Local Intelligence.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 305, 19 November 1873, Page 2

Local Intelligence.

A OOHRESPONDENT informs us thai; Messrs. Webster and Shand, who recently visited the Waikaka district, intend recommending to the Government the throwing open for agricultural purposes a block of land which the miners state to be auriferous, and which is absolutely required for raining purposes. We allude to the watershed of Waikaka. When Messrs. Mait. land and Shepherd visited the ground some time since, we believe tbey advised the Provincial Government to declare iLe desired block within the goldfields. They also recommended that an adjoining block, falling towards the Mataura. should be set apait for agricultural purposes. Their views coincide with the wants of the people, and it is to be hoped the Government will agree to those gentlemen who first visited the ground, and who have some practical ideas as to the wants of the goldfields. Wu have had many enquiries made as to the nature of the obligation required to be undertaken by the Good Templars, We give below extracts from the ritual of the Order, which were read by Mr. Mackune to the meeting at the Athen&ura on Wednesday (7th). Three questions required to be answered by the candi. date for initiation in tlie affitnative :— " 1. Will you be obedient to the laws and rules of this Institu tion , they not conflicting with your duties as a citizen or a Christian ? 2. Will you take a solemn pledge to abstain for life from the use, or of giving to others, as a beverage, anything that will intoxicate ? 3. Do you believe in the existence of Almighty Go-1, the Kuler and Governor of all things V.' The obligation : "Yon, in the full belief in the existence and power of Almighty God, and in the presence of these witnesses, do solemnly | and unreservedly promise that you will uot make, buy, sell, use, famish, or cause to be furnished to others, as a beverage, anyjspirituous or malt liquors, wineor cider, and that in all honorable ways you will discountenance their use in the community." . . It will be seen from the above that the nature and ex. tent of the obligation depends in a great measure on the interpretation placed on the words as a beverage, which we h ave italicised above. Our Public Works Committee are rather lax in their duties. They allow the surfaceman to clean the gutters and deposit the rubbish on the side of the road, there to remain an eye-sore till the wind and rain replace it in the gutter. A portion of the Waikaka flume was destroyed last week by a waggoner driving his waggon through it and tearing down the supports. He was mulcted to the tune of £10 on the spot, but that sum will be insufficient to repair damages. A number of men having left the Waipori diggings for the railway works, the claims originally held by the absentees have been taken up bp other paities in many instances, and let on tribute to parties of Chinamen, which arrangement seems to pay all parties concerned, Mb. M. Hat reports having sold on Saturday Inst Mr. Lyng's valuable property in Boss Place. Mr. James Docherty was the purchaser. The price did not transpire, but a veiy high figure was no doubt realised. At the same time, Mr. Hay also sold section 16, block IX, for £44, to Mr. Sutherland ; section 17, block XL. £26, Mr. H. Martin , section 19, block XL, £26, Mr. R. Williams. Ok Sunday last, the Bey. Mr. Menzies preached at Lawrence, Wetherstoaes, and Blue Spur in aid of the funds of the Tuapeka Hospital. The result of the rev. gentleman's benevolent efforts was as follows: — Wether* stones, £2 108. ; Blue Spur, £3 ; Lawrence, £3 10s. 6d. Total, £9 os. 6d. A good afternoon's sport is promised on somo Friday afternoon in January. Some gentlemen in the town have taken upon themselves to collect subscriptions for swimming prizes. Th« first prize will be of some considerable value, open to the district. Various other prizes will be given for boys, fall particulars of which will appear in our advertising columas next week. We advise those who intend going in for the prizes to lose no time in practice, as we can assure intending competitors that it will be a good contest. 'We saw a chicken with two heads at Mr. Hopkin's Hotel, Evans Flat. It is now enveloped in Scotch whiskey. The Koxburgh School Committee applied for £75. to complete improvements in connection with the school buildings, &c. The Board have agreed to give two-thirds of the amount, conditionally that the Committee raise the other third. Mrs. Smith regaled Messrs. Bussell and party on Tuesday afternoon, when many excellent eatables and drinkables were discussed in at fresco fashion. It appears that the contractors ! referred to are now carrying their railway con. tract through Airs. Smith's property, and the first beginning of the " invasion " took place on Friday, in honor of which the feast was given. We wish to remind the "Bruce Herald" that journalistic etiquette forbids a brother journalist to disclose the identity of persons connected with the press. We are surprised that the " Herald " editor should reveal a Becret without being paid for so doing, because we know that he would keep any secret, were he well rewarded for the trust. A correspondent informs us that a certain schoolmaster is in the habit of- calling; the children ''Grandfather,* "^Rosebud," and other apparently pet names. We allude td the subject solely for the purpose of showing the ridiculous complaints that are frequently made against teachers. Our impression may be erroneous, as we have no evidence to bue out assertion upon, but we hazard the opinion that the names referred to are the result of the teacher's amiability, not the outpouring Of A satjoml lUepawtkß* ,

THE Waitahmut Board of Warden* aM ** the Golden Age Hotel on Saturday, 15th in** There were present Messrs. Edie, Ryan» Cttif, Busha. In our report of last meeting, we «t*ted that the Board W refased kll application* fotf depasturing sheep. We should have stated ttiftfc consideration of the Applications Were postponed till neit meeting. A letter from the Warden* informing the Board thai the sum of £10 applie-1 for by the Board to defray expenses wu approved of by the Government. ~ An' account of £1 lls. 6d., for advertising bye-laws, was passed for payment. The applications for depasturing sheep, the consideration of which had bees postponed, were all refused), The following ap* plications were granted t— Thomas Leonard. •, head cattle ; Michael and W. Ryan, 30. Thb "Bruce Herald" lately published ft record of a birth which never took place. Tfa* paresis of ihe kdy are eminently respectabltf ,' and reside in Dunedin, and the lady thttl cruelly insulted is not married. The father wrote to the " Herald,** and asserted that the advertisement referred to never emanated .from him, or from any member of his family. Ht stated that the advertisement was a calumniotU falsehood. The " Herald " proprietor has placed the police on the track of the author of the cruel fiction referred to, Mb. Andrew ALfeBN, of Tapanui, hat commenced brick making. No doubt it will prove » payable investment, if he turns out a gool article. Ok Friday afternoon, one of our leading firm* remained open, contraqj^Jp tho rule later/ adopted by the Lawrence Barly Closing Associa* tion. The sixth annual meeting of the shareholder* of the Phoenix Water Race Co., was held on Tuesday, the 18fch inst., in the Company 4*4 * office, Peel-street, Lawrence. Present : Messrs. Brown (in the chair), Stewart, Harrop, frren, Chalmers, Goldsmith, Mark, Thomson, and Hayes. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. . The Chairman read the sixth annual report and balance sheet of the Company. Moved, "That the report and financial statement be received and adopted. Carried. Moved, " That Mr. A. Hill Jack be* appointed town director." Carried. The fol* lowing gentlemen were then elected to act aa local directors : — Messrs. Stewart, Harrop, Brown, and Uren. The amount paid in dividends during the year was £550. The usual vote of thanks to the chair closed the pro* ceedings. Messrs. Mackenzie, sab-contractors, for the Round Hill section on the Tuapeka and Toko* mairiro have, we think, set the other contrao* tors a noble example, by sending £4 10s to the Tuapeka Goldfields Hospital. They stop from each workman Is per month, and intend con' turning so doing, provided the Hospital admit any of their workmen who may unfortunately fall sick or meet with an accident. We would say to the other contractors, " Go them, and do likewise." We are aware that a majority of the pablia do not object to a newspaper which publishes records of incidents which are the reverse of honorable. Almost everybody likes to hear a report about somebody else," provided " some* body else " is not a f tiend in need, or a relation in love or iv law. We lately heard that & medical man or. a certain goldfleld horsewhipped a schoolmaster. Perhaps the medical man, at the^time. thought himself justified in taking both the law and the whip into his own hands g and, on the contrary, perhaps the assault wa* even morally unjustifiable. A mirror doe 3 not make any face ugly— it merely reflects ugliness f and a newspaper must perfore? chronicle dis» agi enable as well as pleasant incidents. THE Clarks Hill tunnel is now iv about 960 'feet, and the wince of the Gabriels Gully Quarts Co. is down over 80 feet. The workmen in either place caa now hear the others working. The men working in the Clarks Hill tunnel re* port that a little water is beginning to appear in their face, so that some change may be ex* pectedfioon. We stated in Saturday's issue that Mn Adams opened the Sfc. Lawrence Lodge of Good Templars. Mr. Adams was expected to do so ) hence the mistake wbieh we made.. We should have substituted for Mr* Adams the name of Mr, Moss, that being the nafoe of the opener of the Lo'lge. While on this subject, we may add that six additional candidates have promised to enroll their names on Friday evening next,' when the Lodge holds its second meeting, in tha^ Athenaeum Hall, A Waitahuna correspondent writes as follows ; —An entertainment of a superior kind was given at Waitahuna, on Friday evening, the 15th instant, consisting of a concert and ball, in aid" of the fund* of the Tuapeka Hospital and Benevolent Institute, which gave perfect satib* faction to all attending. Too much praise can* not be given to the caterers, stewards, musicians, singers, and all concerned, and I think by the numerous ""attendance the proceeds would be something handsome, Mr. Fennell, in his truly hutnoroua style, sang some of his old and favorite songs, which kept the audience in a roar of laughter. Mrs. Hughes rendered a couple of songs in perfect taste, and was en* cored. Mrs. Needham, a' great acquisition, - sang with taste and feeling, and was deservedly applauded. A trio was given by Mesdaniea M'Kinon and Tan ton and Mr. Tan ton, with an effect which was very pleasing. Th» other lady singers were Miss Taylor and Miss PennelL both these young ladies gave great satisfaction, Mr. R. Craig aang a local of his own. composing, which tickled the risible faculties immensel}. Messrs. Tranter, Needham, and Hamilton sang with effect. This closed the concert. An auction sate of fancy articles presented by. Miss Walker* Mr. Higgins, and last, though not least, Mr. Goodman, realised L3 l3s 6d. The M.C.* Mr, Cross, then commenced the halJv whkh was kfpt up with spirit till daylight. We cab now. boast of a Quadrille- Club superior to any heard of here before. The gentlemen* names I dojnot (gather, but two of them, I believe, gave their services gratis, as did the M.C. Had the weather been less stormy, I have no cfoubt the gathering would have been more numerous. No cases came before the Resident Magistrate on Taesday v FboH an advertisement in another column, it will be seen that ft meeting is called for to-night at the Victoria Hotel for the purpose of form* ing a committee to carry out the Lawrence Christmas Sports, which were very successful last year. A cash balance of a few pounds remain in the hands of the treasurer from last year. Messrs CobvacS and Nicoll have made a road to their coalpit shaft on a portion, of tha racecourse, which will necessitate- about 100 yards of the track being formed afresh. There is no difficulty in the way of thia being done, a few days labor and shortening the original track some 30 yards. Messes Cob&ac& and Ktcoll are busily engaged brick-making, in the anticipation of a large demand daring the incoming year. They have a good many hands employed, and intend building anew kiln. A HotOßlotJS tharaeter named Mary Ana Harris Vas brought before the Bench on Mon* day last, charged with disorderly conduct, and was fined LS, or a fortnight's imprisonment, th* money was not forthcoming. The showery weather tikis but few day*, witk interval) of Bnmhine, fa bringing growing - cropi of *att deecriptioiis on wwringfo