Local Intelligence.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 322, 17 January 1874, Page 2

Local Intelligence.

THE British mails via Sues close at the Postoffice, Lawrence, on Monday, 19th inst. On Thursday evening a special meeting of the Lawrence Town Council was held to consider the adoption dc otherwUe of the new plan* and specifications lately received from the architect, Mr.- Lawson. There were present the Mayor and Crs. Hay, Hayes, Walker, Mears, and Armstrong. After the plans had -been examined and some discussion had taken place thereon, it wa« moved by Cr. Hayes, and seconded by Cr. Mears, "That an advertisement be inserted in the Tuapeka Times and the • Otago Daily Times ' calling for tenders for the Town Hall according to the new plans and specifications. Tenders to be sent in, at Lawrence, not later than 8 p.m. on Monday, the 2nd of February." This resolution was carried, and subsequently it was arranged that tenderers should deposit the sum of £50. as a guarantee for the fulfilment of their tender. The meeting then closed.

Knowing the great interest which is felt in this district in the development of the Gabriels Quartz reef, we feel great pleasure in reporting that the Company has found the reef in the 170 feet level (Clarks Hill tunnel) , and that the stone has been proved to be sold bearing. The Manager informs us that the stone was struck on Thursday evening, and has not yet been opened out. The prospects obtained were only from very small samples crushed by hand, and showed a few colors, gold being visible in the stone. The importance of this find can scarcely be over-rated, as even though this particular portion of the reef should not prove payable, the fact is now established that the lode is permanent and gold bearing to a depth of 200 feet from the surface. The Company's battery for the last ten days has heen crushing nine hours per day, the stone from the fine block left under the 50 feet level. As this block has not yet been tiaeed south of the crosscourse, the work is confined to one stope, and hence the battery cannot be kept fully employed. The Company propose to drive on the course of the reef north and south, at the 170 feet level, so as in a short time to definitely prove the character of the stone at that depth.

The Church of England annual meeting of the parish of Tuapeka and Waitahuna was held in the schoolhouse, Lawrence, on Wednesday, the 14th intft. ; the Revd. G. P. Beaumont in the chair. The statement of accounts was submitted by the Church Wardens. Mr. Andrew Thompson was nominated Clergyman's Church Warden, and Mr. E. Herbert was elected Parish flhnwh Warden. Messrs. Abel, Adams, Bulfin, Fraer, T, Johnston, Margetts, Sheath, Sly, J. Thompson, and R. Williams were elected Vestrymen, and Messrs. Ferrer and Squires auditors Thanks were unanimously voted to th» out. going Vestry, to the Sunday school teacher, and to the choir for services rendered during the year. At a Vestry meeting held the same evening, Messrs. E. Herbert, Andrew Thompson, John Bulfin, and F. S. Margetts were elected Parochial Nominators.

The annual meeting of the Blue Spur Presbyterian Church took place on Tuesday evening last after the service. The Rev. J. Cameron presided. Mr. M 'Lelland (Secretary) read the r epoit, and Mr. F. Nicoll (Treasurer) presented the balance sheet. The income for the year from all sources amounted to £119 Bs. 9d. The sum of £15 to clear the debt upon the church and £3 for other items had been expended, making to the debit of the church £18, thus loaving a credit balance of £101 8s. 9d. A new Committee was appointed, consisting of Messrs. F, Nicoll (Treasurer^ W. M'Lelland (Secretary), A. M'Nicol, W. Livingstone.S. French, S. White, D. M'lntosh, Gilbert, Ralston, John M'Laren, John M'Hattie, William Kell, Isaac Murphy, W. M-Culloch'and W. Hay.

Harvfsting operations in the Mount Benger dietriofc are in full swing. Crops would have been first-class but for the destructive winds of last month. In sheltered spots < the grain crops promise more than average yield. Hands for harvesting operations are not very plentiful, ar.d wages rule high.

The contractors for gravelling the road on Moa Flat — Messrs. Tubinan Bros. — are proceeding rapidly with the work, which will be completed, weather permitting, in a few weeks. They are making a first-class job of it. Ayling's contract near the Horseshoe Bend is getting on but slowly, suitable gravel being very difficult to be obtained. We ait informed that the contractor will give up the job if the Road Engineer does not make some slight concession.

About twenty men are employed under the direction of Mr. Crawford on Tuapeka Flat, forming the main road previous to the con tractors commencing to pitch aud gravel the same.

The schoolhouse and master's residence at Evans Flat are in course of erection. The buildings are both susfcmtial and commodious.

The bad crossing on the Beaumont road near Mr. M 'Lean's station, which we referred to in a previous issue is to be pitched immediately. Mr. Sinsulle is doing everything that lies in his power to get the roads in as good repair as the means at his command permit.

We direct attention to the fact that tenders for the construction of the Waipori Drainage Channel will close on the 23rd of the present month. Plans and specifications may be seen at the Provincial Engineer's Office, Dunedin, and at the Police Camp, Waipori. As far as we can learn, only one local gentleman purposes tendering ; and it is expected that one of our enterprising Blue Spur residents will also tender.

Ode Havelock correspondent, writing under date of 12th inst., says: — ''About twenty or thirty persons assembled at Mr. Coghill's Hotel, on Monday, to see the Governor. After waiting for a considerable time, he made his appearance, and to the disappointment of all assembled never stopped, but politely,- acknowledged their cheery, by lifting his hat aad giving a nod of his head. Shortly afterwards, Mr. F. Oudaille, our worthy storekeeper, came by in a trap, and; those assembler! commenced cheering. Mr. Oudaille raised his hat to acknowledge their cheers, which, only tended to increase the vociferation. One of th# persons present took up a bucket of water which had been drawn for the Governor's horses, and gave, it to Mr. Ouilaille's horse, whereupon Mr. Oudaille ordered drinks, for all hands, and thpn proceeded homewards* to the satisfaction of thoge.present.

On Wednesday evening last, Mr. Clapcott delivered a lecture on Government Insurance at the Blue Spur to a large audience. The lecture was listened to with great attention, and was of a very convincing description. At th.c close of the lecture, Atr. Clapcott followed his usual custom of giving, selections from his readings, which were highly appreciate* On the motion 'of Mr. M'Lclland, a. vote of thank&was conveyed- to Mr. Clapcotfc by th» Ohaiiman, Mr W. D. Morrison.

The usual auction sale of sections, in the following townships will be held on the ISthinst., at the Survey Office, Lawrence, viz :—Wetherstones, Waikaia, Havelock, Dunkeld, Waipori.

It is notified in the "Gazette" that from and after lie Ist January, 1874, all deposits with tenders for public works must be by marked cheques, and the Government will not be responsible for any cash that may be «nelosed.

We beg to remind odr readers of Mr. Clap" cott's entertainment on behalf of the funds of the Hospital, which takes place on Tuesday evening next in the Assembly Room. Mr. Olapcott has kindly given his service* gratuitously for this humane object. .The Entertainment Mr. Clapcott provides is a most enjoyable one, and we expect to see a crowded house.

On the 23rd instant, the children of the Lawrence Grammar School are to be feted in the sohoolhouse.

In the kingdom of ho'rsedom (says the "Wakatip Mail") there have been numerous accidents of late. Three poor racing steeds were roasted to death 'in a stable at Arthurs Point, and were only discovered when finally *' cooked." Three horses and a dray belonging to M'Kibbon Bros, went over the bank of that dangerous ascent near the Shotover Bridge. One animal was killed, the other two got off hadly injured, and the dray was nearly a wreck. Later still, four horses, the property of a very hard working farmer and teamster, Mr. Charles Johnstone, of Spear Grass Plat, took it into their heads one night to break Into some sacks of wheat, and gorged themselves with it. Before their insane conduct was detected, they were in the last stage of death. They paid a heavy penalty for the freak, and have mulcted their owner in a serious loss besides.

The ''Provincial Government Gazette" contains an advertisement calling for conditional tenders for the erection of a bridge over the Clutha river at Alexandra, contiguous to the site of the present punt.

At the last meeting of the Blue Spur Lodge, Bio.. E. Yarcoe, P.G., was appointed Permanent Secretary to the Lodge. ».

THE following letter, dated 30th December, 1873, in reply to one from the Town Clerk, was read at the last meeting of the Cromwell Corporation :—": — " Sir,— l have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 17th December, 1873, on the subject of Mr. James Dawkins, the newly-elected Mayor of Cromwell, not having been placed on the Commission °f the Peace. In reply, lam directed by the Acting Colonial Secretary to inform you that the gentleman elected as Mayor is not necessarily a Justice of the Peace. The Government exercise a discretion in the matter, and it depends upon the position and occupation of the Mayor whether he is appointed oi*not. — I have the honor to be, &c, G. S. Cooper. Under-Secretary." We are not aware of another case of refusal to confer the title of Justice of the Peace upon the Mayor of any Municipal body in New Zealand. It is very evident that Mr. Dawkins has some friends who have been good enough to interfere in his behalf with the magnates of Wellington, who have tue aouu X of these creat honors. If the refusal is on the ground of supposed incapacity, which it surely cannot be, the Cioinwellites must feel the insult very keenly, Indeed, judging from an article in the " Cromwell Argus," the apparent rejection of Mr. Dawkins has called forth strong protests from the Town Council, who have resolved that a memorial letter from the citizens be forwarded to the Colonial Secretary ? asking that the Mayor be appointed a Justice of the Peace.

Our telegrams inform, us that the Governor " passed through Cromwell without stopping, greatly to the disappointment of the Mayor and Councillors who were in waiting," This is indeed adding insult to injury. First the authorities decline to confer upon the Mayor of Cioinwell the title of J.P. ; and now the Governor in his tour of the province cannot find a moment to receive the expressions of loyalty from Her Majesty's lieges in ;he goHen city of the interior. What great sin has Cromwell com' mitted ?

Commenting on European telegrams by the last Melbourne steamer the Guardian writes as follows. Prussia is setting ifcs house in order for the final struggle on the Rhine. This fertile region, so long the cock-pit of Europe, is not yet to rest in quiet. The fortifications which the German Emperor has commenced, are being pushed forward with great rapidity ; and now we find it stated that " the Prussian Government is organising a flotilla of light-draught ironclads for the defence of the Rhine." This precaution can only be against France, whose armies would have far greater difficulties to surmount in any fresh enterprise against Germany than lay before them at the outbreak of the late war. The German Emperor is drawing the Liberal and Natioaal Catholic party closer to him, by recognising the Old Catholic organisation as a duly constituted Church, and decorating the great leader of the movement, Dr. Doi^lNGEjt. This learned Bavarian, although excommunicated by the Archbishop of Munich, in 1871, is perhaps the most popular aud respected of 'all Catholic theologians in bouth Germany. He enjoys the confidence of King Loots, and the honour conferred upon him by the Emperor is as politic as it is deserved. — The French hierarchy, in their zeal for the Pope, have transgressed the bounds of prudence, several of their pastorals containing attacks upon the Governments of Italy and Germany, intended to excite the masss of Roman Catholics in those countries against the Governments of Kasier William, and King Victor Enmanuel. Ihe president has been compelled to give the Bishops " a warning.'" If they take it in good part, so much the better ; if they rebel, the French Government, notwithstanding its sympathy with "religious pilgrimages" to French shrines, will very speedily reduce them to obedience. The Due de Broglie, Foreign Minister, recently declared "that the rule of priests was impossible in France." The Kishops did not take this hint ; hence, no doubt, the circularletter from the Government.

Under the heading of " Clever Children " the " Guardian of Wednesday has the following : — The youthful journalist in our employ, who made that discovery the other day about a duet played somewhere or another by one girl, sent in notice of resignation yesterday. In doing so he said, " I should like to leave you for a while, and go to school at Tokomairiro. In reading your exchanges this morning, I find that the school children at TokomairirO presented Sir Tames JFergnsson with a lovely address, in which they said, 'We have also read, and heard our fathers speak, of your own virtues, and of your manly and' outspoken sentiments in your public speeches and actions, which form a marked contrast to the general tone of society in these colonies/ I feel that my duties on the "Guardian" will never teach me to wj»te so beautifully as that, and will keep me in that tone of society which these clever children so much despise, that want of candour which calls my writings 'rot,' and myself a ' slab-head' in this office, I am sure I shaS not find in the manly outspoken society of Tokomairiro. But this is a secondary consideration : my first desire is to get to write like the. child w,ho. wrotd that address, and I think I know how to do ifc. I notice that, after the address business was over? Sir James Fergusson shook hands with Mr. J.. Jj- Gillies, and the. Mayo* and Town Councillors of Tokomairiro. Well now, Sam Slick told the Duke of Wellington to sleep with his son, young Sam, and so learn to "say smart things. Something in that line is my notion. I will go to Tokomairiro, if yaa please, and shake hands with Mr. J»L. Gioies, &C-, and then perhaps I may be able t/ wrifee like that schoolchild. Jr We ("Western Star *) have^een shown the remains of a moa's egg, /ound by Mr. Teesdale on the beach nearjfcvertoaj. When seen by Mr. Teesdale tK egg was almost entire, but in taking i%Wsft> of the sand it broke into a number p/pieces. Mr Teesdale has cemented thertfeces together in a very artistic manner. s&e egg in its entire state, was about 7i%in length by Sin. in depth.

TrfE" value of the Surat's car}go is not nearly so great as is geneally supposed; The total value entered at the London Customhouse yfM £23,700, This amount includes the railway" material, the valtte of which wad £6,906. THB4nnual meeting of the Presbyterian Synod oommepeed on Wednesday evening, at the njjw First, Church. The** was a largo number of the members -xtf the congregation present, and the following clergymen and elders, members of the Synod : — Clergy: Rev. Mesßrs. William Will, William Johnßton, DM. Stuart, D.D., J. H. M'Naughton, Michael Watt, William Gillies, J. Copland, M.D., John Gow, Alexander Blake, William Bannerman, John M. Allan, John Waters, Charles Connor, James Chisholm, Andrew Bett, John M'Ara, James H. Cameron, Andrew H. Stobo, Robert C. Morrison, Donald Ross, A. B. Todd, John Ryley, John Christie, James Clark, James Baird. Elders i Messrs. James Christie, Alexander Rennie, James Samuel, Alexander Chisholm, John Paterson, William Rait, John Stenhouse, James Poison, James P. Millar, Donald Malloch, E. B. Cargill, John Falconer, James Smith, Charles Moore. The Moderator, Rev. Mr. Bannerman, opened the proceedings, and delivered a very eloquent sermon, after which he declared the Synod duly constituted. After addressing the Synod, he, after the^ usual custom, nominated his successor, the Rev. Jame3 M'Naughton, who was a fellow student of his many years ago. The Rev. Dr. Stuart seconded the motion, which was unanimously carried. The new Moderator then took the chair, and addressed the Synod sA some length. Drs. Cameron and Balfoux, from Victoria, were present, and several other clergymen belonging to the Presbyterian church of Auckland and elsewhere.

Qn Wednesday last Messrs. M'Landress, Hepburn, and Co. held a sale of goods saved from the Surat, and notwithstanding that the drapery and clothing appeared to be thoroughly saturated by the salt water, yet they realised high prices, in some instances equal to the visual wholesale price. 241 cases, of Henessy's brandy brought 27s 9d a case.. A quarter-cask of Hunts port, apparently an ullage one, went for £7. Tobacco, SJ. per lb. These goods were all sold under bond* The candles were sold for 9|d. per lb., and hams Is 2d # , both dutypaid. A meettcq of the Surat Relief Committee was held on the 14th instant in T^he City Council Chambers, His Worship vaa Mayor- presided. The Secretary reported that the total amount collected was £571 135., and that there was a sum of £2 17s. to collect. Information had also been received by telegraph that £88 6s. had been collected in the country districts. Thip, therefore^ made the total amount £662 16s. shortly before the meeting the sub-committee waited upon Mr. Mills, who has charge of the steps at present being taken for the recovery of the cargo, and requested that the luggage might not be sold without an opportunity of the owners redeeming it. Mr. Mills informed the committee that the luggage recovered had been put on one side, and that no sale would take place prior to some attempt at arrangement being made.

Mb. M. Hat reports having sold on the 15th inst., a mining churn, situated at Long Gully, Waipori, with water races, dams, and plant, for the sum of £150. He also report* having sold the household furniture, &c., of Mr. Marx, Lawrence, all of which brought good prices.

A sudden death tinder peculiar circumstances occurred on Monday afternoon, and is thus recorded, by, the " Dailj Times." A driver of one of the Caveraham 'buses, named Henry Fleury, was hailed at the stand in Princes street by a Mrs. Hair, who requested him to drive her to Messrs Herbert, Haynes, and Co.' s, but when about half way, they were stopped by that firm's messenger with, a parcel, and the 'bus was accordingly driven back to the stand. On arriving there, a boy called out that the woman had fallen off her seat, and the driver, who was a boy, tried ta raise her, but failed. Thinking she was drunk, he allowed her ta remain on the floor of the vehicle, and drove towards Caversham, taking in a passenger, and making enquiries on ths road of people whether they knew where deceased lived. On reaching Caversham, her house was pointed out to him, and in lifting her out, he discovered her to be dead. Deceased had been under medical attendance for a considerable time past for disease of th» heart, w,hich is attributed as the- cause of her death.

The following business was transacted «t the Waste Land Board meeting held on Thursday :— Applications as follows to purchase land held under agricultural leases war© approved of — W. Lowe, section 30, block V., Tuapeka East ; J. Cutler, sections 1 and 18, block X., Waitahuna East'; W, Scoles, Bections 1 and l&T, block V., Shotover ; B. Hallenstein, sections 8. and 9-, block V., Shotovor; A. Crawford, sections 4, 5, 6, and 68,' block IV., Sb.otoyer.. The application of John Roche, Shotover, to, exchange his agricultural lease under the old 1 Act for one under the newAct, was approved. Mr. A. Stanbrook applied for. the postponement of a land sale. Ha had, it appeared, received appointments as Government auctioneer for two districts, and could not be in each centre of population f to hold sales on the same day* Th» sales hai< been advertised, and the Board, considered that Mr. Stanbrook's request could not becomplied with, that he must get some other auctioneer for the other sate, as with a post* ponement the greatest inconvenience would ensue to. the public. The Board resolved accordingly. Mr. H.. L. Squires tendered hi» resignation as a member of the Board of Enquiry, Lawrence, as he ->*ould not discharge, the duties of that office *ad engage in a business on which he ha<? lately entered. Thd resignation was accented, and Mr. Peter Robertson was — subject to his acceptance of office — appointed ir Mr. Squires's stead.

The s,s.. Aibio» the inward English mails via Suez J» board, may now be expected to arrive at the Bluff at any moment. The latest da« from London of the mail she will bring ir November 28th. This is a fortnight late- than the date of the supplementary mail brought to Melbourne by the Ellora. and the -flew Zealand portion of which has been bought on by the Tararua.

Mr Warden Robinson, of Naseby, goes to tie old country in Feburary, on eight months leave of absence. We believe that Vr Stratford, Warden at the Arrow, will do duty at Naseby until Mr. Robinson. returns.