News of the Week

Otago Witness, Issue 1346, 15 September 1877, Page 15

News of the Week

The Waste Lands Board la considering the new Land Bill in Committee.

We have received from Mr R. T. Wheeler, Stafford street, Bradsuaw's Guide for September.

The funds of the Bruce Cricket Club have been benefited to the extent of £25 by the concert given in its aid at Milton on Friday night.

A meeting of the Tokomairiro Farmers' Club was held on Tuesday evening, when the date for holding the annual show was altered to the Bth Novemher.

A meeting of the Cromwell Quartz Mining Company was held in the Empire Hotel ou tb6 12th. But little business was transacted, and the meeting was adjourned till next Wednesday.

The following being the only candidate for the election of a Councillor for South Ward in Green Island, be was declared duly elected :— John Jenkins, proposed by James Pinkerton, and seconded by Hugh Bdll.

The dwelling house and store belonging to Mr Barney Weissnhaven at Brighton township, and used as a Post-office, were burned to the ground on Friday (7th insfc.) about 1 o'clock. Beyond a bed and cable, absolutely nothing was saved. The origin of the fire is unknown.

The dumniyiam in land speculation at Roxburgh ia likely to be subjected to a searching investigation. At the adjourned meeting of the Waste Lands Board on Thursday, Mr Bastings, from personal enquiry, corroborated the reports recently published regarding the swindle.

At the City Police Court on Saturday, four cases of drunkenness were heard. James Robertson was discharged. Joseph Dixon and James M'Pherson were each fined ss, or, in default, 24 hours' imprisonment. Allan M'Rae was fined 10s, or 48 hours' imprisonment in default.

The Dunstan Times says that good news is still received from Doctor's Point. The prospecting claim is turning out lar^e quan* tities of gold, apd the adjoining claim to the North is looking remarkably well. The claims to the South are still sinking, but as yet have not struck gold.

We have received from Messrs Lans, Campbell, and Co. a sample of Norman's Bakiug Powder. This baking powder, which is of Germau manufacture, and aiid to be

prepared from the recipe of Professor Liebig, is, we can say after having it tried, a superior article of its kind.

A case of incendiarism is reported from Qucenstown. An unoccupied brewery, situate about a mile irom Queenstown, and belonging to Mr William Davis, was half burned down at nine o'clock on Wednesday night. Tho brewery was insured in the Norwich Union Office for £800.

It appears from an advertisement in the North Otago Times that Mr . Alexander Clydesdale is determined not to be beaten if he knows it, and has challenged his rival, John Allan, to another match, this time for £50 a side — the same ploughs to be used as at the Paoakaio Ploughing Match.

Messrs Kempthorne, Prosser, aad Co. on Tuesday forwarded a letter of thanks, enclosing a cheque for fifteen guineas, to the Danedin Fire Brigade, as an acknowledgment of the prompt action of tho Brigade in extinguishing the fire which broke out on that firm's premises on Monday night.

The information against Messrs Weir and Samson, in which they were charged with haying wilfully set fire to their premises in Princes street, was dismissed at the City Police Court on the 7th. The Court, however, endorsed the opinion expressed by the Coroner's Jury that the fire was the act of an incendiary.

The Town Hall Committee on Tuesday recommended the Council to have the prize design for the new Town Hall modified, so that the required office accommodation may be provided for the sum (£7000) voted by the Council. The report, which provides for the appointment of Mr R. A. Lawson as supervising architect, was adopted.

A complimentary benefit was tendered in the Temperance Hall last night to Mr Joseph Scott. The programme comprised dances and songs, which were done full justice to by those who took part in the performance. Thesingiogof Mi3S H-sfordaud Mrs B-irt-lefcfc, and the Irish comicalities of Mr J. O'Brien, were the leading features of the entertainment.

The examination of pupil teachers and candidates for pupil teachers was commenced in the chief centrss in the Provincial district of Otago on Tuesday. la Dunediu the examinations were conducted by Mr Petrie at the Normal School, and will extend over three days. Eighty pupils, of whom 52 were females, presented themselves for examination on Tuesday.

A special meeting of the Maori Hill Council was held on Wednesday evening to consider an account of Messrs Reid and Duncans, for the formation of Henry street. The Council thought that the street had beea made unsatisfactorily, as part of it bad slipped away lately. The account was referred to the Works Committee for them to report at the next meeting.

A concert in aid of the fund 3of the Guiding Star Lodge, 10. G.T., was held in the Drill Shed, Water of Leitb, on the 7th. Bro. Cameron, G.W.S., presided, and there was a numerous audience. Songs and glees were given by Messrs Greig, T. Hare, Carroll, Rogers, Seymour, Warren, and Miss Essie Lack. Miss Lack presided ah the piano, and a very pleasant evening was spent.

A fatal accident occurred at Kensington on Thursday iGth inst.) A boy named Hay, aged about 12 years, who was employed at Messrs Smith and Potheringham'a ' brick works, was going on a portiou of the works above the level of the yard, when he fell into the machinery, and was instantly killed. The unfortunate little boy's skull was broken in pieces, and his head was almost severed from his body. " Captain Thomson, in his report to the Harbour. Board on. Thursday, recommends that a properly equipped lifeboat should be always kept hanging at the outermost end of the Rattray street Jetty. He suggested, also, that an amateur lifeboat crew should be established, and he felt assured if that were done, as the service would be a noble one, it would meet with a liberal amount of support from the public.

In the absence of Mr Watt, R.M., engaged in the Citj Police Court, Mr Flexman, J.P., attended at the Gaol on Saturday afternoon, and admitted to bail John, Walter Grierson, himself in the sum of £500 and two sureties in the sum of £250 each, for prisoner's appearance at the ensuing sessions at Dunedin. The names of the sureties were Alfred Theodore Dunning, hotel keeper, and Thomas Speight Parker, wool broker.

At a meeting of the members and intending members of the Waitaki County Acclimatisation Society, held at Oamaru on the 7th inst., the following gentlemen were elected members of Council : — Messrs Wheatley, Connell, Steward, Bortjn, Reid, Young, Menlove, Dr Smith, Hay, Dunlop, Ron»yne, and Alien. At the syne time and place, it was resolved that a Coursing Club be formed for the Waitaki district.

Mr J. C Brown, in moving the second reading of the Town of Waitahuna Bill which proposes to alter the name Havelock to Waitahuna, urged as a reason for the passing of the Bill that there were already three towns rejoicing iv the name of the great East Indian warrior in consequence of which the Waitshuna Havelock had lo«t a post office and telegraph office, through the sum voted for that purpose having beea appropriated by the wrong Havelock.

A good deal of interest was taken in the Popakaio ploughing match on the Bth, from the fact that it was known that some of the best ploughmen in the Midclie Island intended competing, and also that the match for £20 a-side, between J. Allan and Alex. Clydesdale, would take place. Charles White, of the Taieri, with a Fowler plough, took the first prize in the champion class, although his ploughing varied from that of all the others. Allan took the second prize, Thomas Dick tha third, and M.. Clydesdale" the fourth.

An ordination service was held afc St. Paul's Church on Sunday morning, when Mr G Wilks was admitted to the office of deacon. Mr Wilks lately oocup'ed the head-mastership of a school in Essex, England. He is advertised to conduct the Church of England services at Roslyn. The Right Rev. Bishop Neviil, in the course of

his sermon, suggested the establishment of studentshipa at thcT Theological -College at Bishopscourt, and the appointment of deacons at the several churches in Dunediu for three years' terms.

The opening of the New Workiug Men's Club Building seems to have stimulated a great many to enroll themselves as members, and it is gratifying to know the interest amongst those outside who take an active part in promoting the welfare of such praiseworthy institutions. The Committee have had the gratification of acknowledging the receipt of a letter from W. C. Roberts, Esq , enclosing a guinea for honorary membership) and a donation from the same gentleman of five guineas towards the formation of their new library.

The third general annual meeting of the Waikouaiti and Blueskin Entire Horse Company was held in the Royal Hotel, Waikouaiti, on the 7th insfc., when the balance sheet and Directors' report were laid before the shareholders. The balance sheet (showing a credit balance of £265 6s 9d) and the Directors' report were unanimously adopted. Complimentary remarks were made upon the extremely satisfactory position of the Company, due to ths Directors' careful management, and for the third time the same officebearers were unanimously re elected.

A complimentary ball waa given by the No. 1 City Guards to Major Wales and Lieutenant Douglas on thc<r retirement from the corps at the Headquarters Drill Shed on the 7th. About 50 couples were present, and the music was supplied by Messrs Anderson, Sykes, Lamb, and Stratton. Shortly after midnight Captain G. Wilson presented two handsomely illuminated and framed addresses to Major Wales and Lieutenant Douglas, who h<*d been associated with the Guards for the last 15 years, and contributed to the Company's success iv drill and shooting.

The Adelaide correspondent of a Canterbury journal writes :— "The more your" New Zealand oats are used, the better they are liked, andso long as they can be laid down here at about 3a a bushel, we are good for 100,000 bushels a year, eveu in a good season here. Your cheesa is to be seen on everybody's table, and it is better liked than English in many households. I believe that, as our population increases, the demand for all kinds of New Zealand produce, except wheat,' will be considerably enhanced, aud that a steady market for cheese, bacon, oats, oatmeal, and barley especially, will be found here. Butter, such as it is, we seem to be able to supply ourselves with."

"Jack adrift" constituted a Police Court case at Port Chalmers on Saturday. It appears that Donaia M'lntosh, a seaman belonging to the ship Timaru, wandered on shore ou Friday night, arid the pleasing novelty of the situation after a rough sea^ passage induced him to sacrifice more freely at the shrine nf Bacchus than was afc all good for him. Eventually he fell into the hands of the Police, was looked up, and brought before His Worship in due course, and was fined 53. Bat that did aofe clear him, for another charge of being absent without leave was preferred against him by the Captain of the Timaru, and resulted in a severe r'e-b-ike from His Worship and an order to rejoin his ship ab once.

At a meeting of the Directors of the Ayrshire Association, held iv the Douglas Hotel on the 7th, the President;, Mr W Caldwel!, on behalf of the Directors oLthe Association, precented t-.e Hon. Secretary (Mr Maclean) with a har\dsotne timepiece as a mark of their esteem and in appreciation of his services as Hon. Secretary of the Association since it was instituted. He complimented Mr Maclean highly on the manner in which he had attended to his duties, and on the high opinion which the office-bearers , and t^e members of the Association entertained of him". Mr Maclean made a suitable reply. Mr M'Laan's health was proposed by the President;, and in doing so he stated his wish to include Mrs Maclean ia tho toast. The toast was enthusiastically drunk. The monthly meeting of the Cavershatn Mutual Improvement Society was held in the Schoolhouse on Friday evening, the Presideut (Mr Rutherford) in the chair. Mr Chandler, the Secretary, resigned his position ia consequence of leaving the district. The lesignation was accepted with regret. Mr Jeffcoafc was appointed pro tern , and Messrs Rutherford, Barron, and Tavernan were deputed to look out for a suitable successor, and submit the name to next meeting. Mr Barron read a paper on " Some Mowers and their Culture," in the course of which he described the best methods of cultivating and propagating roses, fuchsias, and other favourite flowers, touching incidentally on the planting and training of fruit trees. Tho usual discussion by the members followed, and the meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the essayist. At the last meeting of the Tuapeka County Council, it appeared to be the impression that if the present large expenditure of the Council was not speedily reduced the Council would scon land itself in difficulties. A motion to the effect that where it was practicable, the roads should be maintained by contract, instead of engaging surfacemen for their maintenance as at present, which costs the Council £50 per week, was agreed to. It was also resolved to reduce the number of surfacemen. Tbe Chairman pointed out that if the Council were to erect an office it would also be the means of reducing the expenditure, and it would give the Council more accommodation than that which they had in their present office, for which they were paying a rental of £S4 per annum. Indeed, at their last meeting, i;he desire for economy seemed to be ihe order of the day. The Railway Brass B:n>l made its first appearance before a Duaediu audience on the 7fch, and although scarcely three months in existence, the members cau be complimented upon the progress they have made in so shore a time. In addition to an overture to each part of the programme, two quartettes were played, and very creditably too. The vosal portion of the entertainment was not very satisfactory, owing principally to the absence of two gentlemen who promised their services, but failed to put in an appearance. The quartette " Banish, O Maiden," and a trio "The Wreath," were by far the best efforts in this direction* although

a comic song in character "The Railway Porter," met with much approbation. Mr Crowhurat ably presided at the piano. At the conclusion of the concert, the room was cleared, and dancing kept up until a late hour. Bernard Waaserbrener, who occupied the two houses which were destroyed by fire at Brighton about midnight on the 6th inst. , states that with his wife and three children he retired to rest at 8 o'clock, leaving a lamp burning very low as usual in his bedroom. He waa awoke by tleme volumes of smoke proceeding from the kitchen, and he barely had time to drag his w ife and children out of the house. Being the postmaster of the district he returned and managed to secure the mail bag— not without considerable risk. Very little furniture was saved, and Mr Wasserbrener estimates his loss at £ICO. He was uninsured. On the night in question he had spread a bas; in front of the kitchen fireplace, about eighteen inches from the fire, to keep the smoke in. The actual origin of the fira is at present a mystory. The houses belonged to Mr H. Friedhub, of Dunedin, and they were insured for £350. An alarm of fire was given shortly before 11 p.m. on Monday; and on reaching Stafford street, flimea were seen issuing from Messrs Kempthorne, Prosser, and Co.'s drug warehouse. The Brigade were soon on the spot with their appliances, and setting to work with a will and having a good pressure of water, the fire was quickly subdued, little or no damage having been done. On entering the premises, it was found that the fire originated at the top of the stairs on the loft hand side of the building leading to the packing roooe. Tbe floor was all bnrnt and a few cr.se* of cordials were cburred, but there the damage ended, excepting such as might have been caused by water. No idea as to how the fire occurred can be given. No one lives on the premises, and the employes all leave between 5 and half- past 6 p.n». The J last to leave yesterday was Robert Dick, who was in the room where the lire occurred just before leaving, aud then everything seemed sale. There is a policy fo." £500 in the National Insurance Office on the building, but we were unable to ascertain if there were any farther insurances.

Members of tbe Albany street Baptist Chapel and their friends, to the number of 350, assembled at the Albany street Oddfellows' Hall on the 12th, to bid farewell to Mr Thomas Dick, who, with his wife and daughter, ia aboafc to le^ve for the home country. A tea, provided by the ladies of the congregation, having been discussed.. Mr Murdoch' took the chair, baing supported by Mr Dick, and several other gentlemen. Addresses were delivered by Mr D. Wright, on ''Church. work," Mr Innea, on "Individual effort," tbe Rev. Mr Ward, an address to young Christians, and Mr J. G. Fraser, on " Christian unity." Deep regret was expressed that circumstances ahonld have arisen, necessitating Mr Dick's departure from amongst them, bat the desire was generally expressed that his mission would be sncceapful, and that he, would speedily return, to Danedin. Mr Dick, in reply, said he did not know before that he had so many kind and loving. friends. He was going away for a time, and was thankful that he carried w<th him their good wishes and prayers. He hoped soon to come back again, for Dunedin was his home, he having lived there for the past 20 years. An excellent choir sang very pleasingly, and 'with good effect, several hymns during the evening. Mr and Mrs Dick leave on Saturday, to join the San Francisco mail steamer at Auckland.