The Dunstan Times. FRIDAY, MAY 2G, 1871.

Dunstan Times, Issue 475, 26 May 1871, Page 2

The Dunstan Times.

FRIDAY, MAY 2G, 1871.

Beneath the Rule of Men entirely j ust the pen is mightier than the sword

The Mining Conference has recom mended the adoption of some rea ly sensible and practical.measure, many of which wi 1 supply long felt wants, as well as remove existing difficulties. The establishment of Mining Boards has for years past been advocated by the mining population, but tbe movement has not met with success. The necessity for such has been acknowledged by all classes of the commanitv, politicians included, and we believe that had it not been for jealousy, or fear of the influence possessed by these bodies in official quarters, Mining Boards would long since ha"e been an institution on the Otago goldfields. We will allow that the powers wielded by these bodies may be applied either for good or evil, consequently Mining Boards are viewed with jealous eyes by political a-pirants and adventurers who dread nothing more than a combined and systematic organisation arrayed against them, and on the principles of pure selfishness, the advantages of a most useful Goldfields institution have been ignored. The present Mining Conference may be taken as fairly representing the miners of Otago, and the Government having called it together, are, to a considerable extent, bound by its recommendations. With Mining Boards established, or we will say, one Board for Otago, the clauses in the goldfields’ Act relating to tlye discretionary power of the Wardens might, to a large extent be abolished, and perhaps wholly so The advantages to be derived by this are manifold, as the goldfields’ Acts could be so simplified, that they could be interpreted

Bench, by any magistrate sitting on the who need know nothing of mining, nor possess any special or technical knowledge respecting it. In fact, Wardens and their concomitant accessories might be abolished, -and the grievances of the miners redressed by the ordinary course of law. The miner is as order loving as any other citizen, in fact police statistics go to show that he is more so, and with this fact before us, there can be no valid objection against the miner setting his disputes alter the fashion of other people, as well as making laws to regulate the details of his occupation. There is a considerable amount of technical knowledge required in gold mining, and this is possessed only by the miners. They are therefore best calculated to make laws affecting themselves, lea ving them to be carried into effect by the properly constituted authorities. The system of Mining Boards has worked well in Victoria, where it has withstood years of trial, and there can be no doubt but that tire same established here must prove of considerable advantage. That an annual statistical report on mining should be laid before the General Assembly, and that the Government should grant bonuses for the discovery of quartz lodes, as well as for other valuable discoveries are recommendations worthy of adoption. Wwitlr rarpect to the first, too much inlo’mation cannot be given as to the state of the goldfields, their capabilities and yield of gold. This, besides favoring the introduction of capital, will assist in bringing a population from home, and settling them upon the lands, either upon the gold fields or adjacent to them. Were the advantages of our goldfields more fully known, they would certainly attract a greater population to them, and it would be much better to see them occupied by Europeans than hordes of Chinese, who, like locusts, strip the , land, leaving itbare and desolate. Rewards for discoveries are better than paying prospectors- We lose nothing by rewarding those who add to our wealth or means of increasing it. The

very fact of the discovery supplies the means for a reward, and is an incentive to others to go and do likewise. Referring some time previously to the Conference wo predicted that good results would follow, and it is satisfactory to learn that such is the case.

The success that has attended Cap* tain Baldwin’s endeavors on behalf of the Government Annuities and Assurance scheme is highly gratifying, and indicates that the public are fully alive to its advantages. We have not space at command to point out in detail the advai taoes it possesses above those offered by the ordinary run of Assurance offices, and it is a most un. necessary to do so, as they are so apparent that the/ can lie perceived on very slight consideration. The scheme appears to be based on sound piiuciples, and the security of the Colony is pledged for the payment of the policies. No insurance company - mutual or proprietary—can offer such security, and this ought to secure for the Government scheme the preference of assurers There can be no question but that it is imperative on men having wives and families to make provision, so that those depending on them will not be left wanting, should they he deprived of the services of their bread winners. The Government of the colony having provided the means whereby this can. be d me, those neglecting to do so will be guilty of almost criminal neglect. The Annuities portion of the scheme offers great advantages to those desiring to make provision for their old age. All information can bo procured at the various district Rost Offices, where applications for policies are received. We may mention that there is no md-tapeism in the arrangements for granting policies Everything is conducted in a simple and inexpensive manner, and every facility for taking advantage of the scheme is given. The Government were peculiarly fortunate in their selection of Captain Baldwin for the post lie occupies. They could not have found a better man in the country, and his energy in carrying out *lie objects of his mission, has led to the scheme attaining great popularity wherever he has visited.

The Provincial Council met yesterday. A telegraphic report of tire proceedings will be found in another column. We are compelled to hold over a quantity of matter, in consequence of a number of advertisements coming in at a late hour. We may mention that we are making arrangements to give more more reading matter, by setting ibe advertisements in smaller type than at present. We are compelled to hold over letters from our correspondents at Mount Benger. Alexandra, and Black’s ; also a communication from Queenstown. We are given to understand that Mr. John Alloo, the Chinese Interpreter who some few months hack was transferred from Mount Ida to Clyde is to be again shifted this time to Quenstowa. On Monday evening last, a meeting was held in the Church of England, to consider an offer made by the P.evd. Mr. Beck, Wes'eyan Methodist of Tevh t, to periodically visit Clyde, for the purpose of holding Divine Service. About twenty gentlemen were present, and Mr. G. Cla'k was voted to the chair. Mr. Beck was a'so present. The Chairman in explaining the object of the gathering, fail it must te borne in mint that it is in contemplation the settling of an Episcopal an Minister in the District, and necessarily any understanding come to with Mr. Beck would he hut of a temporary character The Revd. Mr. Beck said he had been given to unerstanl that correspondence was already on foot for the establishing of an Episcopalian Clergyman, he had no wish to change the views of the people, a a Christian Minis er he thought >t his i.u’y to make the‘proposition for his visiting the district, and he woul I understand it would he o"!y temporary ; if any arrangement with him were completed he should not attempt pro elytmg ; he could not say how frequently he would he able to visit, that would rest with the office hearers of his own chapel, and anggostel that this meeting communicate with that body. Messrs. Barlow, Ings, Cambridge and others addressed the meeting, after which t was resolved that a committee of the whole he formed to take action in the matter, amt that Mr. Inga he Secretary. Mr. Eankin asked if Mr. Beck could make it convenient to visit Clyde every second Sunday. Mr. Beck replied that he could make it convenient, hut it was v ry questionable if his Congregation at the Teviot would he willing. After some further disc ssion it was arranged that the meeting stand adjourned till Monday evening the 29th instant, at th : public library. A very painful accidentoccurrel on Friday last at Alexandra, to a man named Robert Cainell. Itappe:ir3 that Cnnnell, who was in Mr. O’Regan’s shop, volunteered his services to help to turn the sausage machine which was in motion. Upon reaching for the handle he over-reached himself and in Vling thrust his lett hand between the moving cog wheels. The machine was instantly stoppe 1 and the hand extricated, most terribly lacerated, three lingers being completely smashed and the sinews of the arm all dragged and torn away. The nnfortunato fellow was immediately taken to the Dunstan District Hospital, where every attention was bestowed.. Fears were nntertained that amputation would he necessary, hut wo learn that that step will not be imperative. From the Mount Ida Chronicle., we learn that the telegraph poles have been erected as far as Kyehurn, arid .the work is tempo-rarily-stopped for want of poles. '

The Sue? mail, which arrived in Dunedin | on Saturday last, brought but one day’s | later news from Europe than arrived by the I Wonga Wonga, via Honolulu. Under the I heading “ English News” will be found the j extra intelligence and some few details not previously published by us, The Timaru Gazette, says :—“ A correspondent of the Peebleshire Advertiser writes as follows on the departure of emigrants selected from that district:—No small stir was created here last Monday evening, by the departure of twenty persons, including a few children, for Now Zealand. The railway station was quite crowded with those who had to see them away. Mr. Burns, a descendant of our National Bar’d, is about to commence the manufacture of tweeds in that new colony. The party have all been mill-wo: kers, and are quite conversant with the different departments of tweed making, and are to be employed in the new trade in that distant land. The ship in which they set sail is the Helenslee, and she carries with her the "machinery which the trade requires. The fitting up of it is entrusted to Mr. John Small, whose long experience in the business fits him for the practical part of the work. He is the right man in the right place. The undertaking is new in that infant colony, and we fondly hope that Mr. Burns will reap the reward of his spirited enterprise, and that the emigrants will have no cause to regret that they left their fatherland for their adopted home, into which, under a Superintending Providence, they will, in a’few months, beushered. The manufactory’referred to above, is about to be started in Otago. Thej Provincial Government of Nelson have .introduced a Bill into the Provincial Council for'amending the Land Law of the Province, so as to admit of the sale of the land upon deferred payments. The Bill provides, not only for the sale of land on deferred payment, but for leasing. The principle of the Bill appears to be as follows : —I hat an applicant for a lease, declaring his desire to purchase, may require the Waste Lands Board to assess the land he applies far rt its value for sale, and, on payment of ten per cent, per annum on such value for fourteen ’years, he shall be entitled to a Crown grant of the land comprised within such lease ; provided that no greater quantity of land than two hundred acres shall be so leased to any one person.

We understand that the office of G Id Fields Secretary of Otago, at present held hyC. E. Haughton, Esq., M.H.R., as a political department, is to he made permanent, and that Mr. Haughton will receive the appointment, in which ease he will retire from political life.

The Grey Hirer Argus says: “A good story comes from the Waimea, The Warden’s Court at that place, of course, boasts of a W arden’s Clerk, and the gentleman bidding that position has an excellent opinion of himself; so much so that he got up a petition from the miners of that locality in favor of his being made a live Warden in place of Mr. Warden Schaw. This little arrangement did not come off, and the Warden’s Clerk remained Warden’s Clerk still, But he had been in the habit of sitting ‘on the Bench’—that is to say, in a place alongside the magisterial seat—and, on the appearance of that most excellent Magistrate, Mr. Warden Price, the following colloquy is said to have occurred : Warden, observing the Clerk sitting by his side : ‘ Dear me, h’—m. Have you been made a J.P.j?’ Clerk: ‘ N—o, sir.’ Warden : ‘ Then please take .your seat below there’ (pointing to the body of the Court below the Bench). Clerk : '"But there is no table !’ Warden : * Then get a carpenter to make one immediately : or get a b° x —get a box, sir !’ And the ambitious clerk, of course, subsided, The sequel is, however, better than the story. The following day a brother of the offended Clerk, who appears to have been in the Indian army, in the capacity of a surgeon, called upon Mr. Warden Price, and the scene which occurred is related to be as follows : —Brother, presenting card : ‘ Sir, —1 am Mr. , an officer in the Indian army ! You have insulted my brother, sir !’ Wrardeu : ‘ Lear me—h’m ! I have also been an officer in the army. Bailiff ! Turn this man out.’ Mr. Price’s motto is Nemo me impune laccesit.” A meeting will be held in the Clyde Public Library on Monday evening next at 8, p.m., to hear the report of the < ommittee appointed to arrange for peiiodieal visits of the Rev. Mr. Beck of Teviot. The public are invited to attend.

Wednesday last, being the anniversary of Her Majesty’s birthday, was observed as a holiday in Clyde, Cromwell and Alexandra. In Clyde an enterprising speculator organisedatrea for the children, andanamateur performance by Christy Minstrels in the Toma Hall, and followed by a dance for the adults met with a fair amount of success. At Cromwell there was a grand picnic which was attended hy nearly all the reside ts of that township; and at Alexandra the children were treated to tea, buns, &c.

* Captain Baldwin, the Sub-Commissioner under the Government Life Assurance and Annuities Department, delivered a lecture at the Clyde iS'chool-house, on Monday evening last, to a large and attentive audience, The Mayor of Clyde, Mr, Hazlett, occpied the chair, The lecturer ably handled the subject of life assurance , and, in comparing the Government scheme with private companies clearly showed the advantage of tha former. The lecture, which was interspersed with a number of anecdotes, the moral of all bearing on the subject, was well received, and a hearty vote of thanks accorded to the lecturer. We understand Captain Baldwin has been very successful, securing in every district a large number of assurers. Captain Baldwin notifies in our advertising columns that he will deliver a lecture, on Monday evening next, at Alexandra. Mr. W. J. Barry will sell by auction, tomorrow, on the premises, the Reefers' Arms Hotel, Log.vtown, with furniture, &c, ' j

Vincent Pyke, Esq., R.M, and Warden we understand held his last Court at Black’s on Thursday the 18th instant. It is not yet officially notified who is to perform the duty in future. In one quarter Mr. It. E. Field is mentioned, in others Mr. 11, A. Stratford.

Arrowtown is to have two newspapers— The Arrow Advocate and the Arrow Observer. The former was first in the field but the latter got its plant on the ground before its antagonist. The prospectus of the Observer will be found in our advertising columns.

Mr. W, J. Barry’s sale of horses, which took place at Cromwell, on Wednesday, was largely attended—many of those present coming a considerable distance. In consequence of a high reserve having been paced im the horses there were not many disposed of. Mr. J. C. Chappie disposed of, by public auction, on Friday last, a r Cromwell, cn behalf of the Government, the wholo of the town sections offered by him, comprising fourteen in all. The upset price was £5 per section, and the amount realised was £llß, or an average of £8 9s, 3£d, per section.