The Dunstan Times. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1868.

Dunstan Times, Issue 345, 4 December 1868, Page 2

The Dunstan Times.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1868.

Beneath the Rule of Men entirely just the pen is mightier than the sword.

T'’E large nrnc.nnt of money eulscribetl tbi year for hj rsc-raeing in the Dun.stan District, amountin': to morn ■'ban 1,00(7. is a sufficii r.t proof, ' nohvitlistnnd ng >lo continu'd chorus i af 1 mont for the 1 a dr. era of the limes ’vhicli ever;wl ere .'.nets or.r ■ vs, ;lir»t ma'tors are nothing like so >ad us they are jnado out to be, ivan j ’

if this wail of lament is not after all a sort of chronic disease, entirely dependent upon our manner and mode of life. Throughout our long experience on the goldfields we never recolhct having heard people acknowledge that times were good till after they had ceased to I e so, and what are said to be bad times now will doubtlessly hereafter be viewed in quite a contrary light.

The escort returns have shown a decided increase during the lust twelve mouths. This, with a decreasing mining population, leaves no doubt about the wea'th of individuals and the improvement and increased use of mechanical appliances which must to such an extent have both superseded and assisted- manual labor, foi we all well know that, in the majority of cases, the ground at the present time bring operated upon by the miners is nothing like so prolific in its auriferous treasures as that which was wrought when the yield of gold was less.

Leaving out the fact of the richer portions of the ground and that which was most accessible being ex hausted, and the work of obtaining g Id having become a matter of greater difficulty, our improved means of overcoming obstacles have more than counter-balanced evils as they occurred, while everyone acquainted with mining knows fully veil that we aro a long wav from perfection yet. With these facts before us, (here is

much causa for congratulation, especially when we c.msiehr that the large works which mu.-t eventuallv be constructed for the bringing in of water from inexhaustible sources of supply, hitherto untapped and unused for mining purposes, will still further inereasa our prosperity, and,

large works which mint eventuallv be constructed for the bringing in of water from inexhaustible sources of supply, hidnrto untapped and unused for mining purposes, will still further inereasa our prosperity, and, what is more, necessitate a large nddi iui to ihe population. In the pursuit of our mostly priz'd national sports the Dun-dan District has been peculiarly successful, and wo feel assured that, whether it be business or pleasure, when Wc look back into the past, we sh 11 find that time has not ion ml us lagging. The Escort on Mon lay last took down tho following quantities cf gold:— Dtir.stan District. Cromwell divi.don ... 4Hoz, Odwt Cd.vde ~ ... -ISSoz. Odwt. Alexandra „ ... 222cz. 7dwt. Blac.ds „ Ib-lcz. Cdwt. 1,5C80z. 7dwt. Mount Ida Distiict. Vount Ida division ... 1,21 loz. Odwt. Duns tan Creek „ ... 5550z.19Jwf. 1,76G0z. 1 Odwt.

Wo aro requested l.y the Stewards of tlic Nevis Knees, to cor ect two errors that were in their pub isbs d program mo as follows:—lu Hurdle Race should read four instead of fourten hurdles and it.Town Plate, wei ht for age was omitted. The St. Bathan’s Annual Races and sports are announced to take place on the 28th and 291h instant. Judgin'' from the Programme, which we publish in this issue, the attract-

io s are oven greater than on pre I vious occasion!], and as no meeting of the kind takes place in the District, [ during the ho iilars, the gathering wil doub'lcss lie much larger than i uauab The right, to erect a Grand Stand and two 1» o'hs was dispi sed of by auction, on Friday evening last. The competition was somewhat keen ; the Grand stand was bought by Mr. P. Hanrahan, the BaParat Hotel, for 40/, No. 1 Booth, by Mr. A. Hill of the Mo teznma for 17/., No. 2 by Mr. S. Hun-er. of the Vulcan for 18/. to‘ul. 7-5/., double the amount realized last year. The road to Queenstown, at the Nevis Bluff has 1 een covered by an immense quantity of earth, the result of a land slip, The roadway, it wo'T I appear, is unimpaired, and men are now bust! v employed in clearing away the debris. The mad is oxoceted to be opened for traffic by Monday. T 1 c wader his been turned oT / Vom I the Clyde Town Race the-e last two days by seme cultivators in the Wei | Kmi Keri Valhy. A-the town is entitled to have (wo heads of wat< r constantly rumvng through it, we. si ruhl dcam it the duty of (lie Crvred to ece that the townspeople have their right, j

We are informed that the Mayor of Queenstown has reeieved a Telegraphic communication, Irorn las Honor the Superintendent, informing him that, (he Government have made arrangements for commencing the bridge over the Sh itover lift or, at Foster’s Ferry, forthwi hj, and thai the works will probably be commenced within a week from .his.

Mr. Warden Pyke delivere 1 a Lecture on Wednesday evening last, at the Scho >1 house, Cromwell, on Ichalf of the Local Library fund. The Mayor, Mr. H. W. Whetter, occupied the Chair. There w. s a crowded audience prose t, many persons being unible to obtain admission. The Lecturer was comp etely successful; the receipts amounted to 12 1. Ids. j

The Clyde School Committee held a meeting on Monday, the 2bth ult.;

an average number of persons were present. The Clerk was desired to acknowledge from Mr. M‘l’herson receipt of 21 , amount realized by a Lecture delivered by the Lev Mr. Thorn ton, on 1 ( half of fund for prizes, also to accept Mr. V. Pyke’s offer to deliver Lecture for the same object. Accounts due were passed for payment. 'I he off. r of the Masonic Body to pur chase the School home, was approved, pending the sanction of (he Government, it being determined upon to erect a more commodious building. A. vote ofthunks to the Chair, concluded the proceedings.

PRESENTATION OF AN ADDRESS AND SERVICE OF PLATE, TO MR WARDEN ROBINSON, AT THE TOWN HALL, CLYDE. On Fri 'ay evening last, Mr. 11. V,’, Robinson, R.M. and War cu of the Mount Ida GoMtield, was presented with a handsomely illuminated Addicts, together wi hj a silver dinner service, of the value of seventy guineas, by his friends and admirers in the Dims tan District, over which, till his removal to Mount Ida, Mr. Robinson presided as Resident Magistrate and Wardenfor tho spare of five years. Notwithstanding that but a few Lours notice of the presentation was given, the Hall was wdl filled. Mr. James Hazlett, J.P., May.r of Clyde, was unanimously v ted to tin Chair, said, ho was glad to see so many persons assemble , who, like himself, had come to testify their appreciation of the services of a public officer, who had fi 1 very lately filled the oner, us dr, ica cf Resident Magistrate an! Warden in tlu Dnnstan Distiict for the space of five years. In the majority of instances, five years might not be coi.si cred a long pun d of time, but on a goldfield, uuh its linetu. atiug population, it was a'most a lifetime. A gentleman fultiilin, the position, whi.h Mr. Robinson hat filled, could not of c-’urss tic cxpuctc i to please ev. ry one, but ilr. Robinson had don a Lis best, and tho presentation now lo be made, was an evithat he nad d ac so j all classes of the community had subscribe . towards it, cheers. Th i Chairman addressing Mr. Robinson, said It was now his phasing duty on behalf of the subscribers to the Address and Testimonial, to make the p esontati. n, and he hoped that Mr. Robinson w.iill receive it as a token of the esteem and respect in which he was held by the people of the Dnnstan District. Mr. Robinson, nbo was evident}- much affected by the cordial manner of his icccp-

tion said,

Mr. Ilazlott, and gentlemen. It is dif.’.cult for me to 11 ud words adequately: to express the feelings that arise in n.y heart <n the present occasion, and I must bespeak your indulgence for any shortcomings. I am aware that many people regard it as quite a matter of course, (hat porsoi s who have held public positions should nc;iva Testimonials on leaving the Districts in which they have been stationed, but believe mo, I do not by any means accept this Testimonial as a matter of course ; on ih contrary, I regard it as the genuine expression of the good will of all who have subscribed to it.

A man must be imleol pccul'ar’y constituted, who coni i reside for live years in

any community without contracting many friendships, and forming many 1 .cal attachments. It was not with nit a severe pang that 1 took my departure from the Dunstan District, and I shall always regard this District and the inhabitants with feelings of special interest. It therefore affords mo peculiar pi -visum to receive at your hands the very handsome testimonial that you have now presented to me, I shallot ever re,gar lit as ona of my most va’u b’o possessions, and I rud that it will be preserved as a raor ©rial by my familv, should I leave any after me.

1 take it, Sir, (hat a tesfmonial of tlra kind, rresented to a public officer must be considered in two cva’’tics ; the one as a proof of the kindly declines of the fivers towards him as a man, and the other, rs evidence of thaw belief that, in bis public canaci‘v, he ' a at the least endeavored to do his elutv. Of t],s rood will of mv mnnv frPnds in this distric 1 , I was brf ro wll eonvince ', an I ran readily Veiiovn that

they felt almost as much rs-nt at lob nr m'from among thorn, as I r c'‘ at. "i-ir way. Of tho rrarnor, in wh > v I dircharged mv P’lb'i'd’D’s-s, it • cared hocomes mo to sneak. b it f ms- be -o it. tod a f 1 ast to ray that w'nthor ' no a '- cd well or ill, it was always'toy < r.rne ; do-

sirs to do what I conceived to bo my duty, i, (applause). | 11 The position of a public i ffi .or, especially \ in a judicial office is not always easy : he t has to steer his bark with great care to \ avoid the dangerous roeks and shallows j s that beset his course. I am «ell av> are i J that I cannot always have come up to what f was expected of me, but I have been for- e tunate so far that my failures or errors t have met with the kin lest indulgence, I am very grateful. n Sir, I have sai I that I shall regard this j beautifully illuminated A dreis as among 1 my most valuable possessions, but these a handsome articles of plate have a money - value, to which I would for a moment re- r fer. It has been said that there is no test v like the breeches pocket test. You may c remember a story of a quaker, who, when 1 a calamity had befallen one of his neigh- j tours, and some one was saying, “lam so r remarked, “ lam sorry ten shil- f how much art thou sorry friend? ” c Those who know me so well as most of you \ do, will, I trust be satisfie 1 that it is no s mere mercenary spirit'that causes me to be £ glad that your present has so much in- s trinsic value; 1 look upon that intrinsic ; value, as a conclusive proof of the sinceri- s ty of the good wishes you have expressed. i I have said, Sir, that I feel great regret ( at having to leave this district; but it is, 1 of course, a well understood thing that a ; man who enters any public service must go ( where duty calls. The soldier or the sailor i may be sorry to part from home and friends i but he goes without a murmur to fight the ] battles of his country in distant lan s. So i in the service I belong, a man must be pre- < pared to go where his services are wanted ; in the present case also, it may be that, the District will benefit by the change, doubtless, it is convenient for the Warden of a 1 District to have the intimate knowle’ge of its affairs that can only be acquired by long residence, but on (he other hand, a change of man is oftc n beneficial. In the pr sent instance, I have to congratulate you that, you have for my successor, a gentleman of so much knowledge and experience as Mr. Warden Dyke. Mr. Pjke’s lengthened experience in Victoria, and his thorough knowledge of ‘ho working of the Gol ■ fields Department in this Province, which was in fact organize I by himself, cannot fail to be of great advantage to the District over which ho is callo 1 to preside. In conclusion, Mr. Hazlett and gentlemen, I can only say that, it will always afford me the greatest pleasure to meet' you, ami 1 trust that opportunities may not hi wanting, and 1 hope that we may always meet with as much pleasure as on the present occasion, and part with as much regret, as when I left you a month or two ago, (cheers). Mr. Cope next addressed the meetings, ' which afterwards concluded by a vote cf thanks to the Chairman. The Ail ress was magnificently illuminated in green, red, and gold, a perfect gem of art by Mr. George, the artist, who, in this instance, has excelled all his former efforts, and was as follows To H. W. Robinson*, Dsq., 11.M. :ml Warden of the Ctogo Goldfields. This Address, together with an accompanying service of Silver Pla‘e, was presented by the inhabitants of the Dumtan District, 0 n the occasion of bis leaving for the Mount Ida District, as a token of respect, an in recognition of many services rendcre 1 during a residence of five years.’ Signed :-J. Hazlett, .T. P., Mayor of Clyde, J. D. Feraud, J.P., W. A. Low, I J.P., J. Sams n, J. Proshaw, W. S.nitham, W. Fraser, J.P., R. A. Louglman, J.P. | The service of plate, a description of | which has previously appeared in our col- ' umns, was from the establishment of Mr. j Robert Barlow, of Clyde. i