The Dunstan Times. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1873.

Dunstan Times, Issue 605, 21 November 1873, Page 2

The Dunstan Times. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1873.

Beneath the Rule of Men entirely oust the pen is mightier than theswnnD.

At the crossing of the Taieri River between Macrae’s and Hyde, the Government are about putting a boat. We do not notice any iidvertisement in the Provincial Gyvernment Gazette calling for the building of the 'Clyde Court House. The sale of ninety-five thouand acres in Ok arita'district, at 15s per acre, to Archibald Scott, is authorised by the Westland Gazette of the 16th nit. During the hearing of a case in the District Court, Clyde on Wednesday last, a witness stated that at Black’s, oats were fetching an unhe rd of price, as high as 10s per bushel being freely paid for them. The Rev. Joshua Jones preached last Sunday in Dunedin, at St, Paul’s Church in the morning, and All Saints' in the evening. Collections were made in aid of a fund for erecting a church at Cromwell, and realized about 24!. At a special meeting of the Education Board held on the loth instant, an application was made from the Clyde School committee for the sum of 100/., to defray cost of fencing and other (works. The application was referred to tire Executive. On Monday afternoon last a thunderstorm of unusual violence, accompanied witli hail and rain, hurst over the town of Alexandra—strange to say, within a quarof a mile of the Town up the Manhuerikia scarce a drop of raiu fell. The Tuapcka Times comments on the Mayor occupying a seat on the Bench when the appeal cases asainst the Corporation assessments were being heard. It characterises the posPion as an anomalous one. being that of a judge of his own acts, he in common with the Council having previously approved of the assessment. It is notified in the Provincial Government Gazette that Sections 1 and 2, Block 1., Ophir, have been reserved as a sito for an athemeum ; Section 6, Block 1., is set aside as a cemetery reserve ; Block XI VIE, Clyde, is set aside as a reserve for Municipal purposes ; Block XVIIL, Cromwell for a hospital. '1 he Greymouth Annual Races are fixed for the 17th, ISth, and 19th of March, 1874. The principal events tire the Greymouth Jockey Club Handicap, of 175 sovereigns, with a sweep of 7 sovereigns ; Westland Hurdle Handicap, of 75 sovereigns ; and the Gold-fields Handicap of 125 sovereigns. Mr. I. C. Chappie reportshaving sold by auction on Monday last Grange Farm, Alexandra, agricultural implements, &c,, realizing hut indifferent prices. The farm of 45 acres, securely feneed, with substantial house, stable and barn, the whole under crop of English grass and clover, being knocked down for 50/. Tire attempt to test the deep ground at Xasebyby means of the Government boring rods, we are sorry to say, has proved a failure. The Mount Ida Chronicle says: — ll If, as is alleged by many, the machine is unadapted to prospect deep ground, except at a cost nearly equal in amount to what would put down and slab a shaft, the sooner that fact is discovered the better." Government land sales will take place as follows:—Alexandra, January 20, 1874; Clyde, January 21 ; Cromwell, January 22; and at Cromwell, on the same date, sections at Bendigo, Newcasile, Pembroke, and Gladstone ; Ettrick, January 19; Queenstown, January 19, and at the same place and date, sections at Glenorchy) Kinloch, Frankton, and Kingston ; Arrow-town, January 21.

The Switzer’s and Tapanui line of telegraph is in course of constmctpn.- The contract for the poles is taken by the proprietor of the Victoria Mill, Tapanui,' '- The post are of black pine, and some are already on the line. We take the following from the Cromwell Argus : Antimony Mining Company reports that the bridle track for conveying the gkc to the dray road is now completed. Ab.out ten tons of ore are at grass, being the yield from a paddock of sixteen feet in depth by twenty feet in length. The reef averages fifteen inches thick. The ore will be for"forwarded to Pori Chalmers for shipment to London, where its actual market value will be ascertained. ” We are requested to draw 'attention to the Prospectus of the Conroy’s Reef Quartz Mining Company. The claim proposed to be worked has yielded a large quantity of gold, when it is taken into consideration the small quantity' of earth moved, and from the fact that the stone where work was left off is equally as good as any obtained, and is in a larger body though under the water level—by the outlay of capital for drainage purposes and good management, the Company should be as successful as any in the country. The Mount Ida Chronicle says:—“We have again to call attention to the great excess of demand over supply with regard to the labor market iu this district. The sludge-channel contractors want a hundred hands ; Mr. Abbot requires another hundred or more for the head-race ; Mr. Dillon, too, wo believe, is short-handed ; and with all this we must add, that very valuable article—water—has been running to waste for want of Lands to use it. Nine and ten shillings a day is offered at any kind of work ; so men could not do better than come up when disengaged.” Air. Clapcott, the travelling Agent for the Government, mußr the Life Assurance scheme, notifies by advertisement his intention to' deliver a Lecture on Tuesday evening next in the Library Hall, Alexandra, and-at the close of the Lecture to give some of his popular readings. The subject : pf the-lecture, “the'laying by a store for those we leave at our deaths ” should be a particularly interesting one to married men—ladies are also interested in the matter, and are particularly invited to attend. As there is no charge for admission, there should be a good attendance. The farmers and residents at Black’s and Tiger-hill appear determined to have more land thrown open in their District for selection. During tfaeipast week a numerous ly signed petition was forwarded to the Government praying that a block of 5,000 acres on the one side bounded by Block I, Tiger Hill district, and the Lease of 640 acres of Mr. Glassford’s on the other side be at once surveyed and thrown open. Mr Cbapp’e, who is our informant, says he is perfectly acquainted with the whole area, and that within it is some of the best land in the district, and that he is acquainted with persons who are now ready to take up l,2oo’.aores of it. The question of wages—the high rate demanded by shearers and other employees on sheep stations—is creating quite a sensation among'the favored few, the squatters. In our last week’s issue, one gentleman advertises for Chinese assistants, and in this issue a firm announce that they require forty men to learn the art of shearing, and offer pay at the rate of 15s per hundred sheep. We refrain from comment. The laborer is worthy of his hire, and is perfectly justified in obtailiing the highest possible price for'his labor ; while, at the same time, the employer'ifronly meting out justice to h'mself iu obtaining as much woik for as little money as he can. However, we cannot but think that the offer of Messrs. CargilFand Anderson of 15s. per hundred for shearing is a fair one, and they should have little or no trouble iu filling the shearing floor at that price, whether by adepts or novices in the art.