Local and General intelligence.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1122, 25 February 1885, Page 2

Loca l and Gene ral intelligence.

The telephone Hoe to Waipori was officially openad for the despatch of messages on Monday. UNDBR the provisions of the " Marriage Act, 1880," the districts of Gabriels and Waitahuoa have been abolished, and the districts of Gabriels, Waitahuna, and Tuapeka Mouth constituted in their stead. On Thursday last, Mr Inspector Petrie paid a surprise visit to the Claries Flat school, which is under the charge of Mrs Milne, and expressed himself as highly satisfied with the management of the school. The fioal acceptances for the Dunedin Cup, which will be run to-morrow, are as follow :—: — Vanguard, Lady Emma, July, Sou-wester, The Poet, Neleon, Trenton, Waipiti, Captain Webster, Minerva, and Adamant. Vanguard is still first favorite, Lady Emma and Trenton coming next. The 6rst meeting of the Lawrence Licensing Committee was held in the Courthouse yesterday. The members present were Messrs Jrff cry, Fraer, Harrop, Miller, and Walker. On the motion of Mr Walker, seconded by Mr Miller, Mr Harrop was appointed Chairman of the Committee. The Ettrick Domain Jockey Club have arranged to hold their annual meeting on the Ettrick Domain on Tuesday, 17th March. A programme, comprising seven events, has been drawn up as follows :— Maiden Plate (lOaovs.), District Handicap (15*0V3.), Hack Race (10iov8.), Farmers' Handicap (15sove.), Time Trot (1530V8.), Hospital Rugs and Consolation Handicap (8 iovs.) The Sports Committee of the local branch of the Hibernian Society met on Monday evening for the purpose of drawing up a programme for the annual gathering on St. Patrick's Day (17th March), a copy of which appears in our advertising columns, consisting of the usual athletic sports and hack races. It was stated that a capital concert-programme was expected, fo that.a good evening's enjoyment maybe looked forward to. In anticipation of the promised Government scheme of technical education, the Wellington College has started -classes, already attended by thirty pupils, where technical instruction may be obtained in blacksmithing, carpentering, and engineering. In due course other branches will be added to the curriculum. It would be a good line for the Athenaeum Committee to urge upon the Government the establishment of similar classes in connection with the proposed Mining School fur Lawrence. As part of the Government scheme of technical education there would be a better chance of getting the Mining School. Professor and Mrs Baldwin, who created quite a sensation some time ago in Dunedin, when the public were going wild over the spiritualistic craze, by exposing how a good deal of the trickery was done, will give a couple of their interesting entertainments in tba Town Hall on the evenings of Thursday and Friday. The exposure of the tricks hy which spirit mediums dupe their audiences, as shown by Professor Baldwin is very clever, and the clairvoyance of Mrs Baldwin, is something bordering on the supernatural. Therefore, those who love the occult and mysterious may look forward to a treat in the Town Hall on Thursday and Friday evenings. THE Dunstan paper gays :— The utmost reticence is being observed as to the doings at the Old Man Range reefs, whether by managers, workmen, or shareholders : but why this is so, it is hard to guesn, as we can see no possible reason for keeping secret to-day what must be in the nature of things oozed out or be blabbed out as it were to-morrow. Secrecy in matters of this kind ever generates euspicion, and in the interests of all concerned this is not to be desired. We have heard, however, that the trial crushing of stone f:om .the Great Western Co,'s reef, on the Butcher's Gully fall of the spur, was a long way below expectations ; indeed, it is proved that so far the stone, is not payable. To make up for that disappointment a new discovery has been made in Mervyn and Ga van's claim, "indicating both permanence and richness. Mr FOLTON, who is busy recruiting for a New Zealand contingent for service in the Soudan; is rapidly getting names, and if the Government decide to offer a contingent no difficulty' will be experienced in obtaining volunteers. One lady has offered to go «■ nurse, and doubtless others will be found to imitate her example. Who would be bold enough to say after that that the Colonies are disloyal ? The marvellous enthusiasm evoked over the reverse! in the Soudan will cement firmer than ever the bonds which knit together the scattered dominions of the Empire, and will show to other European Powers that Eogland has not yet reached that period at which a nation begins to decline. The decline of England is a long way off yet; her colonial offspring are only in their extreme youth. When they reach their maturity England will stand pre-eminent as the Mother of nations. The last load of pipes for the completion of the Great Extended Company's hydraulic sluicing plant has been laid on the ground, and before very long now the plant will be in position and ready for the commencement of operations. Jt is contemplated by the Company to erect some kind of crashing machinery tor the purpose of breaking the cement before passing it through the pipes. There need be no doubt about the Blue Spar cement yielding payable quantities, of gold if the proper means i are. adopted for putting the staff through in sufficient quantity. , : Others will await with : 'interest the result of hydraulic sluicing upon the cement ; and, if favorable, it will be quite likely that other claims will adopt the same method. The days for working crushing batteries have gone, as far as Blue Spur is concerned, and in consequence appliances of a less primitive and more scientific kind mast be adopted. We congratulate the Great Extended Co, for their enterprise, and predict for them » prosperous future,

THE claim known as Livingstou and party's, at Blue Spar, changed hands on Saturday last. It was purchased at auction by Mr J. Harris for the sum of £283. The auctioneers were Messrs Arbuckle, Robertson and Co. Another woman has succumbed to the infection of puerperal fever in the Wellington Hospital, and the other patients attacked are in a critical state. As these cases are rather unusual, the issue will be watched with some little degree of interest by medical men, and in future puerperal fever will be looked upon as a dangerous and infectious disease. The Blue Spur School Committee have voted for Messrs Brown, Fraer, and Fiaser for the Education. Board vacancies ; the Wetherstones Committee for Messrs Fraer, Brown, and Bannerman; the Mt. Stuart Committee for Messrs ETraser, Bannerman, and Fraer ; and the Swift Creek Committee for Messrs Bannerman, Brown, and Fraser. The depreciation of land in England is stesuHLy froinp; on. A-ti eststte in Devon, containing some of the best: agriculture land in Eogland, for which £18 000 was refused a few years ago, was sold for £8000 ; and this is only an example of what is becoming pi etty general. This is one result of the uncertainty of land tenure which the agrarian agitation, rapidly gaining ground in England, has brought about. The Land Restoration League should have patience, aa if the land continues to decline in value at the present rate they will get the land for nothing, or, perhaps, get a premium into the bargain. SdOTT had an easy victory over Hancock in th.6 12 hours' walking match in Dunediu on Saturday. The " Daily Times" says that Hancock- went off ai such a hot pace that he could not last out the whole time. He ha>i to stop walking shortly after nine o'clock in the evening, with over 59J mil«H to his credit Scott, who w»f sick and giddy during a spell in the afternoon, recovered in the evening, and walked on till the close without distrpss, covering 68J miles. This is at the rate of 6| miles ai> hour. Had he been pressed there is no douht he oould have exceeded the best record for 12 hours, which is 70 miles. There is no question that the ".on test was a genuine test of the powers of the two men. Among the men of mark who have visited the Colony lately there is one in whom, to a certain extent, we feel that we have a local interest. We refer to the Hon. Mr Stuart, Premier of New South Waleß, who has been in New Zealand for some time back recruiting bis health In 1849 Mr Stuart kept a small store at Port Chalmers, but finding that a too limited sphere of action he started farming at Mt. Misery (Tokotnairiro), and afterwards took ud a run which bears his name (Mt. Stuart). He sold out and went to Adelaide, where he joined the firm of Messrs Townsend and Co., of which he soon assumed the active management' Subsequently he went to New South Wales and entered politics, and his undoubted ability has, at length, placed him in a position of the highest honor. According to the " Lake County Press " the Drospects of the Invincible mine at the head of Lake Wakatjpu are still looking bright. It says :— The Invincible claim have cleaned up their battery after one month's crushing, the result being a yield from 459 tons of quar'z of 3160z 17dwt retorted gold, making 1223»z 17dwt for the season up to now. The reef is from lift to 22ft wide, with any amount of stone in sight, promising to yield at least the same amount of gold as now for a long time. This is, of course, outside of what the Company may strike in the lower tunnel. The mine manager reports that he has cut in the lower tunnel through the bard rock, and is now in softer ground, so that he hopes to reach the reef on the battery level stooner than was at one time anticipated. This will not only make the workings easier, but will also prove still more the permanency of the mine. A SAMPLE of auriferous stone which Professor Ulrich presented to the Athenaeum Committee is well worth inspecting, as anyone might pass over similar stone as valueless, so unlike is it to ordinary gold-bearing quartz. The stone comes from Mount Morgan, neat- Rockhampton, in Queensland, and by assaying gives 18 >z of gold to the ton. Of this splendid yield of gold, however, only about a £ >z to the ton of stone can be extracted by the ordinary method of crushing and amalgamation. The discoverer of a workable process by which the whole of the gold could be extracted could easily enough make his fortune. The gold is so exceedingly fine that it floats away on the water, being ouly visible with a microscope. The Professor also presented the Museum with a sample of silver ore from Silverton, in New South Wales. The specimen is mostly horn silver ; but the yield is enormously rich — 10,000 iz to the ton. Major-General Sir Herbert Stewart died on the 16 h instant, at Gadkul, from the effects of the injuries which he received at the engagement near Metemmeh. Besides the many brave fellows who have gone over to the great majority in this mismanaged Egyptian war, England has lost a large number of distinguished officers. In the hand-to-hand engagements which the wild Arabs force our soldiers into officers must share the dangers in common with the men, and in every instance in which they have been called upon, to the everlasting honor of the British soldiers in the field, they have acquitted themselves in a manner worthy of the nation which (hey represent. So sti iking has been the bravery of our iroops in the Soudan, forming such a contrast to the cringing Egyptians, that the Arabs themselves have spoken in terms of admiration of the stern foe they have so often beeu unable to overthrow. AFTER giving us such a genuine treat of fine weather as we have not experienced for some years past, Captain Edwin is up to his old tricks again. The o'har day he telegraphed : "Watch barometer; bad weather approaching" — that detestable weather forecast which we Souhdrners have now just cause to view with alarm, and sure enough the bad weather has approached, but with it comes any amount of reproach to Captain Edwin. We know it is with a grudge that he gives us even a taste of anything better than prevailing Wellington weather ; but, then, what could we else expect when we keep our Clerk of the Weather in a place where all the wind and rain flying loose over the Pacific is concentrated and focussed, so that the residents of the City of Storms walk with an unsteadiness of gait and are compelled to dress in a manner more befitting the sons of Neptune than dwellers on the land. Send Captain Edwin to Auckland or Fiji, or somewhere where the sun shines occasionally, and he will soon develop new ideas of what sort of weather constitutes a good climate.. - When the excursion train was in Lawrence, the other day our worthy Mayor (Mr Thompson) had an interview with thd traffic-manager (Mr Grant) relative tothe prospect of an exr cursion train being laid on from Lawrence, Mr Grant assured Mr Thompson that he woulc only be too glad to provide the inhabitants of Lawrence with a special excursion train if they desired it. Mr Thompson was left to arrange as to the time and place most likely to suit the oeople of Lawrence. We quite agree with Mr Thompson, who has expressed the opinion that a special train laid on to Port Chalmers, giving the option to those who would prefer it of breaking the journey atDunedin, would be the best arrangement. A great many have never seen auy of the magnificent steamers that may be seen any day at the Port, and a sight of the shipping alone would be quite a treat to the yojyjg folks. The excursion would have to be on some day through the week, as Satuiday is not a suitable day. Mr Thompson has suggested a Wednesday, and if this will suit the majority, Mr Grant will be written to to that effect. . - It would be extremely difficult to estimate what Britain bai lost through the vacillating foreign policy of the Gladstone administration. Just now, while all eyes are turned towards the Soudan, questions of a graver nature are in danger of being overlooked. By dilly-dallying with Germany and allowing that Power to annex territory where British interests are certain to clash with those of the former, a most dangerous precedent has been established. Russia has not been slow to profit by the esson, and one of the possible contingencies of the future is a war with Russia over the Afghan boundary. The Russian Government asked the Englidh to agree to a certain boundary line in Afghanistan, The English refused to acknowledge the Russian claims ; but, emboldened by the example of Germany, a Russian force has been sent to annex territory fifty miles to the south of the Aighan-Trnke-stan frontier line. England may protest, but at the present juncture she can hardly afford to embroil herself in an Eastern war. It will not be long in any case before the Lion and tbe Be»r must try conclusions on the Indian frontier j and tbe weak foreign policy of the Gladstone Government will have contributed materially to bring about these trouble*

At a special meeting of tbe Wetherstones School Committee, held last Friday evening, it was resolved to support the candidature of Messrs Fraer, Brown, and Bannerman for the Education Board vacancies. It was also resolved that the concert in aid of the children's picnic be held on the 13th proximo, a sub-Com-mittee, consisting of Messrs Fulton (Chairman), j Kemp, and Donnelly, being appointed to act with Mr Pope (headmaster) in carrying oat the necessary arrangements. Patrick Cubtain, one of the men working upon Mr Crawfoid's contract near Swift Creek, met with a serious accident last Friday. Ie appears that while the men were bringing down a fall of earth, Curtain had the misfoi • tune to be caught by it and partly buried. When taken out his leg was noticed tcT be' broken. He was brought down'to the Hospital on Friday night, when, on examination by the doctor, it was found that Curtain had sustained a compound fracture of the right leg. The fracture is a veiy serious one, the bone protruding through the flash. Dr Withers dressed the leg and did all that he could, but as Curtain is a man well up in years, fears are entertained for the saving of the limb. Those of our readers who now and (hen relish a bit of "society" gossip may perhaps find something to interest them in the following, which was lately circulated from Chiigtchuich : — "At a garden party given by^^B Governor, Miss Genevieve Ward was amo^g tbe guests, and the wife of an ArchdSacoo, noted for her dislike to thfl theatrical profession, was also present. The latter dame was not acquainted with Lady Jervois, the Governor'^ wife, but struck with the appearance of Mi ■ Ward, jumped at the conclusion that she saw her hostess in the striking looking lady who bore herself so regally. Without waiting f>« an introduction she hastened to present herself, and a brief but pleasant conversation ensued. The ' archdeaconess,' turning to a friend who had watched tbe interview with surprise, exclaimed, 'What a charming woqaan Lady Jervois is ?' ' What !' said her friend — ' Why, that's Miss Genevieve Ward, the actress. 1 Paralysed with horror, Mrs ' Archdeaconess ' staggered and fUd The incident will he » popular story in Christchurch for many a day." Mr Federli has formed a high opinion of f he Central Otago district for fruit-growing, &c. The Arrowtown paper says:— Mr Federli, whose name has so long been associated with aboriculture and sericulture throughout the Colony, and who is at present upon a tour through the Middle Island, arrived at ArroTtown on Friday last. Coming from Pembroke, he visited the Cardrona nursery, and speaks in terms of unqualified praise nf the manner in which it is conducted. Mr Federli also had a good opportunity of judging of the adaptability of the Cardrona Valley for tree planting pur. poses. He speaks highly of the Northern portion of Ocago as a fiuit growing district, and recommends plantations of fruit trees on a large scale throughout Lake County. The hill slopes, with a northern aspect, are, in his opinion, eminently adapted for the cultivation of the mulberry tree, which he thought should be largely planted. However, in such plaotationp, plants raised from seed sown in the district are always to be preferred to setting out plants grown elsewhere. The situation in the Soudan becomes every day more critical. The British lnve been forced already to retire, and again the rebels are menacing the advanced column. The vantage points won, after extreme danger and almost insurmountable difficulties, must one by one be abandoned. Wolaeley intends to fall back to Korti ; but it is quite easy for the Mahdi to keep pace with the retiring British forces, and it is quite possible that, before sufficient reinforcement arrives to justify an advance, the Mahdi may have invaded Ezypt. For the want of that prompt action which should characterise an able administration, what would have been a trifling war threatens to be the biggest affair Eaeland has been engaged in for a very long time. With Khartoum, Metemmeh, Berber, and Korti in bis hands, the advantages will be on the side of the Mahdi ; and in order to dislodge him • considerable force of British troops will he requisite. England is determined to subdue the rebels at any cost ; but before this can now be accomplished, a very large force must take the field. In any case, Wolaeley must get succour without delay, as his position is one fraught with extreme danger. The result of the play for the VicePresident's presentation racket in connection with the Lawrence Lawn-tennis Club is, so far, as follows : — Ist set ; Dixon (6) played Barton (4) ; Taylor (6) played Capes (3) ; Thompson (6) played Howard (1). 2ad set : Dixon (6) played Barroi (2) ; Taylor (6) played Capes (5) ; Thompson (6) played Howard (4). Dixon has yet to play Wood?, Taylor plays Q-ordon, and Thompson claims a bye. If the weather permks, the remaining matches will be played off this afternoon. The pr< 'gramme of tbe Tokomairiro Jockey Club's second a nual meeting, whifh takes place on the 23rd and 24' h April, has been published. It compris-s thirteen *venle, as follow : — First day : District Handicap Hurdle Kiee, of £15 ; Slaiden PUte, of £20; Toknmaiiro Handicap, of £70; Time lY*.tj of £35 ; Novel Kace, of £50 ; Farmers' Re •, of £15 ; and Publicans' Handicap, of £30. Second day; Hurdle Rare, of £35; Bruce District Handicap of £20; President's Hindicitp. of £50; Hack Selling Race, of £15; Flying Baudi"«p, of £30; and Consolation Handicap, of £15. At the sitting of the Lawrenoe R.M. Court on Mond.iy, before W. H. Reve.J, Esq., the following cases came on for hearing:—Jessie Hififgins v. Henry Wells: Claim of £24 12s 6d. Judgm >nt confessed for the amount, and costs (243). — Davis v. Treloar : Claim of £6 10s. Plain 'iff nonsuited, with professional cost* £1 Is. — Hugh M'Cai n v. George Young : Claim of £4 Judgment for £2 8s 6d, costs 12a, and professional fee £1 Is. — Liw Hay and others v. Hugh Ross : Claim of 13s. Paid into Court, with 8s costs, — Police v. Isaac Walker: Charged with being drunk on the licensed premises of the Railway Hotel on the 22nd insfc. Fined ss, and 2s costs, or, ii default, forty-eight hou-s' imprisonment in Lawrence Gaol. The trotting match between Mr Soiers' Tommy and Messrs Macdonnell's Freedom for £20 a-side came off on Saturday last. The distance agreed upon was from Havelock railway crossing to the junction of the Waitahuna road and Whitehuven-street, Laurence — about seven miles. Freedom, shortly after the start, took the lead, which be maintained for three-fourths of the distance, when he was overtaken by Tommy, who tr ■tted in good form and came in a winner by fully 100 yards. Time, 22min. 37aec8.— a very fair performance. A ltrge consourse of people assembled at the Hospital corner to fitness the finish, the result being enthusiastically received by Tommy's admirers from Blue Spur.— We understand thifc Messrs Macdonnell are prepared to back their horse against Tommy for £50 a-9ide— dist ancp, three miles, over a level course. In a capita] article on tbe agitation for a^ School of Mines on the goldflelds, yesterday's mF "Daily Times " makes the following pertinent remarks :- Literally, we are throwing away, through ignorance, every year more capital than we annually borrow. Does this seem an extreme assertion? To quote only one illustration of our meaning, we will refer to the recent experiments made with tbe tailings of the Cambria Company at Auckland, which, after proper manipulation, were found to be worth] no less than 68oz to tbe ton. Bat we need not go so far for examples. What is Mr Perry's Company doing in Gabriels Gully but extracting gold from tailings, the greater part of which has been previously wrought and again re-wrought by Ghinamen ? What, again, of the gold-dredges on the Clutha River ? Are they not— some of them at leastobtaining gold by raising and washing tb,e debris sent down from .the sluicing claims on the river banks ? There is scarcely a bed of tailings anywhere which would not pay for re-working if scientifically treated. But* why should so much gold be cast away by the original workers? That is the question for tbe Minister of Mines to solve. Whether there are Schools of Mines at Lawrence or elsewhere, it is of paramount importance that there ihoujd be scjtoolf % mia«n,