Local Intelligence.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 415, 9 December 1874, Page 2

Local Intelligence.

We have to apologise to many of our subscribers, for the non-delivery of our last Saturday's issue of this journal. The regular runners were laid up with measles, and other lads who knew the district were not obtainable.

An inquest was held on the body of Henry Rasraussen, who was fatally injured while at work at the Tuapeka Mouth Saw Mills, at .Mrs. Taylor's Hotel, Tuapeka Mouth, on Monday morning, before E. H. Carew, Esq., disbrict Coroner. Sergeant Farrell conducted the enquiry on behalf of the Police. The evidence showed that deceased met his death whilst tailing out from the saw on Saturday afternoon. It appears that he and a man named Prudence were sawing, and deceased whilst taking out the timber from him, by some unfortunate circumstance, allowed the log to catch the teeth of the saw, which propelled it with the force of a cannon ball against his chest. The unfortunate man" died four hours after the accident. The medical testimony showed that death resulted from ' Internal Hcemarrhnge and Shock." A verdict was returned in accordance with the evidence. Deceased leaves a wife jind four children to mourn his untimely end. He was a native of Denmark, and for seveyal years resided in 'Wetherstones, where he was much respected, lie was a member of the Forester's Society, and after the usual service was read at the grave, P.C.R. Bro. Titchener iead the formula of the society, THE machinery for the Oiago Co.'s Battery passed through Lawrence on Monday. It is from Messrs. Kincaid M'Queen and Co.'s Foundry, and will be immediately erected by that firm. Seven tons of the plant passed over the Derwent-street bridge on one waggon. This should be considered an excellent test of the stability of the bridge. We have to acknowledge the receipt of a parcel of green peas from Mr. Pressly. They were grown in_ his nursery, are an excellent specimen, and the first we have seen in the Tuapeka district.

The first meeting of the Committee of the Annual Sunday School Union Picnic was held on Monday at Mr. Squires offices. Representatives were present from Blue Spur, Clark's Flat, Evan's Flat, and Wetherstones, and also from the Lawrence Schools. The day fixed for the picnic, to be held as usual on the racecourse, was the 15th of January next. Estimates were made of the minimum contributions required from each quarter and collectors appended. The next meeting of Committee was fixed for Monday 21st, at same place and hour (7 p.m). We trust that this annual treat, to which our children now have become accustomed to look forward with so much pleasure, and to which an open invitation is given to every child in the district, will be aa freely and liberally supported as heretofore. We have been present at past picnics, and know of no days pleasure which conferred so much innocent enjoyment to so many at so small a cost, and which leaves so few regrets behind. Val Yose, assisted by Miss Jennie Payne and Piofessor Saunders, entertained good audiences in the Assembly Rooms, on Monday and Tuesday erenings. Val "Vose richly' deserves the encomiums passed upon him by the Press. Venttiloquism is a gift only possessed by few people, and this talented gentleman possesses it in a degree that reminds one of '* Valentine Vox," and he exercises his voice through hia mediums— Johnny Trotter and Mrs. Brownto the intense delight of his audience. Miss Payne has a good selection of standard ballads, which she renders in a pleasing style. The harp solos by Professor Saunders were well rendered, and from their novelty in this part of the country are much appreciated. From advertisement ia another- column .it will be seen that Mr. F. Aitken has added another to the numerous departments of his business— namely, that of tailoring. Mr. Aitken has secured the services of a first-class cutter, and as he is constantly receiving supplies of new tweeds and cloths, he should be able to meet the requirements in this line of the most fastidious of Tuapeka gents. A meeting of the Tnapeka Jockey Club was held in the Victoria Hotel on Saturday evening. Present : Messrs. R. Williams in (the chair) Hay, Quir., Sheath, Hills, Fraer, and Hayes, Secretary. The programme for the forthcoming meeting was arranged, and will be found in our advertising columns. The President informed the meeting that the subscriptions were coming in freely, and that they would most likely equal that of last year. The consideration of the erection of tv permanent Grand Stand was then gone into. The Race course Committee reported that they had selected a suitable site. The members present were in favour of erecting it at once by a company, in shares of £5 each, interest on which to be guaranteed by the Club. It was ultimately decided to get the opinion of the majority of the members before calling for tenders for the wotk. The meeting theu adjourned until Tuesday evening. A Milton correspondent sends us the following items of local news :— The annual show of the Tokomairiro Farmers' Club was held on Thursday last, December 3rd. The entries in sheep, cattle, and horses were very good, and the quality excellent. Some very fine two and three year old specimens of draught stock competed. For pigs and poultry the entries were not very good. For the ladies' hack prize only four competed. This class attracted considerable attention, as the hacks were ridden round the ring by ladies, who handled their respective steeds splendidly. Altogether the show was a success. —An accident occurred to a sleeper-layer in the employ of Brogden and Sons, on Wednesday, but not of a very serious nature. — Val Vose, assisted by Miss Payno and Professor Saunders. performed in St. George's Hall to crowded houses on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings. — The crops in the Tokomairiro district are not looking well, and it is feared will be very light this season. — The sale of sections of land near the railway station by Mr. James E. Brown took place on Wednes. day, and brought very high prices. Some of the quarter-acre sections brought over £250. The realised from the sale was £3000 odd. This land cost Mr. Brown 10s per acre, about 15 years ago. A northern telegram speaks of the Marquis of Normanby as eldeily, stout, bluff, and jovial looking ; the Marchioness homely, chatty, and a lady of Mature years. During the ceremonies attending the oath of administration, both looked as if they would much rather be allowed to go quietly and get a cup of tea socially at home. The Governor was fearfully guarded against expressing an opinion on any topic. He has none of Sir George Bowen's gush, or Sir James Fergusson's exclusiveness, and looks like a man who would be thoroughly at home at a dinner-table or similar social occasions. Great consternation was caused among the officials when the time for swearing him arrived, as no Bible could be found in any part of Government House. Measengera were despatched in various quarters, and one called .at the Northern Club, just outside the Government grounds, and found that establishment in the same predicament, but ultimately succeeded in raking one up from a neighboring house, The Governor wore the decloration of St. Michael and St. Geoige. The turn out of Volunteers was not very brilliant, and the procession -was rather a failure.

In a jumping case connected with the claim of Matheson and Co., Whitechapel Flat, Arrow River, heard before Mr. Warden Stratford on the 30th November, the Messrs. Matheson were fined in the extraordinary large sum of £15 for not maintaining their pegs and trenches.

An Adelaide telegram states that measles and subsequent diseases prevail at Moonta. There hare been seventy deaths this month. The attention of the Board of Health has been directed to the matter.

Tkaffio on the Burra railway is delayed by reason of the swarms of locusts on the line. The ground round about Burra is covered with locusts. This is one item amongst the latest news from Australia, and seems almost incredible. We have not as yet heard of any grasshoppers or locust 3in the Tuapeka district tins summer. It will be remembered that last year by this time they existed in large swarms, and were a great nuisance ; probably the severity of the winter has interfered with the hatching of the eggs. Let us hope it has so inteifered with this process as to prevent the appearance of these noxious insects. Had these grasshoppers, or locusts, cr whatever they may be called, continued to increase as they did for a few years, we might have expected to record in some future issue that the traffic on the Tnapeka railway was delayed by reason of them.

Mr. M. Hat sold the stands for the refreshment booths at the Havlock Races at good figures- viz, No. 1, to Mr. R. Coghill. of the Bridge Hotel, foi £16. No. 2, to Mr. J. Morris, of the Inverness Hotel, for £8.

The proprietors of the Beaumont Pant have reduced their charges to 6d for crossing man and horse, so as to compete with the newly opened bridge. The well known civility and obliging manners of the proprietors will no doubt retain for them a portion of the business at the Ferry for some time to come.

The Lawrence Race-course is now in a good state of repair, the Club having had the rutß and holes filled in. The local horses can now be seen doing good work thereon in the early morning, in preparation for the forthcoming Mount Benger and Havelock meetings.

Thb transit of Venus takes place to day. We regret the prospects of its observation are not at all propitious in Tuapeka. The sky is very much overcast. Dunedin, judging by dor telegrams, ia not more fortunate. We trust by the time of the first contacb, 1.19 p.m., the clouds will have cleared away, and a good view will be obtained. We have been obliged to hold over till our next issue, our report of the Lawrence Town Council, and the following correspondence — viz. letters signed " A Hearer," " A Mother," " Redmond,'* and " Dugald Ferguson." "We have been requested to draw attention to the advertisement which appears in another column of Mills, Dick, and Co. 'a Almanac for 1875,