Local Intelligence.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 418, 19 December 1874, Page 2

Local Intelligence.

The election for the scat in the Middle Ward rendered vacant by the lesignation of Cr. Armstrong, took place on Wednesday. Very little interest was evinced iv the result, and only 34 votes were recorded, there being sixty-eight names on the roll. Mr. Fraer polled 25, and Mr. Quin 9. The Mayor declared Mr. Fraer elected a few minutes after 4 o'clock. There were veiy few present at the declaration of the poll.

A special meeting of Town Council was held in the Council Chambers, on Thursday evening. Present: The Mayor, and councillors Cox, Middlemiss. Sheath, and Walker. The Mayor introduced Mr. Frner to the Council, he having been elected in the place of Cr. Arm. strong, resigned. Mr. Fraer then took his seat at the Council table. The business of this meeting was to receive the Mayor's report of his negotiations in Dunedin. Hia Worship stated to the Council that he had been successful in arranging for the amount of money required, viz., £3000, with the manager of the Otago and Southland Investment Company; £1500 to be advanced at once, aud the remainder as required. Mr. Fraer moved, and Mr. Middlemiss seconded, "That the offer be accepted," carried. After some detail business in oonnexion with the loan, the meeting closed. The meeting was called for Wednesday evening, but through some informality ad« joured until Thursday evening. ,

A Good Templab Lodge was opened at Tapanui on Thursday evening last. Twenty-five members were installed. <

A oobbespondekt— "One of the Jury"— complains that the inquest held at Dunrobin Hotel,on the body of \V, LarmourShearlour, who was drowned in Swift Cieek while bathing, is not reported by, us. He was drowned on the 27th, and the inquest held on the 28th ult. He was about 25 years of age. Favorable testimonials as to charaoter and education were found in his pockets. Three persons were witnesses of the drowning, but could render no assistance, though within a few feet of him. The verdict of the jury was died from suffocation in the water while in the act of bathing. The new Atbensßum Hall at Cromwell has just been completed at a cost of £1,200. The .opening ceremony took place on Friday, 11th instant. Mr. M'Kellar, the Goldfields Secretary, delivered the opening address, which was followed by an excellent amateur dramatic eater tain men t, followed by a dance. The proceeds from the entertainment amounted to £35. A back ball is advertised to take place at the Assembly Rooms., Roxburgh, on Wednesday, the 30th insfc. The proceeds to be for the Tuapeka Hospital. We have to acknowledge the reoeipt of the December number of the "Illustrated New Zealand Herald." Amongst the cuts are views of Farallonc Islands on the coast of California, the Fitzroy Gardens, Melbourne, and a picture of Haricot the Melbourne Cup winner. Mb. SmailiLß, Government Inspector, was at the Waipori Sludge Channel on "Wednesday, for the purpose of, taking the work over from the contractors. Some trifling protective works still require to be finished, therefore the final passing of the work will be delayed a few days. Dominique Le Bedel, well-known in this and the Teviot districts, was found dead in his bed at Tapauui on Thursday morning, the 10th iust. He had been ailing for some time, but no immediate danger was anticipated by his friends. Deceased was a native of the Mauritius, and much respected in the districts where he has been residing of late years. A sacked musical service is advertised to take place in the Presbyterian Church, Tapanui, on Christinas Evs. The weights for the Cromwell Handicaps are as follows '.-'Grand Stand Handicap : Backbiter, 9st 2lb ; Biunette, Bst 71b ; Katheen, Bst ; The Maid, 7st 81H. Flying Handicap : Backbiter, 9st 21b ; Brunette, Bst 101 b ; Kathleen, Bst 31b. The miuing interest (says JEgles in the " Australasian "') seems to be once more coming to the front, and apparently with some cause. At Sandhurst, the latest discoveries promise permanence. As indicating the existence of confidence, one mining company has lately acquiied souie atljoiniug ground, for which the price paid in cash was £20,000. The rough valuation of outcome from the ground pur. chased is £2000 per foot. The " Mount Ida Chronicle " says .—There appears to be either great dishonesty among the carters, or in connection with the Dunediu weighbridge— loads constantly coming up charged from 5 c>yt. to half a ton over weight. Suspecting the imposture, some of the N.iseby tradesmen have lately weighed goods on delivery, and find out that from £2 to £o on the load is to be saved in many cases. We do not know who is responsible for the management of the Dunedin weighbridge. The inaccuracy must wholly arise or be connived .at there, as the weights that prcw§ so erroneous lire lunrkeil by the attending clerk. One or two cwfc. uii^lit be winked at ; bur. when it comes to half tons, it is time action was taken to stop it. Thb petition from the residents of Tupanui that a Land Office be opened there has beau favorably considered by the Government, ana in future an officer from the District Office, Lawrence, will visit Tapanui monthly to receive applications, &c. This will be a great boon to the residents in that district, as the expense incurred in visiting Lawrence is a serious item, and has hitherto deterred many from applying for land. At the meeting of the Waste Lands Board held on Wednesday last. Mi. Stout gave it as his opinion that no holder of land under the deferred payment system can assign his interest to another person. The Waste Lands Board was in doubt on the point, and as the Board means to act on the opinion and allow no assignment, the point is now settled. Bbokkn metal is being used for ballast on the railway between Lawrence and Waitahuna. The metal is broken in the cuttings as it in blasted out and trucked on to the required spots. It will no doubt answer the purpose, and will be a saving to the contractors in portions of the Hue where good gravel is scarce. The Waitahuna Racecourse has been enlarged since last year, and the running ground a little improved. There is one dangerous spot that the Committee should attend to, and that is to fence off the deep paddock for a short distance near to the sharp turn after leaving the straight running. This would help to make the running ground much safer. The thirteenth annual gathering of the Cale* doninn Society will be held on the North Dunedin Recreation Ground on New Year's I Day, and the day following. £360 is to be given in prizes for running, walking, wrestling, and other athletic sports. The entries for all the ! games will close at 6 p.m, on December 24th. j It is notified in Wednesday's " Gazette " that constable Thomas Gallacher has been appointed' Inspector of slaughter houses, and of cattle intended for slaughter ; also Registrar of Brands for the Tuapeka district. . The following is the verdict handed to the Coroner by the foreman of the jury, on the fire at Mr. Meyer's premises: — '"That the fire occurred through a cause unknown, and that no evidence of the origin of the said fire doth appear to us." We have beeu requested by the Coroner to publish the verdict, verbatim, as exception was taken to the manner in which it was worded in our last issue. Mr. Mkteb will resume business to-day at old premises in Rosa Place recently partially destroyed by fire. We trust that Mr. Meyer will continue long in business without a similar disaster again overtaking him. Messbs. Meabs and WHiTTETare advertising for 50 men to work on their contract on the Beaumont road. A pic-nic will be held at Roxburgh, under the j auspices of the Church of England Committee, during the holidays, Donedin has been well watered this week, rain having fallen heavily up till Thursday. Heavy showers also visited the Clutha districts. On Monday rain was falling in torrents on Mount Stewart. The rainfall in this district has been very small during- the week, a few slight showeis only having fallen ; which, however, were very acceptable to the settlers, who had already commenced grumbling about the drought. Thb annual Christmas sports will be held at Manuka Creek on Christinas day, consisting of wrestling, dancing, vaulting, running, and other athletic games. The rale as to the method of dealing with unpaid letters and book-packets for delivery within the Colony (says the "Tribune") has been altered, and, in future, such letters will be forwarded, but a fine of double the deficiency in postage will be levied ; on book-packets a, fine of 4d will be charged. The rale still holds good, however, as regards newspapers and letters out of the Colony. Also, in future, half-penny stamps will be recognised when used for letters, as well as newspapers.

Miss Fowleb, late assistant teacher in the Lawrence Grammar School, has received the appointment of school mistress at Wetherstones. MB. Stobrt, the new landlord of the Commercial Hotel, has taken possession of that favorite hostelry, and from his long experience in catering for the publio of Dunedin, we have no doubt that he will secure a fair share of patronage. The soiree at Clark's Flat Sohool came of last night with great eclat, A full report of the proceedings will appear in our next issue. Yal Yose and party left for Dunedin this morning. They will open at the new Temperance Hall there, on Boxing night.