The Dunstan Times FRIDAY, JUNE 12, 1868.

Dunstan Times, Issue 320, 12 June 1868, Page 2

The Dunstan Times

FRIDAY, JUNE 12, 1868.

Beneath the Rule of Men KVinu I.v just the PES is mightier than the SWORD.

Mk. Matthew Hay, the representative in the Provincial Council forWakatip brought forward a very practicable and highly necessary motion to the effect that all new works in connexion with the formation and making of in lieu of the present almost universal system of day labor. Mr. Hay doubtless has been travelling lately, and become cognisant of the lamentable waste of public money in the employment of day-laborers in roadmakini often urged upon the Government, and we are glad to find that the necessity for such a proceeding has at last been brought forward in the Council. In a thinly-populated country like Otago, where the means at the disposal of the Government for public works are necessarily very limited, it is of the greatest importance that the most should be made of what there is. and in no c.ise should waste or ex-

travagawee be permitted. Unfortunately for us, such is'the incapacity of the ruling powers for comprehensive and economical management that the construction of roads costs twice as much as it should do, and this will continue to be the case till effect is given to Mr. Hay's motion. It ii nn universally acknowledged fact that laborers employed by the Government atday-woik do considerably less for private persons; in fact, a very large majority of the men now working on the roads for the Government would very quickly be despatched about their business by any other employer. To keep up a proper and efficient system of supervision over day-laborers is next to an impossibility. The District Road Engineer may be ever so vigilant or anxious to push forward the undertaking in hand, but he cannot be everywhere at one time. The J discipline of bis subordinates in bis absence therefore becomes lax, and the I country is consequently compelled to pay out money for which there is not an equivalent. We will go farther than Mr. Hay, I . and advise that the system of conI tracts should be extended to the rej pairs of roads. The payment ot a given sum per annum to keep in repair a defined extent of road would be much cheaper than employing what are technically termed ''surface men." There are plenty of really enterprising men among the miners, who would gladly undertake contracts of an extent limited to their means ; and were such a system pursued on the goldfields, both for renairs and consti-ue-should have f. ,'ost than has I hitherto bei plished. The road contra* some three years pa: .Mr. Daykin, between Clyde and Cromwell, and also the road lately constructed by the same gentleman, up tin- Cairn Muir hill, on the road to the Xovis, from the Clyde Ferry, are instances of the enormous saving that might be made no hesitation in affirming that, ntjon than half that amount Executive Government insiv, wan ver jiuiiliiucnt by charged against the gold,' been judiciously employ* now existing pressing have been supplied.

We have been requested by Mr. R. M. Stewart, Secretary to the Alexandra .School Committee to acknowledge a donation of Five pounds towards the .School fund, from the Alexandra Tern pcrance Society. Mr. Stewart also desires us to acknowledge on behalf of himself, the sunt of Two pounds, received from the Progress Committee of Alexandra towards the defrayment of expenses incurred by that body. It will be seen by our advertising columns, that the people of Clyde have the opportunity of testing the qialt/ of the Like Wakatip flour, from a presented by Messrs Cope and Fache. Mr Joseph Hastie has kindly e msented to make the bread, which will bo sold for the benefit of tin fit ids of the D.mstan District Hospital. In the Resident Magistrate's Court C omwell on Wednesday the 10th inst., disposed of:—Police v. A. M. Box. for allowing three pigs to stray in Cromwell street.—Fined 10s. and 3s fid. eo.sts. Hurley v, ColoJough, claim i.'3f>. 10s. Mr. W. L. Bailey for Plaintiff. Judgment for £l9. 10s. and 7s. costs. Colclough v. Hurley.— Claim .£37. Mr. W. L. Bailey for Defendant. Judgment for £l9. 9s. fid 7s. costs and 40s. expenses. The last two cases were disputed accounts of over -twelve months' standing and occnp ed the attention of the Bench a long time. Israel Wendel charged with fraudulent insolvency, was tried in the Supreme. Court on the sth inst.. and acquitted. Joseph Allen, late of Alex andra, charged with robbery from the person, was sentenced at the same time to two years imprisonment.

The "Provincial Government Gu- I ssetto " of the 3rd inst. contains a fro- j claniation, —" That the Town Allot merits in Arrow town will be open for sale. It is delinitely settled that provided the Covernor s arrangements do not interfere, the Assembly will be ailed for the 9th July. The annual meeting of the members of the Dunstan Jockey Club was held at the Dunstan Hotel oil Thursday evening the 4tll inst. ; a limited number were in attendance. Mr. J. Ilazlet t, Vice President in the Chair. The Treasurer's report (see Advertisement) was read and received. Twenty eight members paid their subscriptions for the ensuing year. Mr. J. Hazlett on behalf of the Committee for the past year tendered their re signation. Proposed by Mr. Beck, seconded by Mr. B. Barlow, that a vote of thanks be tendered to ihe retiring Committee. The followinggentlemen were elected by ballot, Members of Committee for the ensuing year; Messrs Bennett, M'Morran, Glassford, Turnbull, Christophers, Loughnan, Stewart, Bayly, Shaw, Douglas, Smitham, and Strainch. A vote to the Chair terminated the proceedingsA meeting of the Committee was he d at the same time and place. Present, Mr. B. Turnbull in the Chair, and Messrs Glassford, Bennett, M'Morran, Stewart and Christophers. The following officers were elected, —Mr. W. Eraser, President; Mr. J Hazlett, Vice President ; Mr, A Christophers, Hon. Treasurer ; Mr. M. Marshall, Secretary (pro torn) and Messrs Jones and Barlow, Auditors. It was agreed liat the next meeting of Committee be held at Cox's Port Philip Hotel on the first Thursday in July at 9 p.m. A vote of thanks to the Chair concluded the proceedings. The Atlantic Cables are obtaining great success as a commercial speculation. This success is the more gratifying, because it is found to make greater progress in proportion as the Company's tariff is lowered. The result of official statistics give a daily average from the Ist to the I,sth Feb 18G7 of £927, against £1,254 on the corresponding period of the present year, showing an increase at the rate of £327 per day. " From private letter." "Dickers' Mining Record" says:— Six experienced miners have started from Camperdown, Victoria, to prospect for gold in the neighbourhood of Cape Otway. The inhabitants of the Township named have contributed to pay the expenses of the party for ten weeks. The presence of gobi has a : - ready been proved in the Capo Otway forests. It is to be hoped this pioneer party will be successful in its efforts to develope a payable goldtield