LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 276, 15 May 1873, Page 5

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Thb Magistrate's Court, on Tuesday, enjoyed » an immunity from business — no cases being on * the sheet. Thh Perseverance Company have placed another injunction on the workings of Messrs Morrison and Co, "We observe the Government is erecting a -foot-bridge over one of the creeks on the Wettierstones road. If for no other purpose than .that of enabling the children to get to gohool when the oreek is high, this bridge wilj be very useful. Thb reef at the Fourteen mile Beach is opening up wider as the contractor advances with the driving work. Already a good lode of stone ia in work, and shewing gold as the quartz is broken down. Fboh advertisement it will be seen that Mr. Perry has started the Oastlgmaine Steam 4»7 Mills in Tapanui bush. He offers all kinds of timber at reasonable prices. ThS annual maeting in connection with the Episcopal Church, was held ia the Athenaeum, Waitahuna, on Tuesday, 6th May, for the purpose of receiving report of the retiring committee, and electing a committee for the ensuing year. The Secretary, Mr. Bulfin, read the report, which Was received and adopted. On the motion of Mr. T, Evans, the following gentlemen were a elected committee, with power to add to their numbers:— Messrs Ferris, Bulfin, St Scott, Higgins, Hansen, Browne, Tonar, Evans, and Moggath. The May number of the "Illustrated New Zealand Herald " contains an excellent cut of the Bowen Railway Pier at Port Chalmers. The ships berthed alongside the pier when the photograph was taken, were the Beautiful Star. Warrior Queen and Zealandia from London ; the steamers Albion and Raugitoto, the Amerieu barque Chattanooga, and the barque Iris. Mb. Wm. HODGKINS, Revising Barrister, will hold Courts for revision of the Tuapeka Elec' toral Roll, at the Lawrence Courthouse, on Friday, May 30ch, at noon , and for the revision of the Waikaia Electoral Roll on Monday, the 2nd Jane, at the Courthouse, Switzers.

The potatoes shown at tho meeting, which constituted the Polycultural Society, are, in themselves, a. refutation of the doctrine held by Government officials that cultivation is impossible 600 feet above the level of the sea. These potatoes— one of the old Derwent variety, weighing 21bs. 6ozs., and the other, a white kidney, weighing lib. 12ozs<— are sound and healthy, and were, grown high up on the Waipori ranges, in what is considered the bleakest and coldest climate in Otago. Mb. Shepherd, in his address to his constituents at Cromwell, referred to the new Mining Bill to be introduced at the forthcoming session of the Assembly. He said (we quote from the "Argus"):— After the clobo of the session the Colonial Executive selectetd three gentlemen to prepare a new Gold-fields Bill— namely, Mr. John Mouat, formerly a Gold-fields representative in the Frovinoial Council ; Mr. B. C. Haggitt, Provincial Solicitor ; and himself (Mr Shepherd.) In fulfilment of that commission himself and his coadjutors had lately been occupied in Dunedin for a whole month. The bill would consolidate seven statutes which are at preaentsoatiered over aB many blue-books. It would provide that one miner's right ahoald be applicable to the whole Colony. It would provide that the miner's right should no longer constitute an element of title, but should only be a source of revenue. Ifc would provide for the issue of water licensss for a term not exceeding fifteen years, and for the payment of a rental of not more than ten shillings per sluicehead per annum. This would afford far better security of tenure to holders of water-races and other mining property, than was now attainable ; and would consequently tend to enhance the value of such property to a large extent. Provision was also made for mining reserves. The bill would enable the Government to set aside land for the formation of sludge-channels and deposit of tailings. It would provide a simple plan of mortgage, to enable the miners to bori row money oo security of water-races, at a cost of five shillings for registration in the Warden's Court. These were a few of the new features in the bill. It had been the policy of the framers to retain all the good points of the old enactments ; and if the bill passed the Assembly in »ts present shape, it would be the means of conferring great benefit upon every goldfield in the Middle Island. At the ordinary half-yearly meeting of the Directors of the Bank of New Zealand, held at Auckland on the 12th ult, a Mr. Garlick said there was a rumor afloat that the General Government had an intention of removing their account from the Bank of New Zealand to the National Bank recently established, and, he therefore thought it would be well to have thai rumor satisfactorily set at rest. The Chairman, Mr. C. J. Stone, said in reply : The Bank of New Zealand still had the account of the Government, and every member of the Government seemed perfectly satisfied with the position of the account, The directors knew nothing of any ohange, nor did they see any reason why there should be any. Both the Bank and the Government were working harmoniously together, and both were satisfied. THE cake of retorted gold, 408 ozs., the result of the last crushing of the Gabriels Gully Quarts Mining Company, was exhibited on Monday last in the window of Mr. Hill, Watchmaker, and was inspected by a large number of the inhabitants of Lawrence and vicinity. The cake was conical in its shape, and measured six inches in diameter, MB. Hislop, in his report of the Education Department for the year 1872, passes the folio wing compliment upon the sub-committee and teacher of the Lawrence Grammar School : — " A sub-committee of the School Committee have for a considerable time past held stated examinations of the pupils In the head master's division by means of written papers; and to this circumstance, combined with the frequent practice and skilful training they receive from their teacher, may be attributed the very great neatness, clearness, and accuracy with whioh the papers set by me have been answered almost without exception. The oral examination of this division has also been very highly satisfactory, and gives undoubted evidence of the master's superior scholarship, unwearied diligence, and great bWIL Every subject is most methodically and thoroughly taught The tone and discipline are excellent, and all the schoo 1 work is heartily done. The reading is as usual very good. Geography is thoroughly aud skilfully taught, In mental and slate arithmetic, the pupils show very great accuracy and expedition. The essays on the Blue Spur referred to above give very satisfactory evidence of the skill and success with which penmanship, spelling, grammar, and compositions are practically taught. There are several good specimens of j freehand drawing. Singing from notes is as usual very ably and successfully taught." A few days ago a mining claim which has l«en worked by a party of Chinamen, at the mouth of Gabriels Gully for some months past changed hands, Europeans being the purchasers. This is a reversal of the ordinary state of things. Messrs. O'Neil and pabtt whose work of constructing a head race from Gabriels Creek we have commented upon on several occasions, have been suddenly checked by the Town Council, on account of this party's wing dam at the head of the race backing the water on to the Blue Spur road, near the footbridge. It Is to hoped some plan will be devised by which the labor of this party during the last twelve months may not be rendered useless, as ifc evidently will be if they are preveuted from lifting tho water at the bridge. The anniversary tea meeting of the Blue Spur Wesleyan Church takes place in the church this evening , and on Sunday the services, both morning and evening, will be conducted by the Rev. F. W. Isitfc cf Balclutha. We have no doubt but many will avail theinselvea of tlicco opportunities of listening to that young and eloquent clergyman.

Thb committee of the Polycultural Associa. tion met in the Athenaeum, on Thursday last, when the following resolutions were adopted :— Ist. That the amount of subscription be ten shillings, such subscription to entitle the subscriber to a double ticket at any show, and such other priveleges as may hereafter be determined upon, 2nd. That the meetings of the Commitmittee bo held weekly; and that a meeting of suboribers be convened monthly, to give expression of opinion on the various matters contemplated in the programme of the Society 3rd. That Mr. Sheath and the Rev. Father Larkin be asked to act on the Committee. The following canvassers for subscriptions were elected:— Mr. D. Evana, forMunrosand Gabriels districts : Mr. Silk, for Wetherstones ; Dr. Halley and Mr. M'Kimmie for Lawrence and Tuapeka Flat. Thb manager of the Gabriels Gully Quartz Mining Co. reports as follows :— Owing to the date of departure of the southern escort having been altered fiom the first to the second Tuesday in the month, the company has crashed for a longer period than usual before retorting. On Saturday last, we retorted 408ozs. 3dwts. 18grs, from 990 tons of stone, crushed in 985 hours, or since the 17th March ; with the exception of 16 hours work previous to that date. The first dividend declared by the company, was made payable on Tuesday laßfc— ten pence per share on 20,000— £833 6s Bd, Owing to some necessary repairs and alterations, the battery has been stopped since Friday ; crushing will, however, be resumed on next Thursday (to-day). The next month's work is likely to be chiefly from the north end of the mine, as the leef in the south stopes has become very small, and no discovery has yet been made in the south prospect drive, which is now in 30ft. There is every reason however, to believe that the reef will be found "making "up in the hill at the south end of the company's ground. The break which cuts the reef off at 65ft. south of the adit, is not an ordinary slide or a cross course, but rather a vertical fissure, running nearly E. and W. (magnetic), a few inches wide, narrowing from the surface downwards, and filled with clay and small waterworn gravel carrying payable gold. At the north end of the mine a fine body of very good looking stone is being opened out — 3 to 4 feet wide, and with very little underlay. THE Clarks Hill Company's tunnel is now in [ Soft ground, and progressing rapidly, A oontract has been let for 100 feet, at 15s per foot. Messrs. J. abd D. Cootts have now finished their contract for lOOffc. of tho tunnel at Walsh's Gully, (Gabriels Tunnel Co.) making 350 ft. driven in all. The work will now be i carried on by Roberts and Co. and the Gabriels i Gully Q.M. Co., theglatter paying two-thirds, and Roberts and Co. one-third of the cost of the tunnel. The workmen on the Beaumont and Tuapeka Water Race have struck payable ground in cutting the race. This quite bears out the expectations expressed by the promoters of thi« valuable work when the company was formed, and is encouraging to the shareholders. We understand that Mr, David M'Donald is the successful tenderer for tho bridge over the Molyneux at the Beaumont, whioh will be com- j menced at once. I Messrs. Downib and Detert are making rapid progress with their road contract from Peel-street to Kilmarnock-street. Having finished the formation, they have commenced the pitching and gravelling. The members of the Congregational Church, j have decided upon building a place of meeting on their site in Whitehaven-street. Tenders we are informed will be called in a few days for a building capable of seating at least one hundred persons comfortably. The building is roughly estimated to costjbetween £300 and £400. The Church Committee have had the section and a s mall fund towards the object in view for some considerable time past, and have now deoided upon utilizing the same. An appeal for subscriptions will be made to the public in the course of a few days, which, we have no doubt, will bo readily responded to, this being the first time the Congregationallsts have asked "outside assistance, although they have existed as a body ju Lawrence for some years. The Lawrence Private Quadrille Party is to be resuscitated on Monday next. Should it prove as successful as in former times, a very pleasant evening's enjoyment will be provided3 k weekly for the lovers of the dance. Messhs-PHayes and Arbdckle disposed of Phoenix shares last week at from 40s. to 425, A TBEA.T was given to the juveniles of Waitahuna on Saturday last, the day after the Oddfellows anniversary.? ;They, with their parents and friends, mustered to the number of 80, and spent a most enjoyable afternoon. The weather was fine and the ground dry. The | music was furnished by Mr. Bayliss and Mr. Brome. The ladies who assisted at the tables at the Waitabuna Oddfellows' anniversary were Mesdaines Cook, Goodman, A. J. Hansen, R. Smith, and Misses. Tanton and M'Cutcheon. If we may judge from the number of contractors who have been examining the surveyed line of railway from Tokomairiro to Lawrence, we may expect keen competition for the work. We are desired to request those persons holding subscription lists for the Tuapeka Hospital, to send them to the Secretary by the end of the present month. Wb have received a letter signed "Sabaoth," but as the writer does not furnish us with his name, we decline to publish his letter. By telegrom last evening, we learn that Mr. Reid had not succeeded in forming a Government. Mr. JBradshaw and Mr. Mervyn are said to be anxious for office as Golclfield3 Secretary. Mr. Reid's party intend separating the public works from the goidfields department. A dissolution is irniaii'.fjut. ,

Me. Coverlid has purchased from the patentees the entire right to the use in the Tuapelta and Waitabuna districts of Hogben's apparatas for the manufacture of aerated beverages find other liquids, and stoppers for bottles: The eclipse of the moon was very well Been in Lawrence. The sky was clear and unclouded. In the Warden's Court yesterday, the case of Lawson v. Morrison & Co. and Clayton & Co., was again adjourned to enable the plaintiff to produce a witnesß. The following applications were granted : — Garrett and party, for protection; Win. Moss, for residence areaj Hopper and Harris, for head race j and E. Varcoe for residence, subject to prior rights of Thomas Kelly. THELawrenceTownCouncilhas thoroughly committed itself to a scheme for borrowing a large sum of money for public works within the municipal boundary . From the report of their meeting in another column, it will be seen that the Councillors were not only unanimous as to the advisability of borrowing, but that they took a very intelligent view of the question. The extension of the pipes and the purifying of the water will alone supply a permanent source of revenue to the Corporation, and the sooner that portion of the loan is raised the better. The water power would very soon be utilized for other than domestic purposes — such as driving machinery. 1 • Our last week's issue, " says the ' ' Dunstan Times," "contained an extract from the Mount Benger correspondent's letter to the 'Morning Star,' (containing a rather severe stricture on our Clyde telegraphist for his | want of feeling. Upon making enquiries, we find that the message wished to be passed through the wires was opened as an ordinary I telegram, no explanation being given that it was urgent, and as the office was not open for receiving messages, the time being Sunday, about half -past twelve a.m., the customary Bignal was given, ' wait,' meaning wait till the office was open. Now, as this statement can be borne out by the Qneenstown telegraphist, who was in his office at the time, and distinctly remembers the circumstance, we feel called upon to enter into this explanation, and at the same time to expreas our regret that the correspondent, before he penned anything damnatory of tho character of a public servant, did not make himself thoroughly aware of tho facts of the ease. Statements of this kind aro as a two-edged sword : they not only tend to bring an efficient officer into unpleasant contact with his superiors, and may be the cause of his removal, but are likely to withdraw that confidence from a public servant which it ia imperative he should possess, and ifc ia to be regretted that it appeared. Mr. Honywill, | the Clyde telegraphist, is an old public servant, thoroughly up to the rontine of his office, and we feel assured that had tho Teviot operator but have opened his message with 'urgent,' or any other expression that would have conveyed that meaning, every attention would have been paid to it. For our own part, we exonerate Mr. Honywill from any blame, and say the onus, if any, must rest with Mr. Hall, the Teviot operator, for not being more distinct in his communications." We would refer those of our readers who are interested in this matter to our RoxTrargh correspondent's letter, from which it will be eeen that he acquits the Teviot operator of any blame in the matter.