Local Intelligence.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 325, 28 January 1874, Page 2

Local Intelligence.

Persons whose names are not on the Electoral Roll, if desirous of exercising their rights, will have an opportunity of doing so when occasion occurs by taking the necessary steps, anytime up to the 31st of March next. We have a number of blank forms at our office, and will be glad to supply them on application. • The Registration Officer for Tuapeka is Mr. E. H. Carew, R.M. ; and for Mount Benger, Mr. John Nugent Wopd, R.M. SCRCiTt of labor from all quarters is the cry, and anxious enquiries are being made as to how the harvest is to be garnerod. Taapeka is not better off than other places in this respect, although , strange te- say, many persons have left this district for other parts— some even for Oamaru— the wages offered there for harvest work being very high. GRASSHOPPEBSandcaterpillars are committing havoc in the Taapeka district at present. We have received « oopy of Reeves huu co. 's Almanac. It is a beautifully executed chromolithograph, by Messrs. Fergusou and Mitchell. • A Waitahona correspondent informs us that, notwithstanding the protests of the Board of Wardens, the sheep still persist in visiting the township. As yet they have not been repremanded by the new inspector ; but he is expected to instmct them in their durysome.of these fine days ; if not we Bhall have another indignation meeting. AT the Roxburgh Police Court on the 10th inst. .Patrick Mornie was charged by Mis. Annie Alexander with committing an assault upon her with intent. The case was heard before J. B. Borton and John Beighton, Esquires, J.P.'s.. who, afterhearing the evidence, acquitted the accused. Me. HARROP, of Peel-street, has received: for salea number of copies of the Otago Wiiste Lands Act, lShj. with Analytical Index by J. Atkin Connell. The index in question is a most comprehensive one, and entiWes the erquirer. with the greatest ease, to unravel the mysteries of the preponderous compilation known as the Otago Waste Lands Act. 1872. It wo»ld be well if the powers that be were to- adopt a similar system of indexing statutes containing hundreds of clauses. FROM the las"t '" Gazette,'* we learn that Mr. James Farrell has been appointed Inspector of Weights and Measures for Lawrence. A cONSIDEBABIjE reduction^in the rate of intercolonial postage came into operation on the Ist instant. The postage to and fiom Australia is reduced from threepence to twopence, in accordance with a resolution <come to at the last Intercolonial Conference.

Peobably the most successful public tea meeting in connection with any congregation in Lawrence was that held, in jthe Taapeka Ashen*um ladt evening. -Tbe^Rev. Mr. Menzies and his friends have reason to congratulate tfre'unselves on the sdodess which has' attended the services itnd soiree In celebrvtion of thts < opening of' tfleir new place of worship. We have not heard the financial result of this meeting, but judging from the large attendance, we imagine it will fall very little short of £35 for tickets alone. In our next issue, we will give a resume of the excellent addresses which were delivered by the Rev. Dr. Eoseby, Revs. Messrs. Maxwell and Cameron, Mr. Paul Ah Chin and Mr. M'Lelland. The Good Templars of Lawrence continue to add to their number* Never a lodge meeting passes but several new members take upon themselves the solemn vows; On Monday evening last, at their usual meeting, the Rev. Dr. Roseby was present, and addressed the members on the many benefits resulting from their association. We learn that Mr. Lancaster's steam threshing machine has commenced operations in the Teviot district. The laad excitement is very strong in Tapanui, The large quantity applied for, in comparison with what is available, will cause some inconvenience. The residents intend applying to the Government for the establishment of a local Land Office. Strangers looking for land complain greatly of having to go such long distances for information. "We are informed that there are nine tenders lodged for the construction of the Waipori drainage channel. In our last issue we gave the '" Southland Times " credit for the article entitled " Toko- j mairiro children's address and the Governor's visit," whereas the article Was extracted from the " Southland News." | On the 21st inst., Mr. M. Hay, Government auctioneer, sold by public auction, in the Town Hall, Tapanui. the whole of the sections of that township, with one exception, from the upset price pf £3 to £17 los. per section. The total amount realised from the sale was about £450. There was a good attendance, and bidding was very active. Thb new Hue of telegraph from the Mataura Tapanui and Switzers is nearly completed, and it is expected the line will be a work in a month's time. A BACE BALL was held in the Public Hall, Tapanui, the first night of the races. The proceeds were for the benefit of the Tuapeka Hospital. There was a large attendance. Messrs. Hunter and Pacey, of Waikaka, provided the music. Dancing was kept up with great Bpirit till an early hour on Friday morning. MB. M'AfILLAW, Of Tapanui. has in course of construction an extensive range of stabling in addition to that at present in use. The building is substantial and, when completed, will be the largest in Tapanui. The carpenter work of the Beaumont bridge has been commenced. All the piers are completed. The contractor expects to complete the job in six month's time. Thb Tapanui saw mills are at present fully employed. The demand for timber is ve>y large, keeping the bullock teams constantly at work. Mr. Kennedy, the great Scotch vocalist, assisted by his family, will give one of his celebrated entertainments, entitled '"Twa. Hours at Hame," in the Tuapeka Athenreum, on the evenings of Thursday and Friday (to-morrow and the day following). To these Scotsmen whose hearts warm at the sound of their native doric spoken or sang in all its genuineness, we say go and hear the Kennedys, especially the elder Kennedy, who is a thorough master of thpScotch " language," and an exquisite delineator of Scottish character in all its phases. This family have been drawing the most crowded houses that have ever assembled in Dunedin, and their performances are spoken of most highly by the Dunedin press. Some fifteen years ago we had the pleasure of hearing Mr. Kennedy in London, where, without assistance, he managed to dr»w large audiences for many nights, and. since that time we have watched with pleasure- the increase of his popularity as a Scotch vocalist and story teller. We can with all confidence recommend this entertainment as a gem of ita kind, and one the like of which the Tuapeka publio may not for many years have another opportunity of enjoying. The banks in Lawrence on and after the 31st of this month will close at 4 o'clock every Saturday afternoon, instead of 6 as hitherto. The Switzers Annual Races will take place on the sth and 6th of March next. We learn that Messrs, Hay and Son are the successful tenderers for the erectiou of Mr. Higgina' new store, Havelock. We understand - th*tt Mr. Higgins intends having a building erected sufficient to meet the growing requhements of the Waitahuna district. Mb. M. Hat will sell under power of a bill of sale' that valuable property known as the Beaumont Ferry Hotel, together with the stock and furniture, on Friday, the 30th inst. Mb. W. Haybs will sell by publicauction the whole of Mr. Vincent Pyke's household.furniture, &c, On Friday (this week), commencing at 2 o'clock. We clip the ; following paragraph from a home paper; "At a meeting at Leamington, on Monday, of the Executive of the- National Agricultural Labourers' Union, it was stated the Agent-General for New Zealand would grant free passages , to farm-laborers, navvies, and other unskilled laborers and tlieir families. Emigrants must pay £1 for each adult's ship's kit. Twenty thousand families are wanted." THKii'ifcU »«»«»xi™>rKary of the birth of the pofii Burns was celebrated on Monday evening at the Shamrock Hotel, Dunedin, under the auspices of the Otago Caledonian Society. Mr. Ramsay, President of the Society, occupied 1 the chair. There were about 7U persona present, and a pleasant evening was spent. The anniversary was also celebrated at Mosgiel, Mr. Donald Reid, M.H.R., occupying the chair. Two gentlemen returning to Dttnedin from Mosgiel in a buggy last night (writes the ' ' Daily Times *' of yeßtwday) met with a sight which, under the eiren instances, was a startling one.' When atabout the highest point on the road near Saddle Hill- the night not only being very dark, but so misty that shadows from the lamps were reflected on the fog ahead— just _aa they were turning a corner they were startlod by seeing a man stark naked rush »p to near the horses' heads. He threw up his arms in the air, and shouted " Stop, stop." The occupants of the boggy at the- time were returning to town in a harry, and had been at once urging their horses at a, pretty high rate of speed, and keeping a sharp look out for carts without lights and embankments when the an welcome pedestrian appeared. Though after calling on them to stop, and shouted "lam an honest man," they did not, under the peculiar circumstances, considerit advisable they "should comply with the request,' but urged their horses on at greater speed. A little distance farther on they saw some clothes lying on the road, possibly those of the unfortunate lunatic * bat they were not in a mood to pause anl examine them.- Had the buggy been going at a slower rate, the sensational incident of -a struggle with a madman at midnight on Saddle Hill might have occurred.

We are glad to learn that Mr. H, Clapcott, travelling sub-epmmisaioner for the Government Life Assurance and Annuities, has received, in reward for his active and successful' services, a permanent appointment in the sttme cfepartmant for the North tsland. Mr. Clapcott will return to Lawrence in about a fortnight previous to his leaving the province. An English journal says : — Last year nearly 600,000 newspapers, posted fox-abroad, had to be stopped in their progress owing to insufficient payment of postage; The neglect of another rule — namely, that of fixing eight days from the date of publication as the limit during which a newspaper must be posted for foreign transmission, also leads to the loss of a large nuniber df newspapers, such number last year having been more than 100,000. This will account for many disappointments experienced by people in the colonies owing to the non-receipt of newspapers. Me. Cook's splendid break of 762 has been eclipsed, If the following account oi the "longest break on record/ which we take from "Bell's Life," is correct: — On the Thursday evening preceding the Liverpool Cup a number of gentlemen assembled at the Adelphi Hotel, Liverpool, to compare notes, &c, after which several of them paid a visit to the spacious billiard-room attached to the hotel, and were amply rewarded by witnessing the scientific manipulations of Mr. William Thnbrell, well-known as an excellent player. Mr. TJrimbell was conceding 400 pdints in, a game l of 1000 up to a well-known gentleman amateur athlete, and during the game " he made an uninterrupted and unparaelled break of 803, of which number 296 were spot strokes. The applause and excitement at the close of the break was intense. The charitable dames of Chicago have discovered a new way of raising money for benevolent objects. They take rooms in the heart of the city, and spread a 2s 6d luncheon for business men. The tables are decorated with flowers, and are served by pretty volunteer young ladies. The managers induce their friends to furnish free supplies, and the landlord to charge no rent, so that a week's operations usually fill the treasury to the desired point. The London correspondent of the " North British Mail " writes :—": — " The chief apartment in the London residence of the Marquis i of Lome has a series of niches in the wall i designed for the reception of busts to be executed by Her Royal Highness the, Marchiones of Lome. Some of these niches are already occupied, and those who have enjoyed the privilege of seeing the busts testify that they, are works of genuine merit. It is ] a curious fact that the Princess Louise is the second lady sculptor connected with the house of Argyll. The other was the Hon. Ann Seymour Conway, afterwards Mrs Dagtner, grand-Daughterof John.fourth Duke of Argyll. Ma-y specimens of this lady's handiwork as a sculptor are to be seen in the Church of San bridge, kent. In reporting a temperance entertainment recently given at Auckland, the local " Star" says; — '• Several songs and recitations were given by the juveniles, and the Niger song, ' Cheer, up Sam, dont let your spirits go down,' created a burst of applanse, and seemed to banish seriousness from every face. The lad, whose name was Purchaa, who sang the dity, was loudly eachored. Mr Carr (the Chairman) at length brought his gratified audience back to a due state of solemnity, and administered a severe rebuke to the lad on the impropriety of singing such a song as ' cheer up ' in a Temperance Hall, which should be devoted entirely to purer melodies, such ' Pretty darlings, go to bed,' and the ' Crystal Spring.' " TJrvERTON possesses the honor of numbering among her citizens the oldest New Zealand colonist. He arrived at the Bay of Islands in 1821, and consequently has resided in the Colony over half a century. Although he has attained the patriarchal age of 84, he is still hale and hearty. The land sales in the Province of Canterbury for the past month amounted to £51,000. Th£ harvest has drawn away the population from Naseby says the '• (Mount Ida Chronicle)," a good many having left for the Waitaki and Oamaru districts. From what we hear, it appears that instead of their being' a scarcity of hands in that district, there is a great over supply at present. The principal employers were at once supplied at pretty low rates, and have had to turn away a great many. The conduct of sum of these employers in exaggerating their requirements appears to us quite inexcusable. Even as late as January 7th we hear of one writing to the Government to arrange with the Messrs. Brogden to suspend their railway contracts temporarily, and yet at the .very time, or at the utmost three or four days after, he was full handed himself. The whole agitation, from the first commencement when the Oamant deputation waited upon the Superintendent in Dunedin, looks very much like a premedtiatedjattempt to obtain cheep labor We have not much sympathy with our own men, who ran away looking after women's work, while refusing the better remunerated, though possibly tougher labor on the head race contracts, offered to them at their own doors. Nevertheless, if their has been a systematic agitation at Oamaru to obtain cheap labor, working men will do well to rember it in future years. Employers may then find the wolf really at their door, and all their cries for labor in vain. Everybody' knows the story of Sheridan having been picked up in a state of what the . Yankees call " suffering from wet groceries," and saying, to the watchman who asked his name, "Well, I'll tell you my name, but (hie) here's half-a-crown to you, and don't tell anybody else ; my name's (hie) Wilberforce — Mr. Wilberforce — yes !" A somewhat similar case happened the other night, when a stray waif was found wrapped in a policeman's greatcoat, supporting what he considered a falling lamp-post up Highgate way. . When taken to the station, and asked to state his name, he said he was Inspector , of the division. "Hold your tongue sir,"" said the offi"ef on duty, with an unconscious 'Irishism, "and tell the truth-. You know you are not Inspector , and that that is not your coat. Where did you get it ?" " Well, ifit's not my coat," said the Bohemian, " you're welcome to it ; but the gentleman to whom it did belongs gave it to me. You'll find him lying down about the Elephant, and I wish you'd just tell him to send up mine, because it's a respectable coat, and I'm a man universally respected, while Fin sure the other isn't." Curiously | enough when the gentleman was brought before the magistrate the following morning he was not fined, and he was the, only person ' who referred to the story of the policeman's coat, the other party not thinking it worth ] mentioning. ' | '■ JSgles," in the " Australasian," says :—: — I By a late P. and O. steamer a gentlemen not j altogether unknown in the colonies took his departure from Southampton. Through some curious lapse of memory he had forgotten his own name, and being a person of ready adaptability to circumstances, he took the first tint came handy, and called himself Cavenagh. He wasn't at all a bashful man, and after a few days at sea he introduced himself to Sir Andrew Clarke (once onr Surveyor-General), who -was on his way to , his Governorship of the Straits Settlements. r "You probably," said the pseudonymous traveller, " knew my father, Mr. Cavenagh, of the Melbourne ' • Morning Herald ?',' "Oh yes," said Sir Andrew, "1 remember him very well. How is Mrs. Major ?" "MrsMajor ! I don't remember having had the pleasure of her acquaintence." "Not know her?" said Sir Andrew. "Why, she is your own sister ?" The impnf*)*, thus accidentally detected, had ample opportunity for introspection the rest of *&c voyage. No one spoke to him,