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Bruce Herald, Volume v, Issue 242, 16 December 1868, Page 4

The Bone dust ordered from Mr Kennedy has arrived, and is ready ior delivery. We are: compelled to hold over report of Ex* tended Jurisdiction Court, letters Beta and Delta, account of anniversary of Court Prince Alfred, A.0.F., West Taieri, and other items of intelligence. We understand that Caledonian Grames are to be held at the Recreation Grouni, Tokomairiro, on New Year's Day, when handsome prizes will ; be given. Full particulars next issue. An accident of a novel character happened on Saturday last in Milton, to a mare, the property of Mr William Wyber. It appears that in the paddock adjoining the Great Britain, Hotel, the mare had dropped a foal tbeday previous, and was left there to graze. The opening; of the well had be<jn but slightly covered with rotten material and the mare in crossing, dropped in with her hind quarters first. The casualty happened ia the morning, and the neighbors very soon came to assist in getting her " out of the. pit," but the opening was so small, not over three feet in diameter, it was found to be a matter of considerable difficulty to bring her up in safety. It was pitiable to notice the helpless attitude of the ' poor animal which struggled very severely. We regret that the efforts of those present were unavailing, as before they could get her out. she died. This occurrence should induce careful attention to the uncovered openings of the numerous wells in the township. Among other matters and motions of progress in the Popotunoa district, th are was a meeting of the settlers and residents- of Popotunoa and Wairuna on Tuesday evening, the Bth inst., at the School-house in the latter district, when we believe it was unanimously agreed to make application to the Presbytery of Clutha to get the above-named districts, together with the Waiwera districts and its runs lying contiguous to them, declared a sanctioned charge,(with the view of having a minister of the gospel: settled there as soon as possible, and the JEtev. John Waters, Warepa, who presided at the meeting, was empowered to lay the memorial before the .Presbytery at its next meeting. On the following day, Mr Waters presided at a meeting o£ the residents of the Waiwera district, when the resolutions agreed to by the people^ of Popotunoa and Wairuna were unanimously concurred in and adopted. It is to be hoped that the people of those districts shall sooa have the pleasure of seeing a pastor- j/Liccd amongst them to promote their spiritual interests. This, together with the Side School granted to the Waiwera district, greatly supplies the settlers there with the more urgent necessities of well-being. We hope- that both education and religion shall soon be inta vigorous state in those places, so as to make up somewhat, for the too long want, if not neglect, a both respects in some of those localities. We refer our Balclutha readers to the advertisement of an Art Union, which will come off o;i Monday, 28th inst. From the. number aud variety of prizes offered, consisting, of articles highty esteemed by the ladies, we may hope that there will be a " rush " for tickets. The Annual Examination of the Middle District School, Dunedin, was commenced on Thursday last, and was finished on the following day. Thera was a large attendance, and the interesting proceedings passed off most satisfactorily. The examination was conducted by the Revs. D. M. Stuart, Sutherland, and Martin, assisted by the head master, Mr Halliwell, and Mr Macgrcor, master of the Stuarfc-street Grammar School. Mr Julius Yogel presented the prizes^ the first was taken by Edward: M'Liskey, for geometry and general accuracy in all the subjects of the school curriulum. The. second prize v/as awarded to Miss Annia Farrant, for British and Roman history. From a return furnished by the master, we ( c Daily Times ') learn that there are nine classes in the school, representing the following figures : — lnfant division, 100 ; fourth book class, 27 v fifth do., 25 ; sixth do., 30 ; junior progressive lessons, 40 ; senior do., i4O; Collier's history class, 72; advanced reading and British history, 70 ; British and Roman history, 54 : Total, 458 L It has been established. now nearly seven years, and Mr Halliwell has ! held the position of head master since ita foundi ation. After the- business of the day had concluded, a very handsome present was made by the scholars to Mr Ferguson, the second master and singing teacher, Mr Yogel acting as spokes^ man for the children, none of whom were present at the time of presentation. The Sixpenny Readings held in the Volunteer Hall on Monday night were an undoubted success. A large number of ladies were present land the juveniles of both sex^s mustered in large force. The chair was occupied by Mr Ferguson, postmaster. The Rev R. L. Stanford opened the entertainment by reading " A Bachelor's opinion, of Married People,." from Elia. The sarcastic allusions to the billing and cooing of newly-married couples, created some merriment. We were next granted a treat \ by the singing of Miss Fuller, who narrowly escaped an encore. The schoolchildren under the leadership of Mr Taylor, next succeeded in gratifying the company very muck by their singing, in a manner creditable- alike to teacher and taught. Mr Marshall read a most interesting extract from the 'Queen's Journal/ Miss- \ Mary Capstick, assisted by Mr Grant as pianist, gave a sweet song. The Rev A. B. Todd read a chapter from Jessica, which was much appreciated. Miss Popplewell, with Miss Smith ias pianist, sang very well. Mr Ferguson, then read some very amusing illustrations of Scottish character. Miss K. Popplewell and Mr Grant followed with a duet, sung admirably. The children again sang a glee, and Mr B. Hibbard read from the inimitable Dickens, in an appropriate style. The instrumental music by Mrs Clark, Mr H. Marryatt, and Mr Clark was much Kked and received an encore. Mr G. Capstick recited a comic piece " The Frenchman and the Rats," which amused the younger portion of the audience in a great degree. The Chairman before concluding said, it was proposed that there should be a cessation of the entertainments for some time j but before finally closing them for the season, it was suggested that there should be another evening devoted to the readings, and at present New Year's eve was fixed for the event ; however, it would be duly intimated. The National Anthem closed the proce jdings.

The gold escort, under the charge of Mr SubInspector Percy, arrived here on Monday evening, bringing the following quantities of gold :— ; Lawrence, 713 ozs. ; Waipori, 313 oaa. j Waitahnna, 227 ozs. ; t0ta1 1253 ozs. A coreespondent sends us the following; particulars of the late disastrous fire at Switzera r — " The unfortunate occurrence took place at half past one on Sunday morning. The fire> broke out in the kitchen of the Crown Hotely a teavy wind was blowing at the time, and im less than an hour the whole block belonging to Skene, Haast, and Company,includingawatch--maker's shop belonging to Mr Lumsdbn, was burnt to the ground, the inmates barely escaping with their lives The cook, a Chinaman, is. severely burnt, and now lies in a precarious condition. The flames were arrested at the:; extreme end of the building iv which the heavy goods being stored on that side of the building; and the exertions ot a large body of miners whoby this time had arrived, and by forming a. line to the water-race, kept a continual stream of water pouring over the house until the flames* had somewhat subsided. We were thus enabled, to- arrest the progress of the fire which in. a short time would have consumed the- whole street. All goods were removed from the house* causing considerable damage to the. same' in thehaste and excitement, of the moment. MrSkene and Company were insured for £1530The total loss will amount to over £6,060 to this; firm alone* Mr Lumsdon's loss is estimated at. £150 ; damage to goods- removed from Braithwaite's and M'Beath's, Robert Allen and Robert Ferguson, £100. Loss sustained by residents; in the Hotel and Store, £500: Great credit is; due to the miners f»r the great exertions they made to subdue the flames. A. subscription wa»immediately set on. foot to compensate the .females aonneeted with the hotel who had toescape in their night-clothes, and in a few hours a hundred pounds were collected." We most heartily, endorse, the following remarks of the • Daily Times,' while commenting, on; Mr HaH r B late speech- It is our belief thepress has greatly erred in this respect since the: unfortunate outbreak took places- "His- comment* on the injudicious^ publication of dis— heartening news- and unfavorable criticisms in papers published^ in the disturbed disturbed districts, are not without force- There- is certainly no wisdom in carrying- on the war ia newspapers — still less in ' harassing commanders,, laying, bare, every weak point we. have got, publishing, that in. a certain district there are no arms, that the enemy can- descend on this settlement aud on. that. ' Facts of this kind, which* are very well known, to ourselves and. to- the. authorities, do not require to be published.; theenemy alone are. likely to profit by. thei» publication " We have been requested to publish the follow— letter to the ' Daily Times :' — " To the editor of the ' Daily Times.' Crichton, Tokomairiro, December 12th, 1888. Sir,— l see in-- your [report of the Show of' Live- Stock, &c, held at. ! Tokomairiro on the. 10th» instant, as givem in. your paper of to-day, you state that there was 'no competition for two-tooth Meriao- Bams.'* Now, Sir, I beg to state that I entered two Rams of that class, and they appeared, in. a. pen. duly labelled by authority of the- committeeThere were others also entered and exhibited, under the same authority. I also, hold the. ticket; fastened by the committee to the- pen which contained the rams ■which I exhibited, intimating that the judges had awarded; to them, the "First Premium." Iknownot,. of course,, upon what authority your report was drawn up,, but I think that you owe your readers some explanation of a statement so far at variance with 'the real facts of the case. I am aware that after the award had been given by the judges, some: objection; was made* by one of the- other-com-petitors, Mr James Smith, as to the age of the animals to- which the prize had been awarded. But allowing the objection to-be well founded,, which I certainly do' not, it was not the time to* make ifc. They either belonged to the clasß or~ they did not. If they did not, they ought not. to have been: allowed to be- exhibited' at all: Bufe the Judges must surely have satisfied themselves: upon that, as upon all other points,. before giving: their award ; and- if they failed to do so, or it upon the complaint of one *ho thought himself. , aggrieved by their award, they were prepared; either to reverse or set aside the- decision they had deliberately come to* their- fitness for theposition they held was certainly very questionable. I have- no- wish- tj make this, a personal" question, as I had no expectation of taking a prize, but sent the sheep meiely to encourage the efforts of the committee' Bat if these exhibitions are to be of any use to the country,, there must be impressed on the- mind of the-, community, a firm- conviction that the Judges; are strictly impartial; and altogether beyond" thes I reach of personal influence of any kind* Ifc 'seems very questionable? whether- having madfr • I their award, and exhibited the same on. the pern during the whole day, they were at liberty either to recall it or set it aside. I am* &c., KbssetHl B. Bain." At a meeting- of the shareholders- of the; 'Tokomairiro Coal Company, held on Saturday/ last, the Director's report was read, and on the motion of Mr Gillies, seconded by Mr James-. Smith, it was adopted. They leported that themine was in good working order, and promised to yield an abundant supply of coat of a very superior quality. "They also stated that the= weighing machine fitted. up at the mine was-of great service- A statement of accounts was appended, and it was shown, that there was an available balance of £51 13s. It was moved by Mr Smith and seconded by Mr Falconer, that adividen of 10s per share be declared. It was- ! resolved that a sum of £15 be contributed by the Company to the Milton Koad 1 Board towards the repair of the roadk leading to the mine. The following gentlemen were elected Directors, for the ensuing year r— Messrs. Falconer, Hollick, Smith, Gillies, and M'GUL I Tite following extract from the Imperial Customs Act has been published in the 'Gazette, for general information : — "lf any articles of foreign manufacture, and packages of such articles, bearing any names, brands, , or marks, being or purporting to be the names, brands, or marks of manufacturera, resident in, the United Kingdom, shall be imported in any of the British possessions abroad, the sameshall be forfeited. We insert the following correction : — Sib, I take the opportunity through your columns of correcting an error in the Prize last of the late Show at Balclutha, it occurs in class 34 best pen of three Merino- ewes with lambs, in which the Ist prize is awarded to Mr Robson and the 2nd to Mr James Smith, it should be reversed, Mr Smith Ist Mr Robsoa 2nd. tam&c.,GrEu. Richardson, Secretary