FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 1871.

Dunstan Times, Issue 463, 3 March 1871, Page 2

FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 1871.

The election for the Superintendency was a close contest, and, although victorious, Mr. Macandrew must not imagine that this time he possesses so entirely the confidence of the people as was the case at his previous election. Never was an election for the office of Superintendent so closely •contested, or such effoits made to secure votes, and we may accept it as an undoubted fact that promises made at elections are beginning to be looked upon with suspicion, or rather that they are accepted at a precarious value. There is no doubt that Mr. Reid’s success in obtaining so many ■votes must be attributed to the straightforward manner of his addresses and the reluctance he exhibited in making promises. The contrast between the two men was so apparent that public opinion could scarcely be otherwise than evenly divided. With the actual result of the election we have every reason to be satisfied, and the more so that it was not an easy -walk-over for Mr. Mac ANDREW, who must have learnt, that a modification >of his efs-trein*? views is desired by the country. For a go-a-head man, and one whom we believe wishes well to the countrv, commend us to Mr. Macandrew ; but, at the same time, he must not be allowed to have matters all bis own way, or his excess of zeal may lead us into difficulties. The present unfortunate position of the French is an illustiation of how careful the body politic should be before it places the management of its affairs into the hands of daring adventurous spirits, and how necessary it is that, when in power, thesedaring adventurous spirits should be controlled, and not allowed to have things entirely their own way. The example of France should be a lesson to the world, and one that from which even the smallest and most isolated communities might profit, Mr. Macandrew’s zeal on behalf of the Province has not abated, and, guided by a wise and judicious Executive, the best result will undoubtedly follow. When the war in Europe is concluded, both combatants will lie financially so prostrated that the assistance of the moneyed classes of England must be sought to revive their exhausted and used-up energies Money must be had for France and Prussia at any price, and English capitalists will be more likely to lend to those nations than to the colonies, for the reason that their capital will be invested nearer home, while the security will be preferable to that of a dependency which may at any time cease to be so. This will make the negociation of a New Zealand Loan a matter of great difficulty, and we question if, under present circumstances, one can be negociated. It therefore behoves us not to place much dependence\pon outside aid, but to husband well those resources we do possess, and not neglect minor local improvements for gigantic public schemes, the carrying out of which •is extremtly improbable, for reasons

that the means to do so ato not within our power. The question of roads promises to be a difficulty again this winter. For months past scarcely a shovelful of earth has been removed to keep them in repair on the Goldfields, and they are now in such a dreadful condition that, even were the necessary repairs commenced to-mor-row, they could not be made good before the winter. Out of all the immense revenue the Provincial Government has received from the Northern Goldfields the most insignificant sums have been expended upon roads. We ought to have had a per feet highway long since between Palmerston and the Dunstan, and thence to Queenstown; but, in fact, this main line of road is becoming worse every year, until it will become so bad that travelling will be next to impossible in inclement seasons. This is a matter demanding the earnest attention of goldfields constituencies, especially in this portion of the Province, and whoever may be elected to represent us in the Council, the subject of roads must be of the first consideration.

It may be as -well to remind our readers that on the 31st instant expires the last opportunity that persons not already on the Electoral Rolls will have of placing their names thereon. The late elections for the General Assembly, as well as for the Superintendency, go to prove that a large number of persons do not possess the suffrage through not having been enrolled. This is a great oversight, amounting almost to criminal neglect, and wo really do hope that all those who take an interest in the land of their adoption will not lose the opportunity that now remains of becoming electors. To the mining community this is a matter of great importance. In the election for Super intendent many owners of miners’ rights were precluded from voting because they neglected to place themselves upon the Rolls, relying upon their miners’ rights for votes. In the great majority of cases the disappointed voters possessed the necessary qualifications, and were

disfranchised because of an omission. A proper form of claim for registration may be obtained from any of the Registration Officers, which, after being filled up, must be signed in the presence of an elector for the same district as the one for which the claim is made or before a Justice of the Peace. The process is so simple that no one neglect being enrolled. Every succeeding election that takes place goes a long way to show the increased interest taken in political matters. We have become a settled community now, and the business of gold-mining is pursued with as much avidity and systematic application as any of the more ordinary daily avocations. A miner is not a common laborer, even let 'his earnings be ever so small. He is a speculator, and as much a business man as many of our leading citiisens, notwithstanding that he plies the pick and shovel to obtain a living. He is in the indepenhent position of employing Lis own labor. The nature of his calling .demands greater physical exertion than were he perhaps working for others, but this is one of the exigencies of his position. Considerable mechanical skill is also required in gold-mining, and when we come to consider that, to be a successful miner requires a display of ability anti oft-

t’mes self-denial much in excess of what is usually required of the ordinary working classes, it is not to be wondered at that the vote of the miner becomes more and more an object of solicitude by' aspirants to political honors. United, Ihe Goldfields can play an important part in shaping the destinies of the country. We have valuable interests to conserve and which must be protected, and we have only to exert onr strength to make us respected. We therefore repeat the admonition of the great Irish Liberator—Register ! Register ! Register!

The official declaration of the poll for the Superintendency took place on Tuesday last. The numbers for the candidates were Macandrew, 3,242 ; Ileid, 2,950 majority for Mr. Macandrew, 292. Both candidates addressed the electors at considerable length.

The telegram libel case, Regina v. Barton, has been before the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Dunedin, for soma days. A large number of witnesses have been examined, and the matter is at present postponed to await the result of an application in the Supremo Court to stop tho proceedings.

The Escort will not leave on Monday, in consequence of the Governor being expected to arrive during the week. At the meeting of contributors to the Dunstan District Hospital, held in the Public Library, Clyde, at 3 p.m. on Friday last, Messrs. Holt, Naylor, Parks, and Welsford Were elected members of the Committee.

By advertisement in another column it is notified to owners of stock running on the Clyde and Alexandra Commonages, that the assessment for the half-year ending March 31st, must be paid within a week.

The “Provincial Government Gazette” of the 22nd ult. notifies that Block XXII, Arrowtown, and section 38, Block Yll, Shotover district, known as the Warden’s quarters reserve, will be offered for sale by auction, at the Public Library, Arrowtown, at noon, on Wednesday, the 15th inst., at the upset price of £3, subject to a valuation of £ 140 for house and other improvements erected thereon.

The usual quarterly meetings for the purpose of granting publicans’ licenses, etc., will be held in the va ioual isensing Courts, throughout the Province on Tuesday next, the Tt.ii inst. The parties at work on the recently discovered reef at Thompson’s express themselves highly satisfied with their prospect, and if the specimens obtained are any criterion of the richness of tho stone they have good reason to do so. In the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Clyde, on Tuesday last, before Vincent Pyke, Esq, R.M.; James Hazlett, Esq., J. P.; and J. D. Ferand, Esq., J.P.—An information against James Patterson for selling liquor after hours was dismissed.—Robert Westwood for steaHng a vegetable marrow from a garden, was sentenced to seven days’ hard labor.—James Carey was charged by Hugh M ‘Bengal with using threatening language. After hearing the evidence of plaintiff the Bench bound over both parties to keep the peace towards each other for six months.— There was one civil case, viz., M'Kessar and Sutherland v. Shanley and Kelly, to recover the sum of £54 18s. (reduced to £SO to bring it within the jurisdiction of the Court) balance due on a contract for the erection of a Roman Catholic Church, at Cromwell. Plaintiffs stated that defendants agreed to have the case heard at Clyde. Defendants did not appear, and judgment went by default. The Court then adjourned. In the Warden’s Court, Clyde, on Tuesday last, the cases Feraud v. Holt, relative to the right tothewateroftheWaiKeriKevi Creek, were further adjourned for a fortnight. —Mr. Warden Pyke not having come to a decision whether he would hear them or not.

Mr, James Patterson, of this town, having secured a lease of ground from the Waste Land Board for the purjio.se of brick making, intends to commence operations immediately. The ground he has leased contains an extensive bed of splendid clay for briekmiikmg purposes, and as the price Mr. Paterson proposes to chargeis moderate there is every likelihood of a large demand for bricks setting in. At a meeting of the friends and supporters of Mr. Donald Reid, held recently in Dunedin, it was resolved to raise a testimonial to that gentleman. Applications for the office of Town Clerk will be received by the Clyde Town Council till 7 1p.m., on Wednesday next. The salary is £35 per annum, with 10 per cent on the water rates.

At the forthcoming Diocesan Synod it is expected that Bishop Jenner’s claims to the Bishopric of Dunedin will be finally settled. We have been informed that there is a likelihood of the Rsv. Mr. Xevill being nominated Bishop of Dunedin.

We understand that the Rev. Mr. floss intends resigning his charge in this district. During his ministrations here Mr. Ross has made many friends, who will simcerely regret his departure. Marshal Bazaino has published a pamphlet explanatory of his being entrapped in Metz, and the cauaes of his capitulation. The election for President in Mexico is about to come Von. The aspirants for the office are the celebrated Juarez and his Secretary of State. The present election is considered most important, inasmuch as should Juarez be elected the Constitution of Mexico will be assimilated to that of the United States.

The steamship Lady Young was recently wrecked, while on a voyage from Brisbane to Sydney. The passengers and crew wore saved.

The Western Maori Electoral District lias returned Wi Parata. The numbers polled were : Wi Parata, 25S ; Kemp, 18G ; Meti Kingi (the former member), 100. The engines of the Airedale have been recovered. Her hull is now fast breaking up.

Dr. Hector arrived in Clyde on Sunday evening last, and left on the following morning, cn route for Dunedin.

At a meeting of the Otago Institute, hold in Dunedin on the 21st inst, Mr. J. T. Thomson read a “ Description of a simple contrivance for economising the current of the Molyneux, (Jlutha, or other largo rivers, forgold sluicing, town supplies, and mill power.” Mr. Thomson applies the principle of the marine screw for the motive power, and estimates the cost of his apparatus to raise a Government sluice head per minute, a height of seventy feet, at £297 10s.

Those who have received copies of the questions proposed by the Water Supply Commissioners are requested to transmit their answers as soon as possible, to Mr. Haughton, addressed to tho Resident Magistrate’s Court,' Queenstown. Packets so addressed will bo exempt from postage. A rumor obtained currency in Clyde in the beginning of the week to the effect that his Excellency Sir George Bowen would visit tho Northern Goldfields some time next Week,

A man named Hughes very hearly lost his life last Sunday in the Molyn'eux. He swam aeross the river for the purpose of securing a plank on the other side of the river, and, in coming back again, got into a dangerous eddy. He was compelled to let the plank go, and with considerable difculty managed to reach the shore. For the honor of representing the Kawarau constituency in the Provincial Council only two aspirants have yet declared themselves viz., Messrs Carnaby and Hughes. The booth for the forthcoming Black’s Races will be under the management of Mr, MTntosh, of the Black’s Hotel, No. 1, who, we have no doubt will amply satisfy all who may patronise him. A long felt want a Frankton has been supplied by Mr. Anderson, of the Frankton Hotel, who has just completed commodious and substantial cattle yards for the convenience of parties travelling, and auctioneers.

A cricket match will be played on the 23rd inst., at Clyde, between eleven selected from the Lakes and Dunstan districts There are a number of the Knights of the Willow of considerable prowess in both districts, and a tight contest may therefore be anticipated. A gentleman who recently visited the Lakes District informs us that the prosperous condition of Queenstown is amply evidenced by the numerous and substantial improvements now being effected in that town. Mr. Eichardt has commenced to rebuild his premises of stone. This, when completed, will render the Queen's Arms Hotel one of the most commodious and comfortalde as well as handsome buildings in the colony. The stabling, which has been recently built will afford to the steeds of visitors accommodation equal to any procurable in the Province. Powell’s new stable and repository, opposite the hotel bearing his well known name, is an erection which would reflect credit upon a town of much greater pretensions than the “ City of the Lakes.” When completed we will give a description of them. Hallenstein and Co’s new store is being rapidly proceeded with, and When finished will be an ornament to Ballarat and Rees streets. Many other minor improvements are taking place, the enumeration of which would take more space than we have at our disposal in our present issue. The nomination of candidates for the representation of the Dunstan district is fixed for the 14th inst., and the poll for the 22nd. There are three candidates in the field— Messrs. Shepherd, Worth and Niven. The former will probably secure the majority of votes in Clyde an 1 Alexandra, while the two latter rely principally upon Black's and Dry bread, and will probably sp lit the votes there.

The applications for land upon Messrs. M'Laren, Gregg and Go’s run, sent into the Warden’s Office last week, turn out to be premature—the laud in question not having been proclaimed open for selection. The ] rumor that it had been thrown open probably arose from the fqpt that the lessees of the run appliedlfor their pre-emptive right to G4O acres. As we said last week, the number of implications sent in is incontrovertible proof that tbe land in question is wanted for bona fide settlement, and in tbe face of this we cannot see how any “progressive” Government can have the conscience to further delay taking the necessary steps to cancel the depasturing license A fire occurred at Napier, on the morning of the 19th ult., destroying seven houses. Captain Baldwin, Deputy Sub-Commis-sioner of the Government Annuities and Life Insurance Department, is engaged in delivering lectures for the purpose of advocating the claims of the scheme. A feat in the building line of true Yankee smartness was performed at Half Ounce Gully, in the West Coast, a few days ago. The “ Grey River Argus ” says“Caviehavich’s Hotel, which is a weather-boarded building with a shingled roof, 25ft. wide by 35ft. in length, was taken from its site in the lower township and rebuilt and opened for business at the upper town, some distance away, in six hours. The roof was sawn into sections, and the frame, piles and all, were carried away bodily, by a number of volunteers, who made short work of the removal.”

Last Saturday morning we published the following as an “Extraordinary“Queenstown, February 25. —Dr. Hector and two of the crow of the Clio arrived here last eveuing, by the steamer Antrim, from the head of the Lake. They bring the intelhgancc that, on Friday, the 17th of February, the Clio, with his Excellency the Governor and Commodore Stirling on board, was visiting Bligh Sound, and as she w r as steaming to sea, about 5 p.m., when about hall way down the Sound, she suddenly struck a sunken rock on the port bow. The rock entered her aide, causing her to leak badly.J The lead was being hove from both tlufl starboard and port bows at the same time, the starboard lead gave no bottom, and the port lead gave nine and a half fathoms of water. A s the water was gaining seven inches per hour on the and steam hand pumps, a sail was got round the injured part, and it was expected there Was no immediate danger. The head of the vessel was run ashore, where the sand-flies were very! troublesome. A boat’s crew, with Dr. Hector, ivas despatched at 11 o’clock the same evening for assistance, but owing to the bad weather, they did not reach Martin’s Bay until Sunday last at noon. Dr. Hector and the two men then proceeded overland to the head of Lake Wakatip, and arrived hero last evening at seven o'clock. A telegram avas at once despatched to Wellington for H.M.S. Virago to proceed to the scene of the disaster. Dr. Hector left in a buggy for Clyde at six o’clock this morning, and the men left in the coach.” The Virago left Wellington for the scene of the accident at 1 o’clock on Saturday morning.

Divine service was held at Clyde, last Sunday, by the Rev. Mr. Coffey, of Queenstown.

We observe from the “ Gazette ” of the 14th inst., that the total amount of money orders issued at the various offices in the Colony during the quarter ended 31st December was £37,123 7s. 7d., as against £32,314 17s. lid. for the corresponding quarter of 1809. The amount of orders paid was £22,814 18s. 2d. for the same quarter, as against £19,631 11s. Od. during the last quarter of 1809. How it is that so many newspapers are know'n to be posted by people in England which are never received by those to whom they are addressed is explained by the lowing statement of a correspondent of “Shippers’ Monthly Circular:—“An regulation has lately been put in force the General Post-office, in London, which all papers for abroad must be within fifteen days after the date of tion, or they will be thrown aside, and, if not bearing the address of ’the sender, Cwill be destroyed (it is even proposed to reduce this time now to seven days, but at present the fortnight is allowed), so that if a friend makes Up a monthly file—say of four copies of any paper—for the regular despatch by the Southampton mail, the whole would be lost, as, two of the dates being beyond the limit, the packet would be kept back. I had occasion to visit the Dead Letter office a few days after the despatch of the ‘heavy’ Australasian mail, and there found niuo sacks of detained newspapers from that mail most of them evidently from relatives and friends here to those they loved in the antipodes—papers that would interest, instruct, and delight the recipients, had they have reached them, but which are now reduced into pulp at one of our paper-mills, because of their being a fortnight old" M any here, ill England, are unaware of this regulation, as it has only been enforced a few months ; and, therefore, colonial friends would do well to mention the fact to their correspondents in the old country in their next letters.”

Irish emigrants to America have long been honorably distinguished for the manner in which they save up, and send money to their friends at home. Irish men and women in New Zealand, we learn from the “Freeman,” a new paper published at Greyraouth, are equally deserving of praise in this respect. “During the year IST 0, » says the journal we have named, “the large sum of £43,000 was remitted to various parts of Ireland by Irish colonists, the whole of such remittances being in small amounts. Three fourths of the senders were women, and the money so sent was chiefly to assist and support aged parents, and to pay for the passage money, in part or in whole, to bring out brothers and eiders, and even more distant relations. Gas-works are now in course of erection at Greymouth-