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Dunstan Times, Issue 378, 16 July 1869, Page 2

Mr. John Lillie Gillies has been in this district during the last few days, and we augur beneficial effects from his labors. Hitherto it has been the practice for members of the Government or Governments—Provincial and General—to pay flying visits to the goldfields seemingly (we judge from results onls) for the purpose of airing their dubious dignity ; as, for instance, the fruitless peregrinations of Mr. Hughes, and the visit ostentatious and useless, of Messrs. Strode, Domett, and Co., who a short time ago came to this place to hear and investigate “ complaints and wants ” without notice, and who departed from the Dunstan somewhere about forty-six and a half minutes after their advent. Mr Giliies is evidently a man of a different type, and for the first time in the history of Otago a Member of the Executive has traversed Otago with a desire and intention of doing anything in the shape of public business. There has been none of the palavering, nonsensical speechifying, and ridiculous Ko-tooing ordinarily indulged in on such (previous) occa sions, nor has it been either tendered or invited in the case of Mr. John Lillie Gillies. He came here to work, not to play; and we are correctly informed his mission has been most successful. The “dogs in the manger” who have hitherto obstructed the progress of settlement have been most efficaciously muzzled, and the bone and sinueof the country will no longer be driven from our shores (as they have been for the past seven years) to make room for sheep, (now only re garded of value, by their adorers) as materials for tallow. We under, stand that the firm and determined action taken by Mr, Gillies has resulted in the throwing open of much land in this vicinity, and we only hope that the Provincial Government will be equally consistent in carrying out Iris policy. The Wellington correspondent of the Oamam Times relates that “ On Saturday evening last, I was in a butcher’s shop here, when one of the members entered and purchased three pounds of chops. On leaving the shop he remarked, “ Ah, these will do me two days.! I subsequently learnt that this worthy member (in the receipt, remember, of an honorarium of one guinea a day) was one of four who clubbed together, and, paying 25s a week (not 25s each) for the use of a sitting room and bedrooms, catered for themselves.”

Mr. Samuel Goldston of the Arrow River writes to the Daily Times as follows ;—“ Sir—With no small consternation I observed in a late issue of your paper that the Executive is again occupied with a Railway Scheme. Not only is the way they have taken up the question to be condemned, and ought to be put a stop to, but the idea itself may now be looked upon as anticipated, since something better, cheaper, and also more expeditious, can be provided. Sir, 1 can without boasting state, that my efforts to construct a flying machine are to bo crowned with success. The construction of the machine is so cheap, and the plan so simple, that I well be excused from going into the particulars thus publicly. Naturally averse to boasting, I may briefly inform your readers and the world at large, that the machine is fast approaching completion, and that in the course of next month this grand problem will be satisfactorily solved by me.”

A youth named James Gilchrist was, on the 7th instant fined twenty shillings at the Police Court, for having thrown some sausages on the stage at the Theatre on the ]'receding evening. One of the savoury parcels contained a poetical address to Mr. Samuel Howard, calling upon him to “ try our splendid sausages, and tell us how they eat.” —Daily Times.

The velocipede mania has reached about as far to the South Pole as it is likely to get—for some time at least—one of the machines having been exhibited in Dee-street on Thursday afternoon. We cannot, however, say that either its action or appearance created a favorable impression, for a clumsier looking and more unmanageable affair could hardly have been put together, The only thing it reminded one of was, the ancient Egyptian chariots, travellers find depicted on the walls of the Pyramids. But as the chariot was intended to be drawn by a horse, and the velocipede is, or should be, driven by an

well, suppose we say a human being, the comparison is altogether in favor of the former, seeing that it did, to some extent, answer the purpose of its builder. The machine under no tice neither drove nor steered, showed a decided tendency to capsize, and went best .vhen pushed along by the boys attracted by the novel spectacle. Perhaps this was as much as could he reasonably expected from a contrivance, built for the most part—the wheels at all events—of wood, for the past expei ienca—the wooden railway to wit—has proved the material unsuitable for locomotive purposes. If the enterprising owner of the first velocipede (in Southland) “ tries again” we hope he will obtain the assistance of a competent wheelwright, and “ astonish the natives ” in a different manner. —Southland News-

A number of allotments in the Township of Cromwell will be offered for sale by Public Auction by Mr. George Fache, at the Court house there, on Friday the 23rd day of July instant, at the hour of twelve o’clock noon. (See advertisement). The sale by public auction of the property of the Ida Yalley Quartz Crushing Company took place on Friday last the 9th instant. The purchaser was Mr. W, H. Cutten, one of the directors of the Company, and the price realized 800?.

By oui advertising columns, it will be seen that a sale by public auction by Mr. George Fache will take place to morrow, Saturday, at 2 o’ clock of a miscellaneous lot of property, consisting of crockery, glassware, drapery, &c.

The total yield of the Long Drive Clyim at the Thames, trom April last up to the 29th June, is said to have been G375 ozs. 7dwts. ISgrs. of melted gold, of which the value, duty amounts to 16,735 i7s 10|d. Daily Times.

We beg to acknowledge the receipt of a copy of the Evangelist, dated the Ist instant, which among other subjects, gives an article on the position of the Presbyterian Church.

We are requested by the Secretary of the Manuherikia Public Library to acknowledge, with thanks, the receipt of 27 1. 11s. 6d., from the Committee of the “ Alexandra Relief Fund.”

The Trustees of the Alexandra Cemetery request us to acknowledge with thanks, a donation of 15i from the “Alexandra Relief Fund.”

The Escort on Monday last took down the following quantities of gold Cromwell STOoz. 14dwt. Clyde 454oz. Odwt. Alexandra 806oz. 8dwt. Black’s 302oz. Odwt. hi ount Ida 654oz. Odwt. Total 3,087oz. 2dwt.