Local and General Intelligence.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1672, 8 March 1890, Page 2

Local and General Intelligence.

The London "Globe" characterises the Australian cricket eleven as a " team of gatemoney hunters." Several branches of the Farmers' League in Victoria have declared unanimously in favour of Freetrade. The sculling match between Neil Matterson and Peter Kemp for the championship of the world has been fixed to take place on the 25th April. The weather on the West Coast is extremely dry. Nearly all the sluicing claims, including the Kumara, have stopped work for want of water. The area of land in cultivation in New Zealand was 997,477 acres in 1879, and 4,670,167 acres in 1889, the increase having been over 3,000,000 acres in ten years. There were nine patients in the Tuapeka Hospital last evening— seven male and two female. One patient was admitted into the institution during the week and four were discharged. The Railway Departments announce that excursion tickets in connection with the bands' contest at Dunedin will be issued at Lawrenca on the 12th and 13th instant. Tickets -Ist class, 7s ; 2nd, ss. The voting for the vacancies on the Otago Education Board has resulted in the return of Mr Jas. Green, Dr Stenhouse, and Dr Hislop. The number of votes in favour of each candidate was as follows :— Green, 139 -, Stenhouse, 96 ; Hislop, 77 ; Barr, 73 ; Fultdn, 63 ; Hutchison, 60 ; Caffin, 4. The Waipori Amalgamated Deep Lead Co. (writes our correspondent) has been busy stripping during the past few days. Yester* day they commenced to lift the auriferous gravels. The prospects obtainable are very good, and notwithstanding the extraordinary dry season the water supply is ample. Dr Peters, of Mosgiel, has been found guilty of manslaughter by a coroner's jury, and committed for trial.- The case arose in consequence of the death of a woman whom he attended at her confinement. There were two dissentients to the verdict, but as four out of six were in favor thereof, the Coroner had no option but to accept it. We are advised by cablegram that locallygrown wheat is selling at 3s 7d to 3s 9d in Sydney ; shipping parcels bring 4s Id to 4s 2d in Adelaide ; and the new crop is quoted at 33 7d and the old at 3s 9d in Melbourne. Feed oats bring 2s 2d in Sydney and milling 2s 3d ; New Zealand oats (in bond) 2s 7d to 3s in Adelaide ; and New Zealand (stout samples) 3s Id in Melbourne. The Champion Stakes were won by Melos at the third day's racing of the Victorian Racing Club's autumn meeting, Dreadnought being second, and Carbine third. The other starter was Rudolph. Half way up the straight in the run home Carbine made his effort, but O'Brien endeavouring to get up on the inside was blocked, and Dreadnought, throwing up the sponge in the last 100 yds, Melos scored a splendid victory by a length and a half, Carbine being half a length behind Dreadnought, Mr Stead's Scots Grey won the Autumn Handicap of 400 soys. The annual conference of sheep inspectors, which has been going on at Wellington for the last three days, has devoted its time wholly to a review of the draft Bill which the Government propose to introduce next session to consolidate and amend the four Sheep Acts now in operation. The Conference carried the following resolution : -" That the number of infected or doubtful sheep in the colony being now very small, all future cases should be considered a matter of special urgency ; and, recognising the necessity of eradicating scab in the shortest possible notice, this Conference is of opinion that the officers of the Stock Department should be empowered to deal directly and independently of the owner with any futme outbreaks."

Sir William Fox, at the age of 78, recently climbed to the top of Mount Egrnonfc for the purpose of ascertaining whether it is true that the effects of the atmosphere resembles those of champagne. The friends of Mr M'Cluskey, of Wetherstones, will be glad to hear that the young lad who recently suffered a severe injury to his hand is now in a fair way of recovery; all danger of amputation being now passed. At a sitting in Chambers of the Supreme Court, Dunedin, yesterday, a motion to remove the case of J. C. Brown v. The Blue Spur and Gabriels Gully Consolidated Gold Co. from the Resident Magistrate's into the Supreme Court was granted. Mb Warden Wood passed through Lawrence on Wednesday last on his way to St. Clair, whither he goes to recruit his health, which has been much impaired by his late severe accident. Mr Wood does not look quite as bad as one might expect, though he has certainly the appearance of being still very weak. It is to be hoped, however, that a few weeks' sojourn at St Clair will restore him to his usual health, and enable him to return to his duties again. The extreme folly of endeavouring to evade payment of the fees charged for the privilege of depasturing cattle on the commonages still appears to continue, three persons having, within the last few days, been summoned for depasturing their cattle on the Gabriels commonage without paying the necessary fees. The result of this, in all probability, will be the imposition of heavy fines, besides the worry and inconvenience that such a proceeding necessarily entails. Putting aside the moral aspect of the question, it should be clear that, as a mere matter of prudence or self* interest, it would be much better for those using the commonages to conform to the law and so avoid trouble. A discussion is at present in progress as to whether Sir Henry Parke's memorable phrase, " the crimson thread of kinship," is to be accredited to his memory or his inventiveness. If it be a quotation, no one as yet, has succeeded in unearthing it. Probably the reason why so many fancy they have heard it before is because of its aptness and simplicity. It appears hardly credible that words so graphic and apparently so trite should now be strung together for the first time. Tennyson in one of his lyrics uses the term, but then the application is different :— "When from crimson-threaded lips." Sir Henry is evidently entitled to a copyright of the phrase, and to the enjoyment of all the kudos that may attach to it. Sergeant Green, long and creditably known in this district, having been stationed j at Waipori for some years, had rather a strange experience in Dunedin one night i during the past week. The matter is fully ! detailed in our Dunedin letter, and from the remarks of our correspondent it may be gathered that Sergeant Green has maintained in Dunedin the same high character for efficiency and general excellence that he so long enjoyed among all classes of the people in this district. In Waipori, particularly, where he was so long known and so deservedly respected, he has the sympathy of the entire community, the general opinion being that he is certainly the victim of a mistake, if not, indeed, of something worse. At the Land Board meeting on Wednesday, ! a report by Surveyor Langmuir on the appli- ' cation of Alexander Fraser to purchase section 5, block v., Tuapeka East district, was presented, stating that there is no longer any necessity for the reserve over the section applied for.— Recommended for notification; capital value, £1. William Clouston,occupier of deferred-payment section 74, block XI., Glenkenich, and who is in arrear for rent, not having irade application for re-valuation, and having received notice without replying thereto, the Board were requested to consider whether steps should not be taken to forfeit his holding.- To be notified that if arrears are not paid within a month, selector not having applied for re-valuation, Board will proceed to forfeit without further notice. Mr A. Aitcheson's application to purchase part of quarry reserve, section 21, block rv., Greenvale district, was declined. Dreadnought won the Australian Cup, which was run on Tuesday last, in the fastest time on record, the 2J miles being covered in 3min 59£secs. The last mile and a-half was run in 2min 38secs. The Press Association, in its account of the event, says that at the distance post the favourite appeared to have everything beaten, and Hales was taking matters rather easily ; but half a furlong from home Melos came with a wet sail, and, overhauling Dreadnought at every stride, Harris nearly caught Hales napping. Dreadnought was, however, equal to the occasion, and struggling on, gained the judge's verdict by half a head ; half a length separating Melos and Sir William.— Mr G. G. Stead's Medallion won the Maiden Stakes (.SOOsovs), beating a field of eleven at the Flemington meeting on the same day ; he came at the finish like a lion, cutting down the field easily, and proving himself to be one of the best two-year olds of the season. One of the members of the Kaihu Railway Commission, Mr Macarthur, M.H.R., writes a northern exchange, does not seem to be greatly impressed after his. trip to the North with the necessity for the extension of the Auckland North Trunk Railway. He was pleased and surprised with the fine harbours on the East and West coasts— Whangarei, Russell, Hokianga, Kaipara-and fails to see how any railway can ever compete either as regards passengers, goods, or stock, with the water carriage provided by nature. His opinion is that, instead of the immense sums which have been sunk, and will yet be sunk in railway construction northwards through the centre of the country, good roads should have been carried across the island, connecting the various settlements with the harbours on the east and west coasts. Every settler would thus have been benefited, instead of the few settlers along the railway line ; the produce or goods would only require to be handled once, to the great advantage of ' producer and purchaser, THE crusade against the rabbits commenced last week all over Victoria. It is officially known as "the work of simultaneous destruction," and as this year the Government has entire control great results are anticipated. Two systems are followed. Poisoned grain is placed at the rabbits' feeding ground. In this way it is said the millions of rabbits are reduced by two-thirds. Then men are sent to dig out the burrows— a more effectual plan it is stated. A continuance of this double system is regarded as certain to work the desired effect. On the other hand, M. Pasteur has stated that the rabbits have now got too firm a hold on Victoria ever to be got rid of, and most people are of the same opinion. In New South Wales the settlers are clamouring for a repeal of the Rabbit Act, on the ground that its provisions have proved ineffectual, and that wire-fencing alone will be of any use as a check against the pest. It is intended to fence in 40,000 miles in the Central division, and 13,000 miles in the Western division of that colony at a cost of £3,000,000, the Government assisting. It is also intended to make fencing and destruction compulsory. |

The projected rabbit-preserving factory, of which our Heriot correspondent spoke so sanguinely in our last issue, is now likely to come to grief owing to a lack of enterprise among the settlers. The number of shares taken up to date amounts to 3,275, and of this number Mr Clarke, proprietor of the Moa Flat estate, and Mr Hunter, who is to manage the factory, have taken 1000 shares each. This dilatoriness on the part of the settlers is altogether inexplicable, and is another illustration of their inertia and slowness to act in almost everything touching their own interests. One would naturally expect to see the settlers all over the Heriot and neighbour ing districts clamouring for shares in an institution of the kind proposed to be established. The rabbits they regard as a very serious evil —as in reality they are -and the establishment of a preserving factory not only points to an effectual means of mitigating the evil, but also shows bow this can be done,not only without any expenditure on their part, but actually in a manner that means a large profit -the certain profit of their shares. The wonder is that all other districts similarly circumstanced do not at once set about the establishment of industries similar to that contemplated at Heriot. It is about the most effective as well as the readiest way of getting rid of the Rabbit Department, and it will certainly be a huge mistake on the part of th« settlers around Heriot if they permit the failure of such an undertaking.

A sentence passed a few days ago by Mr Stratford, R.M., at Hampden on a man for having a skin on his premises that he could not account for has given rise to considerable comment. It is alleged, we understand, that the lamb was a pet lamb, and enquiries are now being instituted with a view to bringing the case under the notice of the Minister of Justice. The sentence of the court was four months' imprisonment, with hard labour. There was nothing previously known against the man. The London correspondent of the "Evenin? Star " says that Sir Walter Buller is sick of company management, and means to cut the city (London) as soon as he decently can. This, he considers, will be when the New Zealand Antimony Company have paid a dividend, and the Blue Spur Company is in fairly smooth waters. Sir Walter seems still undecided whether he will stay in New Zealand when he gets there, and enter the arena of colonial politics, or return to England and give rein to his literary inclinations. Mb Pbitohabd Mobgan, M.P., says that the gold mines of North Wales had from the opening been one continued success. Since the formation of the company in June of last year, they had crushed 7,325 tons of quartz, yielding 7,8390z 9dwt of gold, or an average yield of loz ldwt 13gr of gold per ton. This has resulted in a profit to the shareholders of £10,500, being at the rate of 5 per cent, during the first year. They were now working 40 heads of stamps, with a crushing power per day of 100 tons, and about 200 men were employed at the mines. If the quartz in the future average one half of what it has done in the past, there would be a profit of £30,000 per year. There is, therefore, every reason to believe there is a bright future for goldmining in Wales. The Mining Conference met in the Town Hall, Dunedin, on Wednesday afternoon, when there was a large attendance. The Hon T. Fergus was elected chairman, and Mr Jas. Allen, M.H.R., vice-chairman. Th« first paper read was on rope-haulage by Mr T. Waters, the Westport Coal Company's inspector of mines. Mr Ashcroft real a paper on mining and capital. Notices of motion were given by Mr Jas. Allen that mining companies and others place every facility in the way of students from the School of Mines who desire to locate themselves at mine works and gain practical experience ; by Mr Andrew, that the Government be requested to appoint a qualified mining expert whose services could be obtained by private persons or companies, at nominal charge, for reports ; and by Mr Reeves, that it is desirable to establish a miners' accident fund for the colony, and that the Minister of Mines take steps to obtain the surplus of tho Kaitangata relief fund for that purpose. In our advertising columns will be found an enquiry for twenty tons of scheelite. We understand that an English firm has decided to go in for the manufacture of the special quality of steel which hitherto Rrupp, the German manufacturer, has had a monoply of. With a view to ascertaining the quantity and quality obtainable in New Zealand, instructions have been given to Messrs Ritchie and Co., of Dunedin, to ship twenty tons at once, and to advise what quantity can be shipped monthly. Scheelite is found in small quantities at different places in Otago, and possibly it may be found difficult to obtain much of it at any one place. Now, however, that the attention of miners is drawn to it, sufficient may be found to enable the English manufacturer to compete with the German firm, which latter does not use scheelite, as they obtain their tungstane acid as a bi-product from their own tin smelting works. The harvest weather up to the present has been magnificent ; indeed, it could hardly be more suitable even though its selection were left in the hands of the farmers themselves. For weeks past without intermission the ceaseless ring of the reaping machine has been heard in every direction ; every member of the family has been pressed into the service, and allotted his or her place, as the case may be, in gathering in the golden grain. Tho work has gone on from daylight till dark, and now there is nothing to be seen but great stretches of bare, brown stubble, the evidence of recent labour being seen in the innumerable stooks or the swelling stacks on which the family labour is for the present concentrated. The crops on the whole have cut far better than was expected, and the yields will consequently be heavy. The absence of strong winds is another gratifying feature of the season, the farmers having altogether escaped the ruinous experiences of previous seasons in this respect. The small birds have not done so much damage to the crops at the northern end of Tuapeka West as at the southern extremity, where the pest is more numerous owing to their proximity to the bush. The Dunedin correspondent of the " Cromwell Argus " tells the following: -"Rather a good story is told against one of our priests, rather a jovial one taken altogether. Visiting a family, he struck up a conversation with one of the boys by inquiring what he would like to be when he became a man. *I would like to be a priest, father,' said the lad, with a peculiarly innocent twang. ' And why would you like to be a priest V was tbo next question.. ' Because they have no work to do, father,' was the staggering reply. But if priests are sometimes taken down by seeming innocence, they generally manage to have some severe digs at the fashions of the day, which they disapprove. One was referring recently to the craze for fine names, and remarked that John or Patrick or Mary was not good enough nowadays ; it had to be Sydney or Melbourne or some high-sounding name. He wondered whether they would shortly come to Ringarooma or Rotomahana. He assured them that a dame had come to him, and when asked what name she wished to give the child, he was startled on being told 'Neuralgia.' The parents had heard the word, but knew not what it meant. It sounded well, and was uncommon, and that is all they cared for." At the Exhibition Mining Conference now being held in Dunedin, a paper on " The re* lations between Capital and Mining," was read on Wednesday afternoon by Mr Jas. Ashcroft, who made the following observations :— " Promotion was a hydra -headed monster which swallowed a great deal of the capital that should be devoted to the extraction of gold. Some men, devoid of practical experience, got hold of a mine which had some promising feature about it, and by puffing it up got it off their hands, and pocketed a goodly sum out of the sale of shares, while they were careless as to whether the mine paid • or not. In England it was a common thing for a syndicate to take up a new scheme, float it for say £100,000, and pocket £30,000 for promotion money. In one case which he heard of £100,000 was subscribed, but out of that sum only £10,000 came to this colony. The rest went to the claimowners and tho promoters. In the face of these and other circumstances could shareholders be surprised that they received no dividends ? Even locally they found that three-fifths of the shares in a mining company paid np to a certain amount were reserved for the claim holders and pro* moters, and they could thus make a large profit before an ounce of gold was produced by selling part of their preference shares, even were that done at a considerable discount To such an extent had these and other prac* tices been indulged in that most prudent-per-sons thought themselves bound to shun all goldmining ventures as utterly unsafe and speculative-a mere lottery in which the chances were all against the genuine investor."