The Dunstan Times. FRIDAY, AUGUST 18, 1871.

Dunstan Times, Issue 487, 18 August 1871, Page 2

The Dunstan Times.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 18, 1871.

Beneath the Hule of Men kxtxbely just the PEy is mxoxxtier than the 3 word

Now that the Ratepayers of the Municipality have decided that action shall be stayed for the present in the matter of the “ Clyde Water Works ” Bill, it seems worth consideration whether effective means may not be devised for obtaining a constant supply of water from some other source than the Wai KeriKeri Valley. There appears no need for the actual abandonment of the scheme initiated bv the Town Council; very little cause to doubt the ultimate success of the application for a legal right to reserve for the inhabitants of Clyde, the full supply of water to which they are justly entitled. It is admitted that no purer water, or more constant supply can be gained than from the valley, and an evident determination exists equally on the part of the Town Council and of the rate-payers, to obtain, by all legitimate means, thp right to have and’ to hold in undisputed possession, that which at present is subject to the capricious control of a few individuals. But while patiently biding the time, and submitting to the inevitable “ law’s delay,”' present, every day necessities cannot be long ignored. ’I he dread cry of “ fire ” may suddenly rouse us from our fancied security, and we find ourselves powerless to arrest its progress. The dry summer season is fast approaching, and soon the mu titude of choice trees, and shrubs and cherished flowers, planted and tended by careful hands, surrounding our homes on the dusty plain with a thousand beauties, will crave for daily nourishment. Sanitary and domestic requirements will necessitate an increased supply of water, and yet when most needed we may probably have it not, except we draw it from the river, the great arterial current which should convey life and energy, and fast increasing productiveness, wherever needed This is the problem to be solved—Can water be raised from the Molyneux, to the level of the township, at a cost not disproportionate to the advantages derivable therefrom? The Wai Keri Keri supply will be ours in due time, but good use can be found for ten times the quantity. The Molyneux should yield us our present requirements, and in fact, be a source of permanent improvement and increased prosperity to Clyde and its surroundings. In this wide district there can be surely found men of experience and ingenuity to devise some practicable scheme for overcoming the apparent difficulties of the case. Let them be consulted and some line of action be decided on. Improved mechanical appliances for lifting water from streams have received the careful attention of scientific men of late I et their theories be tested. For instance steam engines, combining the two im :< portant principles of maximum power and minimum cost, are to he obtained without much difficulty. An adaptation ;or improvement of Thompson’s “ simple contrivance for economising “ the currents of large rivers for gold “ sluicing, town supplies, and mill “ purposesor Green’s recent invention for “ forcing water from the stream on to the banks of a rive; ” may be round available. An able writer recently remarks--“ Even among “ those most professedly anxious for “ progress, there is evinced sometimes “ a remarkable tardiness to receive “ what is new. The history of n e‘ichanical inventions and scientific f rcliscove»ies, is on the whole a pain- “ ful one for this reason—Men seem “ to delight in reasoning thus, the in- “ votttiou my lo a» advantage, but

" it 13 an in J) ovation, ergo, at all " hazards it must be discouraged. " Shall we by lack of wonted energy confirm the truth of this assertion?

Many complaints have been lately f made regarding the unsatisfactory compilation of English telegrams, forwarded"* to the New Zealand Press by • Greville and Co., (Reuter's Agents) We have received a circular from the New Zealand Manager, notifying that the head office of the Company has been now established at Wellington, and that arrangements have been made to remedy the evils complained of, and to ensure complete satisfaction in the compilation of both English and Colonial intelligence. Accompanying the circular is a copy of a long communication, originally appearing in the Wellington Independent; which we are asked to republish Commenting on the points of dispute recently raised by the Otago Doily Times on the subject of Press Telegrams. The letter is too voluminous for our spac-, and our readers are doubtless weary of the tiresome details. They will perhaps be quite satisfied to know that telegraphic news will for the future, be more intelligible. The name Reuter and Co. has become a household word whereever telegraphic news has penetrated. The Independent, referring to the new arrangements of the Company, says : "The success which has attended the firm of Reuter ond Co throughout the world, and the experience they must have acquired, make it a matter of congratulation that they have included New Zealand in the circle of their operations. How important may be the advantages springing from such a powerful and successful organisation, when New Zealand is in telegraphic communication with Britain, it is.not difficult to realise Not the least'Tof its advantages, meanwhile, is that from, the guiding principle which animates all Reuter and Go's agenc.es, the public are effectually guarded against the garbled and sensational telegrams which it has been our duty so frequent- ! ly to expose ; while by the system j elaborated after a lengthened experience ' in journalistic telegraphy, the time of" our telegraphic officials will not be oc- \ cupied in wearisome repetitions of the same message to different journals, and they will be more available for the use of the general public A minor, but! not inconsiderable advantage, our readers will have anticipated, namely that the-e will be an end to the bitter | controversies about rival telegraphic agencies of which they must be heartily sick. That Reuter's arrangements will be always perfectly carried out by fallible human instruments, we do not of course expect; but that any agent who has once violated the spirit of his instructions will never again so err, is very plainly deducible. In vast undertakings, in which there are myriads of details, success is only certain when the smallest irregularity is rendered all but impossible, and when the supervising exf-cutive authority can be appealed to promptly and with effect. Such, at least, we understand has been the distinctive feature in all Renter and Co's organised agencies. Against combinations of the most powerful newspapers in the world, with the London Times at their head, have they contended, and ultimately triumphed ; and it was evident to everyone who had given any thought to the subject, that the attempt of the so-called Press Association in New Zpaland to drive them out of the field was hopeless to absurdity."

Monday last was the subscription night for monthly payments to the funds of the Otago-Gold fields Building Society, and it is gratifying lo record that the payments made were conside ably in excess of the receipts at the past meeting, several additional shaves having been taken up in the interval. The Director's have wisely decided on allowing a commision lo agents in the outlying districts upon all shares they may dispose of, and this resolution has already born good fruits. By our advertising column it will be seen that the Directors are already in a position to offer money on loan to members, a satisfac ory proof • that the difi culties attendant on the establish meet of any new project have been successfully overcame The money will be advanced to any member requring the same, on freehold security, payment -of a premium for the accommodation and legal charges. Repayment, extending, at the option of the borrow, over any term, from three to ten years. The Ayrow District Miners’ Association have resolved to prepare a monster peti ion (to be circulated throughout the entire province), praying ihe House of Repn s ntatives to withhold the issue of miner’s rights to Chinese miners. In another column we jublish a circular from that body to the miners of the district. ■ " The sum of 50/. has been voted for a schoolmistress for the Mount Ida District !

■- , ' ,—r 1 11 The try u still they come. 11 Another ” herd dl Mongolians, fresh from the land of Y Flowers, camped in the township last might, and passed on en route, we presume, for the Wakatip this morning. They were evidently a better class of beings than many of the rei cent arrivals, who have found tbeir way up Y country. They numbered about three hundred, all strong and healthy looking, well clad in quaint attire, and provided with ample bag and baggage; carried for them in / American waggons. Our Arrow friends will 3 doubtless bail with extreme delight the t news that besides these, about three hun--3 deed more Chinese have left Dunedin, and are ou their way to the Arrow and Ca’drona ’ distri t, and some shiploads are due. By reference to our correspondence column 1 it will be seen that Mr Green the proprietor 3 and patentee of the new Dredge and Diving [ Bell, has, in response to a suggestion we r made in a recent issue, now given fuller ’ particulars as to the proposed method of working. Tins very careful and lucid - description will enable the reader to form • a better opinion as to the value of his ini vention, tbaa could be possibly gained before. It is almost a matter of regret that Mr Green has not already one of his machines in working order on the river. 1 “ Bering is believing.” He has only { 0 prove by -actual experiment the value of his invention, and his just reward as an enterprising inventor will be most amply assured. A Chinaman was admitted into the Hospital on Tuesday evening last, having cut his throat at Goal Creek on the previous day. As soon as sufficiently recovered, he will be brought before theMagistrate’s Court for attempting se'f-destvucticn. To the extraordinary fineue s of thoweatber in a great measure is the state of the roads to be ascribed, though, where means are available, they are being most judicious 1 v expended under ibe supervision of the District Engineer. The road between Clyde and Cromwell we ne er remember seeing in so good a state. Of the impassable state of roa ’s in ibe Lake District a great deal is aid and written, A traveller, with whom we were conversing on the s:a‘e of the mads, informed us they were not so bad as represented. At the last monthly meeting of the Wakatip I istrict Hospital Committee the following reductions were made in staff expenses :—Surgeon, 50 1. ; wards man, 151.; and married couple, 51 The Resident [. Surgeon having first intimated that he was I ready to subm : t to a reduction of his salary on account of the Government subsidy bav-, rug been reduced.