The Dunstan Times. FRIDAY, JULY 9, 1869.

Dunstan Times, Issue 377, 9 July 1869, Page 2

The Dunstan Times.

FRIDAY, JULY 9, 1869.

Beneath the Rule of Men entirely just the pen is mightier than the sworld

Mu. Gillies, the member of the Provincial Government deputed to make a tour of the goldfields for the purpose of learning persona ly the requirements of the mining population, the value of waste lands and where desiruble empowered to make arrange- : ments for the opening up of same for occupation and settlement, will soon have concluded his mission ; and from what we can learn, with results generally satisfactory to the people and the Government. In several districts that we could name, Mr. Gillies has succeeded in obtaining land upon very favorable terms from the run-ho'ders, and which will ere long he available for occupation ; with few e-.ceptions. the goldfields may now congratulate themselves upon achieving what they have so long and so persistently struggled for—the means of perma nently retaining their population, by enabling them to invest their savings in the cultivation and ownership of the soil. The advantages which a settled population will be to the various centres of business in connexion with the mining industry are almost incalculable. Money which we have been sending away even for the bane necessaries of life will be retained among us, and instead ot its passing directly from the hands of the merchant here to the merchant in Dunedin, it will find its way into the possession of the local produce;-, thence probably to his workmen and so hack again to the merchant on the goldfields, a small proportion or only so much as will purchase articles which we cannot produce upon the spot being withdrawn from circulation, the rest being retained amongst us, affording by its various ramifications the means of living to a large number of persons who, under present circumstances could not find employment. Our townships instead of being mainly supported by the retailers of spirituous liquors who, unfortunately for .us form such au undue proportion of -our traders, will be upheld by a largely increased body of artizans and handy. evafts-men, whom the occupiers and cultivators of the soil will call into existence. Labor will become plentiful and cheap, because the means of

emp’oying it wi 1 be less desultory, while those necessitated to work for wages will find themsel yes in the end belter paid. The miner engaged delving in, and battering mother earth for the purpose of extracting therefrom her auriferous treasures will, having every inducement to do so, take better care of his earnings, and the improved condition of society will cause much of the money now wasted in public-houses to be expended in broadcloth, and in the purchase of the many creature comforts which can only bo appreciated by a settled population ; morally and socially the change will be considerably for the better, cur churches, schools, and libraries will be more largely attended, our newspapers and other publications more generally read, while the various refinements which contribute so much to the thorough enjoyment of a well ordered life will gradually become indispensible necessaries to existence. In fact the change in every shape will be most beneficial Mr. Gillies’ mission to the goldfields has been undertaken with the view of removing those obstacles which have proved to be an effectual bar to the settlement of the country, and we feel fully assured that, if the Provincial Government are only sincere in continuing in the course which they have so wisely begun, we shall have no more cause to complain that, the mining population are leaving us and seeking other shores for the investment of their savings.

The downfall cfthe Stafford ministry must be received by the peop e of the bouth Island with feelings of nnmingled satisfaction. Those who have so long grasped the reigns of government, and have plunged the country into an expensive and fruitless native | war, who have heaped upon it such a 1 >ad of debt, that it will take years to liquidate, and not content with this have in conjunction with a host of unprincipled mercenaries waxed fat upon the sweets of office, have at last been ousted at the voice of public opinion, and which demands an en tire change in the policy of the Government of the Colony. We are by no means admirers of the I rovincial system hut, we strongly object to the revenues of the South, being absorbed by the North in prosecuting a fruitless war against a horde of half naked savages, the issue of.which; if ever so successful, cannot advantage us any more, than the mere empty honor that, we have succeeded in establishing the Queen’s supremacy, where in reality she should have done so for herself. The prosecution of the native war by the mere handful of people which colonise New Zealand is totally beyond their means. It may 1 e a very noble idea to be self reliant and preserve an aggressive attitude, but it is extremely unwise and what is far worse, it is a senseless waste of blood and money to do so, especially when we consider that these are the very elements of colonization which we so much need, and of which we cannot he too careful It is the duly of the Imperial Government to protect its subjects,—even though they be at the antipodes—from the murderous knife and tomahawk of the cannibal aboriginal. This conflict of races was not brought about by the direct action of the colonists themselves, but is the result of Imperial misrule, and humanity demands that the resources of the Empire shall be brought to hear to relieve from the horrors of savage warfare its innocent and unoffending subjects, and the new Government are only doing their duty by impressing this fact upon the authorities at home. We are not adverse to assist so far as reasonably lays in oui power to preserve the honor of our Nation : and we gladly protect the lives and pi’operties of such of our fellow subjects as may be assailed, that is all that can be expected from ns, and having done so we have not failed in our duty or allegiance to our sovereign. But to commit ourselves to heavy liabilities, which must be burthensome not only to this but to generations to come, in prosecuting an aggressive and objectless war, which, policy lids us unhesitatingly to de-

dine, is entirely out of the question, The continuance of the Native war, is without doubt the means of living to a very largo section of the population in the North Island, and whoso remotest desires are to make peace ;wo must therefore restpectfully refuse any longer being made the innocent victims of such vicious and unprincipled practices. It is the wisest course to content ourselves with preserving that which we can most readily defend, and those outposts which are both difficult and dangerous to keep we had best abandon, and trust to time which will effectually fight our batt’es with the aboriginal savage, and put us peaceably and unopposed into posession of even the remotest corners of New Zealand. It is the inevitable Jaw of nature that as civilization advances, so shall the savage man retire, until at last he be blotted out altogether from existence. Another source of congratulation in the overthrow of the Stafford ministry is that, an old and well tried friend to Otago constitutes one of the members of the Government. Mr. Vogel, although ho has ceased to be a resident among us, still represents our Goldfields, and we may rest assured that he will not be unmindful of the interests of his constituents, and that whatever scheme may be devised for furthering the woik of developing the gold producing districts, wo shall be sure of our fair proportion of its advantages. Mr. Vogel is only a young politician as yet, but his ability and steadfastness of purpose in furthering the interests of this Province and the Colony generally are too well appreciated to need comment here, and experience proves that his political honesty is unquestioned. We have no fear hut that the goldfields must congratulate themselves upon having Mr. Vogel for their representative, more especially now that the question of increasing by artificial means the supplies of water for mining purposes will be dealt with by the General Assembly.

We are requested to intimate that the time is'xtended to the 17th inst., for the payment of subscriptions entitling any person to vote at the coming election of Resident Surgeon, for the Dnnstan District Hospital. We are informed that arrangements have been made by the Government for the payment of the sum of 3507., balance still due on the sludge channel works at Sb Bathans; and that the amount will be forwarded to the committee at St. Bathans within a month from this date —Daily Times. At the usual weekly meeting of the Waste Land Board held on Wednesday the 30th ult, the following applications were made :—Henry Beer, for bush license and protection for tramway near Bob’s Cove, Lake Wak atip; referred to the Warden. Julius Wenkeim, under Clause 51 of the Goldfields Act, to purchase Section 24, Block X, Queenstown; referred to the Warden. Thomas M‘ Morran, to purchase section 3, block 11., of the Township of Clyde. A letter was read from Warden Pyke, recommending that the applicant should be allowed to purchase, as he had built a good substantial house on the land. Referred to the Secretary of Land and Works, per Clause 51, Goldfields Act. R. P. Badger for James Stuart, applied for Perry site at Bannockburn, crossing of the Kawarau; referred to the Government.

A Court for the revision of the Citizens lists was held in the Council Chambers, Alexandra on Friday the 2nd instant. No objections or claims having been lodged, the lists as posted in the wards was edoptad as the roll for the ensuing year. The meeting of the committee of the Acclimatisation Society, which was to have taken place on Thursday the Ist instant lapsed in the absence of a quorum. It was stated that the honorary secretary had received a cheque for SOL from the Town Clerk of Queenstown, to delray the expenses of transmitting the young trout, and having some excellent ponds, they desired to procure some perch and tench —Daily Times. It again devolves upon us to record a case of sudden death at Alexandra, the victim this time being Dr. Lord, one of the oldest residents in the district. The Doctor had been unwell for some lime past, but it was little expected, that his time was so short]

the melancholy event which has cast a deep gloom over all, took place on Tuesday last in the Eoyal Mail Hotel at the dinner table. On Wednesday an inquest was held before Vincent Pyko Esq., Coroner for the district, the jury after examining the body and hearing a vast amount of evidence, returned a verdict of •* Died from natural causes.”

A very painful accident occurred to Mr. John Dickie, Storekeeper of Drybread on Friday last the 2nd inst. through the bursting of a gun, from which he received such injuries to the left hand as to render amputation necessary. With all despatch he conveyed to the Dunstau District Hospital, where the operation of amputation was successfully performed by Pr. Niven, assisted by Drs. Shaw and Corse, who were most fortunately at Clyde at the time. The patient we believe is progressing favorably up to the present time. At the Resident Magistrate’s Court Clyde, on Tuesday last, before Vin cent Pyke Esq., 11 M., William Adams (alias Champagne Bill) was charged with maliciously wounding some cattle bv stabbing them with a shearblade, tied on to a long stick. The police asked for a remand until the next Court day (which was granted) to enable them to produce further evidence. Hlchard Campion was charged with being a dangerous lunatic and remanded for medical treatment. Anderson and Co. v. Atkins was an action for 50 1 damages. The Bench decided that no evidence of contract ha 1 been produced. Mr. Brough, who appeared for the plaintiffs, said that, as the Bench was of that opinion, he would apply fur a non-suit, which was granted. A complimentary dipner was given to Mr. George Stephenson, accountant of the Bank of New Zealand, Manuherikia, on Fiiday evening last- on the occasion of his leaving the district. Some twenty gentlemen sat down, Mr. Beresford occupying the chair and Mr. Theyers the vice-chair. The comestibles having been done justice jto and the tables cleared, speeches, I toasts, and songs occupied the attenj t on of the company till the woe hours, when all separated, well pleased with ! the evening’s entertainment. Mr. I Stephenson and his family left for his new scene of labor on the following morning.