Local Intelligence.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 367, 24 June 1874, Page 2

Local Intelligence.

The San Francisco mail closes at the Po3t Office, Lawrence, on ilfonday next at 6 a.m.

Instructions baring been received from headquarters to entirely suspend the liquor traffic on Sundays, the police visited every hotel in Lawrence on Sunday last to ascertain if any of them were open for business. We understand they gave notice to the hotel keepers th it for the future the selling of liquor on Sunday would be strictly prohibited, excepting to iona fide boarders or travellers.

The usual monthly Union Prayer meeting takes place this evening in the Schoolhouse. The meeting commences at half-past seven o'clock.

The President of the Tuapeka Athenwum, Mr. J. O. Brown, M.H.R., always kepps in mind our local museum in his travels. The other day he presented some specimens of tea which he obtained from Mr. J. Small who has recently returned from a visit to China. The specimen is what is called Loong Soo or Dragon's Beard, and the price it sells at in China is at the rate of 21s. per lb. Another presentation is the egg or ova bag of a skate fish. The fhh was caught in the Otago Harbor. This ova bag asfar as is known is the first that has been obtained hereabouts, and is not to be found in any other museum ia New Zealand, Mr. Brown also presented six seahorses which he had received from Mr. J. Robeitson of Port Chalmers, and two Cliiuese shells. Our local museum is now assuming considerable proportions, and very soon increased accommodation will he required. The birds skins presented by the Colonial museum have been stuffed and are now awaiting a glass case for their reception.

There was a very favourable response to the advertisement calling a meeting of persons desirous of having a ploughing match in the Tuapeka district this season. The attendance in the Masonic Hotel on Monday evening was larger than we expected -indeed, we have never before seen so much interest exhibited in the matter of ploughing matches amongst the class who are supposed to benefit by these annual competitions. Mr. J. R. Gascoigne occupied the chairThe following resolutions were adopted, viz., That the match be held on Friday, 17th July ; That the match be held in Blr. J. R. Gascoigne's paddock ; That the match be open to all comers ; That the following gentlemen act as a committee, with power to add to their numbers, viz.: — Messrs. Gascoigne, Walker, Draper, Treloar, Darton, Evans. Brooks, Kepj>le, Drysdale, D. M'Rae, Hills, Ferguson, and Holmes. Mr. M'fage;art stated that it was his intention to give a plough as a special prize to the person who wins the first prize in the first class two years in succession. On the motion of Mr. Walker, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. M'Taggart for his generous offer. Mr. Holmes suggested a special prize for double furrow ploughs. Other suggestions were made, but left for the committee to act upon them or otherwise as they thought fit. It was then resolved that a committee meeting be held in the Masonic hotel on Saturday evening next at 7 o'clock. A subsciiption list was then opened, and the sum of £11 JOs subscribed liy the twelve persons piespnt, thus indicating their determination to make the match n. success. A vote of thanks to the chainua.n closed the proceedings. The Rev. Mr. Skinner preached morning; and evening in the Presbyterian Church, Lawrences on Sunday last. The coiut'e^ations, on butii . occasions were very luige and atten hive. It will* bo reuiembere I thit Mr. WHli.nu Gascoigne lately presented a, white heron to the museum' which he ciu^ht at Tuapoka Mouth. Unfortunately is was quite ror.t.e'i before it reached Mr. Jennings. Captain Hutto-i, hearing of this, sent a letter to Mr. J. C. Brown, in which he stated that he happened to h:we a duplicate white heron sat up, whic'i he rould be happy to present to tho Athenaeum to replace the one lost, if he (Mr Browu) would undertake to send ib up. Mr. Drown at oace secured it, and h.ul it forwarded wdbh other birds a few days ago.

Thursday last being the day appointed for the Mouut Benger Annual Ploughing Match, the competitors beg>in to muster at Mr. Tubman's, Moa Flat, at about nine o'clock. There beinjr then a very sharp frost, it was thought inadvisable to commence, the ground being too liard to give any of them a chance of making good work. There were altogether seven ploughs on the ground, one double and six single furrows. The frost continuing until past one o'clock, there was a meeting held, at which ib was left to the option of the competitors whether they should start or not.. The final decision arrived at was that the match should be left until some time in September of which due notice will be given.

A dramatic entertninment is advertised to take place in Mr. Beighton's Assembly Room Roxburgh, on Friday evening next.

Mr. M. Hat will sell thi* doy at Long"s yards Tuapeka Flat, cattle, horses, &c. ; to-iuorrow, at Mr, Low's premises, Ross Place, saddlery, and harness, and an American waggon, with two horses ; and on Friday, at Mr. G. Morison's, Ross Place, household furniture.

In our issue o* the 17th instant, we stated that two oases of blood poisoning had occurred near Havelock, attributable to the use of blue mottled soap. At the time" we wrote the paragraph we were in ignorance as to who the manufacturers were, not knowing whether it was manufactured in the colony or huported. In justice therefore to the manufacturers we insert the following letter, which appeared in the "Daily Times" o 20th instant :— Sir. — A paragraph appears in to-day's "Times," taken from the Tuapeka TIMKS, cautioning persons from the use of blue mottled soap " till the ingredients of its coin-position are, more to be depended upon," As the manufsicturws of this soap, the cii dilation of the paragraph in question is calculated to do us an injury. Knowing the purity of the material used by us in making mottled soup (which is the finest and highest priced kind made in Dunedin), we feel sure that the harm mentioned is unjustly attributed to the soap. Only the finest fat isused, together with thp alkali j and the blue colour ia given by ultramarine. Wagner's Technology, p<ige 267. says of ultrauiine : "It is used, for the blueing of linen and cotton frabrics and lump sugar. For lODOcwts.. of sugar, 2^!bs of the pigmen* are employed, a quantity so small as to be' perfectly innocuous; fnrtherultramariiiednesnot contain anything in jurious to health." — We are, &c, M'Lkod Bros.

AMONG the various blocks of !.<.nd thrown open for application upon the deferred payment system, there have been some taken up and occupied by settlers over which the ruuholder has the title, owing to the Government not having paid the compensation provided by -law. Thi* (writes the w GiMnlinn "J-is a matter which demands immediate attention, as, in the event of a rmihoMer who may be so placed desiring to rtnnoy his minor neigliHo-irs, C'ie-c cou!«l b-j <tn almost endless lot of trouble, HfcigatUri &c , caused. One iustance which we are at liberty to quote is upon Captain M'Efnzie's run, No. 178, Tapanui district, where, an area of some 700 odd acres is occupied by four settlers, and over which the former lease has not yet been cancelled. Law-makers should not be lawbreakers , therefore we hope the Government will immediately remedy the error they have caused— namely,- iilacing settlers in such a position as renders them liable to be sued for trespass..

The collections in aid of the Organ Fond at Trinity Church on Sunday last amounted to £6 10s. Mr. G. West presided at the organ, which appears to be a very sweet-toned instrument, and well adapted for the size of the Church.

We are gl^d to notice by the " Gazette " that Mr. Titohener has been appointed a firstclass sergeant, and overseer of prison works at Lawrence, and that Mrs. Titchener has received the appointment of matioa to the Lawrence Gaol.

The following has been communicated to us as a more correct report of the application it refers to, than the report which appeared in the Dunedin papers : — Mr. Mouat applied, on behalf of Messrs. Herbert. Howat, and Co.. to be allowed to survey, as part of their application for a bush license, part of the section, a portion of which had been sold to Mr. Kodgers. The matter had been brought before the Board at last meeting, and adjourned for further information. Mr. Mouat complained that after he had left the Board on the previous sitting, the land had been granted to Mr. Perry on an ex parte application, although a previous application had been made by him on behalf of his clients ; and pointed out the injustioe that was likely to arise from such a course of procedure. — Mr. Butterworth : But Mr. Perry had been bardly dealt with, the land on which his mill was erected having been sold to Rodgers. — MrMouat: That is no reason why he should be compensated at the expense of my clients. All I ask is that the Board should defer action until sufficient information is before them, and that cannot be until the surveys ai6 completed. Mr. Strode : But the Board has already considered the matter. — Mr. Mouat ; The Board has only had an ex parte statement, and no tine knows better than Mr. Staode that all parties ought to bo heard.— Mr, Strode : I admit that as a general priuoipje, bub this is a special case. —The Chief Commissioner : I will minute that nothing shall be done further until the surveys are in.— Mr, Reid : But that is not to be understood as affecting Perry's position. — Mr. Jlfouat : I apprehend that the whole matter should stand over until the surveys are in. My clients, who have gone to a large expense in erecting a new saw mill on the faith of getting licenses, are entitled to equal consideration with Perry.— Resolved , That the surveys should be completed without delay. The grant to Mr, Perry to stand good.

A correspondent of the "Guardian" writing f rom Tapaaui says the new road from Waipnhi to Tapanui (through the Gorge, which is only half the distance of the old one) would prove a great boon to the settlers in the district if completed, us a level road can be formed iv place of a mountain one, the foiiner 'only live, and the latter ten miles. Thus, in place of climbing ten miles over hill and dale, with about ons-fourth of a load, they would be able to get to the same point in five miles, and with a good loud. But according to the present survey several unwarranted circuits have been made by those who laid on? the line, and, in order to prevent the useless expenditure of money iv the formation of the defective line, the inhabitants of the district are desirous that the Government should despatch Mr. Simpson, their engineer, to inspect and revise the former Bmvey before tendei-? are called for its fonuation.

A meeting of the Gabriels Channel Committee vyaa hell in Mr. Squires' s office, lto^s Place, yesterday, Mr. Fraer occupied the chair. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Amongst the gentlemen present waa Mr. «J. C. Brown, who stated that until two days prior to the prorogation of the Provincial Council he could not ascertain from the Executive whether or not they intended recommending the scheme and bringing it before the Council. Had he ascertained sooner that they declined to recommend the scheme, he would have had a notice of motion placed on the Order Paper, and brought the matter bsforo. tiio Council in that manner ; but it was too late u\ the day to think of such a thing. As to -the proper course now to be adopted, Mr. Brown expressed some doubts. He was under the impression that a clause in the Public Works Act precluded the Colonial Government from giving its sanction to a work of the kind proposed, unless it was recommended by the Provincial Council. He would alvise the Committee to. enlist the services of the Superintendent, who was strongly in favor of the scheme. If that gentleman could be prevailed upon to present the memorial to the General Government, he (Mr. Brown) believed nearly every Otago member would support it, and there was just the probability the work would be sanctioned. Mr. Squires stated that he had not received any official communication to the effect that the Government had declined to. recommend the scheme. On the motion of Mr. Ferguson, seconded by Mr. Hinde, the whole matter was referred to the sub-committee originally appointed, viz., Messrs. Herbert, Morrison, Hales, and Squires, on the understanding that they carry Mr. Brown's suggestions into effect. . A vote of thanks to the Chairman brought the meeting to a close.

Thb ordinary meeting of" the Lawrence Town Council was held on Monday evening. Present Crs. Ferguson (in the chair) Armstrong, Walker aud Hay. The minutes were read a,nd confirmed, after which the Council adjourned till Monday, 29th instant. "We learn from Waipori that good gold has been struck in M'Rae and party's claim behind Cox's store at the Lower Crossing close to the Sludge Channel works. Some good sport has been had on the lagoon at Havelock during the recent frosty weather. The ice lyis. been bearing, and skates have been at a premium.

Is 1 a previous issue we stated that payable gold had been struck in the Otago Ca's claim. Blue Spur, 100 feet below their sluicing level. Information readied us last evening that they had struck dirt which yielded 14dwts.'te the bucket. The extent of the rich ground is not yet proved, but there is every probability that there is a large extent of it.

The " Q-uarclian's " Waipori correspondent writes as follows %—"% — " The recent severe frosts have interfered greatly with mining operations. The ground-sluicers, who from the bulk of the permanent diggers, are beginning to complain of lightnessof water, andnot unfrequently have to go along the race breaking the ice before commencing the labours of the day. — There waa a meeting of the almost defunct Mining Association on Saturday, when Mr. Roberts, President of the Central Association, pointed to matters affecting the mining interest, and urged the members to take a much greater interest in what effected not only .their good, but that of the miners generally. — The l»'lv who h-vs BfVfcisfaofcorily teM the appointment as mistress in this school has receucly resigned, and, as a mark of respect and esteem in which she is held, the children are about to present her with some souvenir, as a memorial of the past, and as an index: of their good wishes in her future welfare. Mrs. R. Neil has received the appointment. — Thompson- and party are very busy raising stone in their quartz reef, previous to erecting the necessary machinery to drive the stampers. The present appearances are still indicative of a remunerative yield being |the rqward; ol tfifiir labours."