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Dunstan Times, Issue 480, 30 June 1871, Page 2

We received "a summary of the English nows, rid San Francises, by telegram, late on Monday night. It was published by us on the following morning as an “ Extra ’’ and is re-printed in another column of today's issue.

We remind citizens who desire tp posebss the privilege of voting at the election of our civic dignitaries that, - niiless their rates are paid they will he disqualified.

The entertainment given by the members of the Dunstan Masonic Lodge, in the Townhall, Clyde, on Friday evening last (St. John’s Day), passed off most pleasantly. On account of the extreme coldness of the weather not a tithe were pre ent of those who had received invitations ; yet there were about thirty couples, including some from, both Alexandra and Cromwell, present. The dancing having been carried on for.about two hours, the company retired to the supper room, and partook of as good a feast as it is often our fortune to sit-down to, Full justice having been done, the W.M., Brother A. Christophers, proposed the toast “The Queen.” The P.W.M., Brother Vincent Pyke, in a humorous address, proposed “ The Ladies,” to which Brother A. D. Harvey briefly responded on behalf of the fair sex. A general move was then made to the ball room, where dancing was resumed and continued until about four o’clock, when the company broke up, evidently pleased and gratified with their entertainment. By the census retura for 1871, we find the population of New Zealand amounts to 257,124, of whom 70,578 are resident in Otago (including Southland). The Wellington Independent says :—“The success of dredging on some of the Otago rivers has induced the West Cost miners to turn their attention towards that branch of mining, and it is proposed shortly to place a dredge, as an experiment, on the Upper Buffer. Mr. Lowther Broad is said to be the moving spirit in the affair. The frosty weather appears to have broken up, a thaw, with occasional light showers, having set in during the past two days. The dredge owners, who had all got in fuff swing, [ and were, in some instances, realising handsome returns, ook discontented ; but the sluicers, who are in the majori'.y are elated at the change. We cannot shut our eyes to the fact that the present system of dredging is not the right one. Hand power, when no great amount of drifting tailings had to contended with, was all sufficient; but now, when a large quantity is always in motion, it lacks the power. The day is not far distant when steam dredges will be introduced, and we hope our local men will not be dilatory, and allow strangers to reap the benefits of. we may say, the discoverers. A joint-stock company, we think, could be easily floated. A contributor at Queenstown supplies us with the following :—“Last Thursday skating commenced here. The large lagoon on the grounds of our respected citizen Mr, Huff being frozen over, that gentleman, after proving the ice, was fol owed, by the elite and democracy of Queenstown. On Sunday there was a great attendance of skaters and lookers-on from all quarters. The place had the appearance of a fair, and the fun was fast and furious. Consequently “ spiffs” were numerous, the fair sex com

ing in for their share, which caused much amusement. Up to the present only one accident has occurred. On Saturday, a boy named Bishop, went where he was told not to go,;and consequently went through the ice, and but for the timely assistance of Mr. Huff he would inevitably have been drowned. Now the ice is firm, and quite free frcm danger.

Nearly every,kind of out-dor industry has been suspended for the past week, on account of the hard frost. The farmers are unable to plough on account of the hardness of the ground, and the miners a a compelled to knock off owing to their waterraces being converted into ice. A lecture on American Humor, in aid of the ! adies’ School Fund, will be delivered by Mr, Vincent Pyke, in the School Room, Alexandra, on Monday, the 10th proximo. The cause of education and the well-known talent of the lecturer should secure a full house, and place a handsome sum at the disposal of the Committee of the Ladies’ School Fund.

The cost of the telegraph service in Marlborough, which is charged against the Province, amounts to ten shillings per head of the population ! So much for Provincial charges for General Government service, The English Mail via San Francfsco, will close at the Clyde Post-office, on Tuesday, the 4th July.

Captain Baldwin delivered at Nasehy, on the 21st inst., a lecture, on Government Life Assurance and Annuities. The Mount Ida Chronicle says.—The gallant Captain was enthusiastically received and no doubt will succeed in obtaining a number of proposals.

The Mount Ida Chronicle says :—'• Mr. Wilkie, late telegraphic operator at Roxburgh, arrived by coach on Tuesday, the 20th instant, to take charge of the office here, The apparatus had,' previous to the arrival of Mr. Wilkie, been put in working order by Mr. Logie, Inspector of Telegraphs in this province. The wires were opened .to the public ’on Tuesday, since which time there has been a consideratde interchange of messages between this and and other places. We hope, and we think we have reason to hope, and believe the telegraph to Naseby will prove successful. The post-office will not, we believe, bo handed over until the end of the month.”

A good story is told of the Chief Justice of Victoria when on circuit lately. Sir William Stawell finished the assize business at Beechwor hj. and walked into the bar of the Star Hotel to make arrangements for horses for his next stage. One of those drowsy persons who haunt-tavern bars rolled up to his Honour, and patronising'y expressed his approval. “Ah,” said he ‘ you’re of the right sort !” winding up with the hospia’ le "What' 11 you take to drink ?” ‘-ir William firmly but courteously declined the proffered refreshment ;but the man being so pertinpr cious and so generous offering “ anything from sodawater to champagne,” his Honor agreed to take some of the first mentioned beverage. That quaffed, the judge’s delighted friend added, ”Vou don’t know me; my name’s CtiddifoW. You gave my old ’ooman two yearn this morning, and by George, yo« sarved her right.” '

At the usual weekly meeting of the Waste Lands Board, held on 21st inst., the following business of local interest wastransacted. —Mr. G. F. Reid, for the occupants of sections on block XIV, Queenstown, applied to have a new series of sections surveyed upon the part of that block near the margin of the lake. It was resolved that the petitioners should be asked to survey the unsold spaces between the back of the property already sold, apd the lake reserve, and on wtirh their houses are situate. This survey being submitted to the Board, consideration would be given to their applications. Messrs. Smith and Anderson, for Nicholas and Co., Cromwell, applied for an increase of the

maximum price, to which the parties for whom they applied woubi be bound down to supply coal from the pit’s mouth. It was agreed that 20s. per ton be the maximum price to be charged for coal at the pit’s mouth during the next seven years, and 1/s. 6d. per ton during the remainder of the lease. Mr. Dick, for Mr. H. W. Robinson, applied that the upset price of the section occupied by him, and which was proposed to be sold, might reduced. The upset price was reduced to 2 1. per quarter-acre, the usual valuation for improvements to be also allowed. Messrs. Campbell and Lowapplied for a coal lease of five acres oti run 3. of C. The application was granted on the usual terms j also that it be surveyed by applicants, and that a rent of 51. per annum be] paid. The Provincial having given it as his opinion thatthe Boar ■ might sanction the transfer of coal and other mineral leases, it was resolved that transfers applied for should be granted ; the fee to be If. each. The following applications to purchase land, held by the applicants under agricultural leases, were made: A. H. Douglas, sections 68. 69, 70, 71, 72, 91 and 93, block 111, Sbotover. A. Brown, sections 9 and 10, block XI, Sbotover. James Cooper section 6, block XX, Sbotover. The applications were granted. Maps of blocks II and 111, mid-Wakatip District, submitted for approi a’ were approved of.

Now that srrlittle water is in the Molyneux the vast amount of debris lodged in its bed is plainly perceptible. Immediately at the back of the township a gravel bank in midstream has shown itself, extending fora distance of two hundred yards in length by from ten to two yards in width. This bank, which we believe is but one of many, throws he water much higher on the beaches than otherwise would be'the.case, and consequently a good deal "of golden ground along the course of the river is unapproachable. The tail jbank' alluded to has seriously affected the working of Mr. M Pherson s Clyde punt, as it extends to the original punt run. During the past week Mr. M‘Pherson lias been compelled to erect another wire rope lower down the river, so as to keep clear of the hank, on which with the original rope he used to ground in crossing. We believe, Mr.M ‘PLerson intends, if this course fails in its desired effect, to remove the punt to the rite, some five "hundred yards higher up the river, marked out some years since by the Government Dead Engineer. The dredge Keersage. working half-way between Alexandra and Clyde, has we understand, got on to some very good gold on Wednesday nineteen ounces was the result ol the day’s work, yesterday they netted twenty ounces before dinner. This and better will pay very we 1 1. The Daihj Times sagely informs its readers that iron piping, of Dunedin manufacture, is coming into use on the gold-fields, as a substitute for wooden fluming, and is said t« give universal satisfaction. On the same subject we may remark that it would give still greater satisfaction, and a very much larger trade would result, if the cost of it was more moderate, the present high price precluding its use unless in very extreme cases.