The Dunstan Times. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1869.

Dunstan Times, Issue 394, 5 November 1869, Page 2

The Dunstan Times.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1869.

I Beneath the Rule of Men entirely j pst the pen is 511 GUT IE R than the sword

Now that attention is*o much directed towards quartz-mining there appears no difficulty in respect to the finding of reefs. Discoveries are constantly being announced from all quarters of the district, and there is every reason to believe that, ere lons, very many reefs will be developed equalling in richness anything that has hitherto been discovered. The permanence of this description of working is of immense advantage to a goldfield. It establishes its character at once as a field both for investment and labor, and it becomes alike sought by the capitalist and the miner seeking employment. A quartz mine is usually not readily exhausted, and, where the reef is a permanent one, discoveries succeed each other in such rapid succession that, where the surface area is large, it appears positively inexhaustible. This has proved repeatedly to

be the case in Victoria, and, judging from the permanent appearance of the reefs at Bendigo Gully, the same result will be experienc 'd here. The Dunstan, as a mining district, is now without a rival for its varied productiveness, and to al I classes of colonists it

presents advantages unobtainable else where. The agriculturist a"d artisan may each here find an opening for their espicial abilities We may pos sibly be on the eve of what is technically termed a “ quartz mania.” Htill, assuch a very large per centage of us have previously had plenty of experience in quartz reefs and quartz mining before we came to Otago, this unfortunate contingency may possibly be avoided, and, instead of rash speculations being entered into, nothing will be undertaken but what is held to b e legitimate. The starting of a lot of bubble companies into existence, with their attendant issues of valueless scrip, representing so nnch capital on paper, might, for a time, attract considerable attention and cause a sort of mushroom prosperity to spring up, to result only in disaster. There is no necessity for anything of this, as ample room exists for legitim ito speculation, and events prove tint, as fast as legitimate capital is applied to the development of our quartz reefs, it can be readily and profitably absorbed, and the district progress in proportion. Besides the impetus which quartz-mining will give to other branches of industry it will be the means of considerably extending the proportions of our townships. This is wanted beyond measure. Numbers are indispensable to the piopagation of ideas, and living, as we have been, in small and semi-isolated communities, progress has been almost an impossibility, and it is due to the late fortunate discoveries that we have been rescued out of the m .d. It is now proved that we possess immense mineral resources, and population is all that is necessary to develop them.

We are requested by the Treasurer of the Dunstan District Hospital to acknowledge the receipt of a donation of 51. from Sergeant John Cassells, Cromwell.

■ The Escort on Monday last took down the following quantities of crnlfl •

The late seasonable rains have been most heartily welcomed by everyone in the district, more especially by the farmers, whose prospects now consequently look brighter than their most sanguine hopes ever anticipated. Several of our informants speak of the wonderful strides their crops have taken since the rain as being beyond conception, and venture the opinion that the like was never before witnessed, l ire gardeners do not appear' to have benelitted equally with the farmers, as we hear from many quarters of serious ravages being committed among the young, fruit by a beetle of the Coleopterous species; they appear to be very numerous and of various sizes, and wherever they have appeared, have eaten off everything before them, leaving what was a flourishing and blooming garden a desert waste.

We understand that a proposition is afoot to construct (for the present) a bridle track from Clyde to Bendigo Gully, by way ot the Leaning Rock. Several people living here have been that way, and from what we can glean, it will be very easy to make a very tolerable crack at a comparatively small expense. We hear that two or three gentlemen interested in Clyde are now at the reefs with the intention of returning by wav of the Leaningßock, to enable them to judge of the practibility of the proposed track, and should their report prove favorable, there is no doubt operations will be at once commenced.

On Tuesday last a prospecting party started from Clyde,ful' y equipped with all the necessaries for prosecu ing a successful search for the hidden

treasures that are supposed to exist undei the Dunstan Range, between Clyde and Devonshire Gully. The unvaried success that has attended (he labors of several parties who have worked in the locality at different times, and the universal belief that a payable Goldfield lies undeveloped in that direction, has led to the equipment of the party.

The anniversary of the Prince of Wales’s birthday and the third anniversary of the Court Star of the Dunstan, A.0.P., will be celebrate! by a grand ball, in the new Town-hall, Clyde. The Committee in whose hands the whole affair is, are working most zealously to make it a great success, and in their endeavours to accomplish that end are not leaving anything undone. The arrangements are on a most liber.il scale; in fact, such as cannot fail to meet with the approval of those who attend. We are given to understand no set supper will be laid, but that refreshments, comprising every description of edibles, together with wines, tea, coffee, and every variety of beverage will be in the refreshment rooms all night, to which ticket-owners only will have free access. -We hope to see a good attendance.

In the Provincial Government Advertising Sheet it is notified that all unsold lands in the Townships of Cromwell, Clyde, Newcastle, Alexandra, Pembroke, Wakefield and Glad stone will lie offered for sale by Public Auction r.t the Survey Office, Clyde, on Tuesday the 23rd November ; in the townships of Roxburgh, East and West, at Beighton’s Hotel, Teviot on Sa'urday the 20th November ; in the townships of Hamilton and Hyde, at the Survey Office, Nase by, on Wednesday the 24th Nov., and in the townships of Arrowtown, Queenstown, Kingston and Glenorchy at the Survey Office, Queenstown, on Thursday the 25th November.

At the usual weekly meeting of the Waste Land Board which took place on Wednesday the 27th ultimo, there was no business of any local interest transacted.

On Wednesday last, Mr. Geo. Fache held a sale by auction, at Marsh’s Yards, Cromwell, of a very superior lot of young draught, light harness and hack horses, from Mr. Henry Campbell’s Wanaka Station. The attendance of buyers was good, and the prices realised very satisfactory.

We have been compelled through •want of space to cut down our Alexandra correspondence, likowi e omit other matter of local interest.

We are given to understand, upon good authority, that Mr. R. Daniels, ot Queenstown,is thesucecssful tenderer for the conveyance of the mails between Clyde, Cromwell, and Queenstown. The services will be performed three times a week. This piece of intelligence will be received with much satisfaction by the businesspeople, a t"i-weokly m ul to the Lakes being a long-felt want. A correspondent writing from Drybread, says : —“ A public meeting was held at Mcllor’s Dunstan Creek Hotel, to take into consideration Bio advisability of establishing a day school, and a committee was formed who, I have no doubt will carry out the object of the meeting. There are between thirty and forty children here, so that a school is much needed. Mr. Rate is now here, his services having been given by the Government to take the levels from the Manuherikia river to this place. If found practicable, the race will be commenced forthwith. I think the people of Clyde would do well to endeavor to secure Mr Bate’s services, as the Manuherikia appears to me the only available source from which water can be obtained for the pni’pose of sluicing the large area of auriferous ground on the banks of the Molyneux below Clyde. Were water available it would give profitable employment to a large number of miners, and confer a great benefit on your town and to all classes of the community. We aim to have meat at the same price as at other townships at last. This was the first place in the district to reduce the price of nobblers, but the last to lower the meat. We are paying from 2d. to 4d. per pound higher for that necessary article than is paid at any other place up country. However, one of our enterprising storekeepers has determined that this state of things shall exist no lougei-, and is about to open a butcher’s shop in connexion with his store, and it is to be hoped that he will meet with the support he so well deserves, bo‘h from the residents here as well as the surrounding district.”

On tlie 17th October last, the new ship Victoria Tower, eighty six days out from Liverpool, bound for Melbourne was wrecked just outside Port Philip Heads near Bream Creek. The lives of the crew and passengers were saved. Her cargo was a very valuable one, valued at 25,000/. In proof of the salubrity of our climate we may mention that asparagus and green peas, besides the usual other early vegetables, of full size and {lvor, grown in our local gardens, have been for some time past selling in Clyde at very moderate prices. The St. Bathan’s Annual Races will take place on the 27th and 2Sth December next. The programme will appear in a future issue.

From Melbourne papers we find that heavy floods had prevailed, not only Melbourne but the country districts had suffered severely. At Bal larat great loss of property had been occasioned, and it is feared loss of life also. Sandhurst and the surrounding districts were partin'ly flooded, and great damage done.

gold:— Cromwell 762oz. Odwt. Clyde 404oz. Odwt. Alexandra 250oz. Odwt. Teviot 421oz. Idwt. Black's 454oz. Odwt. Dunsta" Creek 5Sloz. 14dwt. Mount Ida 1266oz. 17dwt. Total 4,139oz. 12dwt.