The Dunstan Times. FRIDAY, MAY 13, 1870.

Dunstan Times, Issue 421, 13 May 1870, Page 2

The Dunstan Times.

FRIDAY, MAY 13, 1870.

Beneath the Rule of Men entirely just the pen is Mightier than theswoEn

We are compelled to withold our usual leader; also, several other communications, in consequence of pressure on our space.

f We accidentally omitted to publish the Escort returns in our last issue. The following quantities of gold were taken down by the Escort which left Clyde on Monday, the 2nd of -May inst. : Queenstown 1,3860z. lldwt. Arrowtnwn 7620z. 2dwt. Cromwell 130oz. Odwt. Clyde 300oz, Odwt. Alexandra 1920z. 2dwt. Dunstan Creek COOoz. Odwt. Mount Ida 808oz. Odwt. Total ... 4,8780z. 12dwt. The District Court, Judge Grey presiding, will sit on Monday next. The Court will be occupied principally with bankruptcy ca°es. We took the opportunity a few issues back to draw attention to the bad state of the road between Clyde and Cromwell. On that occasion we expressed fear that unless the road in those places that are highly dangerous were put in repair, it would be our painful duty to record some accident. We regret exceedingly that our hint has not been taken, and that a gang of men, sufficiently strong to cope with the difficulty, has not been placed on the road. We do not wish to be classed as grumblers, or to be included among the number who agitate and incessantly din into the ears of Government that their particular district is the life and soul of the country, and consequently demand the lion’s share of the revenue to be spent on them; we merely demand that justice should be done us, and desire to lay before our rulers, especiat the present time when the Council is in Session, that the road in question is in a frightful state, and that the only cure for the evil is by instant action. The systen of employing day labor has proved itself to be most rotten, but we must admit it to be one by which a vast amount of money is expended, with no good results, as is evidenced by the state of the roads from one end of the province to the other where the system is adopted. As we said before, we do not wish to be put down as grumblers, or accused of finding fault with employees, but we must say in conclusion that if the Government cannot see any other course open to them than the employing of day labor, they must inaugurate a different system of management, and have more picks and shovels employed and less horse-flesh. The Melbourne Argus, of the 25th of April, says “The mineral statistics of Victoria for the year 1869 have just been published, and show a falling off in the yield of gold in the previous year, of 316,6590z., while the mean number of minersemploycdwasgreater in 1869 than in 1868 by 4,407."

The investigation into the charges against the Resident Surgeon of the Hospital, as contained in a letter received by the Committee of Management fiom one Deidrich, was brought to a conclusion on Tuesday last, the I Oth inst. The evidence adduced during the examination of Deidrich, Dr. Thomson, and a patient named Murphy Vas carefully considered, and the following exclusion arrived at: That there was no charge substantiated for H r . Burrows to answer, and that in the opinion of the Committee the who!d affair bore a strong impress of conspiracy, and that Deidrich was a tool in the hands of Others, from the fact of so long a time having elapsed (two months) since Deidrich left the Institution and the date of his letter; and likewise that Deidrich had never complained to the Visiting Committee, while in the Hospital, of any irregularity on the part of the Resident Surgeon. Up to the time of going to press

last night the Dunedin Mail via Tuapeka had not reached its destination Clyde. As by the irregularity in the anival of this Mail Clyde, is virtually deprived of one service, we feel con stained to make this notice. A further postponement of thopening of the Shotover' bridge until the 24th inst., the anniversary of the Queen’s birthday has taken place. Our Bendigo correspondent informs

us of a break in the crushing mill of the Cromwell Company, at Bendigo Gully, whereby work is stopped and a number of men thrown out of employment. The proprietors, with the view of having the damage repaired with all despatch, sent a piece of the broken machinery, weighing nearly three hundred pounds, by coach to Dunedin. We have to express our regret at the mishap, and hope soon to hear that the damage has been repaired and the mill again in full work.

We understand a ball is to be given on the evening of the Queen’s birthday, for the purpose of assisting the funds required for the erection of a residence for the schoolmaster.

On Wednesday night last, at Alex andra, a clothes line was stripped of a quantity of wearing apparel, and on the same ni ht one of the Corporation Notice boards was torn down, the perpetrators may have considered they were joking, but we would advise them to cease their jokes, as the Police are informed, and if they fall into the hands of justice they will truly have to pay dearly tor their fun. The following requisition to Messrs. Vogel and O’Neill, reprsentatives o the Goldfields in the General Assembly, is nowin cireulat on on the Goldfields:

—To Messis O’Neill and Vogel, members of the General Assembly for the Otago Goldfields. We, theundei signed electors of the Otago Goldfields District, desire to express to you our very natural wish to be represented in the next session of the General Assembly. The position of Chief Engineer of the Province of Auckland, we believe to be inconsistent with the independence of a representative, and more especially of a representative of the people of Otago. The Colonial Treasurer has completely identified himself with Auckland ;but there are other and graver reasons for inducing the electors of the Goldfields to suggest the propriety of his resignation. Upon the Land ques tion, upon the reduction of the Gold Export Duty, upon all matters immediatelyafTeeting these Goldfields, Mr. Vogel’s views have been proved to.be antagonistic to those of his constituents Considering that our members are not resident, and do not represent our views, we urge upon them to afford us the Assembly, resident in the provinceaud identified with our interests. We are in receipt of a pamphlet (published in the Daily Times office) by Mr. R. P. Whitworth, and being a “Narrative ot a Sea Voyage from Dunedin to Martin’s Bay, andof a return Journey overland. 5 ’ It is illustrated by 3 Litograph Maps, and contains the regulations under which lend cun be taken up for Settlement. To intending Settlers we recommend a careful perusal of its pages, as a vast amount of useful information is contained therein.

The Government recognizing the importance of Mr.John Alloo,s services as Chinese interpreter, and the heavy expenses incurred by him in travelling over the various porf tions of the Goldfields, have, we are informed, given him an increase of salary to extent of 507 per annum—making his salary now 3007; and accepted his suggestion that his headquarters should be at Clyde instead of Naseby. Mr. Alloo’a services are of real value, besides being heavy and onerous, and we are glad to see the Government thus acknowledge them —Wakatip Mail.

A contemporay states that the copyright of the Shortland Times, Auckland Advertiser , and Thames Leader newspapers, late'y the property of Mr. Shaw, was knocked down at 14s. The book debts of the Times, consisting of 1,500 1., represented as good, and 500/. doubtful, were bought by Mr. Gunn for 73/.; the debts of the horning Advertiser, 251 were sold for 22 L and those of the Leader, 24/ for 20s. Mr. Shaw js about to leave Auckland for California.

The scene of the recent gunpowder explosion near Mansfield is thus described in the Benalla Ensign : - <l In dications of the calamity were to be met with at two miles and a half on

the Mansfield side of the place. Fragments of large printed posters, part of the loading of the ill fated waggon, were lying and flying in .all directions. A nearer approach showed the bush on fire all round; and when within some three hnu Irod yards of the spot where the powder explode 1, we observed the trees regularly festooned with stnps of smouldering calico, flannel, paper, &c, while the ground was profusely sprinkled with tea, starch, lollies, boots, socks, &e. It is strange that, although Jewell’s loading included many cases of brandy, not a fragment of glass is discoverable around. The actual spot where the accident occurred is between two enormous trees. These have not only been denuded of their foliage, hut completely stripped of branches and limbs. They no.w stand, two bare Snd blackened stumps, dismal monuments of the mournful tragedy at Martin’s Gap, with the remains of four dead horses fostering and rotting between them. The tVees also boar the lAavks of being scored and bruised by the fragments of iron and other hard substances showered round. Altogether the scene presents a most sad and depressing appearance,—thegfonnd blackened with burned grass, and the trees scorched, mutilated, and leafless, fluttering with tattered and discoloured rags, prodncea horrible impression. Seveial shoes belonging to the horses that were killed have been found at a distance of two hundred yards from where the animals lav, having been blown from tbeir feet.”

Horses liave frequently been knocked down at pound sales throughout the co’onies at ridiculously low figures, but as far as Victoria is concerned the minimum price, “the Pleasant Creek News thinks, ” was reached at the last sale at the local pound, when one was sold for the sum of six-pence, one fur one shilling, and the third animal, far superior to the first two realised only two shillings and six-pence.