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Dunstan Times, Issue 455, 6 January 1871, Page 2

The advent of a New Year is considered by lively spirits to confer a license upon them to indulge in pranks, which, however amusing to the perpetrators thereof, are decidedly the reverse to those on whom they areplayed. New Year’s day, 1871, fallingon Sunday, the quietly disposed residents of Clyde imagined that for once they would Escape the oppressively kind attentions of midnight revel ers. But they were mistaken. The “ lively spirits ”of Clyde would not submit to be deprived Of their annual saturnalia. Sunday morning passed off without any demonstration, bat at twelve o’clock, the stillness of the night was obtruded upon by the ringing of a cow-bell, followed by some diabolical howling—by way of chorus we presume. A band composed of kerosene tins and similarly sweet sounding instruments then struck up with great effect, a selection, which we think was the Rogues’ March, with variations. Some vocalization executed nearly, as melo-. daously as the instrumental music, was given by the assemblage, after whidh, the linn eking up was proceeded with, and those who had been so injudicious as to go to be' had their sweet dreams rudely interrupted, and were ruthlessly compel ed to come out and allay their indignation by hobnobbing wirfiKliose who bad disturbed them. The worst part of the procee lings was, the ■* 1 I

giving of liquor to a number of boys, which completely intoxicated them. Under the influence of their potations, the boys did a considerable amount of ■ ainage to several buildings *by smashng doors, shatters, &o. We hope those who may think it their duty to indulge in the time honored, though somewhat barbarous practice of “ first footing ” will for the future not allow the rising-generation to pirticipate in their vagaries, as should they do so, it will tend to develop that undesirable colonial production known as the larrikin ” which is giving such trouble in Australia at the present time. The newcontractor for the Queenstown mail service—Mr Henry—entered upon his duties on Monday last. Mr. Henry has placed au entirely new plant on the road, and seems to intend that no fault ■shall be found in his manner of carrying out his contract.

We notice that Mr. H. W. Smythies has commenced in business in Cromwell, as a Surveyor and Mining Agent. We have no doubt, but that Mr. Smythies’ extensive experience and abilities will secure for him a'large shure of the legal business of the district. We omitted to state in onf notice of Messrs Mackay’a, an 1 Reith and Wi kie's almanacs last week, that they can be procured from Mr. Marshall, Clyde. The following remarks with reference to the part taken by the “ Daily Times” in Dunedin, we clip from the “ Lyttleton Times:- “Duncden has recently been the scene of strong political excitement. A visit from the Colonial Treasurer lias called forth a strong ebullition of public feeling. Parties seem to be strongly and eqnal'y divided in their estimate of Mr. Vogel’s conduct and capabilities. But the opposition have an advantage in the support of the loading journal. Curiously enough, the principal commercial town of the colony boasts only one morning journal, an" l that is a rabid organ. Among all the journals in New Zealand, the “ Daily Times ” ranks “ facile prineeps ” in thatresnect Whether its antipathy to Mr. Vogel has anythin" to do with the fact that he stands in the tender relation of the parent to the “ Times and that the present E liter is conscious of the painful contrast between the dim obscurity of the present and the light of other days is doubtful ; but it is quite certain that the “ Daily Times” hates Mr. Vogel very cordially, and never loses an opportunity of misrepresenting and abusinghim. It is not won 'erful, therefore, that having a monopoly in purveying political opinions, the Dunedin public were sufficiently misled to give Mr. Vogel somewhat scant courtesy when he first proceeded to address them.

Mr. W. Frazer, 'the represents'ive ef the constituency of CVoswick in the Victorian Parliament died in Melbourne on the 14th ult. / Mr. Ashcroft, M.P C. lias been burnt in

effigy by his Oamaru constituents. The Melbourne correspondent of the Otago “ Daily Times'” says, that Mr. Neilson, the agent for the North Pac tic Transportation Company was known in less auspicious times in Melbourne as Mr. W. Nelson M'Cann.

The Wellington “ Evening Post” is informed that Mr. Vogel sails for America on the 3rd of February to complete the ar-

rangements for the Panama service. A troupe of Japanese jugglers arrived in Auckland by the last mail steamer. A man named George Patnode was murdered at Noble’s diggings, West Coast on the 27th of December. The man was stabbed *o the heart, it is supposed by a woman.

The “ Ross Guardian ” (West Coast) says, that one of the neatest electioneering dodges that ever came under its notice was that a man had his pocket picked of his miner’s right on an election day, and had it returned to him after the poll closed. Ihe Hon. E W. Stafford arrived in Dunedin on the 28th instant.

A-man named George Hamilton, a miner from New Zealand was hocussed and robbed of £450 in a brothel in Melbourne.

The correspondent of tne “ Scotsman ’ 1 says:—All is famine and desolation in the rear of the Prussian armies. They have swept the country like a flight of locusts, and from their own acts a most awful retribution must await them if they get a repulse. The French need not trouble themselves much to kill them, but simply to leave them to retire over the desolation they created, when, if such a catastrophe arrives, I shall be much surprised if they reach the frontier.

Instead of presenting them with bouquets of flowers, the “ swells” in beleaguered Paris make presents, when able, of steaks or outlets to their “ chores amies !

The Melbourne correspondent of the Otago “ Daily Times ” states that the widow of J. P. Fawkner, the founder of the colony of Victoria, a youthful matron of seventy two summers, has surrendered her.se'f in wedlock to a charming juvenile of sixty. The General Government have subsidised Messrs Sheppard and Young’s line of coaches to run from Wanganui to Hew Plymouth at the rate ot £II,OOO a year. The annual statutory meeting for the purpose of electing schoo' committees will be held in the school-houses in the various districts, at seven o'clock on Monday next, January the ninth. A meeting of the Committee ot the Clyde Presbyterian Church was held on Wednesevening last to consider a proposal made by the Alexandra Committee to remove the manse to their Township. It was resolved to allow the manse to be removed as proposed; ■ n consi leration of the Alexandra Committee paying the debt upon it. The Qourlay family gave their entertainments in Clyde on Monday, Toes lay, and Wednesday last to fair audiences.. They will appear at Cromwell this anil to morrow evening, aud will then proceed to the Lakes.

We direct the attention of our reader to the advertisement of the Government Land Sales on the various townships in the Dunstan district.

A telegram in the Otago “ Daily Tunis” informs us that the proclamation dissolving the General Assembly has been issue I, and that the new writs will date from the 30th December, and be returnable on the

25th February. Dr. Featherstone and Sir Charles Clifford arrived in Wellington on the 30tk of December, and were warmly received.

The well known Father Hyacinth enlisted as a private in a volunteer French regiment. He has since been promoted to a sergeantship.

In the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Cly e, on Tuesday last, before Vincent Fyke, Esq., R. M., the following casee were disposed of. Aldridge v. Daniel. Claim for £29 13s. Defen lant did not appear, and judgment was given for plaintiff for amount claimed with costs. The cases of M’Morran, Brothers, v. Keenan and others, seven in all—resulted in plaintiffs obtaining judgment for sums amounting to £99. The Journal de Rouen, states that the whole country of the Vosges iu the rear of the Prussians is in insurrection, and under arms against them. There is no regular array ; but every man is a soldier. Sentinels established at every avenue, all the defiles occupied by francs-tireurs, who no longer wait to parley with the enemy, but every Conner, every Uhlau that presents himself, is shut. Every cottage is a guardhouse, and women as well as men practice shooting. The struggle of 1793 has recommenced in the Vosges,

The “ Tuapeka Times ” in its issue of tha 29th, takes credit to itself for issuing a supplement. containin' Mr. Donald Keids’ speech upon the Immigration and Public ’A orks scheme of the General Government, mi l states that every up-countrypaper, with the exception of the “ Dunstan Times, ’> doss the same ; alleging aa a reason for our not giving publicity to the utterances of the Secretary of Laud and Works that we have .North Islands proclivities. Prom the style the paragraph referred to is written in, the “ Tuapeka Times" evidently wishes its readers to believe that it has gone to enormous trouble and expense in placing before them Mr. Reid’s views, and that they ought to be very thankful therefor. We credit the pu lie with more sense than to think it was gulled, but we fancy the “ Tuapeka Times,” and the journals which followed in its footsteps in the matter of Mr. ilcid’i speech, were “sold. ” We consider the sheet purporting to be a supplement (wh« was printed in Dunedin, at Mr. ami forwarded by him to t£Pvarious journals which issue 1 it., aa electioneering advertisement, and th <t Mr. fluid succeeded m getting it circulated at a very trilling cost beyond a little soft sawder scientifically applied to the proprietors “of every upcountry paper, with the exception of ihe “ Dunstan Times”. We may mention that Mr. lleid di I not forward us copies of his speech. Had he 'lone so we should have been exceedingly happy to hive issued it as an a ivertisement at our usual chargeFailingtoseetheconuectiou between “ North Island proclivities " and the mm issue of Mr llei .’s speech, we let the matter drop hoping that our c mtemporary will he hotter paid for its next electioneering address than it was for Mr. Reid’s.

\ Aspirants for the honor of representing the Dnnstan district in the General Assembly soem rather shy. Up' to the time of oar writing, no gentleman had intimated his intention standing for this constituency.

The forthcoming election for the Suporintendeney is lively to be more keenly contested than any that has yet taken place. The supporters of both candidates are actively orgmising, and signs of the coining struggle are beginning to appear. Most of the electors of this district seem disinclined to pledge themselves to vote for either candidate until they have had an opportunity of hearing and questioning them upon their past acts and future policy.

We are informed that tho “ Southern League,” which we notic d in a previous issue, is a combination favorable to the views of Mr. Donald .Reifl.

Only one candidate for the representation of the Dunstan district in the Provincial Council has as yet announced himself— Dr. Niven of Blacks. Dr. Niven will address the electors at Clyde, on Friday next the 13th instant, at 8 p.m., and at Alexandra, at the same hour the following evening. No opponent to Mr. Carnaby for the Cromwell district has yet appesred.

The right to occupy the Grand Stand and florss-paddook, and to Fell the Cards for the forthcoming Dunstan races will he sold by Mr. George Facho on the 27th instant at the Port Phillip Hotel. A meeting of the Dunstan Jockey Club was hel l on Wednesday evening at Mr. Cox’s Port Phillip Hotel—present, Messrs Fraser, Hazlett, Christophers, Grindley, Welsford, Smitham, Thomson, Fache, and Barlow, (Secretary). The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. It was deci led that the Grand Stand, Paddock, and Cards should he sold on the 17th instant. Messrs Christophers, Hazlett, an I ’Grindley were appointed a sub-committee to draw up specifications for the Grand Stand, &c. Messrs Fraser and Christophers were appointed collectors for Clyde ; Messrs Hazlett and Smitham for Cromwell; Messrs Glassford and M‘Morran for Drybread ; and Messrs Grindley and Welsford for Alexandra. MSssrs Facho, Grindley and WoDford were appointed Course Committee. It was resolved that nominations for Handicaps sent in up to the time the Committee prooee led to open letters containing nom n tions should bo accepted. The nominations wore then opened.. After the Handicaps ha 1 been decided, the meeting was adjourned till the 17th instant.

The Hundreds commissioners arrived in Clyde on the 28th ult, and after taking evidence for the hundreds in Ida Valley proceeded to Cromwell, to take evidence re the Hawea Lake Hundred. They returned to Clyde on the evening of the 4th ult, and left the following morning. By telegram which will be found in another column, it will be seen that a

Maori war is again imminent. The murder of Mr To Id has apparently been the signal fora general uprising, resulting if our telegram be true—in the massacre of fifty Europeans. How long is New Zealand to suffer the massacre of her colonists and the drain upon her treasure resulting from these periodical Maori outbreaks

At the Cromwell Races the Grand Stand and booth were preside 1 over by Mr. Kelly of the Golden Age Hotel, Cromwell, whose catering to judge from the patronage he received, was highly appreciate! by the public. Von Mfitkc, the Prussian General never commanded a regiment in the field during his long milita>-y career. During the race week Mr. W. J. Barry sold the drapery stock of Mr. A. Fitch at Cromwell by public auction, for the sum of £730 Mr Barry also sold eleven horses which realised good prices.

Mr. Baird being away on leave of absence, Mr Harvey will attend at the Court House, Cromwell, on Welneslay and Thursday next, for the purpose ot issuing miner’s rights, and performing other duties connected with his office.

At the Resi ent Magistrate’s Court, Cromwell, on Wednesday before Messrs Hazlett and Smitham, d.P’s, Charles Hare was brought up on the information of James Allen, charged with perjury and committed for trial.