The Dunstan Times. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1870.

Dunstan Times, Issue 443, 14 October 1870, Page 2

The Dunstan Times.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1870.

Beneath the Rule of Men entirely j tjst the PEN is MIGHTIER than the 3word

The war in Europe will in a variety of ways act prejudicially to the interests of New Zealand colonists, and we very much question if there are many redeeming virtues beyond the possibility of an increase in the price of breadstuffs, and this would have been the case anyhow, as the late dsstructive .floods in Australia will necessitate large supplies of grain being drawn from here, and it is even questionable whether we shall have ■very much to spare. Freights will rise as a matter of course, while the possibility mf England becoming en gaged in the war, not being beyond the possibility of a doubt, the rates of marine insurance will be considerably increased to meet possible risks, thus

■U[l ini ported articles will command an •increased cost. Brandy, and Frencli ‘and German wines will, as a matter of/Course lie scarce and dear, causin' ■'a corresponding increase in the price of wines and spirits, the produce of other countries. Contracting loans in the English market will under present circumstances he entirely out of question, atnd our Colonial Treasurer’s railway schemes must, ‘for the present be laid upon the shelf, and with them, very many improvements of a domestic order, and which are urgently required. 'I he labor market instead of being brisk, will be much depressed and the laboring classes must congratulate themse'ves that the summer is before them, and not the winter The goldfields, farming, sheep washing, and shearing will be the chief and almost only means of employing the population, roudmaking and other local works and improvements cannot lie possibly carried on so briskly as heretofore. The Provincial chest is empty, and without a loan it is likely to remain so, and we do not know what calls may be made upon ns in the event of Eng'and becoming engaged in the war. The fond anticipations' which we held only a few months ago of a season of prosperity must be indulged in no longer, our wisest course is to look the difficulty in the face, and prepare for a season of dullness and scarcity, or rather one of dearness. The warmiy etrtainly e of brief duration, when everything will be right again, but in the meantime, it behoves everyone to hu band their resources against a probable difficulty. The gi Idfiel is and labor market may be largely assisted by the opening up of more land, this is an urgent necessity ; at the present time there may be said to be a com plete famine in respect to liorsefecd and it is getting scarcer and scarcer every day. Potatoes and other edible roots are almost equally scarce, and there is at least four months before us ere anything like supplies will lie obtainable. If so much land had u<«t been under cultivation at tlio Wakatip.it is difficult to say -what'might ■not have happened. In all probability everything in the shape of farm produce would have had to be procured 1 ( from Dunedin, at exorbitant rates, i This to a large extent, is the ea-e now, I and we would ask where our supplies areto come from in the event of a large 1 export of grain taking place from Dun- i ■edin to England or Australia, an occurrence extremely probable under present circumstances No time whatever should be lost in insisting upon the Government throwing open more land out only as a means of supplying t: e legitimate wants of the distict, but as arr sting a very probable evil. It j is high time that the Dunstan should be able to produce its own Breadstuff-:, and more especially horsefeed. Theje is plenty o( land to enable it to do so. and which must be had. It is positively absurd that a large, wealthy, and populous di.-t ict like this should not be able to obtain sufficient lands to supply his every day wants, when there are thousands of acres devoted to mere sheep pasture. Such a state of things must exist no longer, and we should lie neglecting our duty did we not keep impressing upon the penile the necessity of making every possible exeition to secure what in reality is their birthright.

A company has been formed in Auckland for the purpose of improving the breed of cattle in the provi ce by the importation of pure-bred stock from England The capital ’s 1000/., in two hundred shares of 51. each. On Friday evening last an amateur concert was given in the Library Hall, Arrowtbwn, in aid of the funds of the District Srhonl. Mr. 11. .I. Cope delivered an original prologue, and tin entertainment proved highly successful. The proceeds amounted to eomewliere about 50/. The. third of the series pf “Winter Evenings. Entertainments,” advertised for tl ds evening, is postponed until Tuesday.

Our Lake'correspondent's letter did not r'ncli ns Hat night until too late , f)i pub i m io i i this 1 ue. Mr. Lowther Broad, formerly Warden at the A nun* Ims been np- , pointed Warden at in the Province of Nelson. Mr. and Mrs. Hii'o and Mr, Leslie Charles gave their second performance at. the Town Hall, Clyde, on Monday evening last, before a well-tilled room These 'artistes have lieen so often and so justly eulogised, and their talent so freelv acknowledged by all who have had the pleasure of hearing them that it is almost superfluous for us to sav that their efforts to delight their audience were crowned wiih success. In fact, like poor little Oliver Twist, they were “ Asking for more.” Mrs. Hilton is a most charming yoealist. having a pure and powerful vo ce, which has been highly culfl vated. Her various songs and ballads were deservedly applauded ; but, perhaps, the gem of the evening was the beautiful ball'd, “The Murmur of the shell,” which most exquisitely sang. Mr. Hiltonselinractatnres o! the “Dandy ot the Period”—pretty true to life flu nigh—'were loudly applauded, while his “ Complaints." th ugh they miffiit have excited the sympathy of the whole College of Physcims— hey would pro aly have made quite a et of him only elic tod from ao unsympathetic audience roar after ioar of laughter. ihe comic duets ly Mr. and Mrs. Hi! on were highly amusing, a"d we venture to Say (hat the,matrimonial “differences” brought some recol ection of a simila" (though we hope, milder) experience to more than one present. Mr Charles deserves much praise, not only for the manner in which he rendered some of the most popnl r songs of the d-iy, but abo for the able manner in which he played the accompaniments. Itogether the cut' rtainment was of a. superior class, and everybody was thoroughly well pleased. .A third entertainment was given on Tuesday in the School House, when there "as a change "t programme, and on the following day the company proceeded to Cromwell, where they performed with their usual success. The portion of a human skull has been icked up at the Tcviot by some miners. We are given to understand that it is the intention of Mr. M'Pherson, the ow- er of 'he original punt on the Upper Olntha, at Wakefield to shift lower down iheriver, a little lower down than M‘ aehlan’s punt.Through the establishing of tbit second punt, 1 and that, on a more direct road to the I reefs has completely shut the original ! 'One out of t upmarket. ■ In our last issue we gave an extract from a correspondent’s letter in which j the writer assured ns that the road between this and Cromwell was in splendid condition Since then we have received several letters, putting a very different, face o affairs, and in which hopes are expressed that the balance of the I.OdOZ. voted at, the last sitting of the Council for the road may he laid out with greater judgment than the fiist portion has 1 con. The road appears to be in anything but i the howling.gveen state we were led to believe. In the Provincial Government Gazette, of the sth instant, it is notitb d that public pounds had been established at Waitahuno and Lawrence. It also announces that a number of Crown giants, t wnship of Arrow, are ready for uplifting. A fatal accident on Monday last at Edwards’s N evis Ferry, to a man who was en oute to Queenstown ly coach. It appears that flie deceased, afier having partake of dinner, proceeded with the coach across the river on the punt. Upon landing, it stead of taking the carriage road, he proceeded afimg a narrow track which led to an abrupt pi edifice over the river. He was seen to stumble, and fell, head foremost, into the teething current. Sergeant Cassells, who witnessed the aeciden i, immediately gave the alarm, mid, with Mr Edwards, proceeded in a small boat to where the body had disappeared, lut they fabed to recover it, although oveiy possible exertion was made The deceased gay* his name as Parkins, was about thirty-five years of age, five feet ten inches in height, with thin visage, sallow complexion, and is supposed to have lately arrived from Victoria. The Daily Times of Monday last continues a long leading article on the telegraphic question, as between the Government and the Press Associations, and it the accusation against the Government be true, of which there seems hut little doubt, it is high time the Telegraph Department was handed over to other hands. All confidence will be destroyed, and it will he r ndered comparatively useless, should such a state of things he allowed to continue. A telegram states that a fire occurred on Saturday last at the Saltwater Creek Hotel, Timam The whole of the building was destroyed, but a considerable portion of Ih i furniture was saved. The property was insured, but not to the amount of the loss sustained. The showers which have lately fallen in the district ha> e had a most Inneficial effect, not only on the gardens and farms, hut also upon the native grass' s, and we ma\ shortly ox- I pect that teed will be more plentiful.

A medical scandal case is likely (says the Melbourne Telegraph) to occupy the attention of the Supreme Court iixnl society shortly. A well-known Collins Strct doctor is the plaintiff, and brings the action for slander and libel, the alleged libel consisting in the forwarding of a circular letter to many of the subscribers ,to the Alfred Hospital, warning them of an act of immorality stud to have been committed by this gentleman. The circular was issued by a lady, who complains of having been the unwilling recipient of improper attentions. Her husband was not aware of her having taken this decided step, hut he entirely approves of it,and has accepted service of the writ. Damages are laid by the Doctor at .£IOOO. A very strange case of hardship in the n'mo of justice has just transpired It appears (says a Victorian I aper) that a usideutof n a -country district, was subpoenaed as a witness in a case of perjury to be heard at Beechworth, a distance of about sixty miles He li ul no money to pay for travelling up that distance, and was afraid ot contempt of Court it lie did not, go. In these liiTuni-taiices hit wrote to the Attorney General stating his case, and wound up with this most pathetic appeal:—“ 1 have no money to pay for coach fare, and 1 cann..t walk, as 1. am fifty years of age, and weigh twenty stone.” Such a ease ought to melt the heart of even a Crown law officer. Ihe Dunedin Echo says,—Tba l Mr. Brodie will be a cand date for he upe intendency at the coining election. The WeeMy Times a Southland contemporary says : —“ J. Woodward Esq.. Heceivir General, arrived by flic Phoebe, from Wellington, on a visit ‘to the Province on 1-nsiness eonnee'ed with his department Since his arrival thei have been quite busy in the Provincial Treasury, -but, onfomniaiely, rot with paying out money Mr. Vogel, in a letter to the Post-master-General-of Am rica, sng- e ts the estaJ lisl mcnt of a money order systmi between tne two c in tries • and in order to obviate anv difficulty that m : glit aiise fn in the flnetna'ing Tiatme of American currency, proposes 'hat the value of the gold dollar shall I e fixed at 4s 2d sterling. The “ Bruce Herald says :—“ The Canada Quar'z Reef tvibutars had a crushing last. week. The result proved very satisfactory, the vield being 490z l irlwts fn m a 1 out three hundred tens of stone We understand this realised fair wages to the tvibutars, and they are very sanguine as to tire future success of the mine, which is now in excellent working order.” From the Australasian of the 31th lift., we learn ‘•hat Mr. If. G. G'assf"vd has entered the well known horse Dragoen. for the Melbourne Grand National Steeplechase. For the Canterbury Races. which take nlace on the 7• ’i nod Bth of Nnvcm' er next, the fopeu ing are the nominations : —The Cup: Malice, 3 years ; Knottingly, aged ; Malabar, 4 years : Backbiter, aged : Atalauta, n/'cd. Olnirt.eliureli Jockey G’ub I TTavdi cap : Knottiindv, aged ; Wid - ' awake, 5 years ; Thomie.- 4 years ; Southern Chief, fi years; A this, fi years ; AT is* King, fi rears ; Wild Boy (5 years : Waterwheh. 4 years ; Malabar. 4 years : Backbiter, aged ; Blink Poimy, fi veavs; Carappp. 5 vents Tlmre may be other nominations hearing post date 20th ultimo. Oamam Herald. We regret exceedingly to hear that Mr. Michael Gaffney, late storekeeper of St. Pnthnn’s, a gentleman Id hiv respected by all who knew him, has la tel v been removed to Dunedin for examination under the Lunatic A ct. The’’es f grass' s for binding sand are Psammn or arena,rin. or sea-lvme grass ; and Cynodon dactylon. or creep, ing dog-tooth grass. B >th these grasses wnld not, grow upon a nm 1 hank, or ct least not sis wed, or not near'y as well, as they do in sand. The Mount Ida Spring race Meeting cime off on the 4tli and sth inst The weather was anything hut propitious, die ground being covered wrh a sdglit coating of snow ; vet, despite cold til'd every other drawback, there was a. good attendance, and the various events wee well contested Malden P’a f e—Allen’s H iwkdtm I. Fo t r’s Hamilton 2 ; Mount Ida Plate Hall’s Tecninsch I, Mortan’s Miss Times 2 • Soiling Race —Foster’s Hamilton 1, Cox’s Madam 2 : Hack Race', Heats— Messant’s Kettledrum 1 Messant’s Oddsfocki"gs 2. Second Dav—Ha.ndicaj) Rsice, one mile and a half. Teoumsch 1, l ad bird 2, Madam 3; Open Race, one mile—Hamilton. I, Miss Tunes 2. The sports were concluded by a number of private matches. On Sunday last the Molynenx commenced rising, and continued to do so throughout the week, until the usual summer level has been reached. The whole of the dredges, some of which were upon pretty fail g' ound. have, we are sorry to say been laid up, and with very In tie or any chance of re. sinning opera'ions again this se son. The sluicing claims are more or less put to in-convenience through having t" raise flieir hexes and work on a higher level, but the actual loss, bustaiiiod is trifling. j

The following quantities of gold arrived in Dunedin on Tuesday, the 4 th in st.; — Queenstown1508oz. 17dwt. AITOW 879oz. 15'Uvt. Cromwell ... 2031oz. Odwc. Clyde 706oz. Odwt. Black’s 1 'oSoz. Odwt Mannherikia Ill 2oz. 1 Odwt. St. Bathau’s ... 504oz. Odwt. Mount Ida ... 2325oz. 0 hvt. Teviot 820oz 5dwt. ]1135oz. 16dwt. Southern Escort ; 4938oz. 17dwt. Total 16074oz. I3dwt.