Local and General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 403, 28 August 1869, Page 2

Local and General.

j The Waimakariri. — Owing to the nor'- ! wester of the last few days the river is rising. M.P.C. for Lyttelton.— We understand that Mr H. R Webb has consented to stand for the Provincial Council. It is not expected that there will be any opposition. Spraxton. — Aprospecting party arrived at the Ashburton on Thursday, and proceeded yesterday to the scene of these reported quartz reefs. We learn that Dr Haast and Major Hornbrook intended to be on the ground yesterday to inspect and report as to the nature of the discovery. Magisterial. — There was no public business transacted at the Christchurch Magistrate's Court this morning. At the Resident Magistrate's Court, Lyttelton, before his Worship the Mayor, Edward Roberts and Samuel Holler were charged with being drunk and disorderly, the former also with using abusive and obscene language. They were discharged with a caution. V Tiie Oratorio os Mondat. — Warned by mie experience of last night, the committee have accepted the services of Messrs Ollivier and Alport, kindly volunteered, so as to avoid a crush at the entrance-doors and in the seating. The experience of these gentlemen in the management of the popular entertainments affords a substantial guarantee that the public convenience will be thoroughly cared for^ The public should be careful not to be misled by the date on the tickets, as the society have been obliged to re-issue those used last night. NL Manuka. — Mr Redwood has accepted with Manuka for the Melbourne Cup. The horse •will not leave Nelson till about the 20th of September, when he will be shipped by the Omeo. This will give him about five weeks to recover the effects of the voyage, as the cup is run for on the 4th November. We understand that Manuka is looking as well as his best friends could possibly desirja It is not intended to send Peeress up to Melbourne. Accident. — On Tuesday evening John Hinkley, in the employ of Mr Ede, farmer, Ashburton, while returning from the township riding on an empty two-horse dray, the leader shied, and iv trying to stop the shaft horse he was knocked down, one of the wheels passing over his loins. His cries brought assistance, and he was carried back to the township. Mr B. Moorhouse was sent for to town, who speedily arrived, and found the man in a very precarious state. After applying all that skill could suggest, the sufferer was much relieved, but is not yet pronounced out of danger. The Orari Gorge. — A correspondent, writing from Temuka on Aug. 26, says :— I understand that the exact place is some, seven miles from Mr Tripp's house, up the Orari Gorge, about 27 miles from here, and 33 from Timaru. The seven miles up the gorge is difficult road — swampy, and in one place a cutting in the hill side with a precipice below. The last three miles are only passable to pack-horses. There is no rush there at present. A few business men have gone up to look at the place and. form their own opinion, also a few idlers. There have been so many false alarms that people are very cautious. A man who knows the place well informs me that three years ago some men found gold at this same place, and with tin dishes made about 8s a day. Kaiapoi Institute. — The committee of this, institute met on. Thursday evening last. Present : Dr Dudley, president, Messrs

Craig, Eckersley, Bean, Sims, Clarke, A. < lark, J. Feldwick, R. Powrie, H. Feldwick, W. Hassall, and the secretary. Mr Craig proposed, Mr Eckersley seconded a vote of thanks to Mr R. C. Rose for a present of a map of the Thames goldfields. It was de- ' cided to purchase additional arm chairs for the reading room, and that sundry alterations made be approved of. Accounts to the librarian and secretary of £4 lis 8d were passed. The secretary was instructed to see to the ventilation of the hall, and that no smoking was allowed in the reading room at all. A plan of alterations in the premises was handed from Mr C. E. Dudley, to whom a unanimous vote of thanks was passed, but it was resolved to postpone any discussion on the question till the quarterly general meeting held next month. The meeting then adjourned. Acclimatization Society. — The monthly meeting of ths committee was held at the Literary Institute yesterday afternoon, at three o'clock. Mr E. Jollie presided, and there were also present Messrs Wynn Williams, J. C. Boys, C. C. Bowen, W. D. Carruthers, C. R. Blakiston. The curator reported that Messrs J. Goss, W. Gerard, G. E. Chisnall, aud J. G. Glassford had become members; and that contributions had been received from Mr G. Gould, Brahma Pootra eggs, and Mr Wilkin, Virginian creeping grass. Wheat was required for the birds, and rat-proof bins had been provided for it. •^Che trout have finished spawning, aud left the fish-house for their old quarters. A large increase of perch, tench, and trout is anticipated during the summer, and it would be desirable to offer them to members in exchange for native birds or hen pheasants. The latter are particularly required in the gardens, and might be obtained by the society at a moderate outlay from the Peninsula. A quantity of holly berries had been collected, and, with other seeds, handed over to the Government gardenejl The report was considered. £9 was voted for expenditure during the current month inclusive of the purchase of wheat. The clauses referring to fish and hen pheasants were deferred for further consideration. A letter was read from the Southland society asking for a supply of pheasant eggs. The curator was directed to reply that the society hoped shortly to be in a position to forward some. Mr Carruthers reported that Mr Nottidge had been informed by the Government that no game licenses had been issued and consequently there were no funds from that account at the disposal of the society. The treasurer reported the credit balance at the bank to be £34 13s 9d. The committee then adjourned. Riccarton Road Board. — A special meeting of this board was held yesterday, at the office, Cashel street west. All the members present. Mr Shand (chairman). The minutes of the lasfc meeting were read and confirmed. A letter was read from Mr Bust (in reply), the receipt of which the Clerk was instructed to acknowledge. The Chairman stated that he had convened this meeting for the purpose of taking into consideration certain damage done to public property adjoining the Carlton Millrace. The following resolution was then proposed by Mr Shand, and seconded by Mr Pavitt—" That the millrace be filled in again at its head, and in all other places where it crosses and encroaches on the roads of this district, and that the Surveyor be instructed to carry out the work forthwith, and if trespassed upon again at any other times, to make good the same immediately, and to offer a reward of £10 to any one who will give such information as will lead to the conviction of the party or parties so trespassing." Before putting this resolution to the meeting, the following amendment was proposed by Mr Nunwick, and seccnd by Mr O'Callaghan, " That Mr Stiffe be written to requesting him to bridge the millrace wherever it crosses the roads of the district, and also to fill in the millrace road to its proper width, and fence the same in a substantial way ; the amendment on being put to the meeting was lost — Ayes, 2 : Messrs O'Callaghan and the mover. Noes, 3 : Messrs Pavitt, Helmore, and the chairman. The resolution was then put and carried — Ayes,. 3 : Messrs Pavitt, Helmore, and the chairman, Noes, 2 : Messrs O'Callaghan, Nunweak. On the motion of Mr Pavitt, seconded by Mr Helmore, it was resolved that the police be requested to ascertain the names of the parties injuring the public roads adjoining the Carlton millrace, on the night of Tuesday last. It was agreed that the Clerk furnish copies of the above resolution and/amendment to the editors of the Press and J'imes for publication. After some further business of a routine nature, the Board adjourned. The Upper Thames.-^-Tlig following, relating to the opening up of this kjnown highly auriferous district, is important. It is taken from the Thames Advertiser: — At a meeting held at Ohinemuri on the 9th instant by the natives, Te Hira and party ordered Ngatai and Pokai to leave Ohinemuri, for presuming to lease apiece of Te Hira's land on that river to a pakeha. Ngatai told them that he would return the land, but that he proposed at once to commence the survey or all his own pieces of land in this district." Te Hira also told the ..meeting that he and his party, .. with Takerei, were free from blame with regard to - : thp gold (186 eas) taken by Takerei and 'his pakeha (O'Connor) from OhinemuH to Shortland, as it was a false accusation made against them by Mr "Mackay. This announcement was not believed by the majority of the meeting, who thought that Te Hira 'wished to hide their (his parties) faults. One. of the extensive land owners frora Waihi told Te Hira tbat he meant to open his lands at Waihi to Europeans, as he was tired of his (Te Hira's) conduct in trying to keep the country closed. Te Hira said to him, "Return to Ohinemuri, and leave Waihi for me." He answered, " I will not return to Ohinemuri, as it is all gone into the hands of tbe pakehas." Rapata told a well-known settler in this district that he bad a little time back proceeded to Aackland to see Dr Pollen

nbout the opening of the Ohinemuri country to diggers. He asked Dr Pollen what ihe Government meant to do in the matter. Dr L'ol'.en told him the Government did not wish lo have any Maori or European killed in Ohinemuri, and that he did not wish to do anything in the matter just yet. Rap.'sta then tolil him that he was getting tired of waiting for the Government to open all his auriferous lands, and that he would cease to trouble thera in the matter, ns they did not wish to open his lands. Dr Pollen told him not to give tlie Government up, but to wait a little longer, and return to Ohinemuri, and if he found things favourable to opening, to write for him to come up and open their land to the Europeans. Messrs Whitaker and Co.'s clique then sent for him. He found twelve bald-headed rangatiras at the meeting to which he was invited. They asked him to hand over all his auriferous lands into their hands for them to open to the Europeans, and they woul.l at once pay him money on it. Uopata told them he would not yet consent to their words, as he wished to see wbat the Government meant to do in the matter, ft would be a great pity if the Government allowed speculators to monopolise all the auriferous lands of tlie Upper Thames, and thus close the lands to the public.