Local and General Intelligence.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1109, 10 January 1885, Page 2

Local and General Intelligence.

Mb John Thompson, Mayor of Lawrence, has been created a Justice of the Peace, in terms of the "Municipal Corporations Act, 1876."

A lesson which may be instructive to runholders comes from Kaikoura, where Mr Whitefoord,R.M.,fiued Mr Edward Recce 4d per head on 7000 infected sheep ; Mr Walter Gibson the same on 34.000; and Mr Chestcourt Parsons 3d per head of 1000.

THE interprovincial draughts match, which was played between Otago and Canterbury in Watson's Hotel, Dunedin, on Wednesday, resulted in a win for Canterbury by tea games. The Canterbury team won 23 games, Otasro 13, and there were 15 drawn games. Otago won the match last year.

Application for a patent for an invention for crushing friable substances, and intituled a " Quartz-crusher," has been made by Mr Wm. Adams, of Gabriels Gully. Mr Adams has been working for some time at his invention, and if it comes up to expectations it should prove very much better than the ordinary stampers now in use.

The science classes under the auspices of the Tuapeka Mining Institute will be resumed on Monday evening next, when it is to be hoped a good number of students will put in, an appearance. This the Committee of the Institute would be only justified in expecting after the efforts they have made to give the young men of the district a chance to learn a little science.

The waterspouts that have been > ' so dangerously common in Otago have also been experienced elsewhere. A Nelson telegram states that three waterspouts passed close to the Cape Farewell liahthouse.goingso close that the keepers were afraid that the dome of the lighthouse would be carried off. The noise of the falling water on the dwelling-houses is stated to have been fearful

818 F. Falck has been appointed Superintendent Collector of Agricultural Statistics for February, 1885, over the Counties of Tuapeka, Bruce, and Clutha.

At the meeting of the Land Board on Wednesday, Mr V. Pyke apulied, on behalf of Messrs W. Theyers, L. Gard, and G. N. M'Donald, for a sawmill license over part of Waikaia bush, which was granted for three year 3at 7s per acre, payable in advance.

The "Evening Star" is infoimed that it is reported in well-infirmed circles in Wellington that litigation on (he part of the Strath-Taieii deferred-paymenb selectors has been abandoned ; and that the holder of the forfeited countiy has agreed to give up possession and to pay the sum of £1,000, iv addition to the costs of the Crown.

The fence around the Lawrence Post-office is not quite in keeping with the prepossessing appelrance of the building which it should adorn, and very much in contrast with the neat fence which surrounds the County offices. A part of the dilapidated fence was blown down with the wind the other night, and this might be taken as a hint that a new fence would look better around the building.

Ma Gerald Massey, who has acquired a world-wide fame as a poet, critic, and lecturer, and who has recently been lecturing in Australia, will shortly arrive in New Zsaland for the purpose of making a lectutiog tour of this Colony. He intends giving eight lectures in the Dunedin Lyceum, some of which will uphold the views of the Freethought Association.

So pronounced has the feeling against the recent German annexation in the Pacific become, and so completely are Australians disgusted with the incapacity of Lord Derby as Secretary for the Colouies, that, at a public meeting held in Melbourne recently, strong resolutions were passed in favor of British occupation of the Pacific Islands, and the removal of Lord Derby " from the office of Colonial Secretary.

The Government intend to do away with the office of receiver of revenue on the various goldfields of the Colony, aod notice has been given to the holders of that office that their salaries will not be provided after the end of the current financial year, when they will have to retire from the public service on the usual compensation. A contemporary says that the local bodies will be entrusted with the duty of collecting the goldfields revenue.

The fertilisation of red clover depends, in a great measure, upon the transference of the pollen by bee 3, but as the petals of the flower are very long ordinary bees are unable to reach to the bottom of them. Many attempts have been made to import bumble bees for this reason, but until the other d:»y all these attempts have been futile. However, a number of healthy bumble bees were landed from the Tongariro on her last trip, and in due course this desirable little creature should be fairly acclimatised.

The sum of £2,500 has been voted by Parliament as rewards for the discovery of new goldfields. The greatest reward which will be given for the discovery of a new and payable goldfield is £500. The new goldfield, if alluvial, must not be nearer than within fifteen miles of the nearest alluvial gold workings, and, if quartz, not less than tea miles from the nearest existing quartz mined. No award will be paid until 20,000 >zs of gold shall have been extracted from alluvial ground within two years, and quartz reefs within three years, after the registration of the discovery.

The visitation of the waterspouts which have extended over a considerable area of Central Otago is something out of the common. The " Taieri Advocate," referring to one that fell near the Lee Stream, says that a rabbitter, who was sleeping in a hut on the bank of a bliad creek, near the Lee Stream, was awakened by hearing the roar of water coming down the creek. He had just time to partially dress himself and run outside, when the water came down in a vast body, sweeping away his hut, drowning some of his doga that were chained up, and carrying away about three bales of rabbitskins.

The cable messages with which we are daily inflicted ate often marvellous in their unintelligibility, but one received by the Press Association the other day must have surprised the receivers in no small degree. The telegram in question stated that " Lord Derby had informed the Governors of the various colonies that Germany had annexed New Zealand with the consent of the British Government." The Association wisely kept back this startling telegram, pending further information, when it turned out that New Guinea was meant, and that the annexation took place without the consent of Britain.

The British protectorate over New Guinea has now been extended till it meets the southern boundary of the recent Germau annexation, and the English Government is said to be parleying with Germany in reference to New Guinea. Lord Derby assured the Colonies some time ago that any attempt to annex New Guinea on the part of Germany would be resented by Britain, and how he is now going to make good his position remains to be seen. The English flig has been hoisted and a protectorate declared over Pondoland in S)uth Africa, so that the British are evidently bent upon shutting out foreign powers in that quarter.

The time is now approaching when the preliminaries in connection with the Lawrence Parliamentary Union must be settled, and it is now time for the members to cast about in their own minds whom they are prepared to support for the chief offices. Governor, Premier, Speaker, Clerk of the House, Chairman of Committees, all require good and reliable men, and as the next meeting takes place on the 28th inst , it is time that names were singled out and thought over. If the thing is to be a success, its success in a great measure depends upon the men who are at the head nf affairs. This Union, if launched auspiciously, will be one of the best societies of all those that have sprung up in Lawrence; and one which will be productive of much good from an educational point of view, as most of us have much to learn in the way of Parliamentary procedure.

The Tichborne Claimant continues to stump the country, by way, not only of ventilating his grievances, but also paving his way for a seat in Parliament. According to the"Liw Journal" there is no law to prevent "Sir Roger" from sitting in Parliament, because only feloos are excluded, and perjury is not felony. Ooe little circumstance, however, must not be overlooked. Chatham may return him with an overwhelming majority, the Habeas Corpus and the British Constitution may be unable to bar his passage across the bar of the House of Commons, Conservatives may fret and Liberals fume in vain — all the Queen's horses and all the Queen's men may be powerleas ; but, as the " Globe" remarks : " Sir W. Harcourt, with one stroke of his pen, can send Humpty Damply to prison again." Afc a meeting of the South Stoneham board of guardians held recently, it was stated that the Claimant's wife and her two illegitimate children would shortly be removed from the workhouse, arrangements having been made for their care. The board decided that it would be useless to proceed against the Claimant for the cost of past maintenance. The Claimant's wife is registered as Mary Ann Tichborne alias Castro.

At yesterday's meeting of the Tnapek* County Council, the Engineer submitted a return showing the progress, &c, of County works for the month of December. The works completed during the month were — Road E lie's to Dunrobin, at a total cost of L 299 5? ; road leading into Waipori bush, cost L 220; and culverts in block xm., Greenvale district, cosh L2Ol 03 Bd. The works in progress are— (l) Road Lawrence to Waipori via Buncrtown, on which L 1386 5s 9d had been expended to date • (2) gravelling road near Dunnet'a at Kelso; (3) bridge at Hopkins' crossing, expenditure to date L 605 16s lOd; (4) Beaumont bridge, expenditure to date L 4620 12s 1(M ; (5) bridge over Shingle Creek ; (6) road leading to Hogg's property ; (7) road Bulfin's to Sheenan's (Tuapeka West); (8) road Bulfio's to Tuapeka Mouth ; (9) road from Johnston Station to Mt. Stuart; (10) road near Ardmore estate (Tapanui) ; (11) road from Dunkeld to Remarkable bush. "No progress" was recorded against the following works ;— Road to Mackay Bros, (Crqokston) ; road Beaumont to Millers Plat (eaßt bank of Clutha River) ; Clarks Flat road ; road from Kirk's to Swift Creek bridge ; gravelliDg road berween Wetherstones and Gabriels; road from Matheson's corner to Swift Creek railway station ; road through Livingston's property, Waitahuna; and road Waitahuna to Waipori. The expenditure on new works and surfacing for the month amounted to LlB9 2s 7d, and the cost of work' I ing the County punts was L 4 0165. The total expenditure for the month was LBo3 los 4d, ;

At a maeting of th» Tuapeka Fht S'lh^ol Commit teo on Thursday evming, Messrs Green and Fraer were nominated to fill the vacancies in the Education Board.

There were 14 patients in the Hospital last night, and of these 12 were males and 2 female?. Two patients were discharged dur-

ing the week arid one admitted.

It appears we credited the wrong medico with the care of the man Mitchell, who met with the gun-powJer accident at Blue Spur. Dr Blair, we now learn, ia attending him, and not Dr Withsrs, as we were at first informed.

At a special meeting of the Land Board on Thursday, it was resolved to hold an inquiry into the alleged dummvism on Run 106, is the Land Office, Dunedin, ou the 29th intfcirfc. The Commissioners will inspect the land on the 22nd instant.

W. H. REVBII, Esq, has been gazrtted as Resident Magistrate for the districts rf Clutha and Otazo Goldfields; and Jackaor Keddell, Esq., as Resident Magistrate for tie districts ot Greymoulh anil Nelson SouU>west Goldfields, and Warden for ihesamo^oldfieldaand Westland: Sergeant-Major M*ore takes rank as a third- class Inspector.

The preliminary work in connection with the laying of the teleptoneliue between Lawrence and Waipori is Veing pushed ahead. Used-up railway rails ace bong luid along the route with a view to erection instead of wooden poles, for wh'ch purpose they are better suited. This .me is much required, and when telephonic communication is completed between Lawrence and Wa pori, the line will be of gr«at service to the business men of both places.

A good numfier of people turned out on Tuesday evening with the view of patronising Clark, Rjman and Co.'s American Comedy Company, but, only to find that Ihe Company had not arrived in Lawrence ; and again on Wsdnes lay and Thursday evenings, though dul/ advertised, the Company failed to put in an appearance. The illness of one of tho prhcipals, we are informed, was the caus*. Th? Company will open, without fail, in the Tom Hall to-night, and the entertainment wit be repeated on Monday nigbt.

Ihe "Woolwich Infant" bids fair to be eclipsed in a 100-ton gun, which Colonel Hodb is naking for the War Office. This gun will fire the enormou3 charge of 15cwt of powder, and will throw a 1.2001 b shell. It is calculated that the gun will be able to pierce sft of wroaght iron. If this gun, which it is expected will be finished in ten or twelve months, comes up to what its maker anticipates, it will be invduable for shore defence. A few of these euro would insure the safety of all the New ZeaUnd harbors, as no ships would care to come within their range.

We have received a communication from Mr W. Joberts, of Brown's Creek Goldmining Co., Blamy, New South Wales, and also Beveral pamphlets containing particulars of the assaying (department in connection with the mine. The writer, having noticed an extract from our papir in the "Town and Country Journal," relathg to the visit of M. Shostak to Lawrence, and his expression of the opinion that much gold is wasted by our somewhat crude methods of w>iking, off ere to ass iy samples of tailings sent to him. While it would be well to have mchassays made, we see no reason forgoing so far, as it can be done quite as well nearer home, la ths pamphlets there are some good hints on gold-saving, aud we will be pleased to hand over tie copies we have received to those who would like to peruse them.

The people of Lawrence were not a little pu/.zled when a man, note-book in hand, was seen dligently sketching seriatim the buildings and business plices of the town, and at the same t'tne entering descriptive particulars in his bock. Various were the speculations indulged h as to the purport of the inexplicable actions )f the strauger ; and had it been in Europe le would have been looked upon as a Russian ->r German officer on leave, as they always nake a ppint of noting down such information on their travels. Some thought it might be in connection with the German annexation of New Zealand, news of which was telegraphed to Wellington the other day, and that the stranger was a German officer taking an estimate of the position and wealth of the N;w Zealand towns. However, it turned out only to be an insurance agent noting down particulars of the buildings of the town, with a view to future business transactions.

A special meeting of the Directors of the Tuapeka Milling Company was held in the Borough Council Chambers on Thursday even* ing, at which the following members were present:— Messrs Fraer (Chairman), Fraser, J. Thompson, Daniell, Bulfin, Williams, Herron, M'lntosh, and H. P. Thompson (Secretary). — The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.— A letter was received from Messrs Johnstone and Co., stating that they had proceeded as far with the plans, &c, as it was possible for them to go until they received particulars of water suoply from the Company ; and also a letter from the Chairman of the County Council in reference to the request that the County Engineer survey the water-race, stating that the matter would be laid before the Council for its consideration, —On the motion of Mr Fraser, seconded by Mr Daniell, the action of tha special meeting re mill site was approved. — Messrs Daniell and M'lotosh were empowered to consult with Mr Smaill, on behalf of the Milling Company, vt the water supply.— This was all the business.

The New Zealand Educational Institute began its annual meeting in Auckland on Wednesday. Mr Worthiugton (President), in the course of his inaugural address, said that the object of the Institute was to uphold the present system of education, as provided by the Act of 1877, and he called attention to some of the results of extra legislation by Boards and Orders-in-Council. He considered that the syllabus is at present overladeD, and that, in g>n?ral. pupils may be fairly tested by twoi subjects— English and arithmetic. They looked to the inspectors to see that the public got all the advantage of the Act, and to the training colleges aa the fittest nurseries for a supply of teachers, who, when selected iv the first instance, should satisfy stringent conditions as to health and general fitness. The effective carrying out of the compulsory clauses was urged as a preventive to larrikinism. A teachers' pension fund scheme should be carried out, in order to prevent the inefficient working of the schools by incapable teachers. All classes of teachers were urged to support the Institute, scholastic journals, and to foster union among themselves.

A meeting of the Directors of the Tuapeka Caledonian Society was held in the Borough Council Chambers on Thursday evening, when there were present — Messrs Miller (President, in the chair). J. Thompson, Chalmers, Harrop, S. P. Craig, Hart, J ftVy, Coxon, and Gordon. —The minutes of the last meeting were read and confiimed. — The Secretary submitted an approximate balance-sheet, which, after making dua allowance for all outstanding liabilities, I showed a balance of £47 to the Society's credit. The chief items iv »he receipts were— Btlance In Ba >k, L 25 12* 6d ; members' subscriptions, LB6 10s ; entrance fpfls, Ll4 4* ; gata money an-i e-rand stand, Ll7 7s ; concert and d=mce, L49 16s 6d. The expenditure showed that the sum of LSO, exclusive of the handicap steeplechase money (L 5 14s), which had not been handed over to the successful competitors, had been paid away as prize-money. The state* menfc was regarded as highly satisfactory, especially when it was taken into account that the weather had been very unsettled for several days prior to the holding of the games.— lt was decided to band over to the Hospital Com* mittee the full amount (L 7) collected on behalf of the Hospital race, the Society being at the expense of the whip and spurs (valued at LI 7s 6d) presented to the riders of t he lit and 2nd horses.— lt was also decided to make the Indus, trial Brass Band a donation, as formerly, of £5 in recognition of their services on Boxingday.—The President stated that the next business before the chair was the consideration of the disgraceful conduct of certain competitors who took part in the half-mile steeplechase which was run on Boxing-day. He had written to Thompson, who passed the post first, asking him to answer certain queries, but as yet hid not received a reply. It was just possible, however, that Thompson had not received the letter. He (the President) also requested Curtain, Fitzgerald, and Murray, who took part in the steeplechase, to put in an appear ■ ance that evening, with a view of giving evidence. — After the evidence of the three com* petitors had been taken, it was unanimously resolved to award Ist money to Thompson (conditionally that be answered the PresWint'i

queries satisfactorily), and the 2nd to Murray ; no third prize to be awarded. It was further resolved to instruct the Secretory to write to Fitz^cald, reprimanding him severely for hia conduct in pushing Murray down while run- I ninj? id this race, and to inform him that a similar offence at any future gathering held under the Society* auspices -would cause his immediate disqualification from taking part in any of the Society's games. WHh rejjardto Curtain, who, it was stated, wilfully jostled. Murray when jumping, one of the hurdles, it was unanimously resolved to disqualify him from taking part in any games held under the Society's auspices. Several members expressed themselves in strong terms as to the necessity of stamping out with a strong hand all attempts at unfair practises on the pait of competitors engaged in any of the games held under the Society's auspices. In justice to Fitzgerald, it may be mentioned that he apologised to Murray and also to the Society for his unfair conduct in the steeplechase on Boxing-day. —The meeting closed with the usual vote to the President.