LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 292, 4 September 1873, Page 5

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Part of the machinery for driving the piles of the railway bridge over the Waitahcma river is now on the ground. The changeable and trying weather we have experienced for the past ten days, coupled with other causes, has told severely on the inmates of the Tuapeka Hospital, four of whom have succumbed to disease. Over £160 ha& beeu subscribed by the Waitahuna and Manuka Creek Presbyterian congregation for the erection of a manse at Havelock. Mr. Lawson, architect, Dunedin, has been directed to prepare plans for the building, which is to be ereofced immediately. The date having been fixed for the amateur concert in aid of the funds of the Tuapeka Athenaeum— viz., 25th inst. we trust that efforfcwill be made by the Committee of that institution to push the sale of the tickets and make the entertainment a success. A HORSE belonging to Mr. Redpath was killed in a most brutal manner .on Friday or Saturday last, near James Leslie's, at the Waitahuna river. The appearance of the carcase shows unquestionably that the poor brute was stabbed and hacked in a most atrocious manner, and that the perpetrator did not desist till death put an end to its agonies. The police are making investigations, and it is hoped that they will bring fee criminal to justice,

A lamentable accident occurred in the Molyneux river on Monday night, by which William Roscow, an old resident in the Tuapeka district, lost his life. He was crossing the river in a small wherry, accompanied by Mr. Oliver Dawson, of Tuapeka .Mouth. Both men had been accustomed to eroding the river for some years past, having resided at Tuapeka Mouth, where Roscow was for some considerable time part proprietor of the saw mills. From what we can learn the men, on account of the darkness of the night or mistaking the force of the current, allowed the boat to get below the punt, not an uncommon occurence. In their endeavor to bring the craft to her proper mooring, Roscow canght hold of the punt to pull the boat round to the other side ; but the current, being too strong for him, wrenched him from the boat, and he fell into the river. Dawson saw his hat pass him in the water, but thought there was no danger, as Roscow was a good swimmer. He then heard a gurgling sound, but could see nothing of deceased— the strong current no doubt immediately sweeping him away. Dawson at once gave the alarm to the residents, and they proceeded to search the river bank, but their efforts proved unavailing ; not a sign of the poor fellow was to be found. Roscow was well known and widely respected. He leaves a wife and young family to mourn his untimely end. A correspondent informs us that the road from Switzers down the Waikaia Flat towards the Mataura is in an impassable state. The road is all fenced by the farmers, with the exception of a narrow mud track left for travellers to flounder through. It is nothing uncommon to see a dray fast for a day or two, and the unfortunate drayman obliged to store a part of his load before proceeding on his journey, Mr. Alex. Humphrey has adopted the plan of allowing his workmen a half-holiday on Saturdays, an example well worth following by other employers of labor in the building trade. The advantages accruing to the men themselves j from leaving off work at midday will be an inducement to push on their work early ii» the week, so that their employer will not lose any- j thing by reducing the working hours. The National Insurance Company shares are being disposed of rapidly in Dunedin and elsewhere. Mr. \V. Hayes is the agent for the Tuapeka district. Mr. Hay's sale by auction on Friday was well attended. Dairy cows realised from £3 to £6 ss. ; horses from £6 to £23. The number sold was not very large, on account of the high reserve placed on the best of the stock. A Havelock correspondent writes as follows : — The railway seems to put some our miners greatly about. One of them went to Lawrence the other day to complain to the Warden about the line going through his claim, and to state the amount of compensation he wanted before the contractor commenced operations. I have not heard the amount he was offered. — Mr. W. Auld is busily engaged laying a stone foundation for his new premises. I understand the building is to be a two-storey one. and of a substantial character. — Mr. Oudaille's new store is drawing towards completion. It has been five or six months under way. He expects to have it finished by next winter. The contractor, Mr. Glendining, is very slow, but he is sure. — Messrs. Matheson Bros, are getting on with the cutting along the new road. For the paat fortnight they have been employing horses and drays, owing to the distance they had to carry the stuff.— l believe the stone bridge across the Waitahuna will be cemmenced on Thursday. Strange faces are coming amongst us ever} day. The Foresters of Court Star of Tuapeka turned out nobly on Sunday last to the funeral of the late John Robinson, of Paddys Point, Waitahuna road. The deceased was well known, and much respected by all who knew him. Many a valuable service he rendered in contributing to the success of entertainments on behalf of the Tuapeka Hospital and other institutions. He was a member of Court Havelock, A.0.F., many of the members of which met the funeral cortege and followed the remains of the decased to the place of interment in the Havelock Cemetery. A MEETING of the 4.thenseuni Committee was held on Monday evening last. Present : Messrs. Squirts (in the chair), Thompson, Arliuckle, and the Librarian. The miuutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The .consideration of a letter from the Town Clerk was deferred until next meeting. Messrs. Ferguson and Squires were appointed to take steps to ensure the endowment reserve being included in the hundreds proposed to be declared on Bellamy run. The following accounts were passed for payment : —New Zealand Insurance Co., £1 17s. 6d. ; Samuel Wootton, 145. ; J. C. Love, £19 12s. 3d. It was decided that in future all accounts be certified as correct by the Secretary before presentation to the Committee. The Secretary informed the Committee that Thursday 25th inst., was the date fixed for the concert in aid of the funds of the Athenaeum. Mr. Arbuckle was appointed to act in conjunction with the Secretary with reference to tickets, advertising, &c, in connection with the concert. The Secretary was instructed to write to the Secretary of the Education Board, enquiring what books (if any} of the last order had come to hand. The meeting then closed. The -Wardens for the Waitahuna depasturing district met on Saturday, at the Golden Age Hotel. All the members were present. A letter from the Goldfields Secretary, confirming the appointment of Mr. Edie as Chairman of the Board, was received, and stating that a map of the district which had been applied for would be forwarded. The following resolutions were unanimously passed :— (1). That no license for depasturing sheep on the commonage be granted ; (2). Thatsheepowners at present holding licenses be allowed three months from the Ist of October for the removal of their sheep, and that meanwhile they confine them within boundaries to .be hereafter defined ; (3). That the secretary write the Receiver of Revenue, Lawrence, requesting that no applicaticn for a depasturing license be granted, unless sanctioned by the Board of Wardens ; (4). That the Inspector of Depasturing Licenses be requested to forward, for the information of the Board, a list of those holding licenses for depasturing sheep in the district, with the number granted to each, for the half year ending on the Ist October, 1873. The next meeting was fixed for Saturday, the , 6th inst., in the same place. The Messrs. Matheson have nearly finished the cutting on the main road between Havelock and Murray's Flat. The track in present use is almost impassable— indeed wholly so to some parties. A gentleman, more accustomed to quill than to buggy driving, came to signal grief thereabout a week ago, Some good Samaritans extricated him and the unfortunate quadruped he piloted, and they went on their way rejoicing ; but the buggy remains there still. The necessity for a bi-weekly mail service to Tapanui and Switzers has been much felt by the large population surrounding these two centres. 1 We believe the inhabitants only require to petition the Government to obtain the additional service, the benefits from which would be to them incalculable. They have been long enough seoluded from the civilised ways of their fellow | colonists. With a bi-weekly service and the electric wire placed within their reach, there would be no more than justice meted out to them for the large revenue they yearly contribute to the State. ! Tenders are called for a new Wesleyan Church in Lawrence. The advertisement was accidentally omitted from our last issue. It will be observed that tenders must be lodged with Mr. James Crow, Ross Place, by tomorrow. 'A PETTHON is being signed in the Waitahuna district for the removal of the sohoolhouse and camp buildings from the Main Gully to Havelock. Before many months, we expect the old Waitahuna township will present quite a deserted appearance, as the storekeepers and other business people are seriously considering the necessity of changing their camp to the more . central situation of Havelook. Mr. TrrRNBULL, of the Bank of New Zealand, who was for a long time stationed in Waitahuna and more recently in Lawrence, .has received an appointment at InvercargilL He will leave at once for his new quarters. We feel assured he will carry with him the best wishes of chose who, in either a business or private capacity, have come jn contact with hhn.

Last evening Horace Bastings, Esq., M»P.C, on behalf of a large number of friends, presented Mr. Levi Buck, postmaster, with a valuable gold watch and chain, in the Commercial Hotel. The following address, beautifully illuminated, was also presented to Mr. Buck: -"To Mr. Levi Buck, postmaster, Lawrence.— We, the undersigned, on behalf of ourselves and residents of the Tuapeka district, hearing that you are about to leave us, beg to present you with the accompanying watch and chain as a token of the respect we entertain for you. While amongst us, we have always found you active and obliging in the discharge of your duties ns postmaster and telegraphist, and ready to lend a helping hand in every movement for the benefit of our local charities. Trusting that in your new sphere of labor yourself, wife, and children may meet with all the kindly feeling you leave behind* — We are,&c." The watch and chain costing £35 were supplied by Mr. James Hill. The late hour prevents us from giving a full report of the presentation. We are desired to draw attention to the advertisement in another column of a lecture to be delivered by the Rev George Smith tomorrow evening, in the Presbyterian church, on "China and Christain Missions." The lecture will also be delivered on Sunday afternoon at the Blue Spur. Correspondent " Ich Dien'a '" letter will appear in next issue. OwiNQ to the numerous public works under way, some of our " tucker diggers have given up their occupation and taken to other and more profitable employment. From various parts of the Tuapeka district, we hear of partridges being often seen in large numbers. The railway contracts have already begun to beneficially affect some of our tradesmen. Mr. Humphrey is now busily engaged executing an order he has received for 100 barrows and 40 trucks, for one of the contractors. Mr. Humphrey, with the assistance of his machinery, will be able to turn them out as expeditiously as could be done in Dunedin. ■ THE anniversary of the Loyal Tuapeka Pioneer Lodge of Oddfellows will be eelehrated in the Assembly Room, Lawrence, to-morrow evening ; and the anniversary of Court Havelock, A-O.F, will be celebrated the same evening in the Assembly Room, Waitahuna. Some mischievous larrikins, on Friday night last, amused themselves by abstracting the founts and burners from the lamp posts in the town of Lawrence. We are informed that the police have discovered two of the missing lamps, and are following up a clue which they believe will lead to the apprehension and punishment of the offenders. Such practices should be put down with a strong hand ; as, if allowed to pass, neither public r.or private property will be free from destruction. We notice the Town Council are offering a reward of £5 for the apprehension of the offenders. ' ! Mb. James Hopkins has opened one of his ' shops in Koss Place, opposite the Tuapeka Tijiks office, and has now on view a large and valuable consignment of books ex James Nicol Fleming. These books consist of elegantly bound editions of many of our modern authors. ' During the past week, the shop has been thronged with the literati of Tunpeka. Mb. J. P. Armstrong, dentist, is working his way towards Lawrence, He is advertised j for Roxburgh this week, and may be expected in Lawrence next week. The following is a list of new books jnst received by Mr. George Jeffery :—": — " The Life of Dr. Guthri3 ;" " Flappy Thoughts," by F. C. Burnand ; " The Lion Hunter in South Africa," Gumming; " Political Portraits ;" " The Horse : in the Stable and in the Field," Stonebcrge ; Crochet, Knitting, Ne'ting, and Tatting books ; "History of William Perm," Dixon ; " The Playbook :>f Metals," Pepper ; Bancroft's "America ;" " Boccaccio's Decameron," illus. ; " Joshua Marvel," Farjeon ; "An Outline of the Laws of Thoight;" " New Zealand," by A. Trollope ; "Held in Bondage," Ouida ; Livingston's " Africa ;" SheJley's "Practical Hydropathy;" "Bleak House." household edition, Dickens; •' Practical Joker," Mark Twain ; " The Alsacian Schoolmaster," The English Presbyterian hymr book, with "or without music. In the R.M.s Court on Tuesday, the csae of Pearson v. Blundell was heard, and judgment given for the plaintiff in tbe sum of £1 with 19s. costs of Court ; and yesterday the case of Hinde v. Hay was heard, and judgment reserved till Friday. Several other cases were disposed of. ( )ur report of these cases will appear next week. Three members of the Provincial Executive — Messrs. Bastings, Webster, and Shand, and tbe Chief Surveyor, Mr. J. T. Thompson, arrived in Lawrence last evening by the coach..