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Dunstan Times, Issue 627, 24 April 1874, Page 2

The English Mail, via Sau Francisco, closes at the Clyde Office 1 on Friday, May 1, at S p in. The adjourned sitting of the District Courtis fixed for Tuesday the 28th instant at 11 a.m. Mr. Henry Dixon, late schoolmaster at Black’s, has been appointed to the Bannockburn .School. Hokitika, with a population of between three and four thousand, contains no less than seventy-three public-houses. From Auckland the rumor comes that the duty on Colonial spirits is to be increased to nine shillings per gallon. The tender for building the Emigration Depot at Queenstown has been accepted, the price being 4G-1/. The Government has resolved to sell the Township of St. Bathau’s, the upset price per Section to be 121. 10s. Tho'traffic returns of the Canterbury railways for the month of February show a total of 0,630/., as against 0,2-19/. for the corresponding month in 1873. By telegrams from Christchurch we learn that the roof of Mr Spenslcy’s (late of Clydii) Music shop caught tire, and was with difficulty extinguished. , In the breach of promise case, Margaret Forrester v. John Darling heard in the Supreme Court, Dunedin, a verdict of 200/. damages was found forthe i’laiutiff. Tho bolls for the German Church at ' Christchurch it appears were not present--1 ed by the Emperor of Germany. The Im--5 penal gift was confined to the metal, the . cost of casting having been defrayed by |. the congregation of the Church. I AVe hear that an enterpris'nghotel-kcep-er in Dunedin contemplates erecting a large hotel in a central part of the city. Some idea of its scale may be formed when B it is mentioned that -the estimated coat ol 1 the hotel is 49,000/.' i A party writing us from Spear Grass y Elat says—“ There are two parties al , 1 work in Coal Creek, and are doing re markably well, and that the gold obtain ed by them is of a very coarse character, f one nngget obtained weighing eighteer •- pennyweights.” i- The Dunedin Evening Star sarcastically i- observes—“ The fate of the Turnbull Q Bastings Executive is sealed. Mr Hallen stein, M.P.C. for the Lakes, has distinct ’ ly pledged himself to support no Govern [ * inent that is not prepared to place a frei 6 bridge at Morvcn Ferry.

Mi. Ronald Reid is now a member of the Waste Lands Board, vice Mr. John Reid, reoignsd.; i The Rates and Taxes Collector notifies in another column that proceedings will bo instituted against those who Lave not registered their dogs. Owners of dogs will do well to bear in mini that the lowestfine to be inflicted is 405., together.with costs. The Waipori Quartz-Mining Company (Limited), since its. starting, has turned out 11,522 tons of quartz, xvhich lias deen cruehed, and produced 6,408 ounces of gold, being at the rate of fourteen and a quarter pennyweights to the -ton. Efforts are being made to farm s fiist class Club m Dunedin. The Daffy Times says—“ It has hitherto been a reproach upon Dunedin that no really good Club has been formed, and we trust therefore that the proposal which is on foot wid meet with success. An "extensive " coal-field, -estimated by Captain Hutton to contain one hundred millions of tons, and said to extend from the Tokomairiro river to the Molyneux river, his been discovered. The matter of constructing alight branch railway to the lie'd is to be brought before the Provincial Council at'its next sitting. 'The’ Annual Licensing Court for the district and town of Cromwell will be held at the Court House, Cromwell this day the 24-th instant, and for the district. of Alexandra, at, Alexandra ou Monday the 27th instant. It will be well for ail applicants to know that they [must attend either in person.or by agent. Among the written applications for the Town Clerkship of Arrowtown was one in Chinese characters. The Observer says : —“AVLether the author wished to imply that the moderate (salary offered for the post was only,[sufficient for a Chinaman" or was merely playing on the Mayor’s well' known 'Chinese proclivities, we are not aware.” The Bruce Herald says—“ The laying of the permanent way of the Balclutha end of the Clntha railway, xvas commenced at The beginning of the week. As a substantial bonus is offered for the completion of the contract (ton miles) within tire s pec-ified time, we have no doubt the work will be pushed forward with all possible despatch.” Eminent contractors, like “ eminent engineers,” says the Kelson Mail, differ a trifle upon occasions. For the Leborafc. Bay railway contract seven tenders were sent in, the lowest of which was 35,2277. (accepted), and the highest 81,6137. The “ eminent contractors”, Messrs Brogdon and Sons, put in for 70,0237.. Either someone is going to lose a “ pile,” or some I one else hoped to make one. A-New York newspaper tays that a gentleman of that city reointly'addressed a letter to “ Her Majesty Queen Victoria, London, England,” asking for her autoto graph. He received the following reply: "‘Sir Thomas Eiddnlph begs to return the enclosed photograph to Mr. , and to inform him, in reply to,his circular, that tbe Queen's autograph is never_given away.” AVe regret having to record the death, in the Dunstan District Hospital, of Simon MTvay, of Garrick Ranges, on Tuesday last. The deceased was a young man, only’ twenty-five years of age. Quite a number of his follow-workers in life and friends, as a last tribute of respect, journeyed from Garrick Range to Clyde, and follow* 1 ! the remains to the Clyde Cemetery’, whore they were interred, the Rev. Joshua Jones being the officiating minister. A’v c have to record another cane of stack burning at the Arrow. On Saturday even ing last shortly after seven o’clock, three stacks of wheat containing about 2,01)0 bushols, the property of Mr James AA’helan, who owns a farm at the junction of the Arrow’river with the Kawaiau, were discovered to bo on fire, and no efforts could stay* the conflagration. How the fire originated no. one could tell, and it is probably the work-of an .incendiary. Mr Whelan was uninsured. The Register informs us that at the bearing of a ease at the AVarden's Court, Stafford, on AVednesday last, in which some Chinese were defendants, one of the witnesses, ou being asked his name, gave it as “ Dam you.’’ The order was therefore given, “ Dam A T ou,” got into the box, to the no small astonishment of some of those present in Court. AA r e may mention that another of the Celestials present rcjoicsd in the euphouinus appellation of “ Boots on.” The Ross Guardian of the 9th instant says;— ‘‘Yesterday afternoon the township was enlivened by-a passage-at-arms between one of our Ai.l’.’s and a ginger-beer man. The battle did not continue long, cs “ ginger” soon went- to grass, and vented his spleen in a trade of abuse that would have done honor to a Newliaven lish-wife. Hostilities were resumed later in the day with a similar result. Really if the M, IV; continue in this fashion, lively’times may be looked for when.the Council meets.” It is stated that the case of “ AABiite v 1 M’Kellar” has been settled on the following terms : —The defendants agree to pay plaintiffs 5,0007., together with such fur 1 ther suras as w ill indemnify the plaintiff; against all costs to be taxed, as betweci ! attorney and client, incurred by’ them ii t the several .actions and proceedings Iron • the commencement of the first action, ii • ISC6, up the present time. The defendant • also agree to sign all documents neccssar; i to enable the plaintiffs to obtain a leas of their rnn. That, upon those condition j I being complied with, judgment is entcrei . I up in one of the actions now’ pending fo . the 5,0007. already mentioned and al - costs, Satisfaction is also fo he entered ii . all the other actions, and the plaintiff e are to give the defendants a release from r.l , other causes of action.

The trial of Patrick Long,- for murder , at Green Island, has been definitely lixod i to take place ou Monday, the 27th inst. i Mr. Horace Hastings* -when at St. i Bathan's lately, said the price of land was j likely to bo raised to 27. per acre. Mr. i Henry Manders, writing to the AVakatip ■ Mail says, “ The rise in the .price of land i is tin fait accompli, and recommends holders c of agiicultural leases to exchange quickly, ■ and coma under the deferred payment 1 clause.” we cannot too strongly recommend t the adoption of the suggestion, as we are < inclined to believe the measure will meet '■ with but few opponents. < The AVakatip Mail says:—“ The five '• thousand acres' at M'Nab’s rnn, thrown open under the deferred payment system, , is being’ snapped up It has been actually j rushed. Open up good blocks of agricul- ; turai land, and the same fate will inevitably ■ await them. The success attendant upon , the opening of this block must be very gratifying to the run-holding interest, as , showing thorn the true value ox their runs, i and the worth of those paltry acquisitions they speak so lightly about.’’ The Guardian of the ISth inst. says : ‘ “ We are informed that- last evening., at 9.30,, a match for 237. aside was made by two 'well-known-gentlemen to walk from the Empire Hotel, to the Toll-bar, Saddlehill, and back, Mr -Dodson acting as stakeholder. Mr Caleb Moore and Mr Thomas Logan of Cromwell, were the competitors. A large number of gentlemen left the Era- 1 pire Hotel to see the start, which was effected in fine style, Mr Caleb Moore taking 1 the lead. Up to a late hour neither of the competitors had returned. The Greymouth Mail says:— ‘‘Every, vessel the port for Australia now boars away some of the mining population, while nearly every boat that arrives brings miners to the place. But the out-goers are Euro- ' peans, tne in-comets Asiatics ; and the general opinion is that the cure is worse than the disease ; or rather, -that a Mori’ 1 goliau population is worse than no papula- 1 tion at all. In which we are incline.) to coincide, lor -the simp’e reason that the 1 influx of the Chinese will prevent .the return of the Europeans. Then the truth of the old proverb will be exemplified, and a bad tenant will prove worse than an empty house.” The West Coast Times says :—“A story is current, whether well-founded or not wo cannot say, to the efl'ccl that one of the members for the- Aharua. in the Provincial Council lately came to serious grief so far as a countenance is concerned Tie tale runs that the Chairman of Committees, who prides himself on his athletic prowess, was celebrating Easter Monday at Big Dam by a wrestling match, in which he was taking a prominent part as one of the principals. While struggling for victory, the member and his opponent suddenly disappeared into a tail race that ran -unfortunately eouvtmient, and the former made such'-a miss of his face that it is lucky a wool: or two has to elapse before the Council meets. AVe hope the honorable member is not in training for the next Session ; for, if so, a higher class of amuscm.-ut than ho even afforded last time may be in store.” A London correspondent, writing to a 1 contemporary, says:-- “ la the books of an | old-established wine merchant in London, I with whom country families had been acI customed to deal for generations, occurs the entry, some sixty years back, of presents of wine made by tiro thou Sir Henry Tichbournc, the seventh baronet, to a person named Orton, residing at AYapping. The connexion of the two names may Do only a coincidence ; but, at the same time, it seems a very curious one, when we consider the manner in which the same naans have been connected in the pending trial ; and it may be that wo shall yet hear more of the circumstances under which Sir Heavy Tichbourne sent 'his presents of win; to one Orton,' of AVappling, at a tin e long antecedent to the birth of the claimant.” Many and deep arc the prayers of the unfortunates who have to Gavel between Alexandra and Butcher’s Gully at the truly wretched state of this part of 'the road, and the only wonder is that the vehicles which travel along it are not positively shaken to pieces. A new road is being formed so as to miss this piece i f road ; but lire question with those who are watching its progress is, “ Will it be of any use when completed. ” AA’c are inclined to the opinion that it will not, and we look upon the monfey expended ns so much to be thrown away, unless a few more hundreds of pounds are expended in pitching and gravelling. The road is mostly a siding cutting, ihe lower part of the road being filled in with what is out away from the upper ; and as this material is, m most places, a yellow clay, wo will leave our readers to imagine what sort, of a ■ quagmire it will he after rain, and whether we arc far out in our opinion that the road will be but little else when complete. Tbe plan and specifications connected with the construction of a bridge over the Clntha river have been prepared. The bridge is to bo erected at the termination ■ of the Clntha section of the Dunedin and r Clntha railway. The In id ge will cons'st of ■ six spans of 120 ft. each of timber and iron, j am! one span of 25ft clear wi th in cmi Crete. Tito piers are to consist of two cas* i iron cylinders, sunk in the ground,dov ntc t rock. ' After being sunk to the propel t depth they will be filled with concrete At s order for the iron work was despatched t( J j England on the 21th November, 1873, 3 and it was expected to arrive within if s months of that date. All the iron-work if 1 to be supplied by the '■ Government, ami r the contract is to be completed, within 1? 1 months of the day of the acceptance o: i the tender. There are to be ma-onry a s bntimeuts, rnd the oateiial for the woi! ! js to he cl’livers! to th; contractors is ' Duao lin.

A Daily Turns c& respondent supplies' Hie following'account of an incident which occurred during the last passage of the Otago to Dunedin:— 11 Wo had just left Samlridge, and had hardly got under full steam when 1 heard a cry—a shout. There, just before us, was a little yat lit of some sort—seme spar gone ; and time, Heating or swimming past, were two hoys in the water, battling bravely. But there is a third in the water. It is one of our stewards, who has jumped in to save, if he can, precious life. Fortunatly a boat was at the steamer’s side : her owner snv the danger, let go the rope, shipped his cats, and picked up the three, safe and well.” The lire of wheat stacks which occurred on Saturday last at Whetlan’s Arrow.) unction is the ’third we have to record within a fortnight ; and, from the fact of the whole of the stacks being uninsured, w« can arrive at Un other conclusion but that they must be the work of some dastardly scoundrel, the chances of catching whom is very remote. Now, .as every fire has been so far successful, the destruction being complete, and, so far as is known, no suspicion boing cast on any one or tiling, the incendiary may bo emboldened to carry on the fiendish_woi k. As a cure cannot bo effected without a capture—and there is but little chance of that—wo would therefore offer a preventive snggtstion, namely, that night pratrols, with no stated beat, but with a roving commission, should be established ; we holding that tho fear of being disturbed iu tho act by the guardian of the peace might act as a deterrent against the repetition of the crime. On the ground of expense, cur suggestion may bo discarded. Xu reply to that, we say, let the police sleep in the day and watch afnitht. In towns, as well as •the.couutry, is this system much needed ; mid we hope that during the coming tlo-ssioii of the Provincial Council, some oue or otheivof the members will bring tills matter up, .and ask if the residents of Clyde 0r,.. Arrow have hot equal justice on their side when asking for police protection by night as have the residents of Priuces-street or Georgostreet, Dunedin. On Saturday -last the 13th instant boeloven and twelve a.m., the lire-bell pealed out its most unweicmuc iiotts, ami on going into the street we at once saw a large and dense body of smoko issuing from what we thought to be tho old National Hotel, Lurrying at once to the scene of the tire we discovered it to bom a cluster oh buildings at the rear of the old hotel, and now used as stablea-aud storerooms by Air Holt, Air Aldridge, and Air APPliersoii, The town race, which is running'close by, being well supplied with water, anil a huge number of willing hands hat ing quickly gathered, a string of buckets was immediately formed and a great quantity of water was brought to bear on the Haims, under j which they quickly succumbed, but not be- i fore, however, a good deal of damage was I done, several of tho buildings being completely gutted and rendered [useless. Ah': Holt is the principal loser, as besides tho damage done to the buildings, which were | his, he loses a double and a single sot of ; buggy harness, besides, a quantity of bed- \ ding and fodder, and other property. Air M •rherson’s losses are-a sot of harness and a lot of ropes and blocks; in Air APPhorson’s stable were several drums of pitch, which after some difficulty were got out, had they have ignited there is no tolling where the lire would have ended. The lire is supposed to have been caused by some children playing with matches, as after the excitement was over, a number of matches miignited, were found, apparently ns if dropped by one of the children whoa running away, and after they hal discovered the mischief done. None of the property was insured. The following we lake from th; telegrams in Otago Guardian of the 20th instant:— 11 Auckland, April IS.—A great fire is ranging in Queen-street. King, chemist; Marshal!, fruiterer; lied fern, photographer; Hurst, produce merchant; Clcol, hairdresser ; and Seymour, fruiterer, have a 1 ready had their premises burnt down. The Southern Cross and Evening Star offices and Vaile’s buildings are in great danger.—April 11).- The fire was confined 1o the wooden buildings between Vaile’s. the draper, and the Southern Cross office, both brick. These were for a long time in dinger, especially the Cross office ; but the hj ick walls stood well. The lire originated at King’s, the chemist. In taking down a bottle of turpentine, it broke against Mother vial of a chemical. The vapor united at the gas, and flame 1 so rapidly that all in the shop had to rush out. There was not even time to tahe the cash out of the till. The dry wooden buildings were a mass of flames in a very few minutes. ( Redfern’s photographic saloon, iu the upper . Part c f King’s buildings, was destroyed before anything could be saved. Marshall’s fruiterer shop, adjoining, ignited imrr.e j diately, and burned with great rapidity, The fire, in the meantime, extended towards the Cross office, carrying with ii 1 Hughes’s oyster shop ; and the shops oi e Seymour, the fmiferer ; Clcol, tin e barber ; Townsend, produce merchant !1 and W. J. Hurst, produce and coal mor 1 chant. The eight buildings destroys 'f covered not more than one hundred am 0 fifty feet frontage. When all were a inns 1 ‘ of flame, the heat was intense. Only hj; ■closing the shops on the opposite side o 0 the street, and making great exertions oi t tho roofs, was the tiro prevented from ex n tending over there. The Southern Cras office stood in great danger ; the engin ° room was several times on live. 1 liimntely 1, by great exertions, it was saved, thorns' 2 tfio wall was damag' d by the beat. Th j a water supply was most inclib ienfc. To . fire-engines were useless, though the lire ' rain and volunteers everted thenm-Ives 1 •8 the utmost. Ihe block was just parmitto d to burn nut, tho exertions of the lireine v . bei •« directed to saving the i.cighbnrin , promises. 'J he insurances, as far a< can b “■ ascertained, re : Norwich Union, 1.2-iW, a New Zealand. 1.5J01. ; Victoria, 1,50',?.'. Riy.al, p'JOf."