The Dunstan Times. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1869.

Dunstan Times, Issue 354, 5 February 1869, Page 2

The Dunstan Times.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1869.

Beneath the Rule of Men entirely jest the pen is mightier than theswoED.

On account of pressure upon our space, we have been compelled to omit our usual leader, and other im. portant matter. Mr. Baird, Chairman of the Lakes Board of Wardens, wo are given to understand, when last at Clyde, succeeded, to the satisfaction of all concerned, in dividing the Dunstan commonage, allotting one portion to sheep and the other to cattle. We. believe the sanction of the Executive is necessary before the boundary fixed will be a legal one, as Mr. Baird has no control over the Dunstan commonage. We have to inform our various readers that a change has taken place in the law relating to imprisonment lor debt. Of late, no one could be imprisoned for any sum under 10/. Now, any debtor may be imprisoned for any amount over 21. The procedure involves a little more expense and delay. Any of our local agents, we have no doubt, will be glad to give all information and assistance.” By an advertisement in another column it will bo seen that the settling for the Dunstan District Eaces will take place at George’s Dunstan Hotel on Saturday evening, at 8 o'clock, before which time it will be necessary for all persons having claims against the Club to send in their accounts to the Secretary. We are requested by Mr. Fachc to call attention to the auction sale of horses, to day, on the racecourse.

Mr. Reynolds was uominateil by tlio Provincial o#rernmout of Otago. Mr. Domett goes south this week. The usual fortnightly meeting of the Alexandra Town Council was held in the Council Chambers on Friday evening, the 29th of January last Present, the Mayor and full Coun. oil. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed, the putward correspondence was read and approved. The tenders for opening up Mullingar Street were opened fat id read by the Town Clerk, and itl.was found that, that of Mr. Robert' 'M‘ Keeman for £lB 10s. was the lowest. This on the motion of Councillor Ber resford, seconded by Councillor Theyers was accepted. On the motion of Councillor Hillhousc, seconded by Councillor Theyers, it was resolved to gravel Foynes Street as suggested by Works Committee. The Town Clerk laid on the table audited statement of receipts and expenditure of the Corporation for the year ending 31st December 18G8, which he was requested to advertise in the usual manner. The Mayor stated that Or. Jack and himself had waited on Mr. Greig, runholder, and mooted the subject of commonage for this district as suggested by his Honor the Superintendent. Mr. Greig in reply stated they were in communication with the Government at the present moment, but that no.settlement of the question was expected, till he had the views of his partner on the subject. He accordingly advised the deputation to defer the matter till lie had word from him. This was agreed to, and the matter drops for the present. A vote tpf thanks to the chair closed the meet

•ingigs. We .'take the following from the Sun being extracts from -a private letter received from Sub-Inspector Capel, who was for a long time employed in the Government Survey Party in this district. - ■ —“ Wanganui, January 10, 1809.—1 can tell you one thing, this fighting is tough work; fancy having to camp under a blanket for weeks wet or dry, and hump your blankets with you on the march not all child’s play. lam only in our serge fighting costume, the only real uniform being my silver-laced forage cap; see me matching about Wanganui with my arm slung up like it pensioner, people asking me about thirty times a day if I am the oiheor wounded on t he East Coast. I expect we shall soon engage with Tito Kowarau. Lam .jtfraid if we don’t pin him in the pah he will give us some trouble. Just fancy we really killed one hundred and thirtysix Hau hans (Te Kooti’s men.) I had the pleasure of overhauling and counting some of the dead' Hau-haus after tlie pair was taken; they were splendid fellows, tall and well bailt. I saw a number of them lying in the. angle of the pah, my poor dear captain was shot from. I had only just relcived him with the right sub-division of our company; when he was shot dead a few yards from me in our sap; he was carried down from the trenches by some of our men, I took the command, and had no officer placed over me till I was shot the next day. I kept up firing and working as hard as I could, I was so mad at the loss we had sustained, all the men doted on Captain Brown, and just fancy he was only married a few days before ho came to fight on the East Coast; what a blow for his poor wife. lam glad to say [ gave satisfaction, the Brigade Major said both the Colonel and himself had been watching my behavior under fire, and said they were very well pleased with me; and shortly after I received my wound, the Colonel came li'msolf to visit me. I very nearly fainted with pain after I received my wound, but luc ily a drop of the Hennessy brand prevented me. I was then able to summons a few of my men, and told them to run up to the right and loft flanks, and to tell the men not to expose themselves,buttokeep well down in the trenches after delivering their fire, till they loaded again. # # The Hau-hau that struck me had a Yankee pea rifle, and was about forty yards from me in their lower outside trench, he came to a sandbag porthole to fire at me several times, but 1 prevented him, as I was firing a revolver, and every time lie aimed at me Ibanged away at him; the sixth barrel missed fire, and whilst putting on a fresh cap he sent his bullet right through my arm—thank goodness 1 it was clear .of ray head—just fancy,—he wou'd have done for me nicely.at forty yards if he had sent it through my head. You may see me in Otago yet, as I have been advised by the doctor to apply for leave.”

Since our Veport of the races wa written we xygret to hear that Captain Hutchinson ( s horse Mainsail has had to be destroyed, in consequence of the accident which befcl him while contending for the Town Plate. We are requested by the Clyde School Committeeto intimate that the School will re-assomble on Tuesday, February 9, on which day it is to be hoped the full complement of scholars will be in attendance. A meeting of the Cromwell Town Council was held in the Council Chambers on Monday last February Ist, bo sides the passing of a few accounts, no other business of importance was transacted. Wo are requested by Mr. George Fache to state that the sale of books advertised to be held to-day, at his rooms, Sunderland-street, is postponed till a future day. The Honorable A. Domett, Mr. Reynolds, and Mr. Strode, are appointed a Commission to inquire into the administration of the Waste Lands- of Otago, in terms of a resolution passed by both Houses during the last session of the Assembly.

It will be seen by our advertising colunmsthat Messrs. J. W. Robertson, and Go., of Queenstown, intend despatching ‘-their commodious new steamer* “ Antrim ” for a trip to the head of Lake Wakatip on Friday next the 12thinst.,returningto Queenstown the snno evening in time for the Masonic Bull in the evening. To persons desirous of enjoying a pleasure trip among the finest lake and mountain scenery in New Zealand this is a first-class opportunity. No charge will be made to excurtionists, and we are given to understand, that, with respect to visitors from Clyde and Cromwell they will bo provided with ample refreshments during the trip. From the Daily Tunis we learn that, during the visit of the Duke of Edinburgh to Otago, a race meeting will be held in Dunedin - The programme arranged by the Committee shows the total amount of stakes to be competed for is 890f. The following are the events and their respective prizes Handicap, two miles and a half, 200 sovereigns; Handicap, one mile and a half, 109 sovereigns ; Handicap Hurdle Race, two miles and a distance, over ten llights of hurdles' 80 sovereigns ; weight for age, two miles, 100 sovereigns ; 80 sovereigns, one mile, weight for ago; welterweight , one . mile and a half, 75 sovereigns'; Maiden Plate, of 80 sovereigns, one mile and a half; Handicap Trotting Race of 50 sovereigns, three miles and a distance; Selling Race of 50 sovereigns, one mile and a quarter ; a Consolation Stake of 59 sovereigns, one mile; and a Hack Race of 25 sovereigns. The Otm'iru Turns says —-“ We learn from a contemporary that a live snake, found in the Upper Waikato, has been presented to the Wellington Museum. . Surely the reptile must have escaped from the possession of some naturalist, or New Zealand has been all along in error in supposing herself free from these disagreeable creatures.'’ From the passenger list we learn that Dr. Jcnner, Bishop of Dunedin, was a passenger by the Ruahine, which vessel arrived at Wellington on the 27th ult.