CLYDE TOWN COUNCIL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 464, 10 March 1871, Page 3

CLYDE TOWN COUNCIL.

THE LAKES,

A mooting of tho Tow ,1 Council was held in the Town Hall, on Wednesday evening last. Present—Tho Mayor (James Hazlett, Esq.,) and Councillors Patterson, Hueaton, Welsford, Naylor, Hastie. The business to be transacted consisted in the appointment of a Town Clerk, for which office there were five candidates, viz,, Messrs. Barlow, Kerr, lugs, Stanbrook, and Wallace. It was resolved to decide tho matter by ballot which resulted in there being three votes each for Messrs. Kerr and Barlow. Tho Mayor gave his casting vote in favor of the former, who was therefore declared. The Council then adjourned.

(ntOM OUII COHUESPONDEXT.) Queenstown, March 7, I have to notice a great improvement this week in the appearance of our local luminary. The “ Wakatip Mail” was issued on Thursday last in the respectable form of u “ double demy” sheet and I it is a credit to the district and to its enterprising proprietor, \ The harvest is pretty nigh over and as a rule the farmers have good reason to he satisfied. Both the steam thrashing machines are in full work and the new wheat is being carted to the mills. There is considerable competition to buy wheat this year, and I shall not wonder hut that the price will reach six shillings per’bushel before long—five shilling ''ami five and sixpence are the prices just now. I think you may look fotfyi rise in the price of flour as these extreme prices will not pay, at present rates, considering at the best that flour sells very slowly and there being no possibility of a profitable export trade. Firewood is becoming exceedingly scarce. The demand for the steam thrashers is so great that none can be obtained for domestic purposes. It is ten thousand pities that the Government refused a supply of the Norwegian immigrants. There is any amount of work for them iu the forests up Lake Wakatip. They are just the v, ry people we want. I believe that the whole of them might have found profitable employment in chopping, splitting, and sawing wood.

The roads.„ii* tli.e district are now entirely neglected l\v the Government. Not one farthiW Imp been expended upon them for months. The Shotover Bridge will stand a very good chance of being washed away the first flood, unless the works commenced for its security are completed. One of the piers is already undcrmned. A little bridge at Lake Hayes is falling to pieces for want of a few nails being driven into the flooring—this neglect of the expenditure of half a days work for one man will cost probably one hundred pounds in less than a fortnight if the damage is not repaired. The district Road Engineer pays us a visit, now and then hut as he travels with his eyes shut we might as well have avi it from the “ man in the moon”. Ido not assert that he can execute works without money or men still wanton destruction of public property might be somewhat stayed, especially where a pound weight of nails would prevent it. DRYBII E A D . (FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.) Mr. T. L. Shepherd, as a candidate for the Provincial Council addressed a cr iwdod meeting of the electors here on Friday evening last, at Mellor’s Gnnstan Creek Hotel. Mr H. Branch was voted to the chair, and briefly introduced the candidate to the meeting. Mr. Shepherd thanked these dec ors for the almost unanimous support given him on the occasion of the election for the House of Representatives, which he considered mainly instrumental in securing his return. He men gave a brief outline of his past four years experience in the Provincial Council, after which he spoke at con siderable length on the principal political lonics of the day, amongst which, I may mention the reduction of the gold'export duty, the establishment of a mint, the General Government Financial scheme, Water Supply for the Goldfields, a better tenure for water rights, and a liberal laud law. The candidate stated he would use his most energetic efforts to prevent the further influx of Chinese, and in reference to the desirability of having a local man to nWesent them in the Provincial he said, being returned for tlie general Assembly for their district he was their local man fortlie next five years. Ateranswering a number of questions apparently to the satisfaction of those present, a vote of confidence proposed by Mr. B. Charles and seconded by Mr. Puncun M'Callum, was carried almost unanirnoi s'y, there being only two dissentients. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings. Mr. Shepherd also addressed a meeting at Mellor’s Ballarat Hotel, Tinker’s gully, on Saturday evening last, Mr. Holmes in the chair Mr. Shepherd went over the same ground as at Dry bread the previous evening, and was equally well received. .After questions had been asked and answered Mr. Hugh Devine proposed that Sir. Shepherd is a fit and proper person to represent the Dunstan district in the Provincial Council, Mr. Waters seconded the motion. An amendment which I could not catch was proposed by Mr. M'Cullough and seconded Mr. Coats. It was put to the meeting as a proposition adverse to Mr. Shepherd. Only five hands were held up for it, while for the vote of confidence there must have been fifty. After a vote of thanks had been accorded to the chair the meeting separated. I said in my last letter that Dr. Niven was the favorite hoic. The reappearance of Mr. Shepherd on the scene has however altered the aspect of affairs, and lessened the Doctor’s chance considerably. The weather appears inclined to breakup. The long drought has induced the supply of water to its mini mum—in fact I never recollect seeing it so scarce before.

Messrs M ‘Lean and party have just ■washed up as also have Branch and party—both I am happy to say with satisfactory, results,

ALEXANDRA.

(from ouu couuesposdext.) In matters political the people here, to a certain extent, are displaying a commendable amount of activity. The registration of persons qualified to bo on the mil is bebig rapidly proceeded with, and, if the energy of those now exerting themselves in this direction does not flag before the 31 st of March, the names of very few entitled to have a vote will not be on the roll. As far as regards the election of a member for the Provincial Council nothing has been done. I believe a requisition was extensively signed and forwarded to Mr. T. L. Shepherd, M.H.R., but that gentleman not having vouchsafed a reply, we do not know whether he really intends to contest the election for this district or stand for the Lakes. Whether lie stands or not, I don’t think the electors here will trouble themselves much in the matter The usual monthly meeting of the School Committee was held last week All the members were present, and Mr. J. C. Chappie occupied the chair. After the minutes of the previous meeting had been read and confirmed, the Chairman reported the receipt of ■ I 95., fees not accounted for the previous year. The correspondence was read—the outward approved and the inward received. The Secretary was directed to request the Schoolmaster and Schoolmistress to keep a hook rt merit, to guide the Committee in awarding prizes. Among the letters received was one from Mr, Hislop, stating that the letter from the Alexandra Committee, asking for a sum of money for the purpose of enlargin'* the school-room, would be laid before the Education Board and would receive his support. Some other necessary business was transacted, and the meeting adjourned. The late rain was eagerly welcomed by owners of races deriving thensupplies of water from high altitudes, and has been generally beneficial. The dredges up at Mutton-town Point have this week done very well, those securing the largest quantity of the precious metal being the Galatea and Kearsago. The latter got off the run of gold, but they intend to follow up their qhl track, which will probably lead them'oiuto it again. The dispute between Beattie, and Company and the owners of the Hartley Dredge has caused the cessation of work by both operations will not be resumed mftil the Warden has given his decision in the matter. On the west bank of the river, the enterprising proprietors of the Earns cleugh claim (Messrs. Simmons and Knowles) have been compelled to knock off work tlirough striking more water in their paddock than they anticipated. They are now improving their wheel and putting on an additional pnmp, and expect to resume work bv Men lay next. Their paddock is at present stripped one hundred fret by seventy feet, with a splendid prospect t r mghout, there being any amount of dirt and an average result of five and six grains to the dish. The energy and pluck displayed by this company is highly commendable, and I hope the fickle dame will reward their exertions. Messrs "Noble and party and Roberts and party are about to commence paddocking on Poverty Beach, and Felix Faisandiere is about forming a party to take up a claim next to Simmons and Knowles On Frenchman’s Point, the Hit or Miss Company have taken up Kitt’s old claim, and are setting in vigorously to work. Kitt will shortly sot in at the Half-mile Beach. He fs now preparing trucks and waiting for water. On the Manuherikia River, about a mile above the township, Russell and party have had one or two very good good paddocks lately. The late heavy rain flooded them out, but they have now about repaired damages, and are ready to go to work again, Blackwell and party, whose claim is seven miles nj) the Manuherikia, still continue doing very well. A company lias been formed in Alexandra for the purpose of bringing in a race from the Gorge, to come along the Teviot road to the Manuherikia, commanding all the auriferous terraces in that vicinity. 1 will bo able to give you a fuller account of this race in my next letter. Until last week the slnicers in Conroy’s and BiKcher’sGullies were rather short of water, hut the downfall on Monday has given an ample supply. At the former place, I am informed, excellent stone is still being procured from the reef, and that all who have seen a prospect are of opinion the yiel'l from the quartz, when crushed, will be something startling. Messrs. Iversen, Foxwtll, and party have about completed their tail-race through the gorge. They anticipate being well repaid for their arduous labors, and appear to have good reason to do so. Dawson and party are getting over the damage they sustained from the last Dig flood, and in a very short time will he actively at work.