The Dunstan Times SATURDAY, 24th MARCH, 1866

Dunstan Times, Issue 204, 24 March 1866, Page 2

The Dunstan Times

SATURDAY, 24th MARCH, 1866

'Beneath the rule of men bntirp.i.t just, tin vbn is MIOHTIBH thtm the §Woiu>!"

We are bow in possession of the names of the gentlemen elected to become our representatives in the General Assembly. Taking them as a whole we have good cause for congratulal ion. bach one has been personally known to us for some time, and we have reasonable Gxpcctatiousthatthe promises made notwithstanding they were " election promises," will be redeemed to the best of each one's ability. A member cannot, of course, be expected literally to accomplish each and all of the many radical changes he may propose —he is only one of a many —but if he carefully watches over the interests of his constituents, and does his utmost in endeavoring to' lead others to his way of thinking, and gain adherents to his cause,he cannot be accused of neglect of duty, and those that elected him should rest satisfied in the assurance that he has done his best. Some of the cadidates now elected promised an export duty on wool, m the event of the export duty on gold not being totally repealed or very much reduced. We must candidly confess we have not the least expectation that such could be accomplished. The squatters are too strong and too many for that—in fact such an imposition would be impolitic, upon the principle that "two wrongs do not make a right." An expert duty upon any kind of produce whatever is oppose to the true principles of politicaleconomy, and is a fax upon industry, but we fully believe that it is quite within the powers-of any goldfields' representative to induce members not at all interested in the goldfields to exert themselves to procure its repeal—showing them by good sound reasoning, tnat the export duty on gold is a great injustice, and a species of class legislation. The miners, although they may have caused an increased public expenditure, have nevertheless conferred proportionate benefits in return, in which we one and all, have participated, and it is net more than common justice that the extra cxpeuce the country may have been put to by the goldfields management, should be borne

eqally by all parties. An increase of taxation upon some of the luxuries, which, had it not been for the gold discoveries, would only have been but sparingly used, would be a far more equitable impost.

Messrs Yogel, Baldwin, and we must include the member for Hampden, Mr Haughton, are tried men, and have become much respected as leaders of public opinion. The latter, certainly, gave us much cause for complaint in reference to the 28ih clause, but if his explanations are to be relied on, the Goldfields members had no tive but to reject the bill in toto, although it conferred many advantages upon the miners, we are however inclined to look at the matter more as an ciror of judgment, rather than a desire to damage the interests of the residents of the goldfields. Unfortunately the clause is retrospective, and applies to present as well as future iroldnVlds, but it one redeeming point, in that il does not repeal clause X of the act of 1862, which only applies to such portions of runs as may be required for occupation, therefore we have the ehancos that should any obdurate squatter, Shylocklikc require his " pound of flesh,'' an appeal to the Supreme Couri might advantageously he made. As nearly all the Otago members have promised to use their utmost exertions to procure a repeal of the 28th clause, we have every reason to believe that during the coming session of the Assembly such will be accomplished. Messrs Bradshaw and O'Neill have j'et to makj their debut a? representatives, The latter gentleman's experience on the goldfields does not extend over a very long period, but the exercise of his profession as a civil engineer, and the opportunities afforded him while in charge of the roads in the goldmining districts, ought to make him a very desirable member. Mr Bradshaw has been for many years a constant resident on the goldfields, both in Victoria and

this Province, and is par icu'arly intimate with the requirements oi a mining population. He advocates many useful and highly necessary changes in the management of the Goldfiekls. A responsible head of that department, in the shape of a Minister of Mines, is much wanted. It is high time that some one should bo personally answerable for the proper administration of affairs. There is too much discretionary power invested in irresponsible officers, and which will be found considerably to impair the value of mining securities, and limit investments in mining speculations. Mr Bradshaw's advocacy of an acreage tax, instead of the present assessment of sheep and cattle, is well worthy of careful con sideration. It is a well-ascertained fact that the runholders do not contribute their fair share to the revenue of the country, and every means should be used to compel them to do so, This tax would be very easy of collection—the area in acres of each run is well known —they could be classed according to their grazing capabilities, and proximity to a market, and taxed accordingly. No squatter would be required to pay for more than he possessed, or vice versa, while there would be the necessity for him to stock his run to the extent ofits capabilities, and thus cause the public estate to be rendered more productive, the result being an indirect gain to all parties. We don't imagine that Mr Bradshaw would seek to interfere with cxist= ing leases. Till such have expired the holders in all fairness have an undeniable right to the benefits of their bargain, but we must have no rev.* vals. As each lease falls out. A fresh understanding must "be come to. The country demands that everyacreshould be put to its legitimate and proper uses, and realise its full money value, whether devoted to agricultural or pastoral purposes'. We must

give Mr Bradshaw credit for > originality of ideas, and which have the great merit of being extremely feasible, while at the same time we fully believe he will do his best to give them effect. When the session is over, and each member redeems his pledge 1 f visiting his constituents, and rendering to them an account of his stewardship, we trust w eshall be in a position to congratulate ourselves upon our having chosen wisely and well.

The accounts; respecling the new rush at Okarita arc very conflicting. The • " Grey River Argus ' eaya :— <; During the last few days there has been a continuous outflow of population moving southward, induced by some mysterious of splendid ground having been opened at Okarita. Since Satnrday, not less than five to six hundred diggers have passed along the South Beach, all bound for the alleged new Dorado. Unless

the miners have most exclnsive and

trustworthy information, this rush is most absurd and unwarranted. ' It is true that the Bruce brought up some 5000 ounces of gold the other day ; but this shipment represents pretty nearly all the gold that has at Okarita since its discovery. • On the other hand, a large population has accumulated there, and stores, &c, are going up sufficient to supply a prosperous goldfield of twice or thrice the extent and importance of Okarita, whilst from all who have been there and from other sources, we hear the same story—that a collapse and a very speedy one is is inevitable. On the same subject the " West Coast Times" remarks : " The intelligence from Okarita per Bruce is most tame and unimportant. No fresh ground has been opened, and of these new rushes that in former issues we have reported favorably upon, one has since proved a duffer. We are sorry to

hear such an account of Cook's River,

which at one time promised fairly, but it has been well-tried, and proved worthless. We have derived this from a source that may be depended upon. The other rushes to the south of Okarita are progressing steadily, but as far as wo can hear, no extraordinary finds have been made- At the same time the district is looking up, and the township daily extending. We are, however, inclined to think that the late discoveries of new rushes will not prove of so much importance a was anticipated when it first opened."

The "West Coast Times" gives the following account of the effects of the late floods:—The Albion Hotel is doomed, the bank having slipped away from under a large corner of the building, whilst the

London Pic House, at the opposite corner, is almost as badly situated, there being barely room for a pedestaian to pass between it and the river. Lower down the ironmongeay store of Messrs Hayworth and Co. is in imminent jeopardy, the bank having washed away close up to the front, and from under one corner of it> leaving not a vestige of that, which on Saturday last was a broad footpath ; and

although there is a bit of sand yet remainin' between the intermediate houses and the river, their fate may be considered as settled, and their removal at once commenced."