LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 273, 24 April 1873, Page 5

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The British mails via Suez, will close at Law. rence on Friday the 2nd pros, at 7 a.m.

The General Assembly positively meets the last week in June.

Dh. Pollen, General Government Agent at Auckland, has joined the Ministry, and has been called to the Legislative Council. Mr. J. T. Peacock, of Canterbury, is, we believe, also to be called to the Legislative Council ; and at the end of the session Mr. Bathgate is to have a similar honor confened on him.

The new Goldfields Act has been revised, and 5b now receiving the final polish preparatory to Its being forwarded to Wellington. It contains nearly 200 clauses.

It is rumored that a case will, during the present year, be tried, which from the exalted station of one of the parties, will far transcend in interest any that has ever come before a colonial court. Everyone knows that our new Governor, Sir James Fergusson, was recently married to a wealthy South Australian lady, and tho story of the young gentleman who claimed to have been previously engaged to her, ■will be so fresh as to render recapitulation unnecessary. It is now stated that a Wellington egal firm has received instructions from the rejected suitor to commence an action for breach of promise of marriage, against Lady and Sir Jame3 Fergusson immediately upon their arrival in the colony. Damages are to be laid at £50.000.

The Lawrence Athenaeum Readings were this year inaugurated with a brilliant success, and if an entertainment of similar quality is provided every fortnight, large audiences will gather to the great benefit of the funds of the iusfcituhion. At the hour appointed for the readings to commence, a. considerable number of ladies and gentlemen had assembled, and a few minutes after a start was made, the hall was crowded. Mr. J. C. Brown, M.H.R.,the President of the Athenaeum, occupied the chair, and briefly announced the commencement of the winter evening series of readings. To advert to each individual performance, would tax our space to too great an extent, and when all exerted themselves to such good purpose, might possibly be invidious. All who appeared upon the stage rendered their various " pieces " in an excellrn 1 Manner, and delighted the audience, which, by the way, found one fault with the programme which is the best testimony to its excellence, viz., that it was too short. Messrs. James Henries, Downes, Armstrong, and Miss Clark gave songs ; Messrs Ferguson and E. S. Hay recited : and Messrs Abel, Downes, and John Menzies gave readings. Mr, Pyke, E.M., read "First Impressions of Melbourne," a racy and graphic sketch of the extraordinary state of affairs in that city in 1852, from notes made on the spot at the time, which elicited repeated applause. The recitations were capital, and divided honors with the songs ; the readings ■coming" in however : for a good share of the applause. Miss Clark's song was very successful, and at the conclusion of the programme she played the National Anthem on the pianoforte in admirable style.

The General Government have purchased from Messrs. Oliver and Proudfoot the plant used in the construction of the Port Chalmers railway, and intend to employ it in reclamation works in Dunedin harbor.

A prettt youth upon whose noble brow three and sixtysummers have left some traces, resident in Tuapeka, ia afflicted with whooping cough.

{The next sittings of the Supreme Court at Lawrence will be held on the 9th June.

Labob has never been so scarce in the country as at present. All districts unite to swell the great cry now heard in the land for more labor. Every workman, skilled or unskilled, is fully employed, and an idle man, if to be seen, would Be looked upon as a phenomenon. Men for new works cannot be obtained for love, money, or any other consideration. This scarcity of men is peculiarly unfortunate just now, as many promising enterprises, depending for their success upon an adequate supply of labor, both in mining and other directions, are being commenced. If the stream of immigration to this colony is not very largely augmented, and that speedily, wages must inevitably rise to «n extent that will check enterprise and also militate against the interests of laboring men. Properly represented in Britain, the demand for labor here should attract thousands, especially in the present state of things in the mother country. A competent Agent-General* and_ efficient subordinates are ea^ly needed, and we look to the next session -of Parliament to see that immigration arrange--ment& shall not be bungled in the futuro as they have been in the past.

&•' tlsa ?i'»vi.r,cju Govsromcaf "O:'z"tte" of the I6r,h i*riant, io-nr'erp v.-c cx'il'i si folio-."s: Formation, ptc'-.ir?, ;'.~d p v ,'.v°iHn^ £0 chr.'nf of road thi" :.-ri l ho * <-••'•••! rrpof FV'o'-^'": ~~: tion of a etoi.e r.t'-x?* .ivh? 1 "/".t"*7'. V* .v. v • :d? . at Havelock ; «-?*f iTt* -v\r -3 f -.V- , r* > r .no, Tokoaittiriro to TV.poo-, h--Ar^- +£.? to";bs • and Murray's.

! On the evening of Saturday, the 12th instant, Mr. Duncan Macrae, Ettrick, delivered a lecture in the schoolroom, Moa Flat, for the benefit of the school funds. The building was crowded with whatever of rank, beauty, and intelligence Moa Flat can boast. Owing to the unaccountable absence of the Chairman of Committee, Mr. Eady' was called upon to occupy the chair, and introduced the lecturer in a few well-chosen and appropriate remarks. Mr. Macrae handled his subject, "The Ballad Literature of Scotland," with great ability and eloquence. Beginning at the earliest periods, he showed how the ballad originated, selecting numerous appropriate|instances from Greek, Celtic, and Teutonic literature: The Scotch ballads he first dealt with historically, and then in regard to their literary merits, reading numerous extracts in a manner which seemed to be highly appreciated by his audience, as was shown by repeated rounds of hearty applause. A cordial vote of thanks to the lecturer was passed by acclamation. Mr. Ryan then favored the meeting with a couple of songs, and the proceedings wound up with a hearty vote of thanks to the chair. Mr. Henderson is on bis way to Moa Flat with a steam threshing machine, the arrival of which will be hailed as a boon by the farmers in that district. Pheasants are exceedingly numerous in the bush behind Fairfax, which promises good sport in the future. It is, we believe, intended to petition the Government to allow sportsman to shoot these birds. Mr. Townsend, of the Crown Hotel, Balclutha, has taken the management of the stables attached into his own hands, which is a sufficient •guarantee that equine requirements will be i satisfactorily attended to. To meet increasing demands, Mr. Dunne, of the Newmarket Hotel, Balclutha, has erected a range of stables— comfortable, commodious, and well ventilated. It will be seen by our advertising columns that the Wesleyans of Lawrence, being anxious to clear off the debt upon their church, have resolved to hold a gift auction sale early in July. Messrs. Coverlid, Tonks, Downie, Matthews, Fargher, Bentley and M'Gillvary, and Mesdames Tonks, Matthews, and Bentley will receive donations of articles for sale. A peculiar and admirable feature in the affair is that there will be no raffle or lottery — the goods will be sold o the highest bidder. Every kind or description of saleable goods will be received, and also live sto"ek. We have no doubt that the people of Tuapeka will extend to their Wesleyan fe'low residents a liberal measure of snppoit, and that the gift auction sale will result in securing the object for which it is to be held.

Contrary to general anticipation, indeed to the statements made by leading Celestials, there has been no influx of Chinese to Ofcago during the present season. The exceptional severity of last winter and the increasing difficulty of obtaining payable claims are assigned as reasons for the sudden cessation of Chinese immigration ; but the real cause probably is that the Chinese domiciled in Otago are averse to any influx of their fellow countrymen, as they are possessed of the idea once prevalent among certain classes of the European population, that immigration is productive of injury to the laborers already in the colony.

Whooping-cough has almost disappeared from Tuepeka, but continues prevalent in 'Waitahuna.

The Wesleyan tea meeting which took place on Wednesday night at Balclutha was in every way a complete success. A capital spread was provided forthe guests. Alarge number of whom attended, and the fair sex turned out in goodly array. Several excellent addresses were delivered ; and all present were well satisfied with the evening's proceedings.

Mb. Carson, of Tokoraairiro, while returning from Dunedin in an express waggon on Thursday last met with a severe accident. By some mis chance the side of the seat broke away, and Mr. Carson, who was leaning against it, fell out on to the road. Unfortunately he had the reins wound round his arm, and the horses being young and spirited, he was unable to pull them up. He was dragged along the road for about thirty yards, and was severely bruised about the head and body, and also shaken considerably. Mr. Carson was brought on to Tokoraairiro in a buggy by Mr. George Dowse, and placed, under medical care.

Thirty-one applications to be placed upon *he electoral roll of Tuapeka have been sent in to the Registration Officer.

The Waste Lands Board, intimidated by the threats of legal proceedings raised by Captain M'Kenzie, have withdrawn from sale the 4000 acres of land on his run, Glcnkenich district, the pastoral license which had been cancelled with his concurrence. The sale was to have taken place next Tuesday.

The General Government seem desirous to borrow a portion of the immense amount of capital said bo be )ying unemployed in the banks of the colony. In another column will be found an advertisement calling for tenders for debentures to tho extent of £2i0,000. This is a sensible idea of Mr. Vogel's, %v% there ought to be no difficulty in carrying it out.

The first of the present season's entertainments in the Wetherstones school house took place on Thursday night. The atteudance was not so large as had been anticipated, but the intense darkness of the early part of the night accounts for the absence of many who would otherwise have been present. Mr. James Mooney occupied the ctuui\"ancl briefly opened \he proceedings. Miss. M'Goldrick and Messrs, Sutherland, RusseU, Ford, and others pang admirably, to the great delight of the audic:v. PcadingT by Mc-cLiUiC' Hunter and ITe!w olicitoii gfiieja.' afiujinSiou, ai ti-o did

Complaints have recently been made by subscribers, more particularly in the Teviot district, of irregularities in the delivery of this journal. In the town of Roxburgh the papers were not delivered punctually once, in consequence of there being a new postmaster ; but the cause of other irregularities we do not know. We would feel obliged by any subscriber, who does not receive his paper on any occasion, communicating without delny to the proprietor, when steps will be taken to prevent a recurrence of such irregularity.

In our advertising columns will be found a list of the prize numbers drawn in the St. Patrick's Art Union, contained in the books returned to the committee. As soon as the books now out are received be the secretary, the remaining prize numbers will be published.

Captain Henderson's application for his pre-emptive right of 640 acres on Ovens Hill station was objected to by the Teviot Progress Committee, and by Eady and Co., Millers Flat, and adjourned for three weeks to allow the Warden to visit the ground. If the land applied for is granted, five miles of auriferous banks of the Molyneux will be closed to the miner, as it will be impossible to bring water on them. There is a good deal of excitement in the Teviot district about the matter.

Mining matters at Mount Benger are reported to be quiet. The river is lower than it was last winter, and is still falling. Odd Chinamen are making their appearance on the beaches.

ON Friday last a variety entettainment took place at the Town Hall, Tapanui. for the benefit of the library funds. The attendance was good; and the programme comprised songs, recitations, and readings, concluding with a Christy Minstrel performance. The entertainment was in every way ft thorough success.

Provincial red-tapeism has long been a fruitful source of complaint, but in spite of all remonstrances continues as rampant as ever. More particularly ia this the case in matters pertaining to the goldfields. Agricultural leases are never issued until two years after the granting of the application, and in some oases the leases almost expire before the necessary documents are prepared. Reference has heen made on former occasions to the Coal Creek leases, which have not had the effect of stirring official lethargy into action. Some cases have recently came under our notice of a more flagrant kind. In October last, an application was made for the transfer of an agricultural lease. The rent was paid up to the end of the year, and the documents forwarded in the usual way. As no reply was made to the application, the parties' concerned rande personal application at the Government offices, and the sleepy official after some search produced the documents, but was unable to state how they came there, or what was to be done with them. After consulting two or three brother red-tapcists, it was discovered that the Warden's report was not to be found, and another half-year's rent had accrued, so that proceedings had to be commenced de novo, with the lively prospect of being possibly completed in another six months. A case which was investigated in Lawrence and decided upon, and which, from the circumstances required prompt attention, was found to be in a similarly unsatisfactory state ; and it was only upon reference to the political head of the department that the officials could be brought to understand what they should have previously done. It is no use multiplying instances, and we will conclude by expressing a hope that the energetic Secretary for Land and Works will galvanise the officials under his control into moderately vital human beings, and so redeem the reputatation of the Provincial Government offices, which are now in all verity places des pas perdus.

The road from the Tuapeka Hotel to Smith's Bush, has been finished in a very satisfactory manner by the contractor, Mr. H. Miller, and having been passed by the Road Engineer, is now open for traffic. Those who have risked their limbs and lives on the concatenation of treacherous quagmires and bottomless crab-holes which formerly was designated a road, will know how to appreciate this work, and will bless the Provincial Executive under whose regime it has been constructed.

- Tuapeka has enjoyed the honor of a flying visit from a member of the Cabinet, the Hon. Mr. Richardson, Minister of Public Works, who arrived a few minutes before six o'clock on Saturday evening, and took his departure therefrom at half -past nine o'clock the following morning. He was taken in hand by our indefatigable member, who pointed out and explained many local wants and grievances, and was introduced to his Worship the Mayor, who also brought local necessities prominently before the visitor. From his experience of other places, Mr. Richardson must have anticipated being dreadfully bored by deputations, asking for all sorts of impossible things, but he was agreeably disappointed. The townsfolk had some mercy, and being moreover exceedingly busy, did not wait upon the visitor, for wMch immunity we hope lie is duly grateful. Tuapeka in this respect has set au example worthy of extensive imitation. It is a pity, however, that he did not make a longer stay, for he could scarcely form a correct idea of the place from what he saw of it, as when he ai'rived in Lawrence it was nearly dark, and he took his departure in the midst of a dense fog. .Among othe* things brought under Air. Richardson's notice, was that interesting, though ut;ly and damaged, relic of primitive Tuapeka architecture, which does duty for a post-office. He examined it carefully, and received the suggestion of converting the Courthouse into apostoffice with favor. We may remark also that Mr. Richardson 'said that the Government intend to carry out all the promises made in Mr. Ormond's Public Works Statement of last session. Tt.-t; second trial of Thomas Eyan for r}i:<nng Dt-^cfave Rim all, commenced on r '- r '". 5. y, s 1 '/ % i?bi 3 C''* or T'lcs'^-y evening. - '„■.( ]".r. -./•.:. iL v •* jl .-f>:'v i- 1 Lour aud j XsW'~rj n:h-. .-.:!• t ioi.-":'i'-j' >. vc-"j»'o*i of i

Tokomairiro is not famed for smartness; but at present'that town licks all that portion of creation within the boundaries of the colony of New Zealand in rapid building. A new hotel is being erected on land belonging to Mr. Hewison ; the contractor being Mr. Hollick. The dimensions of the building, which "is to be a two-storey one, are 80 x 30, and it is to contain 30 rooms. Ten rooms and the bar are to be completed and ready for occupation by the end of the month, and the remaining parts as soon afterwards as possible. Those who have watched the erection of this building are surprised j!at the expedition with which it is being done, and it also shows the effect of having a smart man as contractor.

Mr. Alexander Humphrey has fairly established himself in the People's Timber Yard, Ross Place. In connexion with his business he has procured a machine known s the general joiner, which, for labor-saving in carpenter's work, stands without an equal. There are very few of these machines in the colony, and Mr. Humphrey had to procure his direct from the makers, Messrs. Powis, James, Western and Co., London. This machine can saw, plane, chamfer, tongue, groove, mitre, tenor, mortise, bore — in fact, do anything that a joiner can do by hand, with marvellous rapidity and accuracy. It consists of a bench of planed iron, in various parts of which the tools required for different operations are fixed. These tools can be changed, fitted and shifted in a moment, so complete is the mechanism for so doing. The power for driving it is supplied by a four-horse power steam engine, which also drives a turning lathe. With these improved appliances Mr. Humphrey ought to be able to command an extensive business. It will be observed by our advertising columns that Messrs. Nicoll & Co. have extended the time for receiving tenders for the construction of the Beaitmont bridge, till Saturday, May 3. The sixth anniversary of the Loyal Waipori Lodge, M.U.1.0.0.F., was celebrated on the evening of Thursday last by a soiree and ball, which entertainments were held in Cotton and Henry's Concert Room. The attendance was not as large as on' previous occasions, but those who were there enjoyed themselves thoroughly. The tea was provided by Messrs Cotton and Henry, and was done ample justice to. There were not, from some inexplicable cause, any speakers. Dancing commenced about 10 o'clock, and was kept up with unremitting vigor till daylight appeared through the fog. Tuapeka, Waitahuna and Blue Spur Lodges of the M.U.1.0.0.F. were represented, also Court Pride of Havelock, A.O.F. A company has been formed "to prospect for a quartz reef at the Black Hill, near tho foot of Munro's Gully, where several exceLlent specimens have been unearthed, and promising indications of the presence of a reef are visible. Operations are to be commenced immediately. The Government offices and banks in Lawrence, were closed on Wednesday in honor of St. George, a gentleman, who, in the early days of the Christian Church, signalised himself by certain, clever swindles, and who, like % ,Dr. Murray, on being found out, repented, and was therefore canonised. We remind shareholders in the Beaumont and Tuapeka Race Co. that a call of two shillings and sixpence per share is bayable at the office of the Company, on or before the 14th proximo. The European and Chinese population of Waipori continues steadily on the decrease. Only about 60 or 70 Chinamen are left out of a population twelve months ago of 700 or 800. The tailings from the Blue Spur are coming down rapidly, damning up the Wetherstones creek, throwing the water on the premises of the residents of the north side of Ross Place. The flooding is aggravated by the dams erected by the Chinamen and others who are working Gabriels creek, and taking water therefrom. The next flood is sure to bring a large quantity of tailings down, which will have a most mischievous effect, and probably damage seriously much valuable propertp. The Town Council should, without delay, take action and prevent the threatened disasters.

We desire to draw attention to the meeting called at the instance of Mr. Vincent Pyke, for this evening at the Athenseuni hall, for the purpose of forming a Polycultural Society. The object in view is to institute an association for the promotion of every kind of culture conducive to the welfare of humanity, and calculated to promote the interests of the district. We hope a large attendance will testify to the public spirit and individual energy of the people of Tuapeka. The chair will be taken at eight o'clock. -

Mr. Oapstick's sale of the valuable estate of Mr. John Martin, known as the Woolshed Farm, containing 1461 acres, will take place on the ground, on Thursday the Ist prox. On the following clay the property known asMayfield Farm will be offered for sale by Mr. Capstick, at his auctioD rooms, Milton.

The following are the results of the Clutha Races, which took place on Tuesday and Wednesday last, telegraphed to us by our correspondent : — First Day : Maiden Plate. — Miss Kowe, 1 : Tom King, 2. Trotting Race. — Donald, 1 ; Snip, 2." Clutha Handicap. — Empress, 1 ; Catapult, 2. Hack Race, — Gazelle, 1. Flying Handicap. — Empress, 1 ; Miss Rowe, 2. Second day : Hurdle Race; — Long Back, 1 ; Camilla, 2 ; Railway Handicap. — Rosina, 1 ; Tom King, 2. Publican's Handicap. — Empress, I ; Little Nell, 2.

At the Supreme Court at Nelson on the 22nd April, Mary Woodman, of Westport, wa3 convicted of the manslaughter of Catherine McCarthy, but sentence was deferred pending a reference of the caso to tho Court of Appeal, as the prisoner had already boon sentenced to two years' imprisonment for' the assault which resulted in Catherine McCarthy's death.