LOCAL AND: GENERAL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 281, 19 June 1873, Page 5

LOCAL AND: GENERAL.

A MEETING of the Waipori Miners' Association Committee, "was held on Saturday, 7th iust M when a copy of the memorial of the Kakanui Water Race Company was received. It was resolved that this Committee consider that the Kakanui Water Race Co. has a fair claim on the Government for compensation, and that this Committee support their claim in whatever way may be most expedient. A subCommittee was appointed to consider the provisions of the proposed new Goldfields Bill, and report upon it at a future meeting ; and in the meantime, to correspond with the Cent.al Committee on the matter. It was resolved that this Committee use their best endeavors to secure the return of Messrs V, Pyke and H. Bastings, at tho forthcoming Provincial Council election. Mr. S. Caudwell tendered his resignation as Chairman and member of Committee, and Mr. James Ritchie was elected Chairman in his place! A unanimous vote of thanks was given to Mr. Caudwell for his past services in connection with the Association, when the Chairman appoiuted Saturday, sth July, for tho next nieetinsr, and closed the proceedings. Although not mentioned in Mr. Hislop's report, there are many earnest and successful laborers in the field of education in the byeplaces ef these provinces— one of these we have recently met with— Mr. Hugh Harrison, Horseshoe Bend, who has for some time attended to the tuition of tbe rising population of that hopeful little township. Without Government assistance, he has struggled, and to judge by results, he has far surpassed others possessing far greater facilities. The specimens of his pupils' writing shewn us, displayed astonishing precocity ; and in othor branches, the proficiency is equally remarkable. It is a pleasing duty to draw modest merit from the shade, and we believe we are doing 90 in mentioning Mr. Harrison's nameWe have this week, the melancholy duty of recording the first death in the family of the adventurous pair of partridges that have penetrated the Tuapeka district. Our friend, Mr. Peter Robertson, was recently favoring tha yubltc with one of those dreams which an enterprising mind like his is apt to indulge in. A landed estate well stocked with game, and eagerly coveted by enthusiastic Bportsman, who would pay a good round sum for tha privilege of shooting over tha stubble. May we suggest to Mr. Robertson, the propriety of appointing a game-watcher, to keep the poachers off. On Saturday last, when Mr. Memiea, accompanied by his eldest son, was on his way to Tuapeka Mouth, they picked up a bird on the top of the bill opposite Mr. Robertson's fenoe — a fine, plump young partridge, recently killed, it ia believed, by a hawk. Steps have been taken to have it preserved and labelled for our local museum, as the first known death among the partridges in Tuapeka. The nomination for Oreti, took place at Mr. Cowan's house, Hokanui, on the 13th inst. Mr. Rogers of Athol, was proposed by Mr. Cowan, and seconded by Mr. Webster, M.H.R. The Hon. Matthew Holmes was proposed by Mr. Jowett, and seconded by Mr. Daniels of Oreti. The show of hands was in favor of Mr. Rogers, and a polt demanded for Mr. Holmes, We unJei stand that Mr. Holmes has sines withdrawn. In tho Gabriels Gully Q. M. Co., registered, during the past fortnight only one battery has been running upon stone found in the north-end of the mine. Last week a trial crushing was taken from what is undoubtedly an extension of the reef to the south, which proved to be aurifeious, but barely payable. The walls of this extension, which has been opered out nearly 20 feet, are well defined, and tie presence of the dark blue quartz, peculiar to the lode, sufficiently identifies it. A second cross course has been met with of the same na;ure as the one previously passed through. The lode having now been traced through one cross-course and found beyond it, only slightly deviating from its unuftl coarse, there is every resson to expect that it will again be found extending furtber souuh. Last Monday a nnuber of the hands employed were discharged, aid the crushing confined to a day shift from the north stopes. The main south drive will be pushed on rapidly. There is no reason why a bbek of stone should not be discovered at this endof the mine, equally as extensive and payable is the block now being worked. On Friday, June 13th, Mr. Jas. Campbell, as I he was walking to the Otago Company's dam, I about mid-day, startled a fall-fledged pheasant. I Mr. Campbell is so well-acquaintel wiih the I habits of game, that it ia impossible he could have made any mistake. ! The polling for two candidates for Movnfc Ida 1 resulted as follows : —Oliver, 254; De latour, I 188 ; Armstrong, 142 ; Mervyn, 90. The re- [ turns from the Serpentine had not reacled us ; yesterday, but they could not materiallj alter i the result. AT the last meeting of the Dunstan Niners' \ Association, Mr. Alexander proposed, ard Mr. Lindsay seconded, " That this association does not deem it desirable that the delegated jowers of the goldfields should be withdrawr from Provincial and Superintendents Executives while they hold their present functions ; but they would recommend that Provinchl Governments be disrobed of their parliamentary paraphernalia ; and more simple and lffls expensive machinery introduced : and thi|t the goldfields be then put under the control of a responsible number of miners in the CHonial Executive." An amendment was pui and ' carried, "That the opinion of the dected I member for the district be first heard }n the question." It was decided that the Golifielda Bill be carefully considered by the mehbers, and a special meeting be held at an earlf date to give an expression of opinion thereon.) Mb. G. Dogan, of the Waikaia, add his claim there last week for £245. The lasj paddock realised 224 ozs. I A MEETING in connection with tha Church of England. Roxburgh, was held last week to hear the financial report, and to receive the rosguation of the Building Committee. It apmared that the -Church had cost about £500 wliich, with the exception of & balance of filfiO, has been cleared off. Efforts, we are informed] will soon be made to considerably reduce 'that sum. I

ON Friday last, Mr. Hay sold by public auction for Mr. Docherty. the leasehold property at the corner of Whitehaven-street and Koss Place. The amount this l&nd brought was £5 3s a foot, making a total of £b's6 l2s 6d, and the purchaser was Mr} Alex. Humphrey. The Molyneux is again flooded, and there is little prospect now of anything being done in the beach claims this Beason. Tbe anniversary of the Loyal Roxburgh liodge will' be celebrated this evening in the Commercial Hotel, Koxbuigh. In the District Court held last week, the appeal case of Lawson v. Clayton & Co., and Morrison & Co., was heard before His Honor Judge Gray ; Mr. Copland for plaintiff, and Mr. M'Coy for defendants. Several witnesses were examined on each side, and the learned gentlemen were occupied at considerable length upon various legal points, which cropped up during the hearing ; and after several adjournments on account of the elections, the final decision of His Honor was reserved until this morning— the result of which will appear in our next issue. The following letter from our Blue Spur Mining Correspondent was held over from last week :— There is very little to report in mining matters on the Spur. We are getting an abundance of fine weather and plenty water, consequently all the claims are fully employed. In consequence of the great rise of tailings in Gabriels Gully, some of the claims on that side have been necessitated to compensate Messrs. Farrell and Ellis for their residance sites, which, at one time, were thought beyond the reach of all danger. —A very narrow escape from what might have proved a very serious accident, happened in the Perseverance Claim the oihsr day. It appears a hole had been drilled in a large block of cement and the fuse lit, and the men preparing to clear, when the shot exploded. Fortunately, with the exception of a bruise to Messrs. M'Laren and Drew, the men escaped without any serious injuries. — The great case of Clayton v. Morrison has at last been settled, so far as to allow Messrs. Morrison & Co. to resume work. It is to be sincerely hoped that both parties will proolaim a truce, and try and settle their differences for the future, without again appealing to law. We would draw the attention of farmers and stockdealers to Mr. Capstick'a sales as advertised. It will be observed by advertisement that Mr. Hay's sale of bricks has been postponed till Wednesday next.