ROXBURGH.

Otago Witness, Issue 2258, 10 June 1897, Page 25

ROXBURGH.

June 7. — The annual licensing meeting for the j licenaing district of Tuapeka was held at the courthouse, Roxburgh, last Tuesday, Ist June ; present — Messrs S. E. M'Carthy, S.M. (chairman), and Campbell, Craig, Bennetts, Jeffery, and Laidlaw. The application of T. J. Collins, Railway Hotel, Heriot, for a new publican's license was granted, as the application of R. G. Fultou, Golden Age Ilotel, Wetherstones, was withdrawn to make way for it. All the transfers, new applications for old houses, renewals for publicans', accommodation, wholesale, and bottle licenses wa« granted. There was considerable argument

oft the question of extending the time for closing from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m., but the committee decided not to grant any extension. The application to put out lights at 10 o'clock was not entertained. Conditional licenses will be granted fro all large gatherings at £1 per day, exclusive of statutory fees. If there was any drunkenness or disorderly conduct directly traceable to overindulgence in liquor, the issue of conditional licenses would b3 liable to suspension in the locality in which such disturbances might occur. The meeting adjourned about 1 p.m., having concluded the business in a Httle under an hour.

Borough Council. — At the monthly meeting of the local borough council on Thursday evening the annual balance sheet was passed. After discussion it was decided to convene a public meeting for_ Tuesday evening to make arrangements to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of the Queen. i Lost in the Ranges.— At the beginning of j last week it was rumouied here that there was a j fear that Mr William Gunu, packer, might be ' snowed up. On the 28th May he went to Camp- ' bell's Creek, on the Old Man Range, and about 20 miles from Roxburgh. He had three pack- i hoises with him and a saddle horse About 4 p.m. he made up his mind to come in to his home at Coal Creek, despite the fact that snow was falling very heavily. He was also strongly advised by an old digger (Mr E. Toy) to wait for finer weather. Mr Toy was the last person to see Gunn alive. Nothing further was heard of the latter till last Thursday, June 3, when Toy found the four horses at the head of Phingle Creek. His attempts to catch them to bring them in were futile. Close to a , broken-down shelter shed a bundle Mr Gunn had I bean cairying was found, and close to the horses Toy picked up a bag containing a few articles of clothiDg which was on one of the parkhorses. But there was not a Bign of the missing man. On Thursday afternoon a party of three or four went out to ssarch, and on Friday a large party— about 16 or 17 men— went out at daybreak, but no traces were found. All the huts, which are uninhabited in winter, were also examined. It is now feared that Gunn will not be found till next spring, when the snow will have disappeared to a great extent. It is likely that he has fallen off hia horse, or eke in the dark went into a drift or one of the gullies. He was also suffering badly from rheumatics. He has been packing to the diggers on the Old Man Range for a number of years, and no one knew the hills better. His wife and family (of whom all but two are grown up) reside at Coal Creek, where they are well and favourably known. Parties were out on Saturday and Sunday, but were unsuccessful.

Music. — The adjourned annual meeting of the Roxburgh Orchestral Society was held in the library room, Athenaeum Hall, on Thursday evening ; Mr J. C. Pennell in the chair. After the minutes of the last annual meeting were read and confirmed, the balance sheet was read, and on the motion of Mr Reilly, seconded by Mr Wilkes. was unanimously adopted. The election of officers was next proceeded with, and resulted in Mr Pennell being elected president, Mr W. A. Reilly , vics-president, Mrs Morrison secretary (unani- ! mously re-elected), and Mr Morrison conductor. The working committee consists of the foregoing officers, Miss Ormond, and Messrs A. Robertson, P. Reader, and D. O'Leary. The rest of the business was complimentary. Hearty votes of thanks were accorded the conductor (Air T. L. Morrison), ! the secretaries (Mr* Morrison and Miss Ormond), , and the outgoing committee. Special mention was made of tha trouble and care Mrs ' Morrison had taken in copying out music , for the society. The secretary was instructed to write thanking Mr and Mrs Eady for so kindly giving their hall gratis at the society* Miller's Flat concert ; to write to Mr M'Glashan, Dunedin, who lent the Highland uniforms for tho Scotch concert ; and to the brass band, thanking them for the use of the band stands and lamps. It was decided after eotne discussion to hold a social in the Athenaeum Hall on Thursday, 17th inst. The social committee consists of the secretary, aud Messrs Reilly and Robertson. On the motion of Mr Morrison, the i secretary was instructed to get in the subscrip- . tions as soon as possible, and with the balance now in hand to pay another £10 on the society's instruments. The balance sheet of the Rox- ' burgh Orchestral Society for the first year of its existence shows the receipts to be £58 Is. The sources from which this income is derived are : Subscriptions from active members, £11 3s ; from honorary members, £1 17s 6i ; from the society's concert and dance in September last, £16 14s ; from the Christmas night concert, £8 13s 6d ; from the Miller's Flat concert and dance, £7 78 6d ; from the concert and dance on the 24th May, £11 ; from other sources, £1 5s (id ; — total, j £5S la. The total expenditure was £49 19d 31 : \ f nhtaluiouts on instruments, £22 : music, £3 , 14s 6d ; music stands, £2 8s ; printing, £7 153 ; ■hall rent, £6 9i; janitor's attendance, £2 12s ; j other expenses in connection with concerts, £4 5i ; kerosene, stationery, &c, £1 6s 3d. There is a credit balance of £8 Is 9d. The society's assets are £43 19s 7d, of which the instruments comprise £37. There is still owing "bo Begg and Co. on instruments the sum of £26 18s 7d. The loss by fire at Ormond's Hotel was £18 14s (id. ;

Accident. — A very sad accident happened at Lowburn, Cromwell, on Thursday morning. Mr Robert Falconer was working on Mr JVl'L^y's dredge, and during the dark hours of the morning he fell into the Clutha River. Particulars are very scanty. The river of course ha 3 been dragged, but to no purpose. A wire from Clyde on Saturday stated th*t the body had been recovered, but it was not so. Deceased was well known here, and was exceedingly popular. He was formerly manager of the Kdina dredge, but left that position to go to Cromwell. What makes the fatality doubly sad is that ha was to be married shortly. " Bob," by which name he was best known here, took a strong interest in athletics, and was a member of all tha local clubs. He successfully piloted the Roxburgh Cycling Club through its first sports meeting a little over 12 months ago, and his resignation as secretary was received with regret. His people will have the deepest sympathy of all who knew him, and they were many.