Local Intelligence.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 318, 3 January 1874, Page 2

Local Intelligence.

Thjs Lawrence bakeis announce thab tV.e price of the 4 Ih. loaf will be raised to {XL after Monday next. Rf aping lms already commenced on several farms in the Tuapeka district. An adjourned meeting of the shareholders of the JJeiiumont and Tunpelrrt Water R:ice Company fe called for r i'uesd_.iy nest, at 2. o'clock p. vi. TllK residents of the norMi side of Ross Pl.ice are invited to atrgnd a meeting on Tuesday evening next, in fclie Royal George Hotel, at 8 o'clock, when the pl<u>.s and specifications fur fche pi oposed retaining w,ill will be submitted Ttlß heavy floods in the Molyneux this week have done a large amount of damage to miners by washing awny their boxes and other appliances. At Moa Flat, Mr. D. Wood's dredge broke from her mooiing, and drifted about half a mile, when her anchor fortuuately took f.i~t hold and brought her to. During the time she was drifting, two of her crew, who were on the bank of the river, put off to endeavor to get on board. The boat .they were in ran against the dredge and capsized, but fortunately they got hold of the dredge, and saved themselves from dro^vniujj* .

We have received No. 1 of the "Southern Mercury," a weekly journal published in Dunedin, under the editorial management of Mr, Tincent Pyke. We look with some degree of hope upon any journal edited by Mr. Pyke, as matters affecting the welfare of the goldfields, with which he is so intimately connected, will find in him a strenuous advocate. We observe ■in this issue that goldfields subjects take a leading part. In addition to a large variety of general reading matters, there are two original stories. The one is entitled " The Adventures of George Washington Pratt." by Vincent Pyke ; and the other " Collins Street East." MR. CLA.PCOTT, the Travelling Sub-Com-missioner in connection with the Government Life Assurance and Annnity Department, will deliver one of his popular lectures on the subject of life assurance, in the Athenaeum Hall, Lawience, on Wednesday evening next. The Government did well in securing the services of Mr. Olapcott, if we may judge fiom the large measure of success which has attended his lectures. He haa visited a large portion of the Otago goldfields, and at every place has had good houses. At the close of his lecture, Mr. Ciapcott always gives selections from some of the most popular of bis readings. The lecture, with the readings following, may be said to partake of the form of an entertainment, and offers ladies an opportunity of enjoying a pleasant evening's amusement - a thing of rare occurrence in Lawrence. Mb. John J. Duck, master of phonography, from Dunedin, has kindly volunteered to deliver a lecture on " Phonography " in the Hall of the Athenaeum, Lawrence, on the evening of Monday next, commencing at 8 o'clock. This gentleman haß labored for many years in Dunedin to impress upon parents and all who have the care of youth the many advantages that would result to their children if taught this most valuable ait of writing " winged words." Mr. Diack has so far seen the fruit of his labors in Dunedin, many of his scholars at the ages of from 10 to 12 being able to read and write the phonetic system with fluency. The system adopted by Mr. Diack is Pitman's, which we believe is the most perfect that has yet been devised. We hope to see a large attendance of parents present, with those of their children who are so far advanced as to gain benefit from the lecture. The admission is only, one shilling, andchildnm half price, and the whole of the proceeds, less any small expenses, Mr. Diack generously hands over to our local Hospital. Puielove of this electric art seems to be the governing impulse of Mr. Diack's life. The lecture will be illusttated on the black board. In accordance with a request made by D;: Halley, as President of tlie Tuapeka Hospital, in October last, the Wesleyans oF Lawrenoe have decided to devote the collections O One Suildriy tlTvOUgllOUt Uiclr oircmU- a*ii in(j the ensuing quarter to the Hospital funds. At the December meeting of the Quarter Board, the following resolution was unanimously passed: — "That the Chairman communicate with the resident clergy, and arrange with thorn for a simultaneous Hospital Sunday." The date of the services will be given in a futuie issue. We are informed that races and sports took place at Tuapeka Mouth on New Years Day. in the presence of a considerable number of visitor"!, The various evetibs weie very well contested, md the day's amusement was brought to a close after having given general satisfaction. Thi: Blue Spur annual sports were held on New Yeai's Day. There was a very small concourse of people present, owing no doubt to counter attractions at the Beaumont and Tuapeka Mouth. The prises offered wore small, and there was but little competition for them. The piizefor shooting sit the running white was the only event that cieated any great interest. Thete were 15 entries. F. Wedlake waa the winner. J. Kitto won the prize for wrestling ; James Farrel for quoits ; hop step and jump. Hall , walking blindfold to a mark, J. Elliott ; throwing heavy stoite, Harraway. After the conclusion of the sports, those of the visitors who cared for a dance adjourned to the Assembly Rooms, where they thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Mr. Watson" acted as musician. At the Warden's Court on "Wednesday 31st December the following applications were granted .—. — Ah Thee, Ah Kep. Ah Hu, Ah Kara for an extended claim of four sunes. Samuel Cowa;j, Ah Jack, Muck Ou, Ak Lung, for an extended claim of four acres. Ah Goon Ah Chow, Ah Yung, Ah Lang, foi an extended claim of four acres. There were no cases set down for hearing in the R. M.'s Court Lawrence yesterday. The Presbyterian Synod of Otago and South-land-will be opened in the new Eirsfc Church on the evening of the 14r.h inst. A Dunedin contemporary says that it is understood that the subject of the establishment of a Theological College for the province will be one which is to receive especial consideration. It is probable that attention will be drawn to the system of education in operation in the province. Tlie running' of Sunday trains is also a matter which will be doubtless fully discussed. The "Guardian* of Thursday contains the following special telegram from Queenstown :—: — '"John nayes, an old miner, was returning home to the Shotover with his mates, and, while resting on top of a track, accidentally rolled over a precipice and was killed. A verdict of accidental death was returned. The man was affec' ed by liquor. His remains were brought into Queenstown. The priest refused to pei form the fnneial ceremony, and objected to his being buried in the Catholic department of tlie cemetery. -The trustees replied that the ground was theirs, and that the interment should take place. The priest refused to allow any of his flock to read prayers over the deceased. Mr. "Worthington. of the Church of England, read a prayer. The was well attended." Ik a case of breach of the Licensing Ordinance, heaid before H. A. Stratford, Esq., R.AL, recently, the keeper of a roadside house «tts charged with supplying liquor to a man who was in a state of intoxication. Having heard a report that the accused had made application to have the case heard in another district, Mr. Stratfoid asked if such was the fact, and being answeied in tlie affirmative (we quote fiom the "Arrow Observer") said: "So long as he had charge of the distiict. he was quite prepared to take all the responsibilities of the position, as if he were to choose only the pleasant part of his duties, it would be high time to letire from the service altogether. While he sat on the bench, he should not allow any trespassing on his own proper district, or that of a, brofher magistrate ; nor would he allow litigants to show any preference befoie him. lie always looked upon such ca^es with great suspicion. In the present case t,he grounds assigned for reiuov»f wese voiy frivilous : the defendant staging tlafc he whs better known to another magistnifceyand that, he did not wish to h.'.ve the r;»se,»eavd where he had so many friends". He v/a»a!ways prepared to do his duty fearlessly., «.nd w. s. totally indifferent as to what people rcw'ght think ontside. Any proposal, either to bung or t:tke away cases was an insult to an/ magistrate ; while it was equally insulting pi suppose that' he would favor any one, or thaf'those appointed to a simiiar^ffice elsewhere would do so. We learn that Mr. Kirty, from tie Scotch College, Melbourne, has declined to accept the mastership of the Waipori School, which was offered him b,y the Committee. '

An acre o£ land contains 43,560 square feet, 4840 square yards, or 160 square rods. By those who have uaed guano, it is said that 300 pounds is sufficient to manure an acre ; 302^ pounds -would give oii« and one-half ounces avoirdupoise to the square yard.. One cubic yard would give a trifle over one oubic inch to the square foot. A cubic yard of highlyconcentrated manure, like nightsoil, would, if evenly and properly spread, manure an acre very well. A cubic yard of long manure weighs about 1400 pounds ; a cubic foot 'not far from 50 pouucls. A cord contains '128 cubic feet ; one and one-quarter cord would give a cubic foot to the square rod. If liquid manure be used, it would take 180^ barrels to gn c one gill to a square foot upon^an aore, which would be equal t to about 50 pipes or large hogsheads. It would be quite useful if farmers would be a little more specific as to the manure applied. The first session of the New Zealand "Wesleyan Conference will commence in Christchurch on January. 28th. The "Lyttelton Times " says it is expected from twenty-five to thirty ministers from the various Provinces will be present. Ok Christmas Day the offertory at St. Paid's Church in aid of the Benevolent Asylum Dunedin amounted to £23 4s. 9d. Emerson has stated that every institution is to be regarded as but the lengthened shadow of some great man — as Islamism of Mahomet ; Puritanism of Calvin ; Jesuitism of Loyola ; Quakerism of Fox ; Methodism of Wesley ; Abolitionism of "Wilberforce and Clarkson. At the Cape of Good Hope, recently, Mr. S. B. Hobson sold his six months picking from 15 ostriehes,and totalled £150 sterling, cash. This beats sheep farming. Just fancy £300 from 15 birds in twelve months. The Rev. J. O'Malley, during a sermon at the opening of an organ inSt . Francis's Church Melbourne, made the following remarks on church music:— "How can he who has never heard, conceive the beauties of music ; those gentle melodies that have floated this very day about your ears ; these wild dissonances that at first crash out with a sensation of pain, but which in their resolution more than atone for it ; these noble pyramids of harmony, rising from the full tones of the bass to the utmost limit of the soprauo voice, and which drive the blood with a rush of pleasure through the veins ? Do you now understand the influence of music on the soul? Ihe soul is made for the beautiful, and music conveys to it one form of beauty. Do you understand why the splendour of our ceremonial and the splendour of our music stand or fall together? Do you understand the action of the Catholic Church in conveying the beautiful through these two channels to the soul? Do you understand our thorough appreciation of the nature of man'? Do you understand how unnatural and uiirou-sonable it would be to neglect these , two roads of easy ««#• e§s to the soul, and endeavour to reach it by soi»o^pther which has no existence? Do you now »oe to what very insignificance shrivels up, in tt»n. presence of the profound wisdom and noble natives of the Catholic Church, the assertion— utterly unsupported by proof, or even argument—of the ' meretricious gorgeousne3S, of Catholic worship ?" Writing of the English Cricketers who lately arrived in Melbourne, the "Daily Times " correspondent from that City says :—: — Of all the snobbery which has come under my kuowledge in this snobbery-loving community, I think this of the All England Eleven excels all the oLhei-3. The Eleven (or rather twelve) consists of five who are called -"gentlemen," and seven • who are called " professionals." The line of distinction is made broad and distinct. The gentlemen come out in the first-class, the professionals— low fellows — in the second. On arriving, the gentlemen take up their quarters at a first-class hotel— but one of lower order in Bourke street is thought good enough for the professionals. 33ut it may be said, after all, some difference must be made between gentlemen who play cricket, and come so far merely to play it for sport, and in the exercise of a noble emulation, and men who get their living by it, and arc paid to come here. Paid, quotha! The head of the gentlemen and of the whole team is Mr. W. G. Grace, and he, before coming, bargained for £1200 in alvancr. The other gentlemen stipulated for from £300 to £400 each, and the poor professionals get about £100. A Paris telegram states that Marshal MacMahon has commuted the sentence of death passed upon Marshal Bazaino to 20 years' seclusion. The military degradation is, however, to bo carried out, but Bazaine will be spared the ceremony. * . The " Arrow Observer," of the 26th ult.> sa y S — » One of the most noticeable features of a goldfield is the reticence usually displayed by the miners respecting their success. We have heard of several large parcels of gold brought into town lately, but are unable to give particulars. On Wednesday, 12-lozs. 15 dwts., were brought in by Mr. Mathieson, of Whitechapel Flat, the proceeds of about 3} weeks sluicing for, we believe, three men. Mr. Mathiesou holds two shares in the Arrow Water Race, which commands a considerable extent of ground. We should be glad _to hear of others in the same locality being equally successful." - The same journal learns "that a heavy parcel of gold wa3 brought in from Bracken's this week, which divided equal to £1 pel- day to the fortunate owners. The party of Chinese, who so recently took up ground in Bush Creek, havealso "sold this week about 11 'pounds of gold, for their washing up, thus showing the advantage of associated labor. The Rip-and-Tear Company, Arrow Eiver, have lately been more successful, having reached some unworked ground, which produced an excellent dividend. This- Company have constructed a covered tailrace about a mile in length, besides other heavy works, and richly deserve success. A frightful death of a bullock driver named James Dodds is thus recorded by the " Western Star : " — From the evidence given at the inquest, held on Monday at the Mount Pleasant Hotel by Dr. Monckton, District Coroner, it appeared that deceased, who was on hisroadtoßiverton with a dray loaded with wool, between 3 and 4 o'clock on Saturday, called at the Mount Pleasant Hotel, where he had thaee glasses of whiskey, two oF tiem in company with another waggoner iv.tned Smith, who left the house some littje time Vieforc deceased. When deceased/left the hotel hs was perfectly sober. / About 5 o'clock, Mr J. H. Menzie.-*. whUe'on his way to Riverton, saw- deceased lyiugrLt the middle of the road, about 500 yards /rora the hotel. His face was black, and tnere were dirty wheel marks across his rieht wrist, tho back of his neck, and over his left shoulder. He appeared to be lying on the off side and the bullock team had suddenly swerved from him. His pulse was then beating. Dr Hod^kin?™ said that he saw decased at S r p.m°op Saturday, who was then dead and cold./ He was lying on his face near a quantity of blood. The side of his head and on« e Y e we^ e much injured. The jaw was Uoken, and there was an appearance of a iieivy crushing weight passing diagonally across 'the neck. Death resulted from the dray wheel passing over him. Deceased had a pair of spurs on, and he might have tripped himself up. The jury returned a verdict of " Accidental Death." Proclamations appear in Wednesday's Provincial Government Gazette setting apart the f ollowing lands for occupation on deferred payments .-—2OOO acres, forming part of run No. 205, situate in the Eock and Pillar district ; 1482 acres 39 poles, forming part of I run No. 346, situate in the Dart . district ; and 2500 acres, comprising parts-^ of run 3 No. 344 and 261, situate in the Tiger Hill district. % Thk Mormons have sent a special mission to Europe to explain the position of affairs in Utah, and to propagate their doctrines.

The Waste Lands Board have 'granted th«- "3 apphcation of Mr. G- F. C. Browne for two a months' protection to prospect' for lignite, 1 over two acres on the -west side of Waitahun» <a Paver. ' • .<M ' A fish curing establishment haa be9a^H opened at Waikouaiti 'by Mr. F. W. Pen- J nard. • », I On the Northern line of railway, neap \ Kaiapoi, about 8000 young trees have been 4 planted this year'with a view of protecting J the line from the 1 sand which is blown about J3 in this neighbourhood. ? The Waikouaiti Herald excuses the non- * appearance of a letter, by saying that one of | its compositors is "on the spree." | Aftee five months work, two of Brogden'a i Hawke's Bay Immigrants paid off in full "; their passage money. In London, a Mrs. King, advocates a '-- scheme for establishing ' ' Confederated -A Homes and Co-operative Housekeeping." "2 ' New silver mines, yielding 90 per cent, of { pure metal, have been discovered in Copiapo, - : in Chile. f Great complaints are being made hi Auck- I land of the ravages" committed by sparrows \ among the fruit. s G-eeat animosity exists in Peru between -1 the Laboring classes and the new-ly-imported : Chinese. The total number of road boards receiving -■ aid from colonial revenue are — AuckWad, • 110 ; Taranaki. 21; Wellington, 38 ; Hike's , Bay, 14 ; Nelson, 10 ; Marlborougn, A^^^- - terbury, 39 ; WesHand, 5 ; and Otago, bj. The Bannockburn miners suggest the es- J tablishment of an assay office in Dunedin. ] A paety of Xcvis miners are making £30 ' per week per man. i Me. J. C. Chappie, in a letter in the s "Dunstan Times," on the subject of Mr. S GHassford impounding cattle, says :—": — " I have 1 actually seen his men drive his sheep on land % that I hold under an agricultural lease, and 3 there leave them to feed ; and in the face of -^ all this, if one of our horses dare to cross the j line, away he goes to pound." j The salary of the Clyde Hospital Surgeon^ (with leave for private practice) is £300 and' > residence. ' The Mountain Eace Gold Mining Company, Tinkers G-ully, Dunstan, is being formed into a properly, registered company. A telegram from the Agent-General states that, tlie following vessels sailed .for New Zealand in November with immigrants^L The Dulhousie, for Canterbury, 400 souls ; tn^Sj Ocean Mail, for Wellington, with 320 souk ; -i the Inverary, for Napier, with 270 souls ; the 1 Carnatic, for Dunedin. with 260 souls; the j Queen of the Age, for Auckland, with 190 souls. All the vessels bring large quantities, of material for railways and bridges. Eight "shixjs sail during the present month with ISOO souis.