Serai Intelligence.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 313, 17 December 1873, Page 2

Serai Intelligence.

We are informed that the repairing of the road between Lawrence and Ewms Flat will be let in small contr&ots, so that workmen may have an opportunity of tendering. The engineer will be on the ground ou Thursday morning next, and will explain and give .ull particulars to those desirous of tendering for any portion of the work.

The public examination of the Lawrence Grammar School will take place on Friday, the 19th instant. ' Gifts of books, &c, should be forwarded to the Secretary, Mr. Win. Hayes, or to Ml. Stenhouse, rector, a day or two before the examination.

Thb Itev. C. Kigg will lecture on the "Ancient Britons " in the Roxburgh Wusleyan church tomorrow evening, at 8 o'clock.

Preliminary steps are being taken for the erection of a new Court-house at Lawrence. The

Secretary for Works and the Provincial Treasurer, who are at present on a tour through the country^ made, a few days .ago, along with Mr. Ross, architect, an inspection of the -ground chosen as the site, and also made enquiries as to the most suitable building materials. The new Court-house, which is to be a commodious building, is to. be of stone cemented on the outside. The new building. will be erected adjoining the present one, and the latter will be converted into post and telegraph offices. It is proposed tq combine in it the offices eof the Land Department and of the Resident Magistrate. Mr. Ross is now preparing the plans.

The new Wesleyan church was wdl attended at both morning and evening services on Sunday last, where the Rev. C W. Kigg, of D&nedin, preached on^ioth occasions. iJ,is aermonß oreated a very fa /orable impression. Tho new building has given great satisfaction to the local church managers as well as to the public. ' The interior is admirably varnished, and the appearance is light anl cheerful. .The seats have reclining backs, which is an improvement.

A special meeting of the Lawrence Town Council, to consider the drainage and water questions, also the matter of protecting the oreek jrall on the Beau oiont road, was called by the Mayor, to be held laßt evening at 8 o'clock ; bat, up to 9 o'clock, the, only parties present were the Mayor and Town Clerki Th« meeting therefore lapaed*

Mr. BUBTON informs us that his stay in Lawrenoe will come to a close on the last day of the year. Mr. Burton has left behind him many faithful photographs g^Lawrence, and he will take with him good wishes from many friends. He does not return at once to Dunedin, as he has engagements in adjacent districts.

The collections at the morning and evening services held by tho Rev. J. Jones in Trinity Church, Lawrence, and at Waitahuna in the afternoon, towards the funds for the erection of a church at Cromwell, amounted to the handsome sum of £20.

We have perused with considerable satisfaction a letter from tho Secretary of the Victoria Insurance Company, for which Mr. Wm. Hayes is agent, with reference to the late fire. Tlris company not only at once satisfied the claim lodged by Mr. Jeffery for damage done, but asked for advice as to what form any recognition should take of the services of those' parties who worked* to save his premises. Mr. M. Hat sold by auction on Saturday last the section adjoining his own property, Ross on behalf of the National Bank. The section has a. frontage of 33 feet by a depth of 99, and was purchased by Messrs. Herbert and Co. for the sum of £108. Mr. Hay also sold on the same day, at the Blue Spur, for Mr. Slater, a four-roomed cottage and household furniture, all of which realised first-class prices.

Mb. Burton, on Monday last, took an excellent photograph, of the Lawrenoe Grammar School. This view represents the exterior of the building, with the scholars ranged in groups in the foreground.

The Roxburgh entertainment on behalf of the Tuapeka Hospital is unavoidably postponed to New Year's Day.

On Saturday afternoon the first portion of the Clutha line of railway, extending from Dunedin to Abbot's Creek,, a distance of about six miles, was opened by the running of a train over the Hue. Immediately after the departure of the 2 30 train for Port Chalmers, the Clutha train, consisting of five carriages, drew up to the platform, and was very soon filled with about 150 people, among them being the Honorable the Premier. Julius Yogel, Esq., Hon. W. H. Reynolds, his Worship the Mayor, and a number of the leading citizens. The leading visitors spoke on the occasion. Mr. Yogel complimented the Dunpdinites ou the possession of a wellbuilt city, «nd referred with pleasure to the fact that it was the place where he first achieved political success. The Mayor also refeired to the wonderful transformation for the better Dunedin had undergone, and dealt with pleasure on the amicable understanding which existed between the "'New Iniquity" and the " Old Identity." The Hon. Mr. Reynolds supported' the views of previous speakers, and urged the people of Otago to still further develop the resources of the province. This brought the speeches to a close, and the party again took their seats in the carriages, and in less than twenty minutes they were landed safely in Dunedin.

Mb. Moss, of this town, has grown some very large strawberries this season, which are most reinaikable samples of what superior gardening can accomplish. On Monday, they were on view at Mr. Hill's watchmaking establishment, in Peel-street.

■Mits. John Copland has revived the good old custom cf a Christmas gift tree. These old customs, in our opinion, are not sufficiently observed. They constitute counteractive influx ences. small but n;ore or less effective, to the dull, deadly, utilitarian tpndencies'of the present age, when people are really beginning to helievo that time is money and money only. Christinas affords a grand opportunity for temporarily emancipating ourselves from merely ultra commercial influences, but we fear much thrtt in 1873, the Christian anniversary is more commercial than any other period of ;he year.

An advertisement appears in this issue, announcing that the Rev. C. W. Rigg will lecture in the new , Wesleyan Church this evening. Subject ••— "The Ancient Britains : their origin, customs, and religion." The lecture will commence at half-past seven.

Our report of the addresses given ftfc last night's Soiree, is very lenglby ; consequently, we feel thai, we are .consulting- the wishes of both speakers and hearers by defeiring its publication to neit issue. ■ \Ye adopt this course because we consider it preferable to postpone a full report, than to insert one which would be necessarily and injuriously condensed.

The Beaumont annual races and sports will take place on New Year's Day. An advertisement of particulars will appear in next issue.

The examination of the Wethers tones- School takes place on Friday.

ONE of our public-spirited residents suggests that it would only be fair towards the Town Clerk that, in consideration of the extra work entailed upon him by the calling of so many special meetings of Council and attendances thereat, his salary should be increased proportionately.

The gale of wind which made the dust of Lawrence streets fly mountains htjsh yesterday forenoon appears to have baen very gener.il, as will be observed from our Roxburgh and Duneain telegrams, although we are glad to say it did not result in any serious damage being done, so far as we have heard. No doubt the fruit trees would suffer considerably. In Dunedin, a boat was capsized, by which a man lost his life.

£150,000 has this season been obtained for South Australia wheat, in consequence of telegraphic .information being to hand as to the state of the English and foreigu markets.

The Rev. Father Coleman and the Lady Superioress, of the Dunedin Convent, are at present on a visit to the Lakes District, for the benefit of the lady's health.

Victoria has decided on prohibiting tho introduction of stock from New Zealand.

Theßcv. Henry Bull, formerly of Lawrence, delivered a lecture on " John Knox," on the 11th inst., in the Wesleyan Church, Timaru.

A trout caught in the Shag River weighed 101bs - and was 2ft. 7in. in length.

Bachei.t>br3 "pantascope," a series of large moving pictures, is now on its travels in this province.

Bird, the champion runner, is matched to run six miles in 30 minutes at Hobart Town.

A horse which was second in a late Melbourne race., at its conclusion, seized the winning jockey with his teeth, dragged him to the ground, and broke his arm and leg.

Mr. Btjckmaster has been lecturing at the London Si-hool of Cookery on " Australian meats and how to cook them in a quick and simple form."

The postmaster of German Bay, has a letter box alongside the road. A swarm of bees lately took up their abode within. A labourer named George Drummond died very suddenly at Mosgiel on Monday last. A prize cock-fight and a prize baby show, will be held at Biverton on Bdxing Day.

The Invercargill Town Council has voted £50 to defray the expense of receiving the Governor. 500 TONS of preserved 1 meats are reported to be still lying at Woodlands awaiting means of transit to tne Bluff.

The Oamaru Hospital contains eight patients at the present time/ and is thereby nearly fu11..,, Thb Melanesian mission steamer now being built at Auckland^ is to. cost £6204..

By entertainments and otherwise £100 has been collected for the widow of the late Mr. Paton.

The Bernard Brother who fell from the trapeze in the Princes Theatre is recovering. The Governor and the Superintendent are expected to visit the forthcoming Taieri Show.

The Invercargill Cricket Olub have agreed to pay the expenses of the Dunedin team while staying in Invercargill.

Sic James Feegitsson, will inspect the different Volunteer companies during his visit to Otago.

100 young trout have been deposited in suitable water near Milton, and 350 have been distributed throughout different streams in the province.

A brick factory, capable of turning out 70,000 bricks weekly, will be started near Dunedin in February.

The volunteer movement, says the " Guardian," is flagging, and, unless something is done to give it fresh stimulus, may die out altogether.

The game journal ventures to say that no other city of the size of Dunedin, and possessing such a climate, is without its public gymnasium.

The increasing want of laborers in the Oamaru district was announced to his Honor the Superintendent on Friday last. 2000 harvest men are wanted. Oamaru laborers are striking for increased pay.

Dunedin contractors do work 50 per cent. less than the charge made at Oamaru.

Immigration baesacks will be erected at Oamaru.

The '* Guardian " reports that the education given at the Government Drawing School is excellent, but that the building allotted to the pupils is extremely unsuitable.

A Dunedin toll collector lately, on going to collect the toll, found a man named Hughes fast asleep, with his head hanging over the side of the waggon. Though the place was a dangerous one, the brake was not on.

A NEW Knox Church, which will cost £9000, is about to be erected in Dunedin.

In Mr. Diack's recently examined phonetic school in Dunedin, children of five years cau read and write phonographic shoyfr hand fluently. y

MES3BS. BniGGS, of the Methely Collieies, in Yorkshire ; and the Messrs Crossley, in the -woolen trade, have converted their* concerns i into joint stock associations.

The " Guardian " condemns those editors who have dictated to the Government on the subject of Mr. Strodes ' successor.

A " Times " correspondent complains of the insufficient support given to the Carandini Concerts.

The contract for the Californian mail service has been signed, and ia«on its way out to tlic colony.

A sttpebiok vegetable and flower garden is now allotted to the Dunedin Hospital.

On and after the 15th instant the Dunedin bakers adopt the eight hour system.

The Dunedin Horticultural show takea place on the 30th instant.

The " Times " suggests that a number of stand-pipo9 should be erected at the most public street corners, with drinking cups attached.

The DuncJin City Council has postponed a number of important works in consequenco of the difficulty of obtaining men.

TiiE total cost of the Timaru water sup:>ly 18 put down at £10,00 J. This will give G'O.ooo gallons a clay, or 20 gallons per heal for the population.

The " Times " says : — We |will oppose flagging fron. England when it can be obtained at our own doors at a unuh 1e33 cost.

FOB 1873 the attendance afc the Middle School had been 6G9 ; tho fees, £226 2a. At the South School, attendance, 354 ; fees, £129 14s 9.1. At the North School, attendance, 509 ; fees, £169 13s 3J

On the 11th instant a man name! Ghsrici Brown received some severe.bEuisis owing^to his falling into an excavation in Stafford street.

The Cromwell Company's late crashing of 68 tons gave a result of about 2780z., being at the rate of -a little more than 4oz. to the ton. The John Bull Company crushed two hundred tons. The stone yielded 15dwt. to the ton, the cake weighing loOoz.

In the Dunedin markt-t, there ia a verymoderate supply of Sydney oranges and Tas* manian apples. A consignment of Nelson cherries has arrived during the week. Retail price Is per lb.

Rock cod ia now being retailed in Dnnedin at Is per dozen.

The Melbourne Argus has pointed out that the earnings at needle work during eight hours is not sufficient to provide food and raiment.

The Intel-provincial Regatta is to be held at Kaiapoi on the 27th March, and one or two liberal prizes are offered for competition.

Tenders are now called for improvements at Waikouaiti Harbour.

THERE are on board the Jessie Headman eight cases of books for the Ofcago Public* Libraries.

Mr Donald Henderson has consented tostand for the seat in the Provincial Council vacated by the Hon. Major Richardson.

Me. S. G. Smith, of Dunedin, has manufactured a mock pigeon "which flies, and which will suggest a substitute for pigeon ahooting.

The tender of Mr. Peter Gunn, for the erection of an export goods-shei at Invercargill, to the amount of L 2216 43, has been, accepted.

A pedlar at Oamaru, was fined one shilling and eo.>ls for selling jewellry by lottery. Tho maximum fine is £50.

The following is an abstract of the receipts of the Dunedin and Port Chalmers Railway for the month ending 80th November, 1873 : — Passengers, £772 17s Id ; parcels and excess £50 14s 6d ; goods, £1005 3s 2d; total. £1828 14s 9J.

In 1872 -wo imported articles from various parts of the world to the value of — at least — two millions and a half, which must be placed in the category of luxuries.

A high medical authority calls upon tho government to put an end to the " practice of burying," and insists on the burning of the dead.

Thb population of Greymouth, according to the last census, was 2181, and the estimated population at present is 2760.

Thb tariff has imposed additional taxation on the country to the amount of £100,000.

Trains, on the Southland line, will in future run on Sundays on the arrival of steamers at the Bluff.

Recent nautical authorities assert that a. great portion of the casualties that have occurred on the coast of thiß Colony may be attributable to eompess errors.

The Dunedin High School Chamber of Commerce has given for some years pasfc three medals — one gold and two silver medals — to be competed for by boys in three classes : over 15 years of age, under 15, and under 13 ; the subject of competition being arithmetic. Thia year, as was the case last year, the Board of Education have not hod sufficient funds at their disposal for the awarding of prizes to the High School boys. The Hon. .Mr. Yogel has given £5 for the prize fujad of the boys' High School. An iron engine shed has been erected at Scrogg's Creek, and a locomotive is there, being fitted with the view to commenc*

Thb submarine boat which has been in Course of erection for some time at RattrayBtreet Jetty was launched on Saturday last, • with all due honors. The sluicing apparatus, which is not yet fitted in the interior of the boat, is supposed to be capable of .washing about ten loads per day. No wash-dirt will foe brought through the- sluice below unless <: proved to be auriferous, and as the .boat can „ be moved with ease to any part of the river when under the surface,, every facility will bee afforded Jor thoroughly prospecting the ■river bed. Boring rods of a peculiar struct- ' jure, liaye been by Mr Nuttall aa . necessary to test the nature of the ground prior to commencing operations. One end of _ the cable is made fast to a crabwinch in the interior .of the boat capable of raising four tons, while the boat is either securely anchored pr made fast to .a crabwinch fitted in the tender on the surface. When found de- , sirable to move its position, the boat is floated clear of the bottom, and pulled ahead by means pf the agbwinch or lowered with the brake. Mr Nuttall has also suggested the use of an extension shaft which could be lowered to any depth required. The number of patients at present in the Dunedin Hospital is 141, of whom 32 are . females. Bishop Nevill delivered two addresses o.i Sunday last. , Until some one is permanently appointld to the office, Mr. A. C. Strode will preside at „ the Resident Magistrate's Court in the civil business. Thb Carandini conducted the musical portion of divine service at the Dunedin , Roman Catholic church on the 14th instant. Oh the 4th instant, an unsuccessful attempt Was made to launch one of the girders of the bridge across the Kawaru above the Nevis Ferry. PlAifS have been prepared and tenders called by Mr. H. F. Hardy forthe. erection of a stocking factory, at Mosgiel, for the , . Mosgiel Woollen Company. At Ardgour Station about 16,000 sheep hav.e already been shorn. The manager expects to put through about 50,000 altogether before the end of the season. The Governor Blackall has been chartered to convey the New Zealand mails via San Fra.ncisco, and that she will leave Auckland on the 22nd. • .- ' ' Fee(j6sson is expected to arriye . . in Oamaru ' on Monday, the 22nd. 1 .^p* Mr. Wheatley, of Kakanui, has acclimatised the English wild duck. , ' « The matches of the Otago Rifle Associa-tion-will be fired on ilie 10th and 20th ftantThb Rev Jackson Smith has gone on J a clerical mission to Martina Bay. The " Illustrated N. Z. Herald " contains a copy of Gully's view of Mount Cook, an interior view of the Dunedin Fir3t Church, andFiji and Port Darwin sketches. ' IX' response to a toast on the occasion of the opening of a portion of the Clutha line , the premier said : — When he arrived in this Colony he was called a " new iniquity," but lie found that the '* old identities " and the "new iniquities" worked remarkably well together. . < w A Miss Grant "christened" the- Submarine boat at Dunedin lately. At the High School Exhibition, J llr. Mac--andrew referred to Mr. Yogel as a man "whose name will live in the history of New Zealand as being associated with the very best legislation this country has yet undertaken. In Auckland city thirty-nine marriages were solemnised during the quarter ending September 30. Is San Francisco lately a grand scheme ibr water supply consisting of 45,0 J0 feet of thirty -inch pipi*, a portion crossing a depression of (JOOfeer iv depth, and eight miles Of canal, eight feet in width, has oeeri pushed through in ninety days, at a 'cost of 75,000 dols. • • ' • r Says the Bay of *• Plenty Times :— We would rasher pay ten thousand pounds per annum for flour and sugar, ihan one hundred thousand for being shot down, or tumahawk- ' ed by savages The hay-harvest is now general iv North Canterbury. The crop is a heavy one. Mb. Ho>~oee, a North Island missionary, speaks four languages, German Danish, iinglish; and Maori. Messbs Brogdjbs lately inporfed fifty tons, of wrought iron, and three locomotives. Auckland is monopolising the Fiji trade to Ilie exclusion of Sydney.; The annual distribution of prizes to successful pupils at the High School took place t>n Saturday. The. Premier (the Hon. Julius Yogel) presided. There were also present among the visitors — his Honor the Superintendent, the Hon. Mr. Reynolds, the Rev. Dr. Stuart, the Yen. Archdeacon 'Edwards, the Rev. Mr. Penny, the Provincial Solicitor (Mr. Turton), anl Mr. Stout, M.P.C. Addresses, were delivered by some of the visitors. His Honor the Superintendent advised the boys to pursue all their studies • with earnestness of purpose, and he presented to them as an, example of success, the premier legislator of New Zealand — the Hon. Julius Yogel, Mr. Hawthorne, the Rector dwelt on a variety of purely tqchnical topics, but. emphasized the urgent necessity for a proper play-ground. The lion Mr. Vogel' pointed but that the abstract features of history might seem very absurd, but they tended to develop the memory, and to assist the reasoniag powers. He also dwelt .on the propriety of. cultivating a sentimentjof reverence for things religious. Cheers having been given for' the Hon. Mr. Yogel Mr. Hawthorne, Mr. Webb,' and the ladies, the proceedings terminated. A late visitor to Taranaki reports that the people of that province import almost every commodity, owing to the fact that they do not grow o^ manufacture articles for themselves. . r The subjoined obituary notice we take from the " Grey River Argus i — Much respected as he was in life, and sudden as was his death, there will, no doubt, be a large attendant c of regretful friends.". Read grammatically this means tlxafc it is a matter for surprise that there .should be a large attendance at the funeral of a man who died suddenly and who ■was much respected. -* ' Thb population of the Port Darwin district not? numbers 1700, and .13,000 acres of land have'been taken up for gold mining purposes. Thb pearl fisheries on the we3t coast of - 'Australia are beginning to attract attention, ■ t and bid fair to attain sonw eminence. Victobian advertisements invite workmen to ' accept employment at high rateß. Unskilled laborers receive 8a per day. The Adelaide Assembly has decided to uphold Bible reading in schools. The profit of the Melbourne Theatre Royal Proprietory Association for the half-year ending October, was £2241 Is lid. Mr. Bradsh^jfs Bill in Auckland is not by r any means in good repute. , Evasions of the " Employment of Females [-_• Act" are said to have been already practised , at Dun«din-by the class known as "sweaters." A Masteb Low is tho gold medalist this year at the High School. ■ " 30s. a day is offered at Naseby for 30 three- ' horse teams, for carting stone for the sludge - channel; hands are also required at 9s. : ~* Me. Abbott, o,f Dunedin, is the successful •' contractor for 38 miles of the head race at. Mount Ida. Shaw, Saville, .and Co. are making from £200,000 to £250,000 *-year out of the New Zf«l*nd trade. ' <T« percentage of lambs at Mr. Chapman'?