LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 278, 29 May 1873, Page 5

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

By telegram yesterday, we learn that the Molyneux is flooded, and work in the beach claims is suspended. Two flour mills are being pushed ahead in the , Mt. Benger district. The feeling in the district of Mt. Benger, is strongly in favor of the Tolmie and Bastings l Government. The cake of amalgam from the last crushing of the Gabriels Gully Quartz Mine, lost enly 1£ per cent in smelting. This, we are informed, is the smallest per centage known in Otago. The sum of £2 2s 6d, balance of money collected by the friends of the late David Jones, af . ter paying all expenses in connection with the funeral, has been paid into the funds of the Hospital. The Anglo-Saxon claim at Waikaia, (two acres) continues to do well. On Thursday last, the nsnal committee meeting of the Polycultural Society, took place in the Athenaeum. There were present -Messrs Pyke, Halley, Farrer, Sheath, Morrison' Pressly, Evans, and Moss. It was resolved to hold a show of cattle, flowers, poultry and agricultural produce, on the 12th of December, the following gentlemen to act as a sub-com-mittee to draw up a programme of exhibits— viz., Messrs Pyke, Sheath and Pressly, and report to the Committee at the meeting of June 3rd. It was also resolved that a donation of £2 should constitute a life member of the society. The subject of a ploughing match was then discussed, when Messrs Evans, Darton and Sheath were desired to report on the matter on the 3rd prox. The usual vote of thanks to the Chairman, brought the meeting to a close. At their last meeting, the. members of the Polycultural Association took into considera. tion the question of a ploughing match, and appointed a sub-committee to report upon the subject at the meeting of the association to be held on the 3rd of next month. We trust, if the society takes this matter in hand, they wir decide upon having the match at a very early date. We have been informed that the month of August was mentioned as a suitable time for holding it, but everybody connected with farming operations, must know that a match held so late in the season would militate greatly against its success. The farmers of Waitahuna are very desirous of knowing when the match is to be held, as if delayed till August, they would have one among themselves, although they have no wish to divide the Tuapeka and Waitahuna districts, which have hitherto worked harmoniously together in this matter. Wb beg to draw the attention of our readers to an able letter from the pen of Alan Clyde in reply to Oapt. M'Kensie's communication to the " Daily Times " on the subject of deferred payments for land. The Public Works Committee of the Corpor. ation are surely remiss in their duty in per_ mittiDg the mud which has been scraped from the streets to lie so long in the gutters. It is neither useful nor ornamental, and has brought down the wrath of Dot a few, who have mistaken it for more solid matter, upon the heads of our worthy councillors. We are reliably informed that Chatbum and party's application to divert the road at Coal Creek Flat, has not been entertained by the Government. We understand that a requisition is now in course of signature asking Captain Baldwin to come forward as a candidate for the Mt. Benger district in the forthcoming election. If he consents to stand, we are sure we are expressing the general opinion when we say that no bet. ter qualified candidate could be found to represent the district. He has been intimately con. nected with it since its earliest days, and therefore knows its wants and requirements. The district has hitherto been shamefully and grossly neglected. We hear that the people of Waikouati intend inviting Captain Baldwin to stand for their district. We have not heard whether Mr. Bradshaw purposes contesting the Mt. Benger district again. Should he do so, it is certain he will have opposition either in the person of Captain Baldwin or some other gentleman. The large number of letters addressed to the Lawrence post-office, we think, might almost warrant the appointment of a post-man. In places such as Port Chalmers, where the population is not much in excess of Lawrunce, we find there is a postal delivery twice a day. Were all the box-holders to unite together, an evening delivery might be easily arranged. Sevebal civil cases appeared on the sheet for hearing at the E.M.s Court, Lawience, on Tuesday last, but were adjourned till Friday. Me. E. Walsh hag received the following reply to his communication addressed to the Superintendent, suggesting that the trusteeship of the Cemetery should be handed over to the clergymen of the district : — Provincial Secretary's Office, Dunedin, 17th May, 1873. Sib,— ln reply to your letter of the 28th ultimo, addressed, to his Honor the Superintendent, enclosing one from the Town Clerk, Lawrence, suggesting your resignation as a manager of the Lawrence Cemetery, with a view to the management being vested in the Town Council. lam directed to inforoi you that the Government is quite willing to vest the management in the Council, as representing the community, should it be desired , but the Government will not take any action in, the matter, so long as the existing committee of managers attend to its duties. ' I have the honor to be, sir, Your obedient servant, Alex. Willis. Under-Secretary. Edward Walsh, Esq., Lawrence, It is generally understood that all the trustees of the Lawrence Cemetery, excepting Mr. Walsh, have signified their intention of resigning their trust, and as the Government is quite willing to vest the management of the Cemetery in the Corporation, we ©an see no reason why Mr. Walsh can object bo give way to the wish ol the majority.

We desire to call the attention of our readers -who are fortunate enough to be capitalists, to the advertisement in an another column, offering Eady and Co.'s water-race and claim, ' Miller's Flat, for sale. The race is entitled to ' four out of the first six heads coming from the Timor Creek and all the flood water ; and the claim has so often been mentioned in these columns as to render any remarks unnecessary. The water commands eight miles of auriferous banks, and is the only supply available. It can readily let for a good rental, and altogether the investment is one deserving careful consideration. A share in Featherston and Co.'s claim, Horseshoe Bend, has been sold for £60. Waipori is becoming decimated. Every week adds to the number of families who are leaving for fresh fields. Last week alone, four families left it for Kaitangata. There v only one out of many families no wremaining in the neighborhood of the O.P.Q. Beef. The reason for all this we cannot ascertain further than the fact that lately their has been very little gold getting. An average of twenty-five to thirty shillings a-week has been the utmost amount made by alluvial miners in Waipori for a considerable time past, and a general feeling appears to have got abroad amongst them that they can do better elsewhere. Meanwhile the storekeepers, who are generally the greatest sufferers in these times of exodus, are not without hope. They think the present excitement is but of a temporary character, and that before many weeks those who have gone will be only too glad to return. For their sake we hope it may be so. Some of those who have a good deal at stake in the district, have been doing what they can to redeem the place from collapse. The idea of a grand sludge channel on Waipori 'Flat has developed, and steps have been taken to get a survey made to test its practicability, We are informed Mr. Simpson, the Chief Engineer, has bten iv« structed to proceed to Waipori for the purpose of taking the necessary levels for the work ; and if his report should prove favorable, we have no doubt but some good resu Its will ensue. The Waipori Flat has yielded many rich returns to the Government, and is as deserving of"a share of the £300,000 set apart for water supply and sludge channels, as Naseby or any other of our goldßelds. " Figaro " is the name of the Dunedin ' Punch, which has just sprung into existence. It is published by Mr. Thos. George. The cuts which, as a matter of course, consist of caricatures, are very fair. In addressing its readers, Figaro says, "It will be our aim to shoot folly as it flies." Judging from its first issue, we think it has made a fair attempt to accomplish the idea in view. The typographical errors contained in it are very numerous, but it would not be fair to severely handle it on its first appearance. Quartz mining in Otago, appears to be making a better show lately. The following information respecting the last crushing of the Dunedin Quartz alining Co., otheiwise known as the Saddle Hill Reef Co.. is supplied us by one of the shaie'iolders, aud is very encouraging, The yield of 13 day^ cras'iing, including aoz*. previously retorted, has been 51ozs. from 126 ton* of stone. The estimated value of this gold is £475. The cost of crushing 300 tons j was £135, leaving «i balance of £340. From these statistics it will be observed that thig reef returns a better yield than the Gabriels one, but the expenses connected with its working are comparatively much higher. It 13, however, satisfactory to know that this reef even now. is paying a good dividend, and is not likely to follow in the wake of the many failures which have taken place in this important industry iv Otago. Mr. Presslt by advertisement, offers for sale a large number of fruit, forest and ornamental trees. As the season for transplanting is close at hand, we have no doubt advantage will be j taken of Mr. Pressly's nursery. | On Fiiday and Saturday, the public of LawI rence will be afforded a musical treat of an extremely high order. Mr. Alfred Anderson, X.A.M.. .Miss Fanny Sara and Mr. Fred i Clifton, having notified their intention to give one of their entertainments at the Comuierciil Assembly Boom, on these evenings. - In addition to the unqualified favorable critiques by colonial, continental and English newspapers, upon the various vocal and instrumental per formances of this talented company, we have the personal testimony of several who have heard these highly gifted artists—the instrumentalism being something to be wondered at, while the taste <iisplayed in rendering the vocal I parts, accompanied by great compass and command of voice, tend to produce such harmony as we feel assured the musical folks of Tuapeka will thoroughly appreciate ; and to those who J are fond of such, we say go and hear, and you will not be disappointed.