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Dunstan Times, Issue 563, 31 January 1873, Page 2

On Wednesday evening last a miscellaneous entertainment was given by tho Members of the Dunstan Band of Hope, most ably assisted by the Clyde Brass Band, at the Town Hall, Clyde. The attendance was only moderate. The entertainment consisted of songSj duets, and concerted music, interspersedwith amusing readings and reecitations, winding up with a dance, to the enlivening strains of the Band, terminating a very pleasant evening. To criticise the various ladies and gentlemen who contributed

their time and talant to the amusement of their fellow citizens would, perhaps, be invidious, but we cannot forebear to mention that the piano was most ably presided over by Mrs. Steven’s, who was assisted by a gentleman who happened opportunely to bo passing through the town, while the band kept up their reputation, and even exceeded former efforts at the couclusion Mr. M ‘Connochie proposed a vote of thanks to those gentleman and ladles who had contributed to the amusement of the company, and also to the members of the Brass Band, which was heartily responded to, and the Company broke up soon after midnight, pleased with the amusement afforded them The smallnes of the attendance is the more to be regretted as the entertainment was gisfch for the benefit of the funis of the Association, and we think if ereader publicity had been given there would have been a much belter attendance.

The case “ M ‘Combe v. Low,” an action for false imprisonment, the d images being laid at 2,500/.. was brought to a close on Monday last, the jury finding a verdict for the plaintiff for 770/. damages. This case, from the fact of the parties beinr bo hj well known in the district- the plaintiti having been ili business as a butcher at Black’s almost “ince the opening of that place, and the defendant, Mr. W 1 A. Low, of the Galloway Station. It appears there bad t.fien s -me sheep dealing transactions between the pa. ties. Sheep had strayed, and ownership was, in consequence dispu ed, eventuating in the defendant giving the plaintiff into custody on a charge of sheepstealing. Plaintiff was locked up all night at Black’s ; the next day he was removed to Clyde, and again looked up. On the day following he was charged before the Resident Mag strate, and remanded, bail ■beiyg accepted. On the second examination, after hearing further evidence, the Bench eeided t.at there was 110 case against M’C’Oinbe, an.rhe was discharged. Thereupon the present action was laid. Owing to the length of time occupied by the cases heard in the Civil -Court, the witnesses in the above case were detained some three W“eks inDtme .in, thus adding considerably to the bill of costs.

On ia - urday af.ernoon -last, our wellknown “Crier,” with ringing of bell and lusty voice, announced thac the Pneumatic Dre Ige Company invited their friends and the public to go on board and witness the first experiment of working their machine. In consequence, a goo lly number wended their way down to the scene of operation. Unfortunately' as often happens at a first trial, everything was not quite ready. The cylinder proved slightly detective, qucntly the water could not be satisfactorily got under. Since thei, we are glad to say, the Company have succeeded in remedying all defects, and on Wednesday were able to send up dirt from the bottom of the river. This Company have displayed a most praiseworthy energy in carrying out the preliminary work of their undertaking, and we hope their success will equal their most sanguine expectations. Our readers, more especially the lovers ol the “ turf,” are reminded that the Dunstan Jockey Club Annual meeting will take place on Thursday and Friday next, the (3th and 7th proximo. The programme, as to be seen in another column, is altogether a liberal one; and the number and quality of the horses abbve the average ; the course has been put ia hrst-cisss order, stand most notably improved ; while the list of stewards gives a guarantee that everything will be done to bring the hu-et-i ing to a success-fill i sue. There are at present a go d many horses in training on the spot, and more competitors may bn expected. The town itself shows unmistakable symptoms of an approaching race meeting. There is eveiy reason to believe that the forthcoming races will prove a great or even greater success than usual, substantiating C yde races as the most important of upcountry meetings in Otago. The grand stand and booth will be under the superintendence of Mr. Thomas Hawthorne, of the Clyde Hotel, whose linerality in connexion with purveying to the public, is too well known to demand other comment. Special accommodation will be provided for the ladies, of whom we hope a good number will grace the course with iheir presence. Mr. Fache announces that, on Monday next, the 3rd proximo, he will sell at Butler’s Point, Alexandra, the remaining Plant of the Ovens Water Eace Company, unsold at the late auction, without reserve. The Provisional Dire 'tnry of the Uunstan Fkur Mill Company are notified that a Meeting will be hold on Tuesday Evening nixt Feb. 4th at 6 30 p.m. in the Public Library Clyde to receive report of the collector. At the usual meeting of the Waste Lands Board, held on Thursday, the 23rd inst., a letter was received from the Town Clerk of Clyde, requesting that the Board would not grant a bridge site at Clyde to any other than the Town Council. The Secretary of the St. Bathan’s Progress Committee wrote asking that the township be surveyed and sold. The application was referred to the Warden for report. Mr. Kemp’s applica" tion for a lease of one acre, on the Clyde and Lawrence road, was granted, provided the consent of the runholder was obtained. The Secretary of the Arrow Miners’ Asso ciation applied for a section of land at Arrowtown, as a site for the erection of a Miners' Institute. The application was referred to the Government. A coal lease was granted to Mr. W. A. Low, on the usual terms, the area to bo surveyed by the District Surveyor. Mr. W. J. Barry, on Monday evening lest, in the Public Library, Clyde, to a rather small audience, delivered hislectuie

on the mineral resources of the colonies. If we are to 1 el I eve everything that the lecturer stated, Otago is one o£ the richest spots in the World. The lecturr, or discourse as it can more properly be styled, was instructive and somewhat amusing.

One of the heaviest gales that.have Visited Hokitiki occurred on the 14th inst. Much damage was dime to buildings and the fall of riin Was so heavy that the lower portion of the town was under water for some hours. The proprietors of the Otago Daily Times announce that the subscription to that journal will, from to-morrow, be reduced to 225. 6d. per quarter, including postagfi, The price for the Witness, is also to be reduced to 225. Cd., post free. The Exhibition Gold Medal (Victoria) has been presented to Mr. James Harrison, a genfleman connected with the ed torial department of the Age, for his successful preservation meat-freezing' process. This system is j most inexpensive, the cost not bnr.g more than one farthing per pound, and the invention is likely to produce a great commotion among stock owners. In the Erov'nce of there is a very strong feeling against the rate for education. In quality o f taxation is the 'ostensible oOjec ion— the poor and rich being rated alike. But it must be borne in mind that but few of the rich will reap any benefit'from the new tax, while the poor, instead of paying Is. per week for each child, will now have only to pay ss. per annum. ’ We would remind our readers that the anniversary Ball of the Court Star of Dunstan, Ancient order of Foresters, will take place <m|Tuesday evening next. TheJ arriingcmentsfhave, we believe, also been completed, Tke Clyde Brossßaudwill.be in atte .dance,and there is no doubt as to the musical pptiuu of the entertainment being efficiently performed, while . Mr. W. Robinson will act as Master of the Ceremonies. The good things of life will be dispensed by Mr. Thomas Webb, than whom no one more efficient could be found. All these circumstances in favor, those attecding may anticipate a delightful evening’s enjoyment, These amuse.i.euts in co nexiou with the above Order have always been popular, and we have every reason to belief this forthcoming ball will bo one of the most success ul y,.t held. lathe report of iho Matakauui Races held on the I »rybread Race-course on tie 2nd and 3rd inss., the amount of stakes for th» Matakanui Handicap was wrondy stated at 20/. instead of 40/., the latter sum being the amount ran for. Mi. I ache reports having sold by auction on Monday last, at Alexandra, the Ovens Water-race and plant, realizing for the race SSU/ and for the plant about 20i)/. the Alexandra Corporation was the purchaser of the race.

This day, at Drybread, Mr. Mellor disposes of by public auction, his valuable piemises, an.t large stock of geneial stores, drapery, etc. Mr'Btanbrook officiating as Auctioneer. H _ ’• V e have to acknowledge receipt from the publisher, of Mackay’e Aim uac, i.eiug the tenth coition. Like its ptedccesaurs, it contains a, vast amount of useful information. * We would notify that the ttsu%l'moiifhly meeting of the Committee of the Dunstan District Hospital wi I take place on Monday evening next, in the Committee itobmi Town-hull. Many of our readers will be sorry to hear of tue death of William (Bil.y) '-lej. j fhe Jockey for ma iy years in the einp.oy of James Cowan, Kawarau Station. Crpy was.taken iirhb iut a fortnight siucSj" and was Amoved to the Hospital, where he died of Typhoid Fever Sun lay last. His remains we e interred in the Clyde Cemetery on Wednesday mori 'g last, and were fo'lowed to their lad resting place by a lar c e concourse, numbering fully one hundred. The last tribute w'e can pay him is to say that he wi S an upright, honest, iddustrirus young man, audageneral favorite with all who knew him. A pa cel of thirty-eight tons of stone (son.o of which was known to be poor) from the All Ovations* Company’s claim, w*as recently crushed at L-.igau’s battery, and yielded the very satisfactory result of fifty, three and a half ounces. About ono hundred tons from the Colleen Bawn has also pissed through Logan’s mill, but wj are uninformed as to the yield, A defendant at the District Court iu Auckland, the other day, who was sued for moneys due and owing for board and lodging after denying his liability subsequently admitted his indebtedness, but at the same time expressil his detc-nnin itiqu not to pay it. Upon being informed by the Court, says the Herald, that the alternative of not paying meant incarceration in Mount Eden gaol, the defendant repfiftt that he would go “square and honestly." Upon this a warrant ofycommitmcnt was made out, and read to thedefeudant, who having listened very attentively pointed out an informality iu the wording of the document. This was corrected, in accordance with iris expressed wish. The defendant smiled pleasantly, appeared to be quite contented, and was duly delivered into the custody of the bailiffThe sentencing of the prisoners Mouat and Morris, far manslaughter committed on board the biig Carl, has been postponed until April.,.-.' Another kidnapping case has occurred at Polynesia, which will shortly be investigated. A marriage 4s on the tapis between Cakobau’s son and a young lady at Ballarat. * *