Local and General Intelligence.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1110, 14 January 1885, Page 2

Local and General Intelligence.

THE successful candidates for the Government Insurance Board are Messrs Bell. Fisher, and Graham.

Section 4, block iv., Teviot, and section 14, block v., Tiger Hill, have been withdrawn from sale under the deferred-payment system.

The escort passed through Lawrence yesterday with a number of boxes of gold in its charge, but we have not bean able to ascertain the amount of gold.

W. H. Kevbllj, Esq., has been appointed Land Officer under the provisions of the 24th section of the . Land Act, 1877, - for Lawrence and Switzers ; and H. A. Stratford, Esq., for Naseby.

It appears that Warden Stratford is not likely to be located at Naseby for a longer period than two or three months. At the expiration of that time, fresh arrangements will be made, and some one else will be appointed in his stead, though it has not yet transpired who Is to be his successor.

As one result of the plentiful ' grass which the wet weather has prodnced, the rabbit plague is rapidly on the increase throughout the district. They got a wholesome check during the winter, months, from which they have now completely^ recovered, and it will exercise all the ingenuity of the farmers to keep the increase down till poisoned grain can bo used again.

The New Zealand Government are offering (1) one gold medal and twenty guineas, (2) one silver medal, and ten guineas, (3) one bronn medal and five guineas for essays on the present condition and future prospects of the industrial resources of New Zealand, and the best means for fostering their development. The prizes are to be given in connection with the New Zealand Industrial Exhibition, and the essays must be sent to the Secretary of the Exhibition by the Ist December, 1885,

The yield of gold for the Colony of Victoria during the past year is estimated at 774.0000z, an increase of 44,5000z as compared with the previous, twelve months.

The Union Steam Shipping Company of New Zealand have issued a New Zealand guidebook, which is well spoken of. The book is called " Maori Lind," and the descriptive part of it is' the joint work of Messrs Rutherford Waddell, M.A., Alex. Wilson, M.A., and T. W. Whitson.

The Victorian revenue returns for the past year show that the receipts have amounted to £6,190,000, being an increase of £595,000 compared with the previous year. The railway receipts have increased by £261,000. The revenue for the quarter ended December 31st amounted to £1,590,000, an increase of £114,000 compared with the corresponding period of the previous year.

TEE Recidivisfceßill still continues to occupy the attention of the < French Senate. A committee of the Senate in a supplementary report admitted that New Caledonia is glutted with convicts, and that it was undesirable to send further shipments to Noumea. The London " Times ' believes that ihs Bill will ultimately pass, but that it will practically remain a dead letter. The railway returns for the financial year 1883-4, up to date December 6th, 1884, show the revenue to he £701,588 183 lOd, and the expenditure £478,832 18s 7d, leaving a gain of 68 per cent, over and above working expenses. For the corresponding period of the previous year the revenue was £635 411 17s sd, and the expenditure £464,3o3 17s 10 J, giving again of 73 per cent.

The teachers of the Evans Flat Sunday School met on Monday evening to arrange matters in connection with a picaic for the scholars to be held on a fiat near the bush at Tuapeka River on Friday next. The liberality of friends having placed a good sum at the disposal of the teachers, it was decided to provide a cup of tea to all comers; and Miss Munro was authorised to buy whatever lollies and provisions are needed.

The sale of booths and other privileges iv connection with the Tuapeka Jockey Club's meeting on the 22nd and 23rd instant was conducted by Messrs Arbuckle, Robertson and Co. at their rooms on Saturday last. No 1 booth (publicans') was kuocked down to Mr J. Mitchinson (for Mr S. Caudwell, Waipori), for the sum of £23 ; No 2 booth (refreshment) was secured by Mrs Silk, the figure being £5. The right to sell the 'krect cards of the races was purchased by Mr J. E. Bromley, who gave £4 17s 61 for the privilege.

Messrs Clark and Rtman's American Comedy Compauy performed in the Town Hall on Saturday and Monday evenings. Oa both occasions they had very poor houses, though the performance of Mr F. M. Clark was particularly good, as was also the singiug of Bliss Lillie Liuden. Lawrence has been about surfeited with entertainments, and so soon after the holidays the public are not prepared to patronise strolling companies. It is to be hoped for the Company's own sake that it will meet with a better meed of patronage elsewhere than it received in Lawrence. Ode local bowlers are not going to be allowed to rest on their honors, as they have received and accepted challenges from the Caledonian Club (Duuedio) and the Milton Club, respectively. Arrangements have been made for the matches to be played on the days of the racemeeting. The skips chosen last Saturday for both maichea were Messrs Woods, Smaill, and M 'Donald. The skips will meet shortly for the purpose of choosing their riuks, when close practice will be kept up. The green is not in first-class order, though there are Bigns of rapid improvement under the hands of the new caretaker. The attention of the young men of Lawrence aud surrouuding districts is especially called to the meeting to be held in the Town Hall tomorrow evening for the purpose of taking steps to form a Volunteer Corps in Lawrence. Military drill and discipline together form the very best training that any young man can get, and all the exercises connected therewith are

healthy and invigorating. To young men of active habits volunteering is generally attractive, and for cultivating precision and selfreliance there are no better execciaea. We expect, therefore, to see a good meeting to-morrow night, and a full complement of names sent up to the Defence Minister.

The attendance returns for the quarter ended December 31st, which have just been compiled by the Otago Education Board, show that there were 166 schools in operation during the quarter, employing 242 male and 219 female teachers, besides 14 teachers of sewing. The number of pupils on the school rolls at tha beginning of the quarter was 20,846, and afc the end of the quarter 21,414, consisting of 11,074 boys and 10,340 girls. The average attendance for the quarter was 9376 males and 8539 femalesmaking a total of 17,915— being an increase ox 868 over the preceding quarter, and of 150 over the largest average ever before attained in tha education district.

The chemistry classes under the auspices of the Lawrence Mining Institute were resumed on Monday night, but owiug to the very web state of the weather not many students put in an appearance, though the names of a good many who have intimated their willingness to join the classes have been received. The preparation and properties of hydrogen were fully explained, with illustrative experiments, and the tests for silver, lead and mercury given. The Committee of the Alining Institute have ordered from Home all the necessary appliances for mineral assaying, which will be ihe chief subject of these classes as soon as the apparatus arrives.

As a consequence of the abundant raim which have fallen for some considerable time back, grass is uuusually plentiful throughout the district ; but the weather has not been at

all propitious for haymaking, and, in aoma cases, we learn that, after cutting the grasf, stock have been turned in upon it to save ii from rottiug on the ground. There is a very rapid growth in almost all crops, and all that is now warned is a moderate amount of sunshine to fulfil the indications of an abundant harvest. The weather still continues extremely unsettled, and the farmers are naturally anxious about the prospective harvest; but it is to be earnestly hoped that an opportunity of success*fully saving the crops in the district will bi" fur incoming. The yearly financial meeting of the Loyal I Wai ahuna Lodge, M.U1.0.0.F., was held in the Lodge-room last Thursday evening, when the auditors' report and balance-sheet were submitted. The receipts for tbe past year amounted to £264 83 2d, and the disbursements to £176 8s 10.1, leaving a balance of £87 19 i id. The balance to the credit of th^ L'dgeat.he beginning of the year was £1,196 14s. making the total cash balance on the Ist Jauuary, 1885, £1,284 13 * 41. The »fiicers for the current term are— Bro. H. Hageo, N.G. ; Bro. J, Moen, V.G. ; Bro. O. Bjorngaard, E.S. ; Bro, J. Ferris being G.M.— The above report mast be regarded as highly satisfactory, the amount to the Lodge's credit being a guarantee that its affairs are carefully and judiciously looked after. The Lodge has been about eighteea years in existence. Chic Sun alias Tommy Jeshum was brought up before the Police Court on several charges of petty larceny. It appears that the Chinaman was engaged as cook at Bellamy Siation while shearing was going 00. He was taken on at the beginning of last week, and immediately thereafter the men began to miss various articles of property. Late on Saturday night the police were communicated with, anq at an early hour on Sunday morning Inspector Moore rode out to the station and searched the suspected Chinaman. A missing- silver chaiq. and pistol, along with some money, were found' upon him. Inspector Moore thereupon arrested him and brought him before Mr £}. Henry, J.P., who remanded him to Lawrence. He was brought before Mr Re veil, R.M., on Mom day, and, on the application of Inspector Moore, remanded for a week.

A mebting of the Heriot School Committee was held on the 2nd inst. The members present were— Messrs Kerse (Chairman), Haugh, M'Kav. Lomas, Marshall, M'Kenzie, and Edie. After the confirmation of the minutes of the previous meeting, it was resolved that Messrs Adams and Saunders' account, amounting to £1 7s, and Mr Curries account, amounting to £1, be passed -for pay ment. The next meeting was fixed for the 24th inst.— A picnic was held at the .school on

the2ndinst. and was a grand success. A number of visitors from Swift Greek, Raes Junction, and Tapanui were present. The usual games were indulged in, and a number of children's races were entered into with spirit. • An abnnf dant supply of good things was provided by the ladieß of the district, 4. dance was held in the schoolhouse in the evening, and kept up till an early hour next morning,