FRIDAY 26th APRIL, 1867.

Dunstan Times, Issue 261, 26 April 1867, Page 2

FRIDAY 26th APRIL, 1867.

The intelligence by Tuesdaynight's mail, that the General Government bad decided to withold the delegated powers under the Goldfields' Act from the Superintendent, and had appointed instead an agent in the person of Mr Jas. B. Bradshaw, took everyone by surprise; for however unpopular the election of Mr Macandrew may have been at Wellington, it was never anticipated that the Government there would have made the matter an affair for any display of personal feeling, as such is clearly now the case, Mr Macandrew was elected to the oflice of Superintendent by an immense majority of votes over his opponent Mr Dick, and there can be no gainsaying the fact, that ho occupies his present position from the almost unanimous voice of the people, therefore to withold from him any powers which were delegated, or held by his predecessor in office, is simply an insult to the Province at large, and which will be resented. However public opinion in the upcountry districts, may be opposed to provincialism, there is no special reason that till such time as we procure its abolition, and substitute instead, local self government, that the existing order of things should be disturbed, nioro especially to be made subservient to petty personal spite, or that one of our most important industries should j be jeopardised at the mero whim or

fancy of some |>ejpspns ib the North Island, who. tbjplay fast and loose With othbr peoples interests. That the actioii taken by the General Government, is a grgat blow taalt at Provincialism, "the most unobservant teust acknowledge, and as suehjft is its only redeeming point: but when it is considered the confusiob, that must necessarily arise from a clashing of Provincial and General Government forces, it would have been better to have left things remain as they were, till that useless and cumbersome institution Provincialism was utterly abolished iu New Zealand. The position occupied by Mr Bradshaw, must by no means be an enviable one, if we judge from what has transpired, let alone what may follow. The Gold fields Wardens must be very unpleasantly placed; it is clear that they cannot serve two masters, and as their salaries are paid jointly by both .General and Provincial Gov* ernments, those officials may with truth be said to be placed upon the horns of a dilemma, and which cannot fail but to impair the efficiency of the public service. It is greatly to. be desired, that the General Government will see their folly, and at once relieve Mr Bradshaw of his position of " Bashaw "of all the Goldfields, and make amends bv at onco conferring upon Mr Macandrew the powers delegated to Mr Dick, Such we believe is the unanimous wish of the whole of the residents on the Goldfields, and in this particular instance, the Provincial Government will we arc sure meet with the heartiest support.

On Tuesday evening last, Mr W. Gruraitt, of Cromwell, gave some well-selected readings from the works of Charles Dickens, at the Church of England, Clyde, in aid of the Church Funds. About seventy persons were present, and if the unanimous vote of thanks that was accorded Mr Grumitt at the close of the entertainment be any criterion of its merits, wc must say that j si! present were highly pleased, and for our I part we must say the same, and hope to spend 1 many such pleasant evenings during the coming | winter. The readings were prefaced by a few I appropriate remarks on Charles Dickens' wonderful i-:n.y,iii,n of character and fertility of | brain. The selections read were chosen with ! great taste, and remarkably well illustrated Dickens' thorough knowledge of human nature iu its various spheres. At'the close a public meeting was held to elect a Church Committee for the ensuing year—the ohl Committee retiring by lapse of time. The annual report and finance statement being satisfactory. The retiring committee were reelected. Professor Parker and Miss AnnieF.eaumont who are making a tour through the goldfields, give an entertainment at the Town Hall, Clyde on Monday last, also last evenit g. Professor Parker's wonderful feats in swordsmanship are too well known to need any comment from us. Miss Annie Beaumont's ballad sinking was great y admired and deservedly applauded. As the Professor and Miss Beaumont give a final entertainment at the Town Mall, ''lytic on Saturday night—we must advise all those who have r.ot witnessed these clever performances, to avail'themselves of the opportunity of so doing. 'I he Manuhcrikia T lection lias resulted in the return of MrD Mervyn, who heads V.r Jack by IS votes. The votes recorded at the several polling-place 3 were as follows: Jack. Mervyn. Mount Bengcr, 8 14 Alexandra, 15 9 Blacks, 2 0 Clyde, 4 5 Cromwell. 4 22 Hamilton's 0 . 1 33 51 A public meeting was held at Cromwell, on Monday last, by the Uate-payers, to take into consideration the late conduct of the members of tho Municipal ' ouncil respecting the vote of censure passed by them on the Bth inst., on Uh Wor hip the Mayor, W. J. Barry, Ksq. '■ he meetini; was unanimously of opinion that the Council were in the wrong —the Mayor being absent at the time on a visit to Dunedin. A vote of confidence in Mr Barry was enthusiastically carried. Dr Alexander Hunter, avcll known in both Dunedin and Melbourne, expired at Hokitika a few days since, from bronchetis. His decease was somewhat sudden, although for nia-iy years he has been suffering from chronic bronchitis. Dr Hunter's death was doubtless acccllerated by the sad death of his son, who perished in tho illfated London, on her voyAgo to Melbourne ; in Ja'.uarv of last vcar.

The enquiry into tke loss of the South , Australian, has been concluded. The re- . portia to*be made public in the New , Zealand Gazette. Erratum.—The advertisement calling the meeting of shareholders of the Rose, Thistle, and Shamrock Water-Race Co., , for the purpose of winding up the said . company, in our last issue was for the 29th April, whereas it should have been the 6th of May, on which day the meeting will.take place at the time and place notified.