LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 213, 29 February 1872, Page 5

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

. Fob the la&fc month heavy showers of rain have fallen at intervals. These downfalls of

rain were gladly welcomed by the miners, to

.whom they proved of great value ; but to the agriculturists they were more injurious than beneficial, as they seriously impede! harvesting operations. ." New regulation! relative to gold mining - leases. are published in last w«ek's Provincial (government "Gazette." , It in last week's Provincial Government " Gazette " that section 23 of the Agricultural Leasing Regulations, and section 22 of -Regulation 12 of the Goldfields .Regulations hive been repealed. - > ■ Mr. >•&'. Gttorga, of Dunedin, has issued a , Jiihographed nap of Otago. It is well executed. And' at the moderate price' charged, 2s 6d, it •rilTno doubt command a ready sale. _ 1 An inquest was held on the remains of David J&ason, who was burned to, death on the morn, ing of the 21st inst., in the North East

Valley, Dunedin, on the afternoon of' the ' eaine day. "' The ' jury returned a verdict .of

"Accidentally burnt."

- . By the Je«»ie Headman, which arrived in ','-■ Port Chalmeri, a quautity of plant for the

' ' ; Previous to hi* departure, from Clyde, Warden Pyke wai entertained at a dinner by the ■■• ' ; |>rpfhren of the local M asonic Lodge.' Subscriptions for the. relief of the sufferers

by the flood at Greymouth are being collected - in leyeral towns in the .Middle Island. -Tender! will to received by the Secretary for Lanff and TTorki till the sth .March for the maintenance of the road between Havelock and 'Jiwirence. .' ■ ,Wfl remjnd our readers that the farewell

~ :^innefc W -Mr. Warden Simpson takes place ; ' 'to-monow night {Friday), at the Commercial Assembly Rooip*. ' ■'• We understand' that stepi are about to.be 'taken' to form a portion of the Tuapeka Goldfield into a Road Board dietrict. Bt referencAjto our advertising columns, it .^ffiil bdteen thifc-Mr. Georgjj Lum*den Urn com- ' <rpMWsatt butineM M a practical watch and clockVlffctT In Pwl-streeij tavrencp, '.

The adjourned Meeting of the Lawrence Town Council, wiich was to have taken place "on Saturday night last, lapsed for want of a quorum. Th# Mayor, and Cra. Mean and Coverlid attended.

Tbi pwgramme of the Tapanui races, which •to to take place on Wednesday the 13th Bfaich, appears in our advertising columnsi Fiva eventi are to take place, viz., Maiden Plate, Tapanui Handicap, Hurdle Race, Handicap Trotting Race and Hack Race. The Tapanui people offer a very creditable turn for prises, and we hope that the vatious events will be well contested, and the attendance of spectators as numerous as may be desired.

Hodges and Litter, of the Seventeenmile Beach, have lately purchased the water race which belonged to Cox, and are at present bringing it in in an enlarged form by Shingle Creek to work the terraces and beach at the Seventeenmile. It will be capable of carrying 10 heads of water. We are informed that the party have obtained very fair prospects on the beach, and the terraces will prove payable.

However bad the crops have. been in some localities, they cannot be said to be so in the _Mount Benger district, where on neatly every farm an average crop has been obtained. In the 'neighbourhood of the Shingle Creek Hotel, otv Cargill and Anderson's Run, some hundreds of feet.above the Molyneux, we saw as fine a ' crop of oats a few days ago as could be desired. One acre was calculated to yield at least 70 bushels of oats. In the- same neighbourhood there is abundance of land of a similar quality, and yet we are told that on these heights nothing will grow. Why the fact is some of the best land in the Molyneux Valley is on the slopes of the mountains, whereas tho flats are in~ many places shingly, and unfit for cultivation.

Some of the bachelors on the Alexandra Road and Speargrass Flat complain bitterly against the Government for not sending a. number of females into the interior of the country, now that money has been borrowed for immigration purposes.

The Annual Conference of ministers and laymen of the.Wcsleyan Methodist Church has juss concluded its session in Melbourne. A resolution, affirming the desirability of a separate Conference for New Zealand, was. passed by a majority of 74 votes. With the exceptions of Oamaru and Port Chalmers, the stations of ministers for Otago remain the same as last year.

On Monday evening last, a meeting was held in the Masonic Hotel, Boss Place, to form a -company, having for its object the prospecting of the qnartz lode on tb,e Municipal Reservoir Reserve: There were thirteen gentlemen present. Mr. Ferguson occupied the chair, and called upon Mr. Meare, who explained how the reef had been discovered, and threw out suggestions as to the best mode of testing it. He had a list of eighteen 6f the citizens who were prepared to contribute a few pounds each to prospect the reef. The following resolutions were then adopted :— lst. .That a company be formed, and each member deposit the sum of £1. 2nd. That Mr. Geo. Walker act as Treasurer, and Mr. W. Mears act as Secretary. 3rd. That a sub-committee, consisting of Messrs Anderson, Alrey, Mills, Mears, Hills, and G. Morison, be appointed, whose duty shall be to visit the ground, and decide upon the best mode of testing the reef, and then call for tenders for the work. Tenders areto be lodged with the secretary by Tuesday next, when . the second meeting of the company will be held. As this comprised all the business to be transacted, the meeting broke up. A scene of adventure took place in Sheepshead Gully a fortnight ago, occasioned by a report which gained currency that a large number of Moa bones and Maori spears had been discovered in a. cave in a precipitous rock in the abovenamed gully. 'Many of the miners started in quest of those memorial of antiquity, and after hazarding their lives in their descent to the cave by means of ropes,' found to their soriow they had been hoaxed. Hoax 'or no hoax, we admire the spirit of these brave miners who spare a day from their gold seeking to add to the world's stock of knowledge of primeval Otago.. r

A most- curious stone, having all the appear-

ance of a horse's head, was lately found by a miner named Curry in his claim on M'Cunn's Beach. The sockets of the eyes and the nos-

trils, which are filled with quartz pebbles, give it all the appearance of a fossil, head. This curious freak of nature may be seen at Mr' M'CntuVs, on the Teviot Koad.

M'Kers'te & Co.'s race, from the Gorge Creek to Butchers, a distance of seven miles, is making rapid progress. This race will convey from an unfailing source 16 heads of water, and will command a vast extent of country, including Speargrasa Flat, the whole of which is believed to be auriferous- it will also command the terraces of the Molyneux. The promoters of this work deserve every encouragement, as

it is attended with great expense. When nriisned, it will contain no less than 300 yards of fluinini*. It is likely to be 'completed, 'next summer.

Several cases of diptheria are repotted to have occurred in Wellington.

The Jessie Keadman, from London, arrived in Port Chalmers on the 23rd inst. She brings three cabin and twenty steerage passenger*.

.AT Auckland, on the 20th inst., a sailor belonging to the Lapwing, niained Joshua Storey, was knocked overboard by the main boom and drowned. He is said to have come from Blackstone Hill, Otago. „

A moa's skull, in an excellent btate of preservation, was recently discovered embedded in the banks of the Molyneux, twelve feet deep in sand, in front of Mr. Beighton's «tore, Boxburgh. Mr, Manuel, of Coal Creek, i hat presented it to* the' Tuapeka Athansßutn. It -will form a very fitting nucleus -for the Muneum which ha« been projected by the Committee. .

We learn from a Tapanui correspondent that Mr. Thomas Crawford is the successful tenderer for the new hotel at Waipahi. Our readers will remember that the Waipahi Hotel, kept by Mr. Neilson, was totally consumed by fire two or three months since. The building belonged to Mr. W. H. S. Roberts,, lately of Ardmore Station, and he is now aqout to erect a much larger and more convenient hotel near the site of the old one, only closer to the main road. The new building, we are informed, will contain 18 apartments, and will be fitted up regardless of expense.

Fob some weeks past the sawmills at Tapanui have either stopped work or been -going on short time, owing, to the scarcity of water. At the Manse Bush Mills, the water for the engine had to be carried some distance. The Glenkenich Steam Mill (Mr, John M'Farlane's) has been the only fortunate one, from its situa. tion on a perennial stream?

St. Valentine's Day at Tapanur gave an opportunity this year to some to break through the conventionalities of society and gain an introduction to certain fair ones, which otherwise might not have been obtained. Some happy unions, we learn, are likely to result therefrom. .

At Mr. Matthew Hay's sale at Doeherty's Yards on Wednesday, the 21st inst., horses brought from £3 to £6.

The sale of sections by Air. Hay in the estate of the late Mr. Griffin took place on Friday last. The corner section next to Mr. M'Beath's warehouse was purchased by Mr. Bastings, for the Bank of Otago, for £190. The quarteracre section behind the one just referred to was purchased by Mr. John Ellis for £33 ; and the one next Mr. Low's shop was bought, by Mr. Craddock for £62.

At the request of the author, we publish the following composition :—

Otago is going headlong to ruin things must very soon come to a erases Our rights are being swindled away through a pack of political asses

Yet why Need the fact surprise us Let us pause for one Moment and see the men we have returned to, represent us And make up this our political sea

this is the Centre of gravitation I'll name them the Trinity three No Doubt they are three distinct persons yet they Hold one political plea.

all Hail to cur Illustrious cheefs who walk in the paths of ambition trying to ascend into political Fame By sending us all to perdition

then Hail to Mount Benger's illustrious member , r~-!JSay his name be engraved in gold aqs a monument raised to his memory on the laud he has helped to get sold

Well might we the Mount Bengerites weep And Mourn in sack cloth and ashes for we have been the chosen victim this ft prey to political jack asses [time

oh that the rock of Mount Benger would and crush those political traitors [fall what service would it render us all And to we ahe Deluded Electors

then well might our illustrious member

defend himself with a phantom red line

which realy never was known to exist

when he was properly brought up to time

On the evening of the 22nd inst., the Rev. H. Bull delivered a lecture at Evans Flat, on li John Kn'ox." The rev. lecturer did full justice to the subjecthe had chosen, and at the conclusion of his discourse a vote of thanks was unanimously accorded' to him. The attendance was not so large as had beenj£p|kipated, but this is attributable to the'V,'stor»y weather which pre■vailed. Mr. B. 3f&rgher occupied ±he chair. The proceeds of theu lecture are to be devoted towards defraying some expenses connected with the Weßleyan ChapeL The Tokomairiro Races are advertised to take place on the Bth and 9'th March. Fob the information of the inhabitants of the Waitahuna district, we lniiy state that the Loyal Waitahuna Lodge, M.U.1.0.0.F., and the Court Havelock, A.0.F., have succeeded in engaging the services of a resident surgeon. Dr. Caro, the medical gentleman in question, holds tne degree of M.D. of the Universities of Berlin and Melbourne, and was recently medical officer to the friendly societies at Oamaru. We have further been informed that Dr. Caro has been -for some time employed as Assistant to the PiQvinoial Hospital Surgeon at Nelson, and had also been formerly in the service of the Canterbury Provincial Government as Surgeon Superintendent to the various em- • ployes-on the West Coast. The Earnscleugh Grand 'Junction Claim, has proved a dead failure after two years hard work prospecting. As soon as a good prospect was obtained, the river rose and flooded the claim. * In compliance with' & request made % the Committee, the Lawrence Christy Minstrels have agreed to give an entertainment in aid of the funds of the Tuapeka Hospital. The date of the entertainment has not been definitely fixed, but it will probably be early in March. •

On Saturday, Mr. Hay will sell by auction, at the residence of Mr. Mouafc, at 2 o'clock p.m., freehold and leasehold property, belonging to that genMeman,, comprising a number of sections in the town of Lawrence. Also, a four-roomed house, household furniture, &c. On Wednesday next the 6th March, Mr. Hay will sell at Wetherstones, the pniperty of Mr. Mark Sayers, 11 acres leasehold land, 3-roomed house, household furniture, cattle, &o .^Particulars of the above sales will be found in our advertising columns

Sergeant Major Ifallard is to be transferred toDunedin, ,

We are authorised by Mr. Reeves, "Resident Minister of Publio Works for the Middle Island, to state that the General Government, after careful consideration have decided to summon the next session of the General JLssembly a t Wellington.

Our telegraphic despatch from .Dunedin, states that the Whirlwind has arrived with 350 Chinese, and Small the comic singer, and that Sub-Inspector Thompson haß been appointed to the charge of the Tuapeka district.

Another Chinese leper has bpen taken to the lazaretto. The name of the unfortunate man is Ah Chow, and he resided in Gabriels Gully. A meeting of the Timor Water Race Co., (Eady and party) was held at Nicholsoc'g Hotel, Ettrick, on the 19th inst. Mr. R. Eady occupied the chair.. This Company are bringing in a race from Timor Creek, to the banks of the Molyneux, a distance of five miles. They also propose constructing a dam to cover an area of 12 acres/ in addition to the one they already have, which covers 3 acres of ground. 'Mr:, Jno. Kerr proposed, and Mr. Jno. Eady seconded, that application be made to the Government for the sum of £200, to enable them to carry on the work. It was decided that the charge for day water should be £2 a week, and for night water £1 10s. This Company intend making application for the water right's for Knights Creek, and constructing a race a distance of a mile and a half, capable of carrying 14 heads of water to Iho banks of the Molyneux.

Ik consequonce of the unavoidable absence of Mr. Bastings, who, it was expected, would be able to give some information on the subject, the meeting on the" railway question, convened for the evening of Wednesday the 2 1st inst., was postponed.