THE LAKES.

Dunstan Times, Issue 512, 9 February 1872, Page 2

THE LAKES.

—o — Feb. 5. Since the resignation of Mr. Ilaughton, almost everybody has become a politician, our ■wants and grievances have all been : looked up, and the difficulty is who is to bo the man to redress them. Only two are in the field at present, there was a third, a Mr. Shepherd, not “ your smiler”, but ho has withdrawn. 1 fancy he discovered that his supporters were not in earnest. Mr. Bendix Hallenstein, anil Mr. James Miller are the gentlemen that have declared themselves, but their chances arc not very good, should any other well known person come into the field. The feud- between A’-row and Queenstown would keep out the former while the latter is but very little known, except as a professional runner and jumper at athletic sports, you must have seen him at Cromwell and the Dunstau before ho 1 ecame a resident here. Of course it does

not militate against a man because he is a professional athlete, why should wo not have muscular representation as well as muscular Christianity. Mr. Macassey, <f Dunedin, is talked about, but we have enough lawyers in the House, people hero have had such a surfeit of law lately that I think -dr. Macassey's chance is thereby considerably lessened. However, there is plenty of time for eligible candidates to show up before the day of nomination. Arrowtown, I mean the township proper, has been going ahead of late, not only in improvements, but in business matters. Our storekeepers have become quite energetic, and have laid the gauntlet with their confreres at Queenstown. The contest has been for the Shotover trade, which is more than half diverted to the Arrow ; people have at last discovered what was a well ascertained fact years ago, that Arrowtown is the mo-t convenient starting place for the Shotover. Cardrona has also become a good customer to us. Supplies can bo ohtained there from the Arrow as cheap as from Dunedin, and in lots to suit the tastes of the purchasers. Packing has arrived at great perfection, the rates to Cardrona being 51. per ton, Macetown 41. ; Shotover 61. The trade of the town supports two largo pack trains, besides a number of horses kept by traders themseles. Every morning the main street presents a most animated appearance, putting one in mind of the “good old times”. Arrowtown redivivus, what do you think of that. Our Improvement Committee, what every b< d j thought was defunct assembled togetbe ■ on Friday night last, bent upon looking after the interests of the place. No moncj s voted for roads have been expended as yet, the roads remain unmended, at the same time the highways and byeways of Queenstown are being beautifully levelled at the Government expense. To see seven men and a hore and dray for months past gravelling the roads round Qm enstown, while there exists ruts about the Arrow sufficiency capacious to engulf a horse and cart was enough to spur any Committee to action. And I can only hope that they will not leave the Government alone until Arrowtown receives its proportion of the moneys voted for its local improvements. The new Post and Telegraph Office is being rapidly proceeded with, and promises to be an ornament to the town. A municipality n talked about, and from what 1 can learn is just the thing than is wanted to putmatters straight.

The harvest, that is the next important matter, reaping has been going on for the last fortnight, and notwithstadning that there are grumblers, the farmers should rest satisfied, some of them have splendid crops especially in early sown wheat. Oats as a rule are light, owing to the great drought this has happily broken up, bnt too late to do any good to anything else but the potatoes and turnips, of tha former there ia a good breadth planted.

ARRIVAL OF THE* ENGLISH MAIL, VIA SAN FRANCISCO. BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. (Per Gbeville ife Co.) AycKLAXD, 3 p.m. (Via Katikati). The Nevada arrived on Feb. 7, she encountered boisterous weather both ways. She was detained five days at Honolulu, waiting the arrival of the branch steamer. Passengers for Auckland Mrs. Havil), L Haseltnerej Bacon. 0. Cook, Ronar, Neistard, J. Hotdricht, R. Rule,. For Lyttleton—W. Howell, and twenty for Australia. Freight— eleven for Southern Ports, and 234 packagesf or Australia. She brings telegraphic news to Jan G. The East Lothian was loading for Auckland. Kerosene. 31 cents. Wool active. Stock, New Zealand, on hand, 40,000 lbs. at 58c., and 59c. N.Z Flax, quiet, sold at 10c. Stock, 3G50 bales. London, Dec, 21. Produce markets less active, prices irregular. Wool quiet, but very firm. Tallow, quiet, 40s. for sheep, 4Gs 3d. for beef. San Francisco, Jan. G. The last steamer brought G4,0001b. of woo], Gl,ooolb. of which went to Boston. It is supposed that Australian wool will not suit this market, unless the duty be reduced. Some hopes are entertained that this wili lie done during the present Session of Congress. Orders sent to Australia for tallow have been countermanded, in consequence of the imposition of a duty of one per cent Flour.—Local brands : Superfine, sdol. 75c. to Gdol.; extra, 7dais, in cisksof 1761b. Wheat, 2dol. 'oc. to 2dol. 30c. per loOlb. Barley, Idol. 70c. to Idol. 85c, per 1001b. Oats, no sales. Nominal rates, Idol. 73c. to Idol. 90c per 1001b. Liverpool. Jan. C. Wheat, 12s. Ltd. Flax, Devit and Hilt on December 24, quote sal s per England from Lyttleton—Stewart, WA. £22 to £22 ss. H. and C <’> A. £2O 10s. il. and Co„ G.,26/. Per Crusader from Wellington, S.S.T L., 51. 5s and 36/. A.8.C., 39/. T X P. B.V.K. 32 1. F.M. Gust Mills, 30/. 15/. K.H., 30/. W. and G.. 29/. 15s. J. A. and G.H.8., 26/. S.H.S., 27/. 15s. J. and J.T.W., 25/. 5s to 25/. 10s. W. and Co., 25/ M A.M.H., 22/. 10s. Per Wild Deer from Dunedin. 8., 32/. 5s S., 31/. 5.11., 29/. 15s. Wool Flemu th chwartz reports that the series opened with an average rise of Id. per Ib. on closing rates of the preceding sales, and very slight fluctuations. It is expected that the ad vance will be fully maintained throughout. New Zeala»d securities, N.Z. 1891, 5 per 1 cent, closing prices 110 to 112, ditto 102 103. ditto consolidated 102 103. G per cent. 1811, 11., 114,, ditto 1811, 111.114. New Z ‘aland agency, |to per cent. New Zealand Trust Loan 11s IJd. to 13s. 4d. The Otago and Southland Investment J to | per cent. Shipping.—Sailed, Crusader for Canterbury. Entered for Otago, Sir William Wallace* for Port Chalmers, Wild Deer. ENGLISH SUMMARY. The Prince of Wales is convalescent his recovery was retarded by a painful affliction in the hip. The Archbishop of Canterbury ordered discontinuance of special prayers lor his recovery on Dec 28. The papers have published a letter from Her Mgesty Queen Victoria, in which she gpys, she desires to express her deep sense of the touching sympathy exhibit,ad to her family by all nations, and for her dear son. The feeling, says the Queen, shown by the people during the painful terrible days of the Princes illness, and their sympathy with herself an 1 beloved daughter the Princess of Wales, and the joy minifested on the improved health of the Prince, made a deep and ineffaceable impression upon her heart. The manifestations of the people were nothing new to her—she met with the same sympathy ten years ago, when a similar illness had removed from life her best, wisest, and kindest husband that ever lived. A letter has been published, the writer informed on authority by one well posted regarding secret Societies in Europe, that the Prince of Wales was not suffering from typhoid fever, but from attempted poisoning by a secret agent of the International Society, and that the organization said, that they were resolved upon the death of the Peine-*, and the public as sertions of some of the members was urged as corroboration. The Herald editorially declines to endorse the story. The Mail Steamer from the Capo brings intelligence of the treaty of the annexation of the African diamond country to the British—it being finally concluded, produced much excitement in the territory. Brand, President of the Free State, has issued a formal protest against the transfer to Great Britain.

Gold has been discovered in. considerable quactiUear in the Fdbsvaal

Republic territory, and the report has attracted a largo number of the more adventurous. i The diamond-seekers are abandoning the diamond districts for the newly discovered gold country. Alarmed at Gladstone’s republican tei dencies, the Conservative party, led by the Duke of Somerset and Viscount Halifax, are seeking to tom a coalition with the T< ‘lies' for the purpose of electing Boiiverie Speaker fof the House of Commons, instead of Brand, and compel the ret’rement of Mr. Gladstone, A letter from Cairo, Egypt, states a report is current that Sir Samuel Baker and the men comprising expedi tion for the exploration of Central Africa and the head waters of the Ni'e had died of starvation. One report is that the men mutinied, and shot Baker ; another states that only Baker and his wife are left ot the expedition. / At. the installation of the Con servative Mayor of Limerick a tnraul toons mob altern Rely hissed on the mention of the Prince of Wales, and cheered at the home rule. The ship Edward foundered off Falmouth, with the Joss of all hauls. At Glasgow, a large waggon propelled by steam, carrying heavy boilers whilst passing through the street was surrounded and followed by a throng of children, the boiler exploded killing five children a d seriously injuring seven othera, whose recovery is doubtful Grand demonstration took jilace in honor of Sir Charles Dilke. The floor in the crowded court room at the City Claghan, Leitrim. Ireland, gave way during a trial, precipital ing three hundred people a distance of forty feet. The number killed is unknown, thirty are badly injured, most of them fatally. The ! overnment having refused a half, the Royal Geographical Society organised a search for Livingstone, and appe l to the people for assistance. Great efforts are made to start the expedition this month Ex Emperor Napoleon, on New Year’s day is reported to have said, “I will give Thiers six months’ (’residency of the French Republic, and by that time Gambetti w 11 lie in his p’ace, and the change will be in favor of the Imperial cause.” FRANCE. The Income Tax has been rejected by the Assembly. Thiers spoke strongly against it, The circulation of the Rank of France has been increased bv the Assembly to four hundred million francs. An attempt was made in the town of Charlvillo to assassinate a corporal and trumpeter of a Bavarian regiment quartered at that place. The German military authorities have com menced a serious investigation of the affair. The reported outrages upon troops in the occupation of the Departments, lias caused the issuance of orders providing tin severe punishment of all persons guilty of offences. One hundred aie in custody of the Germans taken as hostages for outrages. Summary proceedings will bo taken in cases of murder, unless the acnial offenders are surrendered before the 27th, the hostages will be court marshalled. Bismarck declares unless these horrible outrages cease, the army of occupation of such Pro vinces, the expense of their support paid by Franco shall be doubled Algiers despatches report success over the rebels ; two chiefs and 150 hois s were killed. The Germans are making by census private fortunes, while wealthier citizens are invaded with debts. Negoci I'ions are on foot for creating a I bank des Communes, with a colossal capital < )ne principality has already subscribed forty million francs. The objects of the Institution is to release the credit of the Communes for municipal purposes. An uproarious scene took place in the Assembly on the occasion of the reading of a large number of petitions praying tor the restoration of a monarchy. Some of the petitions want ed the Count do Chambord, others, the Count de Paris as King. jjTho pre sentation of rival claims excited parisans of both Princes to frequent demonstrations, while the Republican Radicals made a noisy opposition to the reading. The election of Victor Hugo was considered almost certain. The select committee appointed to con sider the method of forming a new Constitution made a report, *®hich rejects a plebiscitum. GENERAL FOREIGN NEWS. The German expedition to Venezuela will be commenced to enforce the national claims against the Government of the South American Republic. The ladies of Strasbourg have organised a Committee to receive subscriptions, towards the payment of the French indemnity. ROME. The army budget has been passed. The Minister of War declared no reason to begin aggression on the part of France. The Italian A rehbishop and Bishops waited on the King at Christmas, and presented congratulations of the season The king hasreceived visitors and members ot Parliament and the chief Government officials. Mazzini is seriously ill. , A special ambassador was sent to the King . to. tender congraulations The. Pcpe who unable I to ixc-'ive the visits of the ambassador.

received Antonelli. Cyrus Field gave a banquet to the telegraph conference in Rome; there were twenty one countries and twenty languages presentAMERICAN NEWS. Mr. Fisk, jun., the great railway speculator, has been shot by Edward Stokes, in the vestibule of the Grand Central Hotel, New York. The.assassin tired three shots, and the victim expired the next morning. Stokes was arrested. The cause of the outrage is said to be that the Grand Jury found an indictment against Stokes and Miss Mansfield for aitemp to impose black mail. ■ Fisk’s funeral procession was a mile long The revolution in Mexic > still continues A despatch from Mice states that Trevin will inarch on Lenares, with t«n thousand men, to attack Milamurs. Henegosa, with six thousand men, will co-operate. Queoruga has retired from Mier. Cortina is going to occupy that place. Great snow storm on the Central Pacific Railway. The passengers turned out of the carriages, and shovelled the snow for three days Twenty-eight locomotives smashed in ploughing through snow drifts. Not a single snow plough on the Union Pacific. One gentleman having had nothing to eat for several days, became sick. Half-a-dollar was charged for a cup of coffee, and the same f r a 'oaf of bread. Some of the passengers were fourteen days on the train. A New York despatch from London says that the total number of deaths from small-pox in London during the lost year was eight thousand, the average for ninety-one years proceeding being six thousand. A medical journal calls attention to the alarming increase, warns the public that it is necessary to use every precaution, and appeals to the Government to interpose rigid sanitary regulations. ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE [We do not identify ourselves with the opinions that may be expressed by our correspondents.] THE DUNSTAN DISTRICT MINING ASSOCIATION. *— O* — (to the EDITOR OF THE DUNSTAN TIMES.) Sir, —At a meeting, hold on the sth inst., of the Committee of the above-named Association, on discussing the subject of the Government granting the agricultural lease toHanlan, in the Leaning Rock District, in face of the opposition raised and of the memorial forwarded to the Superintendent, resolved to take further steps to get that and other leases granted on auriferous land cancelled where necessary, and to stop (if possible) any further leasing in that district ; and it was also resolved that the main particulars of the above case should be published in some of the mining journals of the province. Mr. Uanlan applied to the Warden at Clyde for an agricultural lease of forty acres, which was objected to by a few parties, who knew that thatand the greater por ttou oftheland in the same locality, already leased, was auriferous. The objection was not sustained by the Warden, who granted the application. A memorial to the Superintendent was got up by the objectors, and presented by Mr. T. L. Shepherd, M.P.C. for the district, and, notwithstanding that it was done almost in a day, owing to Mr. Shepherd being about to leave Dunedin, it was numerously signed. The memorial was sent back by the Government to the Warden, for him to report upon. Intimation of the same was received from the Warden by the principal objector, who replied that he would, if the Warden desired, produce further evidence of the auriferous nature of the ground, and trusted the Warden would report fa vorably as to the memorial. The latter replied: “ I want no further evidence. My report is gone.” Mr. Shepherd now informs us that the lease has been granted by the Government The above-named Committee have asked the Superintendent to re-open the case, and should the request be acceded to, the result may be different. The Committee would also publicly state that they are of opinion neither the Warden nor the Government have acted fairly in the mattei, or, when the objections were raised, a more full investigation would have been held. I am, R-c., J. ALEXANDER, Secretary. Clyde, Feb. 7, 1872.