The Dunstan Times. FRIDAY, JUNE 9, 1871.

Dunstan Times, Issue 477, 9 June 1871, Page 2

The Dunstan Times.

FRIDAY, JUNE 9, 1871.

Beneath the Ruloof Men entirely just thocExis mightier than the sword

Regularly ns the Provincial Council meets, that troublesome body, the unemployed, make a demonstration. It has become a chronic infliction those -meetings of the unemployed, who, for some cause only known to themselves, manage to find labor scarce at this 1

particular period of the year, in preference to any other. Mr. J. G S. Grant was once the champion of their Wishes, hut, has apparently given the job up as a bad one. Mr. C. E. Haugliton lia'' now espoused the cAhse off this ill Used body, and lays upon the table of the Council a series of resolutions passed at one ot their meetings, setting forth the great amount of distress existing in Dunedin and outlying districts, recommending that immigration shou d be stopped, and a commission appointed to enquire into the condition of the working classes, also, that the Government should at once start public works, as a means of affording employment to the unemployed. The resolutions culminating with the hope that this course, “ may arrest the storm looming over head, and which may at any time burst in thunder.” We Wish , Mr. Haughtou joy of his new proteges, hut we are seriously afraid he will not make political capital out of them, their cause is decidedly a bad one. There may or there may not be 'much distress existing in Dunedin; unfortunately we have no opportunities ot judging of the matter, but we are really of opinion that all this distress is in a great measure attributable to tho faults and indiscretions of tne unemployed themselves, who cannot be made to believe that in a newly settled country !;ke this, actual producers are wanted, and not so many to fatten upon the industry of others. For instance, there may be a large excess of carpenters, but that arises from the fact, that there-are more people to build houses, than there are houses required.—Surplus labor of this description must therefore find some other means of employment, and instead of complaining to the Government, these people might find plenty of work for themselves by turning their attention towards the native forests, for notwithstanding that the supply of carpenters is largely in excess of tho number wanted, the revei se is the case with respect to those engaged in the conversion of a growing tree into a shapely plank or roughly hewn fencing material; wood splitters and sawyers are in demand, and earn high wages all over the Pror vince, their labor being to a large ex tent protected by the unwillingness of what is style.l the unemployed to leave the towns and seek the country. There are a great many complaints and grumblings about the Chinese; what would be the case, if these industrious people came here as competi-, tors in the labor market, instead of finding work for themselves in developing the natural resources of the country? The working classes would have something to complain about then. Stopping immigration is selfish 111 the extreme, it would be protecting labor with a vengeance; this commodity is dear enough already, so dear, that were it cheaper, employment would be twice as plentiful. We fancy that immigration increases employment rather than, decreases it. Wages have scarcely fallen anything during the last three years, yet the necessaries of life are very much cheaper. The condition of the working man has therefore improved? his earnings ’ are not diminished, and and now will procure almost by one half more than they would at the time we are speaking about. Were a commission appointed to inquire into the condition of the working man it could only come to- the conclusion that he is an individual to be envied. He earns good wages, lives well, is pelted by the Government and continues dissatisfied. Should such a commission be appointed, if the members thereof will come up country and start some work where it is necessary to employ labor, they will be able to finish their report readily—we believe they will recommend increased immigration as the only means of saving the country. “ The storm that is looming over ns, " and in clanger of bursting in thunder, can have no reference to unemployed labor. Any catastrophe of this shape that might occur would be, that there was no labor to employ, every industriously in dined man had turned “ boss ” for himself, while those that did not want woi-k, prayed daily that they might not be compelled to find it. We can assert without hesitation, that no one need want a meal in Otago that is willing to work Althounh the town is overstocked with laborers, it is the reverse in the country. On tho gold fields, wherever systematic labor is anplied, success is attainable.

The large influx of Chinese into the Province is being very generally can-

vassed on tho goldfields, and many and various are tho schemes devised to get rid of this Celestial incubus. We object) vtpdn the sairie principles as other people, to an excess ot the Chinese element in our population, believing that they will grachmlly elbow out a large number of Kuiopeans'; but we really do believe that the proposed remedies for the evil are not the true ones. It is unconstitutional to impose a poll tax upon the Chinese or’ natives ofany othercountry. To refuse them miner’s rights or do any other act th.at would result in a special impost upon these people won Id be equally Wrong. The fact is, the only objections that can be urged against them are that they practice virtues which, un fortunately, we do not possess to such a large degree as themselves. The difficulty becomes tliefefore a hard one to deal with, and we can only mend matters by looking at it boldly in the face and at once acknowledging that we shall be beaten unless we can do battle against the intruders with their own weapons. To do this we must b? more industrious, more sober, be satisfied with, lessearnings, live within our incomes, and, above all, adopt a better system of combined labor. This last is, perhaps, our greatest stumbling block. It is, -to allappearances,"harder to manage a party of four or six Europeans than one of fifty Chinese. The days of everyone being his own master are over, and more complete schemes for co-operative aiid combined labor are indispensably necessary. In making a tour lately through the Lakes district, where the miners number two to one of their European confreres, we were astonished by the'works undertaken by the former. They were actually taking gold in large quantities f>oin places that had been abandoned for years by Europeans as impracticable to work or unremitnerative Parties to the number of fifty were laboring and living together, all directed by one head, and the whole working harmononsly. -Success cannot help following I such efforts, and it at once occurred to us that, to hold our way, we must - do the same. The system adopted, we ' ought accomplish wonders. No difficulty could present itself but what could be got over, and, instead of being flightened at the Chinese, the Chinese would be frightened at us, and give us a wide berth. If European mineis arc only making small earnings they must learn to live within them. It is time enough to eat the cake after it has been earned. Attention to tins golden rule has been the architect of many a Isrgo fortune, while it is as applicable on a small scale as a large one. The | sale of so many mining claims and water rights to the Chinese by Europeans is greatly to be deplored, but it cannot be prevented, and our miners would think it most unjust were such even attempted. It must pay to sell out to’ Chinese, or miners would not :lo so ; and, as they generally pay very good prices for their purchases, it is clear that gold mining is to them an exceedingly remunerative speculation. Iftheycando so well at it surely, after so many years of practice and our boasted strength and knowledge, wo ought to do infinitely better. Any unpiejvdiced pe.ison must see where there is a party of Chinese working everything is done upon a system almost as elaborate as the details of a bee-hive. This is the chief secret of their success, and, to successfully compete, we must adopt simi'ar means. No special or class legislation can assist us.

“ My competitor,” exclaimed a political orator, has told you of the service he rendered the country during the late war. Let me tell you that I, too, acted an humble part in that inemotable contest. When the tocsin of war summoned the loyal masses to the defence of the national flag, I, fellow citizens, animated by that patrio-ic spirit, ■which glows in every American bosom, hired a substitute, and the bones of that man now lie bleaching on the banks of the Rappahannock. An American paper says :—“A new thing for brides is a plain gold bracelet, which fastens will a lock and key, and which the husband places on her arm at the altar, locking it, and placing the key on his watch chain. The bracelet cannot be removed without the husband’s assistance, and thus both are constantly reminded of each other.

Jenkins says :—The profusion and color of her hair would lead one to look upon it as though it were spun by tho nimble fingers of the easy hours as theyglided through bright June days, whose sunny rays of light had been caught in the meshes and were content to go no further.” Joe Bowers expre -set the same thing by saying, “Her hair was awful rod.”

We are requested to intimate that after Monday next, Cobh and Company’s coaches will leave the booking office, Clyde at 5, a.m., instead of G, a.m., as heretofore.

Fitzhorbort in opening the Wellington Provine,al Council recommended local taxati >n, the construction of roads, and the support of schools. He suggested borrowing £ 100,090 on the special security of railway reserves, the sale of land on deferred payments, and recommends assisted immigration. | At the Criminal Sessions, Himes was sentenced to twelve months’ imprisonment, Binney and Gallagher, nine months imprisonment. M’Leod and Cairns’ cases stand over till next seasons. Mervyn’s motion affirming the desirability of road boards subsidies being extended to goldfields, was negatived by 20 to 14. The Claud Hamilton’s news is unimpor'ant. The Yic'orian Budget is still under consideration' meeting more unpopularity. Infanticide is increasing. The breadstuff market is easier. Flour, £lO to £l7. The Committee appointed by the Building Society for that purpose, have agreed upon a code of rules to be submitted to a meeting of shareholders. Great interest is being manifested in the movement throughout the district, and all doubts that might have been enterta’ned of its success when it was first mooted, have been entirely dispelled. The rulestirawn up by the Committee are now in the press, and will bo circulated’shortly. .Robert Cannell, the man whose arm was severely lacerated by a sausage [machine at Alexandra on the 19th nit., died in the Dunstan District Hospital oil Sunday evening last.. The cause of death was exhaustion. The ceremony of the consecration of the 'Rev. S. T.sNevill, to the Episcopal cha'ge of the See ot Dunedin, took, place on Sunday last, June 4. The Bishops of Wellington, Ne’son an 1 Waiapu were present, and the church was well filled. The oath acknowledging the Queen’s supremacy was omitted, and instead of,the oath of due obe dience to the Archbishops, the following was substituted. --“ I, Samuel Tarratt Nevill chosei/Bishop of the Church and See ofjDunedin, do promise, and profess all due reverence and obedience to the Primate of the Provincial Church of New Zealand, and to his successors. ’, At the last meeting of the Dunstan District Hospital, it was. decided to hold air Amnion Bazaar in aid of the funds of the institution. We understand that the project hasjnet/considerable favor, and that there is every probability of it proving a great success. The only news 'received regarding the Queen of the Tha • es at San Francisco up to the time the mail steamer left, was, that that vessel was reported at Liverpool to be lost. Messrs. M‘Loren, Greig and Company intimate through our advertising columns, that all cattle on their run will be mustered on the 22, i I instant, and those not claimed by the following day, will be impounded. A painful accident befell a son of Mr. M’Connochie, of this town on Wednesday afternoon. The unfortunate [little fellow it appears was in company with a number of boys amusing himself w th; a Shetland pony. While ri ing it, he was thrown, and it is supposed the pony kicked him. However it happened, the boy’s arm was broken. -Dr-. Thomson was immediately in attendance and set thej'fracturod limb, and the sufferer is now "progressing favorably. The members of the new Government are Mr. Reid, Secretary for Land and Works ; Mr. Bradshaw, Secretary for the Goldfields; Mr. Bathgate, Provincial Solicitor, and Mr. Cut'cn without office. We are informed that Mr. John Alloo, Chinese interpreter, met with a serious accident at Queenstown, yesterday afternoon. The particulars have not been furnished to us, o.ur informant simply stating that the unfortunate gentleman was thrown from his horse and sustained a fracture of his collar bone. The mails for Great Britain, America, &c., via' Sail Francisco, will close at the Clyde Post-office on Tuesday, the 20th instant, at 10 o’clock p.m. The Mining Conference at the conclusion of its labors, presented a rather lengthy report to the Superintendent. It contains nothing more than has been published in these columns. Weunderstandthe Rev, M. Ross will shortly deliver lectures at Black’s and Drybread. The Revd. gentleman has chosen for his subject “ Literary Characteristics of some of the Past Centuries ” and his treatment of of it will no doubt entertain as well as instruct his audiences. The following is a return of lands and their classes in the Province of Otago (excluding Southland) on the 31st March 1871 : Area in Acres. Forest 1,421,000 Lakes 214,800 Barren 2,340,240 Agricultural and Pastoral 9,308,000 Total area of Otago 13,300,640 Area under Pas toral Leases 0,131,014 ~ ~ Licenses 310,500 ~ Agricultural Leases 50,702 ~ sold within Hundreds 1,035,020 ~ ~ „ Goldfields 4,628 ..... ~ „ pre- ) vmusly held under > 3,208 Agricultural Leases ) ■,, used within Hundreds 388,780 ~ of Hundreds 1,424,400 Included in the said land within Hundreds are 05,000 acres of forest, and 20,000 .acres of swamp. Of unsold land within Hundreds theto are about 80,000 acres of agricultural land ; 100,000 acres of forest, 4000 acn» of swamp ; and 205,000 acres of hilly, pastoral, and inferior lands. A man named Thomas M'Grath, was killed at Charleston, (West Coast), recently, by the tipping up of a truck.

The following verbatim rep rt of a scene in Court, “ not in ouhl Trclaiul,” is given by the Lyttleton Times :—Policeman (Irish of course) —The pris’ner was quite aisy ; h’o came of Irsowh ackar-rd. Judge (with a slight suspicion of the brogue)— Did ye say, witness that the pris,ner caine of his own accord or with r card? Police—Of his own akar-rd, your Honor (spelling it triumphantly) k-a-r-d, your Honor. Registrar(with more than a suspicion ofthe brogue)— Shure, your Honor, he mattes accard. (Laughter)Crittr (rank Irish)— Silence in the Coort Counsel for the defence (als?> from the land of praties)— Now, witness, ye were saying the pris’nerj came ov hii own. ae-chord ; what followed afther that ?

In an article commenting on Mr. Macandrew’s address on opening the Provincial Council, the Press says —“ The Provincial Council of Otago is by far the most expensive body PiNew Zealand. It costs about three times as much as the Council of any other province. It maintains twice as many officials and, pays them twice as large salaries, and-iu one session at least went so far as to set up a Hattsard. There is great i room for improvement in these respects; and the people of Otago will do well to impress on the members the expediency of beginning their retrenchment with themselves, and that there is no occasion for themH° imitate the somewhat ill-timed modesty of the Superintendent.”

A German’ correspondent, with a view of assisting by practical illustration to obtain an idea af the enormous amount of war indemnity (£200,000,000), which; France is required to pay, forwards the following to the Melbourne Argus, translatedJfrom the Adelaide German newspaper :—“ Take 04 English [sovereigns to be lib. weight, gives 1.390 tons loewt, 2qr. 2011)., and it would rcquire'2o railway trains, each of 14 trucks (containing 5 tons of gold ’for every truck) to tiansport the mass of gold, ’which again would fill a room of the following elimensions form a roll of sovereigns, counting 10 sovereigns to aninch, would require a length of 120 English miles andj 1500 ft. A smart cashier, ordered to count this sum of sovereigns, woiking twelve hourson each weekday, able to count sixty sovereigns per minute, would require ti ft ceil vears and eight weeks to accomplish his work. ” The expsnre of the Mining Cjnf6rence is put down at £363 13s. ” A , Collector,” writing in the Lyttleton Times, makes some]novel remarks. He says : —“ Your Presbyterian parsons don’t live in the country. The people of that persuasion] tell you how much they should like to have a resident minister, &e., but where the resident minister has been established the stipend has not usually been forthcoming, and [after a year or two’s struggle, the poor fellow has vanished ‘into thin air,[.-for all I know to .the contrary. Perhaps he was starved to death. I should think iQqhighly r probable. It takes a bi„ town to support a Presbyterian parson, and, the ministers appear to have found this out, for as far as I know there’is hardly out settled in a country_district in [Canterbury. The Scotch as a rule, you know, don’t get on in life (!) and of course they cannot give away -what they haven’t got. The Wesleyans have few ministers, hut many chapels. You drop acroasjtlieirugly, unpretentious-looking little buildings in all sorts of odd places, and but for them a very large' proportion of our country people would be without an opportunity of hearing service on the Sunday. They are the pioneers of order and decorum, and do great good, working with such materials as most readily come to hand. You mayjiee some of their preachers ’busy digging potatoes on a Saturday,'and walking many miles next day to do the work of that Master who does not [always pay [his servants their wages in this world, and who looks more at men’s motives than their manners, and is often enough known to do ve-y wonderful things with very rough toolsThe great difficulty with your country parsons, as a rule, is to keep them from meddling with the Government Schools. Their zeal in this direction is so great lhat unless they are carefully watched they are sure to break out, and when this is the case good-bye to peace and pleasantness.” A writer in the Otago Daily Times suggests thata Squatting Confercnco should be held.

In the prospectus of the Try Again Deep Lead Company, published in our* last issue, an error appeared—the name of the interim mafiager being printed Charles, instead of Peter Nicolson.

Mr. J. 0. Chappie sold hy auction, at Alexandra, on Monday, under an order of dissolution of partnership, an extended claim of three acres, plant and tail-race situated at the lower end of Butcher’s Gully, for £490. Three of the shareholders were thpurchasers.

By advertisement, which appears in another column, Mr. Pyke notifies, that for the future, the Court House and Goldfields offices at Clyde will be closed on Mondays and Thursdays ; that the Resident Magistrate’s and Warden’s Courts will be held at Alexandra every Monday ; and that the Warden’s and Gold-offic&s at Alexandra Will be open on Mondays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.