Local Intelligence.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 410, 21 November 1874, Page 2

Local Intelligence.

' A SPLENDID specimen of golden cement was shown us a few days ago by Mr. Jtunes Farrell. It was found whilst washing down the tail race from the Otago Co.'s No. 1 Claim, almost at the tail of the race. The specimen was about the size of a walnut, and was composed of quartz and cement thickly studded with coarse waterijrorn gold. It is to be hoyed it will be secured for one of our museums, us if; is but seldom such rich 'specimens aie obtainable on the Otago goidfields. We notice in Wednesday's " Gazette " that' 2500 acres on Henderson's run No. 200, Millers Fiat, have been *' selected and set apart by the Executive Government of the Province of Otago for the purpose of granting agricultural leases thereon ands therefor." . Work is temporally suspended at the North of Ireland Co.'s battery. Blue Spur, owing to the material not coming to hand from the found i y. A mreting of the Mount Benger Jockey Club was held on Tuesday .evening last— Mr. W. Waugh in the chair. Mr. R, Ayling was apappointed Secretary., It was decided to adjourn the meeting till Monday, 23rd inst. We wonld 'remind contractors that tenders for the formation, pitching, and gravelling of 147 I chains of road Tuapeka to Teviot, must be lodged by noon of Tuesday, 24th inst. Plans | and specifications may be seen at the Police Camp, Lawrence. In a case of this kind we think the Government should also-proVideplans and specifications at the Folice Camp, Roxburgh, and thus give up-country contractors the opportunity of tendering without making it necessary to come to Lawrence. We. " (Wakatip Mail) " are not in a position to give the actual result of the applications for the Dart/Hundred, but vre believe that all the land open for purchase has been applied for, and that, for soiae of the sections, there git two. applicants,

A conceet AND HALL is advertised to take place on Suesday next in the Athenccum Hall, Waitahuna, in aid of the funds of the Tuapeka Hospital. The Waitahuna people are taking the initiative iv endeavoring to add to the funds of the institution, and setting an example to the Lawrence public woi th following, In previous years there has been no lack of similar entertainments in Lawrence for charitable purposes, and either the tuate for amateur concerts has sickened, or the institution has fallen into the bad graces of our vocalists, we do not know which ; but we hope nil such considerations will be sunk, and our amateurs will again come before the public in aid of charitable purposes, as of yore. Visitors to the Waitahuna concert and ball can rely upon a treat, as both the vocal and instrumental p:irt of the programme is sure to be well worth hearing, and dancers need not to be reminded of the excellent music provided by the Quadrille Band. Good Templakism is growing apace at the Blue Spur. There are now upwaids of thirty members in the Lodge, aud last meeting night eight new members were proposed. The Miners' Associations which were all the rage on the Otago goidfields a few years ago, have fallen off considerably of late. At Switzers, on the occasion of the last annual meeting, only about twenty members put in an appearance, though there are upwards of 100 on the roll. The following gentlemen consented to act on the Committee for the ensuing year : — fllessrs. H. N. Siinson, MAuley, Chisholm, M 'Donald, Braithwaite, Handyside, and M'CHntock. Thi? " Guardian " of yesterday says :— '' We have had the privilege of inspecting two very handsomely written and illuminated testimonials, the work of Mr. George, draughtsman, of Stafford-street. Both are to be presented to Mr. A. Christophers, latp ageut in charge of the Clyde branch of the Bank of New South Wales, but at present in charge of the Lawrence branch of the same bank. The first is from the Committee of the Dunstan Hospital, of which Mr. Christophers was treasurer, and is expressive of the very high estimation in which he is held by that body, the subscribers giving it as their opinion that the success of the institution is wainty due to the indefatigable exertions of that gentleman during a course of years. The other testimonial is also in the form of an illuimnated address, and is from the inhabitants of the district. It is signed by 45 persons, ami will bo presented, together with a puise of 100 sovcioigns. next Wednesday evening, at Clyde, when the occasion will be celebrated by a grand Masonic ball and supper. Both addresses are writteu in the Irish Gothic style, and the illuminations by which they are surrounded are extremely handsome. The workmanship reflects gmifc credit on the nrtist," A PAP.TVof gentlemen were recently amusing themselves in manipulating the "DeviPsPrayer Book," at a place of public resort not a hundred miles from Lawrence, when towards daylight the wife of one of the gentlemen, missing him from his usual place by her side, became anxious, and at once wont to the Police Camp, and gave information of his absence to the Sergeant in charge. He having a very shrewd opinion as to whore the missing husband was located, at once went to said place | of resort. After knocking at the door, a gnat scufS.ng was heard within,.and a window sash was raised hurriedly, and befoie admission could lie obtained, the bird had flown, Nothing daunted, the Reigeant then made a detour of the premises, and lan the truant husband down an adjacent >ruliy. On the Sergeant accosting him as to what he was doing there so early in the morning, the truant merely replied that he was out seeking early mushrooms for his wife's breakfast she hying very fond of them. The Sergeant consequently left the fond husband with, the earnest request that he would immediately return to his anxious spouse and ie!ieve her anxiety, which he accordingly did. We have not heard what reception he met with. Mk. Alex. Mateieson is the successful contractor for the conveyance of the Switzevs mail. FhOM the Provincial Government " Gazette,'' we observe that sections 7, 8. 9, 10, 20, and 21, block XVIII., Waikaia township, have been set apart as a site for public buildings ; and section <55, block V., Tuapeka. East, has been reserved for educational purposes. We notice that the land situated on Tuapeka Flat, applied for by the Corporation for a public market, has been gazetted us dedicated for that purpose. THE following road tenders have been accepted . — No. 986, construction of road through Dickenson's Flat, or. road Waipahi to Tapanui. -Nelson and Hewston, £1,583 3s 3d. No 954. construction of portion of road, Clinton to Wai-pahi-D. White, £641 12s. At the Waste Land Board meeting, a report of which appears in another column, the applications to purchase land in the Bellamy Kun and Tuapeka Hundred were considered. In all cases where there were two or more applications for the same land, the Board decided to bubmit the land to auction. Thh battery of the Nelson Co. 's claim, Blue Spur, has been idle for some time, owing to the winding gear for hauling the trucks out of the tunnel not doing its work speedly enough. Thi s defect has now been remedied under the superintendence of the engineer who erected the battery. The claim wa& flooded this week, owing to the water breaking in from the Otago Co. 'B claim, .and several days had to be spent in baling it out. As the Ots»go Company have discontinued sluicing operations in the No. 1 claim, a repetition of this is not likely to recur. A large quantity of dirt is lying in the drives ready for the mill, and driving will be resumed as soon as the machinery is in order.

We are obliged to hold over our reports of the Phoenix Water Race Company's animal meeting and yesterday's Court. Judgment was given yesterday by Mr. Cnrew in the case of Hill v. The Corporation of Lawrence. For the claim of £40 for misdirection of Town Clerk, nil ; and for damage to wing wall, caused by removal of dam, £5 *, costs of Court. £1 15 ; witness, 10s ; and professional costs, 21s. Qceenstown appears to be suffering from the general depression of np-country towns at present. In its issue of the 13th instant, the " Mail " says;—*' Still they go ! This morning the Jane Williams steamer took away more residents from this district, including Mr. J. Bridge and his family. Mr. Bridge is proceeding to Birch wood Station, near lliverton, which he has purchased in company with Mr. Walsh, Upper Shotover, who also leaves the district. ' Mr, Henderson, the other partner, remains here. A few others also left. No wonder tradesmen "complain of dull times." Messes. Boston Bkothicks announce that their present season in Lawrence will terminate) on Saturday, sth December. Tar. Lawrence Fire Brigade were out for practice on Thursday evening. They are now getting proficient in the use of the hydrant and hose, and by the time the fire engine arrives .they will have mnsf-ejed their preliminary lessons. Mk. M. Hay reports having scld, on Wednesday last, at Shumate's yards, on account of the trustees in the estate of the late Mr. Andrew Taylor, and others, daily cows at from £3 to £5 15s ; young unbroken light horses at from £6 to £9 10s ; one yearling roalised £7 15s. The cattle and horses were not fiist-class, and the auctioneer reports a good dctn.an.d (or bptter classess of stock.

Mr. John Ponsoncy has purchased onesixteenth share in the North of Ireland Co.'s chum. Blue Spur, from Mr, French, for the sum of £600.

A special meeting of the subscribers of the Tuppeka Hospital was held last evening in the Assembly Rooms, for tho purpose of adopting the remainder of the new rules. There were only about twenty subscribers present. M. Fmer, Esq , was called to the ch.\ir. The rules were adopted with but very slight alterations, although several amendments were proposed. The desire of the meeting appeared to be to get the business through as quickly as possible. E. H. Car'ew, Esq., proposed a motion that the financial year of the institution should terminate on the 31st of December iv each year, which was carried unanimously. A vote of thanks to the chair closed the proceedings.

A caso of what may bo termed sharp practice has been talked about in Lawaence for a few clays, and the comments made thereon have not been of a very flattering description to tho parties concerned. A considerable timo ago, some gentlemen, undertook to bridge the Molyneux at a place no great distance from Lawrence, and one of tho considerations they were to receive from the Government for the work was a grant of laud on both sides of the river approaching the bridge. The title to the land had, however, never been received by the bridge-builders, and, in the meantime, a wealthy firm of merchants have applied to the Waste Lauds Board for the said land,' with what success remains to bo seen. In the first place, tho Government allow a road to be made by which the traffic will bo diverted from the bridge, and then they allow applications to bo received for the purchase of the land adjoining the bridge, which was guaranteed as another right to the contractors. Bridge-building, at this rate, must be a rosy game for the Government.

A iodge of the 1.0. G.T. was instituted at Roxburgh on Thursday, the 19th inst., byßi-o. G. B. King, D.D.G.W.C.T., assisted by Bro. Fargher, L.D., and Bro. G. Clarke, W.C., of St. Lawrence Lodge, Tuapeka. About 22 members were enrolled, and after the conferring of degrees, the officers were chosen ai^d duly installed, as follows :— :Bro. M. E. Manuel, W.C.T.; Bro. J. Glass, W.Y.T.; E. Willgoss, W.C.; Bro. H. Bloxham, W.S.; Bro. T. Coop, W.F.S.; Bro. R. Smith, W.T.; Bro. Snell, W.M.; Bi-o. R. Lind, W.J.G-. ; Bi-o. H. Harris W.O.G j Sister Ureu, B.H.S : Sister Mauuel.L.H.K.; Sister Bennett, W.D.M.; Sister Sercombe, W.A.S.; Bro. A. Tamblyn, Acting P.W.C.T. The Lodge was named the Hope of Roxburgh, and from the way in which the deputies were*, received, and the excellent start made, there can bo little doubt of the speedy advancement of Good Templarism in tho Teviot district.