Local Intelligence.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XI, Issue 754, 9 March 1878, Page 2

Local Intelligence.

Thb Hon. Mr Larnach is said to have reI signed his portfolio and seat prior to leaving for Europe. Mr J. C. Lorimbr, of Ross Place, has been duly authorised to sell postage stamps. At the last meeting of the Education Board, the Tapanui School Committee applied for the appointment of a school mistress, as the present staff (a master and a pupil teacher) was insuf. ucient to take charge of 113 scholars. The Board resolved to comply with the application. From the last issue of the "Tapanui Courier," we clip the following :— The past four days have thrown quite a gloom over the harvest prospects, and unless we are favored with a continuance of fine warm weather during the next four weeks, aqres of crop in the district will never be harvested, An inquest was held before E. H. Carew, Esq., Coroner, and a Jury, in the Resident Magistrate's Courthouse, Milton, on Tuesday/ into the cause of the late fire which destroyed Mr Nutsford's premises on the previous Sunday. After evidence had been taken, the Coroner, in directing the jury, said that there was no evidence as to the cause of the fire, and that Mr Nutsford had given his evidence in a very straightforward manner. — The jury, after retiring, returned a verdict "That they were of opinion that there was no evidence to show how the fire originated, and that they did not attach any suspicion to anyone." «

FROM all accounts, larrikinism still flourishes in our midst. We hare been informed that Mr Thompson's garden, situated in Kilmar-nock-street, was entered a few evenings ago, and several trees laden with fruit were completely stripped. The circumstances were reported to the police, who are endeavoring ia make the acquaintance of the depredators. " The nominations and weights for thte^Fuapeka Jockey Club and Flying Handicaps' 'will be found in our advertising columns. For the former event four nominations have been received ; and five for the latter. Ws have received a letter signed '-Ronald M'Donald " in reference to a paragraph which appeared in our columns anent the invention of the " Kaledoniascope " by a Roxburgh resident. As the letter contains a great number of remarks of a personal character, we decline to give it publicity through our columns. At the Assessment Court of the Tuapeka County for Gabriels Riding, held on Thursday last at the Blue Spur Hotel, before E. H. Carew, Esq., the case of Francis Fulton, adjourned from the Waipori Court, vrsa again brought forward, and still further adjourned to the sitting of the Waitahuna Assessment Court, to be held on the 22ad instant. Mr Donald Reid, solicitor, Tokomairiro, appeared for Mr Fulton. The hearing of the cases for the outlying districts of the Gabriels Riding — that is those parts of the Biding outside the Tuapeka Road District — was adjourned to the i&me time and place. . v. > „ r At the School Committee^ meeting on Thursday evening, it was resolved thaV'the distribution of prizes in connection with the annual examination should take place Jon Thursday, 18th proximo. As the Committee's exchequer was not in a flourishing condition, the Secretary intimated that they would require to canvass for subscriptions in order to obtain a supply of books. It was mentioned that Mr Bastings had promised two prizes— a medal for the best conducted boy, and a workbox for the best conducted girl. Mr Fraer promised to supply ,'a guinea's worth of books, and the Chairman likewise promised to give a similar amount. Mb Hates' sale of furniture, which was advertised to take place to day, has been postponed until the 16th inst. Thb libel case— Hon. F. Whittaker versus George Jones — has been fixed for Monday next. Amongst the witnesses will be the Hon. F. Whitaker, the Hon. Dr Pollen, Mr Brissenden, Mr James Mackay, Mr Clarke, Secretary to the Native Department, while the celebra'ed Mr Rees has been retained for the defence. We have received numerous enquiries re. garding the land in Dalhousie Hundred and Waitahuna and Table Hill district. The cause of the delay in throwing the land open, is creating considerable uneasiness amongst a number of intending settlers, who have been anxiously waiting the announcement for some time back. The land has all been surveyed, and so far as can be observed by those who are not behind the scenes, it might have been mostly taken up and occupied by this time. A handicap trotting match, of £5 a side, has been arranged to take place on the Tua. Peka racecourse on the first day of the Jockey Club races, between Mr Monaghan's Jenny and Mr Dwyer's Fanny, the latter conceding 200 yards. A Wellington telegram, dated 6th March, conveyed the intelligence that Mr Alexander Reid, a well-known journalist, was lost from the s.s. Taupo, during the passage between Lyfctelton and Wellington. Mr Reid was several years ago chief reporter on the staff of the "Otago Daily Times." Subsequently he proceeded to the West Coast, where he pursued his journalistic career for a season. More recently he held the appointment of sub-editor of the Christchurch "Pres3." His fate— which seems to be involved in some mystery, as he disappeared from the steamer on Tuesday night— will be regretted by a large number of old friends. Mr Heriot writes us, under date Tapanui, 4th March, as follows :— For the purpose of keeping my credit good with the people of Lawrence, just let me give you what I did say at the soiree here, and you will perceive that things do not improve by newspaper reporters' cooking : "I think the aspect of a country has a good deal to do with the minds of its inhabitants. Here, about Tapanui, you have a wide expanse of open country, and I expect to find the inhabitants liberal and unsectarian in their views. Down about Lawrence there is too much confinement, too many hills around the place, and the minds of the people are apt to be cramped." I never used the word " coterie " in connection with JLawrence, but I did in connection with schoolmasters. I said there was no class of men more liable to be the victims of small coteries than they, and that it was a disgrace that it should be so. The usefulness of many a man was often smothered — stamped out, in this way. It might seem somewhat presumptuous comparing the schoolrooms here with those in the Lawrence Grammar School, but it is a fact, no space has been left in the class-rooms of the latter for properly manoeuvring classes, while here, this has been done. With regard to my ever filling the shoes of my good friend, the present worthy Rector of the Lawrence Grammar School, this can never arise from the superannuation of the latter. We will be put on the list at much the same time, if our ages are to be taken into consideration. Excuse my troubling you so much. The ordinary meeting of the Grammar School Committee was held in the sehoolhouse on Thursday evening. The following members were in attendance : Messrs Herbert (in the chair), Fraer, M'Nicol, M'Kinlay, Crow, and Thompson (Secretary). After the minutes of the proceeding meeting had been read -and confirmed, the outward correspondence was considered. The latter- comprised a memo, from Mr. Pryde (interim secretary of the Education Board) confirming the appointment of Miss Silk as pupil .teacher. The same gentleman also forwarded a circular inviting an expression of the Committee'!} views as to the scale of fees to be fixed by regulation for the higher course of instruction in District High Schools. After discussion, the following resolution, proposed by Mr Fraer, was carried :— "That it be a recommendation to the Board that a fee of 2s 6d, be charged for extra subjects quarterly, but no child be expected to pay more than 5s for the various subject ß provided by the Act." — Circulars were received from three candidates (Messrs J. Upton Davis, Morrison, and Shrimski), who had been nominated for the Education Board. It was resolved that the circulars be merely received. A lengthened discussion followed aa to the necessity of supporting local candidates in order that the sohools within the district might receive due representation, ,Jt was considered impolitic, however, to convene a meeting of delegates from the various School Committees, as it was understood that the candidates nominated were doing their utmost to secure seats on the Board.— Two accounts were next read and passed for payment.— lt was decided that the distribution of prizes in connection with the annual examination take place on Thursday, 18th April. After a vote of thanks had been accorded the Chairman, theprooe«dings terminated. i

The escort, which left Cromwell by coach on Tuesday, carries close on 3000 ounces of gold. A fresh case of Bcarlet fever— fortunately of a mild type— has made its appearance at Waitahuna. The local Board of Health, however, has taken the necessary steps to prevent the spread of the disease. A cbicket match between th? boys of Tua» peka and Tokomairiro will take place to-day on the Lawrence Cricket Ground. The Tokomairiro boys are expected to arrive about 11 o'clock, and the game will be started immediately afterwards. The following are the names of the youths who will represent Tuapeka :— James Harris (captain), F. Monaghan, P. Curtain, J. Roscow, T. Joyce, F. Sheath, A. Williamson, Thos. Cairns, J. Donovan, D. Herd, F. Meyers. Emergency : G. Crow, W. Falck. We have been informed that His Worship the Mayor has promised to present the highest scorer in the match with a bat ; and Mr Williamson has expressed his intention of presenting a ball to the winning team. Ik discussing, at the last meeting of the School Committee, a circular received from the Secretary of the Education Board in respect to the scale of fees to be fixed for extra subjects in District High Schools, Mr Herbert mentioned that he was quite agreeable that instruction in the higher branches should be imparted gratuitously. He approved of such a course for the reason that parents were in the, habit of taking their children away from school at far too early an age. By imparting instruction in the higher branches free, it would be an inducement to parents to retain their children at school for a longer period. Messrs- Fraer and Crow were opposed to Mr Herbert's suggestion, as they considered that a nominal charge should be made. Ultimately it was agreed, on the motion of Mr Fraer, to recommend to the Board that the charge for an extra subject be 2s 6d, but that for all the subjects a charge not to exceed 5s should be made. As will be observed by advertisement, the banquet to Mr J. C. Brown has been fixed for Monday, that being the only day Sir George Grey could be present. By telegram last evening we learn that in addition to the Premier the following gentlemen have intimated their intention of being present:— The Hon. Mr Fisher, Postmaster-General ; The Hon. James Macandrew, Minister of Lands; Inspector Recce, and Messrs De Latour, Stout, Hislop, and Thomson, M.H.R.'s ; Messrs Seymour, G* Tewsley, J. L. Gillies, Math. Hay, Simpson (engineer), J. Mouat, J. Green, Henry Clark, and several others. It is expected that a special train will arrive at Lawrence not later than 3 p.m. A meeting of the Roxburgh Borough Council was held on Monday evening last. There were in attendance— His Worship the Mayor, and Councillors Dalton, Woodhouse, andHiggs. After disposing of the routine business, the tenders were opened and considered. Mr Brophy*s tender for repairs to the Corporation water race as far as the tanks, for the sum of £15 4s, was accepted. The same party's tender for the sum of £14 was also accepted, as custodian of the race for the period of twelve months. The account of £7 2s, for repairs to a culvert by H. Rees, was ordered not to be paid until the culvert is made secure ; Mr Rees to be notified to that effect. In reply to a question by Cr Higgs, asking if the Mayor had been corresponding with the Colonial Secretary re a new Courthouse on behalf of the Council, His Worship replied in the affirmative. Cr Higgs then informed His Worship that he had no right to do so without the consent of the Council. The Tuapeka Sunday Schools Annual Union Pic-nic took place yesterday. At an early hour, despite the dull and gloomy appearance of the morning, a large number of juveniles and adults were astir evidently "on pleasure bent." From the Blue Spur upwards of fifty children were conveyed to the Station in traps, kindly placed at their disposal by Messrs Brook, Mackay and Keam; from. Evans Flat, Tua peka Flat, and Wetherstones a large number travelled on foot, reachin&r here in good time. The majority of the children congregated at the old school building, where the teachers of the various Sunday Schools were busily engaged endeavoring to form a procession. About nine o'clock a move was made in the direction of the Railway Station, where upwards of a dozen large, roomy carriages, coupled to two powerful engines, were in waiting to convey the youngsters, their parents, teachers, and friends to Mt. Stuart. As there were about five hundred— young and old— on the platform, it may be imagined there wa3 considerable stir and bustle, but thanks to the untiring efforts of the indefatigable Secretary (Mr Squires) every one in waiting was soon seated comfortably. The arrangements were complete in every sense of the word, and as the special "moved off" a few minutes past nine o'clock there was a good deal of cheering, which was heartily joined in by the youngsters. At Forsyth a short stoppage was made in order to pick up some twenty children who were in waiting, and at Waitahuna there was a, delay of a few seconds to allow the Rev. Mr Skinner and a few friends an opportunity of accompanying the excursionists. The run from thence to Mount Stuart, where Mr Murray's grounds are situated, was continued without further stoppage, the time occupied on the journey being a little over an hour. After • short respite, games, of a nature peculiar to these gatherings, were then indulged in by a large number ; while others enjoyed themselves by strolling through the grounds, which were thrown open to all and sundry. The Committee surfeited the youngsters with lollies and milk, and Mr Murray supplied the visitors with a quantity of fruit. Towards five o'clock, a move was made for the carriages, but before leaving the station, Mr Stenhouse, in a few words, conveyed the thanks of the teachers and children to Mr Murray for his hospitality. That gentleman acknowledged the compliment in suitable terms. In departing, a hearty cheer was raised for Mr Murray, and the return journey was pursued. The train reached here shortly after six o'clock. The Committee are to be complimented for their energy, and for the satisfactory manner in which the affair was conducted.