LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 179, 13 July 1871, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A vert successful concert by amateur* In aid of the school funds was given at the Oddfellows' Hall, Waipori, on Wednesday last, under the able management of Mr. Booth Hurst, notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather and the scattered nature of the population, tit* handsome sum of £15 14s. 6d. was realised, a proof that the people of Waipori know how to appreciate real talent when it is enlisted in a laudable cause.

A man nnmed William Ryan was arrested at Alexandra the other day on a charge of stealing an old piece of rope : it is said there *a* a horse at the end of it.

The formal opening of the Otago Univerity took place on the sth inst. The "Daily Times % says : -1 he proceedings in connection with the long looked for opening of the Otago University were adc cided success ; and the crowded #ondition of the hall both during the delivery of the Chancellor's inaugural addrcsv and •* th» soclnl gathering in the evening. t«»ti#pfl to W»« interest felt by the public in the institution.

A Havelock correspondent writee : -Tfce inhabitants of Havelock are highly pleased at the prospect of the new road being completed this season. The secretary of the Haveloek Athenaeum has been informed that the grant of 10 sections of land has been pawed fey the Council, but the committee will *hlf have the power of granting leases for on* year ■•til the Crown graat is obtained, which the Government report must be a matter of tiaae, M the Governor's assent is necessary, tt now beeomea the important duty ot every resident to raise* funds for such a valuable institution as em athenaeum, which, let it be remembered, earn be> used for religious or other purposes. In mining matters I may say most of the claims art in * prosperous atate. Hamilton, Pearson, and Co., have just washed np with very good results. Smith and party are expecting a gooi paldoek this time. The other claims of equally great importance are all steadily mt work. I regret to see the miners spending their money so freely and foolishly on unnecessary refreshment*. It would be very advisable- good for themselves and the district— if they would sare as mu«h as they can and add to the value of their •leimt by their savings, instead of squandering •* ntush of their profits on drink. There it nothing. further of importance to report at present.

A meeting was held in the Dunedia Atfet. ntßum on Fiiday last to take the neeessaiy preliminary steps to celebrate the centenary of Sir Walter Scott on the 9th proximo byapmbU* banquet. Similar preparations are being mad* in the principal towns in Scotland.

The anniversary of Court Hfcvalock «v fold in Coghill's Assembly Room on Frid»f kit, There was a very large gathering of UAim aad gentlemen. The anniv«rMr/ wu eelebr*t«d by a soiree and ball. Mrs. Cook wu tht ettmr on the occasion, and from that lady 1 * known qualities in these matters it need hardly be Mid thai the soiree was most excellently provided with every imaginable delicacy. The t*ble* literally groaned with the burden, and aotwithiUndinc the good appetites of the Meemblcd crowd m great deal was left untouched. After the report, C.R. Bro. Mair, who occupied the chair, thanked the. ladies and gentlemen for their pretene* to celebrate the anniversary of Court Havelook. He, in a very pertinent manner, apok* of Forestry and its benefits. In consequence of the secretary being unavoidably absent no aUto, went of the funds was read, but we are informed the Court is in a very prosperous «t»te. Bro. Titohener, from the Court Star of Tuapeka, and. other Foresters were present. The soiree tv followed by the nigger farce, of the "Threei Smiths." The characters were represented by Bro, Devonshire, Busst, and Robinson, Bro, Devonshire, with his usual humourous styla, created roars of laughter ; Bra Baut performed. the part appertaining to thaold man with grtftt credit, while Bro. Robinson's quiet humour and good acting -were very much »pprrOT«rfcr«t. After the entertainment dancing was commenced mm} kept up till a late hour in the morning, when all retired highly pleated with their night's rater* taimuent.

TfctE Assembly will meet for the despatch of busineu on the 14th of August. THI Waipori correspondent of the " Otago Daily Times " is not fortunate and hardly cornet in illustrating his witticisms. Speaking of the impecuniosity of the School Committee thert, he likens the condition of that body to that of the famous phoenix. To be famous, implies either having been or being an entity, so reference cannot be made to the fabled bird of which, amongst other things mythological, we preserve a tender remembrance in connection with our schoolboy days. We are inclined to think the schoolmaster is (all) abroad at Waipori. Ws can thoroughly endorse the following paragiaph clipped from the " Wakatip MaiL" Our contemporary says :— "Since two legal gentlemen have been practising in our Courts, the most simple case often assumes large proportions, as far as arguments go. To report these would occupy a larger space in our journal than we are prepared to give. Indeed, what the public demand are short pithy summaries of cases heard. We cannot undertake to give lenthened reports of legal objections, unless they have an important bearing." On several occasions we have got into hot water for condensing the reports of- cases heard before Mr. Simpson and his Honour Mr. Wilson Gray. Our legal friends are so completely incorporated into their work that they imagine law is the chief end of man. " Short pithy summaries "' are far more acceptable to the general reader than reports of long discussions on legal points that nobody cares for or understands excepting those immediately concerned. One of our subscribers this very day writes to us to the following effect : — ** You had better send me a copy of ' Bradsha w's Guide ' instead of your paper, as it is becoming nothing but a legal text book, and I decidedly prefer ' Bradshaw.' " THE distressing news comes from Tapanui that scarlatina is still raging there. Mr. A. Allan's children are in sucii a f earful condition that he has been compelled to close his hotel to prevent infection. Mr. Purdue's children have also been very ill for some time,' but we *re glad to say they are now recovering. As every precaution is being taken to pi event the •disease from spreading, we siucerely hope soon to hear more encouraging accounts from that afflicted district. The second quarterly meeting of the subscribers to the Tuapeka Hospital will take place on Tuesday, the 18th inst. The Tuapeka and Waitahuna second annual ploughing match takes place to-day in Mr. M'Cluskey's paddock, Happy Valley, Wetherstones. Several special prizes have been added to the list, as will be seen by the advertisement Should the weather prove fine all day, we anticipate a great success. ' The nomination of Mayor takes place at the Council Chambeis, Lawrence, at noon, on Saturday next. We have not heard of any gentleman «s likely to contest the election with Mr. BastiHss. A PBOSPtCTiNG claim was applied for the other day at the Was den's office, Lawrence, for a reef discovered in the Lamraerlaw Creek, about three miles from Waipori township. The prospectors have traced the reef some 60 or 70 yards. The thickness of it is about one inch on the surface, and it increases as they follow it about thiee inches to the foot. The couise the reef takes is E.N.E. and W.S.W., with a dip inclining to the north. The prospect gives a grain to the lb. of stone, but the prospectors intend getting two tons of the stone crushed this week at the OPQ battery. We regret to have to announce the death of the late Librarian of the Tuapeka Athenaeum, Mr- F. J. P. . Thornley, who expired in the Hospital yesterday at noon. Mr. Thornley who, «s is well known to many, had long been the victim of consumption, had of late been getting weaker daily ; and a few dsiys ago, in a fit of coughing, he ruptured a blood vessel, from the effects of which he never rallied. Mr, Thornley was universally liked, and his untimely death will be regretted by many. The Provincial Council, during its sittings on Friday and Monday, was chiefly occupied in discussing Mr, Bathgate's Land Bill, founded on Mr. Cutton's resolutions, which appeared in a recent issue of this journal. Nearly every clause of the Bill has been adopted, with a few trifling amendments. On Tuesday, Mr. J. C. Brown, in the absence of Mr. Bastings, moved that a sum be placed on the Supplementary Estimates to enable the Government to give £1 for £1 to upcountry municipalities. The motion was lost. Mr. Gr. F. C. Browne moved that the recommendations contained in clauses jn the Mining Commissioners' report headed " Water rights, 'i *•' Miners' rights," " Advertising agricultural leases," "Mining leases," and "Assessors," .should not be given effect to.