LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 284, 10 July 1873, Page 9

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The time of the Provincial Council was occupied on Monday and Tuesday in discussing Mr. Stout's want of confidence mobion on the Marewhenui land sales On a division the Government had a majority of 6. The House then adjourned till yesterday to consider the advisability of reconstructing the Government, and, by a private telegram received in Lawrence last evening, we learn that the Government have resigned. The new Government were to meet the Council in the evening. We were in error in stating in our last issue that the Waitahuna ploughing match would take place on the 11th inst. As will be teen from advertisement it take place on Friday, the 18th inst. Upon a recent visit to the Beaumont we were pleased at observing that Mr. David M 'Donald, the contractor for the erection of the bridge over the Molyneux there, is progressing with the work as fa«t as possible. Already a large quantity of timber is on the ground, and blacksmiths and carpenters are making ready such portions of the work as are required for the proper commencement of the bridge. The advent of Spring will enable Mr. M -Donald to Publi forward with his enterprising undertaking, but at present his energies are a good dea. crippled by the state of the roads and con. sequent difficulty of procuring timber.

If any person is desirous of seeing Harrison's meat preserving process eclipsed, let him visit the Lawrence Courthouse on one of these fine frosty mornings. It is really pitiable to witness the dejected looks of both Magistrate and Barristers while the congealing process is in operation. We should like very much to know why no attempt is made to warm the Courthouse. There is a large iron stove in the room, capable, from all appearances, of making the place comfortable for bench, bar, clients, witnesses and spectators ; but said stove is never lit, and hence the dismal and dejected appearance presented by all whom business takes within the precints of our hall of justice. We are inclined to the belief that our paternal Government disapprove of a presumed unnecessary expenditure of the public funds, 'and therefore, as a remedy, we propose to get up a small subscription to purchase a load of lignite. Our Court reporter volunteers one shilling to start it, and we shall be glad to subsidise his generous offer, and also to receive further subscriptions towards an object so humane in its character. A Correspondent writes :— Since Hughio Craig left the box, the history of the Dunstan coach has been a chapter of accidents. On Thursday last, with great difficulty the mail was brought the length of Ettrick by about 9 p.m., and the crowning disaster occurred in crossing the Benger Creek, when the box of one of the wheels gave way and further progress was impossible. The Teviot people have sense enough to exonerate the coach proprietor and driver from all blame -the disgraceful state of the road being a sufficient excuse. When at Tapanui the other day— or rather while upon our journey our attention was very forcibly directed to the condition of certain bridges over the numerous small creeks between Swift Creek and Tapanui. These little bridges are constructed of timber slabs laid lengthways upon timber of larger size set across the road, level with the stieam. These bridges are coveied with earth, or small gravel, and the action of the ever present moisture, together with the wear produced by traffic, soon rots the timber, and the result is the formation of most dangerous holes in the sides or middle of every bridge. We commend this matter to the attention of the Secretary for Public Works, and we must say that the Government ought to empower some official from time to time to cause repairs so much needed to be made without special appeal in erery fiddling case to head quarters. Biding over these bridges in daylight is dangerous enough, but after dark it is ten times more so. The men employed on the Beaumont and Tuapeka Water Kace, under the direction of Mr. Joyce, are proceeding rapidly with the work. About twelve miles are already cut ; Another four miles will bring it to the Beaumont Saddle, and this the men expect to accomplish iv a short time, as the ground is comparative If easy to cut. Mr. W. Hayes's maiden Auction Sale took place in the Commercial Yards, on Saturday. sth July. Their was a large number of Horses sold, the property of John M'Kellar, Esq., which realised fair prices. Mr. W. Cox, of Waiporj was the principal purchaser. Wfi fear our subscribers on the road to the Dunstan will be grievously offended because of the delay in the delivery of their last week's papers. Owing to the coach driver being unwell, Mr. T. Pope took his place, and, not being acquainted with the addresses, brought a good many of the papers back with him. We regret this occurrence quite as much as our readers can do, and trust it will not happen again for many a day. Mr. Craig resumed his usual duties on Monday morning, and no doubt will remedy the evilas far as possible by delivering them, although four daj's old. We observed the other day a waggon loaded with the iron piping to be used at the Blue Spur for conveying the water from the north end of the Great Extended Company's claim to tlie south end of the Spur* The piping, we are informed, is in all 520 feet in length, and when fixed will be capable of carrying 1000 inches of water, sufficient to supply two claims at once with the ordinary heads ef water. It is calculated that in the centra the pressure of water will be 180 feet. With this pressure at their command, we imagine wonders could be accomplished at the Blue Spur by adoping the hydraulic system of mining in common use at Drybread and Tinkers. We believe the only use to which these pipes are to be applied is to convey the water as we have before remarked. This object of itself i 3 an important one, and will set at; rest in one part of the Spur the ever recurring court cases of damage done by flumes breaking and bringing down large quantities of earth. The companies interested in these pipes, and for whose benefit they are to be applied, and the proportion of the expense to be borne by each, we understand, are as follows :— Great Extended Co., five-eighths; Waipori Co., oneeighth ; Tuapeka Water Co., one-eighth ; M'Nab and Co., one-sixteenth ; Otago Gold Mining Co., one-sixteenth. The piping was made by Messrs. Kincaid, M 'Queen, and Co., of the Vulcan Foundry, and will no doubt sustain their well earned reputation. We shall be glad to see the claimholders at the other end of the Spur combining together and adopting a similar course. Correspondent's letter signed " Roadman " cannot be inserted unless we are furnished with ' the real name of the writer. The Break'm-All claim, Switzers, is again on good gold. The Chinese on the Pomahaka have begun to prospect the spurs, and are having a good show The Deputy Returning Officer on his way from Potters to Switzers missed the track, and had to spend the night on the ranges. Fortunately he is none the worse for it. The Court House wag nearly all ablaze the other day. One of the mantel-pieces was found to be on fire, but was luckily observed in good time and quickly extinguished.

[ Late last evening Mr. Herbert was presented with a requisition, signed by 50 ratepayers, ask- | ing him to stand for Mayor. We believe he has consented to do so. William Aitken, of Clyde, charged with manslaughter, has been found guilty. Judgmeut was reserved. A full report will appear in our next issue. The sixth monthly meeting of the Lawrence School Committee was held in the sohoolhouse on Friday, the 27th ultimo. Psesent— Messrs. Jamison, Harrop, Thompson, Abel, Menzies, and Hayes. The Secretary submitted a statement showing the financial position at date. Mr. Stenhouse produced a statement showing the amount of school fees due. The Secretary was instructed to write again to the Education Board relative to the fencing of the glebe, and to draw the attention of tbe Board to a letter having been sent to them on the same subject, dated December 28th, 1872. Messrs. Menzies and Harrop were appointed to superintend the next quarterly examination. Mr. Squires retires from the Visiting Committee ; Mr. John Thompson and Mr. Harrop to act during the month of July. The contract for the Beaumont road was completed yesterday, and passed by the Inspector. So far as we can judge, Messrs. Downie and Detert have made an excellent job of it. On Wednesday, the 3rd instant, an ordinance was introduced to make valid the action of the Lawrence Town Council in gran ting leases for 99 years of municipal sections, while the Council had only the right legally to grant leases for a term of 21 years. The position of the Lawrence Town Council was fully explained by Mr. Bastings, but the motion was strongly opposed by the Hon. Major Richardson, who moved as sn amendment, " That the Bill be read this day six months." The amendment was lost on a division by 24 votes against 17, and the Ordinance was then read a second time. The following is the schedule of sections included in the Ordiuance :—

sec. 3, 1 1-1. 12, la, „ 7&15, „ 16 &6. ;: 4 - f ;: «. Block »» • » it M c XXXVI., T XL, XXIV., VIII. , XII-, x., XXVII.. XXXVII., VII., VI. > v., in:, VIII., IX., Fown of I it v >l II II II •I II II II »• Lawrence.