Tuapeka Times AND GOLDFIELDS REPORTER & ADVERTISER. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1871. "MEASURES, NOT MEN." LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 199, 23 November 1871, Page 4

Tuapeka Times AND GOLDFIELDS REPORTER & ADVERTISER. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1871. "MEASURES, NOT MEN." LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The amount of money to be run for at the Lake District Races, as advertised, is £310 ; at Mount Ida, £465 ; at the Dunstan, £445 ; at Tuapeka, £405.

Two of our local earners, Mr. Tolcher and Mr. Ellis, were each very unfortunate last week in losing a valuable horse- the former was driving his team down Breakneck, when the break gave way, and the dray was precipitated down the hill. The shaft horse fell and received fatal injuries to the spine, only surviving a few hours. The latter got foundered, and died from inflammation. We are informed that the owners could each have got £50 or £60 for their respective horses.

On Saturday last, David Peters, a stockman on Bellamy Station, while mustering cattle, had his leg broken between the knee and ankle by the horse lie was riding slipping and falling upon him. He was taken to the Hospital, and is progressing favourably. We are informed Peters met with a similar accident some time

On Friday last, at the Court House, Waitahuna, a batch of Chinamen, to the number of ten or twelve, were fined 21s each for mining without miners' rights. On the same occasion, a disreputable character, named Mrs. Thomson, 'was fined 40s and costs, for being drunk and fighting with an old man known as Jemmy the Snob, who &t the same time contributed the sum of 10s to the revenue.

Mb. James Smith, of Greenfield Station, met with a serious svecident on Tuesday last. It appears that Mr. Smith was riding towards the river bank, near his residence, where the steamer was being loaded with wool, when the horse stumbled, and fell upon \ta rider, breaking his leg a little above the knee. Dr. Stewart was sent for, and was soon in attendance. We hear that Mr. Smith is progressing favourably under the skilful treatment of Dr. Stewart.

T'HEfIE is scarcely a climate in New Zealand which has been more maligned than that of Tuapeka. The reason for this we have -never been able to ascertain, and probably it has its foundation only in prejudice. Year after year its suitability for the successful cultivation of fruits of various descriptions has been tested, with increasing success. The yield of fruit of all kinds during the present season promises to be more than ordinarily large, and to all appearance we will be able -to export considerable quantities to less favoured districts.

The anti-Chineso petition of the Arrow Miners' Association (says the " Mount Ida Chronicle") haying been lying in this office since its receipt, now some four weeks since, has not, up to the present time, received a single signature. We may, we think, augur from this indifference on the part of the miners

here that the Heathen Chinee nuisance is not much, if at all, felt in this district. This feeling may perhaps arise from the fact that their numbers with us are comparatively small, and their presence consequently of little moment.

THE "Lytfcelton Times " states that the salting down of butter for exportation is now proceeding very vigorously, and in one cooperage in Christchurch the men are working almost night and day, yet they have been unable to supply the number of butter casks ordered.

The " Wanganui Herald," writing of the additional stamp duties imposed by the Assembly, says :— " The country is afforded no time to protest or appeal against objectionable measures brought before Parliament. Hy the time the particulars regarding them are known with any accuracy, they have become law. The new tariff is a case in point. Twopence is a monstrous charge upon a receipt for Two Pounds, yet this and all the other Stamp Duties proposed by the Colonial Treasuier were carried with the exception of that upon Mortgages and Bills of Sale. These, it would appear, touched an impecunious class, who had numerous sympathisers in the House ; the poor man, on the other hand, had few friends, and the stamp on cheques and receipts might be doubled without much ado about it. The voices raised against such class legislation fell upon ears that were deaf ou one side. As a plain speaking member remarked, they were voting pocket on these occasions."

The Government Inspector, John Hislop, Esq., visited the Blue Spur school on Tuesday last. There were fifty-eight children in attendance, all very clean and orderly. The examination lasted about four hours ; after which, the inspector expressed himself satisfied with, the general proficiency of the scholars. Mr. Hislop met the Committee in the evening.

On the evening of Monday, the 20ch insfc., a meeting of the inhabitants of Evans Flat was held at the Chapel to appoint a deputation to wait upon Mr. nislop, Inspector of Schools, previous to his departure from Tuapeka ; and further, to represent the efforts made by the inhabitants to have a school established in this district, and also the progress made during the three months the school has been established, which gives every encouragement to ask the Inspector of Schools to move the Education Board to assist in having a school erected, and to subsidise the teacher. The school was opened on the 21st August with 15 pupils, which has now increased to 31. We may state that there are 11 more pupils promised at the termination of the quarter, which will bring the numbeis up to 42. There is every expectation of a further increase, seeing there are upwards of 60 children in the district. A unanimous vote of thanks

was accorded to the teacher tor the advancement made by the pupils, and the rapid increase of scholars. The Wesleyans have kindly granted the use of the Chapel for a time to the School Committee, hut we hope to see a suitable building erected shortly. • YjJSTBEDAY. at ilie Courthouse, Lawrence, Henry Bluff and James Thompson Richardson, both of Switzers, surrendered to their creditors. There was no appearance of any creditors, and the meeting was adjourned for seven days.

We are informed that a match has been arranged between the Waitahuna and Tuapeka Cricket Clubs, on the following terms :— The first eleven of the Tuapeka Club to play fifteen of thai of Waitahuna. The ni.atch will take place next Thursday, the 30th instant (St. Andrew's day), on the Lawrence Cricket Ground. It is anticipated that this will be a keenly-contested match ; and should the weather prove favourable, there will, no doubt, be a large attendance of spectators. We believe the principle places of business will be closed.

Mr. Stanford delivered his lecture on " Education" at Waitahuua, on Monday night. The attendance was between forty and fifty. Before commencing, the lecturer, referring to correspondence which, appeared in this journal and in the " Bruce Herald,'* denied that he sneered at the Scotch, or called Government officers loafers. During the lecture Mr. Stanford was frequently applauded ; and at its close, on the. motion of Mr. Moggath, a cordial vote of thanks was awarded. Mr. Beaumont, the Chairman, in thanking the lecturer, took occasion to express his substantial agreement with the lecturer's views. He also stated that his objection to the present system did not arise from its Scotch features or origin. He entertained no prejudice whatever against Scotch, any more than against his own countrymen, the Irish. lu -returning thanks for the vote, Mr. Stanford returned to the same topic, asking if any passage in his lecture could be construed into any reflection on Scotland or the Scotch .people. It is to be hoped that if our Caleness from the idea that Mr. Stanford did not appreciate them as they deserve, the uneasiness will be entirely removed. In reply to a question from one of the audience, Mr. Stanford declared his only objection to the system of education in Otago to be, that the Roman Catholics were unfairly treated under it ; that the schools were not duly inspected, and that the schoolmasters ■were not appointed in a proper manner.

The " Southland Times " makes the follqw ing pertinent remarks on the Moa Flat Sale :—: — Efforts have been made to palliate the proceeding on the ground that the provincial exchequer was in desperate circumstances. |Gianting that view of the subject for argument's sake, could the difficulty not have been provided for without making such alarming sacrifice of political principle and public^ property ? Had the Government no other asset to make available on such an emergency ? The Government cannot surely be ignorant of the fact that the Southland railways must eventually be sold to the Colony as an essential part of the Public Works scheme. How then was it that, if the monetary condition of the province was in such desperate straits, no effort was made for realizing upon these works ? Although the point has not yet been mooted as one for active negotiations, we happen to know that overtures on the subject have already been made, and that a competent opinion has been expressed that these railways would be good value to the Colony at a sum of £6,000 per mile, making a total of £240,000. Had that step been taken, there would have been no need whatever for any portion of the public estate being sacrificed.

The usual weekly meeting of the Waste Land Board was held on Wediesday l)th inst. It was resolved asf o the rents in arrear on leases granted by the Board, that the Piovincial Solicitor should take steps for their recovery. The valuation submitted of improvements on section 3, block XVIII. , Roxburgh, was approved of. A valuation of improvements on land in Ettrick township was approved of, except for those made after the survey of the sections, which was disallowed.

Our Blue Spur correspondent wiites as follows : — All the claims on the Spur aie steady at work, with plenty of water, there being very little probability of much powder beins; burnt between this and Christmas, as there is mostly a general clean up at that time. On the Gabriels side the tailing question is beginning to crop up again. The back-water, formed by the banking up of the tailings in the gully, is gradually swamping all the low-lyiug residences. At the head of the gully, Hales', O'Leary's, Syrae's, and now that neat little garden and residence of Mr. Lawson's, are about sharing the same fate. Messrs. Casey Bros, have summoned theJPerjeverance Co. and Morrison and Co. for £600, for damages sustained by them through the rising of the tailings in their workings. But all these are trifling matters compared with what it will be when we have to lodge our tailings in Ross Place, which rest assured will be the ease before very long, as some of our tail races extend half way down the gully already. Perhaps it is with a view to obtaining compensation that so many new places ore being put up. I would strongly advise the Building Society not to advance much money, for you will find we are not so easily bled as you mviy think.

Mr. J. M'Ewan has opened the handsome and commodious premises he recently erected at Balclutha, as a rest mi ant and bakery. |rhe restauraut is elegantly fitted up in the orthodox home style, and attached to it is a spacious and comfortable sitting-room, plentifully supplied with English and colonial newspapers. The commodities dispensed by Mr. M'Ewan, such as lemonade and other temperance beverages, cakes, pastry, &c, are the best of their kind, and seem to be highly appreciated by the residents of the Clutha^ district, if the patronage 1 estowed on Mr. M'Ewan be any criterion.

We were shown some vegetable prodigies the other day, consisting of brocolis and rhubarb, grown by Mr. White, of Tokomairiro. The former, of which there were two, were two feet in diameter, and a large number of the stalks of the latter weie eight inches in diameter. Mr. White has in his nursery some really splendid double white and double red hawthorns, and a large quantity of forest trees and gums thoroughly acclimatised.

In the Table Hill Jisfcrict there is an unprecedented moitality amongst cattle, caused by tutu. The reason tutu is so destructive this season is said to be the backwardness of the grass. Cattle not finding sufficient to eat, rush to the deadly berry, and are speadily poisoned. There is scarcely a fanner in the Table Hill district who has not lost some cattle.

A Manuka Creek correspondent informs us that Margery and Spooner's race is fast approaching completion, and will be in full working tiim in about a month, Coombe and party are sluicing away vigorously, working one face day and night, and the other ten or twelve hours a day. ! Quintan and party have taken up some ground in Mr. Legge's agricultural lease. Hughes and party, having run short of water, are completing their race.

The May Queen brought a female fellow deer for the Acclimatisation Society. It is the intention of the Society to forward the hind to the station of Mr. John M'Kellar, atTapanui, where there has been for some time a good-sized herd of fallow deer.

The Macraes correspondent of the "Waikouaiti Herald" writes as follows :—" It has leaked out that another firm intended to have made application to the Government for leave to purchase 50,000 acres of land in this district, j had Mr. Clarke's purchase received no more than a passing notice from the Press."

A meeting of the stewards of the Tuapeka Jockey Club was held in the Victoria Hotel, Peel-street, on Monday evening. The VicePresident occupied the chair. The minutes were read and confirmed. A letter from Mr. J. F. Herbert, resigning the presidency of the Club, and all connected with it, was received, and the Vice-President, Dr. Stewart, was elected President. Mr. Richard Williams was elected VicePresident. On the motion of Mr. Bastings, seconded by Mr. Sheath, it was agreed to limit the amount of money to be given away at the annual meeting to £400. The stewards then drew out the programme, which will be found in our advertising columns, after which the meeting broke up.

WE.are informed by one of the shareholders of the Beaumont and Tuapeka Water Race Company, who visited the race on Tuesday last, that the work is progressing very rapidly, some of the most difficult parts of the cutting having been dqne. One very encouraging indication of the prospect? of this work is found ia the confidence the workmen have in it. So bright are bheir hopqs in the ultimate success of the undertaking that they will not accept £200 for a half share. The company could not possibly have a better manager than Mr. Graham, whose success in similar enterprises is well known. We hope, for the benefit of those of our business men who started this great work, that it will be carried out successfully. We notice that Mr. Harrop, Peel-street, has received a consignment of Letts' Diaries for 1872. E>R. Halley informs us tfyat he has now a good supply of vaccine matter.

The last of the Wetherstones readings for the season took place on Thursday last. Mr. Mooney occupied the chair. The schoolroom was uncomfortably crowded. In addition to the usual programme, several members of the Lawrence Amateur Christy Minstrels sang some of their excellent choruses, to the delight of the audi ence. The sixpences charged for admission to the entertainment and the dance which followed amounted in .the aggregate to upwards of £5, being the largest sum yet recpived at any one of theae fortnightly readings. The Wetherstones School Coinmifcfcee cannot be too highly praised for the excellent manner in which they have cariied out these entertainments for the benefit of the school. They have shown a power ful illustration of the truth of the maxim, that unity is strength. If all our public bodies were to enter into their duties with a similar unity and spirit, much good might be accom. plished iv the district.

The teacher of Shag Valley side-school, Palmeistou, W. Augustus Macleod, has been committed to take his trial at the Supreme Court for an indecent assault upon Mary Ann Guffie, a child of seven years of age.