LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 226, 30 May 1872, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The English mail via San Francisco, will close at Lawrertce on Tuesday, |the 4th prox. The usual fortnightly readings will be given in the Lawrence Athenaeum to-morrow evening #

The drawing of the art union announced by Mr. Hay, for^the Ist June, is postponed for a week, in consequence of the returns for outlaying districts not having been received yet. On dit that the. agents of the Big Capitalist 'ntend to offer to construct a bridge- over the Molyneux, at the Beaumont, taking as payment land at 14s. Bd. per acre.

Great difficulty is experienced in working the Clyde punt, in consequence of a bar having formed across its course. A proposition that a stone pier should be constructed beyond the obstruction was mooted, and Mr. M'Pherson, the owner of the punt, expressed his willingness to pay half the cost of the work. Negotiations between Mr. M'Pherson and the Clyde Town Council were initiated, but have, howler, not yet been completed. It would be a great pity if this punt were rendered useless, as it was the first one placed on the Molyneuv, and a good deal of money has at different times been laid out upon it. The repair of the shelter sheds on the Old Man, between Campbells andtheTeviot, has bee.n so long delayed, that it is problematical whether it can be effected this season. A sum of money sufficient for the necessary repairs has been lying in the hands of the Warden for some time past, but owing to the flourishing state of trade in the Teviot, no one could be induced to ■undertake the work.

A ball took place in the Lawience Athenreum on the evening of the 24th inst. As the usual courtesy was not extended to us we are unable to give any further report on the affair. • . The sphere of the usefulness of the Wetherstones Library is to be enlargpd by the addition of a reading room, to contain the various leading newspapers of the colony, also home papers. This will no doubt be hailed as a boon by many, and in order to place it within, the reach of every one, the subscription has been fixed at a very low rate— just sufficient to clear expenses.

We notice that a Bill to amend and consolidate the law relating to the impounding of cattle has been introduced in the Provincial Council. One good feature in the measure is that it provides that when neither the owner nor overseer of the cattle are known to the poundkeeper, they must be advertised in a newspaper as well as in the " Gazette." The residents of the Teviot district are very anxious that a bridge should be erected across the Molyneux, at Roxburgh. It is suggested that a bridge somewhat similar to that how being erected across the Pouiahaka, capable of carrying light traffic, should be constructed. It would certainly be a great benefit and advantage to a large number of people.

Improvements are being made in Theyres and Beck's Brewery. Alexandra, which will considerably facilitate brewing operations. The roarl between Butche/s Gully and the Alexandra punt, is in a very bad state. That portions of it extending a distance of a mile from the Alexandra punt is in a really frightful condition, and it is a marvel that any traiSc can pass over it all. The road line is strewed with large boulders, and deep ruts radiate in every direction. The fact that Mr. Craig, the driver of Cobb's coach, offered to subscribe "towards its repair, shows that its state must be dangerous. If something is not done, and that speedily, accidents will inevitably occur.

-AMEKTiNGof the creek- workers of Butchers Gully, was held last Thursday evenirg. for the purpose of considering what steps should be taken to prevent the gully water being diverted. It appeared' from statements made at the meet, ing, that some parties had not only been diverting the water out of the Gully for their own *use, but were disposing of it at a profit to the Butcher's Gully Quartz Company. It was resolved to give the parties in question notice to discontinue the diversion of the water.

We take the following from the " Cromwell Argus," of the 21st instant : — " A fact of considerable importance to Registered Mining Companies was mentioned in the Warden's Court o# Thursday, during the hearing of an application by the Robert Burns Quartz Mining Company, registered, for protection. The Warden asked the legal manager (Mr. Colclough) whether the company was possessed of a miner's right. Mr. Colclough replied in the negative, adding that the shareholders each held a miner's right, but he was not aware it was requisite for the company to have one. The Warden .observed that no registered company could come into Court without a miner's right. It was necessary for each individual shareholder to have one. Mr. Colclough thereupon applied for and obtained a miner's right for the company, and the protection certificate was granted."

It is notified in the Provincial Government " Gazette," that the quarterly meeting for granting licenses, &c, will be held in the Resident Magistrate's Courts throughout the province, on Thursday, the 4th June. The readings which took place at the Wether* stones sshoolhouse, on the evening of Thursday last, were, in point of attendance and that of the entertainment given, fully as successful v usual.

Friday last, the anniversary of the Queen's Birthday, was observed in Lawrence as a close holiday. All the public offices, banks, and business establishments were closed,* and many devoted themselves to the extraction of pleasure from rambles to the various surrouuding districts.

An indignation meeting has been held at Reefton, because the Superintendent of Nelson refused to grant several mining leases, and reduced the area of several others granted. The speakers denounced in unmeasured terms the action of the Superintendent, and adopted a petition to the Governor, praying him to withdraw the powers delegated by him to the Superintendent of Nelson.

At a meeting of the Directors of the Tuapeka Mutual Benefit Building and Investment Society, held on the evening of Wednesday last, Mr, John Mouat was appointed Solicitor to the company. It was resolved to reduce the Secretary's salary from £100 to £50, the reduction to take effect three months after the expiration, of the present quarter. It was also resolved to reduce the rent from £20 to £j. The premium to be given on shares purchased by the society was fixed at £11.

The heavy storm on Friday last, had the effect of 'raising the Molyueux; a ioot and a half.

Mb. Ddnc.vn M'Rae informs us tha.t he parposes running a vehicle for the conveyance of passtn^ers and .parcels between Roxburgh and Ettrick. His spirited enterprise is looked upon with much, favour, and the best wishes are expressed for its success.

The much dreaded Elbow, on. the Teviot road, a few miles from Roxburgh, will soon cease to be a terror to travellers. A number of the road men have been for some weeks past engaged in making the road on a much lower level. A great deal of filling up was required, and some cutting. When completed this iliveisiou will carryjthe road almost in a straight line.

We have much pleasure in chronicling the mi ccessful formation of a debatiftg club in the floui ishing township of Roxbnrgh. Subjects of sin abstruse nature have been discussed, and conclusions arrived at satisfactory to the mem-.

bers. The next subject set down for discussion, is "Can Bradshaw write?" Some doubts have been expressed as to his having acquired that useful ai t, in consequence of his not having answered the missive sent to him by a couple of hundred of his constituents.

At Horseshoe Bend, Featherston and 'party are now using trucks in the working of their claim. Moffet, Matheson, and Stewart's new race which crosses the Island Block, conveys a sufficient supply of water for all the requirements of the fparty. They are constructing a large dam for saviug water. There is an un* limited quantity of ground which will pay well for sluicing. Eady, Keeb, 6s Co., have struck some excellent ground on the Molyneux beach, opposite the Robert Burns Hotel, Moa Flat. We saw a splendid sample of scaly gold, weighing about an ounce and a half, the result of 3 hours cradling. Their race — the Timor — is completed and in excellent trim, and affords a good supply of water. They are ranking active preparations for taking out a 'paddock. At TinkerV, recently, Norman, Reid, and party, for a few weeks mining, obtained the splendid result 170 ozs, Michael Salmon also had a washing up with more than usually satisfactory results.

The success which has attended the substitution of iron piping for canvas hose in Drybrea«l, has attracted the-attention of the miners of Tinkers, 'wbo intend shortly to follow the example of their Drybiead confreres. The improving prospects of Tinker's diggings, has induced the erection of a number of business places lately. Among them may be noticed the store and hotel— the latter named the Newtow.n Hotel, belonging to Mr. Mcl lor, of Dry bread, which are commodious buildings and well-fitted up. Since Keenan and Morgan established themselves as butchers at Drybread, they have- re duced the price of meat 50 per cent., mutton now being sold at 2d per lb.

We had the pleasure of inspecting some machinery for straining wiies of fences, &<?., manufactured of wrought iron by Mr. Aldridge, blacksmith, of Clyde. This strainer is a great improvement upon the apparatus in common use, and its efficiency has' been so satisfactorily proved, that a large demand has set in, Mi?. A. R, Neville, advertises, that he haa commenced business in Roxburgh, as law, mining, and conveyancing agent, v