Tuapeka Times. AND GOLDFIELDS REPORTER AND ADVERTISER. SATURDAY, MARCH 29, 1884. " MEASURES, NOT MEN." Local and General Intelligence.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1028, 29 March 1884, Page 2

Tuapeka Times. AND GOLDFIELDS REPORTER AND ADVERTISER. SATURDAY, MARCH 29, 1884. " MEASURES, NOT MEN." Local and General Intelligence.

Odb report of Mr M. W. Green's lecture and other matter is unavoidably held over.

We are given to understand that Mr D. H, Mervyn's raceihorse Sir Audley has been pur. chased by Mr M. M'Laren (of Milton.)

Messrs Arbuckle, Robertson and Co. are making considerable additions to their sale* yards, which will be of great advantage to owners of stock at the sales in future.

There were fifteen patients in the Tuapeka Hospital last night. Of these, one was a female, one Chinaman, and thirteen European males. No fresh patients were admitted during the week.

The sum of £8 5s has beea collected by Mr T. Cousins (working manager) in the Otago Co.'s claim, Blue Spur, and forwarded to the Committee lately appointed to raise funds on behalf of the Otago Benevolent Institution.

The Great Extended (No. 2) Company, Blue Spur, have put the tunnel through to their new workings. They have now opened up a face, and will be thus enabled to take everything before them to the furthest boundary of their claim, without the expense of further tunnelling.

It is notified in the " Gazette " that hares may be taken or killed within the Otago district from the Ist of April to the 3 1st of July, and that California!* quail and cock pheasants may be taken or killed within the said district from the Ist of June to 31st July, and that native game (excepting tuis) may be taken or killed within the said district from Ist April to 31st July.

The decided and agreeable change in the weather is welcome everywhere, but especially is it welcome to the farmers. An extra effort is now being put forth to harvest the remaining crops, and should the weather only continue fine for a week or ten days not much will be left (standing uncut. Surely the fearful weather we have experienced for so long a time cannot last much longer. Let us hope at least that the beginning of the winter will be better than the close of the summer. >

How would our New . Zealand farmers be pleased with yields like the following : —The average yield of wheat in South Australia is expected to be about 9£ bushels per acre. The heaviest yields have been obtained in Wanderah, where 15 bushels is the average ; the lowest yield is in Kanyaka, where only 2\ bushels is the average yield. Land in New Zealand producing only 15 bushels of wheat to the acre would scarcely be considered worth cultivating, and yet this represents the highest yield in South Australia.

Now that a Football Club has been fairly set agoing, athletic exercise will be provided during the winter months for those who care to avail themselves of it. We should now like to see a general half-holiday given by the merchants and other employers of labor in Lawrence, as it is exceedingly desirable that healthy recreation should be encouraged. Intellectual exercise is quite as important as physical, and we should like to see a Mutual Improvement Society started for the winter months. Surely enough talent could be procured in Lawrence to make such a Society a success.

A MEETING of Ashburton farmers carried the following resolutions re the grain tariff ;— "That this meeting protest against the new railway tariff, especially as regards the largely increased rates upon grain, because it lays a special burden upon farmers, and is therefore a class tax ; while it is also in effect a tax levied upon the southern half of the Colony, and chiefly upon Canterbury and Otago." " That in the opinion of this meeting any increase in railway rates which may be found necessary or expedient should be so adjusted as that the railways in the Middle Island, which are earning higher rates of interest, should not be called upon to make up for the low rates earned by lines in the North Island."

There is one feature in connection with the local race-meetings that deserves special commendation, and that is that no opportunity is allowed to pass without an appeal being made to the general public on behalf of the funds of the Tuapeka Goldfields Hospital. Such was the case at the Tuapeka County Jockey Club's meeting on Thursday when Messrs Tanton (President of the Hospital Committee), Chalmers and Dr Withers, went round and collected the cum of £12 10j, which, with the Government subsidy of £3 to £1, is equivalent to £50— a very considerable* addition to the funds of the local institution. One gentleman, who had invested in a totalisator ticket on Marksman (winner of the Open Handicap) and had the good luck to participate in the big " div." of the meeting, gave the collec'tois on behalf of the Hospital Race a special contiibu* tion of £L The Scriptural injunction, "In tby prosperity remember the poor," evidently re« ourred to the donor's mind when receiving his dividend,

We learn that Mr R. Blair (of Clarks Flat) has been appointed head-teacher of the Southbridge school, near Milton.

The contractor (Mr Egglestone) has finished the wbira for the Tuapeka Prospecting and Mining Company, Wetherstones cement. It is a substantial aud well constructed affair, and should be of gte.it service in hauling - stuff from the shaft. '<?'_ " v - It m reported that gold has recently been found on the island of Levuka, Fiji, rich specimens having been exhibited at Levuka just before the Penguin left on her last trip for Auckland. The discovery of a good goldfield in this, Britain's latest Colony, would just be the thing toJveJjp^n, the,. somewhat tardy colov. nisation of these islands. We calHhe attention of farmers and others interested, to the advertisement which appears in another column, notifying that the monthly meeting of jfta^intatog«pjß»rmerß' Club will beheld in the~Goo_ Templars'Hall, Waitahuna, this evening^ At. eight s&tftft-r The delegates who attended the Tflhinetftn l conference re the bag question will .givejtheir report of what transpired thereate -p**"" STOCKING KNITTING is by no means a modern invention as many may imagine, and it seems that some ancient people were above a piece of blanket, which we have seen used instead if stockings. A pair of knitted socks, at least 2000 years old, has been discovered in an Egyptian tomb, loosely knit of fine sheep'B wool, but different from the modern article in having the foot finished in two parts to allow | the sandal strap to pass between them.

The enterprising people of Canterbury are determined not to be- left behind in the way of mining. The diamond field turned out an abortion, and the beach diggings a failure. Failing diamonds and gold, three licenses have been taken out to prospect for copper in the Hororata diatrict. We wish the prospectors every success, as copper might be useful to make up brummagem when diamonds are not available.

Mb J. T. Matson some time ago imported to Christchurch from Australia three ostriches two females and one male, and one of the females has hatched out five chicks, which are reported to be doing well. Considering (says the " Timaru Herald") the unusually cold and damp season, the success of the venture so far argues well for the future. Should the breeding of ostriches prove practicable commercially a new resource is added to the many we are possessed of. Up to last year, over £1,000,000 worth of feathers had been exported from Cape Colony.

We have received a copy of the first issue of a new venture in journalism, called ''The Athlete." This paper is a Dunedin gee-up, aud will supply a felt want in athletic and sporting circles. It is intended by the publishers to make "The Athlete" the medium of supplying full reports of all athletic meetings throughout the country. The daily and weekly papers having to find space for Buch a variety of information, is not always able to do justice to athletic and sporting news; consequently, " The Athlete " should be welcomed. We wish it every success.

A German who has been a teacher in England has published a striking book, in which he says that English private schools are the most inefficient educational institutions in Europe. What with holidays and the the time spent in examinations, and lost at the beginning and end of the terms, he reckons that the actual working days in a year in most middle class schools an 135. The teaching and discipline are bad ; the masters are frequently changed, and are so badly treated and ill-paid that they bee >me the merest drudges and can take no per* sonal interest in their work.

At the monthly meeting of the Athenaeum Committee held last evening, the following members were in attendance — viz., Messrs M'Coy (in the chair), Finlayson, Steuhouse, Johnston, Abel, and Allnutt. The minutes of the last and of the 'two special meetings were read and confirmed. — The monthly statement of receipts and expenditure submitted by the Secretary was read and received. The inward correspondence consisted of a letter from the Waitahuna Athenaeum Committee, enclosing a draft for £53, together with a list of books for transmission to Edinburgh. The letter was received, as was also a circular from the Education Department, Wellington, stating that a voucher had been passed for £32 4s 2d, amount of Government subsidy. An account from T. Anderson for £3 17s was referred to the Finance Committee.

At a sitting of the Warden's Court, yester day before J. N. Wood, Esq., the following business was transacted : — Samuel Johnston, Isaac M'Farlane, and others applied for a goldmining lease over a portion of section 14, block XVII., Tnapeka East. Adjourned till 25th April. — William Campbell applied fur an extended claim of four acres over block 11., Beaumont district ; also for permission to construct a tail-race and dam in connection with the claim.— The application was granted. Mr M'Coy appeared for applicant. — Ah Yum and others applied for permission to construct a tail-race beginning at the west end of sections 4 and 5, block 11. , Tuapeka East, and terminating at M'Cluskey's creek near the bridge. Messrs Copland and M'Coy appeared for the* applicants. The application was granted.-

The annual pic-nic of the Blue Spur Band of Hope Society was held at the Spur on Thursday afternoon. Fortunately the day was all that could be desired, aud in consequence there was a good turn-out of children, accompanied by their parents and friends. The children formed a procession and marched with their banners through the township, and thence to Mr Cousins' paddock, which was kindly lent for the occasion. Various games were organised and gone into with spirit, both young and old being bent on a day's fun. A swing erected on the ground was well patronised, and football and rounders attracted a good many, both male and female playing the latter. At about four o'clock, over 200 children and at least 50 adults sat down to tea and cake, after which the various amusements were resumed till darkness warned to desist. The members then repaired to the school and had a pleasant meeting, enlivened with games, songs, &c. The pic-nic was in every sense a success, and no doubt will be pleasantly remembered by all who attended it. Reunions of this nature do good to all who enjoy them heartily.

A SOCIAL meeting was held in the Wesleyan Church, Lawrence, on Wednesday eveniug, to take farewell of the Rev. Mr Law, who leaves for Greymouth at any early date. The tables were presided over by Mesdamea Richards and Matthews, and Misses Pilling, Dawson, Uren, Richards; and Matthews. Addresses were given by Mr Law (Chairman), and Mr Herron ; recitations by Miss Dawson, Miss Uren, Miss Richards, Mr Vivian, Mr Treloar, and Mr Herron. Mr Law, in feeling terms, spoke of the kindly support he had always got from the members of the congregation, and hoped that when his successor (Air Griffia) came they would make him and Mrs Griffia feel that they had come among people prepared to treat them well. Mr Williams (of Tuapeka West) then proposed a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Law for holding services in their district, and he wished to inform him that the residents of Tuapeka West thoroughly appreciated these service?. A vote of thanks was tendered to the ladies who had served at the tables. The meeting closed with the choir singing " Shall we gather at the River," and the Doxology.

A PRIVATE trotting-match for £10 a-side took place yesterday morning on the Lawrence racecourse between Mr Little's b g Ace of Clubs and Mr Melrose's b m Evangelioe. The gelding was backed by Mr H. Craig, and the mare by Mr D. H. Mervyn. The distance was three miles, the Ace giving seven seconds' start to Evangeline (the same as in the Handicap Time* i trot at the County Jockey Club's meeting on \ the previous day) ; weight, 103 tup. Evangeline j was ridden by Mr VV. Draper, and the Ace of j Clubs by Mr M. M'Laren (who steered him to victory on the previous day.) Shortly after the word *' go " was given, it was evident that if the t gelding could be kept on the course he would have no difficulty in passing the post first, for he settled down to work in grand style and never broke once. The mare, on the other hand, broke repeatedly ; she did not set kindly to work, nor did she move as freely as on the previous day. The Ace was not long in making ud the start allotted to his companion, and after passing her kept a distance of five or sixlengths a-head for fully two miles and aquarter, when he bolted off the course at the junction of Stranraer-atreet. M'Laren, however, was not long in bringing him round again, and before the coaLpit rise had been ascended was on even terms with the mare. For the remainder of the distance, the Ace kept steadily to the course and passed the judge's box three or four lengths in advance of Evangeline. The time was 10 minutes 10 seconds. Mr Fraer acted as starter, aud Mi Miller as judge,