The Dunstan Times. FRIDAY, MAY 6, 1870.

Dunstan Times, Issue 420, 6 May 1870, Page 2

The Dunstan Times.

FRIDAY, MAY 6, 1870.

Beneath the Rule of Men entirely just the pen is mightier than thcswop.D

The address of his Honor the Superintendent upon the opening of the present, the twenty-seventh, sitting of the Provincial Council, must bo considered, upon the whole, as highly satisfactory. The various m attars touched upon by his Honor is amply sufficient evidence that the business of the Session promises abundant oc cupation for members, -while, from the fact that it will be followed by a general election, there exists a strong desire on the part of Ins Honor to accomplish something which shall be beneficial to the province ere his term of office expires. An Ordinance for the readjustment of the representation is a much felt want, for we find that, with the spread of population, some districts are scarcely represented at all, while others possess considerably more than their fair share of influence in the Provincial Parliament. Looking at home, the representation of the goldfields is anything but satisfactory. Instead of being represented as a whole they should he divided into districts, as, under present arrangements, any densely populated district can cany the election, and this has already been done at every contest by Tuapeka, the northern goldfields never having yet returned a member to the Provincial Council, and will not be able to do so unless the representation is re-adjusted upon an equitable basis. With the goldfields divided into three distinct districts, each returning its own member, there would be something approaching to a fair expression of public opinion ; but, as things stand at present, Tuapeka is the only voice heard in tlm Council: the Dnnstan ) Manu herikia, and the Lakes must, of necessity, be thankful for mercies, however small. The consolidation of existing Road Districts and conferring larger powers

upon District Road Boards will doubtleas work beneficially in tho more densely occupied portions of the province. We should have liked to have found his Honor introducing some new features here, so as to extend the benefits of District Boards to the goldfields. It could not be expected, however’, that we should contribute so largely to the support of “these boards as agricultural districts, for reason that there is, comparatively speaking, so little hind occupied : but, as wfe contribute largely to tho revenue by direct taxation in the shape of the export duty on gold, Road Boards for the goldfields might claim a higher subsidy than their contemporaries in the agricultural districts. Tho femes, as they •now exist, are directly opposed to our 'progress. The advantages of the 'natural highway through the heart of thegold-producing districts—the valley of the Molyneux—is positively rendered nugatory through bad legislation, at d the many thousands of pounds spent in making the road from Tuapeka, via the Dunstan, to the Wakatip and kanaka, instead of being of service to the public, goes to benefit a few owners c f putts, who, having taken advantage of the liver cio.ssing-places, turn them to profitable account at the expense of the country. The Port Chalmers and Southern Trunk Railways are works the value of which, considering the small population of the province, is very questionable. Railways are undoubtedly desirable, and we may almost say in dispensible in densely populated countries ; but, with sixty thousand persons, the present population of Otago and Southland" they are superfluous, more especially where there exists water carriage between the places it is proposed to construct them. The roads up-country want making badly, and, if we desire to extend population, we must make roads. Although it is now nearly eight years since gold was first discovered at the Dunstan. we arc liable, during inclement sea sons, to be completely isolated from the seaboard by accumulated snow on the one hand and mud on the other. Between Clyde and Cromwell it is dangerous to travel, tho road is so badly out of repair, and we hope that members representing up-country diswill, before giving their votes for the expenditure of public moneys upon railways, secure something to be expended upon the construction or repair of roads in the interior. A contract having been enteied into for the eonstruclion of the Port Chalmers Railway, it will of course be proceeded with ; but the Southern Trunk, which is not likely to get further than Tokomainro during the present generation, had better be delayed until it is seen how that to Port Chalmers succeeds. Immigration is of more than ordinary import. The province is actually languishing for population, and as immigration over emigration lias been only one thousand five hundred and thirty during the last twelve months, it is quite clear that some new effort should be made in this direction. That lively individual Mr. Auld, who occupies a small office in some obscure street in Edinburgh, lias, according to his Honor, been empowered to make arrangements for the departure from England, or, more correctly speaking Scotland, of some two hundred persons monthly, which will involve a vote of some 17,000/. annually, a rather difficult sum to muster up, considering our heavy railway engagements. If Mr. Auld were to remove his quarters to London, and be more cosmopolitan in his selection of emigrants, not confining his attention as hitherto to Highland shepherds, a more useful class of colonists might be obtained. There is nothing like a mixed population for a new country, narrowminded prejudices being completely out of place. An increased supply ot water for the goldfields is a matter which deeply concerns us all, as upon that our prosperity as a mining population very much depends. Gold exists in profusion almost everywhere. It is not the lack of the precious metal that we deplore, but tl o means to obobt'iiu it ( and these can only be supplied by increasing the present water supply. His Honor proposes to raise by way of a loan 100,000/., with power to extend it to 200,000/, t,o be used in the first instance as a guaranteed interest upon sums expended by private persons, or in the second to be spent in the construction of works themselves No money can be expended more beneficially to the interests of

the whole province t’hafi in the con- j struefion of works to ensure the water . supply to the go’dfields. They are the I only true sources of our prosperity, 1 and upon the success of which our very‘existence depends. The appointment of a competent mining surveyor, to report upon the resources of the goldfields, and to make suggestions as to their development, is by no means a bad idea. Upon the goldfields as they exist WO have plenty of reports, those published monthly and annually by the Wardens being most elaborate, and, without finding fault, we should like to see them' substituted by something from a practical and scientific man, whose experience in mining affairs would give authority and weight to his suggestions, and who, eschewing clap-trap, would give us some real Sound and practicable ideas which might be acted upon with advantage.

His Honor has done wisely in placing himself in communication with the Government of Victoria for this purpose, and we have no doubt but that Council will gladly vote the necessary sum required to carry out his Honor’s ideas. Assisting the development of new settJjt'TOeifts at Martin’s .Bay and Pie:, serration Inlet, and the establishment of a monthly mail service between Dunedin* and the west coast of the province, will do a great deal towards attracting population to Otago in general, and, if we can only hold out reasonable prospects of success, hundreds of adventure-loving persons will seek our shores from the neighboring Australian colonies. With the general prosperity of the province during the past year, as pointed out by his Honor, we have much cause for congratulation. The increase of the gold escort by ten thousand ounces speaks volumes in favor of our goldfields, especially when it is due, not to any particular increase of the mining population, but j the result of improved appliances and i modes of extracting gold. What) batter proof can there be than that of the Value and extent of our auriferous deposits and the necessity of increasing our water supply 1 As we said before, we have gold in abundance. It! is the means of obtaining it than are 1 ° i wanted. An increase of the GustoiV.s revenue by 6,6007. is also satisfactory, especially when we take into aico'.i nl that, notwithstanding this increase, we have ourselves produced a ifuiabcr of articles upon which wo should otherwise have had to pay duty. : Our powers of consumption have increased likewise, fully establishing the i fact that we are a well, to-do popula j tion. However the opponents of his j Honor may differ from us, there is no ■ denying chat, since Mr. Macaiuirew j first took office the country has progressed to an extent unknown before, and in spite of many opposing circumstances. This progress has been real and unmistakable, beyond our most sanguine expectations, and though not agreeing with his Hono; upon all points, we can couscienciously say we believe that he is the best man for Otago.