Local Intelligence.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 338, 14 March 1874, Page 2

Local Intelligence.

OUR report of the R.M.s Court held at Roxburgh on the 10th instant we are compelled to hold over till our next issue, and also the report of Friday's Lawrence Court.

The criminal sittings of the Supreme Court will beheld in Lawrence, on Tuesday next.

On Friday, the 6th instant, a young man named Stionach, brother of Win. and Donald Stronach, left Hyde Home Station for the Waikaka Station, but up to Thursday last nothing had been heard of him. He was riding a young colt, and it was feared he had met with an accident, so twelve horsemen went in search of him, but could not find traces either of horse or man. It is feared he has been drowned in trying to ford the Waikaia, when in a state of flood.

The successful tenderers for the construction of the retaining wall, Ross Place, are as follows —For block XL.. Messrs Mears :anii Whittet, £290, and block XLII, £517 Bs.; and Mr. Hay. block X LI., £21710.5., making a total of £943 ISs, The Committee held a ineeting on Thursday evening, when they decided upon at once making a call of £5 for each property owner, and future monthly calls in proportion to the amount of work done.

The necessity for some kind of protection or hoarding being placed round buildings that are in course of erection in central places of the town, was forcibly exhibited on Thursday lust, when the foothpath in front of Mr. Sheath's new shop gave away, and precipitated a child of Mr. W. Cox's into the regions below with no small violence against the stone foundation of the building. The poor little tellow escaped with a nasty bruise on the left temple. However, it might have been worse.

A HEAVY land slip took place on the railway works at the rock cutting near Clarks Flat, Waitahuna road, a few days ago. It is estimated that from 600 to 700 tons of eaith and rock fell on the line of railway.

A rather novel way of ejecting obnoxious tenants was lately adopted by a landlady at tbe Teviot with great success. After all legitimate means had failed, she tried the following strategy : —Whilst her lodgers (they were man and wife) were locked in the arms of Morpheus, and probably in each other's arms, a flood of water, which had been stored in the attic, was let in upon them from the region above the bed. Imagining that a. second deluge had set in, or that the Molyneux had overflowed its banks in a mighty flood, they, in the shortest possibly time, managed to clear out as for their lives, to the no small delight of the landlady, who had witched the result of the manoeuvre with considerable anxiety.

We again remind our readers of the attractive programme provided for St. Patrick's Day. The sports, which are of a varied and interesting character, and which are to- be enlivened by the provincial brass band, from Dunedin, will commence punctually at 3 o'clock. In the the evening, the interesting tale of Fabiola, dramatised, will be performed by the children attending St. Patrick's school. We have already alluded to the excellent preparations which have been made for this lepresentation, and have no hesitation in saying that a treat awaits those who will attend on Tuesday evening. Songs, comic and sentimental, and piano forte and other music will be intersperced between the various acts. On Monday evening, a fine display of fireworks will be made in Whitebaven-street.

The following are the results of the first day's racing at Tokomairiro : — Blaiden Plate, of 30 soys., 1J mile : Rs>ey's Miss King, 1 ; M'Laren's Fanny, 2. Members* Handicap, SO soys, 1£ miles, with a sweejwtake of £2, to be given to the second horse : Ward's Swapfgerer, 1 j Ward's Tambourini, 2. District Handicap Trotting Race, of 20 soys, 3 miles . Draper's Thaw, 1 ; Wright's Bobby. 2. Selling Race, 15 soys, 1 mile heats : Coomb's Specimen, 1 ; Wright's Bushman, 2. t Flying Handioap, of 3o soys, 1 mile : Mason's Color Sergeant, 1 ; Ray's Ada, Colt, 2. Color Sergeant was disqualified, as he carried 31b. overweight. Ada Colt got the money. Second day.- -Publicans' Handicap, of 40 soys., distance, lj : Wright's Novice, 1 ; J. Ward's Tauibomini, 2. Handicap Hurdle Race, of 30 soys., mile heats : J. Ward's Swaggerer, 1 ; Eeay's Bismarck, 2.' District Handicap, of 20 soys., 1^ mile : M'Liren's Fanny, 1 ; Coombe's Specimen, 2. Tokoinairoro Jockey Club Handicap, of 85 soys., 2 miles : Reay's Ada Colt walked over. 'Consolation Handicap, of 25 soys.. 1 mile : Ward's Tambourini, 1 mile ; Mason's Color Sergeant, 2.

There is to be an ordination service at Trinity Church to-morrow morning at 11 o'clock, and a confirmation service in the evening at 7. The Bishop of the Diocese will preach both morning and evening. The Bishop will preach in the church at Roxburgh on Wednesday evening at o'clock after which a congregational meeting **U b? helc(,

The mushroom season is beginning to let in. We are informed that several person*, are constantly in the habit of rising early to gather these delicacies. No doubt the heavy dews we have lately experienced are favdurable to their growth. _ >. "•••»_ We observe that Mr. Crawford, the contractor for the formation of the road between Lawrence and Evan's Flat, has almost completed his contract. Several draymen are ' engaged ' in supplying stone, both for pitchingand gravelling. To our mind this is a step in the right direction; inasmuch as we are pleased to notice that "the powers that be" see the necessity of having roads repaired before the winter sets in. We can well remember last winter, that it was almost an impossibility to traverse this road— especially that portion between the Tuapeka Hotel and Mr. Darton's farm— without being covered with mud. It is to be hoped that I part will be in a more passable state this winter. Acclimatised birds are rapidly spreading in this district, Pheasants are almost daily seen on the Bellamy Station in different places. There are two fine coveys of partridges on the Beaumont Flats, and in several other parts of the district partridges are frequently seen. 1 The Bald Hill Flat Races take place on Tuesday next, St. Patrick's Day. His Lordship, Bishop Moran, passed through Lawrence this week en route for Arrowtown. Where he has gone to consecrate the Church recently built there. The last heavy rain showed the desirability of something being done to make a decent pathway round the hoarding erected by the contractors for the Town Hall, pedestrians having to take the middle of the road which was ankle deep in mud. We suggest to the contractors that they should lay some planks round ' the hoarding in wet weather for the convenience of the public.

We would remind those persons who are qualified, and whose names are not yet on the Electoral Roll, that the time for registration expires at the end of this month.

A Correspondent from the Teviot says :—: — I am glad to see that a coach has arrived at the Teviot to run in opposition to Cobb and Co. Perhaps one may be able to get from here to Tuupeka now, at something less than double the faro fiuui Tunpeka to Dunedin, the rate at present charged. I wish Mr. Lyons every success in his spirited enterprise.— l am glad to learn that the Roxburgh School Committee have secured the services of a lady, Mrs. Sircombe, the wife of the present master, to teach the children sewing &c. , thus supplying a want which has been long felt at the Teviot.

We learn that Messrs. Cargill and Anderson are having the telegraph wire carried from the Roxburgh office to their homestead, Teviot Station.

Dr. NIVEN has comraenoert practice at the Teviot, and accepted the position of medical attendant to the Oddfellows Lodge Roxburgh. We wish him every success.

The Spylaw Hotel was opened by a ball and supper on Friday, March 7th. The attendsince was very large as might have been expected from the popularity of host and hostess, Patrick, As an instance of the fertility of Mount Benger it may be mentioned that 10 young- ladies, natives of that quarter, all of a marriageable age. graced the assemblage with their fair presence. Mr. Patrick's usual Harvest Home was combined with the opening, the giver of the feast being an equal advocate of the good old customs of merry-making, a most enjoyable evening was spent.

Mr. T. F. Morkis informs us that our correspondent was incorrect in his statement that the contractors of the Glenore section of the Tuapeka Railway had dispensed with one of the two shifts employed in the work on account of its unprofitable nature. The reason the extra, shift was dispensed with was, because there was insufficient daylight to cairy on the work sixteen hours a day.

A correspondent writes us stating that many of the residents of Manuka Creek are desirous of inviting Mr. Holloway to pay them a visit in bis return down country, in older that they may relate to him some of their twelve years experience in this country. Mr. Holloway may listen with profit to the Government mouthpieces who havesought and are seeking their own aggrandisement by the acquisition of land, but old residents in the country can tell Mr. Holloway something that might be still more profitable to him. He wonders if Mr. Holloway has noticed an advertisement in the papers signed by the Provincial Treasurer calling upon immigrants to pay up the balance of their passage money, and threatening if they fail to do so they will be prosecuted as the law directs.

The sale of Mr. J. E. Pope's lease of 100 acres of unimproved land situated at Evans Flat gives a v*»ry good idea of the value of land in the Tuapeka District, Mr. M. Hay sold for Mr. Pope 91 acres on Thursday last for the sum of £250, rent paid to December last. Mr Drapper's house in Munro's Gully was sold on Thursday for £20. His household furniture brought good prices.

An accident happened to the Switzers coach on Thursday week by which the only passenger, a female, got her leg broken. She was taken to the Switzers Hospital, where under the care of Dr. Lake we are informed she is progressing as well as can be expected.

The regular weekly meeting of the Waste Lands Board took place on Thursday. There were present The Chief Commissioner, Mr. J. T, Thomson, (in the chair). Messrs. Bastings, Butterworth, Reid, and Strode. Capt. F. W. Mackenzie applied as to the amount of compensation which should be paid in terms of Section 98 and 99 of tbe Act of '72, for lands on his run No. 168, disposed of under section 47 (vidu resolution of Provincial Council, July 23, 1873, and Provincial "Gazette," Dec. 17, 1873), Captain Mackenzie explained that he had agreed to give up 5,000 acres, in term 3of a covenant. The Provincial Council afterwards determined to dispose of a certain portion under the deferrd payments system ; but he had never contemplated that the Government wonld refuse to pay him for land taken under that system. He did not now ask the Boarl. the Government, or anybody else for money . but merely that the Board should state what they considered would be a fair value of the land. He did not object to the land being disposed of in the way proposed, if the Provincial Council wished it, but considered that he ought to be allowed the same compensation as had been given to eveiybody else. There would be some 1,500 or 1,800 acres. -Mr. Bastings : But when the Government let you have have that land it was contemplated to take the block referred to. —Capt, Mackenzie -Never without payment. T Mr. Bastings : When you got the 1800 .acres at £1 per acre, without competition, the Government considered you were not entitled to com-pensation.--Captain Mackenzie: That was certainly not my feeling in the matter. -Mi. Bastings : It seems that, if the occupation of these blocks by settlers rested with the squatter, there would not he inuoh chauce of many settlers remaining. The Government in that rerespect are thwarted at almost every step.— Captain Mackenzie : You cannot say that I do that,— Mr. Bastings ; Well, all I know is this, that when you gat this 1800 acres, the Government considered that a thorough settlement had been effected so far as the transaction of your land was concerned; and if the matter,

has not been reduced to writing, the arrangement was certainly made in good faith. — After discussion, it was carried that the whole question at issue be referred to the Provincial Solicitor for his opinion, Capt. Mackenzie re^ quested the Board to make a rebate in rent. -- & year's rent had been paid in advance on Ban 168, the land was sold before the term for which the rent was paid had expired, and he now asked that a reduction be, in terms of- covenant, made. The matter was referred to the Government. Mr. Andrew Allan, on behalf of the Progress Committee of Tapanui, wrote, objecting to the leasing of a coal reserve near the township of Gore, applied for by Mr. Younqsom The bit of ground was most useful to carters, and especially so when the river was flooded. The matter was referred to the Banger for his advice. — Mr. James Rodgers applied to purchase section 1, block VIII; Glenkenich district. He was allowed to purchase 10 acres, being the measurement he orginally applied for,— Messrs. Herbert, Howat. & Co. applied for a steam saw-mill license, extending to 640 acres, on Block XIV., Glenkenich District, under the regulation lately passed by the Board. It was resolved that the application be received as on the Ist April, and that in the meantime the advice of the ranger be taken. '