Local and General Intelligence.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1215, 20 January 1886, Page 2

Local and General Intelligence.

Mb Gordon, of the Mines Department, has been elected a Fellow of tbe Geological Society. The Federal Council of Australasia is convened to meet at Hobart on Monday next. The damage done by the recent fires in tbe New Plymouth district is estimated at about £4000. On the 31st December tbe total number of sheep infected with scab in the Colony waß 147,526. Of these, 8,393 were in the Nelson sheep district, and 141,133 in the Marlborough district. Another of the old settlers of Otago has gone to tbe bourn from whence no traveller J returns. Mra Robert Hasfcie, who arrived in I the Phillip Laing in 1848, died at Caversham on Sunday. In Mrs Barber's Perseverance claim, Hamilton, a rich Beam of wash-dirt has been struck. The discovery is 3ft in thickness, and a prospect of from one to three ounces of gold to the dish can be washed from it. _ The following names appear in the honor list of those who have passed the Presbyterian ' Synod's examination "in Bible and Church History. Esaays : Marjory E. M'Laren and Elizabeth J. M'NeilJy, both of Bin? Spur. % Mb William Price, a blacksmith, who has resided in Tapanui for about twenty years, subsequent to his laboring as a miner at Dunstan, Blacks, Eoxburgh, and in Victoria, died on Sunday. He leaves a large family, aoine of , whom are young and helpless. '

The latest cable news states that advices from Suakim state that the hostile Arabs are renewing their activity in thn neighborhood of the town. Recently upon many occasions they have fired upon the British patrols in the outBkirts. A meeting of members of the Thames School of Mines Association was held on Monday, 11th instant, for tbe purpose of electing a Committee of Management. Three hundred and sixty-nine members recorded votes. A committee of nine gentlemen were appointed, and it was resolved to try and get Mr Justice Gillies to be the first President of the Association. Several of the prospecting parties appointed at the last sitting of the County Council (says the " Mount Ida Chronicle ") have commenced operations, and the others are preparing to make a start. Flynn and mates have set in at the foot of Mount Burster, and intend, we understand, to prospect the country lying to the nortb and south of the range, as well as that on its sides. The results! of the pupil-teachers' examina" tion, which took place last month, have been published. The following among other candidates have successfully passed : — Second class : Agnes M'Lean, Mary Ann Wall, Mary A. Morgan, Alex. G. Thomson, and Margaret Campbell. Third class : Wm. Phillips and Louisa Richards. Fourth class : Robert G. Tubman and Williamina Smythe. The "Canterbury Times" says that "to i judge from the reports on the crops in tbe Canterbury district, there is every prospect of a good harvest. There may be a decrease in straw, which is of no very great consequence, and the yield nay be lighter than in former yeais; but it would seem that the quality of the grain is likely to be very high, and to approach more nearly to the excellence of Victorian wheat for keeping and milling." A YOUNG man named Gorman, with three brothers named Charles, John, and Henry Kidd, were bathing in the Makarewa. near Forest Hill, Southland, on Saturday afternoon when John Kidd getting out of his depth Wb two brothers went to his assistance. All getting into dangerous positions Charles Kidd tried to aave the others by reaching a long stick to them. One of them, Henry, was unable to retain his | grasp, and was drowned ; the others got ashore all right. The deceased was 27 years of age.

Some of the wages-men working for the large gold-mining companies at Tinkers have been on strike since the holidays. la consequence of the decreasing yield of gold and increasing expense of working, some of the claimholdera intimated that in future the wages would be reduced from ten shillings to nine shillings per day. The men went on strike, some effigies were burnt, and some other evidences of illfeeling shown, which do not altogether redound to the credit of the wages-men.

The "Otago Daily Times " of Saturday last, in a veiy sensible leaderette, criticises tbe indecent haste which the Piesbyterian Synod has exhibited in its desire to place oue of its members in the Chair of Mental and Moral Philosophy, The action of the Synod, as our contemporary very ably puts it, is ultra vires ; for according to statute it is the Chu eh Trustees who must select a Professor, and after having done so it falls to the lot of the Synod to approve or veto the choice. " ONCE a Month " for January is to hand. It is a very well gotup monthly magazine, published by William laglis and Co., of Melbourne and Duuedin, and contains four fullpage lithographs and a number of articles and sketches, several of them bearing ou Australian life. There is the Doctor's, tbe &ardener's, and tbe Costutnier'B column, and some very readable poetry, The letterpress is all that caD be desired. A supplement in the form of a New Year's card is issued along with the January number. We have received a copy of tbe pamphlet entitled — "John M'Konz c, B-q.: A misunderstood and ill-used Patriot." The pamphlet, we believe, has been pretty freely circulated amongst School Committees for the purpose of damaging Mr M'Kenzie in the present election for the Education Board. We fail to see how a one-Bided set of newspaper clippings, or the amount of claptrap reported thereon, cau injure a man who has stood up for the right as Mr M'Kenzie has done. We have more respect for School Committees than to believe that they will be iuflueoced by the pamphlet, referred to. In his lecture at Invercargill on Tuesday evening, Professor Black advocated the siudy of agricultural chemistry, and deprecated the ignorance of that subject which caused people to send Home the bones along wilh the frozen carcases of sheep. He mentioned China as an example of a country where people do not exhaust the soil : they return to the laud the phosphorus that has been obtained in crops and used to build up the bony skeletons of animals. How did China support such a huge population ? Why, a Chinaman would not even leave his own bones out of China if he could help it, An effort to form a Brass Band is being made at Balclutha. Like Lawrence, Balclulha has a number of instruments, plenty of musical talent and a band fund (unlike Lawrence) of £18, and there should be uo difficulty in getting an efficient band started shortly. We should be glad to hear of someone taking the initiative in Lawrence. Could not our local volunteers | make a move in the matter ? The strains of ! martial music would have a fioe effect on the | marching and movements of the company. I Something of the sort would be a welcome addition to the attractions of the recreation reserve oa gala days. It may not be generally known that tbe Gaming and Lotteries Act, passed last session, contains a saving clause in respect to sweepstakes, which by the Act of 1881 were Droj hibited. The provision in the amending Act is as follows :— *' Nothing in the said Act (the Act of 1882), or in this Act contained, shall apply to any sweep got up on a racecourse, provided that the total amount subscribed does not exceed five pounds, and that the several contributions thereto do not exceed five shillings each, and that the whole sum contributed goes ! to the winner without any reduction on any account." A case of some interest to hotelkeepers was decided at Oamaru on Thursday. A publican at Hampden having refused accommodation to Sharman and Stoodley's circus company when they arrived on the spot, although he had previously agreed to accommodate them, the Magistrate said that inasmuch as there was one unoccupied room in the house the defendant should have offered accommodation to that extent. The fine, a nominal one. was 10a, with costs and witnesses' expenses. The Magistrate said he hoped the case would prove a warning to hotelkeepers not to refuse to give accommodation to travellers without having reasonable ground for doing so. } At the last meeting of the Tuapeka West Church Mission Committee, held in the Manse at Tuapeka West, there were present— Messrs Taylor (in the chair), M'Kay, Redpatb, Dalziel, and Drain (Secretary). The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The financial report showed tbe receipts to be as follow :— Tnapeka West, £8 4s 9d; Beaumont. £10 17s 41; Tuapeka Mouth, £7 S< ; Evans Flat, £5 133 3d ; Tuapeka Flat, £3— total, £35 33 4d. Mr Drain moved and Mr M'Kay seconded ; "That all sustentation subscriptions and church-door collections received for the quarter be handed over to Mr Taylor as stipend."— Agreed to unanimously. Mr M'Kay moved and Mr Redpath seconded : " That Mr Taylor be empowered to get the manse put in order."—Carried unanimously. The meeting closed in the usual way. A deputation from the Woodville Rifls Volunteers lately waited upon the Hon. Mr Ballance, Defence Minister, to ask -vhether he would be willing to assist towards getting a drillshed erected ; the building required would be 60ft x 80Ft. and was estimated to cost between £300 and £350. Mr Ballance said the Government would be happy to contribute £ for £ on the amount raised, in reply to a question as to the amount of the capitation grant, Mr Ballance said the capitation was raised last year to 30i. In 1884 it was £1 only. He then stated that the Government had. with a view of rendering the Volunteer service thoroughly efficient, ordered 2000 stand of arms of the newest pattern. Her Majesty's Government were discarding the Martini-Henri rifle, and were furnishing the Army with the new one, which was an infinitely better weapon than ihe ordinary rifte. It was shorter than tbe infantry rifle now in use ; had •less recoil ; was smaller in the bore ; a man using it could (of course without' accurate aim) discharge 40 rounds a minute. The new arm was also smaller in the grasp, and the left hand was protected from the heat of the barrel by a wooden cover. He intended to aim all tbe infantry corpg with the new rifle.

The young man named Higgs, of Roxburgh, who underwent an operation in the Hospital ou Friday afternoon, died on the following morn* ing from the effects of bis injuries. A couple of poachers were caught red-handed last Sunday on the Waipahi by Banger Bart, of the Otago Acclimatization, Society. They will appear before Mr Revell, R.M., in a few days. The St. Patrick's, Waitahuna, and Waita. huna Gully schools were re-opened on Monday, after having been closed for the Christmas vacation. The District High School is to ba opened on Monday next. Evidently emboldened by the fulfilment o£ their prediction that this summer would be a dry one, the Maoris in the North Island are now prophesying that there will be no rain worthy cf notice till after the month of March. The Minister of Mines was on Monday interviewed by a deputation from the University Council re the discontinuance of the Govern* ment subsidy of £500 to the School of Mines. The Hon. Mr Larnach defended, to some extent, the course adopted in Parliament, and suggested that a more useful chair for the | University to endow than that of Mental Philosophy would be a chair devoted to mining construction and technical education. In reply to remarks made by Mr Macandrew, M.H.R., and the Key. Dr Stuart, the Minister stated that if Professor Ulrich was stationed at Lawrence, or any important mining oentre, he might have as many students as he could attend to. A meeting of the officers and members of tho Committee of Management of the Tuapeka Volunteer Rifles was held in the Town Hall on Monday evening. There was a fair attendance ; Captain Edie in the chair. It was decided to call for tenders for the supply of fifty uniforms for members of the corps. After some discussion, it was resolved that application be made to the Minister of Lands on the occasion of his proposed visit to Lawrence for a piece of ground in tbe vicinity of the Tuapeka flour-mill as a site for a drill-shed. Tbe matter of selecting a site for a rifli-range was left in the hands of Captain Edie. The members of the deputation appointed at a previous meeting of the company to interview the Hon. Mr Ballance were re* I quested to confer with Mr J. C. Brown.M.H.R^ | prior to the former's visit to tbe district, re I several matters of interest to the corps. Six prospecting parties have been organised by Warden Kentick at the Thames to prospect the King Country. Rawi, the old rangatira of the Waikato tribes, has given his permission to the parties to enter the area occupied by the seven allied tribes located ia the territory ex* tending westward f rum the Waikato River and Lake Taupo, by the head waters of the Wanganui to the sea. The Minister of Mines has agreed, on the Warden's recommendation, that as the men are to meet their own expenses, he will subsidise each of them 7<J 6d per week for two months, irrespective of any local aid they may receive. The manager of the Auck-land-Waikato railway has also been instructed to give the men free passage for themselves, their baggage, and stock of provisions, with 25 miles of waggon conveyance to O.orohanga, tha point of divergence. There seems every reason to look for good results. A MATCH befcwesn the Dunedin and Lawrence Bowling Clubs takes place on the local greer. on Saturday next. The names of the local players are as follow : — No. 1 rink : Messrs Molherwell, Chalmers, Abel, and Miicdouald (skip.) No. 2 rink: Messrs M'Coy, Edie, Wakefield, and Capes (skip.) No. 3 rink : Messrs Uren, Jeffery, Taylor, and Rob.-rtson (skip.) Four 1 ennia players belonging to the Dunedin Bowling, Tennis, and Fives Club also intend to play four members of tbe local Club the same day en the Lawrence tennis court. We would again draw attention to the entertainment which takes place in the Town Hall on the evenings of Thursday and Friday next, The programme, which will be found on our second page, is on an extensive scale, and the management is to be complimented on the energy which has been shown in providing so large and attractive a bill of fare, evidencing careful consideration for the various idiosyncracies of the British public. If we may judge from what -we have Been at rehearsals, which have been assiduously carried on, a very good evening's genuine fun is in store for all those who patronise the entertainments. A STASHING scene was witnessed in a London Court, recently, in a builder's case which was tried before Mr Justice Luehington. The Judge, in giving his decision, told the defendant that he was a liar and a perjurer, and he ought to stand in a Criminal Court. The defendant immediately arose, and amid great excitement, declared that the Judg* ought to stand in a Criminal Court, The Judge asked what the defendant said. The defend mt : "For calling me a liar and a perjurer; I repeat it." The Judge: "Take him away." The defendant was removed. Subsequently an apology wat offered ; but tha Judge refused to aocept it, and ordered the defendant to be committed for seven days for contempt of Court. At yesterday's meeting of the Presbyterian Synod, an application for a Church site at Lawrence was supported by the Rev. Mr Fraser and one or two other speakers j but it was pointed out by Dr Stuart, the Rev. Mr Will, and others that such a grant could not be marie in accordance with the regulations, and that the Synod had on previous occasions placed on record its disinclination to grant as an act of grace the sum required to make the purchase. The matter was, however, pressed to the votf , when only three hands were held up in support of the application. The noes were not counted, but tbe motion was announced to be rejected by a large majwity, thus sustaining the recommendation of the Church Erection Committee.

ELECTION times in Britain are not always pleasant to h?ads of noble houses; The evil their ancestors have done is brought up against them, tbe good is "oft interred with their bones." The London correspondent of the "Sydney Mail" mentions that the Duke of Norfolk is exercised because Mr Chamberlain reminded the people of His Grace's grandfather, whose Norfolk sauce fou starving people was a byword for many years. In the " limep " for December 10th, 1845, there is the report of tk" speeches at a dinner at Steyning, where the Duke, in proposing the toast of " Tbe industrious laborers," told them to keep off the feeling of starvation by taking a pinch of curry powder in hot water.