May 23. The Speaker took the chair at 2 p.m. PETITIONS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 226, 30 May 1872, Page 6

May 23. The Speaker took the chair at 2 p.m. PETITIONS.

Mr Clark presented a petition from thirty, nine settlers in North Tokomairiro district, complaining that they have been deprived of certain grazing rights hitherto enjoyed by them, and praying redress. Mr Green presented a petition from fortysix miners and others in the district of Waikouaiti, setting forth the same premises and prayer as the foregoing. Mr Tolmie presented a petition from G. F. Council, asking compensation for loss in- ; curred hy him in connection with the survey of 45,000 acres of land purchased by Mr Clark. The petitions were received. NOTICES. A very laige number of notices of questions and motions were given. ADJOURNED. The Provincial Secretary moved— '• That this House, as its rising, do adjourn till Saturday, at two p.m." The motion was warmly, though strongly debated, and nnally resulted in a division of 13 aganist 13. The Speaker gave his casting voice in favor of the noes, and so the motion was lost. QUESTIONS. Mr Mervyn asked the Government— " Ist. W hat was the cost of constructing the bridge over the Water of Leith at the old Botanical Gardens, under whose supervision it was constructed, if at present in use, and, if not, why ? " 2nd. Also the tramway at the back of the Post Office, the cost, if at present in use, and, if not, why ? " 3rd. Also the cost of the crane at Rattray street jetty, and if it answers all the purposes for which it was intended when constructed ? '• 4th. Also, under what authority is the Inspector of Works acting ? " The Secretary for Works replied (I)— Thafc he could not state the exact cost, as much had been done by prison labor. It was constructed under the supervision of the Inspector of Works. As to its being in present use, he had simply to reply— Yes. (2) That the cost had been about L 3 15s. As to its being a!; present in use, he could state of his own knowledge that it was not in use halt an hour ago, but he believed it was used whenever a heavy mail arrived. (3) He was not in a position to state the exact cost, but believed it did answer the purpose of its construction. (4) The Executive Government of the Province. COMMONAGE CROMWELL. Mr Hickey moved an address to the Superintendent for Ll.ooo to be placed on the supplementary estimates for commonage Cromwell. Mf ! eid said, that recognising the necessity which existed for a common at Cramwell, the Government would take steps to ascertain whether they could arrange on reasonable terms with the runholder and otherwise, for the proclamation of a common there. Having this assurance Mr Hickey agreed to withdrawn is motion. CLINTON TO AVAIPAHI. Mr Thomson moved for an address to the Superintendent for L4OO to be placed on the supplementary estimates for the road from Clinton to Waipahi in addition to the LIOO already on the estimates. Mr, Bell deprecated the placing of sham votes on the Estimates. It was necessary, seeing that the revenue was more likely to decrease than increase, that they should act cautiously. Again, if there fhould be any. surplus, it would only be fair that the vari- - ous districts share equally, not that one district should receive a large sum of» money, and another obtain no assistance whatever. It should also be remembered that there was a largo overdraft at the Bank, and before they proceeded to vote money away in the manner indicated, the Council should pay off that overdraft, for it really was not creditable, nor fair to the Government, that they should be kept under the thumb of any Bank, or that they should get such threatening letters as were received last year. He move- 1 the following amendment :— " Provided always that the actual revenue shall exceed the amount estimated for the current year, by an amount sufficient to' enable all supplementary votes to be expended ; and provided further, that no payment be made on account of any such vote on the Supplementary Estimates until after the expenditure of the votes on the regular Estimates, and then only in the same proportion a3 such supplementary vote shall bear to the total amount of such Supplementary Estimates." On a division there voted, ayes, 14 ; noes, 20. The motion was then put and carried. BILLS. The Otago Local Revenues Bill was read a third time and passed. The following were read a second time : — Otago Municipal Corporations Ordinance, IS7O, Amendment Ordinance (allowing municipal assessments to be made on the annual rental instead of a 21 years' lease), and the Education Bill. THE AIDED SCHOOLS CLAUSE. The debate was resumed on Mr Clark's motion. The original motion was amended so as to read "to place in the hands of the Miu ; ster of Education," instead of Minioters, ' Ja most dangerous patronage." On a division being called for, a dozen members walked out. The result of the division was, Ayes, 23 : Messrs Allan, Bathgate, Bradshaw, Clark (teller) Cutten, Henderson, Holmes (teller), Innes, Mollison M 'Arthur, M'Dermid, M'Kenzie, M'Lean Reid, Reynolds, Shepherd, Smith, Sumpter Thomson, Tolmie, and Webster. Noes, 3 • Messrs Barr (teller), Daniel, Hickey (teller). Mr Barr, explained that his sympathies were with the motion; but seeing many hon. members who were opposed to the motion run out of the House, he voted with the noes so that a dmsion should be Uken, . ,

Some individuals residing in the Tuapeka district recently conceived the brilliant idea of introducing themselves to the notice of Royalty by sending to the Prince of Wales a tangible proof of their joy at his convalescence in the shape of some gold. 'This idea unfortunately never reached maturity. It was murdered in its embryonic stage, we understand, by a lady expressing her opinion of the matter by an aphorism aptly forcible, but certainly not couched in elegant language.

The Kearsage dredge is at work on the Molyneux River, nearly opposite the Halfway House, beween Clyde and Alexandra.

Mb. Holt, of the Dunstan coalpit, is sinking a shaft above his old one. It is 3£ft. wide and 6£ft. broad, and is splendidly slabbed. It is down now about 120 ft. and there is about 30ft. more to sink.

"Winter evening entertainments of a novel character, are at present the rage in Alexandra. The said entertainments' are sales by auction of Mr. Samson's drapery, conducted by Mr. J. C. Chappie, They seem to give universal satisfaction.

The " Colonist" furnishes the following additional particulars regarding the drowning of Mr. E. De Carle at Westporfc .— " The deceased, just before the occurence, was observed on the after part of the Kennedy, and when next seen he was in the river, in the strongest part of the current, and being swej>t towards the, breakers: No one saw the manner in which Jis got into the water, but before he disappeared those who were watching the sad occur- } rence say that he rose in the water, and waved *a farewell with his hand to the helpless onlookers, and then turning his face to the current, he appeared careless of or resigned to his inevitable fate, and was swept away to sea, no Assistance being possible, and the river being in great flood. The body was found next day cot far from where deceased was last seen ; <one of the trouser legs was torn, but there was little else to indicate sudden death.' An inquest <was held, and verdict of ' death by drowning ' . returned."

It is with great regret that we chronicle the death of Mr. George Armstrong, of the Blue Spur, late of Switzers, which melancholy event occurred on Thursday, the 23rd inst. Deceased took an active }sart in social movements, and

was greatly esteemed by all acquainted with him. He was a valued contributor to this journal, and wrote many excellent artiples on mining subjects. Deceased left a wife and family totally unprovided for. In order to ameliorate their' condition, a movement has been set on foot to collect subscriptions for their aid. The following gentlemen have kindly • taken the uiutier in hand : — Messrs. John Downic, Touts (Lawrence),* Cooper, Bailey {Bine Spur), and Johnston (Switzers). Owing to' some errors having been made in ihe registration and advertising of the .Devils ■Creek Quartz Mining Company, it has been deemed advisable to wind it up and leconstitute it. These operation* have caused the postponement of the general meeting of shareholders from the 3rd to the 17th June, which is notified in our advertising columns. Mr. Matthew Hay will sell by auction, on Saturday next, • express wagon, horses, picture ' books, furniture, &c. In another column will be found advertisement reminding the ratepayers of Lawrence of the necessity for their making immediate - payment of the rates for 1872. All ratepayers in default on the 15th June will be excluded from the rollr Those who have recently acquired a qualification for admission to the roll -are requested to communicate with the Town Clerk. The usual monthly meeting of the Lawrence School Committee will take place to-morrow evening. Ax extraordinary general meeting of the shareholders in the Pboe nix Water Race Company will be held on Saturday eveuing, for the purpose of considering the offer of the G-abriels Quartz Mining Company to lease the water. - Mb. J. A. X. Riedle intimates through our advertising columns that he is prepared to teach music, singing, G-erraan, French, Latin and English, at moderate' charges. MiRiedle's address is 'at Messrs. F. M>yer & Cj. Boss Place, Lawrence. Mb. R. W. Capstick will sell by auction, at 2 o'clock, to-day, Thursday, the 30th May. fttßarr'a Farmers' Arms hotel, Balclutha, the Netherby Farm, Glutha district. The unprecedentedly dry season, has had the effect of causing 7 Beveral apple teees in the Tuapeka and Teviot districts to yield a second crop of fruit — of eoursa of a small size. On Thursday evening last, the Presbytery of CJaHia met iv the Presbyterian Church, Lawrence, for the purpose of moderating in a call. After sermon by the Key. Mr. Chisholm, moderator, a form of call was produced and read to the congregation, when it was proposed and seconded, and carried unanimously, that tha name of the Rev. James £L\ Cameron should be inserted therein. - No other name having been proposed, the congregation proceeded to sign the call; aftgr wLich the Presbytery sustainad it, and put it into the hands of Mr. Cameron, who signified his acceptance thereof. The Preabytery appointed the 11th June, at seven o'clock in the evening, for the induction of llr. Cameron to the pastoral charge of the congregation. A soiree in connection therewith will take place the evening following. Ybsteshat morning the polioe stationed in Bunedm struck". They demanded that for tha fnttH#they sha-l receive the same rate of p'iy as the wardens in the gaol, viz., 8s 6J per Ayy — Is, 6J. moi'ti than they receive at present — and also back pay for two years at the same rate. * At 12 o'clock the men were paraded,, and given till 6 o'clock to consider whether they would return to their duties. They ir*re informed that if by that time they did not do bo, tbey would be dismissed. .

The " Arrow Observer " gives the following as the text of. the Chinese petition for the removal of Warden Beethm from the "Wakatip district. As it is not published in the Dunedin papers we reprint It .— " The petitioners say they suffer great hardship and..injustice from the Warden, whose decisions in mining and other cases are animated by violent prejudice, and consequently oppressive and ruinous. From injustice done, the petitioners are compelled to regard the law as an instrument of oppression against them, instead of a source of protection. Advantage is taken by Europeans of the Warden's notorious prejudice to inflict injuries by excessive damages and costs awarded againsb them ; and that the Chinese complaints are unjustly dismissed.""