LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 239, 29 August 1872, Page 5

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Wotherstoues Headings take place as usual to-night. THE seventh anniversary of the Loyal Tuapeka Pioneer Lodge, M.U.L0.0.F., will be celebrated by a ball and supper, to be given at the Commercial Assembly Booms, on Thursday next, the ."sth proximo. The success that has attended previous gatherings of this kind under the auspioes of the Loyal Tuapeka Lodge, is sufficient guarantee that nothing will be wanting, to enable those who may be present to spend a most enjoyable evening. The truth of the old adage, " Distance lends enchantment to the view," is again receiving confirmation. The vague reports of the discovery of gold at Eoper River are attracting considerable attention in this district, and unsettling the minds of many of the miners. It is not probable, however, that unless the reports are well confirmed, many will take th«ir departure to the new Dorado. Tse last of the Tuapeka Athenaeum Readings for the Beasbn, took place on Friday evening . last. Mr. Bastings occupied the chair. There was a fair attendance; and the entertainment was ft great improvement on previous ones. We proposed this week commenting on the management of the Athesenum, especially, as we are informed an indignation meeting of the committee had been held to discuss the accusations made against them in the columns of this journal. On account of an unusual pressure of space, we must defer out remarks till next

issue. Messrs. Bastings and Kofoed intend erecting a malthouse, in 'connexion with their brewery at Wether-stones. The necessary arrangements have been made for commencing operations next season. They intend to use

locally-grown barley, and in another column, advertise that daring the -coining season they will be purchasers of good samples of malting barley:' This should act as an incentive to the farmers of this district, to grow barley crops. AN exodus of Chinese from Otago to the West Coast is taking place. Between 200 and 300 Celestials, have within the last month, left Tuapeka for Hokitika, and large numbers are expected to follow shortly. The cause of the exodus is stated to be favorable reports -from the West Coast, supervening upon the severity of winter. AKOTHEB t&ilraoe robbery is reported. On the morning of the 15th inst., Messrs. Boss-on : going to their work, observed that their boxes had been tempered with during the previous j night, and on examination found that some j one had carefully cleaned up. The quantity of

gold abstracted is estimated at five ounces. No clue to the perpetrators of the theft has been obtained by the police. We this week publish the Financial State- " ment (a unmmary of which appeared in oar last issue), in txtemo: ■ Ws lure compelled to held over several of " oar own ooirespondeai's " letters, a number of ' letters <* the editor, and other natter.

The prospectors of the Beaumont reef have sent a few tons of stone to Dunedin, for the purpose of being tested.

So bad is the- state of the road between Dunstan and Clyde via Naseby that Cobb and Co.'s coach take* four days to perform the journey*

The application of the Tuapeka and Beaumont Bace Company for a subsidy of £2000, has been granted by the Government.

The greater part of the machinery for the Gabriels Gully Go's claim, has now arrived} and the timber is expected this week, upon arrival of which, the erection will be vigorously peoceeded with, to make up for the unavoidable delay which has occurred.

Thkbk is a man living at the Lammerlaw, whose unexampled woes merit the greatest comiaeration. ,Some five weeks ago, while on a visit to Waipori, he fell in with a number of friends. An extensive patronage of the various hotels followed, which resulted in the hero of our story, who is ordinarily, quiet and wellbehaved, developing pugilistic tendencies, inimical to the " peace of our Sovereign Lady, the Queen, her crown'and dignity." Before he had an opportunity of doing any mischief, the vigilant preserver of law and order marched him off to the Camp, where he spent the night. On the following morning the Constable liberated him on his undertaking to appear and be punished at the next Court held in Waipori. True to his promise, the man came in on the following Friday, but there being no court, his journey was fruitless. The two following Fridays he appeared at the Camp, but with the same result. On the fourth Friday he again came in. A well-known and worthy J.P, was at Waipori on that day. To him the delinquent presented himself, asking to be fined. The J.P. was staggered at this unusual request, and asked the man what he meant. The man gave an explanation of the circumstances, winding with an urgent appeal to be fined, " for " said he, "I am a working man, living six miles away, and can't afford to come in every week.' The J.P. being of a philanthropic disposition, expressed his willingness to gratify the man, and told him to get the constable, and he would hear the charge. Here another difficulty arose— the constable was away on duty elsewhere. The J.P. then suggested that somebody should be got to make a charge. The many accepted this suggestion with celerity, and immediately proceeded to procure some one to prosecute. After a considerable search he found an obliging individual, and the pair presented themselves to the justice. An information was drawn up, but when the individual who had consented to act as prosecutor was required to swear to the charge, he fatly refused to do so, as he knew nothing about the affair. This, of course, precluded any further action being taken in the case. The delnquent was awfully. disgusted, and after fruitlessly endeavouring to get the justice to fine him, offered to deposit an amount to cover any fine that might be inflicted. This offer could not be entertained, and he had to depart without having his desire to be fined gratified. Who will venture to say after this that the digger is not a law respecting individual ?

The usual monthly meeting of the Tuapeka Hospital Committee was held on Tuesday evening last. Present : Messrs. Humphrey* Arthur, Mears. M'Kimniie, Halley, Harrop, and Hayes (Secretary.) The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Dietary Scale, drawn up by Drs. Halley and Stewart, was adopted. The Surgeon's report was laid on the tible. It stated that during the month 5 Europeans and 3 Chinese patients had been ad* mitted, and 7 patients had been discharged ; the number in the Hospital at date being 11 During the month there were 1 European and 3 Chinese out-door patients treated, Mr. Mears was appointed member of the Visiting Committee, vice Mr. M'Kimmie retiring, Mr. Hayes said that, while in town, he had called upon the Government relative to obtaining forest trees. The Government, howeverjhad none, but promised, as soon as a supply was received, to for' ward some. A conversation ensued relative to advertising for donations of trees, during the course of which Mr. M'Kimmie offered to present the Institution with 100. Mr. Mears gave notice that at next meeting he would move — "That, in consequence of the unsatisfactory manner the Chinese contribute, for the future no Chinese will be admitted into the Hospital." Mr. Mears also gave notice that at next meeting he would move- " That a paid collector be appointed for the Hospital." The Visiting Committee were empowered to make arrangements for letting a portionjof the grounds. A vote of thanks to the chair terminated the proceediugs.

A. meeting of over 20 shareholders in the companies holding mining leases in Gabriels Beef, between Clarke's paddock and Walsh's Gully, .was held on Monday evening, in the Schoolhouse, Blue Spur— Mr. Margetts in the chair. ( -Mr. Squires for the Gabriels Gully Company, submitted a proposal to the meet, ing to take into consideration the desirability or otherwise, of the companies combining to construct a main tunnel to be taken in at the lowest practicable level at Walshs Gully, and to serve both as a prospecting tunnel, and in the event of the reef proving continuous through the claim to south of the Gabriels Gully Co. ,_ ground, also as a main working tunnel for all the claims. The starting point at Walshs Gully was » very suitable spot for the erection of machinery, aud the tunnel could|be taken in there to suit the reef at a level more than fifty feet' lower than the alternative tunnel from the present battery site of the Gabriels Gully Co. Messrs. Morrison, TThittside, Roberts, Cousins, Evans, and others, spoke favorably of the project, and a meeting of shareholders was appointed to inspect the ground at Walshs Gully on the following day. On Thursday afternoon a number of the shareholders met on the ground and were almost unanimously in favor of the scheme. A meeting of the various companies was fixed for Thursday evening, at the eohoolhouse,Blue Spur at 6 30 p. ra.f Blue Spur time.

A lottery recently started at the Tuapeka Chinese samp !■ doing a flourishing" business. Europeans as well at Chinese patronise it argely.

We confess that we share the feelings of antipathy entertained towards the porcine species by the Jewish lawgiver. But our antipathy exists only so long as the animals are alive and enjoying good appetites. Once the batcher converts them into pork, our admiration is unbounded. These remarks were instigated by onr having the pleasure of gazing upon two splendid specimens of defunct pigs, which were reared by Mr. Wootton, Boss Place, Lawrence, Although only 11 months of age, the united weight of the carcasses amounted to 5201bs From the cursory inspection we made of them, we feel no hesitation in stating that they were in splendid "form," and that their consumption will afford unalloyed satisfaction to those favored members of the human family to whom Providenoe vouchsafes permission to partake thereof.