Local Intelligence.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 433, 10 February 1875, Page 2

Local Intelligence.

On Wednesday morning last, J. Carruthers, Esq., Chief Engineer for the colony, fulfilled the promise made by the Ministers of Public Works at the close of last session of the Assembly, and visited the Ecene of the proposed Gabriels Sludge Channel. Accompanied by Mr, Squires and Mr. W. D. Morrison, he went to the head of Gabriel's Gully, and after measuring the velocity of the water in several of the tailraces, and examining the nature of the stuff through which the channel would have to be cut, he started at a point immediately opposite Mr. Hales, residence, and brought the levels dowu the gully and on as far as Long's Tunpeka Hotel. In the afternoon he continued the survey to Fitzgerald' 9 crossing, after which he walked over to" the Blue Spur by Evan's Flat, and examined the. line of the proposed tunnel for the washing of the tailings. The tunnel project he summarily dismissed, but said the Gully scheme was quite practicable, and presented no difficulties of any extent. It now remains for the channel committee —having uccuuijtlished all the preliminaries— to push the matter before the Government, ari3 not rest until they get, at next session of the Assembly, the necessary vote for the carrying out of the work.

The installation of officers of tie St. Lawrence Lodge, 1.0. G.T. took place ou Monday evening. There were about 70 members present, and after the preliminary business and the initiation of four new members, Bro. Fargher, L.D.,pioceeded to install the officers as follows :- "W.C.T.. Bro. M'Coy (re-elected); W.V.T., Sis. Burns; W.C., Bro. Coverlid; W.S., Bro. A. Blewitt ; W.A.S.. Sis. Richards ; W.F.S., Sis. Wynne; W.T., Bro. Squires; W.M., Bro. Whitnell; W.D.M, Sis. Potter ; VV. I. G, . Bro. Cochraue; W.0.G., Bio. T. Darton Bro. P. Kobeitson senior; LHS., Bro, Syinons. A special vote of thinks was given to Bro. King, for his services as Secretary during three terms, *and a general vote of thanks to the other retiring officers brought the proceedings to a close. This Lodge now numbeis about 114 members in good standing. The musical portion of the ceremony was ably conducted by Bro. Burns, who presided at the harmonium. Several complaints have reached us as to the dangerous state the iarHi works in connection with the laying of the pipes are left in at night. On Monday evening Mr. M'Beath of Tuapeka Mouth fell into the cutting left open by the workmen and injured one of his legs, there being no light at the time. Such gross negligence should not be tolerated by the Corporation. The Rev. Mr. Smith, late of Queenstown parish, preached in Trinity Church both morning and evening on Sunday last. The Reverend gentleman leaves for England this week, where^ we understand, he hao been appointed to an ii»? cumbency,

Good Templarism at Tapanui has beoaifie a power in that district. The mill owners are so well pleased with the changed character of some of their hands— which is attributed entirely to the total abstinence movement- that they have unitedly offered sufficient' timber to build a- Temperance Hall. But the benefits are not confined .to the mill owners. They have extended to the stations. One of the neighbouring squatters has acknowledged that, owing to many of the sbeareis being Good Templars, he never before had his sheep shorn with such promptitude as he has this year, and such has been the favourable effect produced upon him by that circumstance that ht is reported to have offered £200 towards the building of the hall teferred to. THE laying of the water mains in Boss Place has been commenced by the contractor. Mr. W. D. Morrison, and there is now every prospect of the water being available to the residents in the course of a few weeks. A FOOT race between two of our citizens is arranged for * Saturday next. to 'take place at six o'clock in the evening in Colonsay street, for £5 a -side, distance 100 yards. The stakes are posted, and should both competitors come up to the scratch, the race will no doubt be an exciting one. We notice that Mr. Alexander M'Nicol, who was for a long time in one of the Lawrence stores, where his general business habits were much apreciated, has st'&rted business in Boss Place as a sail maker. **He is now prepared to execute orders for horse rugs, marquees, tents, waggon and dray covers, and other articles in connection with the trade. We hope Mr. M'Nicol will receive such encouragement in this new local industry as will enable him to prosecute.the business in all its branches. In the report of the meeting of subscribers to the Lawrence Athenaeum, which appeared in our last issue, the name of Mr. Squires was inadvertently omitted from the list of members of committee elected for the current year. The Chirese New Year was celebrated on Sunday at the camp with great rejoicings by the Celestials, who, one and all kept open house. A large number of Europeans visited the camp on Saturday and Sunday, and were hospitably received. Presents of wine and fruits, Chinese preserves, and other dainties, being almost forced upon visitors. Gambling was extensively indulged in, and the firing of crackers was almost incessant, two luxuries that, according to Chinese fashion, are inseparable from holiday keeping. Mr. M. Hat reports having sold yesterday, at the surveyoffice, Lawrence, the followingseetions of Crown lands : — Sectionsl2. block 1., Braumont district, containing 81a 2r 14p. at £2 Is per acre; and section 14. of the same block, containing 114 alr 15, at £1 16s per aero, both to Mr. R. TuUinan / also, the following sections in block n, Tuapeka West, to Mr. F. Nicoll, Blue Spur . —Section 5, containing 107 a2r 16p. at £1 10s per acre; section 6. 9o& Or 37p, at £1 6>; section 7, 74a Or 18p at £1 4s : section 19, 60a lr 24p, at £1 7s ; section 21, 86a lr 10p, at £1 5s ; section 22, 110 a2r 27p, at £1 10s. There were very few buyers present, but the bidding was very spirited. The prices for the different sections may be considered satisfactory, as the land is very rough and only suited for grazing purposes.

A TAPANUI correspondent furnishes us with the following report ; " A public meeting was convened on Saturday evening, the 6th instant, at Tapanui, for the purpose of calling upon the Hall Committee to resign , owing to their having allowed M essrs. Hunter and Siiuson to sell intoxicating drinks within the precints of that building during the race week, and also allowing women in the Hall who were unfit for decent society. The doings in the Stall during the races week were most disgraceful, drinking and debauchery of all kinds being encouraged until alj hours of the morning. The meeting was there, fore called to ask the Committee in charge of the Hall to resign. Mr. AnJrew Allan was called to the chair ; .and, in commencing the business, read the bye laws framed for the guidance of the Committee. A discussion then ensued as to whether the parties present at the meeting could vote without being subscribers. The Chairman ruled that as the building was built by the public, and situated on public property, all parties present could vote, but none could be elected on the new Committee unless subscribers of £1. Mr. W. Smith 'proposed that the old committee resign. 'The motion was put to the meeting and carried. . Those gentlemen then handed in their .resignation and left th» hall, taking with them the books belonging to the institution. The following gentlemen were theu elected as a Committee of Management ;— Messrs. ft. Greig, J. Watt, Jas. Gunn, J. Crawford, Austin, Smith, Symes, and Neville. The meeting then closed. AT Bald Hill Flat, on the 4th insfc., a aerious accident occurred to Mr. J. Crossan. It appears be had been working his reaping machine, and while engaged about one of the horses the animal kicked him, breaking his leg below the knee. The services of Dr. Thomson were obtained as soon as possible, who set the leg the same evening, and Mr. Ciossan is progressing as favorably as could be expected,

A Roxburgh correspondent, commenting upon the laying of the foundation atone of the bridge across the Molyneux, says the worthy Mayor did not perform his work so well as " our own *' correspondent stated, as it took Mr. Mylrea all the next day to place it in such a position as could be said of it that it was " well and truly laid." We call the attention of farmers and others to the advertisement in another column of Messrs. Capstick, Duthie, and Co.'s sale of Mr. James Taborn's property, on Friday next, at Clarkb Flat. This is an excellent opportunity for any person desirous of purchasing a firstclass farm : and we do not require to Htate that the sale is a bona fide one. We learn from the " Daily Times " of Monday that Detective Henderson arrested a young man named John Millar, on a charge of having caused the death of Kate Ryder, who died from injuries received through having beeu pushed over a bank a week or two ago. The prisoner was employed in Sparrow's foundry.. It will be | seen from our telegrams that Millar's examination on the charge of manslaughter is causing considerable excitement at Dunedin. One of the best lectures says the " Fifeshire Advertiser " ever delivered in Burntisland was given l>y Charles N, B. Muston, Esq., (late of the " Otago Daily Times ") of the Edinburgh Industrial Museum, on Wednesday last. Ex- i Bailie Lewis was the appointed lecturer for the i evening, but owing to indisposition he could not fulfil his engagement. Mr. Muston, therefore, appeared as his substitute, his subject being New Zealand— which he described from personal observation, having resided in the colony six years. The lecture was graphic and eloquent, abounding in incident and illustration t anecdote and humour. New Zealand was pictured out, and justly, as a perfect Land of Goshen for all who were willing to work, and especially for young women in pursuit of a husband. The lecture elicited the heartiest applause, and, on the motion of the. Rev. Mr. Parlane, who occupied the cchairr r an enthusiastic vote of thanks was accorded to the lecturer,