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Dunstan Times, Issue 508, 12 January 1872, Page 2

The sun during the past week has Leen of a verity doing his best to make amends for any lack of seasonable duty in the early part of the summer. With the thermometer at 100 to 120, his vigorous rays arc anything but invigorating to the denizens of this shadeless region, and the result is to produce a general ennui— an epidemical collapse into a state of do-nothingness, except to swelter through the long summer day, with little zest for any labor beyond the frequent imbibition of cooling drinks, and alanguid exchange of sympathetic commiseration with fellow beings in boiled lobster like condition, Whal a glorious chance presents itself for some inventive genius who would bless his suffering fellow men, with a portable refrigerating colitrivance ; something that could be put oft and off at pleasure. So that let the day be never so hot, we might with calm and placid serenity, brave the potency of old Sol’s far and fierce attacks upon our comfort. From time to time suggestions have been made to adorn some of our streets with trees. The project has not been received with favor in certain quarters, but if anything would predispose the objectors to listen to a proposal which has so much, both on the ground of usefulness and beauty to commend it. it is the present aspect of our unsheltered tb ore ugh fares. The glare from iron roof and printed wall is

oppressively severe, and makes the heat of the day still more unbearable. Why may we not enjoy the grateful shade of “ Under der Linden ” hero as elsewhere ? Drawbacks there may be, but they would be more than counterbalanced by the advantages. Death has been busy among us of late On Sunday morning last the tidings were borne from house to house, that Mrs. C. P. Johnson had been called away. The decease L who had been ailing for many months past, had expressed a desire a few days ago to be taken to Monte Christo Farm, for change of air, but on Sunday morning, with but slight premonitory tokens of approaching death ; she peacefully departed this life, with apparently little suffering. The funeral took place on Monday afternoon, and her mortal remains were followed to the grave by a very numerous attendance of both male and feraa'e friends and ac quaintances, anxious to testify their respect for the memory of the departed. In the unavoidable absence of Father Royer, the service of the dead was impressively rendered by Mr. J. D. Feraud/ Another of the old Dunstan 'notabilitie has gone the way of all flesh. Noah Lingard, familiarly known as “ old Jackey” ; was conveyed to his last earthly resting place on Sunday Last ; followed to the grave by a number of Clyde residents, of whose bounty and good nature Jackey had been a not ungrateful recipient for some years past. The life of deceased, if placed on record ; would prove a ‘ strange eventful history'.' A tale of of early temptation, crime, punishment, excess of riot,outlawry, poverty, and disease, not often paralelled Drifting at last away from evil associates, and weakened in mind and body ; he hail for the past few depended mainly for support on public charity ; and it is only just to add, that whatever m ay have been his past misdeeds ;*Jackey never robbed the hands of these that fed him. He died as he live!, a mere stray waif of poor humanity, unwept and uncared for. From Conroys Gulley no news of any importance is to hand, the tunnel at the lower level is being'pushed ahead vigorously, during the next week the reef is expected will be struck, when crushing will be again proceeded with' At the last meeting of the Waste Lands Board, with regard to a dispute between Messrs. Marie and La Fontain, it was decided that their lease should be cancelled if not properly signed within two weeks. In consequence of the vacation of his seat in the House of Representatives bv Mr. I Laughton, an electoral contest will take place in the Wakatip district. The candidates at present, r.amelia re Messrs. Hallensteiu, Miller, Cope, and Barton. Mr. Mallaghan will be a candidate for the seat for the Lakes in the Provincial Council. The Bishop of Dunedin, the Right Rev. Samuel Tarratt Ntvili, M. A. of Magdalene College, hadQthe degree of Doctor of Divinity conferred upon him at a concrecatiou belli on the 2Jth of October. The degree of Doctor of Divinity (Jure Diynitatis) was also conferred upon him. We have received copies of Reith and Wilkie’s and Mackay’s Almanacs from Mr. M. Marshall. Both public dims present iu many respects improvements upon last year’s editions, and are full of practical information. A trotting match for I Of. a si lo took place on Friday last, from Black’s No. 1 to Dry-bread, a distance of eight miles—measured. Tne match was against time, Mr. J. Mellor backing his horse Tommy to do the distance within half an hour. Dan 0 Brien mounted the game little horse, and landed him a winner, having covered the distance (only breaking once) in twenty-six minutes forty-eight seconds. A good'deal of money changed hands. Under the amended regulations of the Land Transfer Actwhich came into operation on the Ist instant it is provided that : “in all cases where application is made to bring land under Hie "Act by any person entitled at law'thereto,and the certificate of title is directed to issue and is issued in the name of the applicant, the fees for bringing such land under the Act, with the exception of the-‘Application Fee,” may, at the option of the applicant, remain unpaid until such land is dealt with by' him as registered proprietor. Ihe District Land- Registrar shaii retain any such certificate of title until the fees due upon the same have been paid, and until such payment, shall not register any dealing with the land included in such certificate of title.” Hitherto, persons who have no present intention of dealing with their land have naturally hesitated to go to the expense of bringing it under the Act. The new regulation enables such persons on pay'ment only of the application foe of ss, to secure an indefeasible Government title te their land and to place it under a system which enable? it to he sold,let, or mortgaged at the cost ofa few shillings, and with the leastpossitiledelay'. Thebalanceof the feeseanromain unpaid for an indefinite period so Lmg as the land is not dealt with. The Star says that Mr. Birch and Mr. Seaton have gone home, paying their own passages, and holding no appointment ; but takinS with them letters of recommendation from the General Government to the AgentGeneral, Dr. Featherstsu, with whom it is puite optional to employ them or not on immigration business It is also left to him to assess the value of their services (if any), and to remunerate them accordingly, Mr. G rundy has besu app Anted Depas. Turing Inspector for the Tuapeka district, and Mr. M'Ardell for the Wakatip district. Mr. H inghton, Under Secretary for the gold-fields, will make ;a complete tour of the gold-fields of this Province, in the course of which ho w ill visit the various Wardenas Courts in connection with the special arrangements w'hich are to he made for water supply. He will then proceed to Hokitika, to perform alike duty in regards to the West Coast gold-fields.