LOCAL & GENERAL.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume XXI, Issue 1074, 3 July 1890, Page 3

LOCAL & GENERAL.

A FIRE broke out iu a shed belonging to Mr. Walter Inder about two o'clock on Wednesday morning. The Fire Brigade were on the scene with commendable alacrity, but owing to the fire-plug being some distance away their efforts were nob of much avail. The origin of the fire is unknown. The damage done was not considerable.

We have just received the following wire from Nenthorn :—" The Surprise Company cleaned up last night. Twenty-seven tons of stone were crushed, and the yield obtained was at the rate of loz lodwt per ton.

The annual meeting of the Otago Central Curling Club was held at the Criterion Hotel, Naseby, on 21st June, there being a fairattendance. The followingofßce-bearers were elected :—President Mr. J. T. B. Hickson ; Vice-president, Mr. L. Hore; Patron and Patroness, Mr. and Mrs. 8. G. Inder ; Secretary, Mr. John Dawson; Treasurer, Mr. R. Paisley ; General Committee, Messrs. GufEe, Hull, Young, Mouat and Inder. Match Committee, Messrs Guffie and M. Young; Representative Member, Mr. W. Guffie; Chaplain, Rev. H. J. Davis.—A letter was read from the Secretary of the Bluckstonc Club with reference to playing for a trophy to bo presented by Mr. Gibson. It was resolved that the Committee deal with the matter.—Mr. S. G. Inder proposed that the trophies be handed over to the president as usual, which was seconded by Mr. A. M'Lean. As nn amendment, Mr. L. Hore proposed, and Mr. M. Young seconded, that the trophies be allowed to remain in the County Chambers. —The motion was carried.—Mr. M. Young gave notice that he would move at a special meeting, to be held on July 12th, " That the three trophies won by the club be played for at points, the three highest scorers to be the winners."

A foot-race for £2O a side has been arranged between John M'Gregor,of Naseby, and E. Ryan, of Ophir. The distance is t.o be 100 yds., and the race is to be run at Ophir on August 9th. Mr. R. Ho3ie has been appointed starter, and Mr. W. Guffie judge. Much interest is being taken in the event by sporting men in the district. The 'Frisco mail closes at Naseby on Thursday, 10th July, at 8 a.m. sharp. The half-yearly meeting of the Golden Gully Q.M. Co. takes place on July 14th.

Tenders are invited in this issue for the purchase of section 4, block I, Gordon-street, Nenthorn, with all buildings thereon.

The twenty-third annual soiree and ball in connection with Mount Ida Lodge, 1262, E.C., was held in the Masonic Hall, Naseby, on Friday evening last. The hall was brilliantly lighted, und the decorations were very handsome, tho principal feature being a number of beautiful lamp-shades of unique design. They were made of variously colored Eaper, and were pyramid-shaped, the colors lending most artistically—the handiwork, we understand, of Bro. Ladd. The success attending the affair proved quite as great as on former occasions, though the attendance was not so numerous. The floor was in perfect order, the music supplied by the band excellent, and dancing was kept up with mnch vigor until early next morning. Bro. Hall filled the position of Master of Ceremonies with his usual ability. During the evening the company partook of an excellent repast, which reflected credit on the caterer, Bro. Dawson. We must not omit to mention that at intervals Bro. Hickson played several selections on the organ in a masterly manner. Wk are requested to inform members of the Football Club that a match, Captain v. Deputy-Captain, will be played on Saturday afternoon, commencing at three o'clock, at which a good attendance is expected.

The " Auckland Observer " remarks : Never was check so colossal exhibited as when Mr. Ormond stood up the other day in the Chamber of Commerce, Napier, to bewail the fact that small settlers were not more numerous in Hawke's Bay, and to move I resolutions calling on the Government to give facilities for the introduction cf more of them into the colony. The great J.D.O. did this with the damning fact staring him in the face that thousands of good men already in the colony, and thousands more who have left it in disgust, have been unable to get land to settle on because he himself, tho prince of monopolists, and other greedy land absorbers like him, have swallowed up all the best land in the colony, and have driven, and are driving, the small Bottlers out of it as fast as they can get away. New Zealand will never be a country for small land settlers until a graduated land tax is imposed, which will compel all landgrabbcrs like Mr. Ormond to disgorge." The following is a copy of a letter which has been received by miners at Maerewhenua from the Dunedin firm of solicitors whose names appear at its foot:—" We have been instructed by Mr. John Borton to write to you upon the subject of fouling the Maerewhenua and other streams passing through or past his land by tho workings which you and other miners have carried on. you will, doubtless, remember that Mr. Borton some years ago obtained judgment against a number of miners, declaring that the fouling of streams was illegal. The fouling has continued to such an extent that the river, where once Mr. Borton had 9ft. of water, is now nothing but sludge with water flowing over it, and this water leaves its bed and pours in a foul state upon his land. A tract of several acres of valuable land has been destroyed, and more is threatened with destruction. In flood times this state of affairs is still worse. Wo are now directed to inform you that our client will take immediate action in the Supreme Court to prevent a continuance- of the injuries which he complains of, and to obtain damages for the very serious loss he has already sustained. Will you favour us with the name of a solicitor who will accept service of process on your behalf.—We aro, etc., Smith, Chapman, Sinclair and White."

A party of miners have arranged with Mr. Robert Hunter, owner of Inch Valley Farm, to work a portion of the Shag River for gold. Tho bed of the river at this part is freehold, and is known to be more or less auriferous. In his Financial Statement the Treasurer mentioned that the Government intend to make proposals with a view to give effect to the recommendation of tho Mining Conference as regards tho abolition of the gofd duty and the substitution of another revenue in its place. The " Evening Post " announces that in a privato letter received by last mail Sir J. Vogel has declared his intention of going to Now Plymouth to contest one of the Tarnaki Sfiutß during the coming elections. According to this authority the old leader is going to attack tho stronghold of his chief opponent, aud we shall huvo a battle of tho giants.