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Dunstan Times, Issue 530, 14 June 1872, Page 2

We must again call attention to the scandalous state of the road between Clyde, and Cromwell, and the total inadequacy of the paltry sum voted for its repairs. It is the most dangerous piece of road between Clyde and Queenstown, and not only that, but the worst in condition. There are four men and an one looker-on employed at one place, and two men at another; but certainly not in the worst portions. In some places there are ruts in the road from 30 inches to 3 feet deep—which are impossible to avoid, and should the present frost continue, will by no means improve the pleasure of travelling, and which at night are positively dangerous. How can our Engineer, resident in Invercargill, visiting us perhaps three times during the year, be qualified to judge what is necessary for road maintenance, or bow can unskilled men without direction spend the paltry amount allotted for the purpose to the best advantage. Not only are the easiest portions of the road selected for repair, hut in some cases those where the material for repairs is most difficult to be obtained. Places where good gravel can be easily got, and where the road is in its worst condition are entirely o\ erlooked. Convenience to some, or some other sufficieht reason most probably being the cause. It is evidently time that the Shire System or something similar should be inaugurated.

Considerable dissatisfaction prevails in certain circles anent the General Govern* ment refusing to sanction the reseavos set apart, the Session before last, by our Provincial Government, for educational institutions and other purposes. It will be remembered that one thousand additional acres were set apart this year as an addition to our present University endowment, and five hundred thousand acres for Common Schools. There is little or no doubt but that these reserves will also be disallowed. It is easy to talk of Otago’s rights, and how to secure them : but it is more than a matter of 11 right”—expediency and a wise providence for the exigences of the future. It has been the fashion here to so muddle our land laws that one would imagine the object sought in a great many instances was to get rid of any lands that were not locked up. Otago has already reserved 172,310 acres of land, of which 2,435 are town lands ; while Canterbury, with all her educational and religious instincts, has only reserved some 60,000 acres. Nelson has reserves amounting to 184,610, acres, but of thisamount 14,000acresarecoal reserves ; while the reserves in Auckland amount to some 35,000 acres only. It can not be argued, because 100,000 acres were allowed to be set apart as an University endowment that this could be repeated agaj n

and again with, impunity, more especially when the character of the land of which this endowment was made be taken into consideration. It is doubtless one of the most valuable up-country blocks in tke province—good grass land, intersected with bush ; hill and dale alternating ; and rich in mineral resources. If the railroads aro to be chargeable on the land of the Colony, which they certainly will, the domain of the Crown entrusted to our keeping, should be carefully guarded. This, we imagine, one of the duties that a Governor should zealously discharge. The whole of the waste lands of the province belong to the Crown ; and, though committed to our control, are still under the guardianship, either of our responsible Colonial Government, or of Her Majesty’s representative. Certainly either one or the other ; and, although provinces are allowed to make reserves and alienate Crown lands, it is by sufferance, and not by right. In the telegrams published elsewhere, it will be seen that Mr. Mackay has succeeded in purchasing from Te Hira, Mere Kurn, and others, 150,000 acres of land in Ohenimuri. For four or five years the European population on the Frith of the Thames have looked with longing eyes towards this forbidden land. Te Hira would at- times relent, and allow some wanderer to land on this tabooed spot, but his shrewish sister would start him off again, sometimes denying to a single individual' the rites of Maori hospitality. It will be remembered how they captured and retained possession of Her Majesty’s mail; how the telegrams were carried surreptitiously in a flour bag, bow strongly the te’egraphic construction w r as resisted as an evil conjuring spirit of the Pakeha, and how, -when the Te Aroha dispute was settled, Mere Kuru came down to Auckland and saw this evil spirit of the whites and expressed her disgust at its harmless character. Doubtless, seeing the “civilized Maori partaking freely of money and other white man’s luxuries, her heart relented when her pocket was found empty, and she became emulous of wearing good clothes, and driving a buggy like other Maori magnates, and listening to Mackay's suggestion has alienated many acres of her fatherland. This will be a great boon doubtless to Auckland as the land is not only fertile bnt auriferous. From time to time golden stone and alluvial gold has been brought down to tho Thames, and now that the coveted country has been obtained, we can only hope it'will realise the expectations formed of its value and fertility. Mere Kuru evidently could not withstand the bright colors of her sisters raiment and bonnet strings, and so sold her birth-right for a mess of pottage. Mr. D. M‘Pherson is pushing ahead most energetically with the works in connection with his punt. A new road and landing place on the West side of the river is al ready made, while on the opposite bank the work is being vigorously prosecuted. To add to the carrying capacity of his punt a third boat we believe is to be added. Should this be done, people have not to wait for such a length of time before they can cross, and some of the tolls reduced, a great benefit will be conferred on Clyde. The improvement in the roadway and footpaths in the neighborhood of the Camp Reserve, carried on by the prisoners under the supervision of Mr. Madigan, is particularly noticeable. It is to be regretted the good work was not began sooner. Dry footpaths and good roads should be the rule and not the exception. It is to he hoped nothing will transpire that will prevent our prison labor being so well directed. When prisoners perform works of public utility, they may be considered to become partially self-supporting. The cost of their guardianship we suppose would he too much to expect from them as they would probably be pleased to dispense with it. Our Wakatip contemporary we presume, publishes a third or fourth leader on its third page, as it otherwise would surely not have rated us so soundly for a “communication” that appeared in the third page of our issue of the 31 of May. We expressed our opinion plainly on Mr. Hallenstcin’s election, and Mr. Macassey’s defeat in our issue of the 22nd ofj.March. “remarking it i s gratifying to note the election has roused the electors to a true sense of their privileges and has resulted in the choice of a member who has every claim to he considered a representative one. ” Our contemporary may criticise us as much as may be deemed profitable, but should hesitate to foist on us opinions foreign to those we are known to advocate. Whether “ free lances” may have never contributed to the columns of the Ma'A, we should he afraid to deny or affirm; but if the editor has to do all the work of the Mail, we can only say he is to ho pitied- “Free lances” often prove mighty in battle ; and ara the author of the best contributions to the Newspaper World. The Arrow Miners’ Association lias always appeared to be more zealous and energetic than their brethren, and, from the publication of their Standing Orders they still wish to keep in tho van. Concerted ac'i however, appears necessary by the various Associations, so that a uniform code of laws could be adopted, and a central place chosen where delegates from the various Assaciations could meet and define the course of action that should he adopted when circumstances required their interference. The “Orders” resemble. most others ; but we imagine these associations will require a stronger bond of cohesion than mere voluntary attendance, or the passing of “ Standing Orders”—something resembling mutual benefit societies, by which fines can be levied, aid afforded, and a control vested in some duly constituted head. We are particularly requested to draw attention to the Subscription Ball, to take pjace at the Town Hall, on Friday evening next, the 21st instant. It is to be hoped that there will be a large number of tickets sold, tho proceeds being for the benefit of the Clyde School Building, Fund.—See ad- ; vertisement.

Mr. James Holt, the lessee of the Clyde Coal Pit has struck coal in his new shaft at a depth of 135 feet. This shaft which is within a few feet of 'the road level of the main street will, when in working order, he a great boon. The difficulty and labor of dragging the coal from the river level to the street will be obviated. Waggons outside the town will peculiarly feel the benefitThe shaft is C feet G in. by 4 feet, and is slabbed all the way down—the sinking remarkably good. It is possible that this shaft may yet be the means of testing the auriferous character of the Duns tan-flat. The following extraordinary accident be fel a miner named Slowley, who works as a “hatter” about eight miles below the Beau-' mont ferry. On the afternoon of the 29th ult. he shot at a wild boar which being hit turned on him. He was then standing on the face of his claim and either had to wait for the attack of the brute or jump down to the beach, a depth of twentytive feet. He chose the latter course, which resulted in his sustaining several injuries. Badly hurt as he was he crawleda distance of fourmiles over some very bad country to the house of the nearest neighbor, and is now under the care ef Dr Halley pf Lawrence. At a meeting of the Waste Lands Board, held on the 6th inst., the following matters of local interest were treated with “ The Land Officer of the Clyde District wrote, returning Messrs. Wrightson and Co.’s coal lease, in consequence of. being unable to obtain the necessary signatures to the same. It was pointed out that the applicants for the lease in question were in the position of trespassers on the ground ; and it was resolved that, unless the lease was signed forthwith, they should be ejected and their deposit forfeited.—The application of Mr. M ‘Pherson, to place a wire rope across the Clutha, at a point lower down than the spot he now occupies, was granted, with exclusive privilege only to the spot on which the wire wonld actually be erected. The Waikato Times tells an amusing story of a case of “pounding.” It says.—“ The following took place in one of the townships in the Waikato: Two individuals found some cattle on their land and determined to impound them. The cattle were rather wild, and they drove an old cow as a decoy. They succeded in getting thecattle into, the pound and feeling rather fatigued with their exertions, they adjourned to a public-house to refresh the inner man leaving the cow outside. Thepoundkeeper came alongduiingthe time they were imbibing and impounded the old cow’. The termination of the affair was the pounding of the pound-keper. This is the most complete case of “pounding” we have been called upon to record. ’ ’ Mr. George Fache announces an auction sale of first-class fruit and forest trees, to be held at his private residence, Sunderlandstreet, Glydc, on Tuesday next. The trees are locally grown and healthy,'and are consequently peculiarly advantageous for planting in the district.

We extract the following from Daily Times Telegrams. “The Seagull, arived at Auckland from Fiji,’reports that H.M.S. Cossack had arrived at Levuka. Thurston has joined the Ministry. Another collision with the Government was narrowly escaped. A man named Blair, who was imprisond for debt being allowed to refresh himself daily at an adjoiming hotel, quickly walkto Key's Hotel, the head quarters of the British Settlers Protective Society. The Government seat to arrest him, but the arrest was resisted by a large body of armed members of the Society who had assembled. A large armed Fijian Government force was brought out, and also four pieces of cannon loaded with grape. The Cossack's marines landed to protect the Consulate if necessary The Government recalled its force, wnich had been turned out without authority by the officer in command. Next day a public meeting was held aud a deputation waited upon Captain Douglas on board the Cossack. They expressed an anxiety to have the present dangerous state of affairs put an end to, and said they were quite willing to obey a Government recognised by England, asking him to carry out their wishes. Captain Douglas replied that he was very well pleased the settlers had waited on him, and promised he would do all ho could to put an end to the present difficulties. The cotton crop is very heavy, and it is anticipated that there will be an excess-of 40,0(10/, or 50,000/, over last year’s yield. The Parliament was about to meet. Every district is now represented, all the chiefs having given their submission to the Government. Frank a Cuban Creole, and cook on board the Marion Benny, was found guilty of murdering Captain Muir, of the cutter Alert in a quarrel in Levuka Harbour and sentenced to death.

There having heen a controversy raging in Victoria as to whether gold-mining pays or not, the following letter in the Argun pretty satisfactorily disposes of the question—more effectually so than the view adopted by the Leader : —“While entirely agreeing with you in denouncing the fallacy of Mr. Stevenscu’s ‘conviction’ as to the cost of raising our great staple exceeding its value, it occurs to me that you have overlooked one very important fact, which is this : If the current wages of a laborer in this colony can be put down at 455. a week, or 117b a year, it is to gold-mining that this is due. Therefore it is unfair to our leading industry to make what is its own product a witness against itself. The fair way is to take mining wages in England say 13s. a week—and see what the 58,270 persons engaged in mining labor would earn at that rate. You will find that it comes to 2,272,189/., which, if deducted from our gold produce of last year, leaves a balance in favor of gold-mining in Yictorio, as compared with tin and copper mining in Cornwall, of no less than 3,150,798/..—1 am, ike.—Miner.”

The trial of Minor, the American, for the Lambeth murder has been postponed, to allow of the arrival of witnesses, who will it is said, testify to the mental irresponsibility of the accused.

, -.Up to the time of our going to pre neither of the Mails had arrived. | . The City of Melbourne will be seen by , telegraphic- despatches has arrived at Auck , land, and we are Informed she has brought the Suez Mail, but the telegraph wires are down. We are also informed the wires are down between Christchurch apd Hokitika. Whatever the former sentence • may mean we cannot venture to predict; but the very heavy fall ef snow that has doubtless taken place from the North: maw aecouht for the stoppage of communication between here and Hokitika also. Our Blacks correspondent informs us that the Homeward Bound Company (formerly the Try Again Company) have struck first-rate gold, and that the stuff they are now getting out. is expected to yield from eight to ten ounces to the load. The sale of a horse in the Estate of re Eidley Riley, as published in our las " is indefinitely postponed. We have been shewn an invention bj Mr. Aldridge, of Clyde, of an improved stt ainer for meuding broken wires in wire fi nces. It is compact, weighing only a few p' unds, and is worked by means of a rat cl i A attaehedjto the tightening drum. The|one end of the wire being fastened to the vice which forms one end of the machine, the other end of the wire is put througha hole drilled for the purpose in the centre of the drum. The revolutions of the drum obtained by leverage of course tightens the wires, when a double clip tightened by screws secures the tightened wires until they are joined. It is well worthy the attention of runholders—and should it answer as well as expected, prove a valuable invention by by the saving of labor and time. Things seem to be improving at Martin’s Bay. Lately two persons applied to the Waste Lands Board to purchase one hundred acres- (each) of land in the Hollyford District, and both the applications were granted, The Water upply for the Thames goldfield will not, we believe, be made under “ I lie Immigration and Public Works Act” but charged on Provincial Revenue. It is presumed that it will be remunerative on formation, and as such form a means of surplus revenue. The water is to be brought in on the “ low level,” and the felling the timber and the clearing of the line has been already commenced. We do not for a moment anticipate that its cost wiil be charged to th» 300,000/. fund more erpecially when this gold-field| {gave some 12,311.. in dividends the last month.