Untitled

Dunstan Times, Issue 546, 4 October 1872, Page 2

In or issue of the 20th ultimo, we publi bed a report of the inquest on the late fire in Snmlerland-street, and gave os the verdict— “ There : s no evidence to connect the accused William Duffy with the fire.” By request we correct the same. It should have read—“ There is no evidence to ac count for the origin of the file.” Among the measures being considered by the House of Representatives, is one inentituled “ The Miners’ Right Extcntion Bill”. In the true interests of the miners we wish that it may meet with better success than some other useful measures that have been brought forward to relieve that heavily taxed class from the many burdens imposed on them. The Miners’ Right is a portion of the General Government revenue, and we have ever failed in seeing the justice of compelling the miner to take out a miners’ right in every province he may chance to visit during tho term of one year. The subject is one for Miners’ Assoc ations to deal with, and we think an unanimous expression of opinion from them in favor of the present Bill would greatly facilitate its being passed. On Wednesday morning last, between eight and nine o’clock, the cry of “-fire” was raised, and immediately after a dense volume of smoke was seen issuing from the roof of Mi - . Fache’s private residence. Willing hands in plenty and water in abundance, a perfect mastery over the devouring element was soon effected, and, saving the entire destruction of the ceiling and the internal decorations, no great amount of injury was done. Some slight damage was done the furniture by a little too hasty removal and by getting wet. Mr. Fache first noticed the fire just bursting through the ceiling of the front sitting room, and it is assumed that it must have been caused by a spark from I lie kitchen lire being carried by the wind up the slanting roof of the house under the cap of the ridge falling on tho dry paper which lined tho building, and thus caused the conflagration. Wo are informed that neither builder furniture were insured. Mr Holt has at 1 mgth got his now water wheel and puping gear fixed and in fiilj work and for new machinery works remarkably smooth. The wheel is a powerful one and for neatness combined with strength is a credit to the shop of Mr. Wilson Dunedin where ifwasmado.lt is 22 ft in diameter with 2 feet face. The centre is cast iron, tho arms hard-wood and tho rim and buckets quarter inch plate iron. The pumps wi re also cast by the same firm and are 8j inches in diameter, the connexions from the wheel to the pumps is tho ordinary balance bob driver from off the main shaft of the wheel by a small pinion playing into a spur wheel carrying the crank Mr. Holt who superintended tke erection of all Hie expresses himself as perfei t \ a trifle 1 with water it and says hehas no doubt of being able to contend againstthe vast body of that necessitated its construction. The usual monthly meeting of the Committee of the Dunstan District Hospital will be held on Monday next, the 7th instant. The attention of capitalists and speculators is directed to auction advertisements in another column. Mr. Chappie is instructed to sell at Alexandra, on Monday next, the 7th iust., tho Hit or Miss Mining Claim, also, the Newcastle Coal pit. George Facho will dispose of at Alexandra, on the same date, a comfortable dwelling house.

Mr. R. W. Nuttall, one of the patentees of the submarine boat, and the accredited Agent fur the Company lat ly formed in Dunedin for the purpose of working the bods of our auriferous ' rivers by means of the patent, on Saturday evening last, at Eames’ Dunstan Hotel, explained to a number of gentlemen the principles of the invention, and also the action taken by the Board of Provisonal Directors. Mr. Nuttall, by the aid of drawings, minutely described the construction of the boat and the system of working, and clearly demonstrated the practicability of removing all difficulties likely to bo contended with. He explained that the operations of the Company would bo confined to the building of one boat, as] a trial; and, according to the success the enterprise met with, to extend their operations. The cost of one boat will be about 2,0001. The invention deserves a trial, and in the interest of the Province, all who a stake should take up"'shares according to their means. Mr. George Fachc’ is appointed Agent for the Dunstan district. On Friday (this evening,) ho purposes holding a meeting at the Dunstan Hotel, when he will he prepared to receive applications for Shares, and enter into such explanations as may be desired.

We areinformo l byre'iable authority that Dr. Corse, of 1 'romwell, has been apointed a Coroner for the Colony, also a territorial Justice of the Peace.

The Daily Times hears with regret tho report that a disease of a virulent char cter has broken out among the cattle at the heads, and that Mr. Sltsinger, veterinary surgeon, has been deputed to visit the diseased cattle, and report regarding them. Cattle owners in tho up-country districts would do well to watch for this report, and in the mean time see that no cattle from the infected district are brought into theirs.

A correspondent writing us from Queenstown, says Business is horribly slow, though the Chinese are doing grandly. Gold is coming in thick and fast. Our progress!'!) Yes, this is grand ! Brick-makers and brick layers, stone-masons and carpenters have all their hands full. Whether it is a permanent prosperity I do not know. 1 may refer, however, to the significant fact that the xtensive and elaborate two-storied buildings now in course of construction arc bein' erected by hotel-keepers. To all appearance, they arc doing grandly. A Daily Times telegram from Wellington says that the sum of I,oook has been voted to Mr. 11. Smythies by a majority of twenty throe to 20.

Oar repeated writings on the subject of a flour mill for the Duustan District, wo are happy to say, are likely to produce the desired result. At auy rate, tiro subject has taken a firm hold among some few of those who arc tire more inter sted, and steps arc about to be taken to canvass the district with the view of obtaining promises of support, after which, a public meeting will be convened for the purpose of electing aboard to carry into execution the views of the projectors. Ho much has been ' written and said in favor of a mill, that wo j i will not reproduce the oft repeated argu- i ; ment, it is sufficient to repeat that a mill is ] | an institution, that wil do more to strengthen ! | the district than any other, and we reiterate | 1 the oft expressed wish, in all cineerity, that i no local jealousy or petty bickerings will ba allowed to interfere with the carrying on of the scheme so much to bo dirired, nut that au evenness of opinion, a thorough determination to bring it to a successful issue will pervade the whole community. Ewo attempts have already been made, let the third Lie the last. We have to aoknowldgc, with j thanks, the receipt of a revised Report of Air. J. Mi.ler, F.S.A., C. E. on the Otago Great Central Railway. Carver, late a teller of the Union Bank at Brisbane, has been found guilty of obtaining oOOk from the Bank of Australasia under false pretences, has been found guilty and sentenced to muo months imprisonment. A well-known member of the Provincial Council, for a goldfields constituency, has been fortunate enough to procure the responsible and distinguished office of cook, the onerous duties appertaining to which he is said to perform in a highly efficient manner. Tuapcka Times. A telegram received at Adelaide from Port Darwin, states that the prospects at the diggings are highly eno mraging. AU the discoveries yet made are lasting, and fresh discoveries made daily. There have been no alluvial lincls. Water is scarce, but the health of the population at the dLgings’ settlement is good. The Natives are friendly. Intending diggers arc advised to bring with them stores and the moans of transport. In Adelaide great excitement prevails m ith respect to the news received from Port Darwin. Large amounts of nsw silver coinage are being issued weekly from the Victorian Mint in exchange for old Large numbers of miners are leaving from the Ararat and Pleasant Creik districts, Victoria for the new gold-fields at Port Darwin. zEgles in the Australian says:—Forths* accommodation of the banks one carriage of < the Victorian railway train is when required, assigned for the transport of buillion, and for security access is only given to the bank official in charge. Upon a late occasion a party of wayfarers at the Melbourne station were seeking a carriage wherein they could indulge in a game of “unlimited,” when as they were about to cuter, they weresternly challengedbya conntrymanager 1 with, “You cant come in here. This is the treasure carriage ” One of the number, espying a flutter of gauze over the manager’s , shoulder, good-humoured'y replied, as ho retired, “Oh, yes! I see the treasure” The manager was on his wedding tour, Bird, the pedestrian, ran eleven miles in 40seo over the hour, at Adelaide, on the 24th i ult. {