FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1871.

Dunstan Times, Issue 492, 22 September 1871, Page 2

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1871.

Yhe first discussion in the General Assembly upon Mr. Macandrew’s resolutions has called forth many diverse ■expressions of opinion. Upon the whole, the support accorded them has heen that could be reasonably anticipated. Mr. Macandrew’s assertion that his proposals would promote the public interest and the better government of the Middle Island was not assented to as a self-evident proposition j nor, on the other hand, was it very strongly urged that they were ill-advised or inopportune. That they : are somewhat at variance with the • policy of the present Government, and ■opposed to the great Colonial scheme Cor- the promotion of public works ; and immigration, must be admitted ; -but that the resolutions are utterly impolitic or impossible yet awaits stronger proof than the declamatory utterances of members who raise their voices in opposition, not so much against the measure as against the bold originator. As a consistent supporter of the present Ministry, it may be safely assumed that Mr. Mac•andrew has not unadvisedly brought 'forward his proposals, and it is quite within the limits of possibility that, subject to certain modifications and amendments, to result from earnest 'discussion of the subject, they may not be found impossible of amalgamation with the details of the policy just now 'enunciated by the Government That Mr. Macandrew has been induced to bring forward his proposals as a cloak to hide some ulterior designs of his parly, or that he seeks but to win the applause of his own particular const! £u ■ents, are insinuations that may he instantly scouted not only as ill-natured, but inane. Perfect faith in the words or deeds of public men is a well-nigh forgotten virtue; but, in this instance, it can hardly be imagined that public ■confidence would be misplaced. Throughout the provinces a desire for a change in the existing forms of Government is strongly manifested; and, in thus suggesting a method for reducing the evils of rarsgoveminent, and initiating a. better order of things; it may be charitably assumed that Mr. Macandrew, even while “sacrificing the "cherished opinion of years in respect "to Otago's nationality, ” has but fob lowed the dictates of bis own sincere eon victions,con fi med andstreng ihened by the outspoken expression of healthy public opinion. The most noticeable objection to Mr. Macandiew’s resolutions was Mr. Fox’s argument that " the amalgamation of the Provinces “intoone would probably not effect “ any very large saving. The work “ would have to be done, and to he paid M for- Even the Road Boards, if they

“ Were given large powers, wonld re’“quire to be paid, oV have paid Chair- “ rtien and Secretaries. We should not “escape the existing evils of governwent by rushing into new forms. •'‘Human nature would remain the “same, and influence the machinery “ and the Government. Ihe scramble “ for public works would be as great “or greater in the Provincial legisla- “ tttre than it Was predicted it would “be in the Assembly, and against “ which Government wished to take “ precautions. The smaller the body “ the greater the risk of a scramble." Very probably so under inefficient control. But subject to judicious legislation and due precautionary measures would not all public work be better done, and the expenditure o! public money more equitably apjiortioned, than under existing arrangements? The establishment Jof a middle Island Council would, of necessity lead to the formation of subsidiary Shire Councils or rather, Bead Boards, with extended powers ; not limited to a few localities but comprising within their boundaries every portion of the provinces. And upon these local bodies would •devolve expenditure of public monies apportioned in accordance with known and determinate regulations ; not annually scrambled for in each petty Provincial Council Chamber, and dis bursed in 'exact proportion to the clamorous ravings of individuals whose sole merit as councillors consists iu tlieir ability to tout well and persisently on behalf of their constituents. Apart from the question of general Colonial or Provincial Public Works, Mr. Macandrew’s scheme, as affecting the initiation of local government by Shire Councils or Road Boards, presents many favorable points. Probably when tbe subject is again brought forward for discussion, they will receive the consideration they merit.

The screw steamer Taranaki has arrived at Dunedin, bringing the San Francisco mails ex Nebraska, and also two hundred and fifty Chinese ex the Joshua Bates. A recent telegram from the North stated that the latter vessel had put in at Auckland in a leaky condition, and her living freight afflicted with scurvy. Two died in the harbor, and three before arrival. The rest were placed on Motuito Island for a few days, previous to proceeding to Dunedin, whither the ■majority of them have now arrived per mail steamer. We are not alarmists : we do not unreservedly accept the extreme views of those who argue that no possible good can arise from the presence of the “ Heathen Chinee” in Otago ; but, as the most important function of the press is to faithfully reflect the passing current of .public opinion, so it becomes a present responsibility to refer to the advent of the unwelcome strangers. Few have yet forgotten the case of the Robert Henderson. Many households still mourn the afflictions and bereavements consequent on the reckless indifference by whidh fever-stricken passengers from that ill-omened draft werejpermitted to spread themselves throughout the country districts. The public were taught a bitter lesson as to the disgracefully inadequate control and arrangements of the Quarantine Station, and hopes were not unreasonably entertained that, at the sitting of the Council, necessary measures would be taken to remedy the evil; but, absorbed in petty contentions, or overwhelmed by the magnitude of the great “honorarium’, question, out model legislators were as regardless of this as of other matters of vital importance, and the members of the Executive seem to have been equally indifferent. If we remember rightly, the Board of Health,in reporting on the Quarantine Station at Port Chalmers, strongly remonstrated against a continuance of the culpable neglect and lack of supervision too palpably evident; but, beyond some make-shift arrangements, things remain now just as they were when the Robert Henderson dropped anchor. At least, if improvements have been made and defects remedied the information has been rigorously withheld from tbe general public. The illustrious trio now representing the Executive in Dunedin, in the absence of their chiefs at Wellington, have a duty to perform which cannot be evaded. Common duty to the public, the instinct of self-protection, the dictates of humanity—all insist that these sickly Chinese, uninvited and unwelcome, shall receive care and attention. If they were a cargo of brute beasts less could not be acnecorded them. It may be argued that scurvy is not contagious; that a '

• few days' run on terra firma and a re- ■ turn to vegetable diet will reduce the t evil; but the doubt prevails that what • is mildly termed scurvy may be some- • thing more malignant. The mere • spectacle of a sick Chinaman creates, in even unprejudiced minds, most > Uncomfortable ideas, and the contem- ; p l ation of the actual fact that a whole • cargo of lazars, coining direct from I the pestilential shores of the East, are ' to be let looie in Otago is horribly sug--1 gestive. We may hope that strict precautionary measures have ere this been adopted. One thing is veiy certain ; if former warnings are disregarded, ■ and these uncanny strangers are per--1 mitted to wander at their own sweet will throughout the gold-fields, the smouldering ashes of discontent will be quickly stirred into a blaze, and ! the Anti-Chinese agitation, just now in some measure subsiding, will be renewed with ten-fold vigor.

1 ’ j An Entertainment, in aid of the funds of the Dunstan District Hospital, is announced to take place at Drybread on Friday evening, . the 29th instant. The entertainment will [ consist of an exhibition of dissolving views, } by Mr. William Pyle, assisted by Mr. Joseph ( Parkins, the eminent violinist, who has kindly volunteered his services for the occa. sion. The proceedings will wind up with a r ball. We have no doubt, judging from prei vious gatherings of the kind at Drybread . and Tinkers, that the affair will be a great ( success. We have received a letter signed “ Jus--1 tice,” commenting on the case “Lowv. Ross" lately heard before the Resident Magistrate at Alexandra. It is of too personal a nature for insertion in our columns, and moreover contains matter quite irrelevant to the subject. i The Wakatip Mail says :—“Mr. Haughton has sent a very important telegram to . a gentleman in Queenstown, who has advocated for some years the formation of Road Boards, and Shire Councils. The telegram is as follows : —“ Do not delay forming Road Boards—subsidy doubled.” Is it possible to stir up any one to action in this District ? When too late we may repent our lethargy. We regret to have to record the death suddenly at St. Bathan’s, on Thursday the 14th instant, of the wife of Mr. 0. Gerkins i the manager of the public channel. The deceased was twenty six years of age, and was much esteemed for her kind and amiable disposition. On the day previous to her death, she was in the enjoyment of per. feet health, and had assisted the night before in the melancholy preparations for the burial of a child of Mr. P. Hanrahan of the Ballarat Hotel; which was to take place on the morrow. On the following morning she was prematurely confined and died iu the afternoon as the funeral procession wa wending its way to the cemetery. M uch sympathy is felt for Mr. Gerkins and family in the sad bereavement. The infant is likely to live. We are glad to announce that the Mountain Water-race Company, St. Bathan’s, have signified their intention of giving an annual subscription of 21 10s. to the funds of the Dunstan District Hospital. This completes the list of water-races at St. Bathan s. The whole of them are now subscribers to the funds of the Institution The miners of St. Bathan’s have at al\ times rendered good service .to the cause of charity, and deserve the warmest thanks for their kindly feelings. It has been suggested that now the warm weather is approaching an effort might be made, either by the Corporation or by private speculators, for the erection of public baths. Some simple and comparatively inexpensive plan might be devised for erecting and fitting up a building for this purpose. A little superfluous energy well directed, would soon accomplish the business, Signatures to petitions m favor of the Permissive Bill, are being obtained from end to end of New Zealand, tbe number being considerably augmented in many instances by the signatures of women and children. As the B 11, in its provisions, materially effects Ihe vested interests of licensed victuallers, it seems passing strange that, as yet, no counter agitation has been developed. We are informed that Mr. Robert Thomson has been temporarily reinstated to the office of Sheep Inspector for tip a part of the country. Since the abolition of the office, many people have suffered a great amount of inconvenience, and we are assured the news of the re-appointment will be hailed with pleasure by onr squatting friends. It is somewhat S'ogular and worthy of notice that a Marriage, a Birth, a Death, and a Funeral took place on one day, at St. Bathan’s, and in the order above stated. The inhabitants of Dryh ead, Tiuke, s and St. Batban’s will have an opportunity of supplying themselves with drapery at a cheap rate, on the 6th and 7th of ne.:t month, when Mr Dickie will have his large stock cleared out by Auction, Mr. Chappie presiding as knight of the hammer. That famous horse and sure foal getter, Heather Jock is advertised ’ o travel for the season the Cromwell and Black’s districts, he is a very handsome horse, and deservedly her s the very best of reputations. Tbe Blue Spur correspondent of the TuapelcaTi. res writes:—“ One of our residents was round the other day with a petition, i with the introductory remarks ‘Sign this for no Chinamen; and sign that for no Pro- ] vincial Council.’ I may say both were nu- , merously signed, as the opinion is that one j is just about as good as the other.” \ Mr. Chappie desires ns to draw the atten- ' tent ion of capitalists to the sale by auction 1 of the Newcastle Coal pit, Akrandra, on i Monday, the 2nd of October. j

The annual Departmental Report of the j Otago Education Board has been just issued . It states that there are ninety six elementary schools at present established in the Province, in connection with the Board, ' showing an increase of sixteen schools , during the year 1870. The schools employ ; 149 teachers. The number of pupils at- . tending at all during the year was 6919, and ( the average daily attendance 4680. The sum contributed by the Provincial Government for school purposes during the year * was 13,364 1. 3s. lid., and the aggregate . amount raised by the districts 7637f. Bs. 3d- . The average cost per scholar was therefore L about If. 18s. 7d. ; or taking the average daily attendance, 21. 17s. Id. The corresponding rates for 1860 were If. 14s. Bd., i and 2f. 13s. lOd. Prom the table showing . the amounts contributed by the government and by the districts respectively, towards ! the maintenance of schools during'the year we make the following comparative extracts showing that the Clyde School Committee, if inclined to take action in the matter, may very justly request assistance from the Government to meet present heavy liabilities. Government District contributions, contributions. Alexandra £l3B 12 3 £167 7 6 t Arrow 142 0 0 142 14 6 I Clyde 105 2 0 143 17 0 , Cromwell 107 3 9 63 5 6 1 Queenstown 194 0 0 147 5 6 . Tevint 100 0 0 66 5 0 i Naseby 100 0 0 33 18 0 1 For the benefit ot amateur gardeners we publish the following receipt for curing 1 the Wight on cabbages extracted from the ‘ Australasian ; —Boil half a pound of quassia chips in one gallon of water, and add five ‘ gallons of water. Pour a small quantify to the roots of each plant, and the insects will drop off, and the plant will assume a healthy appearancei The trading interest at Mount Ida are about to present a petition to his Honor the -Superintendent, praying that the Dunedin road may be shortened by a deviation avoiding Houndburn hill, and following a , more direct route from t he point known as the Shag Valley Company’s old flume. The petitioners suggest this route in preference to one some time since surveyed by the District Road Engineer, alleging that the latter would neither shorten the distance, nor bi ing the traffic through the township of Naseby. Mr. Fox is said to have specially “crammed for the discussion of the Education question, it being one of his hobbies. Wellington gossips say he has read every thing treating upon the subject that he could lay his hands on ; that he knows by heart all the Education Bills now in force all over the world, and has read all the debates in all the deliberative assemblies in the world. His advocacy of the Permissive Bill has not added to his reputation or popularity. Mr. R. Gillies baa been delivering a lecture under the somewhat vague designation of “There’s Pippins and Cheese to come,” the subject being a retrospective glance at early Otago history, and the title, that chosen by the editor of the Otago Heirs for the motto of the first newspaper published in the province of Otago, in which the representatives of the Fourth Estate now number over twenty.' The Nehon Examiner, in an article on railways in Queensland, concludes with the following remarks, which our legislators would do well to think over:—“ We do not class ourselves among those who have a fanatical objection to railways in general W« do not mean to say that there are not districts in the colony where an iron road worked by steam is the best and cheapest. Nor do we even measure the paying character of such a road by its direct money receipts. But we maintain that a railway must pay in some way or other, directly or indirectly, or it is no use making it, our great object being to diminish our individual burdens by increasing the area of taxation. A railway that does not pay directly may pay indirectly, if it enables a population to subsist in a part of the country which without the railway must be a wilderness. The direct receipts of the sudh a case, plus the taxation levied upon the increased population, or a portion of it at all events,, might justify such a work. But if a railroad will neither pay directlApor when supplemented by indirect contributions, it had better been let alone. It is a dead loss to the community, and a waste of capital. Our fear is, seeing how little these qaestions are made the subject of careful investigation, that the public money will be wasted upon schemes utterly wild and unwarranted There must be a limit somewhere, although it may be a fluctuating one, depending upon the cost of construction and working, beyond which the iron road becomes too costly a luxury. For were it cheaper under all circumstances we should find it everywhere superseding the ordinary road. The fear is that this limit will be too little studied, and that the tendency will be to rush into undertakings that will-prove to be even more illusory in their results than the railways of Queensland. And it is no use trying to shut our eyes to the fact that we are not in the same position as Queensland. That colony commenced its career of progress comparatively unencumbered. We start upon this hazardous experiment with a burden of debt already greater than that of any community in the world. Two hundred miles of iron road at an annual cost of6OOOJ. a mile, would bo a nice little addition to our burdens. Are we not entitled to our * suppositions ’ as well as Mr. Vogel ? We have experience at all events to show for ours, whereas Mr. Vogel has none to offer for his. With a falling revenue and fresh taxation imminent such a prospect i« anything but agreeable. It means that the burden of taxation wonld be simply intolerable, and what would happen next our readers may guess for themjclvea. ” i

i At the District Court sitting on Tuesday last, before his Honor Judge Grey, there was only one undefended suit on a dishonored acceptance j and on Wednesday in bankruptcy, John Foley and Giles Talty, of St. Batban’s, applied for final discharge. Mr. Wilson opposed on behalf of the Mountain Water Race Company, who proved for 212f, Judgment was postponed till next i sitting of the Court. A visitor from Cromwell informs us that a regular stampede is anticipated from that 1 township towards the Garrick Ranges. The claims are looking up, and a quartz reef town i is developing in the immediate locality, ' about seven miles distant from Cromwell. The proprietor of one hotel has already sold his establishment, and others are looking : out for purchasers. The Bendigo Gully ' township is already almost a thing of the i past, most of the buildings having been already shifted towards the Garrick, i Tire Rev. W. H. Beck will ho’d the usual monthly service at St. Michael’s Church on Sunday next. If possible he will officiate in the morning as well as the evening. Rumour hath it that a skilful wielder of the brush and pallet, residing notahundred miles from Clyde, the possessor of a valuable quadruped of the equine race, whose once glossy coat had, by the insidious advance of time, and the rubs and sores of ill fortune, lost much of its pristine splendour, tried the bold experiment of painting his noble steed, in the hope that he might succeed in rendering it “ beautiful for ever,” The effect is eaiddo have been astounding. The steed astonished at his own loveliness, ’ incontinently bolted before the interesting 1 operation could be completed, and has not since been heard of. The owner is puzzled how to advertise for the recovery of his strayed property. If the weather holds fine, the quadruped may le best described as of a jet black hue, if it rains, its coat may revert to its original shade of rusty brown. The Government has promised to consider Mr. Shepherd’s suggestion of compelling the Banks to publish a statement of all deposits unclaimed for three years. Ardent lovers of “the cup that cheers but not inebriates ” will do well to note the following ;—“ A savant has discovered with the microscope that when we pour milk into a cup of tea, the albumen of the milk and the tannin of the tea instantly unite and form leather, or minute flakes of the very same compound which is produced in texture of the tanned hides, and which makes it leather as distinguished from the original skin. Be consequently estimates that in the course of a year a tea-drinker of average capacity imbibes enough leather to make a pair of shoes, In the case of Tyson v. Hayes, in which the defendant was charged with having committed perjury in an action heard at the Resident Magistrate’s Court at Lawrence heard at the Supreme Court on Friday last, the plaintiff said “ there is a street at Lawrence of nothing else but lawyers,” but he preferred getting his professional advisor from Dunedin. An interesting item of Australian news comes by way of America;—“ There has been a terrible hurricane in the Fiji Islands So great was the force of the wind that heavy substances were blown more than a hundred miles. A ship was saving easily along with a light breeze offtbe coast o' A : trails, when something descended upon he.- deck with a di-'l thump. The boatswshi stepped forward a id picked it up. It was a piece o' cut meat weighing half a pound The boatswan, who was an old resident of Fiji, tasted it and p renounced it Missionary. Most ilar to relate, there wag a full set o' fake t .eth ■mb'-dded in the tissue, with a grip like that of a steal trap. The boatswain examined these, and recognised them as belonging to Manu Mc.ite.it, a well-known Fiji chief.” It was rather evident that there Lad been a h : gh wind in Fiji. The Jfe-fv«, ■'} H i odd sla’es that private letlsrs f om London describe the Home Go veiem' irs iu favor o! having Fiji annexed to one o: the Australian co'onics. A rre.mt Victorian exchange arils alt-'a-tioa to the fact that now the shipments of Australian horses to the Indian markets have increased in importance, there is a great opening for fraud, a temptation to do a little business iu manufacturing pedigrees: and that some most unprincipled porsoas have been passing off inferior stock under fictitious of course with the view of obtaining better prices. At the markets in India, at Madras, Calcutta, or Bombay, there are annually largo numbers of Australian horse; offered for sale, but, in a few years, if the practice referred to is not knocked on the head, the evil will grow, and inflict very serious injury on breeders, by damaging the reputatation of the’r stock. “P. Tenax ” in the Tuapeha Times [is profuse in b : s laudation of the “ noble game of euchre, ” He forgets to mention that the rosy aspect of two aces and a bower, is at times overshadowed by a streak of ill luck, and that they, who play, must pay. We believe Mr. A. D. Wilson of the Survey Office, Clyde, has accepted the appointment of Surveyor and Valuator to the Goldfields’ Building and Investment Society. The Wowing from the Southern League is worthy of note: —People—a few—make a great noise because the Chinese are pouring into Otago. But the infamous existence of low stores for the sale of unlicensed liquor seems to attract no practical recognition. These shops are well known to the police. It is objected that the police “lower” themselves by attempting to detect the sale of unlicensed ?vp:.or. If this ba the case, wo would suggest that the police should not bo so attentive to licensed liquor houses, because it is unjust be to very particular in exacting obedience to the law on the part of the licensee of a hotel, when his illegal competitors often, in the most open manner, retail not merely “sly” liquor, but liquor of the worst quality. If a man once gets a licence, the minions of the law watch him as a cat watches a mouse, bat let him sell without a license, and the police seldom or never trouble him.

The Kentucky Minstrels advertise a per* formance]at the Junction Hotel this evening. They have already given one entertainment, but, owing to the little notice given, the attendance was limited. The minstrels are clever, and one of them is an old favorite on the Dunstan. When Kilgour’s Concert Hall was the nightly resort for amusement, George Eobinson’s songs were a standing attraction. The Hobart Town Mercury of the 10th instant records the snapping of the last link but one that connects the aborigines of Tasmania with the land of their race. One, a half-caste, has died, and there remains but one aboriginal woman, whose years approach the allotted span of three score and and ten. With her last breath the aboriginals of Tasmania will actually, as they have long virtually done, cease to be. A report is current in one of the country districts in Queensland that the New Zealand Government have an agent at work endeavouring topersuadea number of Danes who recently arrived there from their native country to re-emigrate to New Zealand. “ There was a sight to be witnessed in Sandhurst, on Saturday last,” says the Bendiyo Advertiser, “which has never been equalled in this city before. This was the exhibits of gold in the window of the Union Bank. Thehnge lumps of gold lit up by gas formed the cynosure of many eyes until the bank closed, and were the cause of wondering conversation among those who were only' divided from such wealth by a frail piece of glass. The following cakes were exhibited; —North Garden Gully Company, 13330z.; Carlisle Company, 7170z. ; Golden Fleece Tribute, 4320z. ; Central Garden Gully Tribute Company, 4220z. ; Victoria Gold Mines, 32G0z.; or a total of 29040z. ; equal in value to 11,016. All this gold was from the Garden Gully Reef, with the exception of the Victorian Gold Mines yield. The Union Bank has certainly earned the title of the Garden Gully Reef Bank, and has been the recipient of most of its riches.” Among the various kinds of forest trees, now being planted in Otago the tree which best commands itself from its hardy habit and vigorous growth is the Finns Pinaster, or Cluster Fine, which seems peculiarly adapted for plantations and break winds. It grows to a height of fifty feet and upwards, and is valuable not only on account of its timber, but for the shelter which it affords to less hardy trees and to the land. It does not require a rich soil, and grows strongly in the most exposed situations. In the museum at Cassel, Germany', is a library made from five hundred European trees. The back of each volume is formed of the bark of a tree ; the sides, of the perfect wood ; the top, of young wood ; and the bottom of old. When opened, the book is found to be a box, containing the flower, seed, fruit, and leaves of the tree, either dried or imitated in wax. The Inspector of Nuisances for the City Corporation of Melboure has been late'y making a raid among the bakers, and summoned a batch of eighteen to answer for the s r idvs against the digestions of the cit"‘;eDS. According to the Government analytics I chemist, the loaves submitted to him cono'ued alum to an extent varying fom s'gr. to 22gr. to 11b. of bread. The Bench in giving a decision, drew a distinction as far as they well could between cases in which the alum had been put in for beautyfying end that class of cases in which the alum had been put in in large quantities, for the purpose of making the inferior article appear equal to the best. An American visitor, from tbe United States says that Bret Ha\ te, whose clever ce-criptive sketches and equally clever verses have won for him hosts of admirers is now editor of the Atlantic Monthly, his salary being about half that which attaches to the governorship of Victoria.