The Dunstan Times FRIDAY, 29th JUNE, 1866

Dunstan Times, Issue 218, 29 June 1866, Page 2

The Dunstan Times

FRIDAY, 29th JUNE, 1866

' Beneath the rule of men entirely jusi, the pbn is MioHTiEii than the gwouu!"

'The subject of immigration to Otago has once more, we are glad to find, been taken up energetically. The want of population has even effected the Taieri farmers, who, notwithstanding their proximity to Dunedin, find it difficult to procure labor, to put the soil in a proper state of cultivation, sufficient to ensure the yearly harvest. If the cultivators of the soil at such a short distance from the capital of the Province find it difficult to procure labor for the performance of ordinary operations, what shifts must the goldfields' residents be pat to from a similar cause. Is it not a well acknowledged fact, that every branch of industry in the upcountry districts is languishing for the Avant of population,; mining enterprises are at a stand-still be cause workmen cannot be found; agriculture and road-making are in a similar fix, for no labor can be had when it is wanted except at a most extortionate rate, and then mostly of a very inferior character. Had we a population and labour at reasonable rates, what innumerable undertakings would be now in full operation, and what a vast addition then would be to the escort-returns, many thousands of acres of land would be under cultivation which are now lying idle and unproductive, and many a barren waste which at present is almost an eyesore, would be converted into a y busy field of remunerative industry. The condition of the laborer himself would be vastly iVriproved —his employment would not be of so desultary a nature/as is now the case ; he certainly/would not receive the same high scale of wages, but his occupation being a permanent one he/could afford to work for much/less, and yet at the same off. As things are 'at present, employers of labor do not keep workmen one single hour beyond the time that their services are required, for the reason that, without the greatest use is made of so expensive a commodity as manual labor, the speculation would be a losing one. As an almost invariable rule, the employee is in a far better position than the employer—the one has risked nothing

and made a profit, while the other has suffered a loss. In no other country under the sun are there such inducements lor the working man as in Otago--he can pick and choose as he pleases the nature of the employment he will follow, or if his spirit of independence carries him so far he can work upon his own account, and be, in the seemingly happy position of calling no man master. On any of our goldfields, an industrious man, by the use of the most primitive implements, may make considerably more than will pay his current expenses, while in the bargain he has the chances of materially improving his circumstances. In the lottery of gold digging there are many prizes, and when least expected the most humble delver in the soil may find his ploddings after wealth come to a very satisfactory conclusion. Private acsounts from Australia most unmis takable demonstrate that the mining population in that country is a loner way from hping in a prosperous condition. Wages are low, and work extremely difficult to get, and many hundreds of miners, either single or having families, would be glad to come over here did they, but possess the necessary means to do so. The cases of individual distress arising from want of employment which we are constantly in the habit of reading in the Victorian papers present an extraordinary anomoly when compared with the state of things here. In Victoria there appears a perfect plethora of labor, and even among the mining population it is seemingly a struggle for bare existence. Now if we could bring some of that population over here to the mining districts an immense advantage would accrue. The employment would be familiar to the new-corners, and even should a portion of them turn their attention to other pursuits the amount of colonial experience already gained would carry them through many difficulties under which people imported direct from Europe would succumb. It is well worthy the attention of the people on our goldfields to devise some system of assisting immigration from the Australian goldfields. The many there who arc only caking out a miserable existence would hail with joy any chance of being released from their unpleasant p >sition, and we are sure that if a system of assisted passages could be inaugurated that a most desirable population would soon be permanently settled among us, and, what is more, all would find remunerative employment suitable to their individual capacity or inclination. The escort which left for Dunedin on Tuesday last, taking down 2,5490z. lOdwt. of gold from Clyde and Alexandra, most satisfactorily demonstrates that the working classes in this district are in receipt of excellent wages, though probably that amount of gold does not represent one half of the actual yield obtained, and we believe that if an aveiage was taken that an ounce,, per man per week is by no means an over estimate. Now average earning of the Victorian miners is not one fourth/of tnat, while what with the new tariff and the effects of the late brought the cost of living is almost as great as in Otago. In the one case, through an overcrowded population, the competition for the means of existence is excessively keen, while in the other, although remunerative labor may be had at any time, workmen are not to be obtained. The dullness of trade, and the comparative smallness of our escort returns when compared with the vast auriferous resources of the country, is one of the best proofs that willing hands to labor is the only ingredient required to secure one uninterupted season of prosperity to all parties, and it is solely to the want of population that the present unsatisfactory state of things must be attributed- The means of relief are extremely simple, and, what is more, readily procurable. A little liberality on the

part of those who have the means, together with judicious management in promoting the object in view, would very speedily relieve the province from its position of embarassment, while at the same time each individual, whether employer or employed, would partici' pate in the general prosperity, «-^XMessrs. Stratford, xSarlow, Edwards, and Cope, the Committee appointed at the last monthly meeting of the Punstan District Hospital Committee to apply to his Honor the Superintendent for a grant of land at the present site of the Hospital, instead oT the site set apart by the Government under the terrace to the rear of the Clyde township, held a meeting on Tuesday morning, at the office of Mr. Warden Stratford, when the following resolutions were proposed and unanimously agreed to: [ —That the area required for out-buildings, recreation walks for convalescent patients, and for the purposes of a kitchen garden, is ten acres, and that a memorial, signed by the sub-Committee, be at once forwarded to bis Honor the Superintendent, requestiug that he will be pleased to issue instructions causing an area of ten acres to be laid off in and around the site upon which the hospital now stands, it being about one mile below the township of Clyde, on the banks of the Clutha, and within the town belt ; and further, that his Honor will take into favorable consideration the desire of the Dunstan Hospital Committee that in future the ground, viz., ten acres on the site above mentioned, should be granted as a hospital reserve, and that the site marked on the plan of the township, and hitherto observed as a hospital reserve, shall be abandoned, and the area now applied for granted in lieu thereof. That Mr. Cope, a member of the Committee- be deputed to wait upon his Honor the Superintendent, and lay before him a copy of the resolutions passed at this meeting, together with the memorial of the Committee already referred to. The memorial is as follows: —"Dunstan Hospital, 27th June, 186 G. To his Honor the Superintendent of Otago. May it please your Honor, —We, the undersigned members of the Dunstan Hospital Committee, having been authorised at a general meeeting (as per minutes attached) of that body to ascertain the area required for Hospital purposes at the site upon which that building now stands, and further to petition your Honor to grant us the site and area required, in lieu of the site now observed and surveyed as a hospital reserve, we beg most tespectfully to submit for your favorable consiieration the prayer contained in the resolution of the Sub-Committee hi rewith attachad. 1. That we have just reason to fear that encroachments may be made on the ground now enjoyed by us as hospital reserve (but without any right or title) by miners in search of gold, and that such encroachments, were they to take place, would effect serious injury to the ground, it having been carefully enclosed and cultivated for kitchen garden purposes for the benefit of the hospital patients. 2. That the site which hasbeensurveyed as a hospital reserve is totally unfit for that purpose, as it is situate away from water supply (which is so much required for such an institution), and moreover that the building now stands on the most convenient situation within the vicinity of the township. Leaving, with an expression of entire confidence, !)he matter of our request for your Honor's consideration, your petitioners will ever pray." It appears that petroleum will in all probability become an article of export from this province. The " Daily Times," by permission, publishes the following letter: —"Lawrence, 18th June, 18GC. To his Honor the Superintendent. Sir, — In coining down from the diggings, I see that the Clutha Coal Reserve is for sale. I take the liberty to inform your Honor that myself and two mates, while prospecting for gold there, discovered petroleum shale, about two years ago. We were going to apply for a mining lease of it, but were informed that it was already leased; and as my mates went shortly afterwards to the West Coast, and have done -well, I am now on my way to join them. One of my mates, being an old Pennsylvanian well borer, he showed its effects to us. The land is between the settlers' purchased land that contains the above. I am, your obedient servant, Hugh M'Millan." We have been requested to mention that Mr. S. M. Clarke, master of the Clyde School, intends opening an evening elai-s for adults. The first session will commence on Monday evening, the 2nd July, at half-past 7 o'clock.

Tuesday's escort took down 'the following quantities of gold :—Clyde 1121 oz.'s Alexandra 1428 oz. 10 dwts. The heavy fains which fell during Tuesday and Wednesday caused a great rise in the Molyneux. The Leach-claims at Alexandra were all flooded and much loss is thereby occasioned. The weather has now taken a favorable change, and to all appearances the river will soon be once more down again to a low level. Mr. Thomas Shanley, of Cromwell, very nearly lost his life in the snow on the night of Thursday week last, while returning from the Nevis. "When Mr. Shanley reached the summit t>f the Carrick Ranges he was overtaken by a storm, and found it impossible to find his way. Fortunately he was able to gain the shelter of a rock, or the worst possible consequences might have resulted.