The Dunstan Times. FRIDAY, JUNE 25, 1869.

Dunstan Times, Issue 375, 25 June 1869, Page 2

The Dunstan Times.

FRIDAY, JUNE 25, 1869.

Beneath the Buie of Mon entirely just the ten is mightier than the SWORD

The development of tho resources of the District as well as economising what wo already possess has, wo are happy to learn received some amount of public attention lately. The squatters have resolved upon having a boiling down establishment erected somewhere in the vicinity of Clyde, and Mr. Fraser of the Earnsclengh Station has been commissioned to proceed at once to Victoria to make arrangements for the purchase of the necessary plant for putting the project into practice for converting into tallow the surplus fat stock of the district and its vicinity. That a boiling down establishment will prove a profitable investment, there is little room for doubt. The runs in the neighbourhood of the Dunstan possess excellent qualities for fattening stock, fuel is abundant and cheap, while the situation is most central and easy of access. There arc other sources of

profit, which may be derived by the establishment save those obtained from the making of tallow and the sale of the skins of the animals ; legs of mutton might bo sold at a good price or converted into hams, while the refuse from the boiling down process could be readily disposed of for feeding swine, for the flesh of which, there is a constantly increasing demand. While admiring the enterprise of the squatters, we do however think that they are missing a very considerable revenue—let alone how they might promote the general prosperity of the district—by neglecting to adopt measures by which the public might be supplied with cheap meat. When we come to take into consideration the fact that, fat sheep have become a drug, and are to be consigned wholesale to the melting pot, we can scarcely reconcile to ourselves the enormous prices we are paying for meat, and how many hungry men, women and children would be glad of a meal of what it is proposed—looking ah the question from a consumers point of view—to waste. We do advocate that the squatter should not enter into competition with the butchers but, at the same time the consumption of meat would be enormously increased by its being sold at a much cheaper rate. This is amply, borne out by the letter of our Lake’s correspondent ; wo find by it, that at the Arrow where butchers previous to the cheap meat era killed fifteen sheep per week they now kill seventy, while the person who started in business and caused the reduction, is killing a like cpiantity, making the total consumption to be one hundred and forty in the place of fifteen ; the consumption of beef since tbe low prices appear to be in much the same proportion. Meat enters so largely into our daily consumption of eatables, that it necessarily becomes a very serious item of expenditure, and we are justified in adopting any measures which may- be in our power for procuring a reduction-in its price.

The movement at Cromwell for the establishment of a malting and brewery Company, if successful, will supply a long felt and much needed want. Upon the carriage of beer alone, the loss to the district is something very considerable, while ihe gain by growing our own barley, and perhaps hops, and converting them into beer will prove a very valuable addition to our local industry. We trust also that the necessity for a Flour mill has not been lost sight of, this is of paramount importance, not only to the development of our agricultural resources, but to the extension of our commerce. Even supposing that no more wheat was grown in the district forsome time to come, than is now the case, it should not prevent the erection of a mill; ample supplies could be obtained from the Lakes, for wheat might just as well be imported as flour, and we take the benefit of the enormous demand there would be for our merchandise, which the purchase of grain from the actual growers would necessarily bring. Under present circumstances, we are on the losing side, we pay for our flour with our money instead of pur goods,thereby enriching others and impoverishing ourselves. Travellers whom we meet from the Lakes District, inform us that great dissatisfaction exists there between the farmers and the owners of the local flour mill, and that they (the farmers) would gladly avail themselves ot another market for their produce, as well as for obtaining supplies, The opportunity for our business men to improve not only their own indi vidual positions but that of the district is now lieforo them, and must not be allowed to slip by unimproved.

We ai’s indebted to the Wakatip Mail for a great compliment, inasmuch that, by reason of the extravagance of the Municipalities of Clyde and Oamaru, the Bill for amending the “ Municipal Corporations Ordinance, 18G6,” was thrown out. Members refused to support it because of the alleged extravagant expenditure of certain municipalities in sending deputations to Dundin. Whatever was done by

Oamaru in this matter, wo must entirely exonerate Clyde. We have only sent one paid deputation to town since the place was incorporated, and the expenses wore very trifling. In the case of one member, ho only received the actual amount of his coach fare up and down; in the second case, the expenses amounted to something like 301, which sum covered some extraordinary expenses, as well as a fortnight’s delay in Dunedin of the gentleman to whom the money was paid. With the exception of the Town Clerk’s salary, and which will doubtless now be reduced, there has been no other expenditure on the part of the.Council unless for public works, and it must be plainly apparent, even to the most casual observer, that the total amount received as revenue, including the Government subsidy and the 5001 grant-in-aid, have all been judiciously laid out. We possess what Queenstown has not—something to show for our money, and built of durable material into the bargain. We have a handsome town-hall, built with stone, and our streets are kerbed and channelled with the same durable material. We possess a permanent supply of water, available (with very few exceptions) on the promises of every householder, while we have engines for extinguishing fires ; and, as soon as sufficient funds are in the hands of the Corporation, the supply of water already mentioned will be

brought into the town at an elevation sufficient to raise it to the top of any building twice the height ot any at present in existence. The Hospital is also supplied from this source with water for domestic purposes and for irrigation, while the majority of the residences and gardens of our citizens living in the environs of the town are similarly supplied. During the months of summer water is allowed to course down the channels upon either side of the street, effectually allaying the dust, and rendering the heated atmosphere cool and balmy. We arc emphatically of opinion that no municipal moneys have been so judiciously expended as has been the case at Clyde. Looking at Queenstown, what do we find 1 Nothing but timber everywhere. A wooden town-hall —or rather an apology for one—wooden kei-bing to the footways, wooden

bridges over a little creek, and a wooden erection, dubbed a “ beacon,” built on some rocks at the entrance of the little bay 'which forms the harbor of Queenstown. We had almost forgotten to mention tire four wooden wells, from which water may be drawn in a bucket when required t) arrest the ravages of lire. As to the fireengine, that was the property of the town before a municipality -was even thought about. In the matter of deputations Queenstown has not been free from guilt. It actually despatched two Town Councillors to Dunedin on the Quixotic expedition of holding a Municipal Conference there; and, not content with this, the extra expenditure of sending the Town Clerk with them in the capacity of wet nurse was actua’ly incurred by the woodenheaded body We would recommend the champion of Queenstown and would-be calumniator of Clyde to seriously remember the old adage, “Those who live in glass houses should never throw stones.

An entertainment will bo given on Monday evening next, the 28th inst., in Kidd’s Concert Hall, Cromwell, in aid of the funds of the Cromwell Public Library. The entertainment will consist of musical selections, instrumental and vocal, and readings by members of the Committee. From the programme, which appears in another column, there is very little doubt but that there will be a large number present.

On Monday last Mr. George Fache sold by public auction the Butcher’s Creek Hotel, situate at Butcher’s Gully, with other property. The prices realised were satisfactory.

On reference to our advertising columns it will be scon that a summoned meeting of the A. 0. F. Court Star of Cromwell, is called for tomorrow (Saturday) evening. The business to be transacted is the appointment of surgeon, nomination of offices, and other important matters

'ihe severest shock of earthqkake that within our memory has been experienced in the Province was felt yesterday morning at aboutl 1.23 a.m. From Alexandra, Cromwell, the Lakes, and other places we hear that the vibration of the earth was most paintftxlly perceptible, and created great consternation. At Clyde the whole of the wooden buildings rocked and swayed to a great extent, in a number of instances shaking the crockery and bottles off the shelves, and otherwise doing damage. The workmen on one of the dredges on the Molyneux represented the shock as being very severe, the vessel swaying and straining at her anchors in a most extraordinary manner. The workmen at the new stone town hall which is in course of erection heard merely a rumbling sound, they express their belief that the building has not been in the least injured. We have not heard of any material injury to property being occasioned.

We are particularly requested by Mi-. Fache to draw especial attention to the advertisement notifying the sale of Cattle at Alexandra to morrow, Saturday.. The cattle which are now running within ten miles of Alex andx-a, will be at the place of sale early on Saturday morning. They are xeally a good lot, and worthy the attention of purchasers.

We have been informed that Mr. A. D. Harvey has been appointed Deputy of the Registrar of Marriages, and of Births, Deaths, and Marriages for the district of Dunstan.

The sales by Auction of Farm pro ■ perty, implements, cattle, horses, and other property, held by Mr. G. Fache diu-iiig the past week, were well at tended, and the prices realised wore most satisfactory, dairy cattle fetching from 10J. to 17/.; horses from 3 01. downwards; oats, 4s. ; and wheat, Gs. 4d.

We ax-e requested to intimate that a special meeting of the Brethren of the Court Star of Dunstan AO.F., for the election of officer's, i-eceiving Auditors’ Report, &c., will be held’at the Lodge Room, on Friday evening, the 2nd July.

The proposition to impose a tax on bachelors of thirty years of ago and upwards, lately brought forward in the French Senate by M. Julien, has found an advocate in the.colonial press. The Wanganui Times, recommends tiventy-five as the minimum limit of ago, and says ; —“ The proceeds of that tax should be divided among married persons, each man and wife receiving in proportion to the number of children they are rearing to people the colony. Whatever candidates start in favor of this measure are sure to have the powerful support of the ladies.” The Daily Times says : —“ Among the despatches from his Excellency Sir George Bowen to the Secretary cf State for the Colonies, recently presented to Parliament, is one enclosing a letter addressed to the Governor of New Zealand by the Superintendent of the Province of Otago. Mr. Mac andrew’s letter is dated the 22nd of December last. His Honor’s object in addressing the Governor was to urge his Excellency ‘ at once to summon the Imperial troops, or else to cause an immediate dissolution of the Assembly and a fresh election.’ The letter contains a dissertation on the self-reliant policy and its effects, with special reference to Otago. In transmitting this letter to Earl Granville, with other documents of the kind, his Excellency remarked that he considered it- his ‘ plain duty to decline compliance with the prayer of all memorials and personal representations of this kind.’ ”

The river Molyncux is gradually falling, and with it the beaches begin to assume a lively aspect from the numbers of Chinese who are daily arriving and setting to work thereon There is every indication of the river being very low this winter, on account of so very little snow having fallen up country. The quantity of gold obtained by thos ■ working on the beaches must bo satisfactory, for all have left the bank workings ; but this would not be the case if there was the quantity of water necessary for sluicing purposes. There is not the slightest doubt that, if the river con tinues to fall, there will be a vast increase in the number of Chinese miners, which will benefit the district greatly, as those who are now working on the Nevis and elsewhere will soon he compelled to leave on account of the severity of the weather.

At a meeting of the Waste Lands Board, held on Wednesday, the IGth inst, a letter from Mr. Powell was read, representing that the town of Frankton would sell if offered was considex-ed, and it was decided that the portion adjoining the trunk lino should be surveyed into quarter-acre sections. Mr. Warden .Robinson advised the sale of all unsold land in Block 1, Naseby. The rest of the town could not be sold until another survey had been made. The matter was deferred. Mr. Spence’s report relative to the road line to suit Mr Butler’s house in Arrowtowu, and suggesting an altera-

tion as per sketch, was considered, the decision of the Board being that the house should be considered a portion of the nearest Govcnxmeut section, and to be put up with it, valuation as usual. Mr. Caleb Longer presented a petition from the inhabitants of St. Bathan’s, Welshman’s Gully, and Dx-ybread, asking to be allowed to work coal on a run belonging to Mr. Giassfoi-d, who withheld his consent, and also whether such consent was absolutely necessary. The Board decided that the runholder’s consent was necessary. Mr. Ilaggitt appeared on the part of the Ida Valley Quarts Crushing Company to oppose an application by Mr. George Turnbull for the lease of ten acres of land in Ida Valley as a lignite area. He objected to the application on the ground that the area asked for took up all the available land containing coal in the Ida Valley. The application had been made so far back as 13GG, at which time the Mining Surveyor pointed out that, if it were granted, the applicant would have a monopoly which would tend to deter many parties from erecting machinery for quartz crushing purposes in the district. hs it was, the diggers wore able to get the coal they required at a low rate. After discussion it was moved and carried that the application should be referred back to the Mining Surveyor or Warden, to report wether half the area could be granted, andto decide on the boundaiy, with a view to reserving a portion of the coal-bearing land for a mining lease by a future applicant. We have received a copy of a newspaper called the European Mail, pub lished in London. "It is a complete summary of the news of the world. In comparison with any other newspaper published for readers in the Southern Hemisphere we consider it far the best, the reading matter being selected with a view to suit all classes.

The Grey River Argus says that the actual losses occasioned by the lata calamitous fire at Greymouth nob covered by insurance may safely bo estimated at close on 40,0(K)L Sir. George Fache will hold a sale ot Crown Lands in the township of Roxburgh, on the ground, on Tuesdaynext, the 29th inst. The English Mail via Suez closes at Clyde on Sunday, the 4th of July, at 4 o’clock.