LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 261, 30 January 1873, Page 7

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The concluding chapter of " Tom Ilnngerford " will appear in our next issue. An Alexandra correspondent informs U3 that the Mauuherikia Water Race Company have atruck fair prospects on the terraces nearlmley'a near to where they have been for a lengthened period sluicing with indifferent success. A "hatteb" named Nolan, who for a lengthened period worked at the head of the Earnscleugh River, has mysteriously disappeared. A search has been instituted, but up to the time of our latest information, no traces of the- missing man were discovered. The most serious apprehensions were entertained for his safety. A "'liOCAL miner" is, anxions to know when the Commission appointed to inquire into the now famous sale of 50 acres of land at Switzers, is ta commence its labors. The spirited manager of the Gabriels Gully Quartz Mining Company, Mr. Squire', has procured a small quantity of dynamite -the most powerful blasting powder kno^fn, and the safest to use. To thoroughly test it the Great Extended Company, the Perseverance Co., and Campbell and Co., of the Blue Spur, have each agreed to take some of it for the purpose of experiment. This explosive is extensively used in California and in Belgium has almost superseded the use of the ordinary kinds of blasting powder. That obtained by Mr. Squires was a portion of a shipment of 10 tons which arrived in Melbourne by the Asterope and one of the first shipments which reached the Australasian Colonies. We shall look with inteVeat to the result of the experiments. Last Saturday nighfc the Glover Troupe performed at Tapanui to a large and appieciajive audience. The first piece was the " Bonnie Fishwife," in which Aliss Jessie Raymond exhibited her versatile genius admirably, the othermembers of the company also acquitting themselves well. The singiug and daucing was up to the average. The afterpiece was Sylvester Daggerwood, in which the dramatic abilities of the performers showed to advantage.. This talented troupe apj)ear at Switzers to night when there will probably be a crowded house to second their efforts to please. Harvesting operations in the Mount Benger District are in full swing. The crop of all kinds of cereals is we are glad to say firatrate in quality, and quantity. We remind those who have not already secured the franchise that now is the time to get their names registered on the electoral rolls. The time allowed for registration expires on the 31st March— 'just two months henceIN another column will be found the programme of the Switzers Annual Races. The amount to be competed for is really handsome, ar.d shows that England's national pastime has many ardent admirers in the Switaers district. The programme has been arranged in a manner which shows care and ability on the part of the btewards, and offer chances to all descriptions of lace horses*. Wehope our Switzeis friends will have a really capital meet, in number of competing horses, well contested events, and assemblage of spectators, for it is no more than they Ucburve,

The directors of the ' Otago Daily Times' Company contemplate establishing a new evening paper in Dilneilin. THE " Otago Daily Times " s:»ys the " Evangelist" mistakes n&uiby-piuuby nonsense for toleration. The Kawarau Coalpit in Gibbstown Flat c-HUghfc fire on Christmas week. The miners in the dhtrict turned out t»» ti man. and conBtruoted a mcc three miles in length in two days. By this means water was brought from the Cambrian Wates Race to the pit and the tire was speedily extinguished. The bridge over the Kawarau at Eannoclcburn, it is anticipated, will be finished by May next. Mr, DONCKLRY has been appointed teacher of the Waipori school. The European population of the Waipori j district is reported to be slightly on the increase, and the Chinese to be rapidly diminishing. Operations on May, Butfcson and Oo.'s race, Waipori, are being vigorously prosecuted, and the work will very shortly be completed. The business of the Tuapeka Branch of the Permanent Building Society of Otago is steadily increasing. The loans granted are keeping co:isideiably in advance of the subscriptions, which is a veiy healthy sign for the society and for the town. The saleß by auction'of lands in the townships of Alexandra, Clyde, Cromwell, JJeudigw, Newcastle, Pembroke, Gladstone, Ettrick, Ophir, and Manuherikia are unavoidably postponed till further notice. The potato crop of the Tuapeka district will this season be wretched — ths poorest ever grown. This is attributed to the prolonged drought and thu wintry weather lately experienced. THE dilapitafcedj old shanty which does duty for a post-office in Lawrence still continues to offend the visual orgaim of the citizons.. Day by day its iitisightlineas increases, and the symptoms of fast approaching destruction more conspiouous. The walls stand for no other reason than that they are all in the same last stage of decay ; and it is probable that the first heavy gale will scatter the sheets of iron of \vh : ch the building is constructed promiscuously about the Government reserve. The verandah posts have tumbled down, and the windows are stuffed with old rags. When rain falls, the postmaster and his assistant are, in consequence of the state of the roof, treated to a copious showed bath ; and when any wind is about., it makes itself quite at home in the building, pioviding the officials with healthful recreation, in the way of holding on to the various documents iv order to prevent their being swept into cl;ao3. To sum up with, the interior of the building is les« protected than tliafc of a whnie. and the exterior reminds one forcibly of a fifth-rate maiiue store. Upon working out their last level, the O.P.Q. Company, Waipor, su-ik the shaft to a depth of 210 feet. From the bottom a tunuel was driven about 200 feet along the reef line, in a southerly direction. The results were not satisfactory— the reef towards the end of the tunnel becoming broken and intermixed with mullock. Since then operations for stoping out have been actively prosecuted. During the last fortnight stone was struck on the backs, which will likply pay well and make up for lost time. On Saturday, tho 19th inst., after crushing about 85 tons of that stone, a cleaning-np was made, which resulted in a yield of 40 ozs. Double the number of men lately employed have now been put on, making a total of twenty, and double the yields of gold are expected. The machinery is not very good, which leads to frequent stoppages. This reef would pay as well as any in the pioviiieo were not the expenditure in cohl and wood so heavy. The amount it costs the Company in fuef aveiages from £2,000 r.o £2,n00 a ye,ir. As tWo General Government immigration ! regulations do not appear to be srenerally known, wo publish the following pveni of thptu: Residents in the colonies desnous of nominating friends or relations in.iy do so by paying, at any money oidfli office or to iuiimgiatiun* officer, the | sum of Hi for each adult (except single woim-n) I between SO and 12 years of age, and £2 for each child under twelve years. Infants under 1 year are not charged for. In certain casi-s bills will be taken hi lie« of oash payments., and passages provided foi persons ov-er 50 ye.irs of age. Widows with families, as a lule, are not eligible, and applications for their passages must be made only to immigration officers. Free passages will be granted to girls of 12 yeais of age and upwards accompanying their paients, and to single women between the ages of 16 to 35, provided they produce satisfactory proof of good character to the Agent General in London. A gratuity of 10*. will be paid to heads of families bringing out such single women not members of thek" families. Every adult emigrant, before embarking, must pay to the Agent General 20a. for bedding, blankets, and mess utensils. Should any emigrant nominated decline to emigrate, the amount deposited by the nominator will be returned ; but in the event of any emigrant hccepting a passage in a certain ship failing to jifcself for embarkation, the passage money will be forfeited. The immigration officers at the provincial capitals only receive applications for parsons who wish to give bills for the passage money of their friends and relatives. The amount of the bills to be 50 per cent, over the amount fixed to be paid in cash ; and the lulls to come due 30 days after the arrival of the emigrants sent for, and may be paid in instalments ; also from persons whose friends are over 50 years of age, and from persons who?e friends are widowa with children. The iinimigration ofßceis have the power to object to any nominated emi;i\i'it. and the Agent General to refuse p» to i£t>& whuie the eniigtants are in ill-health or unsuitable. The Government Life A.isar.ince and Annuities scheme seems to lie popular in Tuapeka.. The residents of Lawrence hxve assured to the extent of £3.0,000 and further applications are continually heing made. The £300.000 subsidy voted by the General Govern aient for water supply on the goldfields is rapidly going. Nearly all of the amount has been devoted to the construction and subsiding of contemplated works. Those who intend to apply for subsidies should not delay, as, judging from present appearances, in a very few weeks all will be gone. HIS Honor the Superintendent and the Goldfields Secretary are expected to visit Tuapeka on their official tour through the goldfields early in Feburary. InvercargilL, so long the " Deserted Villap:' 1 of New Zealand, has for some time been improving rapidly, and is now one of the most flourishing towns in the Colony. The large number of houses erected during the building mania of 1863, which weresolong unoccupied, and were so derisively written and spoken aboui for years, have all found tenants, andhouseioom is an exceedingly difficult thing to procure. So scarce are dwellings that in view of the approaching arrival of a number of immigrants a committee of citizens had to be organised to provide accotnodation. During Invercargill's long season of adversity, its inhi' iVrtt* f*'ii 'Sf tenaciously to the idea, that it w.k destined t» be a prosperous and important iitico. These hopes seem now to be on the poini of realisation, and the prosperity now dawning gives promise of a long and brilliant day. The body of the shepherd M'Pherson, whose unaccountable disappearance was recorded in our last issue, was found in the Waikaka River, on Wednesday, the 22ad instant. From the meagre intelligence we have been able to glean, it appears that previous to his disappearance, the unfortunate man had been drinking i for some days at the Pyramid Hot'--1, and went from there to the Waikaka, where he imbibed> j some more liquor. He left the latter place partially intoxicated, and was not seen again I alive. How he came to his untimely end — whether he was drowned accidentally, or Jby design—is, with the information, in our possession, a matter of mere surmise. Mr. Wood, R. I\l., wa« to hold an inquest on Friday last, when pro- . Vafoly more light would be thrown on the mysterious affair. Dr. CaRO, the surgeon appointed by the Loyal Tapanui Lodge, M.U.1,0 v.F., after 3 ' week's* residence in the district,, took his de- 1 partuve for WesHaruL Dr. Douglas, a new j arrivaL, succeeds him iv the appeiiitmeut. \

One of Mr. Adams survey party, which is at ; present engaged surveying Logan's 11,000 acre block at Tapanui, met with an accident on Friday last. He had come into the township for provisions, and on remounting his horse to return to the camp, the animal started off as soon as he had got one foot in the stin up. He endeavoured to get into the saddle, but failing, threw himself off. While hewas falling the horsokioked, breaking the man's leg between the knee and ankle. Under the caie of Dr. Douglas the sufferer is progressing favorably. A ROW occurred between some Chinese and European diggers, on Saturday, at the Woolshed - the latter getting the worst of it. The cause of the disturbance, was adispute as to the ownership of the claim. Some months ago Mr. Adam leased a small paddock to a party of Chinese, who took possession of and worked it They did not, however, pay any rent, and lately Mr. Adam disposed of the land to a party of Europeans. The Europeans came to take possession of their purchase, and commence operations. Shortly after doing, so some Celestials, who were wot king on the ground, gathered a number of their countrymen — from 15 to 20, and '* went for" the barbarians. The latter whose numhers were inoreased to six. by some friendly miners of their own race, stuck manfully to the ground. A free fight ensued, in which picks, shovels, and other sedatives were used by both sides. The incite lasted for 20 minute 3, when the sons of the Brother of the Moon, "caved in" and beat a hasty retreat. On the parties surveying damages, it was found that a good many slight injuries had been inflicted, and that one Chinaman had his leg broken. The assistance of the law is do be invoked to complete the row. The police have commenced the work of oollcctiug the agricultural statistics for 1873. A meeting of the committee! appointed at the public meeting held last Friday night, re prospecting Wetherstones Hill, wa3 held on Friday afternoon. Information was obtained from the Warden, and from several claimholders, and it was decided to communicate with the Under-Secretary for the Goldfields without delayThr approach of the racing season in Tuapeka, is becoming noticeable. Several horses have arrived, and specimens of that fearful and wonderful species of the genus Jiomo, which only appears at "such 'seasons, occasionally meet the eye. While writing upon this subject, we may mention that the culvert near tho coalpit on the racecourse, has again broken away, seriously interfering with the exercise of horses. We feol sure this has only to be mentioned to our energetic Jockey Club Committee, to receive immediate attention and repair. T'.e swimming bath recently constructed in Gabriels Gully, daring the fine weather received •1 f.iiramount of pationage. It may not bsgenerj ally knowi. that the expense of constructing I Uie li<ith w.is defr.ived by subscription, subsidised by the Town Council, and that all citizen? — whether subscribers or not, are welcome to take a plunge whenever they see fit so to do. A petition for presentation to the Superintendent, is being numeiously signed in the Mamik.i Orpek district;, praying that the Road Board may be prevented from closing the old Tuapeka ro.id. us they contemplate. It is pointed out by tho petitioners, that in the event of this road being closed, if any of tho bridges over tha M.uiuka Greek were to give way— which is not an improbabe contingency— all traffic to Tuapeka would have to pa^s over Mt. Stewart. Yesterday was the Chhiese !N"e\v Year's Day. The holidays commenced 011 Tuesday, and will continue till the end. of the week. Ths Camp w.is gaily decorated with. fla.^s, flowers, and evergreens, and at night was illuminate I with many colored lautcrns, in honor of ths auspicious occasion, anil the obsequies of the defunct year, and the birth of the new one were celebrated by brilliant pyrotechnic displays. Colored strips of p ipsr, bearing Celestial inscriptions, expressive uf yoofl Avlshcs for the recepient's welfare during the year just b3guu were largely distributed — j.mong Europeans a3 well as Chines.j. The festivities comprise eating, draining, and merrymaking of every description. J >hi i^ very hospitable, and all who may visit ihe'Chmpiluriugtheholiday aaa son will be heartily welcomed and liberally entertained. Fireworks of every description of ingenious construction are discharged at intervals A great many citizens of Lawreaoe visited the camp yesterday and last night. We direct the attention of miners to an advertisement from the Executive of the Otago Miners' Association relative to the new Wast? Lands Act, which appears in another column. Messrs Burton Brothers, photographers, notify that their third season in Lawrence will commence on Thursday, the 6:h prox. They intended to have visited Lawrence before, but were unable to do so, owing to pressing engagements in Dunedin. We feel sure that Messrs Burton Bro hers need no recommendation, their reputation for turning out capital porh'aits being so well es'ablished. Their studio will be, as formerly, in Ross Place, next to the Tuapeka. Times office. We have tested a sample of lignite from the recently opened pit of Messrs. Rowe and Simpson, Grays Flat. It contains a good deal of rosen, and burns with a clear flame, throwing out considerable heat. The Superintendent and the Goldfields Secretary were enthusiastically received at Naseby. At a luncheon given in their honor, Mr. Macandrew announced that tenders had been accepted for the construction of 10 miles of the Manuherikia Water Race. Thk weather during the past week has been of a character more befitting mid-win-ter than mid-summer. Eain, wind, and cold have waited upon the people of Tuapeka, sometimes singly, and sometimes all together, with disagreeable assiduity. However, the discomfort occasioned by this anomalous state of things has not been without its compensating advantages. Several milliards of grasshoppers, which, during the fine weather, were actively engaged in destroying all kinds of useful or ornamental vegetation, have, by the cold weather, been induced to discontinue operations, and shuffle off their respective mor al coils. Their carcasses have afforded delight and nutriment to the fowls of the district. Caterpillars in great numbers have followed the grasshoppers, and the great majority of ihe fly race have either been sent for by their relatives in happier climes, or emigrated thither without assistance.