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Dunstan Times, Issue 504, 15 December 1871, Page 2

| We are requests l.y '!t. SlnTSuu.it; a” memlwof' the School Committee, to acknowledge' with thanks, a cheque hr 17/. Cs. 6d., being net proceeds of the DunBand of Hope “ Kettle Drum” in aid of tho School Funds. We call particular attention to the 19th clause of the new ‘‘Stamp Act,” which provides that,--Upon the sale or transfer of any funds, stock, or property of any corporation, company, or society in New Zealand, or of any shares in any goldmining claim or other property held by virtue of a miner’s right or business license, the full amount of purchase money er consideration shall be set forth in the instrument of sale or transfer, and if in any case the full purchase money is not set for‘h, the purchaser and seller shall be liable' to forfeit the sum of 50/., and also be liable to the payment of five times the amount of the excess of duty which would have been payable. It further provides that an)' person giving information shall be rewarded to the extent of one-half the fine recovered. An exceedingly narrow escape from fire occured on Tuesday evening, at the cottage occupied by Mr. Byars. During the day a fire had been lighted in a small portable grate standingin thegardenand theemhers, to all appearance, carefully extinguished. But the sudden gusts of wind evidently fanned some lingering sparks into a blaze, and a heavier squad than usual sent some of the burning fragments whirling into a corner, where some wood and odds and ends were stacked, against the side of the building. Mrs. Byars, hearing the faint sound of crackling wood, first attributed the noise to rats nibbling beneath the floor; but at last smelling the burning wood, she rushed out ami saw a steady blaze at the house side. With some presence of mind she seized a heavy rug, , and euegetically boat the flames back, meanwhile cooeying loudly for assistance. Tho policemen of the camp were promptly on the spot, with buckets of water and the fire was soon extinguished, with but trifling loss. A few moments delay, and tho well known Red House would have been in ashes. The owner of 'hennari’s old run, Manuk - crika, the Hon., Robert Campbell, and whp owns by for the largest extent of runs in in New Zealand, will, according to one of tho Tokomariro papers, clip five hundred thousand sheep this season. The late rise, in value upon wool, say 6d a lb. upon an average yield of 4lbs., will thus represent for the year. 50,000/ of a profit upon last year’s returns. Recent reports give good news from; Little Pomahaka, where some twenty-five' to thirty men arc engaged mining. The earnings average-from 12/ to 20/ pcrwSek, and the ground seems rather- to improve than, otherwise. -•

The heaviest gale of wind that has prevailed hero,for a long time past, occurred on Tuesday evening, the atmosphere was surcharged with heavy 'clouds of dust, which, the wind with unrelenting violence sent whirling into every nook and cranny. Outdoor locomotion was well nigh impossible, and every one sought the shelter of their homes. About eleven o'clock however, there was heard the startling cry of “ Fire, ” followed by the ominous pealing of the alarm bolls. People hurrying in hot haste to the streets, beheld a stong glare of light just below the Camp, and the cry arose, it’s Mr. Pyke’s place ! An instant rush thither ensued, but fortunately, it turned out that the blaze was but a small one. A tent at the back of the Survey office, had by some means caught tire, and in a very few minutes was consumed. The police were most promptly on the spot, and a supply of water being close at hand, all danger was quickly overcome, and the frightened townsmen returned to their beds thankful that the fire had been no nearer their own dwelling places. On reference to our advertising columns, a programme of Races and Sports appears, issued by the Alexand.a Rates Committee, which will take place on New Year’s day. The residents m the Nokomai District have liberally contributed 331 to the funds of the Wakatip Hospital. A raid among the Chinamen at Bannockburn and Adams’s Creek recently, resulted in about thirty being compelled to take out miners rights. Mr. Fachc disposed of, by public auction, on Wednesday last, at the Port Phillip Hotel, the right to occupy the Grand Stand during the ensuing Race Meeting realizing the very handsome sum of 1431, asfoUows:— Stand, 1321; Horse Paddock, 81; right to issue Cards, 31,. The recent races at Sandhurst were run amid pouring rain, and a great portion of the course was covered with water. We call attention to the attractive programme issued by tbe Drybread Race Committee for the 2nd and 3rd proximo. It will bo seen that some liberal prizes are offered, and the Stewards are gentlemen not likely to risk failure from lack of energy or good experience in all things conducing to the success of racing events. In addition to the races, a series of Athletic Sports will be hold on the second day. “Mr. G. F. Reid has been appointed delegate for the Wakatip Hospital, to co-operate with the delegates from Dunstan and Tuapeka Hospitals in endeavoring to obtain from Government a speoialgrautinlieuof subsidy of 21 to 11 from March last to the end of September.” A nugget weighing sixteen pennyweights, and four others weighing six penny weights I each, were found in Harrison’s claim, on the i Arrow River, last week. | At the last monthly meeting of the Arrow District Miners Association; The Secretary was directed to ascertain from the General Government whether any expressions of opinion emanating from the Association in reference tothe new Gold-Fields Act would meet with consideration, j The Arrow Observer referring to, fin Yor-~ : mation of Minin# dissociation says : those Wakes will not attempt too much ! but only deal in matters that immediately ; concern the interests of those with whont they are associated, we are very sure that the most lunefical results will follow. The Emperor Nepoleon declared in conversation ou the. 22nd of October that he considered himself the Soverign of Franee, and says that no decision of the Chambers, but only a plebiscite, could change the situation. The passengers on hoard the Rangoon at the time of. ho" loos have forwarded from Galle a letter to the directors of the P. and 0. Company in London, complaining of the insufficiency of the efforts made by the company’s officials-? on shore to preserve their lives and property, Subscription lists headed by an appeal to the sympathies ofthe Mining community on behalf of John Ewing, committed for trial for shooting and wounding the Chinese gold robber, at St. Bithan’s ; have been forwarded to all the principal places of business throughout the Gold-fields. Any one interested in giving a donation, will find a list lying at Mr. George Clark's. The Mount Ida Chronicle states that a considerable sxodus from Hyde, Hamilton, and other places, has set in for a locality situated on the Rook and Pillar Range ; above the Sowburn, but no reliable information has yet come to hand as to the richness of the new ground. We are requested to contradict the statement made in certain quarters, that the School Committee “ not even »o much as purchased a ticket ” for the Band of Hope Celebration on behalf of the School Funds. The majority of the Committee were present on the occasion. The right to the Grand Stand at the Cromwell Races, was sold to Mr. Smitham for 106k Is. ; Mr. Dagg purchasing the saddling paddock for 9/. 10s. The cards realised 41. 12s. fid. The sweepstakes of 201. each, between Coclough’s Fenian, Newton’s Tonic, and T. Logan’s Reefer Boy, came off on the Cromwell course on Monday last, and excited much interest, and was won easily by Fenian, Reefer coming in second. Wo hear that a match has been arranged between the Clyde maro Brunette, and Fenian, to come 'off on tho Cromwell course to-morrow afternoon. Many complaints are made as to the little publicity given to the dates of the district pound sales. The Gazettes in which such notices are presumed to be published, ■scarcely ever reach tho hands of those most interested in tho sales, and the method of describing impounded stock therein is exceedingly ivjagno and unreliable. At Jamieson', Victoria, the local Justices of the, Pence, have decided.that a County Court bailiff cannqt., seize, property under distress by -deputy bailiff.