The Dunstan Times. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1868.

Dunstan Times, Issue 347, 18 December 1868, Page 2

The Dunstan Times.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1868.

Beneath the K ulcof M hi r vnr n.r .1 ust the Iks is mightier than theswonn.

The necessity foe a more efficient Punt at tlio Clyde crossing j lace of tie Molyneux, is daily becoming moie aid more apparent. The frail and badly managed contrivance, which lias done duty these four years past, was doubtless suitable to the wants of the population at the time of its construction, but, the nature of the traffic requiring to cross and re-cross the river has gradually undergone many changes and has now assumed a character requiring vroro effective moans of water transit. The proprietor of the punt has however failed to provide the means to keep pace with the gio.vi g requirements of his calling, and the trade of the Township has suffered thereby. Ponderous waggons and bullock teams have taken the place of the pack horse ; roads have been made, where none before existed, and we find ourselves to a considerable degree unable to make the latter available, because there is no suitable appliance for conveniently cro ring the river at our disposal. Heavy traffic is therefore leaving for other places, where the people aie sufficiently enterprising and attentive to the wants of the pub lie, as to provide, and even to anticipate the improvements, which the settlement of the country and a growing trade demands Not alone has the prosperity of Clyde been much impaired, and customers driven away from the storekeepers, for the want of an effective punt, but the excessive high charges, and unnecessary delays occasioned to passengers, has also materially interfered with the trade of the Town, by causing persons who, hitherto made their purchases at Clyde to prefer other markets, even at inconvenient distances.

This is a subject which, should have long sinco forced itself upon the members of the Town Council, who, besides seeing that the Scavenger and Inspector of Nuisances duly performed their dignified duties, might devo'e

some little attention to forwarding the commercial prosperity of their constituents, who, doubtless believing in their superior foresightedness elected them to their present honorable positions. We have heard a great deal lately about the necessity for building a new Town Hall, but, we really think that, instead of expending the public money upon a gigantic “ palaver shop ” it would be much more advantageously laid out in providing more effective and economical moans for carrying on the river traffic. Where rivers intervene, a punt i. no lets than a part and parcel of a r >ad One without the other useless as a chain cable wantin^^^^^

connecting link,

The crossing places of our rivftrs should never be in private hands, a^d

dependent upon the mere caprice' or will of ii dividnals, as is the ca.e throughout thegolulields, more espec - ally whore such crossing places itre w-thin the bounds of a Municipality. Were the Town Council of Clyde to place an efficient punt upon the river, to do which, they have the wherewithal! at their disposal j it would Lc a reproductive investment, and in time considerably lighten the burthen of taxa-

tion, and, even supposing that in the first place, money was wanted to complete the work, the ratepayers won! I willingly tax themselves to supply so pressing a necessity. This is a matter i i which every tradesman in C yd? is d seply interested, and we hope that u )\v we have ventilated the subject, to see the Townspeople take it tip, and insist upon those, whom they have chosen for their representatives, doing their duty.

The attention of our readers is directed to a novelty in adveitis'.ii" l.y Messers. I. ilalloiisteiu, and Co., Wholesale and 11 eta 11 Storekeepers, Drapers and Mi,levs, of Cromwell, Avrowtown, and Queenstown, whose advertismenb, on account of its extrao. dinar; proportions, we are compelled in this issue of the JJanstan Times to publish in the fonn of a Supplement. The Escort on Monday lest bo’; down the folic wing quantities of gol A: — Lake’s District. Q teenstov.n division ...1225 Sdwis. Arrowiown do .. 7CO hc’wt.s. 21151 6c wts. Dunstan District. Cromwell divisi, n 50407. Cdwt. Clyde „ ... 5330z. 1 Idwi. Alexandra „ ... 1720z. 4dwt. Blac.Es ~ ... 2020z. Odwr. Dunstan Creek„ ... G2oz.lodw-'. 1,6040z. sdwt. Mount Ida District. Naseby division ... 109oz. Odwt. 4,5350z. Idwt.

An Inquest was held by "Vincent Pyke, Esq., Coroner of the District, at the Dunstan Hospital on Saturday last, on the body ot a patient named Owen Gannon, who had died oa the jr vie us Thursday. The inquiry was made on account of the absence in Dunedin of the Resident Surgeon at the time of the death. From the evidence of the brother of the deceased, the wardsman of iho Hospital and of Dr. Corse who made a post mortem examination, it was proved that nothing was wanting in attention to deceased, and that if further Medical assistance had been called in it would have availed nothing The Jury returned a verdict in accordance with the evidence.

Mi'. Vincent Pyke’s lecture in aid of the Clyde School Prize?, delivered in the School house, Clyde, on Friday ± evening last, was very successful. The subject, ,! A night with some dead * Lions " was admirably treated ; the Lecturer was both amusing, and ii - structing. We refrain however in giving particulars, as Mr. Pyke re-dc-livers his Lecture on Monday next, at Alexandra.

The Sydney Morninj Herald of tho Ist instant, says ;—“Tho Panama Company have decided that to morrow’s mail steamer is the last which shall leave this for Panama, and that the steamer due next month will be the last one from Panama. The Ma. tuira, s.s., which brought tho present mail, will proceed to Melbourne! thence to London direct, by the Cap c Horn route,”

The Rev. Mr. Coffey, Episcopalian Minister, •will preach at Alexandra, on Sunday afternoon next, and at Clyde, the same evening. Mr. Coffey has just arrived from England, and is expected to take the pastoral charge of the Dunstan and Like,s districts.

We have boon given to understand that the enterprising firm of Duley and Mackersey' Pnnt Proprietors, Alexandra, cross and re-cross waggons to load at the Eamscleugh Station, for the low sum of 15s, for both trips across the'Molynenx. Waggoners inform us that if the road on the West Dank of the Molyneux to the Teviot was in better order, and the same rates charged atTev'ot and Beaumont Fearies as is the case at Alexandra, a larSe amount of the Dunedin tr.iifis would go and come by that route.

From a telegram in the Daily Times we learn that, a most destructive tire has taken place in Timaru, destroying the principal dwellings in the Town. Among the sufferers, we notice the name of Mr. R. Watkins, the late Postmaster at Alexandra.

A rasetirvj of the Dunstan District Hospital Committee was held in the Council Chambers, Clyde, on Thuroday evening last. Present; V. Pyke, Esq., (President) and ten members of Committee Inward correspondence was read and received and outward adopted. The Visiting Committees reports, Nos. one and two, showing average number of patients in the Institution for the month to be fifteen, drawing attention to two eases of long continuance in the institution, one being admitted in September, 1860, and the other in April, 1807, and recommending payment of accounts for the month 1078s. were rea I and received. The Treasurer’s report showing a balance in hand o 3877 3s. 2d., and Government Subsidy due 11317. ISs., was read and received Tenders for supplies for the ensuing quarter were accepted at the following rates;—TV. Grindley. Beef, with and without bone Bd. per pound, and Mutton (id.; Shins Is. each; Lamb 3s per quarter, 0. Z.ole. Arrowroot Is. 3d. per pound; Putter Is. od.; Barley od ; Candles Is. 3d.; Cocoa Is. 91; Coffee Is.Gd.;Mustard Is.2d ;Maizenals.3d.; Oatmeal od.; Pepper Ic. 21; llice 5d ; Salt 3 !.; Soda 3d.; Sugar (white) 71d.; do. (brown) Starch 6c1.; Snap Gd. , Tea 2.;. Cd.:Jams Ms. per dozen; Ke ' rotene 4s. )M. per gallon; English Ale an 1 Port t 17.;. G 1. per lo~.cn; Brandy, I (Hennesseys) per cse 605.; do. bulk j 23s- per g- lion; Bum 2i s ; Whisky 20s ; Sherry and Port Wi ms los. J. Hastie. Bread Is. per 41b. loaf. C. Holden. MilkSd. per quart W. Atkins. Coffins 21. 3s. each. W. Wells. Burials 11. 10s. each. A Tender for repairing kitchen and fixing skylight by r C. Houston 67 was accepted. With vote of thanks to the Chair the meetseparated.