LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 271, 10 April 1873, Page 5

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Thb last mail via San Francisco will be taken by the Nebraska, which .eaves Port Chalmeis on Saturday. Mails will close at Lawrence to morrow morning, at 7 a.m. Vincent Pyke, Esq., 8.M., has obtained l^ave of absence on full pay for twelve months, r j ha Government have not yet definitely fixed upon the gentleman who is to take charge of the Tuapeka district during Mr. Pyke's absence. ON Friday, the 11th, and Monday, the 14th instant, beiug Good Friday and Easter Monday respectively, the banks and Government offices will be closed. On Good Friday, Sunday hours will be observed at the telegraph office,

Petty larceny seems to have become an established industry in Lawrence. Some -weeks ago we chronicled a case of " snow dropping," and now wo have to record the occurrence of several more mean thefts. Last week the larders of several citizenß were surreptitiously vbited by some party or parties unknown, and sundry edibles abstracted therefrom. The amount of the depredations is small ; but it is very annoying for people to find upon waking from their peaceful slumbers that theiv houses have been visited at untimely hours by prowling vagabonds. We hope next week to be able to report that the perpetrator of these thefts is acquiring correct ideas of mcuni and teum behind a wheelbarrow in Lancaster-street cutting. The danger of allowing cattle to wander at large in the streets received a forcible illustration on Monday afternoon, when a little daughter of Mr. Airey was violently tossed in the air by a cow. .Fortunately the child was not much hurt, but she received a severe fright and shaking, and had a veiy narrow escape from severe injury, or perhaps death. Oor Bald Hill Flat correspondent writes : — Since my last, nothing has occurred except heavy rains and snowstorms, which have induced people to think winter has set in ia real earnest. However, the water was badly wanted, and its opportune arrival will enable many parties to resume operations, who would otherwise have had a continuance of enforced idleness. A public meeting will be held at Kemp's Cape Broom Hotel next week for the purpose of forming a committee, and devising nieants to construct the sludge channel. The sixth anniversary of the* Loyal Blue Spur Lodge, M.U.1.0.0.F., will be celebrated by a soiree and ball, to be held in the local assembly room to-night. Judging from the thorough manner in which the Blue Spur people carry out anything they take in hand, a very pleasant evening's entertainment may be anticipated. Some time since, the " Wakatip Mail " announced that silver had been found on the Shotover. We are glad to be able to bring further testimony towards the accuracy of our contempoiary's anticipations of the existence of silver in probably paying quantities in the locality- Mr, Gascoigue informs us that when working on the Shotover in the early days of the rush, he found, between Stapeltom and Sutherland's beaches, several pieces of pure silver, each weighing from 2gr. to 3gr. Our Lakes friends would do well to prospect for a silver lode in the vicinity. Tub English mail per Eangitoto will close at Lawrence, at 7 a.m., on Tuesday, the 15th instant. Mr. T. L. Shepherd intends to address his constituents shortly! The Inangahua correspondent of the "Argus" says :—": — " Reef ton retains its chronic state of dullness, or rather the disease shows uninistatkeable signs of becoming worse instead of better. One hears now, on all sides, nought but rumors of intending departures, and of buildings which have been sold for at least a fourth of their origiual coat. The place is even yet tremendously over-built, and over-full of business people. No fortunes will be made here until the weeding-out process has been continued for 6ome time longer. It is simply a struggle in which the which the weakest must go to the wall. The six machines that are now in working order will, of course, keep a certain number of men in constant work, and with regular pay in their pockets, at any rate during the winter months, so that a certain quantity of trade will be done. But at present it is divided between far too many to fairly remunerate any." The manager of the Gabriels Gully Quartz Mining Co., reports a fine yield of amalgam for the ]>ast thiee weeks. The reef to the north, as anticipated, is narrower and richer ; to the south a very strong and wide lode is being opened up, shewing very good stone. • The north stope ( is about 65 feet from the adit or end of the tunnel, the south stope about the baiue distance south. The reef to the north is gradually breaking away westward, which was expected from the position of the lode on the surface in Clayton's claim. As the Company have Btill 150 feet of the lode unexplored to the north of the present north stope, a series of very payable crushiugs may be expected, should the lode prove to be continuous in this direction. Mr, M'Lsuen, who superintended the erection of the batteiy on the part of Messrs. M'Queen, visited the claim on Tuesday, and carefully examined the whole of the machinery, Everything was found to bo working admirably, and shewing no undue wear, vibration, or strain. The turbine for some timo past has been worked at a higher pressure than formerly ; and the truck returns for the last last three weeks shew over 112 tons per week crushed, while only 35 inches of water is used on the wheeL Thb Clarks Hill Company are pushing on with their tunnel, which is now in about 130 feet, and the ground is becoming rather softer. Conditional tenders for the construction of a bridge over the Molyueux at Clyde are called by the Provincial Government. A NBW pneumatic dredge is about to be placed on the Molyneui, near Clyde, by Hastie and party. The April number of the " Illustrated New Zealand Herald," contains some capital pictures, among which are views of the Rangitata bridge and the Devils Boot, near Nelson. Bt one of those typographical mysteries which are beyond mortal ken, in the report of the Blue Spur Presbyterian soiree, the name of Miss M'Millan, one of the young ladjes who so admirably presided over the tea tables, was misprinted Miss M'Lelland, a charmer who, we arc assured by those who should know, has as yet no cei-poreal existence. The following memorial for presentation to the Lawreuce Town Council is being circulated and numerously signed :--" We, the residents of Lawrence and surrounding districts, beg to submit to you the advisability of changing the management of the Lawrence Cemetery from the present trustees to a representative body, such as the Lawrence Town Council. We believe were it in your hiuids, the many complaints about its inefficient management and discreditable state would cease, and we therefore request you to take such steps as you may deem necessary to carry out our wishes, £And your memoralists &c." The programme issued by the Balclutha Jockey Club appears in another column. The meet i 3 to take place on the 22nd and 23rd insfc., and from the prizes offered, ought to prove attractive to horse owners! Cobb & Co.'s coach for the Dunstan, will, until further notice, start from Lawrence at 5 a.m. instead of 6 a.m. as formerly. The argument of the various points reserved in the case of Clayton and othei s v. Morrison and others, has been removed to the Court of Appeal by direction of His Honor Judge Chapman and consent of the parties, and will take place in May next. The decision of the Court of Appeal will be final in the colony. The Attorney Geneial has been retained by Clayton and Co. Some three weeks since, the Lawrence Municipal Council suddenly became alive to the fact which had been painfully apparent to all other citizens for a long time previous, that the post and telegraph offices were in a disgracefully dilapidated condition, and wretchedly inadequate to the demands of public business. The Council resolved upon immediately movingheaven and earth to havo the building now used as a courthouse— which has been found inconveniently small— converted into a post and telegraph office, for which purpose it is eminently adapted. One of the levers they proposed to use for this purpose, was a public meeting, to be convened by the Mayor. But our Mayor and Councillors having, with praiseworthy energy, passed resolutions came to a dead stop. We venture to mildly hint to our worthy civic administrators — with all clue deference to the.r superior knowledge of the art of managing tlungs — thatit would be better for all concerned, an 1 would tend to preserve the respect of the ratepayers if they were to transact business of this nature in a reasonably expeditious manner. The Goldfields Bill, to be submitted to the General Assembly at its next session, has been drafted, and is now under revision. It will probably be ready for circulation in a fortnight,

A MEETING of gentlemen favorable to the formation of a Rifle Volunteer Corps in Tuapeka was held in the Athenseum, on Thursday evening last, Mr. W. Jamison occupied the chair, and briefly stated the purpose for which the meeting had been convened. The proceedings were somewhat of a conversational nature, the number likely to join, and the probabilities of tho services of the proposed corps being accepted by the Government Tbemg canvassed. Ultimately, a provisional committee consisting of Messrs. Arbuckle, Harrop, and Burns was elected to make preliminary inquiries, and to procure tha names of those willing to become volunteers. Mt Burns was appointed Secretary. It was suggested that as soon as possible recruit drill should be commenced, in order that the Company might be as proficient as possible when sworn in. This brought the proceedings to a close. The committee, we may v state, confidently anticipate forming without difficulty, a company numbering 70 or 80 members. We learn also that there is a probability of a brass band being organised in connection with the company. Mr. J. C. Brown, M.H,R M has kindly consented to lend all assistance in his power towards inducing the Defence Office to accept the services of the Tuapeka Rifle Volunteeis. We may state that tho committee believe they will be able to induce a genman, in every way competent, who has previously held a commission in the volunteers, to take the command of the company. The pkiisant entertainments, denominated the Wetherstones readings, which proved bo successful aud attractive last season, are to be forthwith resuscitated, as will be found notified in our advertising columns. The first of the present winter's series will be given on Thursday, 17th insfc., when we have no doubt an excellent programme wiil be rendered to a crowded house. Travellers from the civilized regions are often surprised and pained at the woful ignorace exhibited by the denizens of the wilds of Otago, more particularly In relation to the nomenclature of the bar. Only recently a truly deplorable instance of- this has come under our notice, one which shakes our confidence in the efficacy of modern civilization to elevate and educute. Recently a party of jovial spirits went out into the wilderness, and put up at ft roadside house. While there, of course, several iuvigoiators were partaken of, and finally, before retiring to repose, to wind up with, a " nightcap '' was asked for. The good old soul who acted as Hebe on the occasion, cast curious looks and asked in accents of wonder, " D'ye mean what ye say." " Certainly," was the ready reply. Thereupon a woollen nightcap was was gravely produced, and as gravely placed upon the head of the gentleman who asked for it. One wild yell staitling the timid echoes, relieved the feelings of the civilised ones. The number of " night-caps " which followed will ever remain enshrouded in the darkest mystery. On Tuesday evening a meeting was hold in the Lawrence Athenaeum for the purpose of forming a quadrille club. After some discussion preliminaries weie arranged ; a club, to be called the Lawrence Quadrille Club, was constituted, and the tiino of meeting fixed for each Monday night, from half-past 7 to half-past 9 p.m. The case of Ryan, charged with shooting Detective Farrel, occupied the Supreme on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, and has not yet concluded.