FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1869.

Dunstan Times, Issue 385, 3 September 1869, Page 2

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1869.

The election for the office of House Surgeon to tlie Duns tan District Hospital has been the cause of con siderable trouble and excitement throughout the District, and we are sorry to say that more is likely to result, the first election not having been decided, we are to have another on the 14th instant, Tor a long time past, we have regarded the Hospital Ordinance as a cumbersome ami imperfect piece of legislation, more especially so far as the election for the office of House Surgeon is concerned, who, instead of being elected by the subscribers, should be elected by the Committee of Management. The fact that the votes of children of tender years arc required to bo accepted upon so momentous a question, sufficiently strengthens our case, none but matured adults we should imagine would be capable of judging as to the efficiency of a member of the medical profession ; school boys and school girls must undoubtedly vote as their parents or friends direct, and as party spirit invariably] runs high in small communities, the hands of one person should. not be strengthened beyond those of another. The giving over the hospital to the charge of one single! individual, and as it were placing in his hands the lives of a score or so of our fellow creatur. s, who, stricken by misfortune and disease, have become dependent upon our charity for assistance and support, is a matter for grave consideration ; we are holding in trust the lives of others, and if we either neglect or trifle with that trust our failing in our duly will surely carry its own punishment with it. That the Hospital Ordinance does not provide for such a contingency, as equal voting is another evidence of its imperfect construction ; Mr. Pyko, according to the established rule of elections might in his capacity of Rej turning Officer, have exercised his prerogative and given his casting vote in favor of either of the candidates. The Ordinance does not say that he shall not do so, and we have heard those learned in law argue, that what the law does not provide against may with impunity be done, and his doing this would have saved a world oi trouble, still, as party spirit runs so high, and Mr. Pyke has not sufficiently long been a resident amongst us to form a correct opinion of the skill of our local medical practitioners, he did perfectly right in declaring the elec tion insufficient, and giving subscri-

bers the privilege of making another selection. As we have said many times before, we do hope that the best man will be chosen ; we by no means desire to prejudice subscribers, or prejudge any of the candidates, the respective merits of whom are as well known to those interested as ourselves. That comment here is unnecessary, and we feel assured, that if the disposal of every vote recorded on the 14th instant is directed by the dictates of the conscience of the voter, the right man will be found occupying the right place.

Totals of Return laid on the table of the House of Representatives on the Gth of August, 1969, on the motion of Mr. O’Neill. Return of Gold for year eudijig 18th May, 1869, -in the Province of Otago:— ozs. dwts. grs. Hamilton’s 10,375 3 0 Arrow ... 7,740 17 0 Dunstan ... 15,242 11 0 Black’s ... 9,374 0 0 Cromwell 15,167 0 0 Manuherikia... 12,0-28 1 0 > St. Bathan’s... 9,110 5 0 M'Rae’s ... 2,405 1 0 Mount Ida ... 20,640 12 16 Tuapeka ... 24,805 6 0 Waipori ... 8,765 17 0 AYaitahuna ... 5,636 15 0 AYoolshed ... 870 8 0 Switzer’s .. 7,179 0 0 Teviot ... 1,238 3 0 Ida Ahdley ... 206 15 0

Total ... Excepting in the Lakes’ district meetings condemnatory of the “Otago Hundreds Regulation Bill'’ have been held throughout the Province, at which the unanimous conclusion arrived at has been that, a stop has been put to the settlement of the Province, as the lands over to the runholdcrs.

In the Southland Provincial Council, Mr. Johnstone’s motion for the appointment of delegates, to meet the representatives of Otago in conference, on the subject of the re-union of South, land and Otago, has been carried.— Daily Times. Among the telegraphic intelligence from Willington, we notice that Mr, Fox, in reply to a question by Mr Bradshaw, stated that the Ministry would not advise the Governor to disallow the “Otogo Hundreds Act.” According to the Advertiser, it is probable that Mr. Vincent Pyke will be appointed to one ot the Wardenships at the Thames, rendered vacant by the resignation of Messrs. Broad and Redded.

The Southland Times says;—‘We are informed by a gentleman just arrived from Stewart’s Island, that there are at present about forty-five men at work there They are distributed over three seperate reefs, and, as yet, can of course be said to be only prospecting. About half of the whole number are located on what is known as the Big Reef; one or two parties have set in on a reef running parallel to the first one, at no great distance, and known as the Little Reef; while the remainder are on another reef, about two miles off, called Blacklock’s Reef. It cannot be said that gold has yet been found but practical hands arc sanguine, being much pleased with the character of the stone. All arc said to have set to work with a will, and the utmost good feeling and conduct prevails. The general determination is said to be, that if not successful where they have now commenced operations, other localities should be visited, and that the search should not be given up until the whole Island has had a fair overhaul Mr. Fache requests us to draw attention to a sale by Auction of books and other property, at Cromwell, on Tuesday next, tlu 1 Till inst.—(-'ee advertisement.) We acknowledge with thanks the receipt of the tenth report of the Postal Service of Rew Zealand by the Post Master General, in our next issue we hope to enter into it, want of time and pressure of other matter preclude the possibility in the present

issue. An Extra issued by the Timaru Herald on the 27th, says:—“We learn that two gentlemen who have paid a visit to the reported goldfield, returned to Timaru late last night, and report very unfavorably of the prospect. The country is described as fearfully rough, with nothing but a small river bed to work in, where the “color” only can be obtained. The river was tried where Mai ten and party arc camped, but no prospect worth looking at was obtained. Several Timaru residents have left for the purpose of visiting the ground so that further reliable news may be looked for to-night or in the morning. The Timaru Herald , in speaking of the new Goldfield in that district, says:—“ The existence of gold isproven beyond all doubt, and that Robert Marten, an Otago miner, has applied, on behalf of himself and four mates, for the reward. He cautions people not to rush to the ground, as it yet remains to be proved whether it will payin’ not. The prospectors say it is poor, and some old diggers who have seen the prospect say it will not pay. .

The ceremony of consecrating the new Town Hall for Masonic purposes is appointed to take place on Thursday, the 21st of October. In the evening the Masonic Brethren purpose giving a ball to their friends in celebration of the event, when a large and brilliant assemblage may with confidence be anticipated, and with the splendid hall at their disposal, the votaries of Terpsicore will have an opportunity of enjoying themselves never before presented in the upcountry districts of Otago. The racing season appears to have set in with good earnest,at least in this district. A most successful meeting was held at Cromwell on Wednesday last, the racing being preceded by a pigeon-shooting match, and the equine sports proving perfectly satisfactory to a large assemblage of visitors and the winners, if not to the losers At the Dunstan, te-morrow, thOro will bo a pigeon-shooting match, and the racing will take place to-day, when the lovers of the turf will no doubt be gratified by witnessing excellent sport. The Alexandra folks hold their spring meeting on Tuesday next, the programme of which may be seen in our advestising columns, and, if the past is any criterion, a good day’s sport may be most confidently looked forward to. Mr. Warden Beetham had a very narrow escape for his life, while crossing .he tdiotover river on Monday last, on his way from Queenstown to Arrow town. It appears that when reaching the centre of the channel his horse got into a sand.holo or quicksand, stumbled, and fell over on the near side, carrying its rider down with it, his loft leg being fast underneath the fallen animal. Luckily for Mr. Beetham he managed just to keep his face above the surface of the water, and during the struggles of the horse, contrived to .extricate his leg ; both horse and rider reached the shore directly afterwards. Mr. Blair of the Ferry Hotel rendered prompt assistance and supplied Mr. Beetham with dry clothing who proceeded at once on his journey, arriving at the Arrow scarcely -twenty minutes beyond his usual time, This is one of the narrowest escapes that has occurred for some time past and points to the fact, that the works for the bridge were begun none too soon. The large amount of debris coming down from the sluicing claim renders this crossing place more and moredangerous after every flood. An accident of a very serious nature occurred yesterday (Thursday) morning, on board the, dredge Galatea, to Benjamin Knight, from which he received injuries of a very alarming nature. It appears that, while moving the dredge, one of the large sticks of timber employed for that purpose broke suddenly, and struck Kight on the head, inflicting a fearful gash of about four inches in length. Dr, Niven, who was in attendance soon after the accident, informs us that the outer case of the sku'l is not fractured, though he fears the inner to lie ; but for a short time it cannot be ascertained if such is the fact. Great sympathy is expressed for Mr, Knight, who is a most persevering man, and universally respected. By advertisement in another column it will be seen that Mr. Alfred H, Burton, of the well-known firm ol Burton, Brothers, photographic artists Dunedin, will shortly make a profes sioual tour through the province visiting Clyde and the other goldfields towns, thus affording np-couutiy resi dents an opportunity of obtaining really artistical views and portraits, o which is i- to he hoped they will aval’ themselves.

The usual meeting of the Clyde Town Council was postponed till Monday next, there not being a quo-

rum present,

A pigeon match was shot on Wednesday last, at Cromwell, for a handsomely chased silver cup, presented by Mr. W. Smitham, of the Cromwell Hotel. There were fourteen com. petitors, the number of birds four each, the distance twenty-one yards. The shooting by the majority was scarcely up to the average, but that of Messrs. Garrett and Thomson, of Bendigo Gully Quartz-reef, and of a gentleman from the Arrow, was first class. Mr. Thomson, who was handicapped at thirty two yards, killed three out of his four. Garrett and the Arrowitc killed all their birds clean oil' the real, and upon shooting-off the Arrowite missed, while Garret killed, and therefore carried off the much-coveted prize. The weather was most favorable, and a verp pleasant afternoon was spent.

The Pigeon Shooting Match that was to have taken place at Clyde, yesterday, from various causes wo have been informed is postponed till Saturday. A concert will be given this evening at Moore’s Junction Hotel. LATEST INTELLIGENCE. (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) (From our own correspondent.) Dunedin, Wednesday, I p.m. The prosecution in the alleged libel case, “ Driver v Henningham,” was not proceeded with. The witnesses' and defendant’s recognisances were consequenty discharged. A committee is in the course of formation for the purpose of presenting a testimonial to the defendant, Mr. Henningham.