FRIDAY, JULY 28, 1871.

Dunstan Times, Issue 484, 28 July 1871, Page 2

FRIDAY, JULY 28, 1871.

The curtain has at last fallen on the farce of “ Otago Provincial Legislation.” The leading actors in the gaudy and too palpable sham, h : de their diminished heads, brooding gloomily over their tarnished laurels. The wretched supernumeraries, who fretted their evil hour upon the stage, have doffed their tinsel robes of office, and slunk away, self convicted imbeciles, to the obscurity from which injudicious, or too confiding friends had led them. The bland and suasive manager has not one word to say in their favor, not a single excuse to offer for thenglaring inconsistencies. A deluded people vent their ineffectual ire, and discard all faith in the efficacy of provincial institutions At the late elections fond hopes were entertained by those who still cherished a respect for provincialism, that “ good men and true ” might be found, having the will and talent to faithfully and efficiently perform the duties of public office. It was argued that, even at the eleventh hour, it was not too late to remedy defects cf past mal-adminis-tration. An infusion of new blood, an abandonment of exploded theories, and a thorough cleansing of the body politic, would work wonders, and reinstate fair Otago as a model of healthy political constitution The electors, in their too sanguine trust in the efficacy of instant and radical changes, forget the merits, while remembering the failings, of their past represent a tives, and clamored loudly for new men and new measures • hence, throughout the Electoral districts of the Province, with a few honorable exceptions, the candidate who could most blatantly denounce the then existing Government, and volubly promise all sorts of possibilities and impossibilities, was the man of the hour, the chosen of the people. Husting pledges were at a premium ; and, for the time, both candidates and electors, all “honorable men” no doubt, seemed to forget that the giving or taking of such pledges was a direct violation of publickluty, a reckless disregard of all true principles of political economy. Hence scarcely a member of the Council entered ihe Council. chamber free to act according to the dictates of 'his own unbiassed judgment. The result we now realise in all its hideous deformity. Men wore entrusted with a share of political power, whose notion of polit’cs were at the best confused o v

erroneous, and whose principles, nay instincts, led them to think of little, save taking care of themselves. Many, doubtless, had honest andAudl-mean-iug intentions at the either from force of unwonted circumstance, or sheer lack of knowledge and per sonal influence of character, they speedily allowed their efforts to rate into a mere rule of thumb' policy of action. At times obeying with blind unquestioning faith, the dictates of wily leaders of party. At times, becoming help ! ess)y entangled by the dcsp’cablo tricks of men to whom place and pay is the “be all and end all ” of political e.iistancp, appearing before the public with a loud flourish of brazen trumpets, they havebut betrayed their own utter incompetency. Performing with clumsy effort, the petty roles assigned to th**m by their constituents their further energies have been directed to grasping with greedy hands the lions share of plunder from a well nigh exhausted treasury. The session has closed with scarcely a single beneficial result, save to convince an indig nant public of th“ir utter worthlessness Judicious legislation lias been uncared for, the pledge of previous govern meats ruthless’y cast aside; retrenchment has proved a mean sham, premised reforms a bitter delusion. The question arises. What is the alternative 1 Provincialism is evidently in the last throes of existence. The country will no longer be deceived by vain propositions and chimerical theories. Irrespousibility of action on the part of our questionable representatives in Council must give way to individuality rf action on the part of men who will, whi'e faithfully representing districts in which their own interests are centered have some re card for the.general good of their country. It has been often asked, why will not a better class of men accept seats in the Provincial Councils 1 We answer simply, because Provincial Councils revel in their own infamy. To affix the title of MP.C. to any honest man’s name has become a questionable honor. Blot out Provincialism as an institution. Give us in its stead Shire Councils with local administration of local affairs, and then, and not fill then, will good sterling men be found willing to accept the responsibilities of public office. The Browns, Joneses, and Robinsons of political life might then hide their diminished heads, and their vagaries iu the Council Chamber would no longer be a scandal and disgrace to the fair fame of the Province. On the advantages of Shire Councils, especially as affecting the gold-fields we may dilate in a future issue. The Ne.v Zea'and Gener.’l Gove uroe.it Genet's of the loth ir-.t. it co.tr ;,, s the nece'/r. 7 novee of ppplaatioV for leave to bring in the “ Civc’e Water Wo >» Bill, 1871.” Jt is also notified that a dely • evjfied transcript of the Erles of the “ Court Star of the Dunstan ” Foresters’ Society ha* been lodged whh the proper Beg’stnn-, under the provisions of the Friendly Soc’e.ics’ Act. 1867. We learn from a recent visitor at Tapanui tbrt so. - rb t’na >’s s’.’ 1 ! spreading t : re>e. One of f'e child en of Mr. AIVn. rhe publican is dead, and the oihe--* ? e st’’ l . saffe ir>g. The hcvse h:s been c’ostd i o prevent infection. A widow n&nreu BimGne. whose husband Intel v e ’ed, r’. o lost a c’ri'd. aod in another bni'.'v, s’x children a e a ll , in an extremely precarious state, geae-al gloom and desponde-'ey p - evails in the townsVp. A distressing accident cooingsd on the 14th instant rear EaWatl a. A much respected settler, name I Ferguson, w/s accidentally drowned whi'e t yiog to make his way on horr.eback from h's own farm towards that of an r ’glibcur In attempting to cross the Wa’tepeka Creak, then swo’len b' recent rains, the unfortunate man mistook tire cross-’ng, and horse and rides were suddenly plunged into a hole some ten feet deep. The horse found its way home and was discovered standing by rhe sto'-kyanl in the morni.'g, and after a long search the body of the hapless onnurwas dragged from the creel:. He leaves a widow and six young children to lam/no Ids untimely fate. The Mount Ida Chronicle w ites :—“ It will be with’n the vc';o' l ect : on of our readers that some twelve months back—we believe iu May, last year—the bag containing the ma'l from Kyeburndiggmgs w?s lost upon the ranges when being co rveyed to Nasehy. Every possible search was made at the time, but without effect, and a fine of 51. was inflicted upon Mr. W. J. Millar, the contractor, for breach of cantract. We are informed that the missing, mail was discovered on Friday last, on the ranges, by a digger living at Spec Gully, and forwarded the following morning by the postmaster, Mr. Wilkie, to the Chief Postmaster in Dunedin. As misfit have been expected, the bag was in a most rotten condition ; the letters and papers were also, with one or two exceptions,-in an equally unserviceable state. The way bill was not decipherable. / Dr. Haast, President of the Canterbury Philosophical Institute, has received a communication from Berlin to the effect that a German scientific expedition would shortly start on a visit to the pacific, and would probably visit Lyttelton.

We are informed that 1 indsay and par'y are busily pushing on with their race from the Leaning Rock Creek, to the gullies between the ranges and the Wai Keri Keri Valley ; not having been much delayed by frost or bad weather. The race, when com. pleted, will carry about two heads of water and from the prospects already obtained can hardly fail to prove a remunerative speculation. In fact, from the well known auriferous native of the gullies, it seems somewhat strange that greater efforts have not been made to bring more water on the ground. Twenty heads at least might be profitably employed in the direction indicated; within a few miles of the township). A buggy acc'dent, fortuna eiy unattended w-th ve j serious re u.ts, occurred on Wednesday a" ei-noon. Dr. Lurrowsmaa wasdilving a rather res.ive horse, and when eti the flat, the animal became unojao.-gab’e. The consequence was that man was th own out, the saaf.s broken, and ths vefcic'e otherwise iajaied. We regret to report a ssd accident that occurred ou board the Alabama, die Ige, on Wednesday afternoon. The men were all bushy at work, every one apparently in gcod health and sp'iits, wftn one of the company, Thoma-, Thoms by name; wlri'e wo-hiog at the windlass was seen fo suddenly stag and fallback wards. Hisiua es in’-iking ne had caught his finger-in the eogs of tne Mile;', or met with some other mischance ; ha-h ened to lie l ;* him, and then found that the pour feflow had been seized with a paralytic lit, and lest all power of rmnd and body. He was i < ken carefufly borne and metrical tssis.auce promptly obtained. He has a wife and small family dependent on him. By reference to our advertising columns it w be seen that the Rev. W. U. Reck, intends holding Divine Service at Clyde Church, on Sunday evening next, at the usual hour. Tmottgh unfo-rsceu circumstances he was unable to visit Ciyde last Sunday. We notice that our farmers are busily ca. gaged in ploughing their land, and pnepU-ug lor the com'ng season. There is not much new land broken up, but increased attention seems to be piaid to the manuring aud careful pvepa alien of ground already under cultivation. The river, which up to yesterday had been stead-!y falling, is now rising, and we fear that the recommencement of dredging operation r will be again delayed. As very I'-.le n'-i hao fallen during the past few days, toe sudden tiring of the river must be occrs’orcd by the meTtmg of snow on the low Iv’-’g ranges and flats a'ong the Kawarau. We are iofoiroed that last week the whole country above Edwa ds s punt, was vhick’y covered with snow, which, lay even on the beaches and banks of the river. A we 1 ! contested race came off on the race eou ss on last Saturday af erno.ui fora modest stake .of 51., between Mr. John Coxs’s Folly Leake and Mr. Colbngs’s HalfCase. The distance was once round the course, and the steeds were ridden by the weU know n jocks Sewn t and Bobby Sw. n. The nags kept we 11 together all round the course, uri-il the si.-.,'ght ninhi wa-13. ched, when then.v.e s'a d'iyi :, ew phsa-l ard won by about t '-ec ’sngihs. Ha'-Ca-t.a'. hough not ii good form aud suffering from s’ight laitua’r, (I’d h : s work rem.a-ka.bly wed, at the ha*r mile cl : st -1 e wou d show the lead to m iy of our local horse-. What’s in a name ? An adyei tisemont in the Oamaru Times notifies that a Mrs. Waterlcw is an .ious to take in washing. From the Daily Times Telegrams, we extract the following :—The new French Loan is popmla", and arrangements have been ma le to take up a large portion. M. Thiers says that the war with Germany cost France f.300,000,000. Thedeficit from* 1870 tolß7l, reached f. 1,631,000,000. One hundred and eighty thousand French prisoners are still in Germany. The Paris insurgents contemplated burning the London docks, as agrand lesson fo the middle classes in Europe. London, Liverpool, and Bristol were to be the scenes of their operations. It has been ascertained 'hat the chiefs of theintei national Clubs and English were amongst the rebels. A free trade league has been established at Versailles. Fifty thousand corpses have been discovered in the cellars in Paris, and sixty thousand lives were lost in the suppression of the Commune. A grand funeral of the clerical victims of the Commune took place in Notre Dame. The Archbishop of Paris died with the courage of a martyr. We have been furnished with some more lithographic drawings of the newly invented dredge and div : ng-bell combined, which ve shall be happy to show to any one interested in the matter. The principl *is a novel one, and in its details the plan seems to he remarkably ingenious. We do not, -however, clearly understand one or two important parts, although they are doubtless capable of satisfactory explanation, namely: the mode of working the bell, and getting the washdirt therefrom ; the overcoming of the inevitable difficulty of j removing «ix or seven feet in depth of constantly accumulating tailings ; and then, after such tailings shall have been removed for a space equal in extent to the area of the bell, thus formed, until it rests on or near the wash-dirt ; how the continually drifting mass of shingle in the bed of the stream; will be prevented from doting around the bell, an 1 thus impeding its easy hauling up again. Some more explicit information on these - md other little points of working details, would bs generally acceptable. As the-plan is patented no possible harm can arise from giving the public that full practical information which practical men, and especially minors, expect to get before they unreservedly recognise thomeits of any novel invention. -

The speculative holders of the claim in Cooper’s Cullp, from whence indications of coal were lately obtained ;’ tire persevering in their attemot to strike the seam. They have put down a shaft, some twenty-five feet in depth, through a bed of yellow c'ay, and are now working in a strata of soft pipe clay or cement. As yet they have little water to contend with. The champion pedestrians who were reported to have intended making a tour through the Otago up country districts, have travelled westward. Austin is at Hokitika where Bird will shortly join him after leaving Christchurch. Speaking of a recently advertised match at Christchurch, the Canterbury Press, says : “We hope, for the sake of the crrdit of Christchurch, that it will be a very long time ere we are again called upon to chronicle such a disgraceful fiasco as the so called twelve m-’le champii n race -which took place at the Plough Inn, Only one of the champions put in an appearance, and Bird ran off the distance himself, doing it in one hour, sixteen minutes and fifty seconds. In the British House of Commons, S>r 3. Lawrence lately e’icited a statement that it was a common practice, to a very large extend to kiln dry and repack tea and coffee in bon- 1 , which had been submerged in salt water, and dispose of the same in the colonial tra’e. This may probably account for the brisk demand for ‘correctives’ generally observable af er “ tea fights ” in this portion of Her Majesty’s dominions, A parcel of abont 90 1, worth of gold has been received in Sydney from the recently found diggings at Pueho, New Caledonia. The Government haa r e imposed an export duty of 2s. 61. an ounce on gold. A favourable opportunity has not yet been obtained for testing the precise value of Puebo gold. The mining population would appear to be small. The folio-ring is a par ion of a letter recently received by a resident in Greymouth from New Caledonia:— The mines (to commence with) are nothing. There has been no more gold-bearing groan'd found since the first discovery, hut the old mines are still remaming very rich. The country is magnifleen’. It is in many T espects*simi)a'in its product■ ons to those of Mauritius, Bourbon. &c. and will in a few years become a magnificent colony.” The Southland Times reports that freight is being taken from Dunedin to Queenstown, via Clyde, for SI. per ton, and says— The charge pa : d fr m Win',on to Kingston is 4 1. 10a., and if the Dunedin men can afford to do the carriage for 81. , and pay punt charges, *.c, we are afraid ths Southland carriers will have to come down in their prices if they intend to maintain their prestige of'the traffic. The Times does not give its authority for this statement, which we are afraid is somewhat premature. An earnest effort is being made in the Tuapeka district to establish a county or shire upon the basis of the Stafford measure. I he Evening Staroi Auckland publishes a no'e from a gentleman in that city who rays : “ I have seen in some opposition papers in Wellington , a statement that the Hon. Julius Vogel had forfeited his interest iu the Caledonian Ciaim for nonpayment of calls. I have seen the hooks of the Company, *nd have seen the receipt for Mr. Vogel’s divi ’euts on fourteen shares, ICIOI. to this date, and moret) follow. If he sslls out now he can clear 3500(. or more on his interests.” TELEGR APHIC DESPATCHES. peu greville & co., reuter’s agexts. Dunsclin, July 27, 4 p.m. John Gilh.es, late registrar, died on the 22nd instant, aged seventy years. A young man, named John Brabner, residing at Port Calmers, and John Hamel, cabman, have both died suddenly. A man named William Huff,, a hawker committed suicide by cutting his throet.— An inquest was held, and the jury returned a verdict of temporary insanity. The s.s. Rangitoto has arrived with news up to the Isth instant. The excitement caused by the Nunawadding affair couiinucs owing to further disclosures. A woman las died from the effects of chlorofo m, while undergoing a surgical operation. The quantity given was only forty drops. Bendigo Mao !as been presented with a purse of seven hundred sovereigns. The Echo oner, Waterman, has been wrecked, but no lives lot. Floods in Canterbury have done seven thousand pounds damage to the bridges. A rise again in Caledonians, they arc nowfirm at 1451. Mr. Moorhouse has resigned the Registrar Gmera'ship on private grounds. M‘Donald, the landlord of the Wanganui Hotel, Wellington, that was recently destroyed by fire, is arrested on a charge of murder. The Jane Sands from Hong Kong has arrived with three hundred and forty Chinese. Another shipment of four hundred and fifty is expected in a few days. One thousand seven hundred are to come this year. A child named Henderson, living at Tomahawk has been burned to death. Julius VogeJ h a * mada arrangements with the Imperial Government, whereby so long as tbe'Colony spends 200,0001. annually on public works, it guarantees that a million of debentures may accumulate in the Bank of England, without interest at the convenience of the colony, while the Colony can provide for its own annual wants out of the unguaranteed loans. The guaranteed mi lion in reserve will raise its ere it, It is also said that Julius Vogel has nearly completed arrangements with large capitali-its for the construction of the railways. ’ • '

THE HOSPITAL BAZAAR. A stranger dropping in * promiscuously at the Town Hall on Wednesday everting last would naturally enough have opened his eyes in astonishment, and if given to the use of c stomary slang, would have asked his nearest neighbor in wondering accents, —What’s the little game ? He would have beheld a good tempered crowd of excited individuals, eagerly contending for the possessing of waifs and strays, from an infinite variety of articles, collected in the centre of the hall, looking as if some good fairy tale had been suddenly realised, and odds and ends from every corner of the globe heaped together in admirable confusion. Moreover he would have heard the lightsome sound of chinkling gold and silver, and the crisp rustling of bank notes, handed with cheerful alacrity to the attendant money changers. His preconceived impressions of hard times, and scarcity of the circulating med’nm, would havequickly vanished ; and if, by any chance, he had ever heard an ill-natured whisper that Clyde was on ? it last legs and dreading impending col'apse, he wou'd have instantly scouted the idea as a baseless slander. The bazaar and auction sale in aid of the Hospital funds proved in every sense of the word an immense success. The gifts sent in were really valuable ariices. Marketable -commodites that needed only showing to attract eager purchasers. To attempt a detail of the collection would be an endless task. A selection from every stock in the town ; ducks, geese, poultry, and eggs from every farm-yard in the district; sheep, lambs, pigs, bags of oats, heaps of potatoes, joints of meat, baskets of vegetable, piles of cakes bon-bons, and fother toothsome delicacies; row upon row of “ bottled comforts ” from the familiar Jock Stewart, to sparkling No. 2., and odds and ends innumerable were th-re The lad'es of the district bad vied with each other in friendly rivalry to produce chocce specimens of ski'ful reedlework ; little knick rucks had been culled, j with no niggard hands, from amid many 1 household treasures ; the humblest inlividual had given some little mite, as an earnest of good in ent. Business commenced by Mr George Fache mounting the rostrum and submitting the first article to public competition. Bidding speedily became br sk, and gift after gift was knocked down at satisfactory prices. He was succeeded by the veteran ‘Jack Barry’, who was received with cheers, and at once excited the risible faculties of his friends by acha aoteristic appeal on behalf of the amiable insti- ’ tution. Under his quaint and persuasive eloquence business sped merrily, and goods and money changed hands with increasing rapidity. Mr. Maubrook then appcare as Knight of the hammer, and by his short, sharp, and decisive iactics drew forth another welcome tiibute to the treasury. By ten o’clock any previous doubts as to the financial success of the affair were banished. Quiet beis were offered that 40/. had been realised, then 50/., then CO/.; and quiet nips were partaken'' of, and success drank t ■ Clyde and its surroundings. The Hall had become crowded with visitors, eachof whom, ere leaving home had remembered the precept, * put money in thy putse. ’ The ball was kept merrily rolling until the small hours of the morning, when the last article j was knocked down, and the cashiers well j nigh weary of their duties, reported the >at‘sfactory sum-total if over 100/. We reed not atiempt to paiticu’arise any of the gifts among the multi'ar'ous collect on, ns it is tne intention of the Committee to publish a full list according to usual custom. The best i hanks of the community are due to the Hospital Committee and their assistants for their untiring exertions. It would be ungal ant likewise to withhold a well won meed of pra'se to the ladies, who, by their skilful handiwork and cheerful industry, added much to the value of the store offered for competition. We may add that vhe very beautiful fire-screens prepared and presented by Mr. Vincent Pyke were withdrawn from competition and disposed of by A t Union, realizing to the funds of the Hospital some ten or twelve guineas. The proprietors of the Home Hews have notified their intention to discontinue sending that paper to this c douy via Brindisi. On every fourth Thursday, from the first of June last, a special adition will be forwarded via San Francisco for New Zealand. A costermonger has been fined five shillings and costs for furiously driving a donkey, which, according to his statement, was a most extraor diary animal. It was very high spirifel, continually running away, had a mouth “ like silk. ” and was so strung that it con'd lift a thivteen-stone man off his seat with its be. d. The confidence of nobi'ity of birth has rendered men ignoble, as the opinion of wealth makes some men poor. , Fancy is the canvas wheron we paint our wishes for that which we know we can never have. A pair of foolish lovers, whose parents were averse to their union, last week agreed to drown themselves. They jumped together into a pond on Clapham Common, hut the lady quickly repented, and called out “ Save my darling !” “ Save my darling !” A man rushed in and pulled both out, When charged at the police court the woman said they had determined to die together, and the mart declared he was sorry ho had done it, and offered to bet 100 to 1 that ho wou d not live another week. The magistrate said he should send them both for trial. The landlord of the notorious Collosseum Hotel in Bourke-street has been fined 370/. and ten guineas costs, for holding, m contravention of. the Licensing Statute, an interest in another hotel, known as the Mistletoe. Horace Bent has joined Barlow's troupe at Christchurch where they are reported to bo doing an immense bus nesa.

CLYDE MUNICIPAL ELECTION. Nomination of Councillors. The apparent apathy exhibited' by the ratepayers in returning, unopposed, Mr. Janies Hazlett as Mayor, for the fourth time, was, in fact, an expression of confidence in that gentleman’s ability to occupy the position, and as such it was oedupied by all concerned. During his term of office many important works in connexion with the town have been initiated and successfully carried th ough, and there is no question but that all matters which may hereafter crop up will be as wisely and energetically dealt with. It must nevertheless he borne in mind that the Mayor does not constitute the whole Council, and that, in the judgment of the Council, in a great measure, lays the secret of success. At the nomination of Councilors, on Wednesday last, abundant evidence appeared that a lively interest is taken in Municipal affairs, and let us hope the result of the poll on Tuesday next will show that the best men have been selected to act in concert with the Mayor who was unanimously placed in the chair. At the appointed hour, the Mayor, accompanied by the Town Clerk, attended at the Library Room, and, in the presence of about forty ratepayers, read the fulloWing nomidations : / North Ward. Mr. A. Brough.—Proposed by Mr. E. G. Ryan ; seconded by Mr. A. Moore. Mr. C. Hueston.—Proposed by Mr. T. M‘Morran ; seconded by Mr. B. Naylor. East Ward. Mr. B. Naylor.—Proposed by Mr. Donald MM’lierson ; seconded by Mr. J. Hastie. Mr. J. Cox.—Proposed by Mr. G. Clark seconded by Mr. W. W. Grindley. West Ward. Mr. M. Marshall.—Proposed by Mr. J. Cox ; seconded by Mr. J. Tyrrell. Mr. J. Patterson.—Proposed by Mr. W. Atkins ; seconded by Mr. W. Auckland. The Mayor here slated that as there were more than the requisi e number of candidates for each ward. A poll would take place at the respective polling booths on Tuesday next. The following gentlemen were then nominated to act as auditors for the ensuing year, Mr. W. Eames, and Mr. A. Christopher, and duly elected, there being no other candidates. The va ious candidates at this stage of the proceedings, briefly addessed those present, one and all promising to exert himself to ihe uimost for the benefit of the town, A vote of thanks were accorded the Mayor and the proceedings terminated. . A L EJX A N D R A . (l ROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.) The general complaint is ihe dul'ne's of the times. Business people and mineis alike comp’ain, and as far as I can see, there is good reason, but, with all grumbling, • there is a feeling of co fidence that the depression is but short lived, and that with the spring a more healthy state of things will come into existence. To produce this change, Conroys reef is looked to. On the prospecting claim the crushing'plant wi I be shortly erected and ready to work. Messis. Kincaird rnd Ce., the contractors contemplate handing it over in fu'l woiking order inthiee weeks ; by that time the frost will have vanished, and the work of d:sintegration will be able io be carried on uninterrupted. Of stone there are some hundred tons ready and it is reckoned from the great thickness, and the quantity in view, that thousands of tons wifi be laied before the next whiter - . It is premature to speak of the yield but from the general appearance cf the stone, the prospects obtained from small quantities era-bed by band and the numbets of dishes washed, it is thought ihat Corn two to three ounces to the ton, will be obtained. Besides the prospeotrng claim tberearesomefourorfiveothersirrwhiclrwork is be’irg oarri don with spirit. Butcher’s Ctdly reef is ly'ng idle, but I suppose when Conroy’s is at work and turning out its weekly cakes, the shareholders may continue the work they so energetically commenced : the prospect obtained—over atr ounce to the ton—is worth following. Among the alluvial miners there is nothing in particular doing; that is to say, there are no heavy finds, but, in most instances, good wages are being made. ‘ The Ovens Cornpany are busily engaged fixing their flaming across the Manuherikia river an 1 getting their auxiliary syphon pump in place, pro pavatory to working the claim >aken up by them on one of the beaches of the Mauuberikia. This Company, from the energy and perseverance they display in carrying through anv work they take in hand, deserve success, and it is to be hoped a good amount will be rne' ed them. The who'e fleet of dred f,G3 are ab work, but on account of the floode i state of the river, not any of them are doing a great stroke. Previous to the flood the Kcarsage and Ga'atea were netting some 40/. to 50/. a week per man. I have not heard lately what they are doing. A sad occurrence happened on board the Galatea on Wednesday list to one of the workmen named Thomas Toms, the poor fellow b ing seixrd with an paralatic fit ; as quickly as possible ho was removed to the hospital, whero * ho now lies in an unconscious state. The m nicipal elections have parsed over without a coot- st. Mr. Chappie was e’ected Mayor, unopposed, and Messrs. Theyers and Rivers Councillors in the place of Messrs. Finlay and Boresford, retiring by rotation. I would like to have given you a column on the elections, but, as it appears to be the fashion to be apathetic on this tonic, I will follow suit, saving telling you that nearly every one in the place including old .and young, have been attacked with influenza. I have got through my budget, so will say no more.

RESIDENT" MAGISTRATE’S COURT. CLYDE. Tuesday, July 25. {Before Vincent Pyke, Esq., R.M.). James Uazlett, Esq,, J.P., M‘Arthur v. Morrisey.—Adjourned for a wei k in consequence of the illness of plain--tiff. Cox v. Wil iams.—Claim 33.; 13s. 5d.. the amount of several 1. O. U’s. No appearance of defendant. Judgment for amount, professional fees, and costa of Court 255. Chiu Suez v. Corcoran.—The Bench asked when this case would be proceeded with. Mr. Brough stated that nothing could be done till John Alloo, the Chinese interpreter was in atten 'ance. The Bth of August was ultimately fixed for the day of hearing. } English v. Rennick.—Settled out of Court. Same v MTudoe.—Settled out of Court. Westwood v. Lewis.—Claim 50/. damage sustained from an assault. Mr. Wilson appeared for plaintiff, Mr. Brough for defendant. Both parti sin this suit are 1 awkers of fruit, and from the evidence adduced, it appeare 1 that on the 14th of June last, they met at Loga-town, and after some business transaction a dispute aros , resulting in the assault. R. Westwood, sworn, said—On the 14th of June last, 1 saw the defendant at Bendigo. I next saw him on the road to Logan town, whore he passed me, I afterwards saw' him at Logan-town, and purchased a case of oranges of him, I paid him the money, whereupon he called me foul names, and struck me violently about the face and stomach from the effects of the assault I was aid up eleven days. Cross-examined.—l had no altercation wh itever xvith defendant, he assaulted me without the slighte t provocation. Henry Weiller, sworn, said,—l am a storekeeper, residing at Logan-town, both the plaintiff and defendant were at my house on the 14th of June last. I did not see any hloxvs struck. Plaintiff called to me and said, don’t let the defendant strike me. I came to the front of the place and told defendant he should be ashamed of himself for striking an old mvi, Plajntiff at this tuns was bleed ng copiously from the nose, I afterwards notice 1 he ha 1 a black eye. Cross-examined. —They were quarrelling about some former dealings. From the ef. fects of fie assault, plaintiff was very ill, and had to stay at my place for more than a week. 1 Jane Weiller, wife of the former witness, said— saw defen lant striking at plaintiff’s face, but cannot say whether he struck him I saw bloo 1 on plaintiff’s face a short time afterwards. I heard them quarrelling, but cannot say what they were talkin' about. Plaintiff was very poorly for sons a days afterwards. ■ Dauie Lewis deposed—Am the defendant in this suit. On the 14th of June last I overtook plaintiff on the road to Logantown, whilst passing him his hor es shied' anl plaintiff fell miking his nose bleed. When at Logan-town, I sold him a case of oranges, after which we had a dispute over an old account due me by plaintiff, but win hj he repudiated. The Bench after consideration gave judgment for 6/. 55., 3/. 3s. costs of Court, and witnesses, an 1 1/. Is , professional costs.

WARDEN’S COURT, CLYDE. Wednesday, July 26. (Before Mr. Warden Pyke.) Hastie and party. Application for protection for a dredging claim. Opposed by J. Alexander and party, holders of a river bank claim. Mr. Wilson appeared for applicants and Mr. Brough for objectors. The grounds of the objection were that the dredging claim xvas xvorkablo, and that, to grant protection, xvould he most injurious to the sluiciers. Evidence was taken xvhich showed that in the dredging claim there were txvo distinct runs of gold, and it xvas a'tempted lo he shown that, by sluicing on t > the claim, the effect xvould be to create a strong current xvhicb would clear the ground of the tailings run on to _it. as also of the tarings already deposited. After some argument, the Wardm said there xvas more in the case than appeared on the surface, and he would rather the xvhole thing xvas brought before him in a more general form. It appeared the objection was not so much that protection should not be granted to the dredging claim as that the bank claim holders should not be prevented from xvorking. As the present was xvhat might be called the dredging season, be xvould grant protection for five weeks, during xvhich time the claim mi.ht become freed from the tailings that at present encumberded it and was the cause of its not being xvorked.

DISTRICT COURT, CLYDE. Wednesday, July 2G. • # In Bankeuptcy. (Before A. D. Harvey, Esq., Registrar.) William Williams, of Clyde, farmer and publican, filed a declaration of insolvency. Mr. W. W. Wilson, solicitor. The pretensions of the Nunawading Messiah have been fully exposed by a quondam believer. A man named Bignell, has been publicly lecturing against the false prophet and all his works. He avers that Fisher has gained many adherents through mesmeric attraction, he. having strong electro-biological power, and being able to'place many of his adherents very effccttially~nn (l Er its influence. Bignell states that Fisher had for a time deprived Dr. Guthrie Carr of this power. Mr. C. E. Jones of Ballarat notoriety has - turned lecturer, and says, it pays much better than politics. His subjects are the ' “ Four Georges ” and “Oliyor Cromwell.”

" ' VICTORIAN NEWS, There is an indication of a revival in mining industry in Victoria. The gold export for the first three months of the year being one hundred thousand ounces in excess of the returns for the same period in 1870. The returns for the six months being nearly eighty thousand ounces more than in the first half of 1870. Up to the week ending the 10th of May, the amount of Victorian gold exported was six hundred and sixty one thousand eight hundred and twenty five ounces, whilst the amount to the corresponding week in 1870 was five hundred and forty four thousand fivehundred and eighty eight ounces. The increase is accounted for by the opening out of anew field in Gipps Land, and the large increase in the yields of the Sandhurst mines. The Gipps Land Times, regrets that all doubt as to the permanent character of the new gold-field at Corner Inlet is now removed in the discovery of the reef so anxiouslv looked for. The men working in Messrs. Laugridge’s claim having suddenly opened a well-defined reef two feet sixinches thick, literally glittering with the precious metal. The leader upon which they had been at work for some days contained a vein of gold-bearing quartz four to five inches in thickness, from which had been taken some nice little nuggets of almost pure metal. The rumors of extraordinary finds of gold at these diggings, are confirnie I on the authority of Mr. District Surveyor Dawson- That gentleman says that he stood at the bead of some of the claims and saw many bucket loads of sriiff passed up in which the gold was thickly distributed and plainly visible ; and that so far as present indications go, the ground at Corner Inlet, as gold-bearing soil, fairly eclipses anything he has yet seen in Gipps Land. The population is stated to be little short of one thousand. The Inglewood Advertiser writes buoyantly of the prospects of the district: — “The -long season of depression through which mining on Inglewood has passed seems at last to be drawing to an end, and on every hand the most encouraging signs have lately appeared of the commencement of a new and more prosperous era. The Daly Lead Company have gone far to prove the existence of a d ep lead in the plain to the south-east of Inglewood, which may yet rival in extent and rhhness the far-famed leads of Ballarat. Rich stone has during the last fortnight been found in the Mor iing Star and Poverty lines at greater depths than any previous yobtaine I. In the Unity Company, March Reef the indications of a payable reef being found at a depth of nearly four hundred feet, are every day becoming more favorable, and in the Maxwell Reef Company’s claim prospers are equally encouraging. In the meanwhi’e fresh alluvial fiel s are being opened up in the vicinity and are attracting a considerable mining population. From the Australasian we learn that a properly-defined quartz-reef about three feet thick has been discovered at Tubba Rubba gold diggings, about si ht miles from Scbnapper Point, where gold has been got upon the surface for several years. Fins gold is seen in all the stone at present raised and the reef can be traced a considerable distance. The discoverers have been searching for this off and on for some years, having great confidence in the ground from prospects obtained in the alluvial, which showed that the gold had not travelled, its form being sharp and angular, and being attached to small pieces of quartz. The reef lies between sandstone and slate. Now that there is a greater supply of water the most of the alluvial claims up the Goulbourn River are looking remarkably well. A local paper speaks of several where the returns weekly average from 41. to 15/., and a likelihood of a continuance of the same th ough iho winter. The Ballarat correspondent of the Melbourne Argus, reports that th; newly discovered alluvial ground on the flat in Ballarat East has caused some degree of excitement as in one ortwoplaces it is reported to he very good wash. From Sandhurst the same paper reports, the returns of gold and and dividends are most satisfactory, and there is every prospect of their even exceeding the amounts at present returned and paid Among other items it records that Koch's Pioneer Quartz mining and Crushing Company have taken formal possession of the'r grmu l, Mr, Koch receiving from his broker a cheque for 33,000/., about the largest amount pai 1 in cash for any. venture on Bendigo, and this is only the half, the balance being payable in four months, bearing interest. The aggregate yield of gold from the Bendigo Reefs for the week en ling July 1, amounted to 5513 oz. The total amount purchased by the banks during the month of Jun ■ xvas 30,41C0z. 7dwt. Ifigr., a yield which we do not think has been often, if ever surpassed. The unusual circumstance of a collapse in the affairs of a Building Society has just occurred in Melbourne. The Melbourne Leader says : —Some idea moy be formed of the management of the institution from the fact that money had been borroxved at eight and a half per cent an I lent at nine and a half per cent. The Society thus accepting all this risk for one per cent, out of which had lo be defrayed the cost of management. One borrower obtained 3000/. for a penol of fifteen years,' the Society being 4000/. in debt to the bank holding all its securities. One of the worst features in the affair is the admission that unless the directors had offered 'the terms they did to the public, they could never have established the Society ; inasmuch as several Building Societies were floated at thp same time on a similar basis. , A proposal is before the Victorian public for the construction of a canal from the River Goulbourn to Lake Albadntya near the South Australian boundary. The projectors undertaking tp raise a capital of 1,500,000 on condition that the Government grant three million acres of land in alternate blocks of six hundred and forty acres along the proposed course. The Government reserving for selection and sale the intermediate blocks. The latest despatches from Melbourne say the scheme is progressing.