LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 232, 11 July 1872, Page 7

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

We nfo informed that it is on the tapis to give Mr. H. Bastings a public dinner on the occasion of his retirement frjm the office of Mayor of Lawrence. The many valuable s> rvices rendered by Mr. Bastings to the town of Law- I rence render such a compliment well deserved." In accordance with a requisition, the Mayor of Lawiende has convened a public meeting for the evening of Monday next, to take into consideration the action of the Provincial Executive, re the sale of 20,000 acres in tho Mount Benger district to. Cargill and Anderson. We have to acknowledge the receipt from the Registrar General of a volume containing statistics of New Zealand for the year 1870. Mr. M. Hat will sell by public auction at the Survey Office, Lawrence, at noon, on Friday, the 12th hist., 23 acres of land in the Glenkenich district. . We are informed that for the future members of the police force are to be allowed ss. 6d. per day when travelling. This is only just, and we : feel surprised that such an allowance was not conceded long ago. It is absurd and ciuel to expect that men receiving such salaries as police constables should have to pay out of their own pockets the veiy heavy expenses necessary when making a journey. We have also been given to understand that recruits are to receive Bs. instead of 7s. per day as hitherto. During the past week the water in the shaft of the Alexandra Quartz Company, Table Hill, Canada, has become so troublesome as to prevent any underground work being carried on. A course of lectures will be given during the winter months in the new Presbyterian church, Blue Spur ; the proceeds to be devoted towards the building fund. The iirst lecture will be delivered by the Rev. Mr. Cameron, on Tuesday, the lth inst,. commencing at h ilf-past 7 p.m. We learn that a meeting of the TFaitahuna Miners' Committee was held on'Saturdry, 6th inst. , at which the Secretary was instructed to communicate with similar committees up. country, for -the purpose of ascertaining _their with reference to petitioning the Assembly, which meets on the 16th inst., for the abolition of the export duty on gold. Ouk Blue Spur mining correspondent writes as follows :— I have little mining news- of importance to rtote from the Spur this week. Wiuter is still keeping on us, consequently working in most of the claims is still suspended. A good strong thaw is anxiously looked for. Shares in our water races still maintain a goodvalue. A one-sixteenth share in the iraipori Co.'s Ditch changed bands last week for £450, including present dividend, something like £60, the purchaser being Mr. Thos. Cousens. An influential and well attended meeting was held in the schoolhonse, last Friday night, to consider the advisability of forming a Mining Association for the Tuapeka distiict, and also the reduction of the gold duty. The meeting was addressed by several of our principal claimholdevs, and from the way they discussed the subjects, they evidently mean business. There is very little to report from the Gabriels reef. JFith the exception of the prospectors and Roberta and Co., who are still driving, no one else is at work. A lecture in aid of the funds of the Tuapeka Athemeum and Mining Institute will be given by Mr Pyke, Y.M. in tho Athensuum Hall, on the e\ e.iing of Tuesday, the 16th inst. The lecture is entitled " A Night among Dead Lions." The reputation deservedly acquired by Mr. Pyke as a lecturer of rare ability, buing so widely-known, renders it a work of supererogation for us to recommend him to the people of Tuapeka. We feel sure that if the weather permits, that there will be a large attendance; and confidently predict that those who may be present will spend a thoroughly enjoyable evening. Mr. H. Bastings, Mayor of Lawrence, will preside. We remind the ratepayers that the Court for the Revision of, the Citizens List, for the year 1872-73, will sit at the Council Chambers, on Saturday next, the 13th inst. The readings given in the Wethei stones Schoolhouse, last Thursday evening, were as successful as usual. WE draw public attention to the sale by auction of the Tuapeka Mouth Saw Mills, freehold property, &c, &c, which takes place at one o'clock to-day, at Mr. Hay's. Sale Rooms, Ross Place, Lawrence. A SALE of horses, buggies, liarnessl &c, &c, - the property of Mr. Henderson, will be held by Mr. Hay, at one o'clock on Saturday next, the 14th inst., at the Commercial Stables, Lawrence. Wk understand that Mr. A. B. Matthews, teacher of the Tuapeka Mouth School, has been transferred to the Clark's Flat School. Two candidates are in field for the Mayoralty of Clyde- Mr. D. "M'Pherson and Mr. J. U. Cambridge. " Both gentlemen have received numerously signed requisitions, and the contest is expected to be very keen. Two Chinamen are reported to have struck goodgold-on the banks of the Molyneux, behind Mr. M'Leods paddock, at Moa Flat. The programaiee of the Tuapeka. and Waitahuna ploughing match appears in our advertising columns. A large number of spectators assembled at Cooinbe's claim, Gle'nore, to witness anexperi-' raent with the ."rock render." 3001 b. of the explosive were placed in a drive, prepared for that purpose, 20 feet below the surface. Nine minutes after the fuse was lighted it exploded, displacing, it is estimated, 5000 tons of cement and dirt. On the night of Friday last an exceedingly heavy fall of snow took place. In the morning the ground was covered to a depth of 7 to 8 inches. On Saturday night and Sunday-morning a heavy rain and wind storm caused the snow to disappear almost entirely from the low ground. The weather during the week has been exceedingly disagreeable,

On Thursday afternoon last we inspected a machine, called by its owner, Mr. Acton, a hydromatic pump, at work in a claim in Gabriels Gully. The principle of the pump is not new, although Mr. Acton claims to have made such improvements as to make his machine a now invention , but will not divnlge in what way. He intends, we believe, to apply for a patent. The pump worked exceedingly, well.. We were informed that a paddock 36 x 36, 10 feet deep, full of water was pumped dry in 20 minutes' The machime possesses this advantage, that it draws up and discharges large quantities of gravel and tailings. It would be invaluable on wet ground ; and the cheapness and portability are greatly in its favor. We undetstand that Mr. Acton is willing to treat with parties who may desire to test the pump. Only two candWates for tho Mayoralty of Lawrence are as yet in the field - Messrs Meyer and Coverlid. Mes&rs Williams and Ilarrop were requested to allow themselves to be nominated, but declined. The nomiaation takes place to-morrow The programme of tho readings to be given in the Athemeum Hall, Lawrence, appears in our advertising columns. We trust to-morrow evening's entertainment will be as successful as the last. The notorious Ah See, alias Flash Jimmy, who, our readers will remember, some years ago underwent a term of imprisonment in Lawrence gaol for stealing a watch at Waitahuna ; and was incarcirated 12 months in Dunedin gaol for obtaining money under false pretences at Cronij well, is again in the hands of the police, having been arrested on Monday last for stealing money from the till of Long's hotel, Waitahuna. H-; was brought up before the Resident Magistrate on Tuesday, and remanded untill Thursday (today). Murray's celebrated World Circus appeared before the Lawrence public on Tuesday anil Wednesday evenings last. The various performances of the splendid stud of trained horses and the equestrain feats of the members of the companj' excited the highest admiration among the audience, and the applause was loud and freqnent: The drolleries of Mr. Murray, the clown, the acrobatic performances of the Young American, and the excellent dancing of Mrs. Murray also evoked hearty demonstrations oj •delight. The Circus will appear in Lawrence to-night and Saturday night ; at Waitahuna on Friday night , and at the Teviot on Tuesday, the 10th inst. From thence it proceeds to th c Dunstan.