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Dunstan Times, Issue 468, 7 April 1871, Page 2

A puhlicmcetingof the residents of Clyde and the miners in its vicinity, convened by the Mayor for the purpose of with Mr. Haugbton, relative to the Govern, ment Water .Scheme, jHHwßlcl in the Public Library, Clyde,TSHHßpuing, the Mayor, J, HazleMi the chair. The notice given,vQaa exceedingly short, nevertheless the meeting was well attended. Mr. Haugbton addressed the meeting explanatory of the objects of bis mission, and Messrs. Fache, Symms, Fraser, Barlow, the Chairman offered suggestions. It was ultimately decided to hdjourn the meeting until Wednesday evenkm-pext. We regret the lateness of the honrVt Vliich the meeting was held, precludes us from giving more than a short notice of the meeting, but in our next issue we shall publish a full report. To day being Good Friday, the Government offices,banks, &c., throughout the Pro vince, will be closed, as also will most of the business places.

\ A public meeting of the residents of the Alexandra district, conv ned by the Mayor of Alexandra, (Theyers, Esq.) for the purpose of hearing Mr. Haughton’s explanation of his mission and to offer suggestions, &c., respecting the Government Water Scheme. The meeting will bo held at 8 o’clock tomorrow evening at the Public Library, Alexandra.

A late English iclcg'.am, published in the 1,4 Melbourne Argus,” states that the Paris indemnity had been paid, and the armistice extended till the 24th of February.

Strangers should bo very cautious in crossing the Manuherikia river at the Upper Ford, Black’s No. 1, as the dangerous hole wo alluded to some time ago is increasing in size. By keeping about a dozen yards above the old ford, however, all danger is avoided,

We are glad to chronicle that a movement for the establishment of a public library at Black’s has been set on foot. Wo may remind those desirous of subscribing that the Government subsidises moneys collected for libraries at the rate of £2 to £1 subscribed. We hope our Black’s friends will have a public library speedily established in their midst.

From Drybread we learn that, water being plentiful, sluicing operations are being vigorously proceeded with. A number of parties will wash up in the course of a week or so. A very handsome testimonial for presentation to Mr. Henry Branch, who recently left the district, is in course of preperation It will be completed in a few days, and forwarded to its destination. Mr. J. 0. Whifjc, the photographer, who recently visited Clyde and Alexandra, is at present pursuing his vocation at Drybread. Mr. White’s v* traits are really very excellently execute,' and those who have not yet had their likenesses taken should patronise him, las they will probably not have an opportunity again of having thorn done so well. At Tinker’s Gully the Excel Water-race Company washed up last wepk, with satisfactory results. The Blue Duck (Mountain) Race was completed last Veekpand its proprietors have set in to work on their claim. Norman and party and Hall and party are reported to be doing well. Salmon and party, at Scotchman's Gully, employ three wages men, and accounts say that they are doing remarkably well. At J Devonshire M‘Clnskey and party washed up fifty-two ounces last week in their sluicing claim. The tunnel in their other claim fell in, destroying £4O of timber. Lloyd and Middleton arc also doing very well, The crops at Black’s and Tiger-hill have been all gathered in, and threshing a il chaff-cutting is the order of the day in those districts. As a rule the yield has been abundant.

The success which has attended the opera - tins of the Ida Valley Deep Lead Company has been beyond !he anticipations of the shareholders. The total amount of gold obtained up to the end of last -week was ore hundred and ninety-four ounces, which shows an average o' an ounce and a half to the load. The old ground has been left, and the new ground driven into a distance of twenty feet, the dirt getting richer. As an instance of the richness of the ground j in places, a dishful of wash-dirt taken from I the new drive yielded twenty-eight pennyi weights of gold. A machine of stuff, con- | sisting of eleven small loafs, on Saturday ; last, gave thirty-seven ounces. The men who struck have all resumed work at the rate offered by the Company, namely,'Jl3 a week. A new lease has been appdikl for by Mr. George Johnston, it being intended to tl >at a company in Dunedin to work it, with •‘every prospect of success. llevell and party, who have some ground on the supposed line of the lead, are, we hear, about t commence putting down a shaft. It is likaly that a local company will bo formed t > take up and work the claim.

A communication from the Rev. Nr. ISTevil], Bishop Elect of Dunedin, respecting the appointment of a clergyman for the Clyde District, has been received by the Secretary to the Church Committee. The reverend gentleman stated that, if he cannot find a suitable clergyman previous to Ilia departure! for England, ho will select one there.

The Mayor of Clyde, Mr. Hazlctt, has received a communication from the Governr e it relative to the resolution passed at the public nr acting held recently on the L md Question, to the effect that, until the .Supreme Court has given its decision in the case of “ M ‘l.cod v. Macandrew,” respecting land on Bellamy Station, no steps would be taken in the matter.

The first instalment of Chinamen brought by the Whirlwind from the Flowery Land direct, passed through Clyde “cn route ” to the Lakes on Wednesday last. They were a tall muscular lot of men—vastly superior to the ordinary ruu of their fellowcountrymen.

The rate at which the Government proposes to remunerate Deputy Returning Officers and Toll Clerks is so ridiculously disproportioned to the duties they had to perform, that were it not a serious matter, we could scarcely refrain from smiling at the presumption or ignorance of the official who drew up the scale of fees. A deputy Returning Officer for the Nevis being required, a gentleman was sent from Clyde. He was absent four days, and for this service, according to the Oovemment rate, he is to receive the munificent sum of twenty one shillings, with “reasonable” travelling expenses, which in Government parlance generally means about half the actual amount expended. The deputy Returning Officer referred to had to get a Poll Clerk, and, there being no magistrate at the Nevis to swear him in, obtained one at Cromwell. The Government fee for Poll Clerks is half a guinea ! Another case wherein a shareholder! in a race, merely to oblige the “ powers that be ” consented to act as Poll Clerk, imagining that his would cover the fine, one pound, which hflL had to pay for being absent from bis claim. Many other instances could be quoted in which men acting in the belief that the Government would act fairly, incurred considerable expense, ann went to some trouble, but if the Government persist fn the mean course it has apt arently chalked out, they will not only not get paid for their services, but will lose the amounts they have expended. We may mention that when the deputy Returning Officer or Poll Clerk happens to be a Government official, he is allowed only half the usual fees. Fancy a man going from Clyde or Cromwell for five shillings and thrce-pcnce.

Tho official declaration of tho poll for tho election of a member of tbo Provincial Council for the Kawarall District was made on Friday last, at tho Court House, Cromwell. None of the candidate' were present, and after the Deputy Returning Officer, Mr. Baird, had gone through tho usual form of reading the mumbo's polled, which were the same as published in our last issue, a vote of thanks was accorded, which terminated the proceedings. The “ Oamam Times” publishes a rumor to the effect that Mr. Julius Vogel has been accredited to the Washington Cabinet by the British Government.

That the sugar beet can be successfully cultivated in the Dunstan district has been demonstrated by Mr. Worth of Tiger Hill, who from seed obtained from the Government seme twelve months ago, has grown some splendid specimens of the root. We deeply regret having to record the death ot Frank Rutherford, which melancho’y event occurred on the 271h of February last at Yokohama, Japan,? from small piox. Frank Rutherford was for many years connected with Cobb and Co., and was widely known in Oiago and Victoria. All who knew him wo are certain will deplore his untimely decease. Three hundred applications to be placed on tho Electoral Roll for the Dunstan dis’ricthave been sent in. For the Mnnn‘ Ida district, one hundred and fifty applications have he n sent in. Three of tho dredges have resumed working near Mutton Town Point, and satisfactory returns appear to be realised by the shareholders.

Wo are glad to record that the remarks made in our last issue respecting the repairing of the road between the Kawarau Gorge and (he Roaring Meg with mud have had a salutary effect, st-ino being now placed on that portion of the road. Between Olyne and Cromwell the necessary repairs to the road go on but slowly, the men employed working only about six hours a day.