LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 266, 6 March 1873, Page 5

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Thb English mail via Suei. closes at Lawrence at 7 a.m. on the 12th inst. The establishment of a hospital or receiving house at the Teviot is on the tapis. All the shares in the FourteenrMile Beach Quartz Mining Company have been sold, Mb. Walter Dokkley, has been appointed registrar of births, deaths and marriages, at Waipori, A bush of Chinamen has taken place to the Lower Pomahaka. About 500 Celestials are on the ground. The beach claims on the Molyneuj have again started. The river is within 4 inches of its last winter's level. Water is very scarce ttf the Terlot, and litigation between the raceholderg is likely to arise from that cause. Water for mining purpos.es is exceedingly scarce, and in many localities enforced idleness is the order of the day. During the course of the case of Clayton and, ■ others v. Morrison and others, peg 85 was mentioned 19,287 times. Negotiations with the Government for the purchase of large blocks on the Ovens Hill Station have been undertaken. Jn the Supreme Court, Lawrence, lust week the Chief Commissioner of Crown Lands was styled a " Calcutta carpenter." A DISPUTE relative to the boundary between two runs will form the subject of an action at the next sitting of the Lawrence Circuit Court. We remind our readers that the annual soiree pf the Lawrence Congregational church takes place in the Lawrence Athenseum to-morrow night. Five thousand acres of land in the Toi Tois district have been set apart for sale on deferred payments under the provisions of the Gtago Waste Lands Act, 1872, The tailings washed down from the Blue Spur have raised the bed of Gabriels Gully, at the place where the old Blue Spur township stood, 100 feet above its original level. Again we draw the attention of qualified persona whose names do not appear on the Electoral Roll to the fact that unless they register before ihe 31st March, they will be deprived of the electoral franchise for another year. Town land sections will be sold by Mr. J. C. Chappie as follows :— Ettrick, on Monday, March 10 ; Alexandra, Tuesday March 11 ; pphir and Manuherikia, Wednesday, March 12 ; Clyde, Thursday, March 13 ; Cromwell, Friday, March 14 ; Bendigo, Newcastle, Pembroke and Gladstone, Saturday, March 15. A Juan named Kendriek had bis leg severely fractured by a fall of earth at Adams Flat last week. Dr. Ferguson, of Tokomairiro; who was called in, recommended the sufferer's removal to the Tuapeka Hospital, which was accordingly done, and Kendrick, under the care of Dr. Stewart, is now progressing as favorably as can b,e expectec*. The famous piano forte which has caused much perturbation of spirit to many good citizens of Lawrence, much trouble to his Honor Judge Gray, and much profit to the gentlemen of the long robe, was on Tuesday last sold by auction for £42. The amount will barely cover expenses incuired in securing the instrument by those who caused it te be sold. It may not be generally known that in this progressive colony a prisoner condemned to penal servitude for life regains his liberty after a less time than a prisoner sentenced to 14 years' penal servitude. Presuming good conduct in ioth cases, the difference in favor of tl\e former , is 2 years— the 14yeais' man being imprisoned 12 years and the lifer only 10. The moral of this is that it is better to commit a crime the punishment of which is. according to law. perpetual slavery and banishment from the world than to commit a lesser one involving penal servitude for 14 years. Madame Cora, the famous lady magican, drew crowded houses at t^e Commercial Kooms the nights she performed there. The many wonderful feats of legerdemain she pei formed excited the admiration and wonder of the audience, and repeatedly evoked bursts of rapturous applause. To Madame Cora, the most difficult feat seemed easy of performance, and apparent impossibilities the easiest of all. The " couch of the angels," which brought the proceedings to a close, was an extraordinary petformance, producing a beautiful effect. Madame Christine, Madame Cora's sister, was placed under mesmeric influence, and then suspended in mid air, without " visible means of support." The audience remained spell-bound at the mysterious spectacle for some time, but when the curtain fell, loud applause testified to the state of their feelings, Every evening, valuable presents^ including silver tea and coffee services, were disttibuted among the audience. A MEETING of the Blacks Progress Committee was held on the 13th February. All the members were present, and Mr. Cheeseman occupied the chair. Th,e routine business having been disposed of, Messrs Cheeseman and Fitzgerald, were, upon the motion of Mi. Ryan, seconded by Mr. Pitches. i\p pointed to canvass the district for subscriptions towards repairing the xoad. Mr. Cheeseman wcas alloted.the township for the scene of his laboS, and Mr. Fitzgerald ihe outlying portions of the district. It was resolved that menforials be dra-wn up for the completion of the telegraph from Naseby to Clyde, said memorials to be approved of at next meeting, and forwarded to the different districts interested, for signature. The Chairman was authorised to collect subscriptions towards forming a public library, and to communicate with the Education Board in reference thereto. The Secretary. w.as instructed to ascertain the costs of blocks and rope required for the boat. A vote of thanks to the chair brought the proceedings to a close. A meeting of.gentleman favorable tocelebratJifig St. Patrick's. Day in a befitting manner was held in St. Patrick's schoolroom, on the evening of Tuesday, the 25tn ult. On the motion of - Mr. John Roughan, seconded! by Mr. Bowes, a committee of five, consisting of the Rev. - father Larkin and Messrs. Back, Harris, Bowes aud Whelan, was appointed, to carry out the aeeeßsary arrangements for the sports. Messrs. O'Leary and Ford were appointed to manage the refreshment booth: It was decided that a deputation should wait upon the stewards of the Tuapeka Jockey Club to request those gentlemen to superintend the horse races. A committee to arrange the.. programme was then ejected, and directed immediately to set to work and perfornvtheir duties Messrs. Hills, O'Neill, and J. Joyce were appointed supervisors of the athletic spoi-ts. Mr. Bills Was appointed secretary and treasurer. The.committee appointed to draw up the programme naving. completed their labors, the result was adopted by the meeting. It was, resolved that the fancy fair be left to the good taste of the ladies, and two- , gentlemen were detailed to gisce all necessary assistance in that department. The day dedicated to the patron saint, of the Green Isle, will be celebrated in Tuapeka with great eclat. The indefatigable Father Larkin, with the assistance of an energetic committee, has arranged a days programme of amusement of various kinds, that will keep holiday makers busily engaged entertaining themselves from the time thdy first commence to the " wee sma' " • hours. On the race, course there are to be horse r aces, athletic sports, and vatipus other amusements. There is alsp to be a grand fancy fair tee stalls in whioh are to he presided over by the local Celtic beauty, assisted; by a detachment ff fair enslavers from Dunedin. Refreshments, Deluding everything bearing tbe designation proonrnble, will* be purveyed. In connexion with* Haitt, we may state a large quantity of takes »nd confectionaj of various kinds having tjeen provided, pur local dealers in these delicacies have kindly expressed theiv- intention not to compete with the stalls under the auspices of the committee. In the evening there is to be a grand banquet in the^ splendid school room in Goloneay-street. TheTsarrying out of the programme has been entrusted to able hands, and we .have no doubt that at its conclusion, we will \»gt : t^chronicte » glorious saccess,^ [

The Dakota with the English Mail, arrived at Auckland on Tuesday, the 4th inst. The following are some of the items of news brought by her : -The Alta California of Feb. 4th says that the defeat of Webb's Subsidy Bill will probably close Webb's line. The steamship leaving that day will The the last to leave San Francisco. It is supposed to take orders to each ship of the Hue to return to, Port to await qrders. It will be a severe blow to American interests in the Pacific, and will probably throw the trade between San Franpisoo and Anstralia into the hands of lijnglish owners. A frightful earthquake has occurred in India, and 500 lives have been lost. It is stated that of the Tohuree territory one side had been entirely destroyed. The calamity cama so suddenly that escape was impossible, The inhabitants rushed from their houses into the streets, where many were destroyed by falling buildings. The streets, being narrow, were crowded, - j THE manager of the Gabriels Gully Quartz Mining Co., Registered, reports for the month as follows : — The unprecedented drought during the past month has caused us so much delay and stoppage at the battery that little more than 3 weeks' regular work has been done. The Company cleaned up on Thursday last, and retorted on Saturday 133 ozs. of gold from 330 tons of stone. No regular crushing will be done during th.c present week, in order that sufficient water to drive ten heads for a fortnight may accumulate in the Wetherstones. dam. The opportunity offered by the stoppage will be taken advantage of to try a separate crushing from the north drive, in which, after passing through ten feet of a barren horse, a hard, blue reef appeared in the lode for some feet, changing to the usual reddish colpred quarts The first annual union picnic of the Tuapeka Sunday Schools took place las.t Friday. The' children mustered at the Lawrence Grammar School, where they were marshalled in procession, and after singing a hymn, started ior their destination. A large number of flags were displayed, which lent quite an imposing appearance to the procession. A. pretty blue banner, the gift of Messrs, Aitken and M'Beath, was carried at the head of the procession. On arriving at the racecourse, the little folks were set at liberty, and rambled about amusing themselves until summoned to dinner. Mr. Anderson, who had erected the Grand Stand for the races, veiy kindly allowed it to remain on the ground for the use of the picnickers. The lower part of it had been fitted up by the Committee as a refreshment stand, and it answered the purpose capitally. Dinner over, all sorts of games were indulged in. Swings had been erected, skipping ropes and leaping poles provided, aud many other adjuncts to fun. Punch's pony met with considerable patronage, and many races were run. There were any amount of prizes for all sorts of feats, in money and useful and ornamental articles. Play went on till about 5 o'clock, when the children were again gathered together, and treated to some refreshments. A general distribution of nuts and lollies took place, after which the children again marched in procession back to the Grammar SchcoL Mr. Stenhouse here addressed a few words to the children, who gave several rounds of hearty cheers, and then dispersed to their homes. Mr. Coverlid kindly conveyed the younger children lesidiug at Wetherstones in his express, having done tbe same praiseworthy action, in the morning, It affords us great pleasure to record the uuqualified success of the first attempt made in Lawrence to draw the various religious bodies together for a common purpose. The Revs. Messrs. Menzies, Bull, Beaumont, Cameron, and Father Larkin were on the ground the greater part of the day, and took active part in the proceedings. There was a large number of visitors present. Wetherstones mustered well ; but owing to the prevalence of whooping cough at the Blue Spui% that locality was not represented . For a similar reason no Waitahuna children were present. The Committee deserve commen* dation for the'spirit with which they entered upon the undertaking, and carried to a successful issue. The Sunday school union pic-uic may now be looked forward to by the children of Tuapeka as an established annual festival aud by our citizens as an occasion for practical recognition of the truth that they are all servants of one Lord; aoliders belonging to one army, though, wearing different uniforms, and inarching under different banners. His Honor the Superintendent and the Goldfields Secretary may be expected to arrive in Lawrence on, Saturday. The Tokomairiro races come off, to-day and to-morrow. At the quarterly licensing meeting of the justices of the Tuapeka district, the following applications were granted :— George Coxon, general and night license for the Washington Hotel, Wetherstones ; transfer of license of hotel at Glenore from George Coombe to Joseph Howard ; G, W, Smith, hawker's license. The magistrates present were Vincent Pyke, Esq., R.M., the Mayor, and Dr. Stewart, J.P,