Local Intelligence.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VIII, Issue 437, 24 February 1875, Page 2

Local Intelligence.

Thb. land on. Bellamy and Smith's runs, which: was thrown open lately, continues to be taken up by degrees. During the past week^upwanta of 2,200 acres have been partly purchased and partly applied for under the Agricultural Leasing Regulations in block 1., Beaumont, and blocks 11. and 111., Tuapeka West. If settlement progresses at the present ratio in the Tuapeka district for -the next few months, it will be absolutely necessary that the remaining portions of the two tuns referred to be also thrown open.

On Saturday last, an accident happened to James Ross, an old Waipori miner, on the railway works, near the fluining at Clarks Flat. The nieii there have been employed for some time cutting through bard rock, and, on the occasion of , the accident, had put in a blast, which for some reason did not go off as, it should have done. After waiting nearly an hour for it, and thinking all danger must, be past, they had no sooner approached it than it went off, Ross, who was close to it. received very severe injuries to the upper part of his body from the powder. He was shortly afterwards removed to the Hospital, where he has received every attention. He is progressing favorably, and although his right eye is much hurt, it is thought the sight will not be affected.

On Sunday morning his Lordship, Bishop Moran, held a confirmation service in the R. C. Church, when 52 persons were confirmed. The ceremony was a very impressive one, and was witnessed by a large audience. In the evening the Bishop preached to * crowded congregation, He returned to Danedin on Monday morning.

The great Waikoikoi land sale came off at the District Land Office, yesterday, and was toall intents and purposes a failure. Of the fifty sections only seven were sold, and these at the upset price of £2 per acre. Previous to the Bale *t was thought there "would be a large attendance, and that Mr. Logan would be a prominent bidder; but that gentleman neither appeared personally, not by agent, so far, as bidding was concerned, and there were only a few boha fide buyeis present who, we believe, obtained the sections they Wished. The number of acres sold was something short of 700, and the amount realised about £1300. We have heardfit remarked that the upset price is too much for the land, and the result of this sale would almost warrant such a conclusion. Those section^ sold, as may be surmised, are the choicest of the lot. I The want of additional accommodation at the Roxburgh Court House, has been much felt for some time past. Mr. MtKellar. the Goldfields Secretary, in furtherance of a promise made by him to Mr. Geo. Ireland, the M.P.C. for the district, has caused a couple of rooms ; to be built in the rear of the present building, one being for the private use of the Warden, and the other for the accommodation of the public. The work is progiessing satisfactorily, the builders are Messrs Boyd and Speed, The thanks of the-' community are due to Mr, Ireland for this long felt want. The Rev. Mr. Duff from Tasmania preached in the Presbyterian Church on Sunday morning. The- reverend gentleman is a very eloquent ' speaker, and was listened to with great attention throughout his discourse.

UPWARDS of one hundred people assembled on the recreation ground on Saturday evening, to witness two foot races between Messrs. Roughan and Harris, and Messrs, Dawson and Conway respectively. The match between the two first named pedestrians arose out of a previous one, in which Mr. Roughan was the victor. The distance, in the present match was 200 yards, and at the appointed time both competitors were stripped for the race. When the signal was given foi the start, Harris was first away; and lan strongly' for about 100 -yards, with Roughan in close attendance. He then began to waver from want of condition, and ultimately fell.* Roughan, who did not appear- much distressed, won easily! This' is Mr. Roughari's final race, and he now retires from the athletio arena whilst his laurels are yet green,' The match between Dawson and Conway was for £5 a side, distance one hundred yards. Mr. Roughan acted as starter, and on his giving the signal by letting fall his hat, Dawson started and ran over the distance, Couway staying at the post. A dispute then arose as to whether the start was fair, as Conway declared that the starter was to count three before letting the hat fall. The dispute remains in abeyauce pending the decision of the " Australasian." unless it is otherwise settled by the competitors. The usual monthly Union Prayer Meeting will be held in the schoolhouse, to-morrow evening, at half-past seven o'clock.

We learn from our Milton contemporary that a mutch has been arranged between Mr. Pollock's horse Bothwell, and Mr. Corsau's Seabird for £100 a-side. We hear that the Lodge of Good Templars at the Blue Spur intend holding a soiree, conceit, and ball early next mouth. The children's annual pic-nic, at Waitahuna, takes place to-day. A number of people from Lawrence intend being present. Fkom advertisement,"it will be obeecrod -that the Millers Flat block will be open for application under the Agricultural Leasing Regulations, at the Roxburgh office, on and after the Oth proximo. Lodge St. Lawrence, 1.0. G.T., purpose having a ball in the Town Hall some time next I month, the proceeds of which will be in aid of the funds of the Tuapeka Hospital. The land in the Waikaka and Chatton Huni dreds will be balloted for at the Land Office, luvereargill. on the 3rd proximo, when the applicants must either attend personally or by agent. There is a large number of applicants for this land, and as there are only twenty-seven sections, many of the applicants will require to go elsewhere to satisfy their wants. For section 9, block 11., Waikaka district, there are 41 applicants ; for section 6, block 11., Chatton distiict, there are 31 applicants ; and for several sections there are about 20 applicants, for each there being only five sections of the twentyseven with one applicant for each. We are informed that the Lawrence Good Templars purpose iuviting the Hon. S. D. Hastings to visit this district. From the " Canterbury Times,'' we extract the following particu* lars regarding this gentleman :— *' Mr. Hastings is a member of the United States' Legislature, and a P.D.R. W.G.T. of the Order of Good Templars. He left America on the invitation of the Grand Lodge of Victoria for a twelve months' tour in the Australian colonies for the purpose of .placing the Order on a more satisfactory basis, an 1 giving lectures upon Good Templar subjects. The great distance the lodges in this part of the world are from the parent lodge, and the inexperience of the members of the Order in these colonies, rendered a visit from an officer of such experience ac Mr. -Hastings very desirable, and there can be no doubt that, apart from lecturing, he will be able to do a great deal of good to the order during his tour. That he is capable of carrying out all that is required in both respects, may be gathered from the fact that he was elected Right Worthy Grand Templar for the world —the highest office attainable in the world -no less than five years in succession, The Grand 1 Lodge of Victoria not only pays the expenses of the tour, but also . guarantees Mr. Hastings a sum of £1000 for the twelvemonths. Mr. Hastings will remain in Canterbury for about fourteen days', and will probably give his first lee-tu'-e in Clmstchurch during the present week. Before leaving he will be presented with an addiess by the members of the order in the province." From the Dunedin " Evening Star," we notice-that Mr. Hastings is expected to arrive in Dunedin on Saturday next by coach.

MtsSBS, HALtENSTtiN. AND Co have recently engaged for their Lawrence establishment a milliner of extensive experience, and are now prepared to^turn out work in the tip top of fashion. The road between Lawrence and the Junction Hotel is very much cut np. and it is a daily occurrence for waggons to be seen stuck fast in the mud. ! A skktch of the programme to be carried out on St. Patrick's Day by our R. C friends appears in our advertising columns. The Committee, seemingly, are determined to outvie all previous years by the excellence of their sports' iind entertainments. A GIRL mimed Margaret Collins, who has been in the service of Mr. Goodall, of Milton, for a few weeks, whs apprehended by the police on Saturday, on a charge of infanticide. She complained of being ill on Saturday morning, and remained in her room till the evening, when she came down stairs and waited at the table. Her fellow-servant and others in the house noticed a difference in her appearance, and on seai-ch being made in the bedroom, the body of a fullgrown female child was found under the mattress with its throat cut. An inquest was to be held yesterday.

The land on the. Waikaka Hundred, which has been advertised foe sale by auction on the. Ist March at the Mataura Bridge, has beenpoitponed till the Wth of that month,