LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 203, 21 December 1871, Page 5

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Solemn mass will be chanted in the Roman Catholic Chinch, Lawrence, on Christmas eve, at 7 o'clock p.m. The annual examination of the pupils attending the Lawrence Grammar School will take place to-day and to-iuorrow. The parents and friends of the children attending the school are requested by the School Committee tojattend. ON the 13th ult., Mr. M. Hay, the Government auctioneer, disposed of all the sections remaining; unsold in the township of Lawrence at satisfactory prices, and also one section in Tapanui. On the following day, Mr. Hay sold several sections in Havelock, and one in Dunkeld (Beaumont.) -

The Rev. Mr. Telford will celebrate Divine service on Sunday next, the 24th inst, at the Beaumont and Horse Shoe Bend, at the former place, at 11 a.m., and at the later at 3 p.m.

The right of erecting the booths at the Wetherstone's sports were sold by auction on Saturday last at the Union Hotel by Mr. Hay. The purchasers were Messrs F. Bastings and Cranley.

We again draw public attention to *he Wetherstone's sports which are to take place on Tuesday next (Boxing Day. ) The programme will be found in another column. Given fine weather, the sports will doubtless be agieat success.

As will be seen from our advertising columns the housewarming of Mr. Nicholson's handsome hotel, at the Benger Burn, takes place on Fri day, the sth Jan., 1872. We are requested to intimate to Mr. Nicholson's friends that they will please take the advertisement as a sufficient invitation, time not permitting the issuing of separate notes. We have no doubt a large and brilliant assemblage will do honor to the occasion.

Mosgiel tweeds have found their way to Lawrence. Samples can be seen at the shop of Mr Sutherland, tailor, Ross Place, who is prepared to make suits of this colonial manufacture at reasonable rates in any style. Every variety of pattern in vogue is made at Mosgiel, and for appearance and texture it will compare favorably with Nelson eweeds, and promises to be exceedingly durable.

The practice of furious riding in the streets is becoming too frequent an occurrence in Lawrence. Last week a couple of youths, probitbly endowed with larrikin instincts, mounted on one horse, gratified their penchant for rapid locomotion by furiously galloping their steud through Ross Place. Passing, in their mad career, Mr. Coverlid's trap the horse therein got excited and bolted off up Ross Place. When turning the corner of Peel street somebody endeavored to stop the runaway by getting in front of him. This had the effect of causing the animal to back on to the foot-path in front of the Bank of New South Wales, capsizing the trap, and throwing out its contents consisting of lemonade and gingerbeer. It is time an example was made of these gentry who recklessly convert ourmostfrequented thoroughfares into racecourses. If such practices are permitted, sooner or later they will result in maiming or killing somebody.

We inadvertently omitted in our last issue to notice the extensive additions now being maue for the accommodation of the pupils attending Mr. Sproule's Tunpeka Academy. The additions consist of eight rooms - a dining-room parlour, 5 dormitories, bath-room, and kUchen. The dining-room and parlour are fine spacious apartments- the Latter lighted with a large bow window. The dormitories aie large and well ventilated. A verandah will be erected in front of the house. The additions are actively being erected by Mr. Humphries, and a very short space of time will elapse before they are completed. The design is extremely pleasing, and when finished the edifice will be one of the best in Lawrence. We undetstanu that these additions wore necessitated by the expected arrival of new pupils after the new year to be educated at the Tuapeka Academy.

Wk have received a copy of the progiamme of the Caledonian Games to take |>Uo n.i tko-ic,* and 2nd January next. There is a fair amount of money offered, and the programme is well drawn up, so we may reasonably expect that the Caledonian Society's Gathering* of 1872, will be as successful as those of previous years. At the ensuing Criminal Sittings, to commeuce on the 2nd prox., nineteen cases are already set down for trial.

"Itemlet"' is the latest Yankee word distortion.

The residents of Dumbarton Rock seem determined not to be behind bund in the way of Christmas sports. In our advertising columns will be found the programme of events to come off at the Dumbarton Rock Hotel, comprisirg pigeon and target shooting, hack racing, and a cross country steeple chase for a prize of £20. We wish our Dumbarton Rock friends every success.

The programme of the Tuapeka Mouth Annual Races and Sports, to take place on the 27th inst., will be found in oui advertising columns. It is highly creditable for Tuapeka Mouth, both for compilation and the amount of money offered for prizes. We hope our enterprising Tuapeka Mouth friends will have a large number of visitors, and that their races and sports may come off as successfully as they desire.

AFTER service by the Rev. Mr. M'Lean (probation) at the Blue' Spur Presbyterian Chinch on Sabbath last, the Call to the Rev. Mr. Morrison was numerously signed, notwithstanding there were several of the most influential supporters of the church unavoidably absent. Messrs. Jamison and M'Lelland were the attesting elders.

We have received a copy- of Reith and Wilkie's Almarac, for 1872, with which is incoiporated Rose's Southland Almanac. It contains a large variety of carefully compiled and exceedingly useful information. The diiectories are very complete, and there is an index to the advertisements, a novel at the same time valuable feature. The almanac has aUo a very fairly executed map of the Province. It is well got up and reflects great credit both on the compilers and printers.

The " Wakatip Mail '" says trout have been seen in the creek which runs through Queeustown.

We are informed that an extensive deposit of limestone has been discovered near Roxburgh. Some of it has been burnt, and the lime pronounced by competent judges, to be superior in quality to that produced at Waihola. The value of this discovery cannot be over estimated both for building and agricultural purposes, as the rates of carriage prohibited the use of lime in any way in the Teviot district.

A violent gale visited the Teviot district on the night of the 13th inst. Oon&iderahle dam* age was done to buildings, flaming, &c.

The juvenile population of Lawrence seem to be enamoured of the game of cricket. Every evening all available pieces of ground are taken possession of, for the purpose of indulging in the "noble game."

We again draw attention to the AVaipori Races and aports to take place on the 26th and 27th inst. The programme will be found in our advertising columns. It contains several novel features, the most noticeable amongst which is the Chinese race.

The " change of chairs " of the Loyal Tuapeka Pioneer Lodge, M.U.1.0.0.F., took place on Tuesday evening last, .when Bro. Armstrong was installed N.G., Bro. 'Downes V.G., and Bro Quinn E.£. The occasion was marked by; an .official visit paid by several officers and brothers of the Loyal Blue Sp'ir and waitahunaLodges. 4.fter the certmony of installation,' the brothers present resolved themselves into a, social gatheiing, and a very pleasant evening was passed,

We notice that Mr. W. Draper is about to commence business as a butcher in the exfceusive premises recently erected by him in Ross Place, Lawrence. He will open his shop tomorvow. and invites the public to come and see the display he makes. The Inter-provincial Cricket Match will take place on the 28th inst. and following day.

A MEETING of the Lawrence Grammar School Committee was held on Tuesday evening last. Present — Messrs. Jamison, Menzies, Hairop, Thompson, Herbert, and Hayes (Secretary.) The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. A letter was received from the Town Council stating that they had resolved to give a gold medal as a prize to the best scholar in the school. The Secretary was instructed to thank the Council for their gift. The Committee theu inspected the writing and mapping of the pupils, and marked them off according to merit. It was decided that Master K. C. Menzies be awarded the gold medal presented by the Corporation, he having secured the largest number of marks (amongst the boys) during th« year. The writine: desk, given by the Mayor, for the best scholar amongst the girls, was awarded to Miss Annie Anderson. The Committee considered that Walter Menzies, having the largest number of marks in the branches he competed in, was entitled to a special prize. It was resolved that the annual examination should commence on Thursday, the 2lßt (to-day), and Mr. Jamison was appointed to distribute the prizes. The meeting then adjourned.

At last Wednesday's meeting of the Waste Lands Board, Robert Tubman's application to purchase sections 11 and 12, block 1., Benger district, was approved. The former decision of the Board on Air. M'Queen's application for a lease tor a mill site at Tapanui was confirmed.

A COMMUNICATION has been officially supplied to the " Wellington Independent," and telegraphed free to the press of the colony, to the effect that the Government have mode" preliminary arrangements with Mr. James Brogden respecting the construction of all the authorised railways. The arrangement is to the effect that with as little delay as possible the Government shall give him data sufficient to tender for the construction of various railways —if satisfactory, the Government may accept them ; if not, they are at liberty to call for public tenders. If arrangements for the construction of iiiilways to the extent of £700,000 are made, contract No. 2 is to be cancelled. The line from Winton to Kingston is to be constructed within four years, and the Lawrence and Tokomairiro line is to be commenced next summer, and completed in two years. The telegram is of great length, and we regret our space will not permit us to publish, it in extenso.

A concert in aid of the local school funds will be given in the schoolhoiwe, Roxburgh, on the evening of New Year's Day. Several ladies and gentlemen, possessed of first-rate miiacal talent, have volunteered their services for the occasion. Judging from tlie success that has attended previous concerts given at Roxburgh, we anticipate that those who attend the one under notice, will enjoy a firstrate evening's entertainment, and that the school funds will receive a substantial augmentation.

The annual examination of the children attending tLe Weaherstone3 school will take place to-day. The attendance of parents and the public is invited.

Our Blue Spur friends will evidently not to be behind hand in the way of celebrating the advent of the New Year's day by sports. Their programme which will be found in our advertising columns, should attract a share of holiday makers on New Year's Day.

The Anniversary Sermons on behalf of the Wi-sleynn Sabbath School, B!uo Spit-, was preached by the Revrl. H. Bull, the Ciiwiit Minister, in the morning and evening of last Sabbath. The rev. gentleman also addressed the parents of the children at 2 o'clock in" tlie afternoon. The children sung sevoml hymns «"'' nieces during the service with v.»y effect. They haveundergonea course of instruction from Mr. 8. Uren. This being iho only Sabbath School in the township, it is attended by chi'dren of every denomination, and consequently, all are equally interested in its success. The School consists of 26 Boys and 29 Girls, who are instructed by four male and four female teachers. Mr. Luke the is Superintendent, anl under hia ■watchful care the girls committed to memory 10,763 verses of scripture during the year, and the boys 2,057. The collection on S ibbir.h am mated to £3 os. 6d. Mr. Bull is to lecture on Thursday evening next on behalf of the Sunday School, subject of the Lecture, " John Knox." Chair to be taken at 8 o'clock. From the well-known ability of Mi 1 . Bull, nic shall expect for the • institution, which it is intended to support a full house-

Eumour hath it that there are at present over sixty applicants for tlie office of In. spector of the Tuapeka Depasturing District. As applications will be receivod up to the 31st mat., this number will, no doubt, be largely increased.

The Wetherstones Sports Committee have resolved to give a second duys amusement on tlie 27th inst. The most prominent feature in the programme is a woman's race for a box of tea.