Local Intelligence.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 417, 16 December 1874, Page 2

Local Intelligence.

The San Francisco mail closes at Lawronce on Friday morning, at G o'clock. AN inquest on the late fir« at Mr, Meyer's store in Ross Place was held in the Courthouse on Saturday last, before E, H. Carew, Esq., District Coroner, and a jury of twelve, M. Fraer, Esq., foreman. Tho following witnesses were eximined:— Messrs. Pope, Hayes, Jefferyi Harrop, Dr. Halley, Farrell and Thompson, and Mrs. and Miss Meyer. Mr. Inspector Thompson conducted the enquiry on behalf of the Police, and Mr. F. 11. M'Coy appeared for Mr. Meyer. No evidence was elicited from any of the witnesses ns to the origin of the fire, and the jury after a short deliberation returned the following verdict : —That the fire was purely accidental, and that there was no evidence to show how it originated. Before the jury were sworn Mr. Whittet claimed exemption from [ serving, on account of being a member of the Fire Brigade. The Coroner, however, decided I that he was compelled to serve, quoting from the new A.ct the clause bearing on the subject, that firemen arc still compelled to serve on a Coroner's jury. TilE election of a councillor for the Middle Ward, in lieu of Mr. Armstrong, takes place todiy. There are only two candidates for the office, Messrs Fraer and Quin. The reault of the poll will be made known at the Council Chambers at 4 o'clock. A variety of sports and games will take' place at Winding Creek, Switzers, on New Years Day, at Mr. H. N. Simson's Sons of Freedom Hotel. Matches at chess and draughts form part of the programme, Caledonian Games will be held on the Clyde recieation ground on Boxing Day, and the following Monday. Prizes for competition to the amount of £50 will be given. A heavy thunder shower fell at Waitahuna on Sunday afternoon, but it was of short duration. It did not extend as far as Lawrence, but the storm seemed to pass over by Waiporl and the Lamaierlavv llaugcs. Tnß fencing of the railway line has been commenced by the contractors at Havelock, The fence, which is to be erected on both sides of the line, will consist of post and rails obtained from the Molyneux bush, A PICNIC will be held in Mrs. Grant's paddock, Havelock, on Tuesday, the29fch insfc., under the auspices of the local Good Teuipla: s' Lodge. The mild weather of late has been favorable to the growth of all kinds of crops. The cereal crop piomises to be much lighter this year than last. This is to be accounted for owing to tho backwardness of the season. Fhfqhkktly wo have directed attention to the excessive growth of tbe thistle plant in the distuct ; but, .so far, little or nothing has been done towards ir,s eradication. Next yuar again this noxious pant ]n onuses to be moro abundant at.d Inx'itittnt in growth than foi merly, as it has .iltofuly cnmiuoi eed to flourish amazingly in many j>.u ts of the district. In n year or two more, we u'.s'.y expect, if allowed to continue as at present, to see the whole of the cultivated and uncultivated laud of the district one vast extern, of ilns'iis. We Imvo ii<.fore us n copy of Mills, Dick and Oo.'s O'ngo J^ovjdcihl Ahu.-w: :c ami Directory for UT'). This is really a very complete pi induction of the sore. It. contains two excellent maps of tine North and Middle Islands of New Zaaland respectively ; the ordinary calendar and a diary for ihe year ; a description up to date cf all the townships in Ot:igo, and an outline of all roiuls and public works over the colony ; the most important clauses of the Waste Lands Act ; needed information in regard to the Post un<l folo^t-njlU UtQCe, CUStomB ftml otmnps ; giu-don calender ; hints on health and medical note 3 ; various receipts ; together with directions as to making one's will, &c. Altogether we would recommend it as one of the best almanacs we have seen, and for the amount of information it contains wonderfully cheap. On Saturday nightlast two parties pngilistically inclined commenced to fight in Peel-street, but the appeal ance of the Police disturbed the combatants, and they speedily separated. We remind our readers that the soiree in connection with the Ciarks Flat School takes place on Fi'itLy evening next. It will be observed from our advertising columns that the Kovs. Cameron, Skinner, Beck, aud Alenzies ; , and Messrs Claik, Stenhouse, and M'Lelland aie expected to deliver addresses on the occasion. We have beeu requested to mention th:»t. on the following day (Saturday) all the children of the district geuerally, are invited to attend a fete, which will be provided in the schoolroom , .at 12 o'clock. r

Mb. Humphrey, the contractor for the erection of the gaol and police residence at Havelock, is making rapid progress with the completion of the buildings. Both structures will be substantial and commodious, and no doubt will meet with the requiiements of the district for eoinc time to come, From advertisement it will be seen that the members of the Court Star of Tuapeka, A.0.F., intend celebrating there sixth anniversary by a soiree and ball in the Athenaeum Hall on Thuisday, 31st December, (New Year's Eve.) The Waitahuna Quadrille Band has been engaged for the ball, A PARTY of Chinamen have started market gardening on a large scale on the town bounaiy, adjoining Mr. M'Alpin's farm. A new hull h being built for the steamer Tuapeka at Port Molyneux. The engines and fittings will be transferred to it as soon as it is completed. It is to he hoped the boat will soon be ready for use, as the settlers on the Clutha fiver Aie anxiously looking for her to convey their nrodufp fn nnn^in. Mb Jiffery has purchased a large Fitzroy barometer, and placed it outside his shop for public use. The instrument is a very useful one, as it very accurately denotes atmospheric changes. Tendebs are to be received up to the 29th inst., for pitching and gravelling twenty-three chains of the road Lawrence to Teviot. A party of surveyors, under Mr. Duncan, are employed in laying off the railway line from the Beaumont to Horseshoe Bend. Mb. H. W. Schroder notifies in our advertising columns that he is prepared to execute conch painting in all its branches ut his shop in Peel-street. Mb. W. Tvree notifies by advertisement that he will open a photographic gallery at Tapanui in a few days. Tenders are invited for the erection of a wire suspension biidge over the Molyneux at Clyde. The plans can be seen at the Bank of New South Wales, Lawrence, from the 28th December to the 2nd January. The entries for the Cromwell races are very meagre. For the Grand Stand HandicapBackbiter, Kathleen, Bmnette, and the Maid are Dominated, and foi the Flying Handicap, l>.\ek\>itev, Kathleen, ami Branetbe are the ouly entries received. The nomination of candidates for the representation of Nasebyin the Provincial Council took place on Monday, 14lh inst. Messrs. John Philip Armstrong, John Ewing, Richard Henry Leary, and Michael Dillon were proposed. There were not many electors present, and the show of hands was in favour of Mr. Armstrong. A poll was demanded. The election is caused by the resignation of Mr. B. Oliver.

A VOCAL and instrumental concert is advertised to take place in the St. Patrick's School Room, Lawrence, on Wednesday, the 23r-l inst, under the direction of Mr. Wood. The programme is excellent comprising selections from the best authors and composers. The scholars attending the school will take a part in the entertainment, and from the assiduous manner in which they have been practising for some weeks, a musical treat may be anticipated. Most people who attended the last concert will have a lively recollection of Mr. Wood, whose versatile talents brought forth warm expressions of approval from the audience, A large number of tickets have already been disposed of for the concert;, and the promoters have every confidence in its being a success. Mebsbs. M'Kenzie Bros, advertise for two hundred men for their Bound Hill contract, on the Lawrence and Tokomairiro Railway. Wages at from 83 to 103 per day are offered for labourers. The Beaumont punt still continues to be extensively patronised, notwithstanding tbe opening of the bridge. This is no doubt owing to the cheap rates charged by the proprietors of the pant. Lurline and Papapa are for sale in Melbourne. Taking them to Victoria has not been a very good spec so far. Had the mare remained in New Zealand she would have had an excellent ehunee of appropriating for her owner some of the good things that have lately fell to the lot of Tanibouriui. At (he Resident Magistrate's Court, Dunerlin, on Saturday last, Charles Fowler was placed in the dock, charged with stealing two diamond studs, valued at £10, the property of Dr Carr, phrenologist, from the Commercial Hotel, Law-" reuce, on the 14th September. Detective Henderson arrested accused on the pievious evening, who endeavoured to clear himself by saying his sister had given him the studs three months ago. The manager of the Bal- | larat Pawn Office, Princes street, stated that prisoner pledged the studs with him for an I advance of < 30s. Dr. Carr being expected to return to Dunedin from his Provincial tour in a week, Fowler was remanded- until Saturday next, being allowed bail, himself iv £40, and two sureties each of £20.