LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 289, 14 August 1873, Page 5

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ouß report of the Wardens' Court held yesterday is crowded out. In our report of the Town Council meeting the name of Cr. Hill waa given as a member of the Publio Works Committee /instead of that of Cr. Hay. It is a well-known fact that auctioneers are very partial to knocking down, which is all very well so long as it is confined within certain limits, but when it comes to a probability of knocking each other down, as seemed likely last Saturday, it may be fairly considered as going beyond their legitimate businoss. The facts of tho little incident referred to, as reported to us, are as follows :— A knight of the hammer had a quantity of furniture placed in his rooms for sale, and it appears the furniture did belorg or had belonged to a tenant, who was indebted to his landlord for rent , and as the tenant had taken advantage of the pale cold light of the moon to evacuate the premises, the landlord's agent (who is also a knight of the hammer) had no opportunity of distraining for the amount, so he decided, like a knight of the olden time, to endpavor to get possession by force of arms, and so proceeded to remove the furniture. The knight in possession appealed to the guardians of j;J)o public peace, but on their declining to interfere, he instantly deolared his intention to defend the property with his life, and seized his hammer, or rather kitchen poker, and swore an oath if any knight of any order interfered with his property there would be an immediate diminution in the number of those upon whom knighthood had been conferred — the result was the beseiging knight sounded- a retreat from the field. What may have had some influence in the peaceful ending of what at one time had a very sanguiuary appearance, was the presence of members of the medical, legal, and undertaking profession. The Cromwell Jockey Club having scoured from the Government 300 acres of land for a racecourse, are now calling for tenders for fencing it, and expect to have it enclosed before their next annual meeting. They deserve credit for their enterpi ise. No doubt thp racecourse fenced will add largely to their annual revenue in a two fold manner, viz., as a means of extracting gate money from the public, and also for grazing purpose*. The Minister of Publio Works, in his statement made on the 7th instant, while speaking of goldfields water supply works, said that four were in progress of construction or survey, viz. ; the Thames race, estimated to cost £43,594; the Waimea race, £61,435 ; the Nelson Creek race, £30,446 ; and the Mount Ida race and sluicing channel, L42,13">. The following subsidies had been granted to companies : Kolione, Westland, £1,533 ; Hibernian, Westland, £2000; New River, Westlaud, £3,333 ; Arrow Kivcr, £612; making a total of £189,888, Seven applications for subsidies had not been finally dealt with. We suppose the Beaumont and Tuapeka Oo.'s application is one of the seven. If some strenuous exeitions are not made to ohfaiin the subsidy, we few tho whole of the £40,000, which is now stated as the balance left of the £300,000, will be absorbed by other applicants whose importunity exceeds that of the Beaumont Co. It is stated in Mr. Haughton's report, just received by us, that particulars have not been furnished of the character of the works for which the Beaumont and Tuapeka Company have applied for a subsidy of £2000. Referring to the case Johnston v. Clark, reported in our last issue, some errors inadvertently crept into the report of the evidence given by Mrs. Clark, who is made to say (alludingto Mr, |Johnston) '♦ he oauie the following Suuday." It should read Monday ; also the words, "I took Johnson's advice," should read I took O'Gorman's advioe. We have been informed that since the hearing of the case the matter has been amicably settled to the satis faotion of all parties. This evening and to-morrow evening the inhabitants of Tuapeka will have an opportunity of hearing il/iss Aitken give some of her celebrated Readings frcm popular authors. We had the pleasure of again hearing this lady in Dunedin a few weeks since, after a lapse of nearly eight years, and we found that time had wonderfully improved her marvellous powers of elocution, On these occasions she will be assisted by Mr. Winter, a gentleman well-known as a vocalist by his admirable rendering of many of our popular songs. Miss Aitken is about to proceed to England, so that another opportunity of hearing her in the colonies will not present itself for a considerable time. We have no doubt she will be patronised by a crowded house. From advertisement it will be observed that Mr. Capstick Auctioneer, of Tokomairiro, has taken into partnership Mr.' John Duthie (late of the Bank of Otago Mlton), and hla son Mr. George Capstiok, who has been in his employ since he commenced business as Auctioneer. We hope the new firm will continue to receive the large share of patronage whioh has so long and so deservedly been enjoyed by Mr. Capstick. Several persons who have subscribed to the funds of our local Hospital have expressed their disappointment at not seeing their names in the pamphlet issued a few daya ago. The pamphlet embraced only the names of subscribers for the year January to December 1872. DoMMriSM in Victoria, aooording to the following extract, receives its due reward : — At the Maryborough Circuit Court, on July 16th, an important verdict was given affeoting a declaration under the Land Act. Win. Greening waa charged with making a false declaration that he h,*d &ot selected more than 3^o, aores. It was proved that he was a dummy for the late Mr. Hugh Glass, and, h#d previously selected 373 aqres. He was sentenced to two years iini prisonment. Another contract for 100 feet has been let by the Gabriels Tunnel Co., tft Messrs. Coutte and Eusta,ce rt

The usual monthly meeting of the Waipori Miners' Association Committee was held on Saturday, 2nd August. Letters were received from the Secretary of the Otago Miners' Association and Mr. J. C. Brown with reference to the new Goldfields Bill ; and a letter from Mr. H. Bastings, informing the Committee of the steps taken by the Provincial Council in the matter of the proposed Drain Channel on the AVaipori Flat, and requesting that all the information that can be obtained, es to the extent of auriferous ground which would be rendered workable, b* sent to the Government as soon as possible This letter was referred to the Drain Channel Committee. The Chairman gave notice that the annual publio meeting of subscribers would be held in the Oddfellows Hall, on Saturday. 30th August, to receive the annual report o the Committee, and to elect successors to the six retiring members. From the auditors' report of the Cromwell Municipal Corporation accounts, it appears the books have been kept in a very irregular manner. When the audit was made, £65 11 11 is shown to have been in the hands of the Town Clerk, while the Council were paying interest on an overdraft. Book-keeping appears to have been altogether discarded in conducting the affairs of the Cromwell Corporation. Tbf nomination of candidates for the Lakes District is fixed for Saturdry, 16th inst., and the polling for Tuesday, the 19th. The candidates in the field are Mr. Innes, Mr. G. B. Barton, Mr Pyke, and Mr. Manders. Probably Mr. R. Clarke, M.P.C., will contest the election, AT a congregational meeting of the Lawrence Presbyterfan Church, hold on Wednesday evening, the 6th inst., it was agreed to adopt the hymn book and music used in the English Presbyterian Church. We are informed th\t a m eeting of the Blue Spur congregation will be shortly convened to consider the same subject. A writes in the " Mount Ida Chronicle " asks the following question, which we have repeatedly asked, but never had answered •"— " How much money, we should like to be informed, do Provincial Governments annually lose by not more widely informing people of land sales to take place, The frequency of complaints on the part of land buyers will form some criterion that the amount of loss is much greater than any expense likely to be incurred by giving publicity through the daily journals." "We are informed that Duigan and Duncan, whose rich claim on the Waikaia has been noticed (on several occasions in these columns, have washed up another paddock which has proved as good as any preceding one. The following paragraph from the " Bendigo Advertiser " will give our readers some idea of the earth hunger which exists in some parts of Victoria: — " At a sitting of the Local Land Board of Echuca held on Thursday (July), no less than 150 applications umler part 2 of the Land Act 1569 were disposed of. The applications were for land in all directions about Echuoa, and we believe that something like 50,000 acres were taken up." A FEW weeks ago a spadeful of mud was taken from one of the streets of Maryborough, and submitted, in mere curiosity, to a washing to ascertain whether it contained any gold. The result was the discovery of 30 or 40 specs of fine gold, showing that it would pay handsomely to wash the whole of the refuse, The present season has not been a favorable one to miners on the banks of the Molyneux. Ever since the flood in May, the river h»s been very fickle, rising and falling at short intervals, I just allowing the claimholders time to get ready for a short start, and then flooding them out again. At the Manuherikia, the wagesmen in Coleman's claim struck for £4 per week when they saw the proprietor could not dispense with their services— an example we do not hope to see followed, as it would be very disastrous at this season of the year. We are credibly informed that they were a set of men who preferred loafiug to the long-handled shovel ; othurs have since been found to take their places, and they will find it a hard matter to again get employment in the Manuherikia district. During the past month, crushing by the Gabriels Gully Quartz Mining Co. has been carried on irregularly. Forty tons of stone from Evans and party's claim (Clark's paddock) gave 4 dwts. per ton, another lot of 70 tons gave only 2 dwts. per ton. The last crushing of quartz from the Company's claim averaged 8 dwts. per ton. During the last fortnight the whole of the stuff taken from the winze has been crushed, and averaged about 3 dwts. to the ton. The gold retorted for the month was 500z3. 15dwts.. including Evans and Co.'s parcel. The winze has been sunk 62 feet in three weeks, and driving from it was commenced last Wednesday, tho first 20 feet very little of the reef was passed through in the winze, the course of whioh, however, was not altered, as the ground was very favorable with scarcely any water making. Until a little driving has been done, it ia impossible to form any opinion as to the nature of the lode at this depth. The sinking of the winae will be re-commenced in a few days, and continued so long as the water does not prove troublesome! The tunnel of the Clurks Hill Prospecting Co. is now driven in 600 feet from entrance, and the ground continues soft. The ventilating apparatus acts very satisfactorily. • THE Gabriels Gully Quartz Co. have recently discovered a little payable wash in their tailrace below their Burning in O'Leary's Gully, and applied for an extended claim of six acres, and have since offered the claim to the Clarks Hill Co., it being within the limits of the reserve granted by Government to the latter Company, who have accepted it. A narrow escape from a severe conflagra-, tion occurred in Alexandra, on Monday,' the 4th inst., at the Geelong Hotel, Mr. ! and Mrs. Robertson were both absent at the time. Some careless person must have thrown a lighted match on the window curtains, which oaught fire. The flames ran rapidly up the window. Fortunately the flames were noticed by people in the street, who quickly extinguished them, and thus prevented serious consequences, We notice in the up-country townships that the storekeepers and business people generally adhere to their old principle of long hours, instead of following the example of their more goahead contemporaries in other towns. We feel confident they could do all their business by 7 p.m., five nights in the week, in place of keeping themselves and employ6es fast until eleven or twelve o'clook, thus depriving them of any means of recreation. We allude more especially to the summer months, and- hope to see those interested bestir themselves at onoe to obtain their wishes. Mr. J. R. Kbmb of the Cape Broom Hotel, on the main road to the Dunstan, is erecting a large new stone building of a substantial character. When completed it will he the largest road side hotel between Lawrenoe an* Queenatown. and we hope the spirited owner- will be well patronised by the travelling public for his endeavors to provide good accommodation. It is rumored that Mr. J. B. Barton, Resident Magistrate at Roxburgh, intends retiring from the Government service*

We are glad to learn that sub-Inspector Andrew Thompson has received from the Commissioner his well-merited promotion to the rank of Inspector. Mr. Thompson's life long experience aa a police officer, his un_ flinching energy in the discharge of his duty, and unblemished social character, fairly enU led him to the only distinction at present in the gift of his superior officer There was a case decided at the Resident Magistrates' Court, Alexandra, a few days ago, the particulars of which may be useful for the guidance of our Lawrence Town Council, who have on several occasions discussed the same subject. The rates of a person named Westwood had been allowed to fall in arrear for 3 years. The property meanwhile was sold off by the mortgagee, and the Town Clerk, in order to recover the rates, sued the purchaser. Ihe defence* set up was that during the occupancy of the house by Westwood, there was plenty property upon which to distrain, and no evidence was shown that such had been done. Ihe 88th Clause of the Municipal Ordinance waa quoted in support of the position taken up by the defendant- . The " following is the clause referred to :— "The person primarily liable to the payment of rates under this Ordinance shall be the tenant of the property rated who shall be in possession thereof at the time when such rate may be made, or due, or recoverable • and if such property be vacant, and no sufficient distress found thereon, then the owner in succession shall be liable." Messrs. Beresford, Turnbull, and Low, J.P,'s, were on the bench , and stated that they considered negligence in the collection of the rates had been proved, and that they would give a verdict for the current year's rates, We believe there is a considerable portion of money due to the Corporation of Lawrence for rates in property which has changed hands, and we would advise tbe Town Council to take action in the matter, and get the question decided by the Court in some way or other. A deputation consisting of several of the residents of the sou'h side of Roas Place waited upon the Goldfields Secretary, in the ivlasonic Hotel, on Friday last, to ascertain to wh"t extent the Government would assist them in the building of a retaining wall to prevent the water from the Wetherstonea Creek flooding their property. They suhmitted that they would be agreeable to ljuil J the wall in exchange for the land that would be recovered. Mr. Bastings, in reply, advised the deputation to get a survey made of the ground, and submit the proposal to the CJovernment, who -would offer every facility to further the object in view. The Government, he might state, would require to offer the land for sole ; but he had no doubt it could be arranged satisfactorily with the property holders concerned. In the appeal case of M. M'Carthy appellant-, W. Kitto respondent, from a decision by Warden Borton, Roxburgh, the District Court, Lawrence, was occupied part of Tuesday and the greater pirt of Wednesday, and after argument and evidence taken on each side, the judgment in the Court below was sustained, with costs of hearing £3, and professional costs £7: Mr. M'Coyf for appellant ; Mr. Mouat for respondent. We shall publish the evidence in the case next week. .