LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 234, 25 July 1872, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The English Mail via San Francisco closes at Lawrence, on the evening of. Tuesday, the 30th instant. By a proclamation which appears in the "New Zealand Gazette" of the 11th inst. , civil and criminal sittings of the Supreme Court are appointed to be hold in Lawrence "on the second Monday in each of the months of June ana Decembpr, in each and every year." We learn by telegraph that the election for the Mayoralty of Cromwell lesulted in the rej turn of Mr. M. Fraer, by a majority of 11. The numbers polled were Fraer, 42 ; Taylor, 31. i Great excitement prevailed, and oufc of the total number of ratepayers only two did not vote. Several came 14 miles to the poll. Arrangements for the ploughing match to be held to-morrow at Colqhoun's farm, Clarks Flat, have been satisfactorily completed by the ComuilUet*. The ground chosen is eminently suitable, competent judges have been appointed, and there is good reason to anticipate a large number of entries in the j various classes, which will ensure keen competition for the prizes. The dinner to take place in the evening will be provided by Mrs. Donovan, in the Shamrock Hof el , whose catering on a previous occasion is sufficient guarantee that a good spread will be given. Should the weather prove favourable, as there is every indication it will, the gift of prophesy is not needed to predict that the ploughing match of 1872 will be as successful as any similar affairs which havo taken place ia Tuapeka. The grand variety entertainment' in aid of the funds of the Tuapeka Hospital, given at tlie Spoi 'sman's Arms, Wetherstone 1 ), on Monday evening last, was successful in every re_ spect. There was a first-rate audience, and the performances were really good. The programme compiised songs, a Christy Minstrel . "entertainment, and a negro burlesque. It was exceedingly lengthy originally, but the audience made it considerably longer by demanding encores to every song given. This course pi evented the entertainment being got through before a quarter past one on Tuesday morning, and the fact of the interest being maintained up to that time, showed that those piesent highly appreciated the efforts made to please them. When all acquitted .themselves so well, it would be invidious to mention the names of any of the .ladies and gentlemen who kindly gave their services. Suffice it to say thai they gave one of the most pleasant and successful entertainments that have taken place in this district for a long time. At the conclusion of the programme, Mr. Ferguson on behalf of the Hospital Committee, thanked the ladies and gentlemen who had given the entertainment, and also thanked the audience for attending. Mr. Ferguson also alluded to the approaching depaiture of Mr. F. Bastings for Cromwell. He stated that every om* present knew the active and prominent part Mr. F. Bastings Tiad taking in getting up and performing in entertainments for charitable and other objects, and was suro that those present would join in the best wishes | for [his future welfare in the place he was about to £o to. Three hearty, cheers were given for Mr. and Mrs. Bastings, after which the assemblage dispersed. We believe, that after paying all expenses, there will be a balance of £20 in favor of the Hospital. Mr. Beresford has been elected Mayor of Alexandra without opposition. THE usual fortnightly meeting of the Lawrence Town Counnil was held on Wednesday evening la3t . After the minutes of the previous meeting and the Mayoralty election had been read and confirmed, the Council adjourned till Wednesday evening. Wr have been informed that Davis and party last week applied for a prospecting claim, on a newly-discovered quartz reef at Table Hill. The reef is situated about a mile to the south of the Ocean View line, and runs east and west. The party had worked "on the quiet" about 200 feet along the surface, washing the stuff on the top of the reef, with good results. The attention of other parties being attracted to their operations, and a claim being taken up, the two parties amalgamated and applied for 1200 feet. They brought up spue specimens to Lawience, in which gold was plainly visible. Should this reef prove payable it wiU'be commanded by the water of the Table Hill Company, aud add to the valne of that property. It is anticipated that the Waikaia will not he workable until. Christmas, in coiisequeuc^ of the large quantity of snow that has fallen.

crying, andbefore^eiradthne-iargetTip'tO" find out the reason, she saw a man enter her] ■ room,' and as he passed the window (it being full moon at the time, and the moon Bhining in at the window), she saw that it was a' man named William Shuker. He came up to her bed, seized her by »the throat, and attempted to commit a criminal assault. The girl stoutly resisted. Failing in that, he stooped and picked up from the floor a weapon which he had brought in with him, and commenced beating her on the head ; but, owing to her struggle?, the blows did not have such full effect as they were meant to have. The last blow, which she received on the upper part of the left arm, knocked her on to the floor. He, being alarmed at her crie*, ran outthrough the back door, across the garden -to a gate which ope _s to the front of the house^ put on his hools, mounted his .horse, which was tied to the fence, and. ' .from thence galloped home. It having rained all the previous day and evening,-' his tracks and proceedings were as plain as if marked on a map. The girl did not totally lose her senses ; and as soon as he was gone Bhegot up,, and, proceeding to her mistress' room, found'her to all appearance dead, and, as the girl thought, with her head battered in. She then -ran just as she was, in her. nightdress and bare feet, to Constable QUionoghae, woke him up, and, as we 1 as she t jraa. able, informed him of what had occurreddi He called up the constables iv the blockhouse, and then went to Mrs Hardy's. Haf oond her lying on her back, with a child .tightly/ clasped in each arm. She was| heavily, and her skull apparently: •fractured. The constable tlen woke up Mr -Skipworth, the nearest neighbor, and asked! ■him to go and do what he could for Mrs' Hardy. .He then called Mr Stubbs, who went and dressed the servant's wounds. He fonnd three severe wounds on the scalp, a bad contusion of the left hand (since found" broken), and a severe bruise on the upper; part of the left arm. She had apparently lost a deal of blood, her hair audl nightdress, being saturated. Dr Nesbitt >had been sent for, but was unfortunately in the country, and could not arrive under three hours. Mr Stubbs then proceeded to Mrs Hardy's, where he found Mr Skipworth and Mrs Taylor attending on the sufferer. She 1 had three exteusive wounds ou the top of the head,, varying from an inch and a half to three inches long, one on the right temple, one over the left eye, and numerous contusions on the neck aud shoulders. The skull was not fractured, but she was suffering from partial concussion of tlie brain. The Weeding being stopped, there traa nothing left to do but to wait patiently until the doctor arrived, which was not until nearly eight hours after the occurrence, the delay being caused by the ferryman, Fred. Goldsmith, who refused to put the messenger across the river. The prisoner was brought up for examination on Friday, and remanded until today (Monday), when the principal witness, Mary Ann Manchester, would be able to appear and give evidence. On the case being heard before the Bench, Mary Ana Manchester swore positively that it was the prisoner who entered her room and assaulted her. The weapon he used was a piece of manuka about a foot and a-half long, which had bsen sawn the previous day by a laborer employed by Mr Hardy. The prisoner had evidently gone to the wood heap, and taken the weapou into the house with him, with the intention of committing murder, if necessary, to effect his object. He had obtained entrance through a window in the kitchen, which had, unfortunately, been left unfastened. The prisoner has been again remanded for a week, when it is thought Mrs Hardy will be sufficiently, recovered to give evidence.