but that it he open for application in the usual- way. The question of commission on valuation was referred to the Government. The following application to purchase land held under agricultural leases was granted : -Robert Chalmers, section 35, 36, 37, 72, 73, and 74, block 11., Table Hill. Mr. Morrison appeared on behalf of the Switzera Mining Association that he might enquire, and be shown, papers and Warden's reports in connexion with the sale of 50 acres of land -supposed to be auriferous— to Mr. Allan i\l 'Donald. It was resolved that all information and papers in the possession of the Board be open to Mr. Monison. Favourable reports continue to be received from the beach workings at Port Molyneux. A sort of influenza fever prevails largely amongst the children of the Clutha district. The Crown stables, Balclutha, are now under the superintendence of Mr. Andrew Chapman, who we are sure, will maintain the well deserved reputation they have acquired. THE good folks of Kaitangata are making a good thing out of the Clutha railway. A new saw mill lias been started By Messrs. Lawson and Co., of Tokoiuairiro, and prosperity seems courting all the residents of the district. Rumours to the effect that excellent pros" pects have been struck in some hitherto untried ground-in the Manuka Creek district, were in course of circulation last week. If the rumours have any foundation, the lucky party have profited 'oy recent occurrences at Table Hill, for the locale of the discovery is kept a secret.