LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 244, 3 October 1872, Page 3

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Oor Nokomai correspondent informs us that as -Mr. and Mrs. Coulam, of the United States Hotel, were proceeding in a buggy to Invercargill, on the 10th inst., they were capsized in the Mataura Biver, and a parcel of gold valued at £400 went to the bottom. Mr. and Mrs.

Coulain barely escaped with their lives. Notwithstanding every endeavour, and the employment of a large body of men who |used drags and every other appliance that could be thought of, the gold was not recovered by the evening of the 18th inst. Some light parcels belonging to Mrs. Coulain were recovered.

Master Eoche, Mr. Sproule's most advanced pupil, on the occasion of his leaving the school, was presented with a testimonial in the shape of a handsomely bound volume of poems. Master Roche goes to Mr. Barton's office, ljueenstown.

■Mr. Johnson. Tuapeka Flat, last week sold his garden, half an acre, to a party of Chinamen for the sum of £40, for mining purposes.

The last cleaning up of the O.P.Q. lteef, Waipori, yielded 68 ounces of goldl

Mh. John Graham is giving table-rapping entertainments in the Tuapeka district. The numbers attending the seances are not large, nor is there any great wonder exhibited at Mr. Graham's manifestations.

WE believe the speedy action taken by the Postmaster to provide mail communication between Lawrence and Waipori, is attributable to the intercession of Mr. J. C. Brown with the Postmaster General, at Wellington. Mr, Brown observing that a petition, was being signed to get a mail - started between the two places, anticipated' the .wishes of the inhabitants and took action in 'the matter, which resulted iii "tenders being called for the service before the Postmaster had received the memorial.

The Crown Hotel, Balclutha, so widely and favorably known, has just undergone a thorough overhaul. The ceilings throughout the whole house have been raised eighteen inches, and patent ventilators put in every room. The dining room has had a new bay window placed in it, which gives it a cheerful and attractive aspect. The billiard room has also, been improved, and cushioned seats substituted for those previoualy used. A number of bed-rooms have been added, and the • otheis have ' all been renovated, greatly enhancing their comfort and appearance. A suite of rooms for the convenienoe of private parties and families has been erected, which will admirably serve the purpose for which it is intended, and will no doubt be largely patronised. New private parlors, handsome and commodious, have been provided, and the old snuggeries have also received their fair share of attention, in the of way improvement. The work has been executed under the supervision of Mr. Boss, architect, Dunedin. and reflects great credit both, upon that gentleman and the contractor.

Mr. Matthew Hat's manual walking show of .entires takes place on the 12th ins't.', not the sth as erroneously stated in our last

Oor Balclutha correspondent writes as follows : Since I last wrote, nothing of any notehas transpired. Our Mayor has returned from Wellington, and I am happy .to say his mission has not been unsuccessful,) as the' Government nave proniised to: take steps at once to stop the

ravenous hunger "of the 'mighty Moryneujf. A shrveyor is expected daily to prepare plans for' the -wortf. A Dramatic and Christy Club has been formed, ' numbering nineteen members. They make their first' bow a Olntha audience' about the latter end of this' month — "Box and Cox," arid "An Ugly Customer" being the pieces chosen for performance. I hope to be able to send you an account of the overwhelming house they had, and of the satisfaction they

gave. Our show of entire horses comes off on Friday, the 4th instant, under the auspices of the Clutha Agricultural Association. I hope to see a> goodly prooession of the noble animals. Readings in aid of the school funds 'took place last week. Barr's f H^ll w.aa^wWljifyijecLj .tlie, I various jeadjngs £ and, /fongq,werp ,tnuflh above the^ 'average, and elicited great applaa«k;iandlthe • wjiolk > wonnd-*rp 5 iv dance }in WhiCK between :th^yind : forty^Jßou|)lls f toQ'lc'pa¥t. Cl foejfivsfiry ;be|ween Yeendius .an^^Clj^nJin^s, h'a^.' ppm? jinenced this season; with; renewed .vigour; 'but, Yeendius is still to the fore with the Cluthaites, and the cry is still "Long live Yeendiuß,'the-reducerof"the coach fare; yea, j verily, v^e will stick unto him Hkeileeches."

AN accident; occurred to Cobb and Co.'s coach on Wednesday afternoon, between jWaitahuna and Manuka Creek. At the time of writing we had not obtained an authentic report, but were ' informed, that the , driver had , to go back to Tokomairiro for a fresh coach. Jhe coach did not arrive, in, Tppekji ■ until a,, late hour at night. ! : • ! • The Gabriel* Gully ' Company's machinery is now well under way.' THe framework of. the bat. tery is mostly erected. A dam is in course of construction on the spur above the battery. The Company has been much delayed by the non-delivery of their timber from Tapanui, but the remainder of it is expected to iirrive during the course of the week. The Company has ceased work At thestopes, Clayton and Co. are sinking down over 20 feet. The Gabriels Co,' are laying down their tram way, and have commenced work at the tunnel ; 100 feet has been let by contract. A private telegram from "Wellington states that the Opposition intend to 'challenge the Government on Mr. Eeid's public statement. Mr. Yogel calculates upon having a majority of six. The lease of the Crookston Hotel, the property of Mr, R. Lancaster, has been disposed of by Mr. Hayes to Mr. S. M'Beath. At the Woolshed the Chinese popoulation is steadily increasing, and all seem to be doing well. A party of Celestials have purchased the right to work on Mr. Coombe's garden ; and another party have obtained permission to prospect on Mr, Mui ray's land; Mb. R, W. Capstiok's third annual walking show of entire horses was held at the Commercial Hotel, Milton, on Friday, and proved very successful. There was a large attendance of farmers and others from the surrounding districts. Shortly after 12 o'clock the order to turn out was given, when ten draught and seven thoroughbred entires made their appearance, and walked several times around the block in which the yards are situated. The judges, who had been appointed by the Farmers' Club, then proceeded to award the prizes offered by Messrs. Capstick and Philp, and apparently had some difficulty in arriving at their decisions. Ultimately the prizes were awarded as follows : — Clydesdales : First Prize, £10, Marquis, the property of Messrs. Hislop and Hamilton, Tokomairiro ; 2nd, £5, Southern Chief, property of Messrs. ilfaitland Bros., Clutha ; 3rd, Hon. Certificate, Young Major, property of Messrs. Blues and Duthie, Tokomairiro. Thoroughbreds : Ist, £5, Stormbird, property of Mr. D. Corsan, Tokomairiro ; 2nd, £2 105., Merry King, same owner; 3rd, Hon. Certificate, Master Morris, the property of Mr. D. F- Main.' IT will be seen by our advertising columns, that owing to the continued rise in the price of iron, the blacksmiths of Lawrence have raised their charges for horseshoeing and other work. Owing to the lateness of the hour at which the report of the meeting of the Blue Spur Mining Association reached us, we are compelled to hold it over till next week. Mr. J. C. Chapple will sell by auction, on Monday next, the 7th instant, at the Geelong Hotel, Alexandra, the lease of the Newcastle Coalpit, Alexandra ; with water wheel, pumps, horses and dray, timber, &c. We are requested to state that the opening of the Church of England, Roxburgh, has been deferred. An entertainment was stiven in the Commercial Assembly Rooms, on Monday eveniug, by Messrs. Westropp, Wharton, and Peal. The first named gentleman fully merits the enconiums that have been passed on him by the Dunedin press, and his comic songs brought I down the house. Mr.' Wharton rendered ex- ! eellenly several -pongs j and Mr. Peal danced i some jigs, which met with marks of approval, ! The troupe, assisted by some local amateurs, ! gave a performance. in aid of the hospital last night; To-night they will appear at the Blue Spur, And on Saturday night at Waipori.

Fbom a private telegram, we learn that the Colonial Government intend exponding £60,000 in the construction of the Tuapeka Railway during the ne^t twelve months.