Local Intelligence.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 357, 20 May 1874, Page 2

Local Intelligence.

A special meeting of the LawrenCe Town Council was held on Saturday evening last, to consider the matter of the culverts to be erected through the Boss Place Embankment. There were present— The Mayor and Crs. Hayes, Ferguson, and Armstrong. A report of the Public Works Committee on the Above subject was read. The Committee, after carefully considering the requirements of the case, recommended that culverts 2ft. 3in. wide by 3ft. 6in. high should be adopted, instead of 2ft. high by sft. wide, as given in the plans and specifications. The minutes passed at a previous Council meeting, that the culverts be constructed 2ft. x sft. was rescinded, and the report adopted. There being no other business, the meeting closed. Mb. R. Lancaster has lately been vei-y unfortunate. " As a part of a machine which he had bought at Queenstown was being brought down shortly after passing the late Mr. O'Brien's house, at a rather sharp turn, it was met by a Chinaman driving a mob of pigs", which caused the horses to take fright, and from what can be ascertained at present, the machine turned over two Or three times down the gully, completly ruining two of the horses. The driver also was considerable shaken, and had to return to Speargrass Flat. The amount of damage done to the machine is not yet known. The price of timber at the Tapanui saw mills has been raised from Bs. to 10s. per hundred feet. The reason for the rise in the price is the increased demand for timber and the new regulations which are being brought into force. Tnese regulations will considerably increase the cost of logs to the mill owners. A numbek of the surfacemen, who have been working on the main road between Lawrence and .Roxburgh, have, by the direction of Mr. Smaille, commenced forming the approaches to the bridge crossing the Molyneux at the Beaumont. IT was intimated in the Presbyterian Church on Sunday last, that a petition was in circulation for signature throughout the district, in re the discontinuance of the running of Sunday trains in Dunedin. The petition, we learn, has already been numerously signed. All youths over 14 years of age are entitled to notify their disapproval of this traffic by appending their signatures. The Rev. Mr. Skinner, of Waitahnna» preached in the Presbyterian Church, Lawrence. j morning and evening, on Sunday last. On both occasions the oongiegations were large and attentive.

The engine for the Switzers Freehold Gold Mining Co. is on its way to the claim. The road being in such a bad state between Clutha Ferry and Switzers has already caused a consideiable delay. Work has already been commenced preparatory to the arrival of thi machine when a new shaft will be sunk, though, it is probable, if boring rods are obtainable, the deep ground will first be tested so as to ascertain the deepest part of the claim on which to place the engine. There is every prospect of this claim getting a thorough trial at the hands of new company. Should payable gold exist in the deep ground it might lead to miles of country being opened up, as it is supposed that at one time the Winding and Argyle Creeks both went through the giound into a gorge at the back of the low range, and from thence to the Matanra. and that an immense landslip which can plainly be seen, directed the water to its present course down the Winding Creek towards the Waikaia,

Mr. Swanston's run, near Switzers, has changed hands, Mr. Ibboston, of Geelong, being the purchaser. This gentleman is also the proprietor of the adjoining station, known as the Waikaka. and formerly owned by Mr. Ainslie. It appears that foreign capitalists can obtain any quantity of graaing county, and reap large pecuniary benefits therefrom, but if a settler in neighbourhood of Switzers wants a few hundred acres for agricultural or grazing purposes, he can't get it, through he is prepared to pay twelve times more rent than the runholder.

At its last meeting, the Alexandra Town Council received a letter from the Clyde Council, requesting their co-operation in memorialising the Provincial Government to- have the railway extended as far as Roxburgh. It was resolved •' That the Town Clerk acknowledge the letter from the Clyde Town Council, and state that this Council will give all the assistance in their power."

A DuNEDJN butcher is exhibiting in his shop what he Btates to be " the largest pig ever killed in New Zealand." The weight of the animal cleaned and dressed is 6521 bs.

Mb. M'Debmid gave notice that he would move in the Provincial Council yesterday, "That inasmuch as the contracts for the construction of the following light railways, viz., Orepuki, Clinton, Wallacetown, and Waiareka, are far in excess of the appropriation by this Council, this Council is of opinion that the Province is not bound thereby, and hereby refuses to give its sanction to the same until the whole matter be considered."

A whiter in the " Wakatip MMainl n is informed that the Assembly, at the forthcoming session, will open with important business. The financial statement will be also early brought down. Indeed, the session— it is authoritatively stated by those who ought to know- will be a very important one throughout, and an electoral re-division of the Colony is contemplated. The loan to goldfields at Auckland, and loans or advances to Provinoes, will form a subject of debate.

A Dunedin correspondent of the " Wakatip Mail" writes :— "I am inclined to think that Dunedin, for the present, has enough of the new-chum element ; that there is a lowering of rates of wages, and a desire to colonise the new introduction by sending them up-country to obtain the first lessons of that civilising process. It gives too much trouble here."

The Licensing Court at Blacks No I was held before W. L. Simpson, Esq., 6.M., and Commissioners Stronach and Grpenbank on Friday, 12th inst On opening the Court, the Chairman said the Court was of the opinion there were toe many public-houses in the district, but they did not wish to deprive any particular individual of his license without any warning, and intimated that next year only so many would be gran, ted having due regard to- population and the necessity for them. As a rale the Court objected to stores beint? connected wtth public-houses where there was hotel accomodation in the district. He stated also the opinion of the Court was that at Blacks there were too many publichouses, anl that Messrs S. Leaske and J. Pitches, who held licenses conjointly Arith stores in all probability would not have them renewed. At Ida Valley, the Court thought there was no necessity for two licensed houses. The applici ations of J. G. Mellor and ef J. Mellor, both of Tinker's, were adjourned till the 9th of June, in consequence of insinuations in the report of the police that both applicants had been supplying drunken people with drink. An objection was also lodged by a householder named James Hill against J. Mellor. The Coart, however, refused to receive it, it not having been lodged within the specified time. The Court drew speoial attention to the practice of supplying drunken men with liquor, and called attention to Sunday traffic, which is said to be very prevalent in the district, saying that for either offence the license would be cancelled.

Mb. Hislop, Inspector of Schools, recently visited the Waitahuna School, and decided upon having it removed to Havelock township, considering it a more central site for the requirements of the population. We have further information in the "Daily Times" regarding John Morrison, the well-known criminal lef erred to in out Saturday's telegram*. We learn tha the was cleverly captured at Mataura on Thursday evening by Police^ Constable Purdue. In 1865 , he wag convicted and served two years in the Dunedin Gaol for committing rape upon a child at the .Taieri ; and subsequently in 1868, he was sentenced to six years' penal Servitude for forging the name of W. D. Alurison to a number of cheques. - Obtaining ilia . release he borrowed a horse, and at the time of his arrest he was engaged in passing cheques wherever an opportunity offered. This Alexandra Town Council resolved at their last meeting to procure a fire-bell, to be erected next to the Council Chambers. Wp notice that the Committee of the Dun* stan Hospital are advertising for a married couple to act as cook and wardsman, &c, &c, at a salary of £90 per annum. We believe the Dunstan Hospital, which is said to be well managed, has never had more than a cook and wardsman to do the required work ; whereas the Tuapeka Hospital requires three persons, whose accumulated salaries amount to £200. The Arrow correspondent of the " Dunstan Times " writes as follows :: — *' Stack-firing is the all-absorbing question of the day just now, and how to prevent it or what can_ be done to detect the perpetrators of this atrocious crime no one seems to know. Whether a large reward may effect this object opinions are divided. As a rule this process is not very successful in the colonies. Accomplices in misdeeds are not generally induced to betray each other by monetary consideration. It is the opinion of a great many that the whole of the tires have been caused by one man, who must have a mania for destruction ; but, whoever he may be, if caught in the act, he will stand a good chance of being lynched. A farmer holding wheat, especially if uniusured, enjoys no peace of mind whatever being continually in dread of losing the produce of his last year's labor at one fell swoop. A good many are keeping watch all night long. Tha threshing machine owners keep up a vigorous supervision, never leaving their plant unat 4 tended when once on the field." The contractors for the Lawrence Railway. Messrs Hunter and Goodfellow, made a proposition to the Provincial Government to fill in those two dangerous bends on the road between Lawrence and Clarks Flat, where Mr. Donald M'Rae recently met with a serious accident* Their offer was a very rersonable one, namely, to fill in both bends, level with the road at 8d per yard. As this work under ordinary circumstances would cost double the money we would impress upon the Secretary for Public Works the desirability of accepting this offer. The bends referred to are of a most dangerous description. A deputation consisting of Messrs E. Herbert, S. Hales, and W. D. Moriison, will wait upon his Honour the Superintendent and the Executive to-day to present the memorial from the miners and inhabitants of Tuapeka urging upon them the desirability of recommending the General Government to construct a sludge Channel in Gabriels Gully to allow a laige quantity of auriferous ground, and a vast accumulation of tailings to be worked. We hare received a report of the Education Department presented to the Provincial Council for the year 1873. The report is not so voluminous as that of the previous year, being chiefly composed of statistics, but these show that the education of the Province has been well attended to, and is in a very favorable and progressive state. From the report, we learn that there wera 127 schools in operation throughout the Province in the year 1872, which number was increased by thirteen last year, thus making a total of 140 schools. In these, which include the Grammar Schools, there are 221 teachers employed, being an increase of 31 over the year 1872. In addition to the schools openedfin 1873, the Board sanctioned the establishment' of eleven new schools, and there are several others under consideration. We notice that the number of pupils who attended the Lawrence Grammar- School during the year was — boys, 131 ; girfs, 95. Total, 226. The average attendance- for the year was 150. Ok Monday afternoon, Dr. Sorley, of Dunedin, was presented by his patients and friends with a silver tea service and salver, in appreciation of his high professional attainments. Ox the road from Tapanui to the Dunrobin Hotel, running through Mr. Herbert's property there is a swamp which has been gravelled for about a chain, leaving at both ends a slush pond, through, which even bullocks cannot pass* With the early expenditure of a few pounds, this road could be made passable. There were- £500 voted for the road last session; why not expend a trifle of it at once for such a necessary piece of work ? We received a telegram from a Switzea's correspondent in reply to one from the same place which appeared in our issue of the 13fch instant stating that the telegraph office had been opened on Carnie Hill and "the Waikaia township could not be seen even by aid of the most powerful glass.'* Our correspondent in reply to this telegram says, " The Government township of Waikaia has during the past few days been rising as if by magic." We are aware of the fact that the lower township of Waikaia is growing daily, but we certainly think that Mr. Logan was perfectly right in placing the temporary office on Carnie Hill, until such time as proper accommoda-* tion is provided at the new township. We, expect, however, shortly to see all the business .people removing their establishments. The Hill is inconvenient in many respects for a business place, and with the road brought down the Winding Creek the Waikaia township would be far more central and convenient. The Government will do well to set the example and move the pubKo buildings, when as a matter of course the business people will follow.

It is notorious (says the " Bruce Herald '*) tliat the Treasury department under Mr. Turnbull's tenure has fallen into a thoroughly disorganised state. We venture to say, more gross incapacity and neglecjt of duty have never been exhibited by any Treasurer of the Province of Otago, and we can only express our wonder and astonishment that such a shrewd man as Mr. Donald Reid should ally himself with those who, it must be acknowledged, formed the weakest part of the late Executive. We would draw attention to Mr. W. Hayes* sale of cattle at Shumate's Yards, Wetherstones Road, to-morrosr,~at 2 o'clock; gnct the sale of town sections, at his Booms, Peel* street, at 2 o'clock, on Friday. In out commercial column we give a report of Messrs. Capstick's sale of M'Laren and Gb.'s horses at Tokomairiro. Referring to that sale the " Bruce Herald " in its yesterday's issue says : — We heard golden opinions freely expressed by strangers present, from a distance, as to the merits of our local Auctioneer, Mr. R. W. Capstick, • 2 senior member of the fin» of Messrs* V 1 Capstiok, Duthie and Capstiek, whose well known care in wielding the hammer, to the benefit alike of the vendor and purchaser is known among us. We were therefore the- « better pleased to find unsought confirmations 4 of the fact, so freely ixpressed by disin- } terested persons, on the occasion of the largest sales ever held in the district of horaa ' stock.

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difference of opinion arose between the Promcial Secretary and himself. At that time c offered to resigr, but the Superintendent ould not accept his resignation. Before mcludiug, the speaker referred to cer(-a ; n btes for public purposes, which had been ranted -to the Oamaru district, and which il as understood had not been properiv sancuoned. t. At a quarter past 2 a.m. a division was taken, with t?ie following result :— Ayes, ] 7 ; noes, 24. The motion was therefore lost. . The following is the division lwt : — f Ayes, 17 : Messrs. Bastings (teller), J. C. Brown, a. F. C. Browne, H. Clark, R. Clarke, We Latoiu', Pish (teller), Green, Hazlett, Iremad. M'Dermid', M'Glashan, M'Kenzie, Miiver, Reeves, Surapter, Turton. ■[Nobs, 24: Messrs. Allan, Daniel, Davie, Btaggitt, Henderson, Kinross, Lurasdon, Meniies, Mollison M'Kellar, M'Lean, M'Neil, Bcid (teller), Reynolds, Roberts, Rogers, ■land, Stont (teller), Teschemaker, Tolmie, ■jirnbull, Webster, Wilson, Wood. ■ ■ Friday, May 15. m. The Hon. the Speaker took the chair at ■p.m. W PETITIONS. F Mr. MACKENZIE presented a petition ■fom residents at Wivkouaiti, in opposition to Hfe running of trains on the Port Chalmers ■ailway on Sundays. If Mr. FISH presented a petition from Mr. Keorge Daniels, late Warder of the Dunedin Bospital, praying that the Council take his mkse into consideration. fcMr. M'DEKMID presented a petition from ■Do resideuts at Port Chalmers, in favour of Bo proposition 1o discontinue the running of Bains on Sundays on the Dunedin and Port Kb aimers line. |Mr. DE LATOUR presented a petition pom inhabitants of Hyde, praying that an Hditional block of land should be set aside ftntiguous to the land already settled. m questions. I- Captain Logan.— Mr. IRELAND asksd Ihe Provincial Secretary whether any steps pad been taken on the part of the Goveru|ment to re-purchase from Captain Logan a .portion of his freehold known to be payably puriferous ? i Mr. REID replied that certain ste2Js were laken by the late Government with the view pf purchasing from Captain Logan some privilege to mine over the land, and the late Secretary for Gold-fields made a I'ecommenda+ion to that effect. But the Government came to the conclusion that they could not see their ■way to pay the sum required for the privilege of mining over the land. The Bible in Schools.— Mr. IRELAND asked .the Government whether it was intended to amend the Education Ordinance in so far a3 it related to the reading of the Bible ■ in schools receiving State aid ? Mr. REID said it was not the intention of Stlie Government to take any action regarding the Education Ordinance during the present session. The Government, or, at any rate, he, iat all events, had a lively remembrance of an sffort he made in that direction two or three ears ago, aud which was sufficient to make im very chary of taking any action in regard ) the Ordinance in future. ACTS. 1 Castle-street. — The Castle-street Diverion Ordinance, 1874, was read a first time, nd its second reading fixed for Monday. Municipal Corporations Act. — On the Municipal Corporations Act Amendment Act, 1873, Introduction Bill being submitted for its third reading, Mr. STOUT moved that, fche words " and the town of Port Chalmers " be inserted. The amendment enables the town Council to make by-laws affecting hackpey carriages. Mr. GREEN" moved as an amendment that the Bill be road that day six months. The original motion was carried, and the Bill was read a third time and passed. Roads Diversion Bill. — This Bill was pead a third time and passed. MOTIONS. Dune din School Site. — On moving the eeond reading of the Dunedin School Site dill, Mr. STOUT explained that its object Fas to enable a piece of land in the Octagon leserve to be given to the Superintendent, mi xchange foßthe land occupied.by the Voluneer Fire Brigade. The Bill was committed, eported to the House without amendment, cad a third time, and passed. The Lunatic Aspltju. — Mr. REID noved, "That this Council concurs in the recommendation contained in his Honor's nessage No. 6, and recommends that the necessary steps be taken to give effect thereto." — The following is the message :—": — " The Superintendent submits to the Provincial Council the following proposals, with which he ventures to hope the Council will concur : —Ist. That the police paddock, Tokomairiro, wduld, in the meantime, be a suitable site for i farm in connection with the Lunatic Asyium ; and that, in order to enhance its future value, mmediate steps should be taken to fence said paddock, and to surround it with a belt of forest trees, by means of the labour of the inmates of the Asylum. 2nd. That it is expedient to reserve from sale 500 acres adjacent to the line of railway between Clinton and jMataura, or between Tokornairiro and Lawrence, with a view of the Asylum being ultimately located there. 3rd. That_a separate establishment be provided- for the care of inebriates; and the Colonial Legislature be applied to, with a view to provision being made for the legal committal to such establishment of confirmed drunkards." The motion was carried. The Potvebs of the Waste Land Joard.— Mr. GREEN, on behalf of Mr. H. Jlark, moved, " That an address be presented o his Honor the Superintendent, requesting ny opinion obtained by the Government 'or themselves, or for the Waste Land Board, »n the question of the powers of the Board, mder clause 35 of the Waste Lands Act, .872, to reserve ' any lands.' After some little discussion it was decided o give notice of the motion for another day, lr. STOUT having stated that it was exected his Honor Mr. Justice Chapman would eliver a judgment that day on which the .lestion hinged. Railway Traffic. — Mr. DAVIE moved, That the petition of the owners of property , and residents in, the district through which le Dunedin and Port Chalmers Railway asses, be referred to the Government, with he recommendation that in the opinion o2 this louncil the prayer of the petitioners be ranted." Mr. REI~) said the Government would take i© mattei* into consideration, with the view of omplying with the desire of the petitioners ? ut it was necessary that the manager of the lilway should be consulted in the matter, ecause if the alteration proposed were given ffect to it might materially affect his arrangeientB. If the proposed alteration was found racticable, and it would not interfere with le manager's arrangements, the Government ould endeavour to comply with the prayer of te petition. The motion was earned, with the addition of '.ie words, on the motion of the Hon. Mr. iEYNOLDS, "that it be referred to the avourable consideration of the Government." . Dunedin and Poet Chalmers Railway. *'-Mr. M'DERMID moved, " That extension -' time till Tuesday next be granted to the =" ''cct Committee on the Dunedin and Port aimers Railway for reporting its proceed- . ,s to the Council." The word " Wednesday " having been sub•tuted for " Tuesday," the motion was car- " jL ' Jtho Council adjourned at half -past 3 o'clock <intil 2 p.m. on Monday.

r As an illustration of the scarcity of skilled labour, we are informed by a gentleman that &Vwas unable to obtain the services of a piastre* to proceed up-country on a small job, fethough he offered 255. per day, with £10