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LOCAL NEWS.
DEATH OF MR. WILLIAM LIPSCOMB.—On Sunday
night, or rather Monday morning, another of the old
Maitland residents died, Mr. William Lipscomb.
For some years past Mr. Lipscomb had been a
martyr in infirmities, which came on him earlier in
life than his vigour in manhood would have led
people to anticipate. Some few years back he met
with a slight accident which caused him a broken
leg, and the fracture proving a rather bad one, he
was laid up for many months almost as helpless as a
child. He had always been of stout build, and while
he lay thus from day to day, all his food seemed to turn
into making him fatter, so that when he was even-
tually able to get about again he was from this cause
crippled from taking any active exertion. Humanly
speaking, this early laying up of a man who had been
always one of the most vigorous and able of Mait-
land public men, completely changed his constitu-
tional habits, and he became subject to occasional
fits, and just lately the torpor crept over his mental
faculties also. Latterly, at different occasions, Mr.
Lipscomb was more frequently attacked with fits
(usually epileptic, we believe), causing great anxiety
to his family and friends, though very little to
himself, for he was more firmly of opinion than
any other person that they must soon end in death.
And at last a series of these fits seized the sufferer
on Saturday afternoon last, although everything
was done that Dr. Morson's skill and the anxious
efforts of his family could devise, he died early on
Monday morning, having only partly recovered
mental consciousness. Mr. Lipscomb had been one
of the most useful of all the many public men we
have known in and about Maitland. He was to all
appearance absolutely devoid of selfishness, never
on any occasion trying to turn to his own honor or
advantage any public movement he took part in.
He was a man of most straightforward and strict in-
tegrity, not only in pecuniary matters, but in all
other things. He was one of the most genial and
reliable of friends, very hospitable, and retaining old
friendships with all alike, year after year—never
quarrelling with any. And while he was a good
public speaker, easily roused to the enthusiastic style
of speaking which carries an audience with the
speaker, he was brimming over with rich natural
humour, very rarely sarcastically witty, but always
full of fun. One other characteristic we may note—he
was a man easily roused to indignation and speech by
anything like tyranny, or even overbearing conduct,
and then remarkably outspoken. With such a
character, our younger readers can readily imagine
that when the Maitland Mercury was started, in
January, 1843, Mr. Lipscomb was one of the three
most influential public men here, and a man who
was certain to be consulted in all public movements.
At that time, and for many years after, while every-
body, of all ranks and denominations, consulted him
freely and fully, we never heard of one person who
hated him. It would be impossible for us to enume-
rate, or even to remember, all the public movements
Mr. Lipscomb vigorously aided, with speech, labour,
and money.
AURIFEROUS LEASES.—The attention of parties
interested is invited to the notification in the supple-
ment to the Government Gazette, of the 20th ult., of
the approval by his Excellency the Governor and
the Executive Council of the appropriations for
leases of auriferous tracts therein enumerated. The
said notice will be considered a sufficient intimation
to the different applicants named therein, who are
also hereby reminded that the rents on such leases
are payable from the 1st instant.—Gazette, July 4.
The Gazette of the 4th contains also a list of leases of
auriferous tracts that have become forfeited through
non-compliance with conditions, and a list of appli-
cations for leases of auriferous tracts that have been
approved by the Government.
DEATH FROM SANGUINEOUS APOPLEXY.—At
Branxton, on Sunday, the Coroner, Mr. W. Pearse,
held an inquiry into the facts concerning the death
of David Yowell, who had died on the previous day.
The inquiry was held at Mr Shepherd's Travellers'
Rest Inn, Branxton. From the evidence it appeared
that deceased, a wheelwright, and a man of about
forty-seven years of age, had been drinking heavily
for about a fortnight, and had not been at work
during the whole of that time. On Friday, for the
first time during the fortnight, he eat heartily, having
taken some arrowroot, and subsequently sat down to
dinner before the rest of the family, and eat a little
beef steak. He was at this time shaking very much,
and showing the effects of his drinking bout. While
sitting at dinner he rose from the table, staggered,
and would have fallen, if his wife had not caught him ;
she assisted him to the sofa, thinking he was about
to have a fit similar to those which attacked him
while he was drinking ; he spat a little, grew black
in the face, and died immediately. Dr. John Pierce,
who examined the body of the deceased, and heard
the evidence of the witnesses, gave his opinion that
death was the result of sanguineous apoplexy,
accelerated by intemperance. The verdict was
"Died from apoplexy produced by intemperance."
DEATH FROM DYSENTERY AND DIARRHŒA.—On
Saturday the coroner, Mr. T. W. Pearse, held an
inquest in Maitland Gaol, into the circumstances
attending the death of Frances Cook, a woman of sixty-
three years of age, and a native of Ireland. The
evidence was that deceased had been admitted to
the prison on the 6th June last, under a warrant
from the West Maitland bench for vagrancy ; she
was in so weak a state when she came that she
required immediate assistance, and was placed under
the care of Dr. Wilton. Dr. Wilton ordered her to
be put in bed, and supplied with what comforts were
considered necessary. She was suffering from
diarrhœa and vomiting, and continued in this state till
her death, which occurred on Friday. Shortly
previous to her death, her stomach became so irritable
that she refused the comforts that were given to her,
and could only take light food. She had been living
a bad life outside, it was understood. The opinion
of the doctor as to the cause of death was that it
resulted from diarrhœa and dysentery, combined with
dropsy. The jury found a verdict of "death from
natural causes."
NARROW ESCAPE FROM DROWNING.—A ROYAL
RESCUE.—A lad named George English, about ten
or eleven years of age, experienced a narrow escape
from being drowned in the Hunter river last Satur-
day morning. The mishap that was so near ending
fatally occurred at the back of Messrs Vindin and
Co's, and near to the Belmore bridge. The youth
was, we understand, gathering oranges, and he was
seen by a number of persons on the bridge to slip
down the embankment into the river. He sank
and reappeared at the surface of the water several
times, and two gentlemen immediately ran to render
assistance. One of these gentlemen was no less a
personage than Prince Celua, (Joseph), third son of
Tunkambau, King of the Fijis ; the other was Mr. T.
Onus, of East Maitland. Seeing that no time was to
be lost, as the boy was hopelessly strug-
gling to reach the shore, the gallant Fijian prince
waited not to divest himself of his clothes, but
In he plunged boldly,
No matter how coldly
The rough river ran,
caught the boy in his arms, and endeavoured to bring
him to land ; but, owing to the great weight of the
boy and his own saturated garments, he was unable
to do so, and probably both would have perished (as
the youth had his arms firmly clasped round his
rescuer's neck) had it not been for the timely aid
rendered by Mr. Onus, who also plunged in, and
brought them both to shore in safety. It is supposed
the lad, while in the river, must have swallowed a
large quantity of water. He was able to speak when
brought to shore, and said he had sunk and risen to
the surface again no less than thirteen times. Soon
afterwards, however, he showed symptoms of
drowsiness, and was taken home in a state
of semi-consciousness, and put to bed, where
be shortly recovered, on the usual restoratives being
administered. Apropos of Prince Celua, it may be
mentioned that he is at present the guest of some
college companions in Maitland, with whom he is
spending the winter vacation. Prince Joseph, who is
between seventeen and eighteen years of age, came
to the colony about eighteen months ago, for the pur-
pose of availing himself of the advantages of an
English education, and for the last twelve months he
has been a student at Newington College, in Sydney.
He is said to be exceedingly quick at learning, and
has, during the time he has been at College, made
considerable progress in his studies.
MINING MANAGERS-amongst the mining ma-
nagers sent up from Sydney to take charge of claims
in this district, are gentlemen who improve on ac-
quaintance, and who earn for themselves by their
straightforward and honest conduct the esteem of
the community There are others also who too fre-
quently irriter awaj their salan»«, run themselves
and their company in debt, and then -take their
fleparture-leaving their creditors to ' mourn their
lose." It is with reference to the last named class
that we intend to say a few words m order to give
those residing at a distance a tolerablj good idea
bf what some of their representatives do The
first step is to introduce themselves as the
manager of such and such a mine to vanous
tradespeople in the town, and open an ac-
count This is stated to be necessary, as they
Only get their money -monthlj and they would Con-
sequently prefer paying monthly themselves Thej
put tip at the best hotels for some days to make in-
quiries about the country, Ixirrow cash and stamps,
tun up a large grog score, and then depart for tile
»cene of their future labours Arrived there, they
find fault with everything that has been done by
therr predecessor, if they had one, «nd return to
town to telegram that everything will have to be
altered, and for a remittance The debts are in-
creased at the hotel and the stores, horses and saddles
are bought from pnvate parties on credit, and so
things go on. Cheques are given for wages, and
are duly honored-but as time advances, the
directors m Sydney do not approve of the expense
they are at with their managers, without receiving
h consignment of tin They hear from time to
time that the ground ia being opened out, and that
It gives splendid indications of being very rich with
ore, but Btill they look anxiously and sometimes
hopelessly for the product of their mine They
then begin to express dissatisfaction, and to thnik of
appointing another manager The present manager
is quick to observe this, and takes care to draw nis
iuU pay to date, pay the workmen With cheques
Which he knows will not be honored, and eventually
returns to Sydney, representing himself as a greatly
injured party How then can it be wondered at that
more of the mines do not pay 8 Where the owners
of a claim proceed to work the ground themselves
it Invariably pays handsomely-but good ground, in
the hands of a manager appointed by a directory
resident at a distance, generally turns out bad-the
cost to get the tin being more than the ore is worth
Of Course there are exceptions to this, «s -well as
every other rule, as we stated at the commencement
of these remark-And we are glad to say a good num-
ber This, however, is only in the cases where a ;
manager understands and attends to his duties -
Tenterfield Star, July 3
WÄATHRR ITEITB, 4c-A mercantile house in
town favors us with the following items of news
from the mtenor -"Mogil Mogil, June 10 The
weather has been very wet since the 1st instant, BO
that camers will not be able to travel for some time
to come,-18th June We have liad a very heavy fall
of ram The mer is very high and is still rising
Our maila have all been stopped "-' PrlligB, Jone
24 We are now three weekB here without a mail,
but -one is expected down to-morrow My sheep
hatfe been in nothing but water and bog It has
rained heavily constantly for three weeks I never
SaW'the nountry m such a boggy state, and tt will be
a fortnight yet before the water is off the ground
iitfflcientryror sheep to feed I have had very few
losses, but I hear of eotne rather heavy ones near
Tiere "--" Boggabri, June 30 Goods on the Breeza
Plains are likely to remain there some time We
had another day's heavy ram yesterday Several
drays started to go down empty yesterdaj, ahd had
to return back on to high ground, so it is no use
sending «ore goods till the toads get daer,"
DISASTERS ON DARLING DOW^ÎS -We hear of a
sad loss of life and great destruction of property by
the recent floods on the Darling Downs borne
thousands of sheep have been lost from the dandilla
jrun On the Lower Condamine the height of the
flood exceeded the great one of lh64 In one place
a sheet of water, five miles wide, covered the low
lying country Great losses of stock are reported on
the Juandah station At Cecil Plains station eight
lives were lost, five of those swept away were chil-
dren, and only one bod j, that of a child, has been
recovered» These unfortunates were endeavouring
to escape at the time they were overtaken and swal-
lowed up in tire flood. The son of the Hon James
Taylor, the owner of the station, twice narrowly
escaped lonng his life, in trj ing to save some of them
-Tenterfield Star, July 3
S iLks OP STOCK AT MUBGFF -Crossing and Cox
report having sold at the Agricultural Society's
ground -2 cows and 1 heifer on account of Mr J
Headford at £10 £27, and ioO On account of Mr
W H TiBdale-6heifersandcow8ati28,£13, ¿11,
»£32, £19, £10 10s Colts and fillies on account of
A Tindale, Esq, from £9 to £14 , and have under
offer 11 young bulls, Mr R. Lowes at£2o each -
Mr W. C, Reynolds reports having sold on the
Agricultural Society's ground, yesterday Frederick,
the First, white bull, aged, to J D Cox, Esq,
for £30, three ten months old bulls, by
the above to C B Lowe, Esq, for £106, one
fat bullock at £14 to Mr. E Daly, oa account of
Messrs B,«nd B Rouse, one Hereford bull,St. George,
14 months old, to J J Riley, Esq, for £30, on ac-
count of J D. Cox, Esq , one Durham heifer on ac-
count of Mr James Lane, for £10 Last week Mr
Reynolds sold on account of J J Riley, Esq 800
LUE hogget rams at £2per head, also oa account
of A. Town, Esq., about 900 maiden ewes to B
M'Rae, Esq-, Coolah, at 8s Gd , and has now under
offer, bulls,rams, and ewes, of which no doubt sales
will shortly be effected ?*? Western Post, July 4
WOODFORD COLLIFHY -We understand that, dur-
ing the past week, Mr. Hurley, of Sydney, has
visited this colliery either for the purpose of par
obasing, or forming a company for the working of
the extensive mine now lying idle W e bave not
as yet heard what determination Mr Hurley has
armed at He proceeds from Newcastle to th«
Clarence River, to examine the newly discovered coal
finds in that district-Neiocastle Chronicle, July 5
GovKBNMFvr COVTÄACTS.-Tenders are required
by the Government for the construction of gun
platforms at Newcastle Tho undermentioned ten-
ders have been accepted by the Government -Mr
John Hudson, fencing, &c, court-house, Scone, Mr.
W Xinne ir, erection of custom-housa officer's quar-
ters at Ballina, and Mr Joseph Conlan, erection of
bridge over Broadwater, at Moree -Gazette, July 4
PBB-FsrPTivB LEASRS-- A list of claims for pre-
emptive leases that have been approved by the
Government was published m the Gazette of the 4th
inst.
QÜAMFICATIOVFOB ALDERMAN- On further in-
vestigation we find that on reference to the qualifi-
cation for alderman, it was decided before the full
Court at Sydney, on the I3th March, 1870, in the
case exporte Hirst, "That no person can be legally
nominated as alderman of any ward whereof he is
not himself an elector."->S V Herald.
POLICE BUSINESS. — Mr. James Smith, P. M., was
the sitting magistrate at the temporary court house,
West Maitland, yesterday, and disposed of six cases.
CLAIM UNDER THE FRIENDLY SOCIETIES ACT. —
The case of Philip Smeltzer against the trustees of
the Independent Order of Oddfellows, Manchester
Unity, Hunter River District, for certain arrears of
sick pay, was further adjourned till Thursday next,
for the attendance of a second magistrate.
DAMAGING PROPERTY. — Robert Walmsley was
charged, at the temporary court-house, West Mait-
land, with wilfully destroying eight panes of glass,
the property of George Walmsley, and pleaded
guilty. The complainant was not desirous of
pressing the charge, which was accordingly with-
drawn.
DRUNKENNESS. — At the temporary court-house,
West Maitland, yesterday, Tommy Cameron, an
aboriginal, for being drunk on Saturday night in
East Maitland, was admonished and discharged. —
John Heffernan was charged with being drunk in a
public place on the 5th inst. Senior-sergeant Kerri-
gan applied for a remand, in order to prefer a charge
against the defendant under the Vagrant Act, he
having been alleged to have been thrice convicted
within twelve months of a similar offence. The
remand was granted.
INDECENT LANGUAGE. — At the temporary court-
house, West Maitland, yesterday, James Shiner was
charged with using indecent language within hear-
ing of a public place in West Maitland, on the 1st
inst. At the request of the complainant, who did
not wish to press the charge, the case was dismissed.
FURIOUS RIDING. — At the temporary court house,
West Maitland, yesterday, Tommy Cameron, an
aboriginal, was fined 10s., for furious riding in East
Maitland, on the Saturday previous. It was men-
tioned by Tommy's employer, that he was, when
under the influence of drink, liable to get excited,
and almost lose his senses, but that he very seldom
took spirits to drink.
DISPUTE ABOUT A MARE. — Malcolm McRae was
summoned to the temporary court-house, West
Maitland, yesterday, to answer a charge of unlaw-
fully detaining a mare, the property of Edward
Excell, at Largs. Mr. R. W. Thompson appeared for
the complainant, and Mr. H. 0'Meagher for the de-
fendant. It appeared from the evidence that com-
plainant's son had sold the mare to one James Gra-
ham, of Largs, from whom McRae had obtained it,
in exchange for another horse, giving £2 10s. to boot.
There was some dispute about whether the mare
was the property of the father or the son at the time
it was sold. Complainant swore the mare was his
property, and that he had never given it to his son,
but he had offered to get defendant's horse back and
give it to him, with the £2 10s. he had given to boot.
Graham, who bought the mare from young Excell,
gave evidence of the transaction, and it seemed
from his evidence that he was under the
impression the mare belonged to the son.
William Wilkes, who had been hay-pressing
for Excell, also gave evidence, but be could
not swear whether the horse belonged to the father
or the son. He had heard the son ask the father for
£10, or the horse, and the old man told him to "take
the horse for God's sake." A witness named Moy-
lan deposed that he had received the horse in dis-
pute from young Excell, some time ago, and detained
it as security for a horse he had lent him. Wilkes
further stated that young Excell was about to run
away and get married. Old Excell explained that
his son asked him for the loan of £10, or the mare, and
he had agreed to let him have it for a fortnight. The
bench adjudged the mare to be the property of com-
plainant, and ordered defendant to deliver it up
within a reasonable time.
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