Local and General Intelligence.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1027, 26 March 1884, Page 2

Local and General Intelligence.

Mr R. Neill (of Blue Spur) has been appointed District Delegate for Tuapeka to attend the meeting 1 of the Grand Lodge of Good Templars, to be held in Oamaru at Easter.

Among the names of the local candidates who passed the matriculation subjects for teachers' class D, we omitted to give the name of John M'Nickle, pupil-teacher in the Lawrence High School.

A valedictory tea-meeting will be given to the Rev. J. Law (who takes his departure for Greymouth next week) in the Lawreuce Wesleyan Church this evening. It is announced that addresses, recitations, &c, will be delivered at the close of the tea-meeting.

We understand it is the intention of the President and Vice-President of the Lawrence Bowling Club to give a pair of bowls to be played for by the members soon. Inducements of this kind should be frequently held out to encourage better play amoug the members.

A START has been made by the contractor with the viaduct at Waifcahuua. This will be a substantial work when completed. The length of the viaduct will be 36ft, in two spans of 18ft each, and the roadway will be 25ft in width. The abu nunta and piers will be of atone, aud the superstructure of irou and timber,

The young man Walter Liston, who was so severely injured by a fall from his horse a short time ago, has now recovered consciousness, and is so far progressing favorably.

The Rev. Mr Moiris (of Balclutha) officiated at the Presbyterian Church last Sunday even* ing for the Rev. Mr Fraser, who was absent on account of the meeting of the Clutha Presbyteiy.

Judging from the programme aud the names of the well-knowu performers which appear thereon, the concert which will be held on Thursday evening, under the auspices of the Toapek* County Jockey Club, promises to be a most successful one.

Some districts in New South Wales and elsewhere in Australia are suffering from extreme drought. What a pity it is that we are not able to condense some of the surplus moisture in our own atmosphere, freeze it, and send it over' to our needy neighbors. THE sum of £7 3s 9 J was collected by Messrs Waugh and M'Leod on behalf of the Hospital race, which took place at the Ettrick Domain Jockey Club's annual meeting on St.^ Patrick's Day. A cheque for the sum mentioned was received yesterday by Mr J. Thompson (Hon. Secretary of the Tuapeka Hospital Committee.)

A meeting of the Evans Flat School Committee was held on Saturday evening. There were present— Messrs G. BrookfChairman), P. Brook (Secretary), Fahey, Hogg, Henry, Rchardson, and Buchanan. Five applications were received for the post of school-mistress. After hearing the testimonials read, by a majority of votes, it was decided to recommend Mra Michael to the Education Board for ap. pointment.

Albert KARAITIANA, the nine-year-old son of the late KaraitianaTokoinoan», will, according to an Auckland paper, be one of the richest landowners in the Colony. Not half of the lad's interests in land have been individualised, and he is now in receipt of £15,000 per annum. His landed property when it has passed into the hands of his trustee, will be good value for half a million of money.

We have been informed by a correspondent that tbe reef which was lately struck in Cox and Clifford's mine at Waipbrijtrntl referred to in our issue of Saturday last; is fully a foot in thickness and carries gold freely. • It is expected that in the course of a month or sjx weeks a full complement of hands will be again employed in the mine. Cox and Clifford richly deserve to be well recouped for the outlay they have incurred in prospecting their claim— no light nor inexpensive work.

THE new school established atßaes Junction a short time ago by the Education Board was opened on Monday last by Mr J. T. Bryant, headmaster of the Beaumont school. The new school, which will be in charge of Master Phillipps (pupil-teacher), will be recognised as a branch of" the Beaumont school, and will be under the immediate supervision of Mr Bryant. The establishment of the school at Raes June, tion will supply a much needed want, as there are a number of children in the neighborhood who were unable, owing to the distance, to attend the school at Beaumont.

THE following paragraph is taken from the 11 Taieri Advocate " of Saturday last :— " We have been informed that an old established foreign company, with its head quarters in Berlin, will shortly commence operations in Dunedin for the purpose of grain-buying on a very large scale. One of the gentlemen connected with the company informs us that the purchases will be strictly for cash, and that when the company commences operations it will be in a position to offer considerably better prices than farmers have hitherto been able to obtain. So mote it be."

A PAINFUL and serious accident, which is likely to terminate fatally, occurred near Grey town yesterday morning. As the southern express was nearing the railway station, a young child was seen on the line by the driver. The whistle was sounded, and every effort was made to pull up the engine, but, as the rails were wet, this could not be done until the cowcatcher struck the child and threw it off the line. The poor little thing, who was only two years of age, was serious'.y injured, haviDg sustained a fracture of the skull, and a severe flesh wound on the thigh. A doctor was telegraphed for immediately, but it is feared that the child has suffered injuries from which it is not likely to recover.

A contributor, who has lately been on a visit to some of the southern districts, writes as follows -.—The crops on Hillend and Greenfield stations are pretty well advanced. Cutting is nearly completed, and every fine day a few stacks are added to the number of those already built. The wheat crop on Hillend station is a very fine one, but owing to the humidity of the season, it is not hard enough for threshing yet. On Clydevale station stackiug and cutting are being pushed on simultaneously. Along the Waiwera valley cutting is well advanced, and some stacking done. Round about Clinton, and as far as Waipahi, cutting is being gone on with as the crops ripen. Ripe paddocks are not numerous in this locality, and what are cut as' bein? ripe are very mixed. The turnip crop— especially about Hillend and Greenfield— is-looking exceedingly well. Some good paddocks of turnips are also to be seen on Mr Tolmie'srun. In nearly all cases the early sown crop is doing best.'

The weights for two of the events— viz., the District Handicap and Time Trot— which take place in connection .with the Tuapeka County Jockey Club's first meeting, appear in our .advertising columns. For the District Handicap the nominations number seven, Blackboy (&t 71b) being accorded pride of place so far as weight is concerned ; and for the Handicap Trot there are ten entries, Ace of Clubs being placed at scratch. There were only two nominations for . the County Jockey Club Handicap, and, 'as the Club have a regulation in force that there- must be three entries or no race, this event, in consequence, has fallen through. In all probability the Club will arrange for another Handicap of a like amount, when in all likelihood a larger number of entries will be forthcoming. It is reported that there will be several starters for the Maiden Plate, and the Hack Race is certain to produce a good field. . .The.other.eventa may be looked upon as certain to bring a fair number of local horses to the post. Given fine weather, there cannot be the least doubt that a good day's sport will be enjoyed.

THE reform of the Civil Service, which is now being determinedly carried out by the Government, is a much-needed reform. The opinion has been gaining ground for some years back that the Civil Service Had outgrown itself, and that the multiplicity of offices qnly led to confusion. The only plea that could be urged in support of the useless, or almost useless offices created, was that they' afforded employment to needy friends of , the Government. This state of things was not brought about by the party at present in power, but is. the steady j growth of years. Though upon the recommen- J dation of the Commission appointed to enquire ! into the Civil Service, a ten per cent, redaction was was made all round, and' several offices were amalgamated, Btill there is ample robins for reduction. We do not mean to say that' the members of the Civil Service are over-paid, but we. do affirm that there are too many underpaid officials in the service. What is needed is the amalgamation of useful departments, and the total abolition of thoae that have ceased to be useful. Then the officers in charge of these larger departments should receive remuneration commensurate with the importance of their duties,

Ay inquest was held at the Dunedin Hospital on Saturday morning, before Dr Hocken (Coroner), to enquire into the death of Mr Oliver Wakefield. The evidence showed that the unfortunate occurrence was purely accidental. It appears that Air Wakefield was in ill-health, and suffering from nervous depression. He was going to Melbourne on account of his health at the time of the melancholy accident. The deceased stated to Dr Maunsell that he 'could not get out of the way, as a cab was in front of him. In the excitement caused by the near approach of the tram-motor, he stumbled and fell across the line, and before the motor could be brought to a standstill, the front wheels had passed over the fallen man. The verdict of the jury was as follows :— "The jury believe that the death of Mr Wakefield was the result of pure accident and misadven. ture, resulting, in our opinion, from his nervously losing his presence of mind, causing him to fall in front of the engine." A rider was added, to the effect that the jury agreed with the decision' of the City Council to remove the tram-engines, and hoped that the company would endeavor to anticipate the time at which they had agreed to remove the motors. — Mr Duncan (Secretary for the Tramway Company) Slid that these motors would be removed as soon as other arrangements could be made— probably in about ten days 1 tiuw

At the sitting of the Supreme Court in Dnuedin yesterday, Mr Denniston notified that in the case of Mann v* Rlervyu (an action for breach of promise of marriage) a settlement had been arrived at out of Court.

The two Swiss guides, who accompanied the Rev. W. S. Green while mountaineering in New Zealand, have succeeded in climbing Mount Kabru, one of the peaks of the Himalaya, 24,000 feet in height. This is the greatest altitude yet reached on record.

The exceedingly damp weather that has been experienced for some days back has considerably damped the spirits of the farmers. Those who have their grain safely in the stack are fortunate indeed, for what is standing in the stook will be more or less damaged. Drying winds and sunshine would be welcome now to ripen the fields that remain uncut.

Attention is again directed to Mr M. W. Green's lecture on "Britain's Destiny and the Ten Lost Tribes," which will be delivered in the Town Hall this evening at eight o'clock. Mr Green's lecture on " Hard Times aud how to prepare for them " was delivered to a large audience at the Blue Spur last evening and was well re eived.

We learn from the '• North Otago Times " that most of the grain is cut in the Oamaru district, though a good deal is not stacked yet. Threshing is going on all over the district, but the returns in wheat do not in all cases come up to expectations, though the average will be greater than for several seasons past. The yield of oats is good both in quality and quantity, The new bridge at Docherty's crossing is about finished. The approaches are made up and the planking laid, and the bridge will soon be open for traffic. It is a most substantial structure— an iron -girder bridge — composed of a single span of 46 feet, with a width of roadway of 14 feet. The abutments are of concrete. This bridge will be a great boon to those who formerly had to cross a sometimes dangerous stream.

To the troubles of farmers there is literally no end (says the " Southland Times.") While those in the eastern districts are holding indignation meetings concerning the cornsack question, others are bewailing the fact that, owing to the ravages of the small birds, they will have none of their crops left to bag. The nuisance, we are told, is especially great in the West Plains district, where oats and wheat are suffering severely— in fact, to use the words of a resident in that locality, " the birds are worse than the rabbits."

In replying to the President of the Chamber of Commerce, Christchurch, the Hon. E, Mitchelson says in regard to the new railway tariff : — "The present rate for class E is at an average of about 25 per cent, below rates current lor some years before 1881 for that class while the rates foe other classes of goods are, upon the average, in the South Island slightly increased and in the North Island largely so. I may point out that for the distance of thirty miles are as follow for the sevei al classes :— A, 20s ; B, 17s ;C, 14s 6d ;D, 12a 5d ; H, 14s 7d ; while for E the charge is 7s Bd. With regard to postponing the coming into operation of the new railway tariff until the meeting of Parliament, the Government resrret being unable to comply with your wishes, Parliament having' by statute imposed the duty upon the Government."

A meeting of the Tuapeka Mouth School Committee was held on Saturday. There were present— Messrs M'Roberts (Chairman), Brown (Secretary), Bruce, Reid, and Mailler. The principal business before the meeting was to consider the request of the Rev. Father O'Leary to hold Divine service in the school on the 30th instant. The Committee were unanimously of the opinion that one denomination had as good a right to the building as another, therefore they had no objection to granting the request, but unfortunately the 30th was one of Mr Taylor's service days. If the rev. gentleman could select one of the twenty-six Sabbath-days on which the school was unoccupied, the Committee would be only too glad to let him have the use of the building.—lt was resolved to extend the harvest holidays to the 31st instant.

Tee following is an extract from an English letter, received last mail by an Auckland miller : "It is true that the Home millers avoid New Zealand wheat. Can you wonder at it ? It is threshed without getting sufficient time to mature the wheat after being cut ; and what wonder is it that New Zealand wheat has a bad name in England ? It is very much softer upon arrival in London than when it left New Zealand. Last year should have taught the New Zealand farmers a lesson, but it seems as if it were hard to teach them." " New Zealand wheat will never command attention at Home till a better system of shipment is adopted for it to arrive in England in good condition. It is a useful wheat for mixing with Black Sea wheat ; but its condition is the main point for its usefulness for this purpose. When sound, it imparts a good color to the dark Russian and other wheats; but it frequently arrives in London weevily, and damaged through heat."

Our Mount Stuart correspondent writes : — Harvesting operations are of a very desultory character here this season. The grain is ripening very irregularly, and some paddocks are yet so green that doubts are entertained of the corn reaching perfect maturity. The weather is still backward, and consequently the harvest will be a very protracted one indeed. On a few farms stacking has commenced, but the majority are cutting a day now and then, as the. grain slowly assumes its golden tints. By this time last season the crops were all safely stacked, but, with good weather, it will be four or five weeks yet before it can be said that the harvest is all home. Without exception, the crops are all indicative of good returns. Both thegrower and the thresher will reap the benefit of this, should no unforseen casuality occur to mar their present prospects. Several are cutting a little green to convert it into chaff.— For the past few days the weather has been thick and murky, but very little rain has fallen. There is still no indication of improvement.

A meeting of those interested in the grain trade, was held in the Chamber of Commerce, Dunedin, on Saturday. The meeting was called together by the Committee of the Chamber of Commerce to consider the establishment of a Corn Exchange in Dunedin. The chair was taken by Mr Geo. Bell (Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce.) Several speakers ably advocated the establishment of a Corn Exchange. A motion, proposed by Mr luglia (Stirling), and seconded by Mr M. Joel— "That a Cora Exchange be established in Dunedin," was carried unanimously. The following gentlemen were elected as a Committee of Management "for the Corn Exchange :— Messrs J. Duncan, Cherry Farm ; S. Young, Mosgiel ; F. Meenan, Dunedin ;J. E. Glover, Shag Valley j J. Ruociman, Green Island; J. Findlay, Mosgiel; P. M'Gill, Tokomoiriro ; Robert Wilson, Dunedin ; James WHsod, Dunedin j D. Stronach, Dunedin; Robert Anderson, Dunedin j J, Tomlinson, Dunedin; M. Joel. Dunedin j G. Inglis, Stirling ; Walter Miller, Mount Stuart.— The Exchange is to be open for business from the 3rd prox.

' " Hotspur." who has been watching several of the horses in training for the County Jockey Club meeting on Thursday, sends the following :—We may look forward to a capital after* noon'a sport, if the weather is at all favorable, on Thursday. The stewards have been at a i good deal of expense in getting the course in readiness, and it is now iv fair order, although very heavy on account of the quantity of rain which has fallen lately. Ido not expect that all the events on the programme will brin<» forth large fields, but still the fields will be sufficiently large, in most instances, to create a good deal of genuine interest. It is to be re« gretted that only two horses were nominated for the big event of the meeting ; but I hear that this event— viz, the Tuapeka County Jockey Club Handicap— although erased from the programme, will be substituted by another, which will be made post-entry. If this be done, probably a good number of owners will be induced to enter their horses, and after all a good race may eventuate. For the Maiden Plate, three or four local horses and a like number of outsiders (some from Tokomairiro) are likely to come to the post. Six entries have been received for the District Handicap and ten for the Trot, the weights for both events having been published. For the Handicap, my fancy is Sir William, with Little Duchess close up, followed by Mabel. For the Trot. I feel inclined to place— Ace op Clubs, 1 ; Wairuna, 2 ; and Boojum, 3. The Novel, I hear, will bring forth a good field, and for the Hack Eace seven or eight starters may be relied upon. I sincerely trust that the weather will keep up, and induce a good number of visitors to put in an appearance. The Club deserve to be encouraged for their pluck in getting up tfye meeting — especially, in face of the dull times and the number of local gatherings Ueld lately.