LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 260, 23 January 1873, Page 5

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The English mail via San Francisco will close at Lawrence on the 11th proximo. His Excellency the Governor has returned the following reply to the address presented to him at Ettriek: -Gentlemen,— l thank the residents in the Moa Flat, Ettrick, and Benger Burn districts for their loyal address and cordial greeting. Among the numerous signs of progress jn the interior of the province, none is more satisfactory than the establishment of public schools and libraries in every district, and the rapid advance of education. Lady Bowen feels much gratified by the Greek inscription of welcome which has here met her eye. It is a delicate mark of courtesy on the part of the author. We beg you to accept our best wishes for the health, happiness, and prosperity of yourselves and your families. (Signed,) G. F. Bowen, January 11th, 1873. Captain Baldwin lectured on Government Life Assurance, at Tapanui, on the evening of Thursday, the 16th hist. There was a very fair attendance, and the gallant Captain's discourse ; was listened to~ from beginning to end with marked -attention. Mr- Neish occupied the chair. The lecture had considerable effect, as I was evidenced by the number that availed themI selves of the opportunity to insure their lives. The change of chairs in the Loyal Waipori Lodge, M.U.1.0.0.F., took place on the 10th inst. Bhk Manly was elected N.G. ; Bro. J. j Robertson V.G. ; Bro. Robert Uren E.S. ; Bro. W. H. Cox P.S. The license fees, &c., paid to the Corporation of 1 Lawrence up to date, amount to £300. About £100- more is expected to be derived from this •durce. From the accounts presented, to the Town Council, it appears, that the Corporation of Eawrentfe demonstrated on the occasion of the Governor's visit to the extent of £17 6s. The annual statutory meeting of the inhabitants of Evans Flat, for the purpose of electing a school committee for the ensuing year, took place on Monday, the 13th iust. The following gentlemen were elected: — Messn ßrooks, Hopkins, Buchanan , Evans, Ramsay. Drapper, Harraway. Smith and Roberts. Mr. Haftaway was elected chairman. A vote of thanks to the retiring committee was accorded. The chairman made an able address to the committee, after which a vote of thanks was passed to the -chair. She meeting -then terminated.

Wb are informed that the down country farmers absolutely refused to employ any of the Scandinavians, possessing "encumbrances," in the shape of wives and families, who recently arrived in the province. They would only take in their service single men or married couples without "encumbrances." That this is a short-sighted policy all possessing a practical acquaintance with colonisation will bear us out. Married men as a general rule are far more steady and reliable labourers, and more permanent and valuable settlers than single men. The reason of this is apparent to the comprehension of a child. Men with wives and families cannot afford to indulge in the luxury of roaming about the country, and wheu they have once fixed upon a location must stick to it, while men without family ties can and do rove anywhere. The action of the parties alluded to in this matter can only be described as utter heartless selfishness and entire disregard of the interests of the province and colony. Population to consume the produce of the land is loudly called for— it is brought here, and immediately it comes, those for whose especial benefit it is conveyed at great expense half round the world, turn the cold shoulder to the most valuable portion of it. This conduct is the key to the howl some time ago raised for the resumption by the province of immigration. Men and women to permanently settle in the land Rre not wanted at all. What is required by the "chosen people" is working machines who will labor at nominal rates for the benefit of their saintly employers, who wax rich upon the poverty of those they employ. In confirmation of this, we refer our readers to the immigration records of the colony. The whole end and aim of immigration as understood by the Provincial Council has been to introduce cheap labor for the class we have alluded to. Thousands of pounds which might have been usefully expended have been watted for this purpose ; yet without accomplishing the desired result, for immigrants very soon" after arriving found out how the land lay. The consequence of such a policy has been that taxpayers have contributed largely to swell the population of other provinces, the inhabitants of which being enlightened men, understand "the imperial art of colonisation." In contradistinction to the conduct we have been touching upon, that of the Messrs. Brogden stands out in pleasing relief. That firm has employed the whole of the Scandinavians left in the barracks, and we are glad to state they are turning out excellent and willing workmen. &.N old practical Victorian quartz miner, who recently visited Gabriels Gully reef, considers it one of the finest he ever saw. No reef in his opinion on the famous Bendigo goldfield, gives more promise of permanence and payability. The manner in which the piospectors are working their claim meets with his commendation, but he cannot understand what theclaimholders to the north are thinking about, as in Victoria a reef presenting such favorable indications would by this time be prospected for miles. Tue evil of shepherding he points out very clearly. Wheu auch a practice prevails, the fate of a reef depends entirely upon the success of the prospecting claim, which, it is within the bounds of possibility, may turn out a duffer, whereas, if all the claimholders set in to work in the event of the prospectors' claim not being payable, remunerative stone might be found in other claims, and cause the reef to be worked. The Gabriels Gully Quart Mining Company, will clean up for the monih at the end of next week. The stone that is being put through is of better quality than that operated upon during the previous month. From the stamper boxes about 30 dwts of coarse gold were obtained after a fortnight's crushing. About 130 ounces of amalgam is on hand, the production of nine days crushing. The price of butter at Christchurch is quoted at from 4£d to 5d per lb. In another column will be found a requisition to the Mayor, to call a public meeting for the purpose of devising measures to prospt- ct with Government aid, for quartz reefs the hill between Gabriels Gully and Wetherstones. It is the opinion of miners that several reefs ixist on this hill, and so impressed are many with this belief, that thoy are willing to contribute towards ascertaining its correctness. Last session the General Assembly voted £4000 for rewards for the discovery of new goldfields. The Government have not yet determined in what way this money is to be expended. We suggest the subsidising of enterprises of this kind as a proper method of disposing of the vote. Those who contribute hard cash towards prospecting, are not likely to incur expense Unless they have good reason to believe it will be reproductive. By our advertising columns, we notice that Mr. Geo. Lumsden, Ross Place, has lately returned from Dunedin with a choice assortment of jewellery of latest designs. We have been asked to draw attention to the positive sale of Mr. A. Campbell's farm, with agricultural implements, stock, &c, on Wednesday next. In the Provincial Government Gazette, of the 2nth inst., tenders are called for gravelling 62 chains of the road to the Blue Spur. Plans and specifications can be seen at the office of the Engineer for Roads afid AVbrks, Dunedin, or the Police Camp. Lawrence. In the same Gazette, tenders are called for pitching and metalling 131 chains of «tbe Tuapeka and Tokomairiro road. Plans and specifications can be seen at the office of the Engineer for Roads and Works, or at the Police Camp, Waitahuna: The Chinese New Year's Day falls on the 28th inst. Active preparations have been set on foot by the residents of the camp for celebrating the occasion in the usual grand style. We remind our readers that the annual soiree of the Lawrence Pu'sbyterian Church takes place or Tuesday next, the 28th inst. The pastor of the congregation, the Rev. James Cameron, will occupy the chair. Tea will be on the table at 6.30 p.m. In another column will be found an advertisement relating to the public trust office, estabblished by au Act passed last session of 'the General Assembly. The advertisement gives directions and other information to those who wish to avail themselves of the services of the trustee. Kaitakgata coal has been reduced to £2 15s. per ton, and can be now obtained at that price from Mr. H. Pyke, Colonsay-street. The Roxburgh Ferry Hotel, Roxburgh, has changed hands. Mr. T. Cornish, the new proprietor, is well and favorably known, and under his management, we have, no doubt- the hotel will retain its former popularity. We have received a oopy of the " New Zealand Herald," for January, It contains a capital view of the city of Nelson, and the other illustrations are of more than average excellence. We again draw the attention of parents of children to the notification which appears in our advertising columns, that duties will be resumed at the Lawrence Grammer School on Monday next the 27th instant. It will be seen by the notification in our advertising columns, that the directors of the Devils Creek Qmrfz Mining Company, Registered, have called an extraordinary general meeting of the shnroholders for the purpose of considering the advisability of winding up the company. This step has been deemed necessary in consequence of the unfavourable result of the prospecting operations. The Tapanui races take place to-morrow. The amount of money offered iv prizes is exceedingly liberal, and there is every likelihood that the various events will l» keenly competed for by large fields of horses. Should the weather be fine we anticipate a large attendance of spectators, and we feel sure that all who may be present will be satisfied with the sport provided for their amusement. Cromwell has had the honor of a ten minutes visit from the Governor. The inhabitants demonstrated very feebly. An attempt to raise a bheer for the vice-regal party ,-prdvea almost a failure. Frofessou M'Gregor, of the Ofc*go University, passed through Lawrence the other day on a walking tour to the Lakes. Mb. Alfred Brunton preached an impressive sermon on Sunday evening, at the Athenaeum, Lawience. Despite the wintry weather, there was alarge^ongregation,

The farmers in ijie Tuapeka district are in the midst of iarvest. The crops will be exceedingly poor in most eases, and the weather has been exceediigly unfavorable to garnering what there is. A Miners' Association is in course of formation at Bannodcburn. What are the miners of Mount Ida about ? The General Assembly has been further pro* rogued to the 35th April. For some tone past, a project to pierce a tunnel through the ridge between Gabriels Gully and Evais Flat, for the purpose of carrying off the Blue Spur tailings, has been freely discussed. The tailings in question are accumulating in unpleasantly large quantities, and there is little doubt that if some other channel is not provided for their discharge, Hoss Ilace, Lawrence, will shortly be smothered. Besides, the deeper portions of the Blue Spur cannot be worked with the present means of disposing of the debris washed down. The tunnel suggested could be very easily constructed at comparatively small expense, and would not cost much to keep clear and in repair. Were it constructed it would afford ample fall for j carrying off all the tailings, which are now threatening to destroy valuable property, and allow the Blue Spur to be worked to the bottom. This tunnel would also be the means of determining the existence or otherwise of quart? reefs on the ridge— a question which is exciting much interest just now, many experienced miners expressing their firm belief that the ridge is ribbed with rich lodes of quartz. Those interested, should without delay — if they really desire the work to be constructed — take some action towards securing that consummation. |Were a company formed to undertake the enterprise, the General Government, in the face of what they have done in other districts, could scarcely refuse to give a liberal subsidy. A s all the claims would only be too glad to pay well for getting rid of their tailings, the enterprise could scarcely avoid being highly profitable. The Lawrence Cricket Club now exists only as a reminiscence of the past. The Lawrence Fire Brigade which was started some months ago with a tremendous flourish of trumpets, has, like many other similarly promising movements inaugurated in the capital of Otago's oldest goldfield, come to an untimely end. Cause of death inanition. Probably, when half the town is destroyed by fire, some really energetic measures to establish an efficient fire brigade will be taken by the citizens. The Town Clerk has, by instructions,, conveyed the thanks of the Town Council, to the gentiemen who formed the band which performed on the occasion of the arrival of the Governor, viz., Messrs Downes, Holmes, Morrison, M'Neil, Harrop and Tonks. The compliment is at once merited by the recpients, and graceful on the part of the civic authorities. The annual statutory meeting of the residents of Clark's Flat, for the purpose of receiving the annual report and balance sheet, and electing a new Committee, took place on the 13th inst. The annual report was received and adopted. The financial statement showing a balance in favor of the school of £2 2s, was also adopted. The following gentlemen were elected as Committee for the ensuing year :— Messrs Brydie, Chalmers, Blair, Fraser, Detert, Rowe and Walker. The new Committee re-elected Mr. Chalmers chairman, and Mr. Fraser Secretary. A vote of thanks to the chair terminated the ingMrs. Hanson notifies in our advertising columns, that it is her intention to take a number of daily pupils at her residence, Peel-street, Lawrence. The term will commence on Monday next. The annual financial statement of the Tuapeka Goldfields Hospital will appear in detail in our next issue. The receipts were: — Amount subscribed during the year, £417 10s. Bd. ; Government subsidy, £487 2s. ; paying patients, £57 Bs, The expenditure was £1147 7s. The outstanding accounts amount to £216 9s. Id. The subsidy due is £206 4s. 2d. The new Committee commence the year with a balance in favor of the institution cf £46 Bs. Id.