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Dunstan Times, Issue 383, 20 August 1869, Page 2

Erom a private and reliable source, we learn the General Government have decided that the Government Offices are not to be removed from Clyde.

The Election for the office of Surgeon to the Dunstan District Hospital took place at Clyde, on Tuesday last, the 17th inst. Great excitement prevailed throughout the day, and the Town presented a busier scene than it has for a considerable time past. The specu’ative geniuses in our midst entered into Ihe spirit of the contest and staked their money pretty freely on the issue. As the hour for closing the pool drew nigh, the excitement was at its height, and those contributors who had not recorded their votes, were eagerly sought after, and

hurried off to the polling booth. Mr. Warden Pyke, President of the Institution acted as Returning Officer - , and Messrs Brough and Cambridge, Scrutineers- At the close of the Poll, Mr. Pyke merely gave out the actual num ber of votes recorded, as follows— Dr. Shaw, 64, Dr. Burrows, 62, reserving the final declaration of the poll until legal opinion had been ob tained as to the validity of four votes objected to, on the ground of the voters being mere children. Mr. Warden Pyke, in his report dated the 7th Inst., states that new ground had been opened in the Alexandra division of the Dunstan district, on a large flat between the Manorburn crossing of the Manuherikia and the Galloway Station. Two claims had been opened, water had been brought on, tail-races cut, and washing operations commenced when the Warden visited the ground on the 4th inst. The sinking is from two to three feet, through coarse gravel and boulders, and the wash a coarse pebbly sand, mixed with black sand. The gold is rougher and coarser than fhe Molyneux gold, and quartz, ironstone, and jasper are distributed throughout the wash. The bottom is partly fine sand and partly yellow clay. Payable gold is obtained in the two claims opened and the men say they are making fair wages. The Warden does not anticipate heavy finds, but would not be surprised' if the whole of the flat, evidently the site of an ancient lake, together with the adjacent terraces, were to prove equally auriferous. He estimates the ground to be from one thousand five hundred to one thousand eight hunched acres in extent, and, if his surmises turn out correct, it will support a moderate population fora considerable time.

The right to occupy the Grand Stand during the ensuing race meeting was sold by auction, , at the Dunstan Hotel, on Tuesday last, by Mr, George Fache, for the sum of 13/., the purchaser being Mr. John Cox, of the Port Phillip Hotel.

We have referred at some length in another column to the speech of John L. Gillies Esq. on the Otago Hundreds' Regulations Bill. We presume some such action will be taken in the Dunstan District as was at Tokomairiro.

Should it be concluded to do so, we would suggest instant and combined action, in support of the prayer of the Tokomairiro people.

Mr. Patrick Kelly of Cromwell was eh elect member of the Dunstan District Hospital Committee, vice Mr. C. Ziele, resigned.

We are requested by Mr. Fache to state that, in consequence of the great _ excitement on Tuesday last over election of Surgeon for the Dunstan District Hospital, he was unable to dispose of the property advertised for sale on that day, and consequently he adjourned the sales ti 1 Tuesday next, the 24th inst. Particulars can be seen on reference to our advertising columns.

The new rush on the Manuherikia river, between the Balmoral Hotel and Messrs. Campbell and Low’s station, is assuming a very permanent appearance. During the past week a number of claims have been bottomed and fair prospects obtained. The miners express satisfaction, and all whom we have spoken to say that a good payable field hj s been opened. We do not anticipate that piles will be made, but unmistakable evidences exist that good wages, 81. to \ol. per week, will be made.

During tlie visit of John L. Gi lies Esq., the Member of the Provincial Executive to Clyde a few weeks back, his attention was drawn to the necessity of a refractory ward for lunatics being erected in conjunction with the hospital, and he was asked to recommend the Provincial Executive to grant a sum of money lor the purpose. Mr. Gillies admitted the reasonableness of the request, and said lie would use his best endeavors to have the request granted. We are happy to say that the sum of 100/. was received on Tuesday last for the carrying out of the object ; for the promptitude in dealing with this matter, we think the thanks of the entire community are due to Mr. Gillies.

We are glad to hud that the untiring energy and perseverance of Messrs. 11. D. Owens and Co. has once more placed the Cromwell Coalpit in efficient working order. Messrs. Owens have erected powerful pumping machinery, of the most improved description. This, together with other expenses connected with their extensive improvements and appliances for working the mine, amount to rather more than 8007 sterling. Tne excellent burning qualities of the coal from this pic will, however, cause a sufficient demand for the article to repay the outlay.

On Thursday, the 12th instant, Vincent Pyke, Esq., Coroner for the district, held an inquest at Kidd’s Cromwell Hotel, Cromwell, on the body of a Chinaman named LeCheong, who had been found dead in his tent. Dr. Shaw made a post mortem examination, and adduced that death resulted from natural causes. The jury returned a verdict in occordauce with the medical evidence. The Gazette of the 6th inst. notifies the resignation of Mr. Lowther Broad, as Magistrate and Warden for the Thames Goldfield. It also announces that Mr. Broad has made application to register no less than seventeen goldmining companies at the Thames, o the whole of which he is manager. The Colonist says : Vote by ballot has now become the law of New Zealand, the Bill having passed through the Upper House last week. The second reading was agreed to by a majority of nineteen to six. which shows a marked difference as compared with its fate last year, when it was rejected. Next elections will therefore, we presume, take place under the cegk of the ballot.”

From all quartos of the district accounts are reaching us of the discovery of payable quartz reefs. The exact localities have not, in many instances, been made public ; but the Garrick and Mount Pisa Eangesappear to abound in lodes of unparalelled richness. Besides the Bendigo Gully Beef, which has been proved to le very rich for considerably over a mile in length, theje are two others being prospected one in the Mount Pisa Eanges, by a party of working miners, and the other in the Garrick Banges, about eight mi'es from Clyde. The latter is in the hands of a private party at Clyde, who are employing labor to test its qualities.

The Molyueux still continues most favorable for dredging, also for those parties of miners who aae working the beaches. The dredges, those that are in the immediate vicinity of Clyde continue to do remarkably well, very handsome dividends being still obtained. As to the other dredges further down the river, we hear but little, but that little is not very flattering. The claims on the Frenchman's Bench at Alexandra are being worked most vigorously, the holders taking every advantage of the favorable season, in all there are over forty men employed night and day, taking into acccount the rate of wages, the yield of gold to coevr that expense alone, which is not a moiety of the expenses incurred by these claims, must be very large. At Half-mile and Poverty beaches, and Butcher’s Point, a deal of work is being done, and, to all accounts, sufficient of the precious metal is obtained to make the

labor remunerative. The weather has been most variable of late, warm and cold days following in quick succession. Several nights the snow fe’l heavily on the ranges, this is looked upon as a great boon, as from the little that had fallen during the Winter, it was anticipated that wafer would be very scarce for sluicing purposes ere the Summer had fairly commenced. We have received a letter signed “Cerberus,” -eferring at great length

to the management of the Hospital,the election of Surgeon, and othei matters,

but as the writer indulged rather too freely in names, in fact, was too personal, we consigned his effusion to the waste paper basket. We would take the opportunity of impressing on the mind of “ Cerberus ” that it would be very great deal more manly for him to take an active part in local affairs, than heap abuse on the shoulders of those who do.