Local Intelligence.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 319, 7 January 1874, Page 2

Local Intelligence.

As usual on New Year's Day a pic-nic of the Blue Spar sohool children and their young frieuds took place in Mr. Carey's paddock. There was. a large number of children present, and they appeared to, enter thoroughly into the enjoyment of the ninny games ami amusements got up for their special behoof. They had plenty to eat and di-yik. The whole affair was under the supervision of Mr, anl Mrs. Luke, and its success is greatly due to^their efforts. On Sunday, morning last, the house and store of Mr. John Lonias, situated on' the Lsumnerlaw Creelc, four miles from W.iipori, were burnt to ashes. The fire origins f e.l , we learn in a very simple manuer. Sonj,e chops were being cooked afcthe time, and in the temporary absence of the servant, tlie grease apset in itffe fire, and in a few moments the house was one mass of fiams. We are informed that the building and" stock were insured in the New Zealand* Insurance Office for £400, bub that sum wyinwt cover Mr. 'Lomas' loss by at least £1S&. Mr. Pe?er M'Gill's flour mill at Moa Plat 1b now finished, and in full work. Doubts are expressed as to whether there will be sufficient grist for the mill it more land is not cultivated in that district. " Fbom advertisement It will be seen that Mr. J. Inglis has purchased a first-claw threshing machine especially for the Tevfot and surrounding distriot. It is to be hoped the farmers in that. locality will support the spirited proprietor as far as lies in their power.

The Mayor of Lawrence, E. Herbert, Esq.* - has received a telegram from the Superintendent, stating that His Excellency will visit Lawrence on jMondaj. At the usual meeting of the Town Held on\ Monday evening, a committeewas appointed to make suggestions as to the mpßi Jilting manner in which to receive His Excellency, and to repprt to a special meeting „pf tse Council thereupon.. "We believe it is not the intention of 1 the Cour.qil to go -to any expense in preparations, as it is generally understood the Governor does not wish any extravagant displays on these occasions. The Mayor and Councillors will probably meet His Excellency at Waitahuna, and escort him to Lawrence. Two men are employed repairing the road between Lawrence. . anil Waipori. "We are pleased to observe that the Government are alive to thfr necessity of having -Ijhe road repaired before winter sets in. Last winter we remember it was in some places in an impassable statein- faot, a perfect quagmire— apd on several occasions we drew the attention of the Government to this fact. If there is not an enormous amount of traffic between the two' places, the expense of keeping^ in a state of repair is not by any means extravagant, The Rev, "W. H. Beck, "Wesleyan minister, announces that he will preach at Waipori on Sunday evening next, the 11th instant, at-half-past six o'clock. Mr. John Diack, of Dunedin, delivered his lecture on ''Phonography and Its Uses" in the Athenaeum JBall an Monday last,' as announced. The attendanqe was meagre. , , The lecture was one of a most interesting and instructive character, and as the proceeds were handed over to the Hospital, Mr. Diack was deserving of more countenanoe from the public than he received. Mr, Jamison occupied the ohair. The lecturer, with the assistance of the phenetic alphabet wiifcten on a black board, endeavored to illustrate the simple method adopted of writing from sound. The lecturer stated that the system he practised could be taught by means of written lessons through the post-office, and he would be very «lad to take the names of any who wished to become pupils. At the olosa, Mr. O. W. A.d<nns moved a hearty vote of thanks to Mr. Diaek for his lecture. The; Treasurer of the Tuapeka Hospital requests us to acknowledge, the receipt by him of a cheque for £9, the amount' resulting from the Hospital Race run' for on Tuesday last on the Mount Benger racecourse, and won hy Mr. Loudeu's b ra Beeswing. Mr. W. J. M. Larxaoh and the Inspector of the National B.mlr of New Zealand visited Lawrence on Monday. Their visit is supposed to have some connection with the rumor which has been current in Lawrence for some time back-sviz., the opening of a branch of the National Bank in Lawrenoe. The " Educational G.izetfce " is the title of a new candidate for public favor Just received i»jus, in the foim of a monthly record of educational, scientific and literary intelligence. Its price is Od., and it is published by T. A. Bowden, at the office, Featherston-street, Wellington. Business in the coaoh line between Dunedin and Lawrence is so bftsk at present that Cobb and Co. have discontinued issuing return tickets, and seats require to be engaged two or thiee days in advance in order to secure them. The adjourned meeting of the shareholders of the Beaumont and Tuapeka Water Race Company, which was advertised to be held yesterday, has been further adjourned till 2 o'clock this day, owing to tly* unavoidable abbsence of tha manager. We have to acknowledge the receipt of a copy of the *' Evangelist "in its new form. It is now possessed of more attractions to our taste than iv its magazine, form. There is a great deal of matter in if; of a very interesting character to the Presbyteri.ni body, who, if numbers are taken into consideration, should be able to support a weekly journal equal, if not superior, to the " New Zealand Tablet.'' Blesshs. Gothhis and Larjuoh purchased the wreck of the Surat for £7050. Thirteen applications for the head mastership of the Tokomairiro Grammar School have been received by the Committee. From advertisement it will 'be observed that Racheldor's Colossesvn Pantascope of a tour through America will be exhibited aj; the Lawrence Athenieum on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday evenings next week. This panorama was received with great f.ivor in Dunedin. Const AND- Co'S coach from . Dunedin was brought to a dead stand at the bouudary of the town yesterday afternoon, owing to a loaded waggon with eight horses Hocking up the road. The waggoner was comfortably asleep on the top of his load of wool bales. One of the passengers on the coach got off and made an effort to wake this somnolent teamster by giving him a good shaking, but it was all to no effect. He recovered consciousness for a few seconds, only to relapse into a sleep as sound as evei\ The coach had therefore to be navigated past the obstruction by the best skill at Mr. Pope's, command. Sergeant Farrell, we believe,, managed to find more convenient sleeping accommodation for the waggoner. Acoidents to teamsters, of this desoription need not be master of surprise. THE Athenteum having by mistake been engaged for Monday evening by B.ilctyjlder's panorama, the meeting of the Good Templars to be- held on tbatj&vening has been postponed till Thursday of the same week. A PDBWC meeting was held atCogbill's Bridge Hotel, Havolock, on the 29th ultimo, to take into consideration the leasing by the Government of part of the Waitahuna commonage. The meeting was a very large one. Mr. Edie was called to the chair, when the following resolution was unanimously carried, viz., "That a petition to. the Government be drawn up opposing the leasing of any part of the commonage." Mr. Bush was appointed to draw up the petition, and Messrs. Craig and Edie were appointed to canvass for signatures. From, the whole tone of the meeting, it is very evident that the settlers are strongly opposed to any leasing of the commonage whatever. We again remind our leaders of Mr. Clapcott's lecture and readings which take place this evening, The admission is free. A meeting of the residents of the north side of Ross Place was held in the Royal George Hotel last evening, to consider the question of the retaining wall. Mr. M. Hay occupied the chair. The plans and specifications of the proposed'wall were submitted to the meeting, and the necessary bonds signed by those present. A Coiumitee consisting of the following gentlemen, was appointed to see the work properly carried, oat, viz., Mesrss. Sheath, J.imison, Walker. Jefifery, and G. Morrison. Tenders will be- called as soon as the bond has. been signed by all interested in the construction of the wall. It is believed the work will be completed six mouths herce. A " Citizen " sends us the following communication :—": — " On passing the site of the proposed town hall- yesterday, I was. delighted to find a building a]l but completed, and in, every way suitable for the requirements of thS prosperous community. This feat, which ,Aas been accomplished as if by magic, must Aave been designed and executed by oar worthy Clerk. lam satisfied of one thing, viz., xmt the building referred to will n<ft exceed the amount borrowed for the purpose ofA hall. I wish to congratulate the Toira oßrk on his energetic action in this matter,"

:?Mb. Hat requests us to state, for the inforfli^ion of the regents on the north bide of Boss Place, that the remainder of the purchase money for the land at the rear of their premises must be paid to the Receiver of Land Revenue, Dunedin, on or before Monday next, otherwise their land will be forfeited. ■ The Government have arranged for the Taranaki to collect the letters for tho next mail via San Francisco. The mail will leave Port Chalmers on the 13th inst.; Wellington on the 16th inst, arriving at the Manukau on tho 19th hist. In its comments on the stranding of the Surat the "Daily Tunes" says:— ''We sincerely trust that the .wreck of the Surat will form the subject of a searching investigation by tlie proper tribunal. Assuming tliafc tbe 'wreck was hot' brought about through the culpable negligence of any one on board, it 'should be'the interest of her* "commander, as well as of -the public, that an enquiry should take place. An enquiry we have no doubt will be 'held, and we only hope that the Government will find themselves in a position to obtain a thoroughly competent tribunal before which the investigation can be conducted." A deputation consisting of Messrs V. Pyke and J. B, Bradshaw (representatives in the General Assembly of the Otago Goldfields constituencies), waited upon His Honour the Superintendent on Saturday morning. Their object '.was' to urge upon His Honor the advisability of establishing an assay office in Dunedin, and of transmitting Otago golß. to the Victorian mint for coinage there. The deputation waited upon his Honor in accordance with a recommendation made by the Premier on Wednesday last. On that day Messrs, Pyke, Bradshaw, and J. C. Brown waited upon Mr. Yogel, aud suggested as a remedy for the existing gold monoply, and the recent reduction in the price of gold, that the G-eneral Government should establish, an assay office in Otago in connection with the Victorian Mint, and provide facilities for the transmission of gold in bond to Melbourne. Mr. Yogel agreed with the suggestions made, expressed sympathy with the miners, and was of opinion that even if the Government sustained a loss, measures should be taken to secure a fan* minimum price for gold. He wouhl communicate with the Victorian authorities with a view to establishing a branch assay office in Dunedin, aud the General Government would ' also endeavor to carry out the proposition made that gold should be deposited by the miners with the Receivers on Goldfields for transmission under bond to the Victorian Mint, duty to be paid on the coined, in- j stead of on the crude gold, Mr. Yogel then | suggested that the deputation should lay the matter before the Provincial Government for the purpose of obtaining then* co-operation. It Wiis in accordance with this suggestion that Messrs. Pyke and Bradshaw waited upon his Honor on Saturday. After hearing what the deputation had to say, his Honor stated that he had been in favor of the proposal for a oonoicloiMiblo liiuu, uwil-luul oven gone bq far f during the time that Mr. Bradshaw was "one of his responsible advisers, as to mention the matter in one of his messages to the Provincial Council. He would do all he possibly could to accomplish the object the deputation had in view, and would bring the whole question under the notice of the Executive, His Honor pointed out that if the gold were transmitted to the Victorian Mint as suggcsted,and no assay office were hi existence in Otago, there might be a possibility of fraud, as money might bo raised upon the receipts issued by the Gold Receivers, which wouLl, to a certain extent, bear the guarantee of the Government, — " Daily Times." The banquet given to the Hon. Julius Yogel by the citizens of Dunedin on Monday evening was a grand success. It was held in the hall of the University and about 300 gentlemen sat down to a sumptuous spread, catered by Mr. Donaldson, of Princes-street. The hall was decorated for the occasion, and the Artillery Band, which played during the night, was placed behind a large screen of flags at the upper end of the hall. The chair was occupied by his Honour the Superintendent, who. had on his right, his Excellency the Governor, the Right Rev Bishop Nevill, Captaiu Fergusson, aide-de-camp to the Governor; and Messrs E. B. Cargill an.d J. H. Harris. On the left of the Chairman was the guest of the evening, the Hon. Julius Yogel, and Messrs Nichols, Smith, and J. Cargill, and the Rev. -Dr. Stuart. At the same table wre Captain Jacquemart, Lieutenant Rathouis, and the other officers of the French man-of-war Vire, who had been invited to be present. The Vice-chair was occupied by His Worship the Mayor of Dnnudin, Mr. Mercer. After the usual loyal toasts were proposed, the Chairman proposed the health of His Excellency the Governor, who responded hi a very frank speech. In responding to the toast of the "Army and Navy," the Governor proposed the health of Captain Jacquemart, of the French war ship Vire. The Chairman then, in a very eulogistic speech, proposed the toast of the evening, the "Health of Mr. Julius. Vogel.'' The reply of Mr. Yogel occupies three columns and a half of closely printed matter in the "Daily Times," and it is beyond our power to give even a condensed summary of it in this issue The speech i 3 a masterly production, and -was well received. Several other toasts were proposed and responded to, and the grand banquet was brought to a close by the band playing " Auld Lang Syne,."