The Dunstan Times. FRIDAY, MAY 16, 1873,

Dunstan Times, Issue 578, 16 May 1873, Page 2

The Dunstan Times.

FRIDAY, MAY 16, 1873,

Beneath the Rule of MenENTiKEi.v just the pen is mightier than thes word.

With the increasing prosperity of the Province as shown by his Honor the Superintendent in his opening speech of the present Session of the Provincial Council, it would be consistent that something more should be done to improve the productiveness of the gold-fields. This industry, which may with truth be said to be the basis of prosperity to all others, has not progressed during the last few years to an extent we could have desired. The last year’s export of gold only exceeds the previous one by 2,840 ounces; this, with all the late appliances in machinery and improved system of working, together with the further development of our quartz reefs, is not so satisfactory as we could desire still, it is evidence that our gold deposits only require a moiejulici .in system of search, to become still further developed, and as gold is hers contained in the soil under such a great variety of circumstances, no efforts should be spared to render the industry of gold-mining as profitabl

■as possible ; we are not advocates for Government prospecting parties, but would prefer rewards for discoveries. We think however that, the condition of the gold-fields, and that of the miners could be best improved by increasing the facilities for communication, and rendering settlement more easy, together with the throwing open ‘of more land for agricultural purposes. By rendering the life of the miner more agreeable, we attach him to the soil; by doing this, we make gold mining more permanent, and it is almost impossible to say what discoveries may not be made, when we get a people attached to their and to the place they live in. In the matter of Quartz Mining there is very much 'to be accomplished, this particular branch of industry cannot be said to be a great success, all other places appear to have progressed more than we have, There can be no doubt but that great labor and patience must be used to develop our reefs; so far as things have gone, the existence of gold has been proved in a variety of places, but under present circumstances, the gold contained in the reefs, is only in a few instances sufficiently plentiful to make the ir working profitable. Any person who has visited the.great reefing districts of Victoria, cannot but be struck at the slow sluggish pace at which we proceedjiere. There appears to be no life in the employment, and the workings look as if struggling under an overwhelming load of difficulties, the briskness which we witness in Victoria is entirely wanting. Speaking on this subject to a mining manager some time since, his solution of the difficulty was that, what could be accomplished in Victoria in one month, would take two years here — considered that quartz miring was beset with difficulties on all sides, while the absence of roads to make the reefs readily accessible, the enormous cost of material, and the difficulty of procuring skilled workmen, rendered the pursuit almost disagreeable. 1 This gentleman gave as his opinion that there are plenty of reefs in Otago which would pay handsomely, were some of the difficulties attached to working them only removed. The water power, which is in numbers of places readily to hand, is vastly superior and cheaper to steam, the betc noir of Australian quartz crushers—but even this is nullified by causes, 1 the existence of which might to a large extent be removed. The expenses of timbering a mine is something prodigious, aud yet we have timder at moderate distances off, and which could be cheaply transported, were it not for bad roads and enormously heavy charges at the various river ferries. The profitable pursuit of quartz mining is thus rendered impossible, and it languishes accordingly. From the same reason, the costs of living, and the conveyance of machinery aro rendered unnecessarily high, while even a pleasure excursion Jcannot be made with any degree of comfort. The inducements to settlement aro only a sort of a make believe, and gravelly plains are thrown open to the miner, while moist, grassy, and well watered valleys are retained for sheep walks. We lack the Sufficiently skilled labor, because we have so little permanent employment to offer; and no man that desired to get on in the world, or who had a family to support out of his earnings, would choose for a dwelling place, where work was desultory, and provisions dear. While assured by his Honor the Superintendent, that the Province has never been so prosperous before, or its financial position so satisfactory, the expenditure of a portion of the revenue upon improving the social condition and comfort of the mining population, and the removal of natural obstacles whiqfc limit the development of our gold-fields, might with considerable advantage be made.

It is announced by advertisement in our columns that a ball will be held in the Town Hall, Clyde, on Tuesday evening, the 27th instant The Clyde Brass Band will supply the music—and no better could be desired —and the fact that the proceeds of the entertainment will be devoted to the funds of the District Hospital should secure a numerous attendance. The first of the Wednesday evening entertainments, under the direction of the Clyde Brass Band, took place on the 14th instant at the Town Hall. We are happy to say that the attendance was very good, and all appeared to enjoy themselves extremely. The band, as usual, did every, thing to give satisfaction, and we trust to see at the next entertainment a still larger attendance. The late rains have had some little effect upon the supply of water to the miners, but nothing to speak of, and it will not be until a fall of snow takes place that the miner will have a coutinuou" supply.

Mr. Joseph Limb rick, of the Shotovev Ferry Hotel, has disposed of the same to Mr. J. Cham'ey, for soma years past a miner on the Arrow. It is stated in the Times that a dividend at the rate of 76 per cent, per annum has been declared upon the shares of the Norwich Union Fire Insurance Company for the past year. The shares, 301. paid, are worth 2501. ; and the insurances amount to 103,000,6001. The Geelong Advertiser writes :—“ The Geelong Meat Company are nowpreserving something over 20,000 tins a week of beef and mutton. It is satisfactory to be able to report that what promises to be a very important trade has been opened up with India. Borne time ago the company sent a small consignment there of preserved meats and soups ; these were so highly approved of, that by the last mail the company has received an order for between 1,100 and 1,500 dozen of tins.” Publican’s License Meetings, for considering applications for said Licenses, Ac., will be held in the various Licensing Courts throughout the Province, at noon on Tuesday, the 3rd day of June, 1873, Applications, &., must be made to the respective Clerks of Court, fourteen days at least before the said date :—Provincial Government Gazette.

At the usual weekly meeting of the Waste Lands Board held on Thursday, the Sth inst, the following was among the business transacted The award of 2201. made by Messrs. Beighton and Shepherd, compensation to which they considered Mr, J. D. Feraud was entitled on account of the cancellation of his agricultural lease, Leaning Bock, was >, referred to the Government under the'99th section'of the Waste Lands Act, 1872.”—A rehearing of an application of Mr. J. D. Feraud to purchase sections 41 to 43, and 67, 60, 62, Block 11, Leaning Bock District, was postponed for a fortnight to give Mr. flaggitt an opportunity of being present on behalf of the Government. From the Customs revenue of the Colony of New Zealand for the quarter ending the 30th of March,‘lß73, published _in the New Zealand Gazette, we see the total amount is 210,4761., of which amount the Fort of Dunedin contributes the sum of 60,5571. We understand that the Queen’s birthday, which this year falls on Saturday, the the 24th instant, is to be observed in the Provincial Government offices on the Monday following. The walking match between Edwards, the Californian Champion, and M'Gregor, the Eunedin pepestriaii, took place on Saturday afternoon last, in the Caledonian Society’s Grounds, Dunedin. About sixteen hundred people wore present. Edwards won easily, doing the distance of seven miles in sixty-three minutes twenty-nine seconds.

To-morrow, Saturday, W. H. Hodgkins, Esq., Revising Officer, will hold a Court at Clyde, for the revision o£ the Electoral Roll. We would recommend all who have the requisite qualification, and have any doubt as to their, names being retained on the Roll, to put in an appearance at the Court House, at 10 a.m., and have the matter put right" We have to acknowledge, with thanks, the receipt of several batches of Provincial Council Papers, Departmental Reports, Bills, &c. For the report of the proceedings of the Provincial Council we refer our readers to the inside sheet. We take this opportunity of informing our readers that, at considerable cost, we have made arrangements for a full and lucid report of the proceedings of the Council during the Session, which wo hope to present in a similar form to this issue.

The Water-race so long under construction by Lindsay and party, from tho Leaning Rock Creek to the terraces at the rear of the town of Clyde, is, wo are happy to say, at length completed, and a good supply of water flowing down it. The much debated question of the existence of payable gold in this locality will now shortly be solved. We have frequently expressed our opinion, and have no doubt it wifl soon be verified by increased Escort returns. We are requested to draw attention to the abstract of sales by auction, and also to the advertisements particularising the properties to bo sold. The following story is told by the Grey River Argus : —One of the members of the Provincial Council of Nelson, recently on his way to attend his legislative duties, had his luggage carefully and elaborately labelled M.P.O.—tho initial letters to the handle to his name. A constable in tho Nelson Police Force was also on board, and his band-box was simply and modestly marked with tho letters M.P.C., tho initials of his name and occupation. Tho luggage got mixed, and the confusion is said to have been caused by the stew'ard imagining that M ,P. C. might stand for Member of the Provincial Council, or Murphy, Police Constable, just as people chose to road it.

So long as any armour is carried, says the Times, the improved Monitor type of ironclads w ill probably form a conspicuous part of every navy. Wealthy nations like ourselves will contrive to build a limited number of broadside ironclads, like the Hercules and Sultan, for general purposes ; but the bulk of our fighting navy will, we trust, consist of the two varieties—the unarmored cruiser and ironclad Monitor—which constitute the whole of the navy of the United States. Floating gun-carriages for our harbours, turret ships to protect our own and attack an enemy’s coasts, a few broadside ironclads for miscellaneous service, and a large force of swift unarmed cruisers to watch and guard our commerce, constitute the chief part of our requirements afloat, and ought in good time to be provided against the hour of our need. It has been rumored that Mr. Justin Aylmer (late Warden and Ecsident Magistrate at Boss, Westland) will be appointed to the charge of the Tuapeka district during the absence of Mr, Vincent Pyke.

The eclipse of the moon on Monday evening last was plainly seen, as, the evening was very clear. The eclipse commenced at about nine o’clock, and lasted till one on Tuesday morning. At the time when the o dipso was total it was extremely dark, and had the effect of stopping some few who were travelling between here and Cromwell. The GaDriel’s Gully Quartz Mining Company have been exhibiting a cake of gold, weighing 408 ounces, the produce of 600 tons of quartz. The usual sitting of the 'District Court will be held at the Court House, Clyde, on Monday next, the 19th instant, before Mr. Wilson Grey, A few days since, a miner named Shields and a Mr. Fraser were together, near the hut of the former, when they saw a large stone detached from the hill above them, which, bounding down-wards, crashed through the hut, and fell into the river. In another ten minutes Shields and his mates would have been inside at dinner, and bad the rock come down then, the consequences would probable been fatal to one or more of them. Shie.ds thinks of clearing out of that part. —Arrow Observer. A very important point affecting the mining rules has been raised by Mr. Grant It will be noticed from our Court report that, on behalf of the'Shptover Gold Mining Company, he raises'the question as to the desirability of leasing the bed of the Shotover river. It makes little matter whether the present is to be considered an exceptional case. It is an old dispute reappearing. It is surrounded with difficulties; and now that the bed of the river is attracting so much attention, and is being in places vigorously worked, it may be advisable to have the question definitely settled. Iha Government have not only leased river claims, but they have given special grants of large areas As the point raised is likely to be heard in open Court, we shall express no opinion on this particular case. Wahatip Mail. The Maldon (Victoria) I hr aid, inreferring to Mr. B. W. Nuttall’s submarine boat, for working auriferous rivers, says of that gentleman ;—“ He is a young colonist, and arrived in Victoria from England in 1868. He proceeded to the Thames rush, at which being uncuccessful, he returned to Melbourne and obtained employment of Mr. John Thomas, contractor for the new railway goods sheds. While in that gentleman’s employ he was requested to represent the district of East Bourke Boroughs at the last general election, and although unsuccessful, owing to his not being sufficiently known, his meetings were better and more orderly than those of cither of the other candidates. At the completion of the new goods shed, ho started the speculation known as the New Arcade, on the site of the Haymarket Theatre, and sold his interest in the affair to Mr. H. A. Crawford, in order to carry out his present undertaking. The reduction in the cost of the Emerald Hill Lagoon we believe is due to him and Mr. W. Faram.”

A correspondent of the Wanganui Herald writes:—“l noticed lately an editorial copied foom the Thames Advertiser, reflecting on certain remarks issuing from the Rev. Mr. Buller, suggesting the probability of intermarriages at a future date between the Maori and Pakeha races. One such instance lately occurred at Otaki which is worthy of remark. A young man (a mere youth) took to wife a Maori woman old enough to be his grandmother. The bridegroom had a brother, who went to the church when the bans were proclaimed, and urgently represented the folly and wickedness of such a step. But L the minister calmly heard his objections with unruffled spirit, met his disapproval with plausible arguments, and expressed his intention of assisting the parties to complete the transaction. The marriage was celebrated, and after a few brief months the charm was broken and the eyes of tho enslaved one were opened. Now mark his position. He has conferred a name which has been honored and respected in many parts of the world, Wanganui included, on a worthless, immoral and degraded creature ; ruined his prospects for life, brought dishonor and reproach on a worthy and esteemed family, and he himself is now a wanderer and an outcast. Are these the bright visions of domestic happiness and national greatness which Mr Buller would have us conjure up ? My imagination refuses the task. The theory that “ marriages arc made in heaven” docs surely not apply to such disgraceful and degraded alliances. Heaven forbid that such should ever be common among our proverbially proud and sensitive Anglo-Saxon countrjmen.

The Lyttelton Times gives the following extract from a letter from I.ondon, written by Mr. Thorne, who says : —“ 1 have now a piece of perfectly beautiful huchahack towelling, made entirely from phormium, and hear that a damask table-cloth is now positively in the loom , but I cannot send you a sample of these, as they are all wanted here. If I llnd any to spare, then yen shall have some. Mr. Lockhart (formerly of Nelson) is proving a most fervent and practical disciple as regards the uses of phormium. He has manufactured, for Dr. Featherstone, twine, seaming I vine, reaping twine, various kinds of fishing net, tow yarns, which he has dyed, and is now manufacturing into carpets, fine yarn from the long fibre, which is being woven into fine table-cloths 1 and his report is that the fibre improves in working on acquaintance. This is exactly what I early maintained, and Mr. Forbes confirmed. Your friend. Sir Daniel Cooper, Bart.’ favored me with a visit on the 19th. He seemed greatly in. terested, and thinks Sydney is the place where more enterprise should be shown in growing, dressing, and manufacturing phormium. Will the New Zealand colonists let this industry slip from them ? The barque Springbok, four months out from Port Darwin, with 83 passengers, put in at Cardwell. The Captain is imbecile.