THE COUNTED.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 269, 27 March 1873, Page 6

THE COUNTED.

Mount Ida. — The break in the weather last week does not seem to have cleared the atmosphere of the sickness and epidemic so prevalent of late, especially among children. Two little ones, twins, in one house, died at the Kyeburn last week. Last week, a child was taken in our midst, and a good many others sorely distressed with bronchitis, whoopingcough, shhl dysentery. — Some stir has been made since the results of the sludge channel contracts have been made public, and naturally all are pleased that well-known local men have got the contract. The contractors are individually men of praotical ability, and if they pull together should make a good return for their labor and spirit. Already they are calling for tenders for the drawing of stone on to the line of channel, and also for the erection of a store and supply of provisions, kc. — There is no very satisfactory news with regard to the works on the head race. The contractors on the sections 1, 2, 3, 4, -are reported to have only so far tackled No. 1 oontraot, and that in i latches. No doubt the labor available is not all that could be wished, but it is impossible to get 100 skilled men on a job of the kind, and contractors must make up their minds to work with the tools within their reach. — The Council elections are to be contested on Monday next, and a little stir may be expected, there being five candidates for one ward. It U feared that, unless something is done to the new road at the back of the Houndburn Hill before the weather breaks, cartage will be very high in the winter, and the mails very much impeded. — Cromwell and Clyde interest is all now being thrown on to the Tuapeka road, and unleaa Mount Ida pushes the matter no one else will do it for her. The Superintendent himself pointed out the necessity of the work on his late visit. — St Patrick's Day fell dead here, but at St. Bathans, fun, in the shape of a picnic and ball, was the order of the day. It is a happy art that of knowing how and when to be jolly. Southland. — Writing on March 20th our correspondent says : -The telegraph will have informed you of Mr Caldor's resignation. The representation of Inveicargill in the Assembly will thus became vacant. Despite the fact that the ensuing session is supposed to bo tho prelude to a dissolution, considerable activity has been manifested in the- way of finding a successor. The ink with which Mr f 'alder Remitted his fliavgv liad scarcely tune to dry oil the pa}K>r Uefoie that energetic organisation, Joeallj- known as the Macamlvew Committee, was on the m«vp, and hi less than no timehnd a lamb brought to. the slaughter, the individual in question being Mr Cuthbeitson, lately a runholder in Southland, but now residing in Invercargill. Mr Cuthbeitson comes forward in the interest of the present form of administration. Personally, ho is a man of fair ability, good educational attainments, and for a considerable time occupied a responsible position in the politics of the Province. He has a blight tinge of egotism about him, but that, it is believed, would get nibbed off on coming into contact with a central legislation. He is understood to be but a recent convert to the Public Works Policy, but his friends imagine his conversion is sincere. The committee by whom he is taken in hand was, during the general elections, most successful in getting in the men of its choice. Latterly, however, its influence appeared to fall away. The present is to be a rallying point in its career, and although its success is far from being undoubted, combined with the personal influence of the candidate its prospects are said to be fair. On the other side, it is believed a determined stand will be made to return a man imbued with the Opposition sentiments of the retiring member. As probable candidates on tjjat surd, My Geo. Luwsdeu, M,.P ,C., and >L;

William Wood, Mayor of Invercargill, are talked of. One or both of these gentlemen are sure to be put forward. In the event of the two standing, the election will be played into the hands of Cuthbertson. It is believed, however, that they will see to avoid a split of that kind. Let that be as it may, a short, sharp tussel is imminent. — The p.w>t -week has been painfully prolific in accidents. Yesterday a man named Young was brought into town in a dying state from injuries received by the fall of a tree. He died shortly after his admission into the hospital. It seems that he was employed as a bushman at one of the district saw-mills. A branch of the tree caught him in falling, and mangled his head in a frightful manner. A day or two ago another man was received into the hospital from the Woodlands Meat Preserving Company's Works. While engaged at one of the vats, he lost his balance and fell in head foremost amongst the boiling liquid. After lingering a few hours in agony, death put an end to his sufferings. From one of the up-couutry districts intelligence has been received of the finding of the dead body of a man. Particulars of how he came by his death have not transpired. — Last Sunday we had a case of revivalism in Invercargill. The representative of an Assurance Society on a visit to Southland, after transacting business in connection with the life that now is, took up the interests of that which is to come. He got a goodly company together under the ampices of the lleformed Methodists, and delivered a discourse characterised by loud thumps and violent gesticulations. A kind of a panic ensued, in the midst of which the preacher invited "all those who had received the Holy Ghost" to stand up. The call was obeyed by about a dozen, chiefly women and young girls. ,At this juncture the preacher, who occupied a platform, stretched himself out on the most approved principle of the spread-eagle, and with an awful vehemence exclaimed, " .Thank God for this manifestation of his power!" The scene produced is said to have been an exciting one. The remainder of the evening, to within an hour or so of midnight, was occupied in chanting "psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs." — -For the information of your commercial readers, I have to report the following as a general characteristic of trade : — A fair amount of business is beng transacted. Adelaide flour is quitted at 17s, and Provincial gristed at • 13s. Cornsacks are almost out of the market, and bales in first hands would command 19s per dozen. Sugars are firm at current rates, viz. , 49s for crystals ; 50s to 54s for whites. Rations are languid, as most of the stations have hud in supplies for the season. Teas of good character are mostly sought after, this season, whilst inferior grades share a corresponding neglect. English beer, dull of sale at 11s. The season's growth of oats and barley not yet offered. Wheat, 4s 9d.

The valuation of property in Christchurch for this year amount to L 102,232, being an advance on that of 1872 of L 5,402. The printers and carpenters of Christchurch have played a game of cricket. The scores were — Carpenters, 87 and 35; Printers, 93. It being a one day's match, the printers won on the first innings by six runs. The North Otago Times has been shown by Mr Coggins, chemist there, a freak of nature in the shape of a two headed chicken, hatched a day or two ago. The chick differs in no degree from an ordinary one, except that it posseses two necks and heads, both perfectly formed. Among the Bangalore's passengers for Melbourne was' a Mr Larsen, the representative of the London firm of Ashter and Morris. He comes to the Colonies with the object of arranging, if possible, for the laying down of tramways and narrow-gauge railways. J-) c also represents English capitalists, who have empowered him to arrange for the investment of L 500.000. The following return is from the Nexo Zealand Gazette of February 27th :—Number of Imperial gallons of spirits distilled in New Zealand received into all bonded warehouses during the year ended 31st December, 1872, 79,9445. Number of Imperial gallons of such spirits cleared and taken out of bonded warehouses during same period : For home consumption, 34,578*6 ; for exportation, 27*6. Total, 34,606-2. Number of Imperial gallons of such spirits remaining in all bonded warehouses on the 31st December, 1572, (this' includes balance in stock from previous year) 56, 853 "3. The magnitude and importance of the coal question is daily pressing itself more and more upon the attention of New Zealand colonists. The fact, as published in the General Government returns, that in round numbers 100,000 tens of coal were imported into the Colony in 1871, for which about L 125.000 was sent away, is sufficiently startling to arrest the atten' ion of the most careless, particularly when coupled with the fact that .we possess equally as good coal as that we import, and that the investment here of of a sum equal to what we pay in one year, would not only turn the trade into our own bands permanently, but do much to make New Zealand the wealthiest Colony in these seas. But the imports of coal in IS7I were probably much surpassed in 1872, in which year, says the Post, Wellington and Canterbury alone consumed something near LBO, OOO worth of coal. The English Peabody — Josiah Mason, the Birmingham manufacturer — whose beneficent deeds (the principal of which is the erection of an orphanage in his native town, at a cost of L 60.000, and endowing it with landed property of the value of a quarter of million sterling) were narrated in our columns not many months ago, has been knighted by the Queen. The mail just in tells that he has followed his countless acts of princely bounty by the establishment of a noble college for practical science in Bi - mingham. In the deed- of foundation he records his own autobiography, by way of encouragement to the young, and relates how, "from his earliest youth, he was engaged in earning his livelihood, first as a shoemaker, then as a baker, and then as a carpet weaver ;" subsequently becoming a jeweller, a manufacturer of steel pens, and a copper smelter. Id these diversified occupations he discerned "the necessity for and benefit of thorough systematic scientific instruction, specially adapted to tbe practical, mechanical, and artistic requirements of the district." And hence the establishment of Josiah Mason's College. The representatives of Otago at the late volunteer competition, at the conclusion of their passage from Nelson by tbe Rangatira, presented Captain Hepburn with a testimonial in the shape of a handsome gold mounted mariner's compa99 (to be suspended from watch-guard). The trinket, which bore the inscription, ''To Captain Hepburn from Otago Volunteer Representatives, 1873," was presented by Captain Wales, of No. 1 Company, and in a very neat speech he testified to the good treatment they had one and all met with on board the good ship Rangatira, and to the urbanity and gentlemanly bearing shewn at all times by Captain Hepburn. After thanking the volunteers for the present and for the complimentary terms in which they had referred to him, Captain Hepburn said he had on this trip a troublesome task to perform—that of accommodating the large ,t number of passengers in the smallest possible space. He was glad to find he had been successful in making them all comfortable, and he hoped that if he should ever have the honor of again carrying the Otago representatives it would be in his power to treat them still better. Among other toasts, that of " Prosperity to the Otago Volunteers " was proposed by Mr. Mills, and druuk enthusiastically. Among the Volunteers present •were Capt. Wales, Lieuts. Pell and Somerville, Sergeant Taylor, and a number of town and country representatives.

As unprecedentedly large number of country residents were compelled to be in Dunedin ait the early part of the week. The- singularity of ■o mnny persons In different parts of the province finding it imperatively necessary to be in Dunedin at the same time, has been rather freely commented upon, but it is plain to thinking minds it is merely a. coincidence, and as unaccountable iw the prevalence of a suicidal mania. About the 15th uwt. the agitation began to prevail up-oountry ; $ie importance of the business in town began to grow $ and a few days aftervard* the exodus to the capital set in v increasing in Magnitude till the 24th inst., when it suddenly ceased. From the shores of distant Wakatip, from the treeless wilds of mid Otftgo. from breezy Invercargill. from surf-laved Oamaau, fr»m Tuapekaf Tokomairiro, Taieri, Cluthft, and every wheie else, squatters, merchants, government officials, bankers, publicans, and sinners of all descriptions winged their flight toOtage'i ohief city to transact business. The fact of the races taking place on the 24th inst., though very awkward, we are glad to see it did not deter those who had business to transact, from making their visit to Dunedin. Bt advertisement, which appears in another «olnmn, a meeting is convened for the evening of Thursday, 3rd April, at the Lawrence Athenaeum, for the purpose of considering the advisability of forming a rifle volunteer corps in Tuar peka. It will be fresh in the recollection of our raaders that some years ago a very efficient corps, numbering seventy-two, was organised, and drilled for several months, but its services were .-.* declined by the Government. The Government at thnt time also refused the services of. companies formed at Queenstown and other places. Eeeently the Government have accepted the «emcei of the Queenstown Volunteers, and this has led to tite resuscitation of the volunteer • movement in Tnapeka. There is first-rate material ont of which to fora a company in Tuapeka. There are numbers <of active young men who would be only too willing to join, many old volunteers, well acquainted with drill, who •would oiake competent officers, and th? services of an efficient drill instructor are available. Should a sufficient number enrol, the Government would be bound, in nil fairness, to accept their services, and give them eqmipments. We hope those favorable to the movement will enter upon it energetically and speedily. Should they do so, there is little fear but that in a short time the Tuapeka Rifles will take a high rank among the volunteers of the -colony. ■When Sir George Bowen, in company with tlie Lawrence Town Council, visited the Bine. Spur, a considerable quantity of liquor appears to have been consumed, judging from the bill presented last council night. Some discussion, sout of whiob. under more aiiß>icious cirouinconsiderable caloric laiglit have been evolved, ensued on the occasion. It transpired that some councillors thought the proper method to recompense those claimholders wlro showed their working! to the viceregal party wjw 4o treat them to liquor. In pursuance of this laudable, intention, they invited the *nid claimowners to tire nearest hotel, which happened to be Grieves. Some accepted *he invitation, snd others, not caring toleav» their work, did not. Those who «an>e to the hotel had the honor of imbibing tvifch' the viceregal party, and soaie "one, who no -one clearly Iknew, ordered windfy gallons of beer 4o be sent ■down tij the claims. The councillors said the •claim made for liquorsdrunk on the premises was correct, but they knew nothing whatever of the gallons sent oat. it further ai>peared that Mr. <srieve had previously sent in mn aocoSnt for a smaller amount than iie then clainted. Finally it was decided to pay the account, which amounted to £2 2a. <6d. Presuming all took "ordinary beverages, that «üm would purohase ■sixty-five drinks. We believe this is the first ** instance on record of a municipal council in ite oorporate capacity " shouting for « cr#w&" Ah individual was brought tap at the Resident Magistrate's Court, Lawrence, on Tuesday lasti the bare facts of whose history would form material for the most sensational of modern novtls. His name is Jacques Feuori, and he "was born in Paris during tbe fiercest heat *f the French Involution. He entered tbe French ■army as a drummer boy at tbe age «f 10, And -was with Napoleon in the eastern -campaign ; ■and served some time in -Spain tinder SoVtlt and Maasena. As a sergeant «f the Imperial Guard, he proceeded with the Grand Army on their disastrous Kussian Campaign. On the return homewards -with the shattered remnant -of the French army, he was dangerously wounded «nd left for dead at Leipsic. He recovered his wounds only in time to see the •great Napoleon abdicate, and he followed his beloved master to Elba, where he was appointed 'to a situation of trust in the great Captain's household. He was one of the party who acttompanied Napoleon on his memorable escape, and took a prominent part in many of the •events of the Hundred Days. He was a lieutenants in the Imperial Guard at Waterloo ; and in the last charge upon the Highland troops, had his cuirass smashed in- several placer by bullets, -and narrowly escaped being destroyed by tire Black Brtmswickers-. When the star .of Sfapoleen had set for ever, he -entered the Meacioau service, and took part in the War of Independence. After that was achieved, he returned to France and was engaged ia Cochin China expedition, and, in the «ack of the capital of that wealthy country., j ffloiiaaxed to secure a consieksraHe amount of jßOfiey. He then became a speculator in r.oolies .at the' Mauritius, and, s&ccumbing to adverse circumstances, proceeded to New York, I -where he resided some time., teaching fencing for a living. Attracted by tiae gold discoveries matle in California!, lie proceeded tbither, and started the first public honae in Sneranento. He amassed a fortune -of a quarter of a million dollars there, bat lost all .of Speculating. He proceeded from thenoe to Australia, and afterwards to New .Zealand, and en S^ondajr was jEtaed^Oa. lor«Httinj timber *dJtho»t jK-Jj&Bse.

At the sittings of the District Court m Lawrence, which commence on the Bth proximo, Instead of the 15th S* erroneously stated in our last issue, the only business to be transacted is that adjourned from the previous sittings. The, case of Casey v. the. Great Extended Co. » will again be mentioned, and Alexander Corniack and Matthew Ferguson, bankrupts, will apply for their discharge. Robert Gloves, an actor who .recently performed in several up-country townships, is in custody upon a charge of stealing a suit of clothes from the Grown Hotel, Switsers, belonging to a hawker named William Felton. He was forwarded to Switiers, on remand from Dunedin. Alfred Hastings, a young gentleman well, known on the racecourses of the province, i 8i 8 at present detained in Lawrence Gaol on two charges, the first of obtaining money by means of a valueless cheque, and the second of endeavoring to repeat the same offence, When going to Dunedin after the Tuapeka races, Hastings not having sufficient money to pay his coach fare, induced Mr. Armstrong to give him a ticket to Tokomairiro, and the balance of a cheque drawn upon the Bank of New South Wales, Dunedin, for £2. The cheque upon being presented, waa returned marked "no account." The second charge is endeavoring to obtain £2 5s Od from Mr. Liston on a similarly valueless cheque at the same time. After having performed these exploits, Sir. Hastings visited the Tokomairiro races, and from thence proceeding to Switzers. On his way down, at the latter place he endeavored to pass another cheque, but unsuccessfully. He, however, induced a hotel keeper to pay his fare to. Lawrence. On his arriving at Lawrence, he went to the Coinme cial Hotel, and Bhowing no inclination to pay the cheque he had previously drawn, and his conduct being very, suspicious, Mr. Armstrong gave him in charge. He was brought up on Monday, and on the application of Inspector Thompson, remanded till Friday. Nine ounces of gild were got off the bottom of M'Lelland's pneumatic jdredge cylinder ©a Saturday laßt, which is working on the celebrated Alabama claim, between Clyde and Alexandra. Wb have been shown a sample of hops grown by Mr. Parsons at the Beaumont. They possess a splendid aromatic Havor, and are of good strength. They are fully equal to Hobartown hops, which are worth 3s. 6d. per pound* The climate and soil of Tuapeka is well adapted for the cultivation of hops ; they require but little attention, and they are a very profitable crop. Some of our farmers who complain so much of the low price of oats, might do well to experiment in this direction. Thk manager of the Gabriels Gu'ly Quar z Mining -Co. reports that the Company recommenced crashing on the 17th, and expect to be, able to cruxh on steadily now, as a small quantity of water has accumulated in the Phoenix dam. The north drive is now in over 100 feet from of tunnel — the reef for the last 30 feet carrying good walls, but rather broken up, and shewing very little gold. From the yield of the tables, the stone crushed during the last ten days has been the richest yet put through. From the published abstract of accounts it will be seen that the Company is now free of all liabilities, and in a position to declare dividends out of any profits that may accrue hereafter. As the jpresent crushing will have been for less than a fortnight, the Company will probably not retort before the end of next month. A mketikg of the Evans Flat School Committee was held on Thursday the 20th inst. Present — Messrs Harraway (in the chair), Brookes, Evans, Hopkins, Smith, Roberts, Eamsay, and Buchanan. Eight applications were received~for the office of schoolmaster, the choice falling upon Mr. Duthie, who is to take okarge of the school on the Ist April. The Port Chalmers railway has been purchased by tke General Government for £177,060. We direct tke attention of those depasturing .cattle on the Tuapeka Goldfield Comnaonage, to the notification from the Inspector of the Tuapeka Depasturing District, which appears in another column. The Balclutha races take place on the 17th arad JSth proximo. The usual monthly meeting of the Tuapeka Hospital Committee, was held on Tuesday evening. Present — The President, Messrs Armstrong, Jeffery, Kofoed, Harrop, (Treasurer), Hayes /Secretary), and Dr. Halley. Tbe minutes of the previous meetinp were read and confirmed. The inward co«*es£ondence consisting of a letter from Mr. Ferguson, tendering hia resignation ; a letter from Mr. M 'Gannon intimating his acceptance of the situations of wardsman and matron for himself and wife, and a letter from tke Secretary of the Education Board, slatusg that suitable books would be shortly forwarded for tke use of the institution, was received, and the outward correspondence approved. The Visiting Committee's report stating that certain works had beea undertaken, was received aitd adfltpted. The Resident Surgeon reported that 9 indoor patients bad been admitted during the month, and S discharged •; 11 otttdoor patients had been treated dotting the month ; at tfee beginning »f the month there wer« 17 i&mates of the Hospital, aud at the present thae there were 16. " Mr. Arbackle was elected member of Visiting Committee vke Mr. Hi'ls retired. The medical officers reported that Mr, Har- , rop's tender for drugs was the lowest, and it was accordingly accepted. Mr. Armstrong gave notice that at next meeting he would move that the 1872 subscriptions lists be closed, and lists opened for 1873. The meetj ing adjourned, .

The date of the Wesleyan valedictory and introductory tea meeting, has been changed to Thursday April 3rd. Ik our report of the last Town Council meeting-, it Will be seen that several notices I of motion relative to the gravelling of the streets were given. It is very necessary that j these works should be completed without loss of time, and we direct the attention of contractors to the matter. - The tunnel of the darks Hill Prospecting C impany is now in 100 feet, and the ground is getting softer. The Provincial Government has granted a reserved area of 1200 feet on each side of the tunnel, to allow the Company's securing a double claim in the event of any new payable reef being struck. The Gabriels Tunnel Co. are pushing on steadily with their tunnel at Welshs Gully. The last contract of 100 feet performed by Messrs. J. and D. Coutts is a specimen of good work, and has given great satisfaction to the Company. Messrs. Coutts Lave now taken a further contract of 100 feet, of which they have nearly completed 30 feet. Mr. Harrop has received Beveral copies of Stanley's "How I Found Livingstone" and other new workß. Mr. Harrop desires us to state that he has obtained a number of registration forms, which he will place at the service of those who desire to have their names placed upon the electoral roll, gratia.