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Dunstan Times, Issue 404, 14 January 1870, Page 2

r The Escort on Monday last took down the following quantities of gold : Queenstown 13540z Bdwt. Arrowtowu 10960z 2dwt. Cromwell 5040z. Odwt. Clyde 4040z. Odwt. Mount Ida 5930z. 7dwt, Total ... 39510z. ITdwt In the Resident Magistrate’s Court at Clyde on Tuesday last before Y. Pyke Esq., R.M., and J. Hazlett, Esq J.P. and J. D. Feraud, Esq., J P. the following cases were adjudicated upon Police v. Patterson, adjourned to the 18th January. Campbell and Low v. Glass, debt; adjourned to 25th inst., plaintiffs to pay defendant’s expenses. Messrs Fitch, Beck, and M'Pherson v. Ridley, debt; judgment in each case, with costs of Court. His honor Judge Grey will hold a sitting of the District Court at the Court House, Clyde, ou Monday next the 17th instant. We were shewn a specimen of quartz by a gentleman from Alexandra in which gold is perceptible, he informed us it was taken from the Welcome Company’s shaft, on the Butcher's Gully reef at a depth of forty seven feet from a solid reef of stone, six feet thick, he also informed us that a rubble reef was struck at thirty feet, the which has continued widening all the way down to the depth above mentioned, where it is quite solid and well defined between two solid walls, he likewise informed ns that the reef had been struck in other shafts. On Wednesday last a considerable number of the ’inhabitants of Clyde, both young and old, attended a picnic, got up almost impromptu, the spot fixed upou being near Mr. J. D. Feraud’s farm; Wai Keri Keri Valley. Every available vehicle in the town was brought into requisition, for the purpose of conveying visitors to the scene of festivity, the road to which presented quite an animated appearance, On arriving at the spot the company found a tent erected for their accommodation, and immediately commenced exhuming the good things of this life from the various vehicles. Under die direction of the ladies of the party, and with their most valuable assistance, the snowy damask was quickly spread, and the various edibles placed thereon. The company sat round, and mid joke jest, and laughter consumed the viands provided for their delectation, and even the canine species came in for a fair share. Wineamlotlierstiinnlacingdrnks were not wanting, while those who preferred the “ cup which cheers, but not inebriates” had ample opportunity for the indulgence of their taste. The company having indulged to contentment, sought fresh sources ot amusement, the most noticeable of which were the toot races between the fair portion of the company. The first “ event”, which was a handicap race of fifty yards, was won by Mrs. M‘Oonnochie, beating some fourteen others. The next race was won by xMiss Coleman, and the company was loud in its cheers for the respective winners. A blind fold race and other amusements succeeded, and towards twilighi. the company returned to Clyde, all expressing gratification, and testifing to the sociability and thoroughly enjoyable nature of the gathering In the evening a dance was held in the Town-hall, which was well attended, and where to the enliveng strains produced by Messrs. Campbell and Rock, the votaries of Terpsicore footed it gaily until nearly midnight. The return of the number of sheep in thin province to the 30th of September last shows the number to be two million three hundred and seventy one thousand three hundred and seventy-six, being an increase of over thirteen per cent, on the previous year. The number of visitors and horses which have left for the Queenstown races was riot so large as expected This is entirely owing to the want of publicity being given by the stewards of the Wakatip meet to their doings. Except through the medium of the Wakatip Mail, it was not known that there would be races at all at QncenstOwh this yefir, while the programme Was not advertised until it was almost too late to put horses into training, or to make.those indispensible but necessary arrangements which sporting ! meu find so requisite when desirous ot attending a distant race meeting. By the parsimony of their Jockey Club, Queenstown has lost the attendance of many visitors from this quarter, where, had sufficient publicity been given to their meeting in the down country papers many would have been delighted to attend. The Dunstan possesses numbers of sporting men, and who in most cases keep race horses, but the conduct of the Wakatip wiseacres in not apprising them of their meeting is tantamount to a notice, that their races are strictly local and the presence of strangers therefore undesirable.

A public meeting will be held in the Clyde Library room to morrow evening, Saturday 15th instant for the purpose of receiving report of the retiring Committee, and for the election of a new Committee. Wewonid urgently call upon one and ; all to attend. . We are requested to notice the omission of the distance in the Free Handicap of 207. to be competed for on the second day of the Dunstan District Races. The distance is one mile. Great inconvenience has been experienced from the want of postal communication with Bendigo Gully. There is every probability that this will very shorly be remedied. By reference to our advertising columns it will be seen that the Government have called for tenders for a weekly mail service between Rocky Point and Logan.town, the carrying out of which will be a great boon to the mining and commercial community. We would remind our readers that, the English Mail closes at the Clyde Post Office on Thursday the 20th instant, at 10 p.m. Mr. Fache reports having sold a few horses on Tuesday last at Clyde at very satisfactory prices, hacks realizing from £2l to £ls. Mr J. C. Chappie willl sell hv auction at Alexandra on Saturday the 22nd instant, a mob of fine dairy and ocher cattle. We regret to say that not any of the bodies of the unfortunate men who were drowned in the Molynenx have as yet been I’ecovered, we allude to Mr. Steel, who met his untimely fate in attempting to swim from a raft of timber ; Mr. Ralston, -who it is supposed was drowned whilst crossing from the main land to an island, on which he had some sheep depasturing, and the Chinaman, Mr. Goodger’s conk, of Cromwell, who it is presumed must have been drawn into the river when dipping a bucket. A Lawrence correspondent, writing to a contemporary, says : Town Councillors have never ventured to meet since their last escapade We are therefore blessed by the entire absent of municipal government, and are thankful accordingly.” At the usual weekly meeting of the Waste Lands Board, held on the sth inst, Mr. J. Chappie and Mr. William Thayers applied to be allowed to complete their purchase of sections 13,14, • '5, 16, and 17. Alexandra. The ! agreement with the auctioneer. ■ to be carried out. The appli- ’ cation to purchase two blocks of land, township of Clyde, at upset | price, was declined, the Board having ; no power to sell the land as applied for ; but they directed that it should be submitted to public auction at the next sale. From a reliable source we learn that there are upwards of two thousand six hundred Chinese at present in Otago, by far the larger portion of whom are engaged in mining. These, though their earnings be individually small, necessarily add consiberably to the wealth of the province, not only in the shape of foes for miners’ rights, but also the gold export duty on gold, let alone the quantity of excisable articles they consume. In an article on hydraulic engineering, as applicable to the goldfields, the Otago and Southland Mining Journal says ;—“ The one great question at the present moment for our mining population is water supply. It is not that there is not plenty of the precious element stored on our inland lakes and running along our great rivers, such as the Clutha and the Waitakiand their tributaries. When, along one of these rivers alone, we have a volume of water constantly discharging equal to sixteen times that of the Thames, we cannot doubt there being plenty of water. What we have to do is to utilise it, and, for that purpose, wo must raise it, in some instances, one hundred feet or more, and distribute it along races of many miles in extent. But we have ready to our hands the power the force of the stream itself equalling thousands of horse power. We only need engineering skill to use it, and we shall then find in our rivers a source of wealth scarcely dreamed of by most of us. If only the many ruinous mistakes through bad engineering of races in this province could be told, there would be a pressing demand for skilled and experienced men to direct such operations. We are told by an enterprising miner, who is investing largely in races, Src., to work his claims, that lie would pay handsomely for the services of a competent and experienced hydraulic engineer, and such a man would not only do good to the goldfields, but, we are satisfied, would receive ample remuneration for tho exercise of his skill.” By the death of .hia brother Sir Henry Manners Sutton, Governor of Victoria, becomes Viscount Canterbury, succeeding his brother in the title and estates. We have been requested to draw attention to the sale by public auo tion,hy Mr. W. J. Barry at the Nevis township, ofa fine lot of cattle, consisting of milch cows, fat steers, and yearlings. This sale will take place to morrow,’ Saturday at eleven o'clock in the fore noon-

A correspondent writing from Drybread says:—“Tlio late rains have had a moat beneficial effect on this place and Die surrounding district. Very little damage has been done to the water-races, which are all running full; so we are secure for a good supply of the necessary element for some time to come. 6wing to the uncertain tenure of agricultural land in this district our farms are on a very small scale, consequently not one tube is grown to meet the demand, which is a great drawback to our progress. If a block of land—sav two or three thousand acres—was thrown open within a reasonable distance, so not to interfere with mining interests it would be eagerly taken up, and would soon double our present population. The crops, however, on the laud under cultivation will be quite up to the average. The orthodox washings-up for Christmas did not take place heie as hitherto, as there is always a great sacrifice of time attending this arran<rment. Public opinion in this district is fast drifting in favor of one general up country meeting in preference to so many small events, and, in my humble opinion, would meet the requirements of all parties better, and, in a sporting point of view its success would be certain. The ball to celebrate the opening of the school is to take place on the 21st hist. The refreshment booth was sold for 107., the proceeds of which are to go to the school fund. The purchaser was Mr. M ‘Cullough, so there is no doubt but that this department will be attended to in a very efficient manner. A cricket club has been formed here, and the members are taking their preliminary exercises. We have had no mail delivered here for the last fortnight; in tact, the mail service is quite a farce, and totally inadequate to the requirements of the place. The untimely death of poor Garrett cast a gloom on every one, as lie was well known and respected in this district. Messrs Greenbank and Waters finished their race from the Three-mile Creek on Saturday last. A number of nuggets of gold have been found at Longwood, Southland, one weighing thirteen ounces. They were exhibited at one shilling each admission, the funds to be handed over to the Hospital, they ■’’•ere also exhibited at Invercargil, for the benefit of the same valuable Institution. The Auckland Weekly Hci'ald says* “ One, of the most ininortant industries of the province, not even second to the goldfield itself, has received au impetus during the. past week. Pin vate letters from .England place us in p 'ssessiou of the pleasing int d.igencC that flax sent from this province, when dressed in London realised no less a sum than £IOB p:r ton. Flax is almost of uure importance to this province than the goldfields them selves, and fully as remit era live a one to all concerned. Before long wC shall see the native flax of New Zealand become a regular crop on every farm which has soil capable of growing it, until flax will rival wool as a staple of the farmer’s produce. Harvest in Otago will commence in the Oamaru District shortly after the New Year. The acreage under crop in Otago 1808-9, as per Government Return, was 152,568 acres. The acreage for 1809-70 will he greater. The Official Return, however, will not be made until the beginning of February. Ample employment will thus be aflorded to hundreds of hands for the next two or three months Crop 1868-9 (exclusive of Crop of the Aboriginal Natives : Otago. New Zealand. Wheat 20,140 acres. 64,57 lucres, SdOah, } «.»* WMM Potatoes 3,033 11,557 SownGrassesß3,7B2 501,580 Other Crop 2,186 8,873 Total, 152,f>68acres 687,0loacres. A prospectus has just been published of the Bendigo Quartz Mills Company, Registered, with a capital of 6,5007.j divided into 1,300 sha.ies of 51. each. This Company is projected for the purpose of erecting a fifteen-head battery of stamps for public crushing at the Bendigo Gully Reefs, and to bring in water as the motive power. Our readers will doubtless recollect, some time back, that a good deal of excitement was occasioned on its becoming known that Logan and party were crushing stone from their claim on the above reefs averaging two to three ounces to ton. The result was, that numerous prospecting parties set in, and a series of live reefs in all has been discovered, upon which about sixty claims have been marked out, and in n6 leas than twelve claims, auriferous stone has already been laid bare. From the local papers, whose sources of information we presume ihay be relied on, we gather that in granting certain water rights wliicli the Bendigo Gully Mills Company have acquired, the Warden of the district, Vincent Pyke, Esq., R.M., expressed his satisfaction at being able to make the grant; and as the bringing in the water to drive crushing machinery would be a public benefit, the levels would be taken-by Mr. Bate, the surveyor appointed by the Provincial Government. It is acknowledged that the erection of a’ public quartz battery is a project upon which tho development of the reefe td a great extent depends. ■