The Dunstan Times. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1869.

Dunstan Times, Issue 398, 3 December 1869, Page 2

The Dunstan Times.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1869.

Beneath the Rule of Men entirely just the pen is mightier than thcswoßD

Ths special Session of the Provincial Council, convened by his Honoi the Superintendent, is of far more importance to tlie goldfields than might generally be imagined. We do not suppose that matters other than those referred to in his Honor’s circular to members, summonsing their presence, will be gone into. Nevertheless, ns the Imsine s on hand so seriously affects us, we must not let slip any opporunity of looking after ourselves. Any diversion of a large amount of local capital to purposes not connected with the development of our mineral resources must bo exceedingly hurtful to the mining interest ; and, when it is proposed to lock np some 400,000/. as a commencement in the construction of a railway, the matter deserves our earnest considera-

tion. We do not mean to assert that it should not he constructed, or that they are not required ; but we do say that, as they can be more easily constructed by the introduction of foreign capital, particularly as foreign capitalists will see their way more clearly to invest in public works in which the credit of the country is at stake, rather than risk their money in mining speculations. Local capital expended Upon railways will he only so much money lost, which loss will bo felt the more accutely as there is really very little available capital in the province for such a purpose, and the little capital we have can bo much more profitably laid out iu re-productive works on the goldfields. His Honor’s circular conveys the information that a difference of opinion exists between himself and the members of the. Executive outlie subject of the “ Hundreds Regulation Act,” and also respecting 'the most practical method of constructing the Southern Trunk Railway. With respect to the former, so much has been said about the matter that it is unnecessary here to refer to it, more especially as it is not likely to take effect outlie goldfields The construction of such a work as the Southern Trunk Railway is an affair of great mom nt, as it will necessarily involve a very considerable outlay of capital, and we quite agree with the opinion of the Executive that, to throw the work open to the competition of the neighboring colonies, is the most ad visahle course to pursue. When we take into consideration the attention now directed iu Australia towards our recent quartz discoveries there certainly exists good reason to believe that the making of the proposed railway will he eagerly competed for. The formation of a joint stock company in Dunedin, to consist of seven gentlemen, with a nominal capital of 400,000/., bears upon the face of it very much the appearance of a job. In the first place, the company would not be large] enough, and those seven especial favorites of provincial fortune would possess such an immense advantage over those who may hereafter desire to do invest iu the undertaking that they would hesitate to do so. The nominal capital of the company would require to be largely increased. To induce others to lend their assistance no one shareholder should have a preference over the other, and (he work, being a national one, each should | placed upon an equal footing. The i proposed joint-stock company of seven would, if formed, do little else than bring us into trouble, and, what is far worse, peril our credit for commercial integrity into the bargain. It we have a plum pudding lo eat, and we cannot eat it ourselves, by all means let those whom we invite to join us iu the least have a fair start, aud not allow seven favorites to first pick out the plums by themselves. The determination of the Executive to have -nothing to do with the joint-stock company, but to call for tenders iu Melbourne and Sydney, becomes therefore the correct mode of procediture and the one lest calculated to further the olject in view. The withdrawal of even 400,000/ from the ordinary purposes of business would be serious in its effects. The money would be locked up for a considerable length of time, and, looking at the case in its most favorable light, it is very questionable whether the construction of (he Southern Trunk Railway would be a re-productive work in the present generation. As we have said before, railways may be needed, but they are not so urgently necessary here as iu Australia, We have an immense sea-board tit command, there arc shipping ports every few miles along our coasts, aud, what is more, our strictly-speaking agricul tural districts are at no great distance from convenient water-carriage to the metropolis. Even should We construct a railway, the utmost benefit to be derived would be a reduction of some 3d. or Cd. per bushel in the price ol grain at the seaboard and the advantage to the small population of "tago would not compensate for tbe outlay. We hones:ly I), liovc that, were the 400, 00/. expended in developing our natural resources, and in the construccion of loads and bridges upon the goldfields, the uccessßy for a railway would in the course of a few years become more apparent than is now the case. Before we think about railways we must have a largo increase of population and our native iuclns--1 ries become move developed. At present we have very little to convey into the interior, and consequently less to curry out of it. Our internal commu-

nication is not perfect enough to em able us to procure timber for our quartz mines from the neighboring forests while our means of transit is generally so imperfect that we cannot make the most of what we already possess.

We are requested by the clerk of j the Clyde District School Committee to acknowledge with thanks the receipt ot a do ation of £l to the Prize Fund, from a friend.

His Excellency, the Governor, on the recommendation of the Native Minister has appointed the following gentlemen to act as a Board of Advise to the Government on Native affairs in Taranaki Province, his Honor the Superintem.ent.and Messrs Charles Brown, M.H.R., William liaise, Robert Paris, Thomas King, and Thomas Kelly 7 , M. H.R.

Several cases of disputed ownership of quartz claims Came before the Warden at Cromwell at the last sitting. Most of them were adjourned till the Sth instant, in order that the Warden might consult the Government, and that some decision might be come to as to bis powers in the way of issuing protec.iou to owners of quartz.reef claims.

A correspondent informs us that the fields aud gardens in the Lakes’ districts are looking splendid, and that there is every prospect of an abundant harvest.

A new flour-mill is now in course of erection at Lake Haves. The proprietors have paid to Mr. Paperson, the owner - of the land, a very handsome sunt for two acres as a site for the mill and necessary adjuncts, and also for the privilege of cuttuig a race through his property. The establishment of another mill will tend greatly to increase the number of acres under wheat next season.

A correspondent writing from Cromwell after noticing some remarks made irr our letter of ast week respecting the defects in the rules and regulations in regard to quartz reefs, goes on to say -‘‘This is a matter* more fit for your leading columns, and all I aim at is to attract notice to a practical method of solving a serious difficulty that has arisen. Before passing from tire subject, I cannot help pointing out that the disinclination of a body of mining delegates to consider quartz reefs shows bow little is known of oar resources, how superficially they are guaged. One would surely have expected from a body of miners a better appreciation of one. branch of mining ; they only followed iu ibe stream of opi ion, and if any of them had anv decided convictions that it was not all np with 'he reefing interest, tliey were extremely timid in expressing it. The inference to be drawn from this, is that we must as heretofore mainlv depend upon chance for discoveries, and it also shows the necessity for the establishment nl a mining school’’

We take the following items of Australian news from the Daily Times telegrams. Mr. Clark, of (he Vari (“ties, charged with the murder of bis wife has been convicted of manslaughter, but sentence was deferred. Mason, charged with the murder of a woman at Brougham Place Iras been convicted of procuring abortion, and sentenced to seven years penal servitude. Several large nuggets have lately been foil ml at Inglewood, one of which was of tbe value of 400/. On Thursday evening the 25th inst Mr. Ashcroft, M.P.C., a gentleman of some l.tcraiy attainments delivered a lecture at the Town Hall, Cromwell, for the benefit nt tbe Public Library 7. The subject treated upon was “ Glaciers and Cold ” which was di-cantcd upon by the lecturer in a most able manner. The attendance was very good, and at tire close of the lecture, a vote of thanks to Mr. Ashcroft, was unanimously passed. Iu the West T reri district, flax dressing is being largely carried on. Several new flax mills are in course of erection at Maungatua, and several more are spoken of as likely to be commenced in the Clarendon and Lake Waipori districts.

On Tuesday evening last the members of the Clyde Quadrille Assembly held a re-union, at the Town Hull. There was a good attendance of member* and their friends. Dancing was kept np with unflagging spirit, and the company separated shortly after midnight, after spending a most pleasant evening. We are requested by Mr. George Fache to call particular attention to the sale by auction of the valuable and important property known as the Clyde Hotel, as also to the veiy desirable sections of land, household furniture, stock iu trade, A’c., the property of Mr. Thomas Hawthorne, who is retiring from the hotel business. The sale will common co on tiro 17tli a.slanu Lto uuvcilLt incut.

The first time a man looks at an ad vertisommit lie does not see it. The fourth time he thinks he has seen somethin;' of that kind before The eighth time ho ejaculates “ Here’s that confounded thing again!” The fifteenth time he resolves to try it, as soon as he can afford, and the twentieth time he frantically rushes out’in a fit of desperation and buys. Ewj iish Paper. The following rates of postage chargeable on book packets posted in jNew Zealand for places within the Colony, the Australian Colonies, India and China, and the United Kingdom, came into force on the Ist instant: -

Not exceeding loz., Id.; exceeding loz. and not exceeding 2nzs., 2d ; exceeding 2 ozs., and not exceeding 4oz. 4d. |*Kceeding 4ozs., and not exceedand not exceeding lib , Is. 4.; for*rt-y additional Bozs. or fractional pa tof Boz, Bd.

From Wellington, we learn that Mr. Fox had declined the invitation to preside at the farewell banquet to he given to Dr. Featherstone on the ground that, being a teetotaller, he 'could not conscientiously propose those toasts which, as Chairman, it would be his duty to do.

The Escort on Monday last took clown the following quantities 'oT gold Cromwell 75Goz. Odwt. Clyde 252oz. Odwt. Alexandra 315oz. Idwt. Black’s 302oz. Odwt. Teviot 194oz. Od wt. Dunsta" Creek 406oz. 6d wt. 51 ount Ida 1024oz. lOdwt. Total ... ; 3249i-z. 17dwt