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Dunstan Times, Issue 461, 17 February 1871, Page 2

All the Ordinance! passed at the last session of the Provincial Council, with the exception of the Southern Trunk Railway Guaranteed Ordinance Amendment, have become law. Robert Finlay, Esq., of Alexandra, has been gazetted a Justice of the Peace. Mr. John Hughes Mr. Carnaby are candidates for the representation of the Kawarau district, in the Provincial Council, and we hear that there is a probability of Mr. Mervyn coming forward

For the seat in the Provincial Council for the Onnstan constituency Dr. Niven and Mr. Worth are the only aspirants before the public. It is, however, probable that a requisition will be presented to Mr Shepherd, asking him to become a candidate. Mr. Emmerton, late driver of Cobh and Co s. coach, on the eve of his departure for the North Island, was presented with a testimonial from the residents of Clye. consisting of a purse of sovereigns. The presentation took place on Friday evening last at Cox’s Port Phillip Hotel. The B'aqji’s annual races will take pl ica on St. Patrick’s day the 17th prox. The programme will appear in a future issue. The Mnlyneuxis unprecedentedly low for the season, being now very few inches above its winter level. Should it continue to fall at the fate it has done for soma time past, the shareholders in dredges will make up for last year. Mr, A. C. St-odo, R.M., the Commissioner appointed by the Government to enquire into the claims upon the Clyde Gold Robbery Reward, arrived in Clyde on Tuesday night lost, and on the following day took evidence in the matter. Mr. Strode commenced his investigation in Queenstown last week and examined a number of witnesses there. Wo hone now that the affair has been again taken in

hand, it will I<o decisively settle."’, very shovt.lv. for the fact of it. remaining open for such a length of time as it; has. is not at all creditable to tiro Province! ■ ’

| Dunedin was thrown into a state of ferment last week, by the issue of a placard, purportmg to be.a copy of a letter from Mr. Driver to Mr. Troweek, containing statements, which if correct, would have had

a most damaging effect upon the character of the gentleman to whom the authorship was attributed, and the candidature of Mr. Macandrew for the Superintendency. Mr.

Driver at once declared through the press

the letter was a forgery, and instituted a criminal action for libel against the printers of the bill, Messrs Mills, Dick & Co., The case came on for hearing on Friday last and was adjourned for a week. The next day however Mr. Dick made an apology to Mr Driver, stating t’-at he was requested to print the placard by Mr. Reid’s committee. He however shortly afterwards made an affidavit that Mr Reid’s committee knew nothing whatever of thematter. In order that our readers may form their own

opinions we publish the apology of Mr Re>d to Mr Driver also the affidavit. “Dunedin, 11th February, 1871. ‘To Henry Driver Esq.—Sir—l have to express my un-

qualified regret that I should have been the

means of unintentionally injuring your character by the publication of the libellous placards which have been recently circulated in this city, and which have purported to disclose a copy of a letter addressed by you to Mr. John Tieweek. I have further to say that the placards referred to were pub ished by me under the instructions of Mr. Alexander M'Leod, given to my collee. tor, Mr. Booth, at Mr. Donald Beid’s Central Committee Room. In conclusion, I pledge myself to render jmu evey assistance in bringing the real offender or offenders to justice.—l am, sir your obedient servant (Signed), Johk Dick. Signed in the presence of Thomas Dick, J.P.” The follow ing affidavit was afterwards made—“l John Dick, of Dunedin, in the province of Otago and oniony of New Zealand, printer, do solemnly and sincerely declare—l. That 1 did not receive from the Chairman or any memhe* of Mr. Donald Reid’s Committee any authority or sanction for the printing nr publishing of the alleged letter of Mr. Driver to Mr. Treweek. 2. That to the best of my information and belief none of the members of the said Committee knew of its pub ioation, of that I intended to print or publish it. And I make this solemn declaration conscientiously believing the same to be true, and by virtue of an Act of the General Assembly of New Zealand, entitled ‘The Justice of tho Peace Act, 1866. —Jons Dick, — Declared and subscribed at Dunedin aforesai •, this. eloventh\day of February, 1871, before me, H. S. Fish, jun., a Justice of the Peace for the Colony of New Zealand.”

| Tlle intelligence of the bottoming of the Deep Dead Compeny’s shaft on payable dirt will lie hailed with unraixed satisfaction by all interested in the prosperity of the goldfields. It may lie said to have inaugurated a new era in. {lie history of gold mining in Ot *go, for although. Some’’years ago, a party of miners proved the payability of the lea I, the absence of a systematic style of working culminating in the falling in of the shaft, compelled them to abandon their claim This exercised a prejudicial effect upon the development of the lead, as it caused the difficulties of working it to be greatly exaggerated, therby deterring many who would otherwise have taken up claims from doing so. All the more credit is therefore duo to .the Company for their pluck in undertaking and perseverance in carrying to a successful issuetheir enterprise The prospects obtained, from one to three pennyweights to the dish, with a great depth of dirt, promise that the hearts of the shareholders wil be gladdened with ample dividends, and we sincerely hope the promis ■ will be fulfilled. The importance to the Dnnstan district and the province general y of the success of this Company cannot well be over-rated It shows that vast auriferous treasures exist, which only require the aid of capital to develop and affur I profitable employment to large numbers of miners, and is a confirmation of the oft-repeated statement that gold-mining in Otago is only in its infancy. The payable indications of the Deep Lead Company’s claim has caused application to bu made for another lease, and, before long, we have no doubt that many other areas will bo taken up and worked, to the great profit of their lessees. The poll for the election of Superintendent of Otago will be taken on Monday next. The polling-places will, we presume, be the same as those for the General Assembly We may remark that only regietered electors cm vote.

The nows from the North Island indicates that an unsettled feeling prevails among the Waikato natives, an I that a •/reuse of insecurity pervades the minds of the settlers on the frontier. We trust that the gloomy forebodings indulge I in by a great portion of the press will not bo' realised, but we cannot shut our eyes to the f tct that the attitude of the Maoris is decidedly threatening, and that very little is required to fan the hostile spark into a flame. Should an outbreak occur, it is to bo hoped the Government will not permit those who tako part in it to lay down their arms until they have inspired them with a salutory terror of the consequence of breaking the peace of the colony. \ The \work of takirig the census has commenced hi this district. Forms wero left at the vdHous houses in Clyde, on Wednesday last..

The “ Southern Cross” concludes a review of the late session of the Provincial Council of Auckland as follows:—“ Taken altogether, the session has been an important one. Legislation, so far as it has gone, has been progressive, practical, ami sound ; and perhaps as much has been done as was in the power of honorable tneml’ers to raise the province to a state of prosperity. “ When shall wo he able to say ns moch of the ! Provincial * • •••-

We have been shown a letter from tho Acting Secretary for Land and Works on the subject of the throwing ojSeVi of tho block of land unier tho Dunstan'Range, (M‘Laron, Gregg, and! Go’s run.) Mr. Gillies states that communications -will bo at once opened with the holders of the run, and that the matter will be brought before the first meeting of the Executive.

In the annual statement of the Treasurer of tho Dunstan Hospital in our last issue, a misprint caused the ’name of Mr. Pyke to be substituted for that of Mr. Pyle, as by entertainments at Clyde, Cromwell and St. Bathau’s- contributing handsomely to the funds of the^Hospital. We are requested to draw tho attention of these desirous of investing their savings to the advertisement of the Commercial Building and Mutual Investment Society which appears in another column. The Society offers interest at tho rate of six, seven and eight per cent, on debentures for periods of throe, six, and twelve months. By the annual report issued on tho 12th December, 1870, it appears that £3770 has been iuve ted in goo 1 profithble securities, and as the amount is every month increasing, debenture holders have very ample security.

From a private telegram received in Cromwell, we loam that Mr. Charles O'Neill, late member for the Goldfields has been elected by a large mojority for tl: # Thames district.

Mr. Vi. 3. Barry soli by auction at Cromwell on Friday last two hundred and thirty heal of cattle, and a number of horses, the property of Mr. M'Lean. The prices obtained were very satisfactory, averaging for the cattle, £8 to £0 per head, the ho’-ses from £ll upwards. Mr. Barry will sell at his mart, Cromwell, a number of well selected books to morrow.Saturday.

A petition praying the chief Post-master to establish a post-office at Kemp’s store, Bald Hill Flat, has been extensively signed

7 the residents of the Twelve and Fourteen mile Beaches, Butcher’s Gully, Bald Hill Flat, and vicinity, and will be transmitted to its destination in the course of a few days. There being no post office between the Teviob and Alexandra, a distance of thirty miles, entails great hardship upon the petitioners, and the granting of their prayer would be merely an act of strict justice. Kemp’s store is about the boat place in the district for a post-office, being centrally Situated, an 1 on the main line of road. The JTuapeka coach changes horses there, so that if a post-office were established, no additional expense to the department would b; incurred for the conveyance of the mails.

We quote the following from tho “ Mount Ida Chronicle Since our last issue wo have had a week of stormy electioneering excitement, and several candidates for political honors have come forward, while others have disappeared from the field. Omitting the law of strict sequence, we should first mention the names of the opposing candidates for the Sunerinteudency —Messrs Macan drew and Reid. Both these gentlemen addressed a large number of electors on Monday at the Masonic Hall, and were listened to with very great attention, , Condensed reports of their respective speeches will he found in our present issue. Mr. Reid made a very favorable impression upon bis audience, though there appears'to be little doubt that Mr. Macandrew is stil the favorite. For the General Assembly, the candidates in the field are Messr . Pratt, liertslet, and Macassey. With some of the miners Mr. Ilortslet would appear to be the favorite, Mr. Macas-ey being Well supported not only’ in Naseby, but in the outlying districts ; while of Mr. Pratt and his prosnects we know litt'e or nothing. For the Provincial Council we have Messrs Pratt, Armstrong, Hertslet, Roberts, and John Breraner, and as tho last four will no doubt have many supporters, it would be impossible to hazard oven a guess as to the result, more especially as the elections will bo taken by ballot—though a sharp con. test may be anticipated. An alluvial rush has taken place to some newly discovered ground on the beach at Coromandel, Auckland. The “ Thames Advertiser” says: —“ln prospecting the Kapanga beach, gold has been found in almost all places that have been tried. Several claims have boon taken up, and arc being worked vigorously. Practical miners are of opinion that the whole of the mud flat will be found payable. In one instance, we nro told by a minor whose word may be relied upon, that he himself saw on Saturday nearly half a pennyweight washed from a dishful. A puddling machine is to be erected and the ground thoroughly tested.

The latest addition to New Zealand journalism is the “ Freeman,” a new weekly paper published at Grevmmith. Its chief aim Is the collection of nows of special interest to Irishmen, hut general news is not overlooked- The first issue of the Freeman is certainly a very creditable production, and as the number of Irishmen in the colony is very considerable, it ought to meet with a fair measure of support. Its price (Is.) is, however, too high as times go at present.

The “ Wanganui Herald ” says that the Waitotara is now assuming a settled aspect, and that building is briskly proceeding near the site of the famous Wereroa Pa.

The following is a list of the members returns' by the Province for the General Assembly : Dunedin J Bathgate and W. H. Reynolds ; Invercargill—W. IT. Calder ; Oamarn—W, J. Steward ; Wakatip—C. K. Haughton j Bruce - W. A Murray ; Clntha —W. Thomson ; Taieri—Donald Reid ; Caversbam —R. S. Cantrell; Roslyn— Henry driver ; Waikonaiti George M'Loan ; Riverton—L. M'Gillivray; Dnnstan—T. L Shenherd ; Matanra—F. Dillon Bell ; Waikaia—.l B. Bradshaw ; Port Chalmers •J. Macau drew ; Tuapoka, J. (A Biwix.

Tho arrival of the San Francisco mail at Auckland, on the- morning of tho 14th instant, places us in possession of telegraphic nows from jLondon to the 14th January. Tho Eastern question, which bore such a threatening aspect when the last mail left, seems likely to be settled without an appeal to arms. The st niggle between France and Germanv still fiercely rages with varying success. From the mass of contradictory telegrams it is hard to arrive at the truth, but it seems that the new armies of France are fighting bravely and well. It is somewhat singular that every mail brings ns intelligence of severe engagements between large German forces and the Armv of the Loire, terminating in the former, after sustaining the less of immense numbers of men. annibi’atin." the latter. In spite of its reneated annihilations bow", ever, the army of the Loire seems to . i keeping a large number of German tr/'T’s 1 fnHv occunied. while General | with the armv of the North is threaten®? the communications of the army Keseiwig Paris, even contemnlating an invasion of Germany. The army beseiring Paris has been largely reinforced. The terrible cordon is being drawn closer and closer round the beleaguers i city, the inhabitants of which are now suffering the horrors of a a bombardment. Still, its defenders bravely hold out, hut how long thev will be aMe to do so is a question not easily answered. The assassination of General Prim, the leader of the revolution which expelled the Bourbons from the Spanish throne, and since that time Regent, will have the effect of seriously complicating Spanish affairs. The state of the wool ami flax markets appear to be highly satisfatory. A Bendigo Gully correspondent informs ns that the Alta Company’s new crushing machine works well, but owing to tho scarcity of water only five heads ef stampers can be works-l. The Colclough Company’s washing-up was expected to yield three ounces to the ton. A meeting of the residents of Clyde will be held at seven o'clock this evening at Hawthorne’s Clyde Hotel, for the purpose of considering the water supply question.

We quote tho following from the “Otago Daily Times”:—Some time ago wa noticed tho discovery of a reef contain" a quantity of antimony at Waipnri. We now learn that a reef, believed to be much richer in this ore, has been discoverol on the Messrs. Boyds’ run, in the Hiudon district, by Messrs Over and Dorc. The spot where the reef has been discovered is opposite the ferry on tho Taieri River, about two miles from tho Township, of (Hindoo. The reef is about eight feet thick! and crops out at intervals for about a mile. The ore has been taken out of it'in blocks, varying fr m a few pounds to five or six hundredweight. It is, judging from a sample we have received, remarkably nnre- A sample of it was sent to Dr. Hector for analysis and another to Mr. Jfewry, the analist of the Victorian Government, and their; reports state that it contains about sixty per cent, of metal. The ore has to be packed for about a mile, and is then conveyed to town in drays, the cost of carriage to Dunedin being at present L 4 per ton, though it is expected that it will ’ e lower when the wool season is over. The freight to England is 10s. per ton, and as the price there is about £3O per ton, an ample margin is left for working and other expenses. The reef is to be worked by a company of eight persons, who purpose going into the matter with spirit. We trust therefore, to see antimony figure before long in tho list of exports from this Province. Messrs. Kelsall and Wilson have filed a declaration of insolvency in the District Court. We a-e sorry to have to confirm the telegram which appeared in our last, issue relative to .Mr. St. John Rranigan, the Commissioner of the Armed Constabulary. It. appears that Mr. Branigan is suffering from sun-stroke, and his temporary confinement was found necessary.

Commenting nnon the misrepresentations the Press Association hag h«gn circulating for tlio last the “ Lyttelton Times ” remarks :—“ But an outbreak in tlio Waikato, and the massacre of some sixty men, women, an ’ children in an nnknown outlying district, were not enough to satisfy the cravings of these nanic-mon-gors among the Opposition. Something e'se was necessary to speed Mr. Vogel nn his voyage to Engl.an 1 aml assist him in carrying out the financial business of the Colony. A massacre was well enough, Init comhinefi with national hankrnntcy it might, he consi ’ered perfect. So the wires were set to work, anrl the rumor spread from one on 1 of the Colony to the other that the hank had stopped its to the Government. What, amorf.^^l this may do to the Colonv time determine. But we are hannv to to say that the report is entirely we have said, there are many pcot^^^Ho consider evcrpthipg fair in politics. Yet even these mav p< on reflection, that it’ '"s nnwise rumors calculated to damage the Credit * the Colonv without at, any rate first ascertaining their truth. It was the paramount duty of the Auckland agent of the Press Telegraph Association to take the tronb’e to inquire in the proper quarter whether the hank had stnppe ’ the credit of the Government before circn’ating such a damaging rumor. Political partisanship seem a now-a-days to destroy the very essence of patriotism. In reference to the ropnrt first circulated by the Association, that Mr. Vogel has taken home wi'h him, Mr. Tinrnett. as Assistant Secretary, with salary &c, the Hon. A. 'Domett writes to the •‘lndependent—t My son, who is alluded to, rid not go home as Assistant Secretary to Mr. Vogel, por in any capacity connecting him in any way whatever with the Government, or any member of it, nor •was such a thing ever even mooted or j kin tod at.”