Local Intelligence.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 326, 31 January 1874, Page 2

Local Intelligence.

The San Francisco mail leaves Port Chalmers on or about 6th February. The Ilev. Mr. Maxwell, of Port Chalmers, will preach in the new Congregational church, Whitehaven-street. to-morrow, at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. "\ The crops on the "Waikaia FJat are looking well this season. If they are harvested in favorable weather, they should, from appearance, be second to none in the province. A meeujjg of the Swifcsers Hospital Committee was held on Tuesday evening. The object waj» to. endeavor to secure the services of Dr. Lake, at present on a visit to S withers. It was resolved to communicate with the surrounding runhclders, and ascertain if they were willing to contribute the amount promised by them last year. If their reply is favorable, sufficient money will be guarantped to induce Dr. Lake f.gain to settle in Switzers. The "Cromwell Argus" states that our Clyde correspondent was wrong in his telegram which stated the Mayor and Councillors were in waiting for his Excellency the Governor. Mr. Dawkius, the Mayui of Cromwell, our contemporary states, intimated in the plainest possible language that upon no account whatever would he consent to take any part in the reegptipn, and giving, very.- properly in our opinion, as his reason the fact of the Government having refused to grant him the usual honor which is conferred on Mayors, Mr. Dawkins was evidently of opinion that, if unfit for -the honor of a J-.Psbip, he was hardly a fit and proper person to. meet his Excellency the Governor of N"e* Zealand. Wb thoroughly endorse the following remarks made by the ** Ciomwell Argus '""on the Governor's tour of the province :— The next time Sir James Fergusson travels through Ofcago — which we hope will be at an early date— we trnst he will rto one of two Things : 'either travel as the Governor, or aa plain Sir James Fergnsson. To do the latter, and to escape any demonstrations of any kind, it will.only be necessary for him to leave his mounted escort behind in Dunedin, and to give particular in j actions to Ilia Honor the Superintendent to avoid giving announcements of his movements to Mayors and CottMcillojs. He will not be molested on his 'journey throughout the proviop. It is impossible for any man to enjoy the honor and dignity of being a Governor, and at the same time the privacy of a private gentleman. The telegraph line from. Clinton to Switzers is completed to the Leithen "Gorge. Mr. Roche, who is in charge of the construction party, informs us that the line will be finished to Switzers in February. Tenders have been called for ofilces at Tapanui and S.witzers. It is to be regretted that the buildings were not ready as soon us the line, as messages could have been transmitted from Tapanui weeks ago had such been the oase.

Wa have been Obliged to hold over our report of the Warden's and R.M.s Courts of Wednesday and yesterday.

Mb. W. D. Morrison is the successful tenderer for the Waipori Sludge Channel at £9,000.

. Captain HuttON, the Provincial Geologist, will visit LaWrence early-next week, specially to examine the natural features of the Blue Spur and its surroundings.

Mr. Geobqe Morison we are informed is the successful tenderer for the Waipori School at £239. ' '

Mb. Makgetts has been appointed a member of the Lawrence Board of Enquiry, in place af !->Mr, Peter Robertson whp resigned.

Mb. Robert Neil, at present teacher of the Side School, Southbridge, has been appointed to the Main School, Waipori ; and B. B. Herriot, formerly student of the Otago University, has been appointed to the Side School, Clarks Flat, near Lawrence.

123,000 feet of sawn timber was sent from the Victoria Saw Mill, Tapanui, in the month of December.

The Anglo-Swiss claim, Upper Waiknia, is yielding splendid returns. 170 ozs. of gold were obtained from the last paddock stripped. Several other claims on the river are also on good gold. This season pxomises to be a very profitable one on the Waikaia. The heavy floods in the spring of the year retarded work, all hands but are now busily employed.

The Kennedy Family gave two of their celebrated entertainments in the Athenaeum Hall on the evenings of Thursday and Friday. There was a full house on both occasions. " Twa Hours at Hanie " was the title of the entertainment, and two hours spent in a more enjoyable manner could hardly be imagined. Mr. Kennedy is in himself a host, and the rest of the family show that taste and feeling in their singing that is only acquired by long and careful study of music, and a real love for the profession they are following. Mr. Kennedy, both as a vocalist and story teller, is possessed of great and veisatile poweis, and fairly carried the audience with him. His many laughable anecdotes kept his listeners in one continual roar of laughter ; whilst his rendering of the famous patriotic song, ''Scots wha hae wi' Wallace bled," led his audience up to such a pitch of excitement that not a Scotchman in the room but felt that he could grasp a claymore and die for his country. The glee "Hail Smiling Morn" brought forth an encore, which was kindly responded to. Miss Helen Kennedy's singing of '* Will ye no come back again " was greatly applauded. A glee entitled the " Cloud Capt Towers " was a gem, the singing of which without accompaniment showed the -greatest care and tns.te in execution. The next laughable piece on Thursday's programme was t..e account cf how Allister M'Allister's bagpipes put " life and mettle in the heels of the villagers," followed by the Highland song "Allister M 'Allister." The immitation of the bagpipeo was so good that every highlander in the room kept his huels bearing time to the music. The continued peals of laughter and bursts of genuine applause must have been gratifying to the performers. The rendering of '•Auld Lang Syne" by the company, with chorus by the audience, closed one of the best entertainments ever offered to a Lawrence public. Friday evening's entertainment commenced by Mr. Kennedy relating several interesting stories and sparkling anecdotes. The different songs sung by him lequhe no comment. They were tendered in a masterly- manner. The Second part of the programme was made up of glees and solos by members of the family, and was well received. The part song "The Boatie Kows" was ran.turos.ly encored, and kindly responded to. Mr. Kennedy then told some of his .humorous stories, principally relating to the clergy and people of the olden t;me. He also repeated " Allister M'Allister." The evening's amusement concluded with *' Auld Lang Syne "in real old Scotch fashion. Many of the audience travelled over thirty miles on Friday evening to hear this talented family, and thought the distance none too much. Indeed one old Scotchman remarked to us that he would have gone twice the distance with pleasure to hear Mr. Kennedy.

Owing to some oversight, our parcel containing the papers for our Switzers subscribers was left at the coach office by mistake.

Fi^OM advertisement it will be seen that tenders are invited tor the erection of a courthouse at Lawrence— the building to be stone an-1 concrete.

Fhom an advertisement in another column, it will be obseeved that tenders are invited for building a new church at Haveloek.

The term of office of the Waitahuna Board of Wardens expires on Saturday. The Government have as yet taken no steps for the election of their successors. The Board should call attention to the oversight.

The Clutha Presbyteiy meets at" Haveloek, on Wednesday first, at 6 p.m,, for the purpose of moderating in a call to the .Rev. Mr. Skinner to' Waitahuna. The Key. Mr.* M'Ara, of Balclutha, will preach and preside.

On Thursday night, Mr. Kelso was thrown out of a buggy in making a sharp tm n in front of Cogliill's Hotel. The horses then bolted round the hotel. After going some distance, th.c pole of the buggy waa driven into the ground and broken, and the buggy capsized, when the horses were caught.