Local Intelligence.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 356, 16 May 1874, Page 2

Local Intelligence.

In a recent issue, we referred to the large quantity of land which had been applied for within the past fortnight, under the agticultural leasing regulations. W> then stated that the hearing of applications for 5,500 acres had been set down for the 27th inst. Since then, applications have been lodged at the Survey Office, and set down for hearing on the 3rd proximo, for 4,887 acres, thus making a total of upwards of 10,000 acres applied for, siuce the beginning of the month. A considerable quantity of the land applied for is not the best suited for agricultural purposps, but is the best that can be found in the various blocks of land now open for settlement. There are many persons anxiously waiting to learn what action the Government intend taking as regards the throwing open of land on Bellamy and Smith's mns, in the Tunpeka West districts. If they would at once throw open the whole of Mr Smith's run in the above distriot on the agricultural leasing system, it would not comprise one acre more than is necessary for present requirements. Mr. Smith is willing to meet the Government on the easiest terms, and any Government that would come to terms with that gentleman, without delay, would coufer a lasting boon on the Taapek-a district.

A public HKKTING was held on Saturday evening at Mr. T. Cornish's Roxburgh Feiry Hotel, for the purpose of electing a committee to carry out the annual ploughing match this season. Mr. Heron occupied the ch»ir. After the committee for last year had given up their trust. the folio win? gentleoieu weie elected hs members of committee ;— Messrs J. Elder, A. Carlaw, T. Cameron, R. Tubman, A. M,Gref>of, H. Heron, John Mackay, B. Williams, E. Tubman ; T. Cornish Treasurer ; E Morrison. Secretary. It was decided to hold the ploughing match about the middle of next month at some p!;ice fco be fired upon by the committee, After the next meeting of the committee full particulars will be given. A subscription list was ouenml and smne £8 or £9 subscribed at once, which added to the few pounds remaining Fiom last season and subscriptions still to be received girea every, hope that the committee will be •Mo to afford to give good prizes this yenr.

SiXPBKOB a pound weight is offered by some Chinegg for lh« rosin which is so abundant in the- lignite deposits of the Lawrence coal pit. The Chinese doctors convert it into some kind of medicine. Mkssrs. Watson Brothebb.. of Tolcomajriro, are the successful tenderers for the erection of the railway bridge over the Molyneux at Balclutha. The amount of the contract is £15,652 13 a. 9d. t the Government supplying the iron work.

The Committee elected at the public meeting held at Wetherstones have commenced their opposition to certain applications for leases of agricultural land on block X., Tuapeka East, which they believe are made for the benefit of other than the applicants. In our report of the Warden's Court, it .will be observed the application of Mr. Malcolm M'lnnes came on for hearing on Wednesday, and was objected to by Mr. Simmonds and Mr. Smythe. Mr. M'Coy appeared for the objecton.. From what transpired, it would appear the Agricultural Leasing Regulations are very vague, not even restricting the area to 200 acres. The application was adjourned for 14 days, the Warden directing that special notice should be given to those v/ho were objected to on account of suspicion of their bona fides. The decision in this case will be looked forward to with much interest. Although there is no power given to subpoena witnesses if it is decided to decline granting applications that are objected to until the applicants declare their bona fides upon oath, we believe the Wetherstones Committee and the public generally will be thoroughly satisfied.

The division on Mr. Bastings' want of confidence motion, brought forward on Thursday last, resulted as shown elsewhere —Ayes, 17 ; Noes, 24. It is therefore evident that the KeidTurnbull Government have a good working majority. While we regret this, we must aoknowledge that it would have been difficult to have formed a strong Government from the Opposition. We would have been quite contended to have seen Air. Bastings at his old post as Secretary for Goldfields and Public Works, and Mr. Turnbult where he said he should he -attending to his o^n private affairs. With these changes, we believe there would have been a Government which would have commanded the confidence of the province at large. The present arrangement will be a scource of heartburning to the goldfieids. The only goldfields member supporting the present Government is Mr. M'Kellar, and he is, as yet, but learning his political alphabet, and ii most unsuited for the position of Goldfields Secretary. Tho goldfielda, therefore, we regret to think, ure bound to suffer a qtievous wrong under tho Ueid-Turuhull administration.

A BEAUTIFUL specimen of the New Zealand white crane has been presented to the Tuapeka Museum by Mr. "William Gascoigne, of Tuapeka Mouth, where it was caught. It has been sent to Mr. Jennings, taxideimist, Duuedin, for the purpose of having it preserved. The Bellamy Run cisc has been argued before the Privy Council, and their Lordships have reserved their judgment. We are informed that the origin of the burning of Mr. M'Clusky's stack of oats has been traced to his own children, who were playiug with matches at the side of it. Mr. Gascoigme requests us to state that the " Biuoe Herald " was in error when it reported that his farm was sold for the sum of £700, the fact being that it was bought in at £750.

In the Provincial Council on Tuesday last Mr. Clark asked the Government — " If any and whatactiou has been taken in the matter of land proclaimed en Bellamy Run, and which fonne'l an action in the Supreme Court, and ulitmately in the Appeal Court, where the case was decided in favour of the Government ?'•' — Mr. Reid replied by saying it was quite correct that an action had been brought, which had been dcci led against the Government iv Duneilin, and afteiwnrds reversed at Wellington. The action was then carried before the Privy Council. The Government agreed that this should decide many others of a similar chiracter. When the Land Act of 1872 was passed, these appeals were apparently abandoned ; at least they had heard of no further action being taken. He believed this laud had been dealt with to some extent since that time. We do not know whether it is necessary to inform Mr. Reid that the land referred to has been dealt with to the extent that not a single acre of it can at present be obtaiued for settlement.

Thomas William Quelch Honeywell^convicted by a jury of manslaughter at the k'st sittings of the Supreme Court in Dunedin, was discharged on Wednesday last by an order frotn his Excellency the Governor. Accused prior to being sentenced stated that certain medical evidence favorable to him should have been called, but that it hud not. Subsequently, the counsel who defended him, Mr. AJouat, forwarded a petition to his Excellency the Governor through his Honor Mr. Justice Chapman, accompanied by statements from Drs. Huhne, Flocken, and Bakewell, controverting the evidence given by medical experts at the prosecution. The petition was forwarded thiough his Honor Mr. Justice Chupman, in accordance with the gaol regulations, with the abovementioned lesult.