TELEGRAPHIC DESPATCHES.

Dunstan Times, Issue 501, 24 November 1871, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC DESPATCHES.

PER GRE'-ILLE & CO., REUTER’S AGE.'TS. Dusedxs’, Thursday. 4 p.m. The rifle match between Christie, of Dunedin, and Walker, of Auckland, for 300/. commenced at For bury Park on Monday last. On the first day the wind was very stormy, it blowing a regular gale from the south west. The second day, the wind was strong from the east. Four hundred persons were present on Monday, and nearly seven hundred on Tuesday- The conditions were ten shots at each range. The result was as follows ; 200 300 400 500 GOO 700 800 900 1000 Christie 37 33 26 37 32 86 34 36 27 Walker 34 33 40 38 36 37 31 28 30 At the 900 yards the excitement was great, because Walker was on'y two points ahead. At the last range he was four ahead" At the fourth shot in the last range, Christie missed- There was indeso ibable excitement when he tied Walker. In the afternoon the latter’s shooting improved, winning by five [points, Walker offered to back hiraselj for 1000/. against Christie, the latter was understood to decline. Shooting at the last two rauges : ■Nino Hundred Yards. Christie 4444323444 Walker 0344434033 One Thousand Ya’-ds. Christie 4 3 3 3 323303 Walker 3332433324 The Government have decided to hold the next Session of the Assembly in Dunedin. The latest new from Auckland is as fol'ows—liopata captured Perern and Kereopa, the murderers of Volkner. A rush has taken place on Tookey shares. It is reported to have struck the Caledonian reef Shares are now selling af 44'. The Coomerang chartered by speculators, left suddenly, and is supposed to have gone to SydneyThe Ahruriri, steamer, left Oamaru for Dunedin yesterday forenoon, when off Tumai, near Wakouaiti, she struck on a sunken rook. The passengers, crew, and the mails were saved. Tire vessel is a total wreck. Houghton, the owner, is partly insured. Ihe Government intend proceeding immediately with the remainingirportions of the Clutha lino. Wo arc happy to ho able to state that David Taggart, who was brought to the Hospital on Monday last suffering fioin injuries received by a fall from-his her eat Cromwell; is, under the cave’of Dr. Thomson, steadily improving, and in the course of a few da\ s will be enabled to resume his usual occupations-.

Mr. W. Taylor, Sub-Inspector of Schools, ■ Bomcwha; •.’.nex l K , oio |, ly visited the Clyde School on Friday last, and examined the pupils. Twenty -one boys and twenty girls were in attendance, the number being less than the usual daily average, inconsequence of the heavy rain falling throughout the day. The number of children on the roll of the Clyde School is at present: Boys, twenty-eight ; girls, twenty-six ; total, fifty-four ; and another score at least might be added if proper accommodation were provided. It is passing strange that parents generally do not bestir tliems Ives, and take energetic action on liehalf of then-offspring. The accommodation for school purpose- is in eve; y respect miserably deficient—a discredit to our vaunted Education system. The school-house is an unwholesome den, and the functions of the teacher are debased to that of a public beadle, doomed to the daily task of keeping a huddled-up crowd of uncomfortable youngsters in decent order. The renovations and improvements in the Town hall are now nearly completed. The roof has been repaired, new sky-lights fixed, and the front facade cleaned and colored. In the interior, the decorator’s art has wonderfully improved the apjiearance of the hall and ante chambers. The walls have been made of a pure white, and the woodwork grained in imitation of oak and other woods. Messrs. Auckland and Duncan have faithfully performed the tasks entrusted to them, and the Town-hall will be a Listing proof of the excellency of their workmanship. Visitors to the town, one and all agree that the Town-hall is a credit to the Municipality. Intending purchasers of town sections arc reminded xhat the sale will be held On Wednesday next, the 29th instant. It will be noticed by reference to our advertising columns that the date of the celebration of the newly-foimed “Band of Hope” Society has been altered from the loth to the Sth proximo, in consequence of the use of the Town-hall being engaged by the Foresters’ Society on the 15th. The promoters of the Band of Hope Festival are using all efforts to make the affair a success, and a pleasant evening’s rational amusement may be safely anticipated. Considering also that the surplus funds will be handed to tire Clyde School Committee, the financ al success of the soirie should be well assured. Wool from the stations about Lake Wakatip will probably find its way to town via Invercargill, the cost of carriage by steamer to Kingston, thence by waggon to Invercargill. and then by steamer to Dunedin, being less than by toad to Dunedin via Clyde. The following is the opinion of the At-torney-General on the Moa Flat sale : —“ If it is true that any part of the land is within a gold-field, then, as to so much as is within a gold-field, the land cannot be sold in the manner' contemplated. If the sale is made under a law authorising it, the Governor has no power to disallow it: all he can do is to refuse to execute the conveyance.” As : t appears the whole of the fifty thousand acres are within a goUl-He’d the sale, according to the Attorney-General, is illegal, and cannot he completed. A new insurance company, styled the “ Scottish Commercial,” is about to commence business in Dunedin. Tlie head office is at Glasgow, and the Company undertake the usual tiro, life, and annuities risks. The plans and estimates of the Tu.ipeka Railway weie laid on the table of the House of Representatives on the 31st ult. -The estimated cost is 110,0001, including rolling stock, &c. To show the erst of the political part of the Provincial system, Mr. Vogel, when ■introducing the Provincial Government Bill, stated that the expenditure of the Provincial Departments of Superintendents, Provincial Executives (exclusive of Provincial Auditors), and Provincial Councils has averaged for the last four years 33,320/. a year, or over 120,000/. for the four years. The funeral of the late Mr. John Hay, at Dunedin (late Editor of the Wellington Independent) was largely attended on Sunday last. His Honour the Superintendent, several members of the Assembly and Provincial Council, and the Masonic body, testifying their respect for the deceased gentleman by following his remains to their last resting place in the Southern Cemetery. His untimely end has caused a feeling of deepest regret among his numerous circle of friends in Otago and Wellington. From evidence given at the inquest on his body it appears he was last seen alive shortly before midnight on the night of his death when he parted from Mr. A. Reid, the sub-editor of the Independent, ou'side of an oyster saloon in Wills street, where they had supper together. It was blowing a most terrific gale at the time, and the supposition is that for oome unknown object Mr. J. Hay must have gone down the wbart and fallen or been blown over. It was blowing so hard at the time that, any, scream for help would have been totally inaudible. In falling his head must have struck something there being a large cut on it of a character puite sufficient to have rendered him unconscious. His watch had stopped at twelve minutes past midnight. Great sympathy is felt for his widow and children, who are left, but badly provided for. A new industry has been started at Drybread, which will prove of essential benefit to miners. Hitherto all the canvas hose and similar appliances needed for sluicing lias boon procured from Dunedin, at considerable i spenre, and often delay. Mr, W. Plew has now commenced the manufacture on the spot, and turns out a first rate article. He also makes tents,- tarpaulins horse-covers, and the usual poo ls supplier by canvas workers. Ashe, la known tale an experienced craftsman, he should obtain orders far and near throughout the district.

A long-needed improvement is being carried out bjr the Clyde Corporation. Coquetstreet, leading to the Camp, Post-office, and Church, but long the'dirtiest and most illkept thoroughfare in the Municipality, is undergoing a thorough cleaning and general tidying-up. Doubtless the ratepayers and general public will feel truly thanful. The Alexandra School was examined by Mr. W. Taylor last week; but, for some reason, no notioewasgiventothe Committee and hence the results are known only to the teachers and Inspector. The School Committee have decided that the animal examination shall be held on Thursday, the 21st proximo, and the youngsters will be then dismissed for the usual Christmas vacation. The Alexandra Town Council have given 21 towards the Prize Funds, and some other donations are promised. A little dissatisfaction has arisen from the fact leaking out at the last meeting of the School Committee that arrears of School fees tothe amount of SO / are due and owing. The result of the last crushing at Iverson and party’s claim, at Conroy's Gully', was one hundred and eighteen ounces of gold for nineteen days’ work. The reef has been struck in the tunnel, and stone will now be taken therefrom. The next clearing-up will be about the 20th proximo, after which the hands will get a week’s spell for the Christmas holidays. Mining matters are generally healthily progressing in the gully, the late seasonable rains having replenished the failng supply of water. A preliminary meeting has been held at Nase'iy for the formation of a Licensed Victuallers As ociation. The co-operation o' the trade in other up-countiy townships will be invited. 'Jhe successful tenderer fo> theerection of the Avrowtown Post office is Mr. J. 11. Frederic, who, accordingto the Mail, contracts to do the work for 3401, which is 1001 less than the lowest tender put in at a previous date. A Bill, whereby Mr. Smytbics, son., is again permitted to practice his profession as a barrister, has passed both House of of‘Legislature. Auckland papars appear to be never tired of having a fling at Wellington. A content, porary, savs : —“At Wellington the oflicis swarm with officials. Such an accumulation of broken-down colonels could not be found in any garrison town three times the size of the Empire City.” The pioneer settlers at Martin’s Bay, starved out for want of expected supp ies by the seaboard, have been compelled to travel overland to Queenstown. The Wokatip Mail expects that six men arrived there on Tuesday, after suffering many hardships and privations. They state the population at .Martin’s Bay to be but some twenty souls ; that no vessel bad called there for three and a half months, and that there was only about three hundred poun Is of flour in the place, no tea or tobacco, and scatcely any butter, or articles of every day necessity. Meat is only obtained on very taie occasions. Their staple food being bread, fish, and home grown produce. The climate, though moist, is repotted to be splendid, and the little settlement enjoys good health. The Southland News is informed that a gang of recently imp it-ted Chinese, under a "boss," lias been engaged by a settlor on the Nor It Hoad. They are working at ditching, fencing, clearing, 'cc., an-', it is reported, give great satisfaction to their j employer. ! Among the amusing episodes connected with the Hampshire campaign, there is a story to the effect that a distinguished general, passing along the militia encampment, came upon a sentry wo was shovelling about his post in a very irregular manner, and who was carrying his rifle anyhow. Looking sternly at the man, the general asked, “ Don’t they teach you to saints an officer in your regiment ?” The man stoically replied, “ I suppose they do, but you came on me so——sharp that 1 could’t, and I shan’t now.” The Nelson Examiner is in favour of a tax of sixpence per acre on all land in private hands. It asks pertinently:—“ What ‘cockatoo’ would object to siupencc per acre on his small holding, if;dl important necessaries could thereby come to him and his children untaxod? Which of the lordly capitalits wouldnot be starved out by such a tax? The poor man makes his acre bring in so much, that by him the tax would ha unfelt. The capitalist lets his s inure mile produce so little, thatjto him it would he sheer ruin.” Seven photographers in Christchurch have been summoned bfyro the magistrate for possessing unlicensed stills. The defence was that the stills were for distilling water required for the business of photography. Tho Parisian youth sell teeth of the dead Communists as curiosities. Twenty-four sets of Domhrowsld’s have already I con disposed of, and there was a brisk trade in Cluseret’s unlil it was found that he was not dead. It is suggested that the new flag of France shall he a red eagle on a white flag, and that the eagle shall be impressed upon all pieces of money. At a public dinner in a neighboring colony, a very short time since, a gentleman, in proposing tho toast of “The Press,” said : —“lf a newspaper writer he faithful to his trust, honest, fearless, and independent, ho must make enemies, and powerful ones.” This is a decided truth, clearly expressed, r » A Hokitika paper states that Cassius’s claim at Ross is now yielding at the rate of 200 ozs. per week. ' j Fancy symptoms of High Anglicanism in the torrid heats of ‘emi-cannihal Fiji. By private advices the Ballarat Star hears that the Rev. Mr. Floyd has snrpliced assistants in the service at Levuka, a surveyor and a newspaper reporter figuring in that mysterious capacity. The export of m;•■'•••• ’ “ Victoria to England has be-is viewed i with favour.

The performance of the mare Peeress, at the Canterbury Races, is worthy of note. In the race for the Canterbury Cup of three hundred sovs. and sweepstake of 20 sovs. each. Distance two and a quarter miles; she ran a dead heat against Knottingly, in. four minutes twenty seven seconds. At the second fall of the flag Peeress atonce cutout, running at her best pace, going past the stand several lengths in front of her opponent who exerted all his powers to catch her. They went in the same order round the course, tho mare rather increasing than diminishing the gap between them, eventually winning by several lengths., The race was the fastest ever run on the Christchurch course. Time, 4 min. 13 secs. On the 11th inst. the sale of the horses that ran at the late Christchurch mee'ing, according to the Li/ttleton Times, attracted a very large attendance. For Peeress a hona fide bid of 550/. was refused, the reserve being COOL Lacenfeed,, Expectation, and Prima Donna, were sold at prices varying from 55 1, to 30/. and Sir Tatton was disposed of for 195/. Several hom.fitde oilers were ma e for horses from Mr. Walters’s stables, but the oidy sale was a promising chestnut colt by Malton, which was knocked down to Mr. B. Campbell for 105/. The two well-known fillies, Defamation and Gossip, reserved for four hundred guineas, produced biddings to the amount of 350/., at which figure they were withdrawn. They are, however, likely to be purchased for the Otago stables. ■Septimus. Border Lad, and several others, worn sold at prices ranging from 35/. to 15/. The Warnammbool Examiner reports that a Mis. Wilson, of Koroit, was suffering from rheumatism, and while a young girl was engaged rubbing the back of the patient with kerosene, a blaze of lire exhibited itself on the patien', who suffeie 1 severe')’ tor a short time. Medical aid was obta’ned, an 1 she was soon out of danger. ’J he Committee of the House of Repretatives, on the Honorarium question ; have submitted the following lecominendations : “That (be payment of members be fixed at 11)5/, per regular session. 40s. per diem being deducted for each sitting day a member may be absent from attendance, unless the member be prevented from ill e s Special sessions, if any, to be paid at the rate of 20s. per day. That in the opinion of the committee, the scale of payment of members proposed above shall commence from and include the present session, and shall be exclusive of travelling expenses to and from Parliament.” 'The Wellington Independent says : Preserve us from the infliction of ever a ain being compelled to listen to Mr. i -eorge M’Lcan talking against time. Five weary hours were spent in committee discussing the clauses of the Otago Waste Lands Bill, and during that time forty only out of ISS I clauses bad been disposed of, Mr G M'Lc.in I having coveted a space of a' out three hours I in a rambling or rather a rumbling speech, I delivered avowedly with the object of killing time. Snubbim s from all sid- s of the House (which from sundry causes was a very thin one) and frequent castigations from the chairman ofcommitte s, Mr. O’llorks, who really got out cf all patience at such nmu : uffe-s trilling with the time of the committee; we r o unavailing, if puttiugths lion member down was theohjcct Bought. Mr.Sheph-rd appealed to the committee whether they were to compelled to listen to the doleful L ues of such a “ p diiical buffoon." The chairman, of course, immediately called the member for the Duns tan to order. Mr. Shepherd was well aware what the p malfy was, andwi hlrew tho offensive words at once, they having se: veil his purpose in cli.uactons.ng Mr. M’Lcan in suitable teims. We have the authority of Mr Bnthga‘o for saying that Mr M’Lcan was guilty of the hardly excusable egotism of having employed tho words “ I Bay” no less than 219 times in half an hour. The Southland Times sp aks plainly, but most truthfully, cn the defects of the Greville Agency telegrams, especially as shown in the so called news by the last Sre’.Mfi . Ourcontemporarysavs:—Greville and Co. promised great things ; they were to spare no expense in procuring competent agents everywhere .Instcadof tin's, they appear to have selected automatons, capable only of using scissors and paste. We arc now speaking of the telezrams from abroad—the interprovincial ‘system’ is had cnonuh to require an article for itself. Certainly, if a speedy improvement he not effected, it will ho necessary for the press to invoke the aid of the public to assist in abolishing a telegraphic system that is fast becoming rather a nuisance than a convenience. An improvoment was shown in the last summary, i;ia San Francisco ; hut, as regards interprovineial news we may note that our Dunedin telegrams arrive at Clyde on’y about two hours in advance (.four Dunedin xo’.ianges ; from which wo might, if so inclined, extract nearly evey item of news sent us by telegraph, Mr. Alfred Moore, proprietor of the Junction Hotel, corner of Sunderland and Coquet Streets, has now completed si me extensive improvements in his establishment The front of tho building has been decorated in first class style, adding much to the appearance and reaped ability of “ tho corner.” The inside of the Hotel has also been renovated, and at tho rear a very commodious and well arranged stable has been built, with entrances to the yard from either street. Tho travelling public will now find accommodation at the Junction hostelry for man and steed. Mr. Ho A Mee, the “PioneerChinnma.n” has again written to the Daily Times, urging his claim to some remuneration for inducing Chinese immigration ‘o Otago. Ho says : “'I firmly be'ieve that, though your Government may not have taken any interest in the letter, yet some trader poop'o have." It is a pity he does not know the exact feci, ing of respect ontoitainod towards him. Instead of “Oh ami,"' history would be ' Preserve mo.from my friends I" SHomo of tho flour mills in Melbourne have ceased working, owing to'the low price of flour.