LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 262, 6 February 1873, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The; English mail via San -Francisco closes at Lawrence at 7 a.m. on Wednesday, the 12th instant. Some interesting statistical information would be afforded by the authorities keeping a separate record of the correspondence received and despatched by the Chinese residents in the colony. A meeting of the Lawrence Athenaeum Committee was held on Friday evening. Present : The President (Air. J. C. Brown, M.H.R.) Messrs. Pyke. R.M., Abel, Squires, and Thompson. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. The Secretary was directed to prepare before the next meeting, a list of the birds received from " the Colonial Museum. The President and Messrs. Pyke and Abel were appointed a sub-committee to chosea design for the Athenaeum Corporation seal ■; Mr Abel was authorised to purchase necessary books ; and the last Monday in each month was appointed thd time of meeting for the Com* mittee. An account from Messrs. Herbert & Co. for £9 165, 9d. was passed for payment. The Committee then adjourned. The first monthly meeting of the newly elected school committee «v held on Friday evening. Present: The Mayor (in the chair) Messrs. Jamison, J. Thompson, Squires, Abel, the Rev. Mr. Menzies.-and Hayes (Secretary.) The routine business having been disposed of, Mr. Stenhouae reported that the school was reopened on the 27th, with an attendance of 120 ; that at the time the school closed, the average attendance was 194. with 230 on the roll ; and that the Education Board had forwarded certain maps and models applied for, Mr. Stenhouse was authorised to procure certain school requisites, and the Secretary was instructed to place the fence of the reserve fronting Colonsaystreet in a proper state of repair. Messrs. Abel and Squires were appointed the Visiting Com* mittee for the month. Messrs. Jamison and Squires were appointed to superintend the quarterly, examination. The Visiting Committee were instructed to inspect the master's residence, and empowered to effect any neces* sary repairs. A vote of thanks fo the chair concluded the business, Neil and Party have, for the last six months, been engaged cutting a race 'to" convey water from Gabriels Gully to the Tuapeka Flat. About two and a half miles of the distance has been accomplished,, and the auriferous spars abutting on the' creek 'nearly opposite the Tuapeka Hotel reached. It is proposed by Neil & Co. to systematically work the [ points of all the spars commanded by their race. These spurs "have been worked and reworked - first by Europeans and then by Chinese, and are burrowed like rabbit warrens. There is, however, sufficient auriferous ground in the pillars and headings to pay well for ■ sluicing. The construction of the road from Docherty's to Smith's Bash i* progressing rapidly, and the contractor, Mr. Miller, h evidently determined to do the work well. Its completion will be hailed with joy by those who harts experience^ •the difficulty and danger of traversing the string of quagmires which formerly was facetiously designated the road*

MB. Musskn, (of Irwin and Musaen, London Portrait Booms, Dunedin), announces in our advertising columns, that he will return to Lawrence on the 11th inst., after which date he will be prepared to photograph in his admirable style, touch of the Tuapeka people as may favor him with their patronage. "It.OME " writes to us from Alexandra asking when the honorable member for the Dunstan intends to give his constituents an account of hit doings at the last session of the General Assembly. TUB warning given by the Resident Magistrate when fining the Hgents brought before him for selling tickets in the Chinese lottery seems to have had a salutary effect. Although the lottery still continues to flourish, the Bale of tickets is confined strictly to Chinese, and neither for love nor money can a European procure a chance. Mb. MAOABSKT. the well-known barrister, we are informed, intends shortly to proceed to England, for the purpose of being called to the English bar. The result of the construction of the new road from Tuapeka to Tokomairiro has made itself apparent in the agreeable form of reduced rates for cartage. The denizens of Chinatown have not been able to celebrate the advent of their present year , on such a grand scale as they did that of the previous one. This is accounted for by the fact that a large number of Chinese, during last year, migrated to other portions of the province, and the number able to take part in the festivities was thereby rendered comparatively small. Nevertheless, what was lacked in numbers, was made up for in enthusiasm. The Chinese demonstrated pyro technically and otherwise, in the manner prescribed by ancient sages, and entertained their friends right royally in the various delicacies the Celestial palate affects. To show the scale of the hospitalities we may mention that on the New Year's Day, about 100 visitors breakfasted in the store of one Chinese merchant. It may be interesting to some to know that the Chinese compute time from the accession to the throne of the reigning Emperor, and that this is the 12th year of the rule of 'Toon Suey — a young man who is absolute master <of the lives and liberties of nearly four hundred millions of Asiatics. The Chinese year has 12 months— 6containing29 days each, and 6. 30 days. Every third year to make up for time lost by this arrangement, an extra month of 30 days is •added. The present year contains 13 months, Bnd therefore answers somewhat to the barbarian leap year. The "Bruce Herald" sagaciously argues that because the government of Great Britain is a constitutional monarchy, the Provincial Council ought to annul the appointments of the members of the Otago Waste Lands Board. Scholastic duties were resumed at the Lawtence Grammar School, on Monday, the 27th nit. One hundred and twenty pupils put in an appearance— twenty in excess of the number registered at the same time last year. By a new arrangement the boys and girls have-^been placed in separate divisions, which greatly facilitates the work of teaching, and presents other advantages. "We are glad to see that the Education Board have liberally supplied the "school with educational requisites, including maps, models. &c. The urgent need of increased accommodation has been brought before the JJoard, but bits not yet received attention. Foob hundred Mongolians are located at ■Adania Flat and Glenore. "We have been shewn the gold medal presented by Mr. H. Bastings, Goldfields Secretary, as the first prize competed for at the last annual examination of the LawrenceGramniar School, and won %y Master \V. W. Menzies. It consists of a piatu of polished gold, encircled by a laural 'wreath. "On one side of the plate is engraved in ornatncntal characters, the following inscription : — "** Presented by H. Bastings, Esq.. President of the Lawrence Grammar School, Dec. 1872," and on the reverse is engraved in similar lettering, "First prize, awarded to W. W. Menzies." The ■medal is mounted with two gold clasps, and the metal used in its composition is the produce of Tuapeka. The design is exceedingly •chaste, and has been excellently executed. The ■medal was procured from the establishment of Mr. J. Hill, watchmaker and jeweller, Peel--street, Lawrence. ON the evening of Wednesday, the 29fch ult., *ho children attending the Presbyterian Sunday School were entertained in the church, Colon-■aay-street. Tea, buns, pastry, confectionery, &c, were provided in lavish abundance by the 'Church Committee, and we need not say proved •exceedingly acceptable, and were done justice to %>y the youthful guests— of whom about 70 sat <down. A number of the ladies and gentlemen ■of the congregation were present, and exerted themselves to promote the enjoyment of the •evening. After tea, Mr. Stenhouse, the Superintendent read a short report showing the pro,gress the children had made during the year, ■and the exertions made by them to further mission work. Appropriate addresses were delivered by the Rev. Mr. Cameron, Messrs Glasgow, Paul Ah Chin, Jas. Robertson and -Jamison, and the proceedings were enlivened by 'the children singing hymns in the intervals between the speeches. At half-past eight, all dispersed, those for whose special behoof the meeting had been held, being delighted with the ■treat they had enjoyed, and the adults also being ■well pleased with the success of the gathering. The attendance at the Sabbath School has satisfactorily increased during the year. It averages mow about 60, and there are 8 teachers, including 'the Superintendent. The attempt to close the old road at Manuka Oeek is another instance of the narrow-minded ■selfishness, unfortunately too common in this province. Were it successful, a great hardship "would be inflicted upon the inhabitants of a large and important district, and the new road ■rendered sometimes positively unsafe for traffic At present all cattle and sheep travelling between Tuapeka and Tokomairiro pass over the old '■road ; and were they prevented from doing so, would be forced to journey on the Manuka -Creek line. To cross stock over the many' which provincial engineering genius has ■jplaced -in the most awkward positions possible on that road, would be a task attended with difficulty and danger ; and were a mob of cattle or a flock of sheep to meet a coach or •some loaded waggon, the likelihood of danger is too imminent to contemplate. Besides, as has 'been previously stated, were the attempt successful, in the event, which is not improbable, of one or two of the bridges breaking down, aU traffic 'between Tokomairiro and up-country would be 'stopped. ' The matter simply Tesolves itself into whether it is better to confer doubtful benefit on ■one individual or to inflict inoonyenience upon many thousands of people, and jeopardise the lives and limbs of those whose business compels them to travel between the interior and Dune•din. AN inquest was held at Edge's Royal Hotel, Waikaka, on the 24th inst., by Mr. Wood, district coroner, on the body of Ewen M'Pherson, a -shepherd, -whose unaccountable disappearance was altaded to in previous issues. It transpired that the deceased had been missing *ince the Bth January, on the evening of which 'date -fae i* mppoßed to have met his death. Nothing «v ascertained $tf to his fate till his "body was found "by a man -named M 'Queen on the 22nd January, in the Waikaka River, After hearing the evidence, from which no further information than that already published was ■gleaned, the jury- returned a verdict of '•'accidental drowning." Deceased was s4 years of age, and had a wife and daughter living at Perth, Scotland. His sister resides at Tapanui. Property to the value of £50 was found on the body, and deceasedalso possessed a maie, saddle and bridle. The banks -made a -considerable amount of money by the reduction in the gold export duty. From the time the General Assembly resolved upon taking off sixpence per -ounce till the reeduced duty came into operation they exported >m little of the precious metal ai they possibly -could. By this means they netted §d. per ounce •over their usual profit on nearly the whole of the Sold .produced in (the vcolony during tfhe last 4 months of 1873.

The atelier of Messrs. Burton Brothers, Boss Place, is now open. Mr. Barton will remain in Lawrence only for a limited period, so those desirous of patronising him should not delay calling. Some excitement has been caused at the Teviot by the doimgs of an amateur informer. This individual travelled around the Island Block, shouting extensively at places where liquor was dispensed without the needful permit from the powers that be, The consequence of his liberality was that four individuals were invited to appear before the Resident Magistrate's Court, Teviot, to explain why, under the circumstances, they supplied the shouter with liquor. On Tuesday the cases came off. A full report will appear in our next issue. The informer is stated to be worth £3000, and contemplates returning the Land o' Cakes ; but, wishing to preserve his capital intact; adopted this method of raising funds to pay his passage. Next week the Supreme Court will again visit Lawrence, this time in more imposing artay and for the transaction of more important business than at last sittings. Another Blue Spur case, involving several thousands of pounds, is to be heard before bis Honor and a special jury. Thirty witnesses are to be examined, and four lawyers are engaged, so that the case will occupy considerable time, and necessitate large expenditure on the part of the litigants. The wheat in Waitahuna is reported to be excellent, and some crops grown on the flats in Tuapeka are in splendid condition. A noticeable feature of the New Year festivities at Chinatown was the vocal and instrumental performances of several Celestial musicians. The instruments used resemble the {kithem of the ancient Greeks, and the strains produced in some instances bore striking affinity to those emitted by the Highland bagpipes. Some of the simpler tunes played were not unlike Scotch reels ; while the more pretentious compositions rendered reminded us of no earthly sound, save the howling of a gale through the cordage of a full rigged ship. The vocalists would drive an opera house full of people of musical taste mad, in one minute thirty seconds by the watch. They sing in an unmelodious grating falsetto, and their songs were spun out to an. unconscionable length. One magnificent fight of Mongolian genius in the way of a love song, warbled by a Chinese ministrel, will long lancinate our acoustic organs. The singer stood bolt upright with one almond eye gazing latently into eternity, and his other optic fixed reproachfully on the accoinpanyist. He rendered passionate entreaty by a succession of screeches, such as Maggie gave when she seized the tail of Tarn CShanter'a mare at the Brig o' Doon, and the tender passages found expression in sounds compared to which the moaning of ft suffering infant would be seraphic music Pervading the whole, there was an independent strain as if some one was vigorously sharpening a saw in the immediate vicinity. A sixteenth share in the Gabriels Gully Quartz Mining Company was sold last week by Mr. William Best, for £500, the purchaser being Mr. Phillip Uren. This traffic this year on the road between Tuapeka and up-country- localities is been computed to be double what it was last year? Trial shafts, with the view of ascertaining the rock to be cut through, are being sunk along the line of the Tuapeka railway. An earthquake shook the houses of the residents of i'uapeka for about ten seconds, commencing at 9 minutes to 9 pm., on the evening of Friday, the 31st January. The shock was also experienced in several other localities, and its general direction was from east to west. No damage was done, aud very few noticed' the shock, though it was a rather sharp one. In another column will be found an advertisement referring to the sale of the grand stand, booths, race cards, &c, for the Tuapeka Jockey Club annual races. i The Superintendent and the Goldfields i Secretary have been well received at Clyde and Queenstown. They intend to proceed from the latter place to invercargill, and may be expected in Lawrence in about a fortnight. Charles Molzo, the man whose leg was fractured at Tapanui a fortnight ago, was received into the Tuapeka Hospital last Thursday night, and is progressing towards recovery as rapidly as can be expected. The Dunstan races take place to-day and to-morrow Good sport and a large attendance is anticipated. The members of country Jockey Club Committees are not all well up in racing One sapient Committee man, at a meeting arranging the programme for a two days' meet, proposed that the Consolation Stakes should take place the first day. An unfortunate accident happened about one o'clock yesterday. A man named Thomas Brunon had taken a horse to water near the coalpit. The animal was secured only by a halter, and when he had finished | drinking, Brunton made an attempt to mount. In doing so the halter slipped, and the horse turned round and kicked him on the shin, breaking the leg about four inches below the knee. The sufferer was at once conveyed to the Hospital, where his injury was promptly attended to by Dr. Stewart. Two cases of English cholera have occurred in the Tuapeka district. This disease, we believe, is .'neither infectious nor contagious, but is purely sporadic. Ex-Skhgbant Ryan was brought up at the Resident Magistrate's Court, Dunedin, on Tueiday, charged with shoeting Detective Farrei on the 4th January last with intent to killhim Mr. Haggitt appeared for the prosecution, aud Mr. Baiton for defence. When the evidence of Detective Farrell and four other wini n «ses had been taken, acoused was remanded till the following day. M'Lennan's pneumatic dredge ha 9 commenced operations on the bottom of the Molyneux near Clyde. Mb. W. J. Babby has been lecturing up country on the mineral reeources of the province, Thh Dunrfan Hi s rital commences this year with a balance on hand of £292. Last year 107 out-door patierts md 113 in-door patients were treated. The receipts were £1,590 11b. 7d; and disbursements, £1,565 18s. Id. A meeting of the Committee of the Tuapeka Jockey Club, was held at the Commercial Hotel, on Tuesday evening. Present — Dr. Stewart (President), Messrs Hills, Hay, Arbuckle, Sheath, Farrer, Downes and Hayes {Secretary). The President and Messrs Farrer and Sheath were authorised to have the course attended to. The sale of the booths was appointed to take place on the Bth inst. It was resolved to disqualify jockey named Mackay, who had been disqualified by the Canterbury Jockey Club. The appointment of a clerk of the course, was referred to the handicappers. Messrs J. F. Herbert, and Hay, were appointed to attend the weighing of jockeys. A subcommittee, consisting of the President, and Messrs Farrer ancl Sheath, was appointed to draw up specifications for the grand stand and saddling' paddock, also to arrange the ground to be occupied by each of the other booths. It was resolved that the time specified in the race card for the variuos races to start, should be strictly adhered to. The meeting then adjourned.

Owing to the Supreme Court sitting at Lawrence on Tuesday, the 11th inst., no Resident Magistrate's Court will be held on that day. During last week immense numbers of defunct grasshoppers, have been seen floating down the Molyneux. It is supposed that the insects have been blown into the river, and being unable to get out, met a watery death. The champion billiard player of the Australian Colonies, visited the goldfields recently } incognito. He strolled into the billiard room of a township, and challenged the marker, who, after beating him two or three times, gave him 20 out of a hundred, and a few shillings were staked on the game. The marker won again, arid also won several other games, The spectators began to laugh at the stranper, who, however, in spite of his numerous defeats, preserved a smile "that was childlike and bland," but being jeered at, expressed his willingness to play anyone that could be found in the district. The result is, that the Australian champion departed from the township a richer man than he came to it, and that a number who tried to fleece found themselves shorn. Our readers' can supply the moral of this simple narrative. The manager of the Gabriels Gully Quartz Mining Co. reports as Mlowb for the month : The Company retorted on Monday, the 3rd inst., 1120z., from 400 tons stone— 2H days work. During the past month, the machinery and tramway have workedjvery satisfactorily, and withont the occurrence of any accident. Owing to the prolonged drought, the water in -tKe Wetterstones mara reaervoir has run down very low. The Company has applied for leave to construct a race three miles long, to connect their dam with the bye-washes of the Waipori and Tuapeka Kace Co.'s, above the dams of these Co.'s at the head of Gabriels Gully, and propose to let the construction hf the race by contract to their customers at Wetherstones. In addition to this work, the Company propose to commence a new level, 120 feet below their present tunnel. The level at Walsh Gully (Gabriels Tunnel Co.) is progressing satisfactorily, and jis about 220 feet. There is no notable change in the appearance of the stone in the stopes. No attempt has hitherto been made to pick the atone, as the large bars of slate which cons itute in some parts of the mine more than half the bulk of the lode are seamed with small leaders, shewing excellent prospects. Were the solid quartz and narrow reef alone crushed, the returns per ton would be much higher. We understand that the superintendents and teachers of the various Sabbath schools in the district intend taking steps to hold a union fete sometime at the of the present month. It is to be hoped that their efforts will prove successful, and that they will be able to hold a fete annually for the future. Uniting for such purposes tends much to pro* mote good feeling among all classes, and on I that ground alone should be encouraged. I Thk approach of St. Valentine's Day is heralded by an eruption in the windows of the local- stationer's establishments, of the literature peculiar to the auspicious season. Mr. Har#>p of Peel-street, and Mr. Jeffery of Ross Place display an extensive and varied' assortment of the missives youth and beauty are wont to exchange on the 14th of February. All tastes can be gratified. The amorously disposed will find the sweet-scented, lace-bordered, cupid bedecked valentines, such as they desire to send to their inamom'a*, and coarser minds can be gratified with poetic and pictorial means of taking "rises" out of their friends. Messrs. Shepherd, MH.E., and Maitland, R.M , the Commissioners appointed to inquire into the sale of 50 acres of land at Winding Creek, passed through Tuapeka en route for Switzers, on Tuesday. Any one who establishes a new industry in the colony deserves well of the people resident therein, and in proportion to the obstacles surmounted is he entitled to credit. Mr. Innes, of Port Chalmers, is one of the few that for this reason are entitled to receive the thanks and tangible encouragement of the whole community. A considerable time ago he was impressed with the idea that the manufacture of codliver oil not only possible, but would likely be extremely profitable. He instituted a series of experiments, with the view of ascertaining whether the oil distilled from the liver of the cod of the southern seas was equal in nutritive and medicinal propensities to that of the Arctic Ocean He was well satisfied with the results of these experiments, but before throwing his manufacture into the market, he determined to submit it to the crucial test of chemical analysis. Several samples were forwarded to Dr. Hector and Professor Black, and the opinions of these gentlemen being highly favorable, Mr. Innes fairly commenced his enterprise. The medical gentlemen of Dunedin, including the Provincial Surgeon, recommend this oil as superior in purity and curative power, to |the best brands imported. Several samples have been forwarded to us, which we have examined, and have much pleasure in adding our testimony to the excellence of the article. Although there is no protective duty, Innes' cod liver oil is considerably cheaper than that imported — a strong argument in its favor. Orders have already been received by Mr. Innes from all parts of the colony, and from •\ustralia, so that the Port Chalmers oil may fairly be considered a staple article of export. I Speaking of the various cables likely to be taken in hand ere long, the " Age" in a leading article says: — "Of these undoubtedly New Zealand is the most important,*and the question as to when the work of carrying the cable thither will be taken in hand is one rather of months than of years. There has not been much said in public about this undertaking, but it must not be supposed that it has been neglected either by the leading men in Ne\t Zealand or by speculators generally. We have grounds for believing, indeed, that during the past week overtures have been nade to our own Government for the laying )f a cable between Victoria and New Zealaid," Of the various proposed termini Hokiika is one. Some ofthe Northern papers are taking up the case ofthe telegraph clerks who, it is well known, aB worse paid than any officials in the Government service and are oftener worked tlB hardest. They are even worse paid thai post-office officials of the same grade of lervice as themselves. A contemporary remarks that many very competent telegraph operators receive no more than from £80to £100, and the oldest of them, however bmpetent, not more than £150 per annum. * [These operators, of necessity, are the recip^nts of very important secrets of a private, lomestic, commercial, and political nature, nany of which, |vvere employe's dishonesty inclined, they could turn to profitable acount. A- post-office clerk only sees the outsle of a letter. A telagraph clerk knows tie contents of every communication which psses through his hands ; therefore there kgood ground for the general complaint fhich is running through the telegraph sations of the colony — that the salaries pal to operators do not, throughout the telegrah office, average more than a journeymaj carpenter or blacksmith receives in weeklr wages.

SIR JamebTebqusson, in replying verbally to the address presented to him on his departure by the Mayor and Council of Port Adelaide, said :—"I: — "I may not have succeeded in conciliating and pleasing everyone, but every act of mine since I have been here has been actuated by a sense of duty— (cheers) — and an intention to do the right thing. There has been no prejudice or anything of that kind in my mind, but an earnest desire to do the duties of my office, and that which is right and just to those with whom I have been in contact. I have nothing to look back upon or repent of, gentlemen, in that respect ; and I earnestly trust that whoever succeeds me may not only be successful, but pohular. I have never found any difficulty wpen I have come in contact with any body of citizens— whether they be of the upper or lower class, rich men or working men — in making myself understood. (Cheers). Those who cannot understand me are those who attack through back doors. ( i person in the crowd here called for " Three groans for the " Begister.' ") No groans for anyone. I have nothing to say against any newspaper. I have nothing to blame anyone for. I like the people who speak what they think, and when I have come into contact with men in other countries I never had any difficulty in making them understand — and whether they were Conservatives or UaclieaAs, we could. always have a mutual respect for each other, because we knew that each did his duty according to his light."