LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 433, 5 August 1870, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

We are compelled to hold over, till next issue, a letter on Immigration, signed “ W. 8.,” also other correspondence. On Monday morning last, at an early hour, a most unusual amount of excitement prevailed i i Clyde, owing to a rumor that there had been a robbery committed at the Camp, nnd that a large amount of treasure had been stolen. On making inquiry we ascertained the fo'lowing particulars : —Five boxes of treasure were deposited in the usual receptacle at the Camp, to be escorted to Dunedin by Monday morning’s coach. Somewhere about one o’clock on Monday morning, everything being safe, bolts and locks were fastened, and the custodians retired to rest. Between five and six o’clock, everything being in readiness, the outer door of the building which serves as the treasury was opened, when it was discovered that the fastenings of the inner door were removed. Further invertigation showed that two out of the five boxes had been stolen. It being dark when the robbery was first made known, but little could be done; but as soon as daylight appeared a most dilligent seacb was made in all directions, the telegraphic wires (as soon available) promulgating the intelligence over all parts of the colony. The hardness of the ground rendered the tracking of the burglars by their footsteps impossible. The boxes had evidently been passed over the camp wall, and were unlimately disco e ed, minus contents, in a waterrace, and within about fifty or sixty yards of the Camp. The adroitness and boldness with which this robbery was effected shows that it was not the work of a novice, and the locking of the outer door after the robbery shews the greatest coolness. It would appear that the robbery had been care fully planned, and, opportunity offering, promptly executed. The amount stolen, as far as we have been able to learn, is as follows Bank of New South Wales, Clyde, three hundred and fifty ounces of gold, and 2,528?. in notes ; Cromwell, nine hundred and eighty ounces of gold, and 537?. in notes; Bank of New Zealand, Alexandra, three hundred and seventy - seven ounces of gold, and 1,470?. in notes ; Teviot, three hundred and ninety-two ounces of gold, and 765?. in notes; Queenstown, 810?. in notes; making a total of two thousand and ninety nine ounces of gold, aud 6,110 in notes. The Government have offered a reward of 500?. for such information as will lead to the recovery of the property audconviction of the offenders; also a free pardon to any accomplice giving the required information. We had intended to have refrained from comment. We cannot but express the universal opinion, in which we join, at the insignificance of the reward, aud say that this act of the Government is on a par with many other's, in which they appear to appear to take the most roundabout way how not to do it. As the numbers of all the notes are known, the banks will not be so great loosers as would appear at first sight, but we would caution the public from taking notes, except from those they know. The adjourned nreeting of the Committee of the Dunstan District Hospital is appointed to take place' at the Council Chambers on Wednesday evening next, the lothinst-;at 8. Dr. Carr, the well-known mesmerist and professor of eleclro-psycology, hy pnotis m, |elc ctro-biology, phrenolo try, and other kindred sciences, is now on a professional tour through the goldfields. The doctor gave seances to good houses on Friday and Saturday evening«, at Alexandra; on Monday and Tuesday, at the Town-hall, Clyde; ■end on the following evenings at Cromwell. Dr. Carr’s lecture on the various sciences was instructive, amusing, and well delivered, while his influence over most of the “subjects” who volunteered was something extraordinary. Several residents submitted to have their heads phrenologically examined and their characters delineated, the result being that Dr. Carr’s opinions were very generally endorsed. The Evening Star says : “ New notes, which are really excellent specimens of artistic skill, are about to bo issued by the Bank of New Zealand. On the left hand side are two engravings within circular’borders, the one representing Mount Egmont in the distance, with two Maoris clothed in mats in the foreground, the other being the Bank, and a thoroughly New Zealand scene, with a volcano in eruption in the background, In the centre of the 1?. notes are the words “one pound," on a green ground, the colors being different in each description of note, the fives being buff, the tens light brovn, the- twenties lavender.”

A London Correspondent of the A uckland Evening Star, on the rumored marriage of Queen Victoria says:— “ One cannot approach so delicate a subject without hesitation—but the rumour lately revived in London i« supported upon such high authority that it cannot quite be dismissed as mere idle gossip. It is reported that Queen yinforia is ab >ut? to bestow her hand on a Prince of the House of Schleswig-Holstein. A near relative of Prince Christian is mentioned as the favoured suitor. The Queen’s partiality to Prince Christian is well known. Indeed it is said that it is the hand of her Majesty, and not her daughter, Prince Christian sought, and the Queen in refusing him, bade him transfer his affections to her favourite daughter, fie it Prince Christian’s years suited with a union with the mother. At all events, the Qaeen overwhelmed the Prince with marks of distinction, and greatly excited her English subjects by conferring upon him the title of “ Royal Highness,” and further roused their indignation by placing him in a position of equality with the highest officers of the English army, where the English think the German Prince has no right to any footing whatever. But to return to Her Majesty’s prospective marriage. We have hot yet heard the name of the myserious individual who solicits and is, say, likely to win the soft, white hand of Queen Victoria, but there is little doubt that England would rejoice over any event which drew her from her long persistent seclusion. In reply to a question put by Mr. Richmond, aW to whether the reprint of the New Zealand Statutes had been begun, andwhen it would likely be completed; Mr Fox said the Government intended to nv dify the law, which wou’d render such reprint uunecssary. A Lousville paper thus speaks of the first appearance of Miss Howson in that city:—When Miss Howson first appe.irel her bright eyes and lovely face attracted everybody. But when her pearly teeth were disclosed there came such a cataract diamond drops of melody that the bouse seemed, as it were, deluged in harmony equal to that which one might imagine would come from a Niagara composed of .ZEolian harps.” This we presume is “ high falutin-” The first meeting of the newly-con-stituted Municipal Council was held in the Council Chambers, Clyde, on We lnesday evening las*-, Hie 3rd inst,, when the Mayor and full Council were present. The Mayor, James Hazlett. Esq., opened the meeting in a short and appropriate address, during which he explained that the duties of the Council were not confined to within the Municipal Boundaries, but extended to the uttermost limits of the district, and that by a unanimity of opinions, great benefits could be effected. He briefly summarised the works'that bad been done by the Council since its formation, and con eluded by expressing a hope that during the current year a corresponding amount of work would be done as on previous years. The Town Clerk then read the minutes of the last meeting, which were confirmed. Correspondence was read and received. The Town Clerk was instructed to inform the Secretary of the Jockey Club that the Council declined to accept their offer of 30s. per year for the use of the tlouncil Chambers. A plan of the land at the land at the rear of the western side of the town, shewing proposed line of new street, was laid on the table After some deliberation it was resolved that the plan be forwar ’e 1 to the Waste Lands Office, with a reque.stjthat the lino of street be granted, and that the lond (fifteen feet) between the street and the purchased sections be sold to the present occupiers. The meeting then adjourned till Friday, the sth inst, at 7 p.m. The Municipal Elections foa the current year terminated on Monday last by the election of Councillors. For Clyde, Mr. G. Clark, Mr. J. Hastie, and Mr. S. Welsford were the successful candidates, the election passed off very quietly, no great amount of feeli n beirg expressed. On the declaration of the Foil, Mr. Welsford briefly thanked the electors for returning him.. For Cromwell, Mr. Brown and Mr. Dawkins were placed at the head of the poll. For Queenstown, Mr. Mallaghah, Mr. Manders and Mr- Bridge were returned. It will be fresh in the memorv of most of our readers, the death' by drowning, at Cromwell, during the late heavy flood, of the son of Mr. Scott, baker, of that place. At a late hour last evening we were informed that the body was discovered yesterday, in the river, about five miles from Cromwell, and recovered. Our informant stated that he was not acquainted with any further parti culars. The Committee of the Dunstan Jockey Club will meet at the Port Phillip Hotel, Clyde, on Tuesday evening noxt, to settle the programme of the Dunsfan Spring Meeting.—See advertisement. The total expenditure on public schools during the year 1869 amounted to 25,263?. Of ibis sum 7,346?. was derived from school fees and local contributions, 1,058?. from school reserves, and the balance from Government votes.