Local and General Intelligence.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1166, 29 July 1885, Page 2

Local and General Intelligence.

Our report of the Borough Council meeting, held on Monday evening, is unavoidably held over till next issue. The Napier Chamber of Commerce has passed a resolution against, the continuance of the San Francisco mail service. Me James M'Kerbow, Surveyor- General of New Zealand, has been appointed a Fel'.ow of the Royal Astronomical Society. Mr Mabtin Ryan has been appointed by His Excellency the Governor a member of the Waitahuna Licensing Committee vice Mr D, M'Taggart, resigned. The report of the New Zealand Refrigerating Company states that 164,879 sheep were exported from Otago during the past year, 96,969 of which were shipped from Port Chalmers. We have received a letter from Mr Pyke denying that the reduction of miners' rights was lost on the casting vote of the Chairman of the Goldfields Committee, as reported by our Wellington correspondent. The postal revenue for the June quarter of 1885 amounted to £50.799, against £39,1.06 for the June quarter of 1884. The cash received for telegrams was £25,029, against £22,924 for the same period of the previous year. The resident of Wetherstones are reminded of the lecture on " Abraham Lincoln " which the ißev. Mr Fraeer will give ia the local schoolhouse on Friday night. At the close of the lecture a collection will be mac' 3 in aid of the Sunday School fund. Mr H. T. Wilson sends us a letter for publication, taking exception to the statements in the "Tapanui Courier" touching the death of his brother in the Tuapeka Hospital ; but aB the publication of the letter would only lead to more fulsome recriminations, we have deemed it prudent to withhold it. The good people of Bruce are in the throes of political excitement at present ; four candidates are in the field, and the atmosphere is blue with tall talk, both recognised Queen's English and; a, style of English not found in standard' work 1 ?. Who is the first favorite at this early* stage of the campaign it is difficult to estimate ; but we should imagine that Mr Reid stands a good show. The "Daily Times" Wellington correspondent says that the falling off in railway revenue is causing some alarm. The net profits for the June quarter were nearly £20,000 lesa than for I the corresponding quarter of 1884. If this is proportional of the year's decrease, the total amount will be about £90,000 at the year's end. These figures bear testimony to the decline of farming and general depression throughout the Colony. The total quantity of gold entered for duty for exportation from New Zealand from Ist April, 1857, to 30th June, 1885, was 10,665,537 ounces, valued at £41,831,342. Of the total quantity, Otago has contributed 4,406,599 ounces, valued at £17,377,560. The quantity of gold entered during the ha&year ended 30th June, 1885, was 113,258 ouncelf against 116,977 ounces for the corresponding period of the previous year. ,

Up to the present time the Salisbury Ad ministration has scored several important successes ia the Anglo-Russian dispute. The latest of these is the permission of the Ameer to mass 10,000 British troops at Kandahar, midway between Kabul and Herat. The fortification of the latter place is proceeding under British supervision, <so that 'England hr? already gained a tremendous advantage over her powerful and designing rival. With Herat fortified and garrisoned, British troops at Kandahar, and Afghanistan as a faithful ally, a Russian invasion of lad':i would not bs a tdujiph. '- proc.asion.

A contemporary facetiously . term! the Fijian petition "A coral necklace tot' New Zealand." , \ •«^ • • The " Lake 'County Press '> predicts that when all! the machinery 1b in position ■ the Pboeuix -mine -will he the -greatest raid producing lode in -N^w Zealand. '?, ■■i&T '■ ' A^ANsfßßß^BT^ch'^mi^t advertkjytlfe following T6i, smaf^pmL pofejßiafrjff^BljSioll cracked wheat (1 bushel), atrychnTnel^foz. dissolved in vinegar, and glycerine and sugar. The total expenditure on railway construction in the Colony up to date 31st March, 1885, is estimated at £12.856,627. The expenditure on lines already open for traffic amounts to t filljßlo;HMi" K ~*'" •*—■-•- "> --»«">%- «ww-i-" , tThe,". Wairarapa Star " says :— So strictly is the Licensing Ac 6 carried out in New Plymouth that the festive policeman is said to be the < only • traveller -thatv the^hotelkeepen* will acknowledge •or accommodate on Sundayp.; The local police force' find the game of en* deavoriug to detect Sunday trading a very pleasant kind of diversion. > ■ • ; • Most of the plant for testing the practical .value of the La Monte process has reached the Thames, and will be erected without delay. Meantime 100 tons of picked quartz will be shipped to Sydney for, treatment', by the La' Monte process. If the expectations of ; the miners are realised, the La Monte furnace will be the means of effecting a considerable revivial in mining enterprise at the Thames, where 'much of the stone is rich in other metals besides gold. Nimmo and Blair's " Illustrated Catalogue !of Farm and Garden Seeds, Vegetables - and Flowers," contains a deal of valuable infortnatiou ia reference to seeds generally, which Bhould be appreciated by both the agriculturist and the horticulturist. The illustrations give a pretty good idea of the plant described, and valuable hints are given on the growing of the miscellaneous assortments of seeds sold by the firm. Those wishing to get full information on seeds we would recommend to get a copy of the catalogue. Mb R. Craig, of Round Hill, has sold his prize bull, Royal Charlie, to Mr Fraser of Earnscleugh Station, near Clyde, for a good .figure. Royal Charlie was bred by Mr T. Howie of i'okomairiro ; sire, Young Prince Royal, who took ten first and three second prizes; grandsire, Prince Royal, who wrb a ' great prize-taker. Dam, Topsy, who took six prizes, and granddam, Topsy, also a great prize-taker. Mr Craig passed through .Lawrence on Monday with Royal Charlie en route to his future destination. Our Beaumont correspondent writes : -Our school is atill under the charge of Miss L. . Darton, and will be, I understand, until a teacher is appointed iv the usual way to take permanent charge of it.— The piers and abutments of the bridge are nearly finished, and it is to be hoped that the Contractor for the 'super' structure will lose no time in carrying out his part. The portion of the. work already done looks well. — lam glad to see that there is a, likelihood of getting the ra Uway after all, if only' the Lawrence people will go in for it in earnest. The Beaumont people will do their utmost in the matter, A CASE of mistaken philanthropy occurred at Masterton recently. A well-known tradesman, acting the part of a good Samaritan to a strange.', who had a difficulty in' fi tiding' lod?ingß, introduced him to his house, and' provided him with accommodation for the night. The belated one had fortified himself wiih a bottle of spirits, and under the stimulus of this, fs the night wore on, he turned his landlord and hi a wife, beck and prop, out into the Street, lockmg the door after them. It wi.s only with the r-Btatance of the police that the disagreeably i .-.tbnished couple Were able to regain possession of their own dwelling. ' , The English Government have not been alow in conn :ting Port Hamilton with the telegraphic syst >m of the world, a cable having ieeu r jutly laid. It is now stated that China ? - fouaally p^o*nf\ 1 against the British occupation ot the >'sland ; but it is quits uolikely that the prot-it will be lisran 1 to. The British have annexr-J a great tract of count./, comprising Bechuanaland and a strip of territo./ to the north reaching to the Pot uu^uese border,- This completely shuts off tbe Transvaal from B.chuanaland, and will put au effective check upon Boer agression in that direction. It wi'l only be a question of time when South Africa from the Equator to the Cape will be British territory. " Water, water everywhere, and not a dron to drink, 1 ' said Coleiidge's " Ancient Mariner," sod to a certain extent that cry might be repeated ia Lawrence at present ; for some time 030 when surrounding districts weu deluged too freely, we got our share in the shape of unwholesome fog, which had no other effect than to add to the muddy condition of the roads and streets. For some weeks now theca has bean no rain, and empty water tanks' are in consequence in pltiity. If the united' petition of those who are praying for rain is answered; a modern deluge may be expected. Captain Edwin has 'not given us his mind on the matter ; but no doubt a -water-supply for Lawrence will include part of his scheme. A MBITING of the Mount Benger Prospecting Association was held in the Roxburgh school, house on Wednesday evening last. The attendance was not very large. Mr Hanghton wai voted to the chair,, and Mr A. Young's name was added to the Committee. Mr R. M. Smith was appointed permanent Chan man of the Association, and Mr Bloxham Secretary. The Secretary read a communication from the Tuapeka Prospecting Association, and further mentioned that he had conferred with Mr Forrest, of, Alexandra, re boring rods. Messrs Butiots Bloxham, and Young related their experience as to the system adopted for testing deep ground on some of the goldfields where they hrd formerly resided. The meeting was adjourned until the 3rd prox. The Rev. R. Waddell, of Sfc. Andrew's Church, Dunedin, occupied the pulpit of the Presbyterian. Church at Waitahuna on Sabbath last. The church w?i crowded before the minister appeared in the pulpit. The rev, gentleman addressed the younger members of the congregation from Romans, XIII. chap,,' 14 verse, and was particularly happy in his remarks. He afterwards addressed the adult portion of the congregation, taking as his text " The Hidden Life." The sermon all through was earnest, and at times eloquent, and bristled with freshness of thought and clearness of delineation. Most of the illustrations were taken from every day life, ' and as they were oearly all local, the truth was more easily and, perhaps, more effectively applied. The same preacher occupied the pulpit again in the evening, and had the pleasure of addressing a large congregation. He also preached ,at Manuka Creek in the morning, where he had a large and appreciative audience. The second annual concert under the auspices of the Tuapeka Bowling Green and Lawn Tennis Club is announced to take place 00 Friday eveniDg, and, judging from the programme which has been issued, a musical treat may be expected of more than ordinary attrnotiveneas, la addition to several of the leading amateurs of this district, old favorites will lend their, valuable aid, alter considerable absence from the Lawrence musical world.besides Beveral well known amateurs from Waitahuna. The programme is not too, long, and contains a judicious mixture of vocal and instrumental selections, a novel feature of the entertainment being the violin-playing of two young lady amateurs. The Committee and their friends have betin assiduous in their duties for the disposal of tickets, and from the good results obtained they are sanguine of ta. bumper house should the weather prove favorable. Owing to one of those unaccountable slips which so often harass the lives of newspaper people, " March " has been substituted for >" July " iD the programmes issued.' , The annual meeting of the Waitahuna Gospel Temperance Society, was held on the. evening of Thursday last. The Secretary. (Mr Wm. Au. \ junr.) read the report, from which" it appeared chat the membership was steadily increasing, and the funds were in a Very satisfactory state. After a few remarks by the President ?Rev. J. Skinner). Mr Waddell waß introduced to the meeting and delivered a very powerful and eloquent address, which was frequently applauded. He- looked at the question from the view-point oft Christian duty. He did not wish to rob any man of his tiberty, but he put it- to his hearers whether a Christian Bhould seek to conserve his liberty to "use strong drink when the use of (t w'afi ruinous tp bo many,' arid tdtal 1 abstinence was found to' be the only sure remedy. Mr M'aoan'dte'wipjopoaedl a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Waddell'f or his very excellent address, and Mr Skinner proposed a similar vote to Mr Miller and his choir for their sweet singing. Owing to the lateness of the hour, the election of a new Committee was put off till next meeting.

A melancholy accident of a fatal nature occurred at Cambrians lost week (reports the" Mount Ida Chronicle.") James Callagban, aged 25, was out rid'iDg in company-, with a frieod.when his horse stumbled across* tussock, throwing him on hiR head and causing a. fracture of the skull and rupture of one of the' arteries of the brain. The unfortunate man lingered' in agony for sixteen hours, when he sucttnratied' to his injuries. "i * A babe instance of Christian toleration is exemplified in Aarua, Switzerland, where' Protestants and Catholics occupy the same church. On New Year's Eve it was filled, and the whole congregation united in singing a hymn, after which the Catholic choir executed "U-pft'ceof mnsic. Thfe priest atfd pastor then alternately spoke on the religious thought appropriate to the close of the year, and on the good relations that should exist between Christians. .... < The cholera in Spain continues to spread with increasing virulance, and is extending northward in spite of all that the authorities can do to check its ravages. By this terrible outbreak of cholera, Spain has learned a lessou in sanitation which should stand her in good steadfor all time. No people massed together in cities can hope to go on living in open violation of tbe mogtapparent laws of Nature aod get off unscathed.. Nature's horror of filth causes her to inflict a terrible vengeance upon the transgressors. ' Professor Black will give two lectures in the Church of England schoolroom, Lawrence, on , Monday and Tuesday next. The subject will "be 1 "Explosives," and will be illustrated by numerous chemical experiments. As the subject takes in .a wide range,' aud is of particular; interest to miners and others who use explosives, a good attendance may be looked for. Professor Black is so well known in this district that we need say nothing in his praise as a lecturer ; but we can safely say that those who make a point of attending the lectures will spend two pleasant and profitable evenings. Increasing alarm is stated to be manifested in China at the evident designs of Russia upon Corea, and the Chinese Government have a fleet to protect that place. For some time back Russian troops have been massing at Vladivastok, the Russian seaport on the North-west Pacific. If England will not give them an outlet to the sea on the south, the Russians are determined to have one in the east of their vast empire. Russia has for many .years been steadily creeping down the Pacific coast ; and unless China and Japan watch her every move closel -, she will soon begin to embarrags these two Powers in her struggle to gain iaccess to the high seas. . Mb Craig, President of the Waitahuna Farmers' Club, deserves special' commendation ; for the valuable. paper on, "Farmers' Clubs" .which he read at the meeting of the Club on, 'Saturday evening. The reading of carefully prepared papers, like the 'one referred to, on practical subjects by.- practical men, must needs be more, profitable than the desultory discus*' Bionß which mostly occupy the attention of members at meetings of Farmers' Clubs. We commend the paper, the full text of which, appears in our supplement,' to all who take aninterest in Farmers' Clubs,, and to farmers generally. The paper contains some invaluable information and hints of a decidedly practical nature. We trust Mr Craig has only initiated a syntem which will be continued, and that practical essays on subjects • most intimately connected with the farmers' calling will be ■forthcoming in the future. > . Farmers have . srilendid opportunities of practically proving or • disproving theories, and we thick that if they ' could be persuaded to give expression to their experiences fu the pursuit of their every-day calling that much of value and interest would be elicited. It will be impossible for the world in the not distant future to estimate the true value of the work initiated by Edward Jenner and, carried out to a'marvellous degree of success by the indefatigable French chemist, Louis Pasteur. In the hands of the latter, many diseases which had previously baflh'd the skill of the physician are, amenably to the, laws of modern science. The startling revelations of the microscope' have proved that a large proportion of disc; scs, both brute and human, is due to the ravages of a microscopic vegetative organism, whjch multiplies with amazing rapidity iv the blood. To this modern "devil," who " possession '' might cause the bravest to tremble, the name "microbe" hn been given, and Pasteur has prove 3 that many virulent diseases may be rendered wholly innocuous by inoculation with the specific microbe when robbed of its extreme virulence. Dr Fecran, of Valencia, claims to have been successful in inoculating with the cholera microbe. He was stoppad for a time ; but tfnee the report of the Board of ' Health ab Madrid b-is been made, he h?s resumed ope -ations in Arragoj. How far he may be successful the future only can reveal. The following cases were heard at the Resident Magistrate's Court, Lawrence, on Monday last, before W. H. Re veil, Esq., R.M.: —Police (Constable Bowman) v. QjiHing, who was charged with a breach of .he Licensing Act— to wit, in selling a ■mall fhsk of brandy contain! net a less quantity of spirits than was allowed by section 33 of the Licensing Act, 1881. The defendant admitted the charge, remarking that he had a bottle license, and was not avvare that he was doing wrong. — His Worship said no doubt accused was ignorant of the law, but as he possessed a license he (the R. M. ) would deal leniently with him. Accuspd was convicted and fined ss ; coats, Us ; and , interpreter's fee, 21s. —M. Kelligher v. J, |! Davison : Charge of assault, Mr M'Coy appeared for plaintiff. The defendant admitted ' the charge, and was fined 10s ; costs, 9i ; and professional fee, 21a. — J. Casey v. P. Ahem : Claim of £11, for balance of wages. Mr Copland for plaintiff; and Mr M'Coy for defendant. This case was adjourned from last Court-day, as defendant was not satisfied about , some payments made. After hearing evidence! . His Worship gave judgment for the amount paid into Court (£4 4s) ; the costs of Court (38a) to be borne equally by the parties. — This was all the business.