Local and General News.

Lake County Press, Volume VIII, Issue 447, 4 December 1879, Page 2

Local and General News.

Dr W. M. Dickenson (surgeon to the Arrow District Hospital) is a passenger by the Arawata on her present trip from Melbourne to the Bluff, and will arrive in the Arrowabout Tuesday next. During the sitting of the Warden's Courton Monday last, the "Warden, in dealing with an application for a residence-area, stated that after the present year noresidence-area would be granted unless the land applied for was surveyed, so that it could be shown on the district map. Instrumental music became an accomplished fact at St. John's Presbyterian Church on Sunday morning last, when the new harmonium was played in accompaniment to the hymns, and during the gathering and' dispersing of the congregation. The instrument is one of the most beautifully-finished we have ever seen, and comprises the latest improve • ments. It will bo sufficient to say that it is by the eminent maker Bauer, has two keyboards, twenty stops, and knee-swell. In the hands of Mrs and Miss M'Cracken—who we understand, have kindly consented to undertake the duties of organists—this addition to the church-property will make the service much more attractive and impressive. The entire cost of the instrument is"about £52. The installation of Bro. John Barlow as Right Worthy Master of the Arrow Kilwinning Lodge (No. 367, S.C.) will take place on Friday, the 12th December. We understand that invitations have been issued to the brethren of the Cromwell, Queenstown, and St. John's (Invercargill) Lodges to be wesent at the ceremony, which will be conducted by His Honor Judge Harvey. A large attendance of the craft is expected. Mr F. W. Burwell (architect) on TWurlay passed the Arrow District Hospital building, and in doing so fully bore out the opinion we expressed last week that Mr Letcher had executed the work in the best style. We understand Mr Burwell said he had not a single fault to find. A man named J. Regan was charged at the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday morning (before His Worship the Mayor) with drunkenness, and fined 10s. The fine was paid, and in the afternoon he was again locked up for drunkenness. He was brought before the Resident Magistrate this morning, and fined Is, with a caution to clear out of the town. A perfect hurricane swept over the Arrow on Tuesday morning, doing a good deal of mischief in some cases. The roof of Mr W. T. Smith's new stable was lifted clean off' and a dray belonging to Mr Ross, earner' was turned completely over, and left with the wheels uppermost, smashing the tilt and covering which were on. In the Court-house the roof threatened to go, but by some mysterious means maintained cohesion. The gale was fortunately of short duration or we might have had some more serious results to chronicle The annual meeting of subscribers to the Arrow Athenrcuni takes place on Saturday evening, when a new Committee will be elected. _ Some stir was caused in town on Saturday night last by a report that a lad in the employ of Mr W. Turton had been stuck-up and robbed by a swagsman near Mr R. M'Morran's farm while riding from Arrowtown to Queenstown. The boy gave a most circumstantial account of the affair to the police, and P L f 1 hu3y searcnill g for the thief; but on Monday information was received that a pocket-book supposed to have been stolen was found near the Shotover Bridge, whereas the boy averred that the thief came towards Arrowtown. Circumstances now point to the story being concocted by the lad for the purpose of hiding his carelessness in losing the book. The ' Cromwell Argus' last week reported tho death of Mr George Tucker at Frankton Hospital. We are informed on the most re-* liable authority that the gentleman in question ia "not dead, nor likely to die just yet by all appearance." There was a rumor in town about the supposed death of Mr Tucker, but we did not give it currency, as it lacked confirmation. Mr Finn has, according to the latest news from Wellington, joined a strong middle party -which is being formed in the House under the title of the " Young New Zealand party." A number of members are disgusted with the proceedings of both the xxail and Grey parties, and are now forming this new and independent phalanx. Subjoined are the dates fixed for holding District Court sittings at Arrowtown and Queenstown, which appear in the last Gazette to hand:—Queenstown: 9th February, 12th P ?'-r. 14t11 June ' 9UI Au &ost. 21st October, 13th December, in each year. Arrow : 12th February, loth April, 17th June, 12th August, 13th October, 16th December, in each year. A brewer in Dunedin informs us ('Daily Times ') apropos of a proposed duty of 6d. per t'u n ps ' tllat k* B firm nses about 20 tons of hops per annum. The duty on these, at 6d. per lb. would amount to no less than £ll2O. This would be protection to native industry with a vengeance.

A meeting of the Arrow District Races Committee was held in the Public Library ori Monday evening, and all the preliminaries of the meeting of 1879 were initiated. Collectors were appointed for the different portions of the district, and it only remains for the public to respond as hitherto, liberally, and the time—honored institution of Christmas Sports may be expected to prove as attractive I in the Arrow, as in past years. As usual the \ matter has been left to the last moment; but, as this is' essentially Arrowlike, we do not j anticipate failure on this account. If the committee only put their shoulders to the wheel, our Christmas visitors may hope to I witness a successful meeting and good sport i for their money. In the House of Representatives last week Mr Finn asked' the Minister of Justice if he will lay before the House all correspondence) &e., between-the Government and all other persons, having reference to the erection of a | public gaol at Queenstown to which the HonMr Rolleston replied that the papers were at present away from "Wellington, but should be produced. i We have received from Mr J. B. Bradsha-v*-his share list for December, which is a valuable reference-sheet for investors. The ' Pall Mall Gazette ' remarking on the establishment of the telephone exchange in London, says :—" Still more remarkable, however, than the communication thus established was the experiment made with the telephone upon a mechanical type setter. By means of speaking throngh the telephone a complete series of sentences was set up in type in a composing stick." Never has been seen (says the 'Sun') a more painful performance than that which is now to be witnessed in the old Exhibition building in Vienna, where Elondin dailj risks his life on a rope stretched across the vast dome at a giddy height. Blondin has expressly requested that no net be placed under the rope to break his fall should an accident occur. He says that he has found by experience that the public do not care half so much for his performance when the possibility of a terrible accident is not present to lend a j zest to the show. He receives a large sum of money for every exhibition-; and the more daring his feats the higher are his wages. He now traverses the rope without the balancing bar, walking backwards blindfold. Blondin is followed everywhere by a Mr Thompson, who has made a bet of ten thousand pounds that the hero of Niagara will fall from the rope and be killed ere he attains the age of sixty. Five years more and the cruel wager will be decided one way or the other ; for Blondin is already fifiy-five. A London paper tells of a belle who payed ' £1 to have the initials of her lover's name tattooed en her leg, and later, having quarrelled with him, was offering £IOO for a means of obliteration. Surely some enthusiast on classical psychology might be found to examine the limb for less ! The London correspondent of the ' Dundee Advertiser' in & recent letter, alluding to the abdication of Queen Victoria, says: "I have not hitherto alluded to these reports, but they have become so persistent that it would be useless longer to ignore their existence. It is said that for some time past Her Majesty's health has not been in a very satisfactory state. The journey to Italy is not a mere holiday trip. Sir W. Jonnor considered thfit a change of scene, and an almost entire absence from official duty of any kind, were necessary for the Queen, and that is the'reason she has buried herself on the secluded shores of an Italian lake. It is said that, • unless a considerable change in Her Majesty's health takes place, she will no longer be able to discharge the functions belonging to the Sovereign of the old country, and rumor points to the possibility of an abdication. It is an undoubted fact that, since the departure of the Queen for Italy the Prime Minister has several times seen the Prince of Wales, and the Prince would seem to be to some extent discharging the duties of the Queen with regard to public affairs during her absence in Italy. There are those who think that a somewhat startling surprise is in store for Parliament before the present session closes."