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Dunstan Times, Issue 500, 17 November 1871, Page 2

Mr. Mervyn, who, for his recent opposi tion to the passing in Committee of certain clauses in the “Payment of Provinces Bill,” has been considerably snubbed, as a factious malcontent, by a certain portion of the press, was not, as it now appears, without good show of argument in his favor, however injudicious might have been his efforts to enforce his opinions. The distribution of the Boad Boaid grant on a system suggested by the Government was objected to by many members, on the ground that the goldfields would be shut out from any participation therein, even while the residents on the gold-fields would have to bear a large portion of the charge for interest, and be liable for repayment of an equally large proportion of the principal. Mr. Heynolds, as is his usual custom, sneered at the dig gers and their resources, and excited Mr. Mervyn to the use of unparliamentary language in their defence, and he moreover expressed his determination to oppose the measure in every possible way, unless some recognition of the claims of the general mining community, and his own district in particular, was promised by the Government. The Government would give no such promise, and therefore arose the un seemly contention for wdiich Mr. Mervyn is blamed. Mr. Mervyn’s irritation was all the more increased by a proposal to give certain special advantages to the Nelson South-west Gold-fields, asked for by a Government supporter, while his equally just demands were ignored. The Government carried its point by a division of thirty-six to twenty-two. Mr. Mervyn was denied the opportunity of - publicly justifying his conduc’, and another act of injustice has been perpetrated on the long suffering miners. From a Parliamentary point of view Mr. Mervyn’s tactics were ill-advised ; but the grant to Bead Boards in the rural districts of the province, to the exclusion of the gold-fields, is an iniquitous perversion of public moneys. In the District Court, Clyde, on Tuesday la«t, before his Honor Judge Grey, the only case for hearing was one of bankruptcy. John Foley and Giles Tahy, of St. Bathau’s, surrendered, and came up for final hearing. Mr. Brough for bankrupts and Mr. W. W. Wilson for opposing creditors. His Honor suspended the bankrup.s’ certificates for four months. There was no business of any kind at the Alexandra, Clyde, or Cromwell Besidenc Magistrate’s or Warden’s Courts this week. We do not know if the Bar presented the Judge, Vincent Pyke, Esq., with the customary pair of gloves. The first strawberries of the season were gathered on Monday last, in the garden of Mr. W. AV. Wilson, of Clyde. Cherries, in several gardens, are ripening rapidly. The grain crops on most of the farms in this locality are languishing for want of inn. Oats, in pumcular, are looking sickly, and fears are entertained that the cro, swill he less than ihe usual average. As a contrast o thi< m .y he noted that, on Speal’-gt-ass Flat, last week la,e ground was covered with snow, tin- early garden or..ps oml hushes being complete y enveloped in a wintry clothing. Sbg.it frosts at night, in th : s district, have most of the early sown potatoes. The Provincial Government Gazette, of the Bth inst. notifies that Crown Grants in favor of the undermentioned persons, resident in the Dunstan district, are ready for delivery':— W. G. Bohning, Sections 12 and 13, Block IV., Alexandra; James arazlett, Block XXXII., Clyde ; and John Marsh, Section 5, Block X., Cromwell. It is notified in the General Government Gazette of the 25th ult. that the name of the Eev. Joshua Joms, of the United Church of England and Ireland, has been duly registered under the provisions of the “Marriage Act, 1854.” The discovery of payable gold at the rear of the New Orleans Hotel, Arrowtown, has led to the suppos'tion that a run extends throughout the ierrace on which the town is built, and which the Government, afier repeated persuasions, sold in allotments. Begrets are now expressed that a more convenient site, from a mining point of view, bad not been chosen. Eight years ao a good prospect was obtained at the rear of the New Orleans Hotel, but the matter was quietly hushed, for fear that holders of business licenses might Vie inconvenienced. A correspondent of the Daily Times complains that the promised advantage of the new Transfer Act, as regards the prompt despatch of business, proves but a bait to delude the public. He has waited four months for the completion of the simple transaction of placing a Crown Grant under the new system. Shearing has commenced at Bell’s Station, near Switzers, and the other stations in that direction will commence within a week or ten days. At Miller's Boxburgh Station it commenced on the Ist instant. The rate paid being 15s. per hundred, and pressing 2s. per bale. At the meeting cf the Auckland Synod, the Venerable Archdeacon Maunsell moved- " That the President be requested to forward to the Bishop’s commissary in Dunedin the resolution expressive of pleasure at the appointment of the Bev. S. Tarratt Neville to the Bishopric of Dunedin- The motion was seconded and agreed to. The Thames Caledonian Compajiy will hare 8000 ounces this month. Twenty two hundredweight of specimens have been taken out in one week. The All Nations yielded 1000 ounces for the month. Caledonians, 1201; Thames, 231 j All Nations, 1015s; Nonpareil, 955. In r.ply to a query made on behalf of the Switzer’s Miners’ Association, the Arrow miners suggest that, as soon as a few Associations are fairly sta-ted in various parts of the province, arrangements may be made for a meeting of delegates from each of them, which meeting would lay down laws for the guidance of the various Committees in their relations to each other.

The Mount Ida Jockey Club Bares are fixed for the 10th and 11th of January, 1872, A liberal programme has been issued, showing prices to the amount of 4651. Mr. E. T. George still officiates as Honorary Secretary. The Mount Ida Chronicle reports that in a case tried at the District Court on the Bth instant, wherein the plaintiff sought to recover damages for the illegal sale of property alleged to be convoyed to him by the defendant for a trifling sum, under pressure of difficulties, and since let to the defendant at a nominal rental; his Honor Judge Grey, in giving his decision in favor of defendant, said, the plaintiff, in his opinion, though acting kindly and generously to the defendant had been guilty of that which the law could not sanction—protecting him against general creditors in favor of one, by holding his property for him. The care which had been taken in draughting the document and in obtaining possession reminded him of the proverb, “ Who is careful to excuse himself frequently accuses himself by the very care he takes to excuse himself.” The Arrow Obserrer reports a case tried at the Court ou the Gth instant, arising out of a fracas at Cardrona, between two Europeans and a] party of Chinese, both sides sueingfor damages:—“ There were in all five cases, viz.—Pack Goon v. Joseph Jordan, 201 damages; HingWingv. Thomas Boulton, 201 damages; and Jordan v. Pack Goon, Hing Wing, and Sam Long-501 each against the two former, and 201 againa the latter. It was agreed by counsel that all the cases he tried together, the evidence in one bearing on all. Mr Barton appeared fur the Europeans; Mr Turton for the Chinese.” From the evidence it appears that a dispute arose concerning the “taping off” of the Chinese claim, whereon Hing Wing, attacked Jordan with a shovel, and, aided by the rest of the Chinamen, chased him an 1 his comrade off the ground. The China new swore in court that the Europeans were the ar. 'tsois. The police cons able stationed at Cardrona, deposed that they all came running together to the Camp, to lay informations against each other, Jordan shewing a wound on the arm, and Pack Goon a cut <m the left eye. In giving his decis on, the Magistrate said he wou'd ba» a felt more satisfied had the actions been brought criminally inslead of o.i the civil side of the Court. It was in fact the duty of the putties suffering to prefer a criminal charge, instead of suing for damages. If the present charges were anything, they were of a very serious name, and might be the means of creating a very large amount of ill-blood between the two races. The Chinese had hung together in the statement that they had no spades or shovels. Now the evidence adduced showed that Jordan had received a very severe wound, j winch, according to medical testimony, had , been indicted by a sharp instrument. This j threw discredit on (be evidence of the ; f'h'iie e. The'r counsel had ably acted for them, but at be-4 he ha l a bad case. Ultimately His Worship gave judgment as follows—Daroaves, 221. —to be paid by the Cbi ese in the following proportions : Hing Wing. 10/. ; Pack Goon, "I. ; and Sam I.ong, 4/. Jordan's medical, professional, and other expense*, a mount! ii” to 18/. Kis. were oi dered to be naid by the Chinese in relative proportions to the damages awarded. The decision his given general satisfaction among the European miners.