Untitled

Dunstan Times, Issue 456, 13 January 1871, Page 2

Dr. Featherstono was entertained at a banquet in Wellington on January the oth. In replying to the toast of his health, he announced his acceptance of the office of Agent General, and consequent retirement from political life. A party of Chinamen have arrived at Riverton from the Lake district, ‘en route* for the Longwood diggings. The fiivertonians have welcome 1 them as heartily as the Wakatip miners have wished them farowell. Another party is expected shortly.

The nomination of candidates tor the Gen ral Assembly for the Dunstan district is fixed for the Slat iust, and'.he poll (if necessary) for the 7th of February. Mr. W. W. Wilson, barrister, solicitor and conveyancer announces his intention of practising in tho Courts at Clyde, Cromwell, Alexandra, Black’s ■ond Queenstown. He will arrive in Clyde on tho 20th instant.

A paragraph!'is going the round of the press to tho effect that Mr. Fox is about to retire from political life, in consequence of the effects of a sunstroke.

A Wanganui paper has heard that two women'have died from kibe effects of immersion, or baptism, in the Manawatu river. The ceremony was a religious one, and performed for spiritual benefit, but regarding of physical consequences. Embezzlement by legal managers is just now the Melbourne “ Argus ” says, the fashionable crime in Victoria.

Auckland, says the “ Herald ” lias fairly earned in point of smells and pariah dogs, the name of the Constantinople of the Pacific.

We take the following from the “ Evening Star ” : —“ A statement has been going the rounds of the Provincial Press, to the effect that a split has occurred in the Ministry, in consequence of Messrs Bell and Featherston having repudiated connection with, and 'incline t to support the 'financial proposals of the Colonial Treasurer. A flat contrail etion appeared in the Ministerial organ, the “ Wellington Independent, ” but it must hj vo escaped the notice of some of our contemporaries, for We find some of them reproducing the statement. The Hon. Dr. Featherston, since his return to the Colony, has openly expressed his approval of the policy, anil the Hon. Dillon Bell, in intimating to the electors of Mataura his intention of offering himself for re-election has authorised one of the Southland papers to state that there is not the s’ighbcst foundation for the report that lie disagrees with the Government policy. Four lunatics have been taken charge of during twenty four hours in Hokitika—the supposed cause of their insanity being adulterated liquor.

A little girl named Mary Ann Malumby aged eight and a halt years was brutally murdered in a house in Sewell-street, Hokitika on the night of the 7th instant while her parents were out. The child was found at the hack of the house with her skull fractured, and also bearing several tomahawk •wounds. She had also been violated. A colored man named Anthony Noble, who had recently served two years for a brutal assault on a woman, was arrested on the morning of the Sth instant, as the perpetrator of the diabolical deed. A tomahawk found near the body was identified as his, an-1 his clothes were saturate 1 with blood. Two younger children were sleeping in the house when the murder was committed. ,

A special meeting of the Committee of the Dnnstan Jockey Club was held at Cox’s ; Port Phillip Hotel on the evening of Saturday the 7th instant. The Secretary stated the meeting had been convened in consequence of telegrams received, stating that nominations for the various Handicaps, "which had not reached the Committee at their last meeting had been posted in time, and that these nominations had come to hand. A telegram and letter from Mr. Taggart of Dunedin, and letters from Robert Reay and Foster were opened and read. Letters from Mr. Smitham offering opinion on the nomb.ations, and from Mr. Handyside resigning the office of Starter were also road. It was decided that as the letters of Messrs Reay and Foster boro the post mark of the 2nd ami 3rd instant they should bo accepted. Mr. Taggart’s nomination being posted on the sth instant was refused. Mr. Hazlett recorded a protest against the nominations of Messrs Foster and Reay being received The Handicap was then declared and the meeting adjourned. The following are the additional entries—GrandStan Handicap, Mr Reay’s c.m. Misfortune, 5 years ; Mr. Foster’s b.g Hamilton, G years. Dunstan Jockey Club Handicap, Mr. R ay’s c.m. Misfortune, 5 years. Handicap ilur de Race, Mr. Reay’s rg. Stackpole Members Handicap, Mr Foster’s b.g. Hamilton, 6years; Mr Foster’s b.g. Rocket ;Mr. Reay’sr.g Stackpole. The Handicap will be found in our adver" rising columns.

A meeting of the Clyde School Commit! ee was held on .Saturday evening last. Present Messrs Marshall, liucston, Uazlett, and Christophers. Mr. Hazlett occupied the Chair. The minutes of the last three meetings were read an • confirmed. The following 1. tter from Mr. Pyke was read: —‘Elba Lo ge, Clyde, December 30, 1370. —Sir, I am of opinion that when a gentleman gratuitously sacrifices his rest and leisure to promote public interests, he should at least be secure against insult ami annoyance, even although official euties might impede his exertions in the general eause. And I am further of opinion that respectable newspapers shouli not insert letters of a degrading and rulflamy tendency concerning men so acting.® It would seem that this opinion is n£t- generally entertained, and I define the position. 1 have more than suffiSfent work to attend to without worrying myself about pu lie business, wherein monkey’s allowancemore kio&s than half-pence—is the usual pay. I therefore do myself the honor to resign any n ffijdjf as a Member of the Clyde School Committee. I have the honor to be Sir, Yupr obedient Servant. Vincent Pyke. —To tfiejtlerk of the School Committee, Clyde. ” It was resolved that as the Committee's term ot office was about expiring, it was not necessary to entertain the matter. The Schoolmaster’s report for December was read and received. Mr, Marshall's account for £4 13s. (id. for prizes was passed for _ payment, Messrs Pyke, Marshall and Christophers were appointed a committee to prepare tho annual report. The meeting then terminated.

A sitting of the District Court will be held at Clyde on Monday next the 16th instant.

In the Provincial Council of Auckland recently, Mr. Murray moved tho abolition of Provincial institutions. The motion was

lost by six— the members being twenty against and fourteen fpr the motion.

Mr. George Fache will sell by auction at the Port Philip Hotel, at 2o’clock on Tuesday, the 17th instant, the right to occupy the Grand Stand during the ensuing meeting, also the horse paddock and race cards.

Dr. Niven signifies his intention by ad. vertisoment, which appears in another column, of a Idressing the electors of Dunstan district at Mr. Hawthorne’s Clyde Hotel, Clyde, at 8 o’clock this evening, and at Mr, Mason’s Royal MaV Hotel, Alexandra, to morrow evening at the same hour. The booths for the Lawrence Races were sold for .€97.

We quote the following from the “ Illustrated New Zealan I Herald”:—A recent visitor to Cly ’e sends us notes of his visit to the 1 cal hospital, which we regret we cannot find room for. He speaks in terms of the highest praise of the excellent manner in which the Institution is conducted and of the courteous attention he received at tho hands of the resident surgeon, Dr. Burrows. We are glad to learn tint such a valuable institution, and one so admirably conducted exists the goldfields, and there may be gome truth in the observation of our corresnnndent, that the Dunstan district Hospital suggests many improvements in the management of the Dunedin institution.

We are informed that, the plans and specifications for the new Post and Te'egraph offices to he erected at Cromwell, have arrived in'that town, and that according to them, the buildings, when erected, will be exceelingly handsome and commodious.

A colored man named Cedeno, a footman in the employ of the Hon, Mr. Robinson of Christchurch murdered a servant girl on the 9th inst. Political affairs rema’n in (he state as ;n our last issue, excepting that Mr. Mervyn has made faint efforts to induce the electors to request him to "stand If dt the Provincial Council. The names of one or two gentlemen are mentioned as probable candidates, but nothing definite has vet been announced. As for the contest for the Superintendency the electors of the Dnnstan district seem determined to refrain from pledging themselves till they hear the speeches of both sides. -No candidate for the General Assembly has avowed himself, but a rumor that Mr. Brough'is likely to stand is in 'circulation.