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Dunstan Times, Issue 352, 22 January 1869, Page 2

M c hear that the Rev, Mr. Coffey has accepted the pastoral charge o! tho Lake’s District; his stipend will bo 2507. per annum, with a residence. The building of a Parsonage House, has already been commenced at Queen s’town, lie will p reach once on each Sn day at Arrowtown and Queenstown, holding service alternatively, mornings and evenings. We aie given to understand from valuable authority, that owing to the exorbitant prices asked by the squat tors for fiat sheep for the Dunedin market. They are now being brought over by Steamer from Melbourne. Importations amount to about six hundred weekly. It is said, that fat sheep can be purchased in Me bourne at four ski lings per head, and of much heaver weights than those bred in Otago. The selling price of these imported slice)) is from ten to twelve shillings each. The following particulars rega ding the essays on the best means for securing the permanent settlement of the goldfields, for which prizes are of fered by the Government, are taken from the Gazette of the 31st ult Tho premiums will be 5 7., 307., and 207., for three essays respectively—first, second, and third, in degree of merit, on the above named subject. The Government will appoint Examiners to decide on the comparative merits of the essays. The e says should be sent to a d received in the Colonial Secretary,s office on or before the 28th February, 1860, under distinctive mottoes, the respective name and motto of each writer to be enclosed in separate sealed envelopes, which will not be opened until after the Examiners have made their decision. Each essay should bo enclosed in a sealed envelope superscribed “Essay on settlement of Goldfields.” The Examiners will be at liberty, if they think fit, to decide that none of the essavs received are entitled to either o: any of the premiums offered. it is rumored, says the Wakatip Mail , that a leading Warden who hj; s recently taken active service on the goldfields, has made a suggestion to the Provincial Government that two Wardens, with the assistance of the Courts of petty session, should carry out the administration of justice on them. This suggestion, it carried out, will lead to great reductions and saving in cost of government. The same journal in a leading article estimates the number of minors in the Lakes’ District as only amounting to 276 ; the services of a Warden can therefore be easily dispensed with in that district We are requested by the Treasurer of the Dunstan District Hospiital to acknowledge the receipt cf the sum of 147. 55., from Messrs Pearse and Washer, Welshman’s Gully. The report of tho appeal case of Blackwell and Party against the Manorbnrn Water Race Co , we regret to say we are compelled to hold over till our next issue for want of space An emergency meeting of the Brethren of the Dunstan Masonic Lodge is called for Monday next, the 25th insb., at 8 p.m. On Saturday the 16th instant, Corfitz Cronquist, was charged before the Resident Magistrate in Dunedin, with being of unsound mind From the evidence, the accused, the evening preview ly, attempted self destruction in the house he was staying. In an swer to questions put to him by the sitting Magistrate, accused stated that at the time, he was suffering from great excitement, caused through intoxication and other causes; he admitted that the idea of destroying him self might have existed fop a time, but (hat lie had perfectly recovered, and was able to take care of himself. Accused was remanded for medical examination. The members of the G. and F.C. C'ub give their first entertainment this evening at the School house. We dra.v our readers attention to tho advertised programme, and hope that there will bo a large attendance.

We would intimate to our sporting readers, that general entries for the Dunstan District Races, will close on Wednesday night, the 3rd February The English Mail, via Suez, is expected to leave Dunedin on the 25th instant.