Local and General Intelligence.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XII, Issue 587, 10 December 1879, Page 2

Local and General Intelligence.

We are glad to learn that the Tnapeka and Premier Companies' claims are likely to make a fresh start in the course of a week or ten days. We are glad to notice that Mr William Malcolm, Rector of the Tokomairito High School, has been appointed Rector of the Christchnrch Normal School. Mr R. Neill, W.C.T., Lodye Sfc Lawrence, 1.0. G.T., has been elected District Deputy to attend the Grand Lodge of the Order at the ensuing session at Christchurch. Mr Coghill, of Waitahuna, liberated 1000 young trout in the river last Saturday, all looking vigorous and healthy. The same gentleman has caught several specimens of size sufficient to prove that the fish are fairly domiciled in the river. On Saturday last, we learn by telegraph, the Waroatohi Gold Mining Company, on the West Coast, declared a dividend of 2s 6 1. The Moanatairi will also declare a dividend before Christmas. This mine had a return on Saturday of 443J ozs. gold. Alburnia shares are unaltered. Messrs Ferguson and Thompson report that they sold on Monday, at their rooms, Ross Place, under instructions of th« mortgagees, the house and section in Irvine-street, Lawrence, lately occupied by Mr David Whittet. The purchaser was Mr George Black, Engine-driver. A meeting of the Dunedin School Committee was held on Monday, at which a considerable amount of business was disposed of. A staff was appointed for the George-street School, consisting of Mr D. A. M'Nicoll as head master, Miss Jane Pratt as matron, and Mr Win. Bennett as second master. The Lyster Opera Company are drawing large and fashionable audiences at the Princess Theatre, Dunedin. Many of our musical residents, we understand, purpose embracing the opportunity of witnessing a really good Opera, and we should be fflad to know that some railWay facilities are to be afforded to encourage so laudable a wish. The Amalgamated Gold-mining Company, Blue Spur, have just washed up after six months' running, and the results are stated to be very satisfactory. Tln-y have put in a shot of two tons of powder, which haa loosened a large quantity of stuff, which is now in course of being operated on.— We learn also that Messrs Morrison and party, Blue Spur, are preparing to wash up. — From the other claims there is nothing unusual to report. All are in full work, and doing well.

The recent severe frosts, which have done so much damage to the crops in and around Lawrence, have, we regret to say, proved equally destructive in Waitahuna. We noticed on a recent visit that the potato crops on the lowlying lands are severely damaged — indeed, practically ruined ; whilst those on the hills have escaped unscathed. In many instances the fruit-gardens are stripped of every berry. The corn crops are looking remarkably well, and there is every indication of a rich and abundant harvest.

An adjourned meeting of the Licensing Court for the District and Town of Lawrence was held on Monday before Commissioners Carew (Chairman), Withers, and Ferguson. An application from Mrs David Evans for a transfer of the license held by her late husband for the Provincial Hotel, Evans Flat, to herself, was the only business before the Commissioners. The application was granted. The Chairman complimented the Police upon the neat way in ■which the report submitted by them had been framed.

Hares are increasing so quickly in some parts of this District as to become quite a pest j and if some steps are not taken to put them down they will become as great a nuisance as the rabbits e'sewhere. We were informed that 29 were started one day last week in a corner of a small paddock which is cropped with oats belonging to Mr George Murray (of Tuapeka Flat. ) The hares are very destructive to green crops, and have done considerable damage in this locality.

It will be seen from our Wellington telegrams (says yesterday's " Morning Herald ") that there has been a revival of confidence in New Zealand securities. It is probable that the larger part of the Five million Loan will be placed at par, seeing that other loans have risen 2 per cent, in value in a few weeks, the 10.40 Five per Cents, now standing at 103. This good news has set the Minister for Public Works to remodelling his Statement. Would that it could have the effect of setting the Colonial Treasurer to modify his Bndget also ! Notwithstanding that the exemption has been raised from £300 to £500, the Property Tax i 3 still a bitter thing.

THE over-due Home ships are now showing up freej.y, other two haying arrived at Port Chalmers on Saturday night. These are the Albion Company's sfyip j^unadin /Captain Whitson), from Glasgow, which she left on 29 th August, clearing the land off the west-const of Ireland on 6th September, She brings 1J saloon and 428 steerage passengers, alj in" good health, there having been one death, that of a young child, and one birth, on the passage, The other arrival is the New Zealand Shipping Company's Wangauui (Captain Watt), which flailed from the Port of London on sth September, wjtl) a large number of passengers, who are reported §11 in possession of means to settle on the land,

A correspondent in our last issue qeems to doubt the report we published of the Waitahuna Gully School. Although at the time in possession of the Inspector's report, we did not think it necessary t,q publish it ; but we now do so, and we think our remarks |[ which were founded on the high percentages and general eQJciency of the school^ are more than borne out by it. The. report is as follows : — " The order and generaj tone of the sgbopl are quite satisfactory! The pupils are attentive, aotiye a.nd intelligent, and do their work methodically and accurately. The classification is made with judgment, and a knowledge of what tfrs pupils pan do. The reading, spelling, writing, and grammar are unusually satisfactory. The only defective subject is History, which has been but recently taken up. The management of the school throughout is efficient, # and is creditable alike to the skill and diligence of the teachers. Singing and sewing are well attended to."

Wj? Jearn from Waitahuna that after more than tjjree $reek«; of easterly weather some heavy rains qaye falj en ; Tfyg cereals are' looking splendid. l The e4vly potato*? .^f^red severely from frqsfcs, but now snow signs of vigorous recovery. They wilj. be later than would otherwise have men the case. The ladies of the district have been busy for some days collecting the needful and making preparations for the annual pic-nic and athletics at fchjj New Year. They have met, we are told, witlji gsea t gngqpragement, having collected £2Q in specie, tjesYc^s ep^lnhi^ the promise of a very large supply in king, so $$fc the g^i%r r ing promises to eoUpse'entirely those of formed years, "fhey have' selected Hogmanay as i!tie day of celebration, a yery suitable day, ' as it gijres parties, who may wish 16 psicthe Various Caledonian, sports, an opportunity 'of being presenj;, ••■.."

Mr J. Harrop calls attention, by advertisement, to the fact that he has received a large consignment of books suitable for school prizes.

Bishop Moran administered the rite of confirmation to 110 girls and 40 boys at St Joseph's Catholic Church, Duuedin, on Sunday.

His Lordship the Bishop of Dunedin (the Right Rev. Dr Nevill) has appointed the Rev. G. P. Beaumont (M.A.) of Lawrence, to be Rural Deau of Queenstown.

An inquiry into the fire of James Motion's house, at Burnfoot, near Waipahi, was held on Monday, at M'Donald's Hotel, Clinton, before Dr. Smith (coroner), when an open verdict was returned.

In this morning's supplement will be found telegraphic news j American ideas of New Zealand, from which some rather startling information may be derived, such as that corn can actually be raised in this Island ; the New South Wales bushrangers ; Captain Moonlight in Court ; the Dunedin Jockey Club races ; news from Australia and China ; fuller Parliamentary news ; and miscellaneous items.

An accident happened on Monday to Mr Fred. Wedlake, manager of the Richmond Hill Company's claim, Waitahuna Gully. It appears that, while standing at the min-hole near the top of the •shaft, he was in the act of signalling to the men below, when the cage containing the empty truck descended, striking him severely on the head and side of the face. Several scalp wounds inflicted, and a wound on the left eye, besides which a number of teeth in the upper jaw were knocked out. He was at once removed to the Hospital, where his injuries are being attended to.

The annual picnic for the children of the Waitahuna district will be held on the recreation ground, Waitahuna, on the 31st inst., and should the W eather keep fine, a most enjoyable day will be spent. A committee of ladies have canvassed the district, and have secured upwards of L2O. After defraying the expense of the edibles, the balance will be distributed in prizes for sports. A dance in connection with the above will take place in the Havelock Athenaeum the same evening. Last year's picnic was an immense success, as a proof of which we are told there were consumed 5 cwts. of cake and upwards of 120 gallons of tea, a fact which speaks volumes for the district.

A young man named William Sutherland was brought in to the Tuapeka Hospital on Monday from Mr Henry's run on the Lammerlaw ranges in all but a comatose state. He had been shepherding for Mr Henry, and it seems got wet and lay clown and slept in his wet clothes. On waking in a feverish condition, he drank some snow water, which had the effect of aggravating the trouble. Mr Robert Elliot, being on the look out for cattle in the neighborhood, happened to go into the young fellow's hut and found him all but speechless. He had him at once conveyed to the Hospital, an undertaking involving considerable trouble. Under the care of Dr Stirling he Jp getting round, and we understand is now out of danger.

The usual monthly meeting of the Committee of the Tuapeka Goldfields Hospital took place in the Commercial Hotel, Peelstreet, on Friday evening. Present Mr Carew (President, in the chair), and Messrs Abel, Bryant, Harrop, Holmden, Rougban, Tanton, Williams, Dr Withers, and Mr King (Secretary.) The minutes of previous meetings were read and confirmed. The outward correspondence was read and approved. The inward correspondence was read and received. Resolved — " That Mr Uren be appointed Collector at a remuneration of ten per cent ; this appointment to continue in force during the present Committee's term of office." Tbe Treasurer's report was received, showing — since last meeting — Subscriptions, Ll4O 3s ; paying patients, L 25 11s ; sale of pigs, L 6. Resolved, on the motion of Mr Harrop, seconded by Mr Bryant—" That the County Council of Tuapeka be asked to reconsider donation to Hospital funds, with a view to iuciease sane." The Visiting Committee's rep< rfc wa? read and received. The usual nronthly accounts were submitted and referred to the Finance Committee, and the meeting closed.

The Black Horse Brewery, Wetherstones, with all the plant, was exposed for sale by auction on Monday afternoon, at Mr Arbuckle's rooms by Mr H. Bastings, but no purchaser being found, the property was withdrawn. A number of sections in the township of Lawrence were also offered ; only two found jmrchasers — viz., Mr J. C. Arbuckle and Mr Hugh Craig. Mr Bastings, in closing tbe sale, told his hearers that a great deal of rubbish was talked about the bad times. They were the cause of the bad times. He had just seen the surrounding country from the top of one of the neighboring heights, and found pasture abundant and every appearance of plenty on all hands. The five million loan, too, had just been floated in London by the Bank of England. And there they were with their good suits of clothes, smoking their cigars and pipes and doing precious little work, too well off, in short, for any useful purpose. He was ashamed of them. The speech caused considerable good-humored amusement : and we suppose our local capitalists will put it in the pipes spoken of, and smoke it.

The following is the text of the petition of residents in Vincent County re land settlement. It was presented by Mr Pyke, and has been printed by order of the House. The views of the petitioners are shared by thousands of settlers on the goldfields and elsewhere throughout the Colony, who might usefully strengthen the hands of their representatives by sinji'ar petitions to Parliament j— " That in view of the enormous debt under which the Colony now labors, the settlement of the people on the land is a matter of absolute necessity. That no settlement worthy of the name can be looked for whilst the present upset price of deferredpayment lavd — namely, JS3 per acre — is maintained. That whilst the system of selling all such lands by auction, in the case of more than one party applying for the same section, is in force, the Government have the best guarantee that the land will fetch its real value. That as one of the chief inducements, held out by the Agents of the Colony to the people of Great Britain to emigrate hither was gooil and cheap land, the Government and people of the Colony are bound in honor and justice to see that condition fulfilled. That whilst the upset price of the pick of a block at auction is £1 per acre, it is manifestly unfair that the upset price of inferior land should be raised to treble th it amount. That we believe that the enhanced price was never contemplated by the Legislature, and we therefore earnestly and respectfully pray that your honorable House will so legislate as to cause the mistake to be rectified, and the upset price reduced to. its former rate. And your petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray, &c."