The Dunstan Times. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1869.

Dunstan Times, Issue 392, 22 October 1869, Page 2

The Dunstan Times.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1869.

Beneath the Buie of Men entirely j cst the ten is mightier than the sword

The recollections of the yesterday's festivities in connexion with the opening of the Hew Town Hall will long dwell pleasantly in the memories of the citizens of Clyde. A detailed de scriptiou of the building has already appealed in the columns of lids journal, while its proportions are so well known that any further account

from us would bo superfluous. It should bo sufficient to say, that the Mayor and Corporation have satisfactorily completed the work which they begun, and they deserve well of the ratepayers The present building must not be looked upon as a gaudy toy, but as fulfilling very many useful purposes. In the first place, a building suitable for holding public gatherings was greatly needed, and we have one now in every shape adapted either for purposes of business or pleasure. The Masonic and Foresters bodies have suitable places of meeting within its walls, and it can also be made available upon any occasion of public demonstration. As a commercial speculation, the new Town Hall will be found to be a profitab'e one, and we may calculate that from all sources of income, there will lie a rereturn of at least something like ten percent upon the outlay ; this is highly satisfactory, as it will mutually add to the revenues of the Corporation The ad vantages of the Municipal system appears to he very generally acknowledged throughout tiie Goldfields, and in (hose townships where it has not been embraced, wo find the inhabitants thereof anxious to do so. The payment of taxes appeared in the first instance objectionable, but it was soon discovered that the outlay amply repaid itself; improved streets, increased the number of pedestrians, consequently storekeepers found more c storaers. The absence of dust, which previously destroyed, or rendered their wares unsaleable amounts to a direct saving, and in some instances to more than ten times the amount of taxes paid, let alone the increased personal comfort which is . _ I now enjoyed by those residing in or | using our principal thoroughfares.. Clyde can also boast of an efficient water supply available either for domestic purposes, or in case of fire This is the most useful measure which the Council has perfected, and al- I though it is of course impossible to ! adopt any measures that will secure ! immunity from the ravages of fire, the means are at hand so that in the i event of a conflagration, it could lie kept within very narrow limits. We have to congratulate ourselves upon the proceedings of yesterday, in that we have not only celebrated an event which will prove an epoch in our history as a Mnnicipa’ity, but have also shown by our rejoicings, that we appreciate the exertions made by the Mayor and Council for the joint benefit of the town and district.

The Escort on Monday last tool; clown the following quantities of gold:— Queens'own 14G40z. 9dwt. Arrowtowu 617nz. lOilwt. Cromwell 78ocz. Oclwt. Clyde 2520z. Odwt. Alexandra loloz. 4dwt. Black’s 45-loz. Odwt. Mount Ida 12290z. Odwt. Total ... 4,953ez. 3dwt. Mr. Peter Calder was e'ec’ed Councillor for Manuhorikia Ward, Alexandra in the place of Mr. Alexander Jack, resigned. The largest cake of retoited gold vet obtained by the Cromwel Quartz Mining Company, (Goodger, Garrett and party) for two weeks work was on view at Goodger’s Hotel on Monday last; this magnificent cake of gold weighed over three hundred ounces, We are given to understand the stone gets richer, the farther the claim is developed. We have been shown a very rich piece of stone taken from a claim on the Bendigo Gu'ly reef, about three hundred yards from the boundary of the Cromwell Quartz Mining Company’s claim. The reef has been tract d the entire length of the claim, and in some places is three feet thick. The fortunate holders are Messrs Eyan, Hawthorne, Attfield and Charnock and two working shareholders. The adjoining claim held by another party of Clyde business people have also struck the reef, and from every indication is as rich in the precious metal as any of the other claims. The claim on the western boundary of the Cromwell Company’s claim has also stunk very rich stone, the specimens shown us were wry goi d; the reef is about nine inches thick on the surface with every indication of its increasing in thickness as it deepens.

The consecration of the Masonic Chamber, in the new Town Hall, Clyde, took place yesterd iy with the umal honors ; on account of the proceedings not having termidated till a late hour, we are necessitated to With hold till our next issue a detailed account of the ceremony, in which we trust to give a faithful and detailed account. About sixty members of the mystic tio were in attendance. From the West Coast papers we learn that Dr. Eyh-y, lately the most able Surgeon Superintendent of the Hokitika hospital, has become insane. It appears that during his passage to Melbourne by steamer Dr. Ryley attempted to cut his throat on two different occasions, when, bv order of the cap'ain of the vessel, lie was contined in a straight jacket. Dr. Burrows, the newly elected Resident Surgeon of the Duns-nn District Hospital, arrived at Clyde on Monday last. At the beginning of November he wi'l take over the charge of the Institution.

From all quarters of the district gratifying intelligence has been received of heavy rains in the low-lying countries, and of equally heavy falls of snow on the ranges. Consequently the gloom J hat was beginning t o settle on the countenances of all classes is dissipated. Good effects from the timely showers are markedly perceptible in the farms and gardens, where the crops Inok most prom king. This seasonable supply will be the saviour of the farmers and diggers, who are in hi hj spirits. In our opinion there is now more snow on the ranges than there has been at any time during the past winter.

Now that quartz-mining is attracting so much attention, ami as any information relative lo saving the precious metal will doubtless ho acceptable to those of our readers engaged in that branch of mining, we give the following extract from a lecture, delivered at Bendigo, by Mr. William Shiress. 'I he lecturer stated

that D had now been proved beyond doubt that one-tenth of the gold was left in the refuse turned out of the machines, and that the escape of so much gold was caused by the action ( ,f the sulphur contained in the pyrites upon 1 lie quicksilver, clouding it so that it cannot catch (he innumerable particles of gold which result from the action of crushing. He rcccmmends the burning of quartz so its to get lid of the sulphur, and by this means all the gold could be obtained as the tied n of the sulphcr in cloud ing the quicksilver can be avoided. The practice of burning quartz lias, however, been proved to he rather expensive in this colony, and the lecturer recommended caustic soda, which combines with the free sulphcr, and thus prevents the latter ftom clouding the quicksilver. A rather severe shock of an earthquake was experienced at. Clyde on Monday morning, about I o’clock a.m. The vibration of the earth was very distinct, so much so indeed, that a portion of some sod walls were shook down. We did not experience anything of it ourselves, hut sevcxal parties who did, and who have spoken to us on the matter, say, that wiiliont doubt, so severe a shock has never before been felt in the district. A gentleman who lias just come down from the Arrow says the shock was felt 'very distinctly in the Lakes dbtrict.

11l our List issue we merely give a summarise'! report of tlie inquest and the verdict returned in respect to the d*atli of Mr. Arthur Kennedy, who drowned himself in the Molyneux on the 20th of September last. At the request of several of the gentlemen who formed the jury we now give in extenso, their verdict: “ That the de ceased, Arthur Kennedy, drowned himself while laboring under temporary insanity.” The following rider was also added: “The Coroner and jurors are of opinion that great praise is due to the witnesses, Francis Foote and John M Kay, for their brave and gallant endeavors to save the deceased, Arthur Kennedy, al hough it unfortunately happened that their efforts Avere frustrated by the determined conduct of the deceased ; and further, that the action tahon by the witness Frown, on the discovery of the body, is extremely creditable to him. 1 ’ . The English Mail, via Suez, closes at the Pod-office, Clyde, on Sunday next, the 24th im-tant,at 9 p.m. For money orders and registration of letters to-morrow (Saturday), the 23rd, at 5 p.m.

! We have received intimation that, I from and after the Ist of January, I 1870, all bills of exchange, drafts, orders, promisory notes, and transfers of mining properties must be stamped with an impressed stamp, instead of an adhesive one, and that the stamps, on different sizes of piper, can he obtained of the Postmaster at Clvde. I his is a gr at boon to the mining community, who, by this means, cm transfer a share off hand.

Hast evening, subsequent to the Consecration of the Masonic Dodge (in the new Town-hall,', the Craft gave a ball to their friends. There ■"'ere somewhat over two hundred invitatations issued, and by far the greater portion accepted. The baud, though rather limited in number, made up for that defect by the very superior and artistic manner in which they performed the music incidental to the various dances. The room was very tastefully dec mated for the occasion, and the bright costumes of the ladies, mingled with the distinctive orders, aprons, &c, worn by the Brethren, formed a tout ensemble never before witnessed in the Dnnstan District Mr. Over performed the very arduous duties of Master of the Ceremonies in a manner which gave very general satisfaction. The refreshment counters were laid in the Council Cham her, and wore supplied in profusion and in a style which reflects greatcredit to the taste of mine host and liostes of the Du-s'an Hotel, as also to their cfiiricent assistants. At the tear of the Council Chamber a temporary bail ling was erected for the accommodation of those guests who preferred a stronger stimulant than tea or coffee.

An extraordinary meeting of the Clyde Town Council was held in the Connci Chambers on Tuesday evening last, at which the Mayor and full Council were present. The Towi Clerk said the object of the meeting, was to consider applications from the Masonic Bodge for the use of the Council Chambers for refreshment rooms on the occasion of the Masonic Ball, and from Mr. W. IB George for permis ion to erect a temporary building at the rear of (he Council Chambers. After considerable discussion, it was resolved that the application of the Masonic Bodge he granted, and the application of Mr. George ho not granted, on the ground that, it was no 1 - deemed desirable that refreshments should be sold on the Connell premises. The Mining Journal and Pv.b’ic Companies Gazette,, a new paper published at Orahamstowu, the first number of which is just to hand, states, among other information, that there are three hundred and fifty-seven Gold - miniag and Quartz -crushing companies registered in New Zealand, with anominalc ipital of fi,070,931,; 51 of which 4,028,793,1 hi. has been paid np. We are requested by the owner of the entire horse, “ Don Quixote ”to intimate that he will visit Drybread, Tinker's, and Black’s during the season, as well as those places intimated in previous advertisements. Mr. Redhead expects being at Drybread on Thursday next. We wi»h to call attention to the sale by public auction of several sections of land in the township ot Cromwell, to take place at Goodger’s Junction hotel, on Wednesday next, tlie 27th inst.— C ce advertisement. M e have received no definite accounts of the doings of the Black’s Drainage Committee for the past few weeks, hut we understand they are busily arranging preliminaries, and there is every chance of the Channel to drain the flat being started in the course of a short time.