LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 283, 3 July 1873, Page 5

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Suez mail closes at the post-office, Lawrence, on Sunday next, at 5 p.m. Fkom advertisement in another column, it ■will be seen that Mr. Frederick Bastings, late of the Commercial Hotel, Lawrence, has become host of the long and favorably known White Horse Hotel, Tokotnairiro. He has had the interior of the house redecorated and expensively furnished, and, from his known frank and obliging manner, we have no doubt but he will maintain for the house the reputation it has long merited for excellence of accommodation and attention to travellers. The Tuapeka district ploughing match takes place to-morrow, in one of Mr. Sheath's paddocks. We hope the competitors will be up to time, and make a start as near to the advertised hour as possibleThe foresters of Coui t Havelock have erected ■ a hall in the township in which to hold their meeting. We notice also that Mr. Oudaille, storekeeper, is largely extending his premises. A petition to the General Assembly, taken charge of by Mr. John Richardson, has been largely signed in the Waithuna district. In the new Gold Mining Bill drafted by Messrs. Mouat and Shepherd, to be introduced during the next session of the Assembly, that clause in the present Goldfields Act is omitted which piovides «'that two sluice heads of water shall, if required, be always allowed to run in the natural channel for general use," This omission will, in the opinion of the petitioners, in many districts confer a monopoly of the greater part of the auriferous ground on a few race holders. The prayer of the petitioners is that the clause be inserted in the new bill. The following are the correct returns for the Mount Benger election on the 23rd ultimo :—: —

Majority for Ireland, 25. From the report of the tansactions of the Waste Lands Board, we observe that Mr. James Smith has applied to purchase a portion of block 1., Waitaßuna West. We are informed that if the Board accedes to Mr. Smith's request without making proper enquiry, they will be doing » great injustice to the miners on the Tuapeka Creek, who state that a portion of the landapplied for is auriferous, and that should Mr. Smith get the land it will interfere with their existing water rights, and also prevent any new water races beiug brought through the ground. They have taken steps to place their complaint before the Government, and a lnemoiialis in course of signature to the Superintendent, praying that the land be not sold. We have seen the following telegram on the subject from the Goldfields Secretary :—" The matter is i>ot settled. The Government i eferred it to Jr. Pyke, who recommended the granting of the application as the best thing for the people. The surveyor's report affirms Mr. Pyke's recommendation. " The Provincial Council met yesterday. Mr. Gillies was again elected Speaker. Mr. Tolmie made a Governmental explanation. The new Government gazetted yesterdaj' consists of the following gentlemen :— Mr, Tolmie, Secretary ; Mr. Turnbull, Treasurer ; Mr. Bastings, Goldfields Secretary ; Mr. Turton, Provincial Solicitor , and Mr. M'Dennid. member without office,

OCR Lawrence Town Council have been very energetic lately in putting the footpaths in a state of repair, and, although they were spoiling the Wetherstones rosd for the benefit of others, we are glad to see they have prevailed upon the Government to mitigate the damage done. The coating of gravel the roadmen are laying on the Wetherstones road will make it passable during the winter months. But, while we congratulate the Council on the energy with which they have lately judiciously expended the ratepayers' money we would remind them that a little attention directed to the footpaths when they are formed and gravelled might save future expense. The footpath inlrvine-st., between the schoolhouse and the rise of the hill, is a recent work of the Corporation ; but we do not think the Public Works Committee showed much acquaintance with the locality when they put in a paltry 4inch pipe to carry away the flood-water from the gully above. Every shower of rain floods the footpath and lodges the gravel in the ditch, and there it lies. We fear some of these contracts, from being taken at too cheap a rate, are too often glossed over, but that is no reason why the Public Works Committee should not have proper specifications drawn out and make contractors adhere to them. We notice that one of the culverts in the same foothpath at Mr. Pressley's garden has fallen in, leaving an open gap quite sufficient for any one in a dark night to break his leg without much difficulty. It is a pity the Council have not some one whose business it would be to keep an eye on these things, and apply the necessaiy remedy before any mishap occurs. The installation of officers in Court Havelock, A.0.F.. for the ensuing term took place in the Courtroom on Tuesday evening last. The following are now the principal office-bearers :— Bro. J. Cony, C,R. ; Bro. W. Storey. S.C. ; Bro. Powley, S.W. ; Bro, T. King, J.W. ; Bro. W. Cairns was re-elected Secretary, and Bro. D. M'Taggart was re-elected Treasurer. The meeting called for the purpose of taking preliminary steps towards the formation of a Board of Wardens for the Tuapeka depasturing district, owing the absence of the convener, fell through. This was a very unfortunate occurrence, as a considerable number of peisons interested fiom a distance were in attendance, although the night was very wet. The casualties of the road, so frequent during the winter months, have commenced in real earnest. We have to record two accidents on the Teviot road this week. The Dunstan coach was upset by one of the deep ruts on Moa Flat on Saturday last. We are informed that no blame could be attached to the driver. Ie is indeed astonishing how Craig manages to navigate through the mud. When the accident happened, several passengers were in the coach— Messrs. Hallenstein and Clark, the Queenstown members of the Piovincial Council, being amongst the number. These gentlemen will be in a position to speak feelingly insuppoitof any vote of money for the repairing of this road, which now forms the main road to Queenstown from Dunedin. The coacli was going at a slow pace at the time the accident happened, which partly accounts for the passengers escaping free of injury. The damage done to the coach was very slight. On reaching Rae's Junction Hotel the passengers, being quite fatigued, requested to be allowed to stay all night, they having been so many hours on the journey. Cobb's manager was with the coach, and acceded .to their wishes. They started on Sunday morning, and reached Lawrence at 2 o'clock p.m. The second casualty to which we have referred happened to M'Leod's team at the Beaumont Saddle, on Sunday. The team were double-banking. At the time of the accident there were 14 horses on the waggon, and the road being narrow in the bend, the near-side leader pushed the off-side one over the embankment, and dragged the remainder after him. The waggon and shatters, fortunately for the driver, did not go over. The Dunstan coach was coming down at the time. Tho passengers and driver lent valuable assistance in getting the horses freed from the chains. Several of the horses were severely injured, though none were killed on the spot. We believe the driver was not in fault, The Government, as usual, must bear the blame. Mkssrs. Downie & Detert have experienced great difficulty this last fortnight in keeping teams off the road they are making. On Tuesday last one Campbell, a Dunedin carter, traversed part of it with two heavy laden waggons without the contractor's permission, and had to turn back. We do not wonder at waggoners attempting to pass over it, as the old road alongside is in a frightful state. We would draw the attention of stock owners and breeders of stock to Mr. Capstick's sale in his yards, Tokomairiro, to-day. We call attention to the advertisement in another column of Mr. W. Hayes' sale of horses in the Commercial Yards on Saturday next, at 2 p in. They are principally from Mr. M'Kellar's station, Tapanui, and that gentleman's excellent breed of horses need no comment from us. About 20 will be submitted for sale. We are compelled to hold over our report of the Warden's Court held yesterday. A large number of applications for agricultuarl leases were adjourned for a month. The application of Mr. James Thompson was objected to by the Waitahuna Miners' Committee. The case was adjourned till the 30th inst. A full report of the day's proceedings will appear in our next issue. The fiist Waitahuna ploughing match is to be held in Mr. Peter Cook's paddock on Tuesday, the 11th iost. Mussis. Ford and Craig have collected a considerable sum of money for prizes, and, owing to their exertions, the affair promises to be a complete success.

ISeighf Jwitzers - 2 iVaikaka - 2 tfokomai - 0 Potters Gully - 13 Roxburgh 66 tfoaFlat- 6 lorseshoe Bend - 6 ton Jiradsri 37 8 1 0 0 0 0 haw ' Ireland 29 5 3 5 63 7 8 Nicholson 32 2 8 5 4 11 10 totals - 85 46 120 72