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Dunstan Times, Issue 593, 29 August 1873, Page 2

On Saturday night last or early on Sunday morning, the claim of Mr. Michael Kett, which is situate on the west bmk of the Molyneux, about half a mile-from Alexanera, was visited by some unprincipled scoundrel or scoundrels, and robbed of a quantity of gold, the proceeds of the previous week’s washing. Mr. Kett estimates_his loss at about 50/. He informs us that it was his practice to wash up once a fortnight, and he assumes the thief, whoever La be, was acquainted with this fact. The finger of suspicion is pointed, but it will be difficult to further than suspect. Wo are 'requested to draw attention to the amount of stakes to be competed for in the Maiden Plate at .the Dunstan Spring Race Meeting. In our last week’s issue the amount was inadvertently advertised five sovereigns, whereas it should have been ten sovereigns. Great efforts are being made to discover coal in the neighborhood cf Bendigo Reefs, we are sorry to say, without avail. Mr. G. M‘Lachlan obtained good indications at the foot of Mount Pisa Ranges, and has done a great deal of labor, having sunk a shaft over seventy feet, at which depth it caved in, and he has also done a lot of other prospecting. Nothing disheartened, he has commenced another shaft, hut this time ho is securely timbering it. We wish success may attend.his efforts, as what he is doing is no task for one individual, and clearly proves that he is an enterprisi n g and persevering man, and is worthy of success. The other locality where prospecting is being carried on is on the Lindis, where (report says) an extensive seam has been discovered. We are given to understand that report in this instance is not correct ; but that a thin layer has been struck, which is being followed up by the proprietors in the hope that it may increase in size. The Gold-fields Bill in Committee, on Clause 30, relative to two heads of water being allowed to run down the oreek for general purposes. The division was as follows—Ayes : Steward, Maoandrew, Brown, White, Bradshaw and Mervyn. Noes : Shepherd, Tribe, O'Neil, O'Connor Bradshaw, and Shepherd They nearly came to blows on the question. Alexandra Dunstan and Arrow papers were not presented to the Committee until after the Bill was agreed upon. The Bill was reported this day withjnore alteration than was thought.

I The Waste Lan 1s Board confirmed the recommendation of the Board of Inquiry, and refuse to'exchange the Lease of Mr J. M‘Arthur of Sections 80, 81, 82 Leaning Rook District. The Cromwell Jockey Club have issued the programme of their Spring 'meeting, which is U> be held on Friday, the 3rd of October. " The amount of stakes offered a-e:—Maiden Plate, ten sovereigns ; Handicap, twenty - five sovereigns ; Selling Race, fifteen, sovereigns ; Trotting Race, five sovereigns ; and a Hack Race, five overeigns. The “Cromwell Argus”—says—“We are informed that the newly appointed District Engineer, Mr. Fergus, will assume the duties of his office at once. He may therfore be expected to arrive in Cromwell sometime during the present week. Those interested in the expenditure of the various sums voted for this district should make a note of this.” The “Daily Times” says:—“lt is understood that judgment will be delivered in the case ‘M'Comb v. Loav and others’by his Honor Mr. Justice Chapman on Monday, August 25. That mentioned was originally an action fur malicious prosecution, and a verdict was given for 770/Messrs. Gj. E. Barton and B. C. Haggitt obtained a rule ‘nisi’ on behalf of defenil mts, calling upon plaintiff to show cause wdiy a non-suit should not be entered, pursuant to leave reserved at the trial, on the ground that there was no evidence of want of reasonable and probable cause ; or, failing that, why a new trial should not be granted on the further grounds of misdirection, excessive damages, not warranted by the evidence, and that the verdict was against the weight of evidence.” [Since the above was in type we have received telegraphic information that Judge Chapman, “ in banco,” refused to grant a new t.ial ] The Well ugton correspondent of the “Daily Times” says:--“ Mr. Bradshaw has managed to obtain some measure of success in regard to his mining on Private Property Bill. The Government at first refused to support the Bill at all ; but now their objection has been so far overcome that they have intimated their willingness to allow that the right of mining shall be reserved in respect of all lands to be hereafter sold in Otago. The Government made this concession after Mr. Macandrew’a- assertion that he was agreeable. Mr. T. L. Shepherd actually supported the proposal very strongly It is not often that he and Mr. Bradshaw agree| about anything relative to the gold-fields. It is, however, very doubtful if any Bill.will be actually’ passed this Session dealing with this subject- A proposal was made to tack a few clauses dealing with it on tojthe the Otago Waste Lands Act Amendment Bill now before the House, but this proposal is scarcely likely to bo adopted, as well grounded fears exist that if the two bills were blended in this way, both would stand a very good chance of being lost.” In the General Assembly, on the 21st instant (we learn from the “ Daily Times”), Mr. O’Neill moved for a reduction of fid. an ounce on the dutv on gold.—Mr. Vogel was sorry to oppose the motion. A mint was to bo established for the purpose of putting a stop to the combination among the bankers. The reduction might benefit Auckland, but would not benefit Otogo or Westlaud. He was sorry the reduction was made last year. The duty was not a tax on miners. The Gold-fields members should be glad that others opposed the reduction. —Mr. O’Connor supported the motion. He quoted largely from statistics, to show that the miners in New Zealand were worse off than those in Victoria. He showed that the yield of gold was decreasing, and the number of miners Jailing off. —Mr. J. L. Gillies supported the motion.—Mr. White argued against the duty as being a special tax on an industry already heavily taxed. Major Atkinson opposed the motion He said the question was one of royalty’, not special taxation. - Mr. Fox supported the motion. The understanding last year was that the reduction should be gradual each year. Mr. Sheens n opposed the motion, on the ground that the Assembly’ had no right to remove the revenue of the Provinces.—Mr. Buckland said that, unless the tax was continued, Auckland Province would become insolvent.—Mr.ReaderWood supported the motion. _ —The adjourned. The “ Wakatip Mail ” says—“ A visit to the Shotover Gobi Mining Company’s claim, Pleasant Creek Terrace, will amply repay the time and trouble spent over it. The claim when in full working operation employs thirty-six hands. Three relays of men are employed working eight hour shifts. It is proposed, however, to resort to the ten hour shift, paying the men 4/. per week until such period as wood and water for sluicing purposes can be more readi y obtained. The former is difficult to get out of the bush at present, owing to the frosts rendering the tracks snow and ice bound, and therefore dangerous for pack horses. The workings are excellently timbered, and the tramways well laid down. The wash dirt varies from throe to five feet thick. Nearly two hundred trucks or about 180 tons are taken out daily ; but lately owing to want of timber, and the races being frozen up. many hands have been discharged. The washdirt averages about five pennyweights to the truck. A crab hole yielding two trucks full was last week cleanedjout and irave, we understand, thirty-six ounces. The late discovery of a fresh bottom under the false one that was being first worked arose through patting down a prop on to the rock bottom. It adds largely to the value of the claim. We trust in our next issue to give a fuller account of thojworks. In the meantime the affairs of the mine present a promising appearance. For the week ending the 23rd of August the yield was sixtyfour ounces, which gives an average of about three ounces per week for each man working in the claim.”

At Switzers, a man named Dapp, lately was fined 30/. for sly grog selling. We are given to understand that a postoffice will shortly he opened at the Serpentine. The “Nelson Examiner” declares that to pass a Permissive Bill will be as idle work as sending flannel shirts to the niggers of Timhuctoo. It is rumored that, after the Session, Mr, Bathgate will retire from the Ministry, as Commissioner of Stamps, and that Mr. OTiorke will be Registrar-General. A new Fire and Marine Insurance Company has been started in Dunedin with a Capital of 500,000/., in 50,000 shares of 10/ each. We understann that nearly 30.0J0 shares have been applied for. The Marriage with a Deceased Wife’s Sister Bill passed in the Tasmanian Assembly by twenty-two votes to four. Bishop Perry, of Melbournej recognises the marriage with a deceased wife’s sister. We have to acknowledge, with thanks, the receipt of a copy of Public Accounts of New Zealand for the year 1871-2 ; also other Parliamentary Papers, and a number of “ Hansard.” Mr. Borton, Resident Magistrate and Warden at the Teviot, we are given to understand, has sent in his resign turn to the Government. The Teviot district wd believe is to be tacked on to the Dunstau. We are requested to draw special attention to the Sales by A notion on Tuesday next at Ayhng’s Coal Creek Hotel, Seed Oats, Farming Implements, &c., and on Wednesday the 3rd of September, of the Steam dredge Salamander, and household furniture at Clyde. It is with great regret we have to record the sudden death from apop exy, at his residence, Tokomairiro, of Mr. George Washington Langley, which occurred on the afternoon of Thursday, the 21st inst. The deceased gentleman was a citizen of the United States, and arrived in Otago soou after the advent of the gold discovery at Tuapeka. Arrived here he joined Messrs. Cole, Hoyt, and Co. - Cobb and Co.—and, we believe, drove the pioneer coach from Dunedin +o Gabriel’s Gully. Subsequently Mr. Lanley became road manager to the firm, in which capacity ho wasjenown, we may say, throughout the Province, and was warmly welcomed wherever his duties called him, while his energetic business habits gave the highest satisfaction to his principals and commanded the esteem of all with whom businoss brought him in contact. Mr. Langley afterwards became the popular landlord of the White Horse Hotel, Tokomairiro, and on the expiration of his lease erected a large house on tie opposite side of the street (the Criterion Hotel), which had been but a short time finished and fitted up, when ho was so suddedly bereft of life. His remains were followed to their last resting-place by two hundred people desirous of thus showing the respect and esteem in which he had been held. Mr. Langley was forty-seven years of age, and leaves a widow and three children, besides a large number of friends, to mourn his loss.