The Dunstan Times. FRIDAY, JANUARY 7, 1870.

Dunstan Times, Issue 403, 7 January 1870, Page 2

The Dunstan Times.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 7, 1870.

Beneaththeßuleof MenENTIRELY just the pen is iftiGUTiER than tike sword

On. account of the flooded state of the Mamiherikia river, no Mails from Dunedin have come to hand, except the one, via Tuapeka. The weather we have experienced of late has been unprecedented for the past two or three years,storms of rain of extreme violence having ranged throughout the district. The heaviest fall of rain, and which has created the greatest inconvenience and we fear committed the most havoc to property, occurred throughout the beginning of this week. In our immediate neighborhood the rain was but slight, but from accounts that reach us, in the neighborhood of the Upper Manukerihia it was a pei'fect deluge. Early on Monday morning the Manuherikia river commenced rising, and continued so till the whole of the Valley was one broad sheet of water, tearing and up-rooting in its course everything that came in its way. Cobb’s coach, that left here on Monday morning, was unable to reach Black’s, and was compelled to put back to Chatto Creek. On the following day Mr.Emmerton again started, and after great toil and at extreme risk sue ceeded in reaching Beck’s Hotel, on the Manuherikia, where he was again bailed up, the river being too high to attempt crossing with his coach. On Wednesday morning the river, though considerably lower, in fact, so low that several horsemen crossed, Mr. Emmerton assayed to return to Clyde, and so convey the Friday’s mail to its destination in due course. The inconvenience felt by the non-delivery of the mail at both ends of the line is great, but we fear that the loss to the farmers and settlers in the valley, whose crops, in fact, homesteads, were inundated, will be still greater. Bad newq travels quickly, and as we have not heard of any casualty to life or limb we anticipate there was none, \

In another column will be found an account of the St Bathan’s races. Through it not reaching our hands till Friday it did not appear in our last issue.

We understand that Maclcay’s Almanac for the year 1870 will contain the “ Fencing Ordinance.” The deep shaft at Wetheirstones, Tuapeka, over which 1007. of public money has been expended has at last been bottomed a "‘duffer. ” The whole of the plant was sold by auction for IG7 10s. The appointment of Mr. J. L. Gillies to the office of Provincial Trea surer in the room of Mr. M'Lean, resigned is officially notified.

At a meeting of the Waste Lands Board, an application from Mr. Jas. Holt of Clyde for an alteration in his lease of coal area was considered. It was resolved that Mr. Holt must sign his lease before any further consideration of his case,.

"We learn that the price of nobblers at Waipori has been reduced to 3d. The Lawrence correspondent of the Evening Star says :—“Our most formidable rival, Waipori, is af present suffering from the throes of revolutionary warfare. The rebels advance with the warcry of “ Threepenny nobblers,” and have, as yet, had things their own way. The publican who first introduced the change has valliantly met his rivals at the Police Court, and had them either fined or bound over to keep the peace. All persons not connected with the sale of grog have rallied round him in such a manner that the escort has suffered from the universal state of drunkenness. The police officer in charge has declared his inability to preserve order, and I am afraid, unless the old prices be quickly restored, the whole population of what was once a prosperous village will succumb to the horrors of D.T.

In December 1868, there were 108 public-houses in Hokitika, and on the 16 th ultimo there were 100. These figures remark a contemporary, shew that the decrease is more apparent than real.

Mr. George Fache will sell by auction at Clyde on Tuesday next the 11th instant, a few first class hacks, double seated buggy and harness Ac. On the same day at the Camp he will sell by order of the Curator of Intestate Estates, one horse, saddle and bridle, portmanteau, &c., the property of the late Arthur Kennedy, deceased. We have to inform our readers that the mail, via Tuapeka leaves Clyde on Wednesday morning and arriving on Thursday evening, instead as formerly of arriving on Wednesday evening and departing on Thursday morning. This change has been brought about to suit Cromwell and Queenstown, who have now a triweekly mail, the lull particulars of the arrival and departure of Mails from Clyde may be seen m the Post Office Notice in another column.

By reference to our advertising columns it will be seen that the annual statutory meeting for the election of a Committee for the management of the Clyde School, and for other purposes specified by the Ordinance, will lake place at the School-house oh Monday next. One of the first duties of the now Committee will be to elect a schoolmaster in the room of Mr. S. M. Clark, who has resigned his office. The late master has held the position for upwards of font years, and we believe no one will deny his competency for the important station hehas filled. The appointment of a schoolmaster is a matter lot grave consideration. In him is entrusted not only the education, but in a great measure the moral culture, Of the rising generation, and we trust that the Committee may succeed in finding a gentleman of education, with a facility for importing that knowledge which he possesses, so that the high reputation which the Clyde School enjoys may be maintained or even surpassed.

The Mount Ida Jockev Club Eaces are to take place on the 13th and 14th instant. The programme is a very liberal one. On the first day, the District Handicap value, one hundred sovereigns will be run for, and on the second, the Mount Ida Handicap of seventy live sovereigns. The other prizes are of most respectable value, and should draw a large concourse of visitors to witness the sport, as well as horses to run lor the stakes.

On Tuesday morning last the township of Clyde was the scene of a most disgraceful exhibition. Two men who had spent the night in gambling had a dispute, and were fighting in the street without let or hindrance for fully half-an-hour, when one retired from the contest. The other (John Buckley) afterwards violently assaulted William Woodman The police then made their appearance, and the delin quent, in endeavoring to escape from the one, ran into the clutches of the other, and was forthwith marched off to the camp. Ho was brought up before the Resident Magistrate on the Same day, and was fined 51. for being drunk and disorderly, and sentenced io two months imprisonment in the Dunedin Gaol for the assault on Woodman. Mr. Sub-Inspector Dalgliesh gave the prisoner a very bad character, stating that he was a perfect pest to society, and had been before the Bench on several previous occasions.

A fatal accident occured at Sowbum on the 28th ult.} to a man named Thomas Henry Morrican, who, while in search of cattle was thrown from his horse. He was seen to fall by William Anderson, who went to his assistance. Further help was procured, and the unfortunate man was conveyed to the Sowburn Store, where he expired in about half-an-hour after his arrival. An inquest was held on the body before Mr. H. W. Robinson, when the jury returned a verdict of “accidental death."

The usual meeting of the Committee of the Dunstan District Hospital was held on Tuesday evening last. Mr Fraser, Vice-President, in the chair. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed, and the report of the Visiting Committee adopted. Accounts to the amount of 1 3s. Id. were passed for payment. The Treasurer reported that the subscriptions for last month amounted to 477. Os. 6d. The House Surgeon’s report stated that thirteen patients had been received during the past month, and that the same number had been discharged, leaving fourteen at present in the institution. It was decided that, the annual meeting for the election of a new Committee should be held on Saturday the 15th inst. The Secretary was allowed 51. lor expenses incurred by him while canvassing the various districts. There was no other business of importance before the meeting, which terminated with the usual vote of thanks.

A serious accident happened *o a miner named Williamson, working near the Gentle Annie. It appears that the injured man fell from a considerable height on to some large stones, inflicting a most frightulf scalp wound, and laying the skull bare. Dr. Corse was soon in attendance, and sewed up the wound, and we are happy to say that Williamson is now recovering

In the Resident Magistrate’s Court, on Tuesday last, before Vincent Pyke, Esq., R.M., several publicans of Clyde were each fined Is. and costs for not having their lamps lighted. William Atkins, summoned for obstructing the public thoroughfare, was fined 5s and costs. John Buckley, tor using insuiting language, was mulcted 51, and for committing a violent assault * was sentedeed to imprisonment in Dunedin Gaol, with hard labor.

From Melbourne papers we learn that the Assembly and Council do not agree respecting the Laud Bill. Mr. Higginbotham’sColonial Independence resolutions have been carried. It is reported that a nugget, valued at 3,000/. sterling, has been found at Berlin. Et Armidale, New South Wales, the notorious Thunderbolt has resumed his depredations, Armidale being the scene of his latest stiekingup exploit. On Monday last an accident happened to Leslie’s punt at Alexandra. In crossing the river, the steersman canted the boats a little too much broadside to the stream, when one of the boats dipped and tilled, the other remaining broadside up. On the following day, by dint of great exertion, the punt was righted, and found to have suffered no further damage. The usual fortnightly meeting of the Council was held in the Town Flail on Wednesday evening last. Present, the Mayor, and Councillors Naylor, Hueston, and Johnson The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Two accounts were presented for payment, which were ordered to be brought before the Finance Committee. It was resolved that the Public Works Committee be instructed to effect some arrangement for a gutter between the Town Hall and Mr. Fitch’s premises. A vote of thanks to the Chair concluded the business of the meeting. The weather of late has been very unsettled, but as a whole the ekact thing that was required, the farmers and gardeners are quite jolly at the vast improvement perceptible in their crops and expect a most abundant harvest. The miners are equally elated, as the heavy rains that have fallen throughout the district have given them a supply of the liquid element that will suit their purposes for a long time. Some few of the race owners have suffered, their races having been swept away, but altogether we may assume the benefit to the district from the rain will exceed the injury sustained.