The Dunstan Times FRIDAY, MAY 20, 1870.

Dunstan Times, Issue 422, 20 May 1870, Page 2

The Dunstan Times

FRIDAY, MAY 20, 1870.

Beneath the Eulo of Men entirely j ust the pen is mightier than theswoßD ■f HUI nil m limn— WW, M || in , mlu

Number Eighty-four of Volume VII. of a pretty little production, entitled the Dunedin Monthly Price Current, published apparently for the especial benefit of home readers, via San Francisco, has just reached us, and we must own that a more unjustifi-

able and libellous statement of the up-country districts we never recollect reading. For the credit of the Province, and more especially those much abused portions of it referred to, we sincerely hope that home readers and those for whom this trustworthy and truthful publication is compiled, will pause ere they accept the editor’s dictum. For all the ills that afflict Dunedin the up-country districts arc invariably blamed. If merchants find their stocks move off slowly, the fault lays in the up country , districts; if money is scarce and the banks are putting on the screw, it is because the up-country districts have neglected to meet their engagements; if the market is glutted with spirits, wine, and beer, it is that the upcountry districts are not sufficiently drunken, or have become total ab stainers ; if the escorts fall off, it is not because gold is scarce, or that Dunedin capitalists refuse to support the miners, but that they (the miner’s) are lazy, and refuse to prosecute their drivings for gold except at an enorrate of remuneration; while, if trader’s fail in town, it is because they have been severely handled by their upcountry customers. Unfortunate upcountry districts ! What maledictions are heaped upon your heads by those for whom yon labor from early morn to dewy eve, enriching yourjealumnia tors by your toil without seeking any respite for yourselves, and who, profiting by your experience and want of the worlds affairs, array themselves in purple and fine linen at your expense, leaving you—the working bees of the hive—to find consolation in sackcloth. We fancy that the commercial editor of this so called commercial paper must either have been very unfortunate in his speculations lately, or that he has sinister objects in view. His doleful tale of the insolvency of up-country districts, dullness of trade ' in Dunedin, overstocked markets, and ridiculously low prices for produce, J are eminently calculated to inspire an j utter want of confidence in the minds ' of home readers, via San Francisco, j anent the export of goods to Otago | and its ability to meet engagements incurred. We really pity the readers of this wilful perverter of the truth, and hope they have other means of ascertaining the state of affairs in Otago for themselves. Readers of Monthly Price Currents and Trade Circulars never expect to find anything but that trade is dull and times are hard. It is opposed to commercial human nature to acknowledge that they are good. We never hear of good times until they have passed or ceased to be so. If Dunedin merchants were to confess that times were good, they would be only inviting competition; therefore, it becomes a matter of policy on their parts to say that “ things are dull,” or that “ the past few weeks have been the quietest ever experienced for a long time past.” No one can find fault with these innocent little deceptions, | because in themselves they are per- ‘ fectly harmless, and are taken for what they are worth. But when other people come to be maligned it gives quite a different aspect to the whole affair, and we claim the right to find fault when Dunedin traders seek to secure their own ends by damaging the credit of the up-country districts. We are not aware of any commercial failures having occurred worth mentioning, or of any compositions worthy of record, nor yet of upcountry tradershaving severely handled their town creditors to such an extent that a wholesome dread has been truck against giving unlimited credit to any person seeking it. The fault, if any, in this case lies with Dunedin houses themselves pressing goods upon up-country buyers they do not require, and who are only enticed to purchase by the inducements of long credit being held out to them, which goods Dunedin houses would not be in a position to force a trade with were it not for the indiscriminate discounting of bills by the banks. And, what is more, we believe we may safely con elude that these bills are discounted more upon faith in the solvency of the up countiy acceptors than confidence in the drawers in town, In reality no rael credit is given to upcountry buyers at all. The system pursued of a three-months’ bill, which is immediately converted into money, makes the transaction a cash one. It is from this source that arises the evils of severe handling complained of in j the Dunedin Aiontlily Price Current, | and, if there really exists any cause for regret, it is that the handling has

not been severe enough. A mushroom firm starts in Dunedin. It purchases on credit, and, with the system of discounts, its capital increases in exact proportion as sales of goods are made. If the huxters and sly-grog sellers upon whom the travelling representatives of theso mushroom firms force their few pounds of tea or sugar, sundry pairs of blankets, yard of ■calico, bars of soap, or kegs of spirits manage to take Up their acceptances, then all goes merry as the marriage bellbut, when is not the case, a crash comes, and to the insolvency of the up-country districts is attributed the failure. We will put it to our readers: is it reasonable to suppose that all the travellers who daily visit us can, by legitimate business transactions, earn sufficient to pay their expenses among a sparsely settled population like this, which may be accepted as a sample of the interior districts of Otago in general 1 The answer is obvious, and, were the truth told, it is not orders these representatives of mercantile firms want, but rather the names of up-country residents to sundry little mysterious slips of paper, the possession of which is absolute'y necessary to keep the mushroom firm in being. We believe our readers and all respectable trad ere will join issue with us in concluding that the up-country trade was never more sound and prosperous, and the means of the people to meet engagements more ample, while business upon all sides is acknowledged to be improving.

The statistics of the province foi the past year, so ably referred to by his Honor the Superintendent in his opening address to the Provincial Council most unmistakably proves this fact If any commercial panic exists in Dunedin it is the result of

overtrading capital, or building palatial establishments and incurring expenses that the amount of business done or to he done fails to justify the expenditure incurred. Dunedin unquestionably lives more upon the credit of the u]i country districts than upon its own. The banks take especial care that this shall be the case, and that up-country people above all shall be in position to meet their liabilities, for reasons that they permit them little or no in ducements to incur any. The sound legitimate trade of the country is cramped, that the vicious and unsafe trade of the capital may be bolstered up. Dpon the goldfields, and especially in old-established centres of population, there are very tew people in

business whose assets would not realise twice the amount of their indebtedness, and, in many instances, r msiderahly more. We wish our Dunedin contemporary no harm, hut we sincerely trust that, before he pens such another libellous article as that which appeared in his last issue, he will procure a copy of zEsop, and improve his knowledge by reading the fable of The Belly and its Members before sitting down to write. A repi tition of such articles will not only frighten every resident in the province but all those outside of it. Let a cloud be ever so dark, it nevertheless possesses a silver lining 1 But the desponding writer in the Dunedin Monthly Fries Current is uncharitable enough to refuse us credit for the smallest modicum of any redeeming virtue.

The Escort on Monday last took down the following quantities of gold : Cromwell 7570z. Odwt. Clyde 2020z Odwt. Alexandra 187oz. I odwt. Teviot 4330z. Odwt. Black’s 40toz. Odwt. Mount Ida 7950z. Odwt. Total ... 2,7780z. ISdvvt. Exception having been taken to a paragraph in our last week’s issue relating to the investigation into the charges laid against the House Surgeon of the Dimstan District Hospital by one Deidrich, on the ground that the public might fall into an error, and that the said paragraph reflected probably to the de rlment of some of the parties named, we take this opportunity of laying before our readers the motions on the mutter exactly as they are recorded in the minute book: —“Proposed by Mr. Hazlett, seconded by Mr Grindley, and carried, ‘ That, having carefully considered the evidence adduced, the Committee are of opinion that there is no charge for the Resident Surgeon to answer.’ Proposed by Mr. Hazlett, seconded by Mr. T. George, and carried, ‘That, taking all the circumstances of the case into consideration, the Committee are further of opinion that the charges against the Resident Surgeon have been made from malicious motives, and not with any view to benefit the Institution,

I We have received a letter from Mr. A. Moore, complaiaing that his contract of 34/. 18s. was rejected in favor of one for 3 51. Mr. Moore having, in his letter to us entered into personalities, which are quite out of place in our correspondents’ column, we cannot publish his letter in extenso.

Our Bendigo correspondent informs us that one of the cogs of the I ,pinion wheel of the Aurora CVs crushing machine was broken on Tuesdav last, causing a temporary cassation of’ operations. The manager, fortunately, had a spare one on hand, and proceeded promptly to repair the damage, and, doubtless, by this time the machine is again in full operation. A share in Broadfoot’s claim changed hands for 1002., Mr, Lyons being the purchaser. A special meeting of the Dunstan HospitafCommitteewas held on Friday evening, the 13th inst., to take into consideration letters received from W. Fraser, Esq., and J. C. Brown, Esq., Members of the Provincial Council, relative to the increase of the Government subsidy to hospitals. Both let tere contained the information that the Council would not sanction any increase of subsidy,- but suggested that a special grant should be asked for to meet existing liabilities. After discussion, it was resolved, That the Secretary telegraph in reply to the effect that, in the event of a motion for an increase of the subsidy from 21. to 3 L not being earned, a special grant of 500/. be applied for. The following clause of the “Town and Country Police Ordinance, 1802,” is published in the Provincial Government Gazette for general information:— “ If any person shali establish, commence, or be a partner, or otherwise beneficially interested in,any lottery or any scheme by which prizes, whether of money or of any other matter or thing shall lie gained, drawn; or thrown for or competed for, by lot or dice, or any other mode of chance, or shall .sell or dispose of any tickets or other means by which permission or authority is gained or given to any person to throw for, compete, or have any interest in any such hittery or scheme, or. shall, under any pretence, or by means of any device, sell or dispose of', or endeavor to sell or dispose of, any lands, goods, wares, or merchandise by means of any game either of skill or chance, every such person, being duly convicted, shall forfeit and pay a penalty not exceeding fifty pounds, and for any second offence, besides such penalty,, shall be liable to imprisonment not exceeding six months : But this pro vision shall not apply to the distribution of any property amongst the owners thereof, or to any raffle of any work purely of art, of which a notice, having the name and address of the person intending to hold the same subscribed thereto, shall have been given to the Superintendent, if the Superintendent shall not, within one week after such notice, prolubit such ; raffle by notice sent by post, or in any other manner, according to the address so subscribed by such person.” As the penalty for any infrigement is very severe, we re-publish it with the view of making our readers fully aware of the risks run by participating in raffles or lotteries.

In the Provincial Council Mr. Shepherd, as a question of privilege, drew the attention of the House to an article that appeared in the Evening Star, in which it was stated that the gratification of his (Mr. Shepherd’s) vanity had cost the country 10b/. and the miners their present franchise. After some, discussion the Speaker remarked that the Honorable Member had his remedy at law. Mr. Shepherd concluded by saying, “Then I assure you that, if I have a remedy at law, I will take it.”

By Monday’s Daily Times we learn that the Wonga Wonga arrived at Auckland, with the English mail on Board. The news brought is unimportant Among other items it is announced that the British- [ndian cable has been completed, and also that it is the intention of the Marquis of Bute to pay a visit to New Zealand.

The following is taken from a Victorian paper:—“ An atrocious Act of cannibalism was accidentally brought under ,the notice of the Kyneton Bench on Friday. At the close of the business, Sergeant Babington applied for a warrant against a man who had brutally assaulted Mr Callahan, of High street, and who had absconded from the district. According to the statement made the ruffian had bitten a piece out of Callahan’s arm, and had then deliberately chewed and swallowed it. The . warrant was oadeaed to issue.”

Hewitt and Bird, the English pedestrians, have been defeated at Sydney. rr - - r \ r • -

The Swan-hill corresponpent of the Riverine Herald writes:—“ Old King Nobbier has again been making havoc amongst the aborigines. One named Toby, hailing from Narung, whilst in his cups, took the notion to try the temper of his tomahawk on his wite.s skull, and killed her as might have been expected. This bit of tragedy was enacted some time last week aboud Talbotis pn 'the Wakool, and ; the murderer is still at large I believe and likely to he so for all that.,the ■police will do in the matter. It is a notoxious fact that the blacks get supplied with drink at every shanty and

pub. in-the district, and it is a disgrace to the Governments of both New South Wales and Victoria that they have not devised and put into practice some sensible means of putting a stop to the supply of intoxicating liquors to the aborigines.,,

A Victorian paper says :—“ For some time past a new industry has been prosecuted in onr midst, and seems in a fair way to become a perfect success. A rope walk has been put Up at Wattle Flat, and some excel lent specimens of workmanship havebeen shown to us. Mr. Griffiths, the .pjwmufacturer, has used considerable quantities of New Zealand flax, and can supply ropes of almost every size at prices lower than the current rates for Manilla hemp*