The Dunstan Times FRIDAY, APRIL 11,1873.

Dunstan Times, Issue 573, 11 April 1873, Page 2

The Dunstan Times

FRIDAY, APRIL 11,1873.

Beneath the Rule of Mon exiireoy just the pen is .miohtiek than the sworn

To no oilier purpose can public money be so judiciously and profitably employed as iu assisting persons to develop the resources of a, country, especially when a m « - lv set,iled one, and where the inhabitants, to live, must make war upon primeval nature, by turning into wealth those ra'iira! resources which, in the absence of intelligent labor, couid never be utilised. In a gold-producing country this assistance is tie more necessary, as here we have the treasure in the shape of gold itself, and which is capable of immediate conversion to practicable use; provided we can only' got it To forward the work of colonisation gold is the one thing necessary and how much better is it to have it at In-me than to import it? Before anything can be nccomp ished, or nature’s facilities turned to account, money or its representative must he bad, and when it requires to ho borrowed, progiess must consequently he very slow. In Otago we possess tho capital. It is contained in our soil, rocks, and river beds, and, by the exercise of a little ingenuity, is available to us. There is ample evidence these last ten years that the gold conviained in the soil has been the prime i mover to all our greatness. It has built cities and populated the land ; it has made our roads, bridges and ■ railways, and been the means of putting comfortable and luxurious homes ■ over people’s heads who otherwise would not have had them. True, we have been compelled to borrow, but we have done so because, in our haste, we could not await the natural course of events, but desired to anticipate them , but we must still fall back upon our gold-fields to discharge these liabilities, and to do this the further development of our gold-fields is essential. The deposits 'easily reachable have been well nigh exhausted, and to obtain goal now requires considerably more skill, capital, and labor than in the early days, and this difficulty will still go on increasing until the work becomes either too costly or impracticable. Late events have shown that our river beds ait; the principal depositories of gold, but the difficulty has been to reach them. This, how- • ever basihappily been done, although at u great sacrifice on vhe part of those who were the pioneers of the work. Tn gold-mining, as well as in many ■other undertakings, those who have been the first to penctrate'thc hidden «nystery or solve tho problem have jact with their reward. As a ’

vule, tlie advantage has been reaped Ly : huse who came after. In dredging our river beds for gold this has boon particularly noticeable in the case of the pioneer of that work, and we aliude to Mr. Sfedeberg, the originator of hand and steam dredging, and which gentleman was, we believe, the first to demonstrate the practicability of this description of mining for gold, and it is owing to his untiring perseverance that the great results which are about to be realised 1 y the successful fishing lip from the bottom of < in river beds the countless treasures which are there contained will be mainly due. Mr. .Siedeberg lias been engaged dredging on the Molyneux for the last eight years, with variable success, and has exp’ored the river from A Ihert-town to Alexandra, and successfully proved the existence of a dead of gold crossing and re-crossing the river at various points ; still fortune never smiled upon him stifficiontly to permit ‘him to eat the golden apple growing in the garden he bad discovered. He has displayed immense enthusiasm in his work, besides expending the proceeds of years »f previous industry upon it; but all to no purpose. Fate has been averse, and we now find him —with a small steam dredge—crippled in means to prosecute further researches. To suffer such a man to perish for want of assistance would amount to a crime. Ho deserves support from private persons as well as from the country at large, and we really do believe that, were Mi - . Siedeberg only to properly bring forward his case at the coming Session of the Provincial Council, the Province would only be too glad to assist him. V\ hen dredging was said to be unprofitable we always found Mr Siedeberg steadily plodding-on, and, although le did not find sufficient gold fur himself, he did so for others, who profited by Lis labor, and we may add that both the district and the country have been greatly benefited. Early in the past summer it was derided tha", owing to the enormous quantity of debris floating down the Molyneux, manual Lbor for dredging would be no more available. As fast as a hole was dug by the dredge or spoon it was tilled up with small gravel, and the work was abandoned Owners of dredges laid them up, waiting for future events, and they would have laid so to this day, rotting at their moorings, had it not have been for-Mr. Siedebcrg’s untiring perseverance, j his gentlem m, to meet the difficulties of the case, expended his all in the purchase of a small steam engine, which he placed on the deck of his vessel, and ..bobby went to work again, and worked on till his funds were exhausted, and we now find him idle fur the want of means to carry on further Universal sympathy is teltrior Mr Siedeberg, hut he deserves something mce substantial and wo reiterate the assurance : he should have no difficulty in obtaining assistance from the Legislature.

We would draw attention of the Town Council to the very dangerous state of the culvert crossing Sunderland-street, opposite Mr. Cambridge’s garden ; also to the one .crossing the roadway leading to the Postoffice, and nearly opposite Mr. Harding’s r'-sidenee. In each, there is a hole sufficiently large to admit a horse's leg. It any accident occurs we don’t know hut that the Corporation would be held liable for damages. “A stitch in time’saves nine,’ and we would recommend the outlay of a few shillings at once, rathei than run the risk of having to pay pounds. Mr. M ‘Lennan’s Pneumatic Dredge is now working night and day, with three shifts of men. A.great deal of ground is being got over, results, however, have not transpired. The Pourtoen-milo Beach Quartz Mining Company are very reticent, little or no information escaping beyond the circle of the .Provisional Directory. The calling fo tenders for the driving of a tunnel, one hundred feet, is the only step as yet taken, that, has reached our ears. The Bruce Htrald says :—“ We sincerely regret to here it reported that the Ilev. Mr Coffey has tendered to his Bishop his resignation of the Curacy of St. John’s, Milton. Not having received authentic information as to the cause or causes of this action on the part of the reverend gentleman, who has only recently been located in this district, we do not feel at liberty to record mere rumors ; but wc may add that there are many who deeply sympathise with him, and much appreciate his earnest Christian character. His non-conformity to fashionable views in matters pertaining to religion we believe, has been the cause of a lukew irranesa on the part of a portion of the congregation, hut whether this has anything to do with his resignation we cannot ■say.” Some small suburban sections, near the Tuapeka Hospital, were lately sold by auction, by Mr. Hay, and realised at the rate of 122/. per cere. The terms being cn ■the deferred payment system, perhaps helped to raise the price so high.

At the usual weekly meotingof the Waste Lamls Boar l , held on the third instant, Mr. S. C. Worth applied to purchase a site for a mid and brewery cn section 6, block I, Tiger Hill, and for authority to bring the mill race through section 1, block I The application was referred to the Warden. At the sime sitting of the Board, the leases of the following sections, held by Mr. J. D. Feraud (for whom Mr. M‘Kay appeared) were cancelledSections’ 35, 30, 38, 36, 40, and 7 n , Mock 1.. Leaning Rock District.'sections 32, 33 to 40, inclusive, and 102, block 11., same district. The acting Governor has received a telegram stating that Sir James Eergnsson, the new Governor, will leave England on the 10th of April inst. We have to acknowledge thn receipt of the Illustrated New Zealand Herald for this month. The number is above the average, and contains a number of wellexecuted encravin s. The more noticeable is that of the Rangitata Bridge, with an account of its construction. The piers were constructed by means of the Pneumatic process, and as any information of this’ system at this time will he of interest to our readers, wo give the article in another column. At the usual weekly meeting of the W as'o Lands Board, held on Thursday', the 3rd inst,—lt was resolved, on the recommendation of the Superintendent, that, district land offices and officers be appointed as follows : Lawrence, Warden Pykc ; Dunedin, Warden Willis ; Kaseby, Warden Robinson ; Clyde, Warden Simpson ; Queenstown, Warden Beethara. We have received a pamphlet embodying two lectures on “The Phenomena of Spiritualism,” by Dr. Copland. The lectures are in opposition to the doetrines of Messrs. Peebles and Dunn, and are well worthy of perusal. The Dunedin Star states that, owing to some unfortunate delay in the transmission of the plans and specifications from A’ellington, it has been found impossible to call for tenders for the Tuapeka Railway before the 10th inst. The Bruce Herald say's.—“On Saturday afternoon last, Mr. Alexander ackay, surveyor, Dunstan was returning from Dunedin an express, accompanied by two of his brothers from Waihola, in passing the Dunedin coach, driven by MTntosh, cn this I side of Adams’ Accommodation House, a collision took place, in which the express failed second heat. We are informed that Mr. Maekay has taken steps to recover from Cobb and Cn. the sum of l; 0/, estimated damages, when, no doubt, ihe true state of the case will be made known. The road at the point is very narrow, and aheap of broken metal on the road at the hill foot made the available space to work upon slill leas, while on the other side of the road) exists a precipitous river bank, to avoid which AlrMaokay chose to dianute the road with “Mae,” the oldest and most experienced, “whip” in who has hitherto handled the ribbons without a similar mishap to our knowledge and yvhnso care as a driver is proverbial. Wo expect rather a knotty point, in the -‘rules of the road” will be involved in the settlement of the mattermoanwhile the considerably dislocated vehicle lies at Adams , in need of very considerable repairs before again contesting the road with any antagonist whatever. Deferring to the purchase of the Port railway by the Generd Government, the Independent says :—The company’s stock consisting of 12.000 shares, the nominal value of which was 10b each, but the Government purchased them at Gl. Cs. each, and has taken up the P'o,ooo/, worth of debentures. The bargain may bo said to be an eminenTy favorable one for the Colony. as it includes all rolling stock, plant, and stations, and a railway which will be directly and largely profitable. This purchase will also preclude the necessity f or the Government building a station in Dunedin for the terminus of the Clutha raihvav. a work which would have been expensive. BeJis it is, the Government will bo able in a very few weeks to run traffic upon a portion of the Dunedin and Clutha line, with the rolling stock included in the purchase of the Port Chalmers line. The purchase has been the subject of lengthened negotia tion, and we have it on good professional authority that the line would not have been dear at 20,000b mere than the price agreed upon. The Mount Ida Chronicle says “On Wcdnesdav, the 2nd inst., a deputation from the Minors’ Association, consisting of the Chairman and Treasurer, introduced by Mr. Warden Robinson, bad an interview with Mr. Horace Bastings, Gold-fiel ! s Secretary, and Air. Simpson, Provincial Engineer, respecting the depth of the sludge channel at the upper end. The Chairman clearly pointed out that the depth, as marked cn the plan, was insufficient by ten feet at least to work a large portion of the low ground on the flat, consequently the channel, as at present arranged, will not be the benefit to the mining community as was anticipated. This statement was confirmed by Mr H. B. MTntosh and D. Mr, Warden Robinson. Mr. Simpson said ho had consulted several members of the Trade Association at the time of survey, and was informed that the present, depth would be sufficient! Air. Bastings remarked was inmost unfortunate this errer was ntt pointed out before, as any alteration now mnst'necessarily involve an extra expenditure. However, he would consult with the Engineer in the matter, and promised to give eis answer on the following day. In answer to the deputation, Air. Bastings said that, after mature consideration, he thought it would lie advisable for the Aliners’ Association to take proper steps to obtain proper information as to depth of ground in the neighborhood of the channel, and report the facts to him through the Secretary, when it would bo immediately taken into consideration,”

A meeting of the Provincial Directors of tho Dunstau Flour Mill Company was Jicld at the Secretary’s office, Clyde, ou Wednesday evening last, tho 9th inst. Mr. Cambridge occupied the chair. Mr. Williams, the Collector, stated he had the deposit monies paid on over one hundred shares, and that about forty more had promised, but declined to pay up until the site, &0.. had been decided. Mr. ILazlett suggested that the canvas should he prosecuted with renewed vigor ; ho copld guarantee forty more shares at the least, ami had bur little doubt, it energy were displayed, the Company would readily go off. The question of site and motive power was discussed, and it was ultimately arranged, if a permanent supply of water could not be procured from the Wai Keri Keri Creek, the next better place wouh Ibe at Cbatto Creek. Mr. Welsford’s name was added to the Committee to arrange, if possible, for a water supply from the Wai Ker Keri, and the meeting was adjourned till tho Committee were prepared with a report. The National Bank of New Zealand commenced business in Auckland on Wednesday, -he 2nd inst. The Alhambra arrived at the Bluff on the 4th instant, from Melbourne, she brings the following titems of news:—Sir George Bowen had arrived in Sydney, and and was shortly expected to arrive in Melbourne. The gold yield is steadily on the increase.—Judge fellows’s outrageous sentences will be reviewed by Parliament.— The Inter-colonial boat race is fixed for the 20th of March, there are compet tors from Sydney, Melbourne, and Tasmania—A large number of cattle have been poisoned by eating a plant called Lobela.—Mr. Francis will do nothing in reference to the Californian Service with New Zealand until ministerial arrangements there are settled. Mr. John Langdon has opened, next to the Ship Inn. Princes street, an exhibition of curious stones collected by him du ing tho last four years wlrilst sluicing. Amongst them is a stone which, to his observation, is a nest of snakes, petrified of course, four in number, and of three varieties an adder, resembling an English adder, and a lizard ; a round stone, which ho takes to be an adder covered with slime ; and three other stones each of which ho says is the remains of a petrified snake. These aru the main items of his exhibition, and our local scientists—those of the Otago excepted - have here an opportunity of passing a critical opinion. One of the stones hears a resemblance to tho head of a snake, but we must say that Mr. Langdon detects forms wheie an ordinary observer fails to do so. The remainder of Mr. Langdon’s exhibition is made up of a lot of vari-coloured stones, some of which are very handsome.— l) a iij Times. The Captain of the ship Lutterworth, | just arived in port from London, with a j cargo of railway plant, and 10-4 passengers, i including a number of navvies for Messrs. : Brogden, reports having passed uriag the : passage, a vessel bottom up, apparently i about 500 tons re.is'or, and a water-logged j ship of American build of about 800 tons 1 register. She was laden with deal, a portion j of which wa« sticking out between the deck beams and planking. No one was discovered on board, and it is assumed the crew had escaped in tho boats. In the Resident's Magistrate’s Count at Hokitika, on the 23rd ultimo, (says a West Coast journal,) a question was raised in respect to police regulations, upon which comment has been made before, both by tho Resident Magistrate hero and by Mr. Revell, at Greymouth. The question was as -to the necessity of a police officer appearing in uniform when attending in Court to prefer a charge. Sergeant Moller had come down from Greymouth in search of a man charged with embezzlement, and ho came down in plain clothes. Having arrested Lis man, the 'ergeaut appeared in Court to prefer tho chai-ge in the habiliments which he wore, and to this M r. FitzGerald objected, as being contrary to usage. Mr. James, however, maintained that when a police officer is sent on duty of that nature, it was the rule that -he should be out of uniform, and, as Sergeant Moller could not bring his uniform with him, he was compelled to come into Court in the dress of a civilian. Mr. James referred to his long experience of twenty-two years’ service in the police force in support of his view, and stated he should continue to have it enforced, unless ordered to the contrary by tho Country Chairman. Mr. FitzGerald stated that he should represent the matter to the Government, and Mr. James said he should do so also. Tho following fr-mi Fiji is taken from a northern paper: “The Government having intimated that on a specified day tho Government notes would ho changed for gold, a largo number of note-holders went to the Treasury, where money was paid out fo l- about half an hour, about only twenty fortunate ones received cash, when the bank‘broke’, and suspended payment To several who interviewed him, the Treasurer stated he had bean expecting to receive taxes which had not come in, but on their receipt ho would make up as many not s as possible. In answer to a deputation Dr. Clarkson, treasurer, stated that Mr. Wood’s had floated the loan of 25,000/. 1000/. had come down, and it was subscribed for by five individuals in Sydney, He was not prepared to state what interest we should have to pay. Ho did not see what right the outside public had to question Ministers on a matter that so little concerned them. 50,000/. was voted by Parliament, 25,000/. had been obtained by Mr. Woods in New Zealand. It may not be generally known that the Offertories on Easter Day are sot apart by the English Church in New Zealand, as an Easter Offering by the Worshippers to their Minister. This, wo arc informed, will be done at the Clyde Church, in accordance with the above rule, and in analogy to the ancient custom in Enelan L

To-day, being Good Friday, Divine Service will ho held in tho Church of England, Clyde 1 at 11 a,m. Wo would again remind admirers of tho good old English games that tho Clyde School Committee have prepared a very excellent programme for Tuesday next, a"d wo hope to see a good attendance, both old and young, to participate in the amusement. In the evening there will ho quadrille party. Tho Clyde Brass Band will a tend. We understand that Mr. T, L. Shepherd, M.H.E. and M.P.C for the district, will shortly pay us a visit, when we hone some means will be adopted to induce him to give a public expression of his views. The Miners’ Association should be on the alert, and button-hole <>ur worthy member. With regards the statement made by the Tuapeka Times that Mr- Hallenstein’s business arrangements render it imp -ssiblc for him to represent the district, the I Vakatip Mail says there is no truth, aud that Mr. Hallenstein will attend the Session ; otherwise, there would be no fair opportunity to elect another member, and virtually the district would bo disfranchised, however able a man might be elected. The Committee of tho Wakatip Hospital are going in for tree planting with a vongejice. At their last meeting the Secretary was requested to write to his Honor the Superintendent for 2,000 Californian trees. T e Darwin Gold Company, Adelaide, received a telegram stating that gold has been found in eight different places, and that the prospects arc improving. In an article on sericulture in New Zealand, the Nelson Examiner says :—“ We hope to see, not only in this province, but all over New Zealand, planting of mulberry trv.essteadily pursued. If every small farmer would plant but an aero about bis homestead. he would not only greatly improve the appearance of his dwelling , but lay tho foundation of what in a few years would make an important addition to his income. I f si od was abundant, worms could he ob tained in any number, and by a slight cooperation silk-houses might be erected each to serve a village. We trust that the Colonial Government, as well as the Governments of the several provinces, will encourage by every means in their power the planting of tree- that will furnish food for silk-worms. If once secured on a scale sufficiently large to justify a commencement of raising silk on a scale adequate to furnish suitable returns, it would rapidly develop Into an industry of large dimensions.” The proprietors of the Illustrated London Netvs announce, amongst tho special arrangements which will he made during 1873 for obtaining sketches for that paper, that “ Australia and New Zealand will be visited by a correspondent, who has already set forth ou his voyage to the Antipodes, aud who will p-ocure fresh illustrations of whatever may have recently occurred of local importance io the several provinces of those remote British Colonies.” TELEGRAPHIC ITEMS. The Criminal So-siou of the Supreme Court commenced on Monday last tho 7th instant. In Ryan’s case for shooting Detective Farrell, the Crown challenged two of the jurymen, and the prisoner, one. Highly sensational love correspondence between Farrell’s wife and Ryan was produced. The Grand Jury returned true Bills in all the eases. Mr. John Williamson, of Auckland, is canvassing tho country districts as a Candidate for the Superin tendenev. Parliament is prorogued until May 13. It is not unlikely that Mr. Gisborne will rejoin the Ministry, rs Colonial Secretary’ The Wanganui steamship has been bought by Mr. Houghton of Dunedin; The Eangitoto has arrived from Hokitika Tho cable is interrupted. Tho only nows states that the provincial authorities in North Spain resist a levy cn masse. Tho Government troops are defeated by Cat lists. Australian news is unimportant. Governor Bowen has been sworn in with great ceremony. The Sydney Legislative Council have thrown out tho Upper House Reform Bill.