The Dunstan Times. FRIDAY, JUNE 12, 1874.

Dunstan Times, Issue 634, 12 June 1874, Page 2

The Dunstan Times.

FRIDAY, JUNE 12, 1874.

Beneath the Uule of Men entirely just the pen is mightier than theswonn.

In our open column is a letter signed “ C,” dealing with thet motion for amending’the Hospital Ordinance—the writer says, “ how that gentle- “ man (Mr. Hazlett' came to accept “ the amendment oi the ‘Member for “ the Lakes isTathera puzzle to many “ others besides himself.” We must plead guilty’ to being equally puzzled, as we should have thought our Member would have required more ingenious arguments than wore advanced to cause him to swerve from what was simply a duty he was requested to undertake by the Committee of Management of the Dunstan District Hospital, of which body he is President. The motion as tabled by Mr, Hazlett was the result of a long and heated argument at a meeting of the Committee of the Dunstan Hospital, and it was placed in Mr. Hazlett’s hands in the implicit belief that he would have carried it, or have shown fight. Of Mr. Halier.stein’s arguments we will only say they are puerile, and unworthy a gentleman possessed of so much practical sense is he is. Publican’s influence, forsooth! The next thing we expect to hear is that publicans will he the new bogie to frighten naughty children. The matter, however, is not so bad as appears at first sight, as Hospital Committees-can so alter their Pules that, for all centres of population in their district, there shall be elected a Member of Committee, who will have a seat at the Board, and have the power of voting at all Elections, whether of Surgeon or any other officer. Subscribers will thus have the power of voting by deputy, if the individual power is taken from them.

The usual monihly meeting of the Clyde Town Council will be held in the Council Chambers on Wednesday next the 17th instant. The Warden’s office, Roxburgh, is gazetted as an appointed office for the sale and disposal of land within the Land district of Clyde. On account of Mr Warden Simpson’s absence at Cardrona, the Warden’s, District Lands, and Resident Magistrate’s Courts, to have boon held yesterday, were adjourned till Saturday. On Monday last an inquest w T as held at Iho Nevis, before Dr Cone, Coroner, on the body of a Chinaman, who had been killed in his claim by a fall of earth. The jury returned a verdict of “ accidental death.” A noticeable reduction is made in the price of coal by Mr Marie, the proprietor of the Dairv Gully Coal Pit, ho advertises the load of fourteen bags at the pit’s mouth is row 15s ; delivered in Clyde far cash, 25s ; hooked, 30a. According to returns issued hy the Telegraph Department for the quarter ending the 31st of March, 1574, as against the correspond mg quarter of 1573, there was an increase of 2,197 L ISs. 7d., and in nnmber of telegrams forwarded an increase of 61,359.

The Balclutha Town Council Chambers had a narrow escape from th e on Friday night last, caused hy live ashes having been thrown out at the roar of the building. We recommend the above to the attention of all residents on gold-fields towns especially, as the practice of throwing out live ashes is a common one. We notice that Mr D. M’Pherson has commenced the formation of a new approach to his punt on the west hank of the Molyneux. The job is no light one, the bank being very high, and its formation hard gravel, thickly studded with largo boulders. A good stream of water is brought to hear on it, which no doubt will soon effect a change. An agricultural paper recommends a quart of brandy to cure the staggers. We have thought brandy was the cause of staggers.

Mr Graham, late of Moa Flat School has been appointed Schoolmaster at Black’s.

A notice of the postponement of the sale of the Ida Valley Water Race appears in another column, to which we are requested to draw attention. We have received from the Secretary of the Executive of the Otago Miners’ Association a report, in pamphlet form, of the ’proceedings of the Mining-Coufereuce held at Clyde in March last. We have to acknowledge receipt of Receipts and Expenditure by the Province for the past year, also, order papers of the present sitting of the Provincial Council, copy Bills, Reports, & c . It will be as well for hotelkeepers to know that unless their license fee is paid into the Treasury by the 30th of June inst. their licenses, whether granted or not, will be of no avail. We have been requested to direct attention to the sale by auction, on Wednesday next, of the Conroy’s Reef Crushing Machine ; also of a lot of timber and other materials. For particulars see advertisement. We are requested to draw attention to the advertisement in another column notifying that the Share List of the Colonial Bank of Hew Zealand will 'close on Monday the 29th instant. No greater evidence of the popularity of the scheme can be, than the fact that nearly 70,000 shares are already applied for in Otago and Southland alone. We hear that a child, about three' years and a half old, had been missing from its home. Tinker’s Gully, at the beginning of the week. At the time the news reached us the poor little thing had been away for two days and one ’night, and. though a systematic search had been made, nothing could be heard of it. The parents, Mr and Mrs Martin, were naturally in a distressed state of mind at the loss-of their child. A wrestling match had been arranged for this afternoon, betw;en George Robertson (Maori) and Robert Bagg, a Cromwell man, at the Caledonian Ground, but the former

did not put in an appearance. Bon Hoare however, who was on the ground, had a few friendly hunts with Dagg, and some pretty play was shown, the result being much in favor of Hoare. Bagg was much out of condition, and the general opinion was that if Robertson had shown up he would have had au easy victory.—Evening Star. Late Australian news convey the intelligence of the wreck of the ship British Admiral of 1,800 tons, from London to Melbourne, on King’s Island with the loss of seventy-nine lives, nine persons only being saved. The survivors say within a quarter of an hour after striking, she went to pieces not a vestige being left. It appears the ill fated vessel made a bad start as she had to put back to Liverpool with less of fere and main top masts, mizon topgallant mast and bowsprit.

We are informed that shares iu the Dunstan Flour Mill Company aic now being taken np freely in all pails of the district. The successful floating of the Company is now certain, and we hope that the farmeis will place this season a large area of land under wheat. Among the mercantile houses in Dunedin a number of shares have been taken, and it is on receipt of this list we understand a meeting will be called to appoint a permanent Directory.

Iron says, a composing machine is likely to be seen in next year’s exhibition. It is an invention of Mr Hooker, a compositor and self-taught mechanic. The ’machine can be worked singly, that is by one man, but, the inventor says that it is most economically worked by three men and a boy, who can produce work equal to that of 12 compositors. The inventor has been over ton years working out his ideas, and has during that time twice abandoned a part completed machine for improved ones on a new principle. He is now at work on a distributing machine. Hastio, M'Xally, and party, who at the last sitting of the District Lauds Court objected in person to the application of James Connew to purchase the land new held by him under agricultural lease, on the Dnnstan Commonage, have, we understand, since then prospected the ground by sinking several shafts, and report to the District Land Officer that, in each shaft sunk, they obtained prospects of a highly payable nature from the surface to the bottom. This party are engaged cut'ing what may well be termed a canal, as it is five feet broad and eighteen inches deep, to carry the head waters of the Chatto Creek on to the commonage, at an estimated cost of £G,OOO.

The Mackey Mercury reports that a shocking' occurrence has happened at Townsville. A married man, a carpenter by trade, made a bet (for drinks) that he would swim across the creek from the town side and back again. He was under the influence of liquor when he engaged to perform this aquatic feat. Plunging into the stream he struck out for the opposite shore, about sixty yards distant, and succeeded in gaining it. So far he had won the wager. A brief breathing time, and again he was in the water swimming towards the starting-point, and when about a third of the way across, he suddenly uttered a cry of agony, raised his arms above the water, and immediately after disappeared. The spot where he went down, and other parts of the creek around, were dragged for many hours, bat no sign of the missing man could bo found. On the following day, however, the body was discovered lying on the sea-beach, a mile from the place where the ill-fated man vanished in so apalling a manner, and presented a most sickening sight, as, with the exception of the feet and some other parts, the whole of the flesh of both legs was completely gone, the bones being quite perfect. It is supposed that an alligator seized the unfortunate man by the legs, and held him under the water till death ensued.

At the sitting of the Waste Lands Board I held on the 3rd instant, a petition from ' householders in Tinkers was read, asking that certain sections at Newtown, Tinker’s, should be surveyed for sale Referred to the District Land Officer.—Application of Mr John Crossan to purchase section 32, Block 1., Caimhill district, held under agricultural lease, was approved. The District Ranger, Mr Innca, asked instructions as to whether the small patches of bush along the tributaries of the Shotover have been left for the use of the miners, and whether they r were to be allowed to out timber growing on their claims without taking out a licence. For instance, four miners had a claim in the bush at the head of the Lake, and it was possible that they might sell the timber or allow it to be taken away. It was decided that the various bushes were not left for the use of the miners ; that the Ranger should use his own discretion as to allowing miners to out timber for domestic or necessary purposes, and not to interfere in such cases ; also that miners are not entitled to cut timber on their claims unless such is specified in their mining leases. A sporting correspondent to the Australasia says:—“. The Wagga Wagga folks have once more displayed their liberality in racing matters, and for their next meeting have provided a programme that will make some of our leading clubs stare with surprise. At a meeting of the Murrain, bidgoe Turf Club, it was decided that a sum of 1,075/. should be set aside to provide prizes for the Annual Pace Meeting, to take place on; the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th of December. To ihe Free Handicap no less a sum than 500/. is to be added. Fancy an up country club subscribing 200/. more to a handicap than we do to our Melbourne Cup. But tliis is not all, for 250/. is to be given to the Town Plate Handicap. Then there is the Grand Stand Stakes of 150/. Steeplechase, too, will have a similar sum added thereto ; the Maiden Plate 100/., a hurdle race, 75/., and a weight-for-age race 100/. This is a splendid programme to lay before the racing men of Australia, and as rro entrance fee will be charged for the Free Handicap there should be a liberal response on the part of horse-owners. The Waggaiaus are deserving of a hearty support, and, no doubt, they will receive it.” A number of gentlemen assembled at M'Donald’s Criterion Hotel, Alexandra, on Thursday evening, the 4th inst., to hid farewell to Mr Peter Caldcr, one of the oldest residents, who is on the eve 4 of do. parting for Dunedin, and presenting him with a slight token of esteem and friendship. About twenty gentlemen were present. William Bcresford, Esq., Mayor, occupied the chair, having on bis right the guest of the evening, Mr Calder ; Mr R. Finlay acting as vice chairman. A most recherche refection of dainties, provided for the occasion by host M‘Donald, having been discussed, and .the customary loyal toasts drank, the chairman rose and said, the duty of the evening having devolved | upon him, he would endeavor to do justice | to it. He spoke warmly and feelingly, expressed his regret at the departure of Mr Calder, and, in the name of the contribn- ; tors, presented 51 r Calder with a very | handsome go'd pencil-ease, expressing at | the time the sincere hope that, in his future | home, prosperity and happiness would be his lot. Mr Calder briefly thanked his | friends for their present, for the good wishes j expressed, and for the hearty manner in which they had drank his health. Mr Finlay reviewed ably, and at some length, tbs changes that bad come over the town and its inhabitants. Several other gentlemen also spoke, bringing a thoroughly sociable and enjoyable evening to a close. A iettcr from Christiana addressed to , Melbourne ha s to pass through from twenty to thirty dost-otlices, belonging to nine | different Governments, speaking seven dif- | ferent languages. i The completion and opening of Mr I M'Cormick’s new suspension bridge across ! theKawarau, near Edwards’s Nevis Ferry, was celebreted on Wednesday, the 3rd instant, according to the Arrow Observer, by a free luncheon, in the presence of at least four hundred people. The christening ceremony was performedby Mrs Dr Corse in the orthodox manna. - , ami named the Victoria Br. dge. The following description of the bridge we take from the Arrow Observer : —“The span of the structure is 190 feet, and the beightfrom the river 170 feet. The spring of the arch is 2 feet ten 10 inches. The quantity of timber used in the bridge is 60,000 feet, and the quantity of iron 19 tons. The materials used are of the strongest description, the erection is suspended by twenty-eight 4i inch wire ropes, passing over two piers at either end, which are 3 feet 0 inches square, and built of thoroughly seasoned timber, bolted together, and with hot tar nm in between the seams an I joints. There are also eight 4 inch mooring ropes. The ends of the rope are fastened to sheave castings, each one ton weight, let 25 feet into the solid rock on the Cromwell side, and built into 300 tons Jot solid cemented masonry on the Arrow side. The roadway is composed of inch red birch planning, the hand-iails being 0 feet 6 inches above the roadway, and buTt of picked red birch 9 inches by G, bolted securely to the superstructure by 31 inch holts, thus giving the bridge great rigidity. At the christening, at least four hundred persons were assembled on the frown, when the deflection was scarcely perceptible. Afterwards a ten-horse waggon, laden with live tons of flour, parsed over, the rigidity being still maintained ; in fact, no more severe test could possibly he desired. As the breaking strain of each wire rope amounts to some 40 tons, tiro strength of the structure is placed beyond the shadow of a doubt. The total cost is a little over 6,900/., aud only four months were occupied in the work of construction, ’

I The river is falling to a very low level, giving the dredgers and beach workers a fair chance to work ; but, from what we hoar, however, there are but few takiirg advantage and setting in. M‘Kersey’s dredge, at Alexandra, and the Salamander steam spoon dredge have both been manned, and commenced operations, hut we do not hear with what result. Mr Coleman, on his beach claim below Alexandra, and Mr N. Anderson, at Butcher’s Point, have both commenced their winter campaign. There have been as yet no returns from either claim—the former being short of water to drive his wheel for pumping ; the latter up to now being engaged with a strong gang of men in breaking through a layer of large boulders, which it is supposed lie on the golden wash. 51 r Anderson is showing indomitable energy and pluck in tackling the seat Jof work before him, and it is to he hoped he will he well rewarded.