Local and General Intelligence.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1161, 11 July 1885, Page 2

Local and General Intelligence.

A new writ has been issued for the Bruce seat, returnable on the 18th August, Odr readers are reminded of the lecture to be given by the Rev. J. Beckenham in Messrs Arbuckle, Robertson and Co.'s saleroom to* night. There were fourteen male and three female patients in the Hospital last evening. Four patients were admitted during the week but none discharged, A few days ago it was reported that the Anamese had attacked the French under General Courcy, but that the French inflicted a severe defeat upon them. Later intelligence states that the French Commander has arrested the Regent of Anam. Mb Donald Rbid (solicitor) of Milton, has, announced his intention of standing for the Bruce election. Mr Driver has refused to allow himself to be nominated, but several other ( names are mentioned, among them those of Messrs W. A. Murray, Jai. Adam W, Hutchinson. R. Darling, and stray rumors hint at the name of Mr T. Bracken. Wb regret to have to chronicle the death of Mr Adams, late teacher at the Beaumont, on Wednesday morning. Mr Adams, who had been ailing for some time, and was latterly under the care of Dr Blair, got very much worse about a week ago, and in spite of medical skill he succumbed to his illness— some heart complication, we believe. Mr Adams leaves a wife and family of seven totally unprovided for, and great sympathy is felt for them both at the Beaumont and at Tuapeka West, where Mr Adams formerly taught. At the time when war between England and Russia appeared to be inevitable, it is stated that the Russian Finance Minister urged the Czar not to press matters too far, as the financial condition of Russia was such as to render it unable to bear the strain of another war. To this the Czar is said to have replied :••£ "The day on which war is declared I will sacrifice the whole of my private fortune, and I hope that others will follow my example." The fortune of the House of Romanoff is said to amount to 180,000,000 roubles, or about £27,000,000 sterling. The mild damp weather which we have experienced for some days appears to be but the fag end of a north-east storm. At Auckland on Monday there was a fierce gale, which sank a little steamer in the harbor, and did other damage estimated at between £5000 and £6000. As far south as Timaru it has been blowing hard, with abundance of rain ; and at Dunedin it has been raining steadily, so that we need not grumble at getting a small share of the loose moisture flying around. If the Borongh Council would only put some gravel on the footpaths, the rest would be endurable. Ooi Beaumont correspondent writes:— Our schoolmaster, Mr G. Adams, has passed over to the great majority, having died on Wednesday morning. Ha leaves a wife and seven children to mourn their loss, m well as his father and neico, who were living with him. As a neighbor, Mr Adams was very well liked for the short stay he had amongst us, though he did not mix up with the people very much. Great sympathy is expressed by the people for Mrs Adams and her little fatherless children. His funeral took place on Thursday, a good many following his remains to the Lawrence Cemetery, where he was buried. The editor of the Tapanui " Courier '• has agreed to jump over the creek at Evans Flat, if we consent to stake £100 that he cannot perform , the 'feat. That we are quite prepared to do, reserving the right to fix the time for this unparalleled performance. Why, Mark Twain's "Jumping Frog" would fall flat compared with the spectacle of our "prominent " brother negotiating the Tuapeka River by leaps and boundß. Then, as to the threatened pugilistic encounter, we would recommend him to go into a long course of training, so as as to secure a better relative adjustment between his dimensions and his stature before attampting to annihilate us. •' A fIVE-ROOKED house belonging to John Girvan, Waitahuna West, was destroyed by fire on Thursday night. Inspector Moore and Mr John Thompson went out to the scene of the fire yesterday, and from information received it appears that Girvan and his wife and son went but to cut chaff, and at about eight .o'clock they noticed smoke issuing from the kitchen of the dwellinghouse. They hastened to the house, but though they could not put the fire out were successful in saving most of their effects. The house was insured for £75 in the Standard Insurance Offioe (of which. Mr John Thompson is local agent) and the furniture anil effects for £25. An inquiry will be held as to the origin of the fire. • A pafeb presented to Parliament on the subject of the development of local industries shows that up to the present time the following bonuses have been paid :— Butter and cheese, LSOO, New Zealand and Australian Land Com.pany, Dnnedin; earthenware, L 250, New Zealand Pottery and Glass Company, Dunedin ; gunpowder (blasting and sporting), L 478, Mackay and Co., Dunedin ; linseed oil and oil cake, L6OO, Singer and Co., Dunedin ; frozen meat, LSOO, New Zealand and Australian Land Company, Dunedin ; paperferey and wrapping), L 1.500, E. M'Glashan, Dunedin; sulphuric acid, L 1.500, Kempthorne, Prosser, and Co., Danedin. Thus, strange to say, all the bonuses were paid to Dnnedin firms. It will be remembered that, when the Minister of Mines was at Blue Spur he promises i to have, a model of Mr Adams' cement-crushing i machine made. Referring to the machine the " Thames Advertiser" says :— One of the latest inventions in gdld'Saving appliances is a machine for the treatment of the auriferous cements of the South Island, which has been designed and patented by Mr W, Adams, of Blue Spur. ' A working model of the concern has been manufactured by Meßßra A. and G. Price, to the order of the Minister of Mines, and will be forwarded tol the New Zealand Industrial Exhibition. , The maohine consists of a pair of rollers, from which numerous iron Jieetb. 'project, and* between these the cement is ; fed from a hoppar, passing next to ai ! perforated shaking-table, and afterwards to a second set of rollers, where such portion as will not go through the table is treated. The model is of compact construction, but sufficiently large to , illustrate clearly the principle of the invention,

Finding that their tactics have only secured for them the disapprobation of the other Earopean Powerß, the French have agreed to the Egyptian Convention. :'■' , The Borough surfacemen have been engaged, during the last week in laying down fresh* crossings at various points on the main street, and these will be found a great advantage to those whom duty calls to cross tb,e streets ; for not many are likely to face the' 1 mud for mere pleasure. Mr Fraer's little boy, who was so severely burned about the face, is progressing very* favorably under Dr Blair's skilful treatment, and the little fellow's eyesight is found to be all right, although some apprehension, .was at' first entertained on that score, Through a mistake we gave the name of Dr Withers instead of Dr Blair In last' issue. The march of human progress is aft best but slow, and more especially Ta that thecase in , matters eclesiastical. Many a one is proud to 1 boast that he worships as his fathers did for generations before him. Evidently in that spirit the adherents of the Invercargill First Church have refused to have their religious services profaned with the "Hst b» whustles.'' The Wairarapa " Star " has the following :— For kicking the head of a Wellington constable named Foreman like a football, Patrick Griffin and William Savage have been sentenced to a fortnight's imprisonment, and Charles King to six weeks. The footballers are new arrivals by the City of Florence, and consequently are new to the customs of the Colony. 1 Tflßßß^was not a very large attendance at the , meeting of the Tuapeka Parliamentary Union on Wednesday night, owing to the disagreeable ' state of the weather. After the routine business had been disposed of, Mr Fiolayson'a motion in favor of the abolition of capital punishment came on for debate, and was kept going with spirit until the hour for closing had arrived, when the debate was adjourned, Some papers seem to think that Sir Juliuß Yogel should have as long a period to develop his policy as the " iniquitous " Major Atkinson had in, leading the Colony to the brink of ruin. Our ("North Ofcago Times") opinion is thaWf Sir Julius Yogel has very much more of the " developing " process left in his hands he will soon be the only person left in New Zealand. Even the Maoriß will find it convenient to disentangle themselves from too much development and too many taxes. Our Raes Junction correspondent writeß :— There was a church committee meeting held in the schoolhouse here on Wednesday evening, at which Messrs M'Kay, Barr, Gunn, Matheson, and Richardson were , present. Mr M'Kay was voted to the chair, A vote of thanks to Mr Bennet for keeping the Minister's horse was Kassed. A vote of thanks was also accorded [r Barr for his services in connection with the church. It was resolved to request Miss Donald and Miss Stewart, to collect the sustentation fund. A vote of thanks was accorded to the Secretary (Mr Richardson), and he was requested to retain the office. Accounts amount* ing to over £3 were passed for payment, THE Minister of Mines (says the Melbourne "Leader") has been informed by Mr J. G. Peers, mining surveyor at Bairnsdale, of a report current at Bairnsdale to the effect that » rich alluvial goldfield has been discovered at about 50 miles from Obest, on Whitelaw's track. Rich gold is said to have been obtained by M'Donald's party, and a rush has taken i place. Every holder of a miner's right at Bairnsdale is said to have left for the rush, and 'great excitement exists. One washing up is reported to have yielded lOdwt of gold per dish, The Minister of Mines has directed Mr Peers to ascertain if the report is well-founded, and should he find it to be so to visit the locality and report upon it. The only business of local interest transacted at the last meeting of the Land Board was as follows :— R. W. Nicholls applied to purchase under agricultural lease, section 19, block 11., Tuapeka East, iThe Government were recommended to grant the application.— Mr Connell, for J. Sutherland, applied to have part of section 33, block vi,, Tuapeka district, opened for sale. The matter, was referred to the District Land Officer for report.— D. Ross wrote asking the Board to reconsider their decision of the 27th ulfc., declining to deal with section 15, block X., Hillend district, as the land was being 'mined upon. The Warden and Ranger both being in favor of leasing the land, the Board declined to alter its decision for the present. The Salisbury administration has now fairly got into harness. The Premier has announced that negotiations on the Afghan question will be taken up at the point' at which they were left by his predecessors ; but with the difference that the Government will insistupon the retention of the Zulficar Pass by Afghanistan. ' Mr Gladtsone has endorsed the Afghan policy laid down by the Marquis of Salisbury, so that it must be shaped in the lines of peace. Russia is massing her troops at Sarakhs, near the Afghan frontier, and her whole attitude still continues bellicose; Whether Lord Salisbury will be able to bring about a peaceful solution of the difficulty or not remains to be seen ; but it is plainly apparent that Russia meanß to be fully prepared for all engagements, and that behind a formidable armed force she intends to press her claims. The political situation at Wellington is a peculiarly involved one, and for the first time in the history of the House of Representatives the Government has been forced to withdraw its policy in deference to both the House and public opinion. It is scarcely flattering to Vogei's gigantic financial ability that both the House and the country will have none of it. Sir Julius should seize the very earliest opportunity at which he can with any semblance of dignity retire from the Ministerial benches, and quietly return whence he came. The chief concessions forced upon the Government are briefly as follow:— The new tariff is' to be abandoned, excepting in the case of duties already agreed to, the deficit to continue a floating debt for two years longer, and the defence expenditure to be provided out of loan. The local finance scheme to be amended by excising the provision for borrowing onsUbsidies, and the guaranteed subsidies altered from twenty-five years to five years. As these very large concessions appeared to meet all requirements of objections in the main of the party, a gdieral understanding was arrivad at that they would be accepted.

The usual monthly meeting of the Lawrence District High School Committee was held in the County Council Chambers on Monday evening. The members present were — Messrs Smaill (President), Copland, M'Nicol, Harrop, Mitchinson, and John Thompson (Secretary). —The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed, and the outward correspondence, consisting of a letter sent to the Education Board, asking that ventilators might be sent at once, was approved,— A letter was received from the Rector enclosing £6 Bs> 6d for school expenses for the quarter ending 30th June, also enclosing attendance-returns, which showed the average number on the roll to be 296, and the average attendance 259.— The following accounts were passed for payment :— John Caakie, £7 9s 6dj Mrs Fowler, £210sj W. M'Nickle, £1 10 a; G. F. C. Browne, £2 18s ; T. Barnett, £2 14s 6d.— The Secretary was instructed to bring down a statement of the funds .at next meeting.— Mr Copland, moved, and Mr Harrop seconded : "That steps be taken to get up a concert in aid of the school funds." Carried. The President, Secretary, and Messrs Copland and Harrop were appointed a subcommittee to carry out the arrangements. ~This being all the business, the meeting adjourned,

An unfortnnate occurrence happened to Messrs Bloy and Tucket's meat cart at the Beaumont on Wednesday afternoon. While the cart was standing in front of Coskery's Hotel, Summers, the lad who was driving, went to do something to the bridle, when the horse bolted towards the river. The headstall came off, and then the terrified animal galloped about, through some scrub, and finally ' made his way to the crossing and rushed headlong into the river. Both cart and horse disappeared from sight ; but fortunately came to the surface on a ledge of rock about a mile further down the river. Of course the horse was drowned : bub the cart and harness have been recovered but little damaged. It was a very lucky thing that the driver was not on the cart when 'the' accident happened. As it is, Messrs Bloy and Tucker estimate their, loss at over £20. Great praise is due to t|he,puntman,(Mr Heaps) for the prompt way in which he followed the submerged horse and cart down the river in his boat until they re-appeared; when a rope was fastened to them and they were dragged ashore by a number of men who had assembled on the bank of the river. Mr Welch also rendered valuable assistance to the puntman, having to stand in the water to get the ropea fastened, ,

In order to give greater facility to the destruction of rabbits, the Victorian Govern* 'tpent Have submitted a proposal to the Govern* m£pt of South Australia asking its co-operation in erecting a wire-net fencealbng the boundary between the two colonies in the worst rabbitinfected districts. To encourage the erection pf rabbifc-proof'fences, the T J7ictorian Governintend to remit the* duty on wire-netting by 27ipet cenW. „ » >'

Very great success has attended the rabbitpoisoning operations throughout the district this season, and where, a few months ago, rabbits were seen in numbers, scarcely one is now to be seen. They have taken the poisoned grain readily, and in consequence their ranks h-ave-'t>eett* appreciably thinned? It is' comparatively an easy, matter to check the rabbit pest! in winter, while feed Is scarce'; but from their marvellous fecundity the few left living more^than replace, during,. the summer those killed in the winter. In neighboring colonies, where the rabbits will not take phosphorised grain, very successful work is done with exterminating machines, and we think that if these were used extensively throughout tha summer, rabbit extermination would be more easily accomplished. W X regret to say (says the Cromwell Argus 1 ') that Mr John M'Kellar, telegraph linenun at Clyde, is reported as missing, it is feared with little chance of his being found alive. It appears that on the Ist instant he proceeded to Gorge Creek with the view of repairing some break on the line, which, having accomplished, he returned on his journey to Clyde. At Speargrass Flat he must have mistaken the road in the thick heavy fog which prevailed, for Mr Coop, in company with Constable Daly from Clyde, traced his horse early on Satnrday over a very rough country to the river Olutha, at a spot nearly opposite Doctor's Point. From the look of the tracks it seemed that on nearing the river Mr M'Kellar must have dismounted and, taking the bridle in his hand, have tried to lead his horse into a supposed safe track. The mark of his boot, however, on a rock overhanging the river demonstrates now he must have slipped ; and from the fact of the horse being found on the opposite side of the Molyneux, it is presumed that in falling he pulled the horse into the stream after him.

The half-yearly meeting of Court Star of Tuapeka, A.0.F., was held in the Court-room, Town Hall, last Tuesday evening. There was a fair attendance of members. The Secretary (Bro. J. Thompson) read the balance-sheet, which showed that the position of the Court financially was most satisfactory. The gross amount of funds in favor of the Court was shown to be £700, of which £625 is invested on freehold mortgage, the balance lying in the Post-office Savings Bank and the Bans of New Zealand. It was stated that the number of members belonging to the Court in good standing was 79. The membership had not increased during the last few years, owing' entirely to the stringency of the laws governing the Order, The officers for the current half-year were then duly elected as follow, and were installed by P.C.R. Bro. J. E. Pope :— Bro. C. M. Brooks, C.R.; Bro. D. Finlayßon, S.C.R.; Bro. D. Cochrane, S.W.j Bro. Geo. Murray, J.W.; Bro. J. Barclay, 5.8. ; Bro. W. B. Martin, Treasurer (re-elected); and Bro. J. Thompson, Secretary (re-elected). It was resolved that P.C.R. Bro. Monaghan' (who has left Law« rence) receive a P.C.R. neck-ribbon and framed certificate, and that his name be added to tha list of P.C.R.B on the Respect Board. Th« receipts from , contributions for the evening amounted to £23.

Sous Australians appear to have haey notions of the geography of New Zealand. An item in a recent issue of a leading journal says : — New Zealand is taking aotive steps to get rid of the scab in sheep. A recent owe at the Blenheim police court, Otago, wai that of Philip R. M'Crae, charged with neglecting to clean 20,C30 sheep on Weld's Hill, Jordan and Camden runs, for which he was fined 3d each upwards of six months before. Tho inspector admitted that the Camden and Jordan runs were clean, and that the infection was confined to one paddock of 870 ewes on Weld's Hill run. The court held that although these runs had one owner, and all the sheep were originally included in one certificate, and the defendant was fined six months ago for all of them as one flock, yet, as two out of three runs had no infection, defendant could only bo fined for the third. He was fined 4d on 8826 sheep at Weld's Hill, the fine and costs amounting to £147. "Blenheim Police Court, Otago" appears to b» an odd combination.