The Dunstan Times. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1868.

Dunstan Times, Issue 334, 18 September 1868, Page 2

The Dunstan Times.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1868.

Bar.ealhthc Rule of McnE.sTn.rj v jvst tLic rex is MiouTirr. than he sword.

The astonishing success which has, dming the last two winter seasons, attended the operations of the dredfing machines must ha a convincing proof, whatever may nave been said to the contrary, that the bed of the Molyneux river contains gold in fabulous quantities, and wo arc only surprised that something on a large scale has not yet been done to rescue the enormous wealth laying buried up in the sands at the bottom of this modern Pactolus. The. Mo'yneui, at somo remote period, when the south island of New Zealand was the scene of some terrible convulsion of nature must have acted as cue great groundsluice for a very larga estoat of

country, and when we consider what must have taken place when whole mountains and hills were shaken from their base, and toppled over into the seething and rushing waters, and compare it with our feeble efforts in removing earth by means of the hydraulic hose, there can be no other opinion arrived at—especially by those possessing a knowledge of ground sluicing—but that the precious metal must be there deposited in much larger quantities than the whole gross amount hitherto obtained in Otago, and, at tho bottom of the Molyneux, exists a goldfield rivaling i-i richness all previous discoveries. The system of dredging by means of what'is technically termed a spoon, worked from a barge moored in the stream, lias been found to answe the best of all the various plans tried, and unless steam can be applied upon the same principle as is the case with dredges employed in the removal of obstructions interrupting the navigation of harbors, the present system must continue to be adopted, and, for ought we know to the contrary, considering its simplicity and almost impossibility of derangement, let alone the case by which any person unacquainted with the modus operandi may be initiated into all the necessary details, renders it probably the <ljest. Considering that this description of mining is so certainlyremuncrative—for failures there have been none, success having crowned the efforts of all parties engaged—it is most desirable that some plan should be devised by which this branch of industry might be extended, and parties of working minors assisted to procure the necessary appliances wherewith to commence operations. Dredging might with equal success be extended to the Upper Cltitha, the Kawarau, and Shotovor Rivers. Cue machine proprietor is already about to make a trial some distance up the former river, at a place called Fandy I'»iut; in fact, now that the system of working our river becoming to be so gene- | rally understood, the only difficulty i:: the-way of success .is in .making a commencement. Joint Stock Companies have not yi t been universally successful on the Otago gokltields; still, that U no I reason why they should not bo so, I more than that people should abstain from eating fish because, through doing so, one individual choked himself by swallowing a bone. The earlier efforts of joint-stock companies for mining purposes were equally as unsuccessful on the Victorian goldfields as with us; but the case is widely different now, and at the present moment they arc tho rule rather than the exception. Gold-mining in Otago has long bocome a settled and recognised occupation. The population on tho various fields of labor has ceased to be migrator)- ; people understand and know one another, and there assuredly exists sufficient public confidence to render the union of capital and labor mutually beneficial. The man of means and the man of muscle only require to thoroughly understand each other to confer substantial benefits en each other and mankind in general. In providing dredging machinery there exists a fine opportunity for the cooperation of labor and capital. Yv'e do not believe in the principle of subscribing money to assist miners unless the object to be forwarded be a bonafule undertaking, and it may be accepted as a golden rule that, unless an enterprise possesses sufficient capabilities to be self-maintaining, it had better be left alone Any expenditure of money or labor in a smrdl and young community, unless it prove rc-produclive, is a loss, collectively as well as individually, the body politic having ro far lessened its means of progression. In this view of the matter we are sure that the miners will join issue with us, they being equally as averse to throw away their labor aa other persons would be to throw their money, one being equally as valuable as the other when brought properly into rrntact. To the trading clasresof .Alexandra, Clyde, and Cromwell the edvar.tr.ges to be derived frr.m incrr mtd dredging operations would be incalculable.

There would not only bo a large additional mining population, but numerous artizans and laborers would find employment in the building of machines and the manufacture of machinery, and each of these three towns would become a sort of maratime centre on. a small scale. In dredging the river beds there is an extensive field of industry open to us. It is no visionary idea; its succes is certain and has been proved. Many are making themselves uncomfortable about the riches of the Auckland and Gynipie goldfields, and are longi g to be among the golden harvesters; but they are neglecting a far richer goldfield lying at their very doors. An old saying has it that l; Distance lends enchantment to the scene," and if folks at a distance only knew what a "Tom Tidd'ei's ground" there existed at the bottom of the Molyneux they would soon come over here and show us how they could pick up our gold aud silver. i

The report of cases heard in thc< Resident Magistrate's Court at Cromwell and Plack's will be held over to our next issue, owing to want of space ; as al.o several correspondents, eomnr nications. By request of the Treasurer to the Dunstan District Hospital we beg to acknowledge the receipt of the following sums in aid of the funds of the Institution :—lO/. from the Secretary of the Alexandra Rice Committee, being amount of stakes of 'Hospital Race, won by Mr. Sherwood's horse Roderick, at the Alexandra Spring Meeting, and 20<. 18s. from the Secretary of the Clyde Choral Society, being the balance of proceeds of the concert given by the Society at Clyde on the 24 th August last. On Monday evening last a number of gentlemen met at the Criterion Hotel, Alexandra, for the purpose of presenting, through. Mr. Robert Finbiy, a Silver Cradle to the Mayoress of Alexandra, in commemoration of the happy occasion of her giving birth to twi s during her husband's mayoralty. In consequence of the lateness of the hour hut night at which the report reached us we have to omit particulars. A meeting of the contributors to the Dunstan Pistrict Hospital com eued by advertisment, was held in the Council Chambers, on Tuesday evening, the 15th inst, J. Ilaz'ctt, Esq., who occupied the chair, stated the object of the meeting, Election of President, vice H. W. Robinson, resigned, &c. The resignation of Mr. Robinson being accepted, V. Pyke, Esq,, by an unanimous vote, was elected. Mr. G. Clark and Mr. J. Patterson were elected members..of Committee. A vote of thanks was accorded Mr. Robinson, for the vely valuable services he had re idcred the institution, during tee many years lie had been President, and for the urbane aud courteous manner he had at all times conducted J the] meetings which he bad presided oucr. Wi'h vote, cf thanks to the chairman the meeting closed. We with regret huvc to announce the removal of the Post, Master, Mr. J. Grubb, 'who is to be transferred to Christchurch to taice the post of chief Chirk. Though the removal of Mr. Grubb from the District is to be looked upon as n loss, we mustncvertheless congratulate him en his rise in the Service, and assure? him he will take with him the good wishes of the people of Clyde. On Tuesday last, the loth inst., an inquest was held at Felton's Falcon Hotel, Cromwell-road, before the District Coroner, V. Pyke', Esq.,R.M., on the body of a Chinaman named Oh King, aged fifty years, who was found dead in his tent. Dr. J haw made a post mortem examination of the body, and in evidence stated that death was caused by inflammation of the From the evidence of two Chi amen and an Englishman named Black it. appeared that, they discovered the do ceased lying dead in his tent, and gave information to the police In the pockets of deccttseda clothes was found the sum of 14?. 13s. 6d. The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence. In the House of Representatives Mr. Haughton brought forward a motion, to the effect chat the export duty on gold iii tie Protinceof Otago, be gradually reduced, r.nd eventually abolished. In support of the motion, Mt. Himghto'i mil ha would' noi go

over the same ground U3 had been gone over during the last session. He now merely asked the House to endorse the action taken by the Provincial Council of Otago during last session, when the following i-esolution had been passed:—" That in order to give facility to the investment of capital, and the working of inferior auriferous ground, the time has arrived when the duty on gold should be reducedgwithin the province of Otago at the rate of 6d. per ounce per annum, until the duty shall lie abolished, and.-that an address be presented to his Ho or the Superintendent, requesting him to forward this resolution to tlie/leueral Assembly, with the view of giving effect thereto.—Passed the Provincial Council, 22ud April, IS6B.—William H. Reynolds, Sqcaker." Mr. C. OTeill rose to second the motion, lie only wished that the honorable member hid gone a little further, and asked that t'le duty be reduced in all tie provinces of the Colony. Still, the proposal was a step in the right di eetioir When they considered what an important feature gold presented in the Colon)-, they must feel that anything tending to encourage the production of gold must advance the interests of the whole of New Zealand. The present tax or duty on gold was very heavy, and he could not understand why the miner should have so great a tax imposed upon him. I'o trusted the. House would follow the example of Victoria aud to the motion now before it. Victoria, long ago, saw that the duty was oppressive, and abolished it. Itcould not be doubted that gold in Now Zealand was the parent of commerce, aud anything tending to advance the production of gold would result in the growth of commerce, and in every age where commerce e.\i-.ted, large cities had sprung up to mark the splendour and intelligence of the inhabitants. In the Southern hemis phere the effects of the works of the digger produced the noble city of Melbourne, which had grown up suddenly from a small township, but they need not go out of this colony to find an instance: Duncdin, the capital of Otago, rose out of a straggling village, by the mere influence of gold, into the form of what Was now a splendid city, : possessing in its buildings, monuments | of classic taste, which would tell to ' future generation!! the power, the ; wealth, aud the civi'zatiun of the 1 ' people, i n the question being put, a : division was called for with the fol- > lowing result: —Ayci», 21, Noes, '2o I The motion was consequently negatived. I The usual fortnightly meeting of the Clyde Town Council was held in i the Council Chambers, on Tuesday ' evening, the 30th inst. Present: J. Hazlett, Esq., Mayor, and Councillors Zielc, Atkins, Fcraud, Cambridge, and M'Connochie. The Minutes of previous meeting were read and confirmed, A letter from Sergeant Andrew Thompson, Injector if Nnisoneos, was read and referred to the Public Works Committee. Tenders fur kcrbing and channelling Coquet-streot, also for | cleaning the streets, were ordered to be called for. Proposed byCr. Fcraud That this Council apply to the Provincial Government, for the services of an engineer, to survey a water-race, capable of carrying one hundred sluice heads of water from the Lindis River to the Dunstan Fiat; seconded by Cr. M'Connnochie and carried. Proposed by Cr. Feraud, seconded by M'Gonno. chie and carried, That this Council ask the Provincial Government to confer the present Commonage area to the Incorporated Town of Clyde Notice of motion by Cr. M'Connochie, That this Council disposo of the present Town Hall and Council Chambers, and build a new one on the Municipal Reserve, Vote of thank, to the Chair concluded the meeting. At Alexandra, this week no business was brought before the Couit. At Clyde, the following cases were heare before V. Fyke Esq. R. M. and J. I). Feraud Esq. J. P. On Tuesday the loth, Charle.i Green clnrged with lunacy waa brought up 'on. remind ; the evidence.'of tha House Surgson to the Dunstan District Hospital proving that be had recovered, was discharged. Hueston v Bailey : claim for 161 53 7d for rent of house.; judgment for plaintiff for If I. 15s. O.L and with costs. Atkins v, "Wan Poe.—Claim 8/., for goods sold aud delivered Judgment for the omount claimed. Thursday, the 17th inst.—Joh-i Martin was waa charged with Icing druuk nnd disorderly, nnd was fin d 405., the Bench, at the same time cautioning him against another appearance i.; the i.ou;t.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Cromwell. Town Council was held on Monday last, when the Mayor and full Council were present. The minutes of the previous meetings were read and confirmed Tno corre- j spondence (inward and outward) was read and received. The Town Clerk was requested to inform Mr. Owens that the land applied for by him as an extension of his coal-pit is within the municipal boundary, and consequently the Council cannot recommend the Waste Land Eoard to grant it. Also to write to Messrs, Connelan and party, requesting them to put a culvert across their race where it u cro.sses the road near Mrs. Box's residence. Tenders were ordered to be invited to keep the town water-rocs in repair. Proposed by Ci\ Kelly, secouded by Cr. Burres, and carried, That, the salary of the Town Clerk be 301. per annum, and 10 per cent on all monies collected and that, if tlr: Governnnut refund the money (or part of it) expended by by the Council on the main road, a handsome cash present be made to the Town Chak. Mr. M'Cormick's account, amounting to "/. 155., was passed for payment. '1 he usual vote of thanks to the chairman closed the meeting. A soi ions accident occurred to a miner, named Stewart on Sunday evening last, by which be received a fracture of the skull, «nd the breaking of his collar bone in two places. From his testimony, it appears that he was riding on hor.-eback, when the horse stumbled and throw him violently to the ground. When discovered, he was lying senseless, covered with blood lie was at once removed to the Hospital, where his wounds were dressed. We believe he is progressing favorably, but he is still in a critical state.