The Dunstan Times. FRIDAY, AUGUST 22, 1873.

Dunstan Times, Issue 592, 22 August 1873, Page 2

The Dunstan Times.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 22, 1873.

BeneaththeßuleofMensxTißKLY just the psn is MIOUTIKR than theswoßD.

The mining on private property question appears to be cropping up all over the Province, and which will extend itself in whatever part of the Colony gold may be found. The importance of this question is doubtless felt by the General Government, and the situation fully appreciated, still there exists a very great difficulty in dealing with the matter, and perhaps the Premier is right when, before taking any important step, he prefers

to see what may arise out of the present attempt ol the Victorian parlia ment to, deal with the very same subject. Miners have been put to very grievous loss by having to compensate persons holding land either under a freehold or by agricultural lease, and as in the case of the late Cardrona case, the Province is called upon to pay by an award made by assessors something like seventy pounds per acre for land leased at ha’fa crown per acre per annum with the option of the lessee terminating it at the expiration of seven years as provided by the Agricultural Leases Regulations. In the last issue of the tiie “ Wakatip Mail ” we find that a mining party has been negociating with the owner of some auriferous land for the purchase of two acres for mining purposes at 25/. per acre. In both of these cases the sums demanded for compensation or purchase appear to be excessive, when compared to the first cost, one pound per acre, and in our opinion it would certainly be preferable that no land should be alienated, rather than we should be called upon to pay such exorbitant sums when it is required by the miner. The whole of the country, comprising, what is known as the gold-fields, is without doubt more or less auriferous, and will some day be mined upon for gold, but when this becomes private property, there will be so many difficulties thrown in the way of the miner having access to it, that one of our most valuable and important branches of industry will stand a good chance of becoming nearly extinct, or at least, its operations will be so cribbed with so many difficulties in the way of its pursuit, that miners will betake themselves to more congenial quarters, and who can say where the next new discovery may be made. In the event of any great exodus of the population, land far distant from the seaboard will materially depreciate in value, the pursuit of agriculture, except upon the most limited scale will become obsolete, and present holdings will be only available for feeding sheep, in fact, the country will go back to the original position it occupied before the gold discoveries. To pay tor our railways, and to keep them employed, it is highly essential that the mining industry should be prosperous—it gives the spur to all other interests, and nothing can be more suicidal than to lock out the miner from access to the land. Taking it as a general rule, what is designated as agricultural land on the gold-fields, especially the northern portion is extremely poor, and after some three or four crops is valueless, while , crops perish two years out of three from drought, and but few farmers may be said to be in a prosperous condition ;it is acknowledged on all sides that the same amount of capital, energy and perseverance expended on other pursuits would have produced considerably more beneficial results. It is of course necessary that some encouragement should be held .out to persons cultivating the soil upon the gold fields, so as to lessen as much as possible the cost of living, and this can easily be done without any clashing of interests. All our farmers have a limit to their operations, they never can become exporters, they are confined to the local markets, consequently the area to be cultivated must be regulated by this; such being the case, it becomes necessarily small, and it is extremely questionable whether in fostering the interests of the farmers, we are not injuring one of much greater value Land upon the gold-fields might all be held under lease and at a very moderote rental, say, a nominal sum, equivalent to the value of a ‘ ‘miner’s right," for every fifty or one hundred acres—no protection whatever to be given from the inroads of the miners, except for wanton damage, or destruction to crops and fences, when the actual damage should be 'awarded by assessors chosen from both sides; persons taking up land would know the difficulties they had tocontend against and prepare themselves accordingly, and we feel assured that quite as much land would be cultivated as the exigencies of the mining community required, while a good understanding would exist between all parties, and it would be the interests' of either to mutually promote each others good. A Mining on Private Property Bill will be a most difficult matter, and unless the subject be satisfactorily legislated upon, it had better be left alone; in our opinion to obviate the necessity for such a measure would be by far the wisest course to take.

The Cromwell Jockey Club Spring meeting haa been fixed to take '.place day the 4th of October. jj|ln another column is the programme of the Dunstan Jockey Club Spring Race Meeting, to which we draw the attention of our sporting friends and readers. Owners of dogs will be well to bear in mind that the lowest penalty fot. keeping an unregistered dog is forty shillings—we ■ hear that there is likely to be a raid on the animals. The “ General Government Gazette ” no tides the appointment of the following gentlemen as Justices of the Peace :—W. Beresford. Esq., Mayor of Alexandra ; B. Naylor, Esq., Mayor of Clyde; and J. S. Wait, Esq., Mayor of Oaraaru. Among the changes in the police force we notice that Sub-Inspector Thompson has been raised to the rank of Inspector, and that Sergeant M’Cluskey, of Naseby,‘now rates as Sub-Inspector. Both officers have been a long time in the service, and highly merit their promotion. An official inquiry into the circumstances attending the recent fire at the Carrick was held on the 12th instant before the District Coroner, Dr. Corse, and the following verdict was returned—■“ That the said house was wilfully, feloniously, and maliciously destroyed by fire by some person or persons at present unknown. The “ Mount .Ida Chronicle "says—“We are glad to learn that the Police Officer in charge of the District haa received.’a token of the confidence placed in him by the head of his department, and the Government. In conferring upon him the rank of Sub-Inspector, a deserving officer has received a fitting recognition of good and long service. We hope Sub-Inspector M'Cluskey will be long retained in the district. Wo are given to understand that the petition from the Dunstan District, in favor of the extension of the Railway from Tuapeka to Cromwell, and forwarded during the week to his Honor the Superintendent to b6 presented to the House of Representatives, contained 34S signatures. The petition from Cromwell and district, and, the Teviot are to follow—we are not aware of the number of names attached to them. ji-We are requested by the Treasurer of the Dunstan District Hospital to acknowledge the receipt of a donation of 20/. from John George Shrirapton, Esq., of Lake W anaka. We cannot allow the opportunity afforded to pass nu-noticed the impecunious position of the Dunstan Hospital, and in drawing the attention of our wealthy squatting neighbors to Mr. Sbrimptou’s liberality, say, “Go thou, and do likewise." The Bendigo Reefs are reported to have the most encouraging appearance. Excepting Logan and Company’s, who arc now engaged crushing some really good stonefive ounces to the ton is expected to be realised—there is no one claim in particular deserving more notice than another. The source from which we glean our information says that Bendigo is looking up, and it is expected that, in the summer months, a large population will he located there. The report on the Dunedin Lunatic Asylum for the year ending the 31st of March, 1873, contains a number of statistical tables, from which we glean the following ;—Patients remaining in the Asylum on on the Ist of April, 1872, 153 ; admitted since, 74 ; discharged, cured, 30 ; 2 were relieved and 15 died. The daily average was 163, and the total number treated 227 —159 males and 68 females. The average daily cost of each patient, after deducting repayments by . patients, Is. 2Jd., or 225. 7s. sd. per years. Of the patients admitted, we notice that Dunstan is debited with nine—seven males and two females We believe that the submarine boat which has been constructed in Dunedin for the purpose of gold seeking in the beds of our Otago rivers, will be tested in tho course of a few weeks in the harbour. In connexion with this experiment, a description of the first submarine boat, written just twenty years ago, will be of Considerable interest to the curious in such matters. The sixth volume of “ Household Words ”, published in 1853, contains an article called, “ Wholesale Diving in which there is a very full account of the appearance and performance of thes of the bateau plongeur. We regret that the article is too long for republication in our columns, but the volume referred to can he obtained in the Athenaeum.—“ Da ; ly Times.” A return of arrests made l y the police authorities throughout the province during the month of July shows that they amount to one hundred and sixty. Of these one hundred and thirty eight were males and twenty-four were females. Of these arrests seventy were made for drunkenness, and as there were five for assaults on the police, twenty-two for disorderly conduct, two for damaging police uniform, seven for obscene language, and three for resisting the police (all offences arising more or less from drunkenness) it may be pretty safely assumed that intoxication has directly contributed more than one half of the total number of persons made prisoners in Otago during the month that has passed, whilst the fact remains that it has indirectly doubtless contributed to many others.— “ Guardian.” At a meeting of the Cromwell Jockey Club held on the 14th instant, the business being to receive tenders for fencing in the Race-course Reserve, thirteen tenders were received. Considerable discussion took place, as it was found that even tho lowest tender exceeded the amount which Jhad been estimated to be required for doing the work. It was resolved that none of the tenders should be accepted, instructions being given at the same time to a sub-com-mittee to borrow an amount of money not less than 300/., and authority also to treat privately with the three lowest tenderers for the construction of the fence when the necessary amount should have been obtained. The three lowest tenderers were Messrs. Cavanagh, Maxwell and| Baken “ Cromwell Argus.”

CLYDE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

The annual meeting of subscribers, for the purpose of receiving the report of the retiring Committee, and to elect a new Committee 'for the ensuing year, was held the Library on Monday evening last, the 18th instant, about twenty subscribers being present. The Rev. Joshua Jones, as Chairman of the Committee, occupied the chair/, and, after briefly statingjthe object of the meeting, called upon Mr.- Richard Poole, the Secretary, to read the report of the retiring Committee. The following is a summary of the report: —Number of subscribers, 60 ; number of books taken out during the year, 671 ; still in circulation, 42. The balance sheet showed that 417. 12s. 9J. had been received during the year, and the expenditure for books, periodicals, do., 1 la. 5d., leaving a balance of 37. Is. 4d. in hand. The assets for un-paid subscriptions, wastepaper, &c. were set down at 197. 15s. Bd., and the liabilities at 57. The Librarian’s report, showing the number of new books purchased and newspapers and periodicals received, also many other interesting particulars, was read. In reply to a question the Librarian said the only Provincial newspaper the Library had to pay for was the “Cromwell Argus.” After several gentlemen has spoken, it was ultimately resolved that the reports be received. Mr. Jones here vacated the Chair, and air. George Clark voted to it. Mr. Hazlett said he had great pleasure iu moving a vote of thanks to the retiring Committee and the Librarian for their re. ports—he must say since they had occupied office, the library has been conducted in a most efficient manner. The motion was unanimously carried. The rules of the Library as revised by the late committee were laid on the table, and the meeting was asked do consider them. After being read, they were adopted. Mr. Hazlett said as the “ Cromwell Argus ” was the only paper that was paid for, he would propose that it be discontinued ; an ame'nlmcn t was put—That it be continued. After some discussion, the original motion was carried. The Chairman said, the next matter to deal with was the election of the Committee for the ensuing year. Messrs. J. Jones, M'Conuochie, Wilson, Auckland and Poole were reelected without opposition.