FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1875.

Dunstan Times, Issue 668, 5 February 1875, Page 2

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1875.

The completion of the Southern Trunk Railway, which was to shorten by time, if not by instance the journey between the Dunstan arid Dunedin, promises to bo considerably delayed by the non-completion of the tunnel through tho Chain Hills. So fur as the other portions of the line are concerned it appears that a very few weeks are sufficient to complete all that is necessary to make it available for traffic. But this insuperable barrier intervenes, and the many thousands of pounds which have been laid out upon this line must remain unproductive until this tunnel is ready for the passage of trains. How long this will be it is difficult to say. Some time ago, we were informed by the Dunedin newspapers that it would be completed in seven months ; but that period has almost expired, and the thing is as far off as ever. The time now set down is two years, and if only what we hear is true of the stow progress made, even that may be doubted. A few months since wo visited the tunnel ourselves, when, never in the whole of our experience on the Goldfields did we ever see such a mess being made of a really simple’ job. Ghost of Brunei, if yon could have only seen the puny and misdirected efforts that were being made to make a boring through this little mo’e hill, and what insignificant difficulties were being magnified into great ones, you would never rest quiet. Your contemporaries’ workers in the flesh here, in New Zealand, would never be able to construct a Thames Tunnel. A little hard rock, together with a small amount of slippery ground, is almost more than they can get over ; while, as to a quicksand, such a thing presenting itself would stop their progress entirely. The delay in opening this tunnel is a very serious matter, and whoever are the persons in fault it should be brought home to them. If the Government neglected to make proper borings, or laid off the work badly, and so led tho contractors into error, they should be held responsible ; while, if tho fault lays with the contractors, some penalty should be imposed. It is very clear there is gross mismanagement somewhere, and the blame should be sheeted home to the right parties. The loss to Tuapeka and this district is something serious, as, were the railway only opened as far as Tokomaririo, during the summer months the Dunstan or Dunedin would be reachable in one day. This would give a great impetus to the traffic of the place, and cause more people to travel than is now the case. The loss to the country is a very serious one Not only is the opportunity lost of aecellerating the traffic of the interior ; but we shall be prevented from earning, as we proceed with the Public Works scheme, some little return that would go a Jong way to discharge the interest of money we have borrowed.

The attention of spec ilaio’-s .ml capi‘a Tists is directed to the sale of 2,000 shares in the Deep Level Company, on Friday next the 12th instant, at Cromwell. Persons intendin'' applying for Publicans’ Licenses, or transferring, or removing same, will do well to act in conformity with the Adveriseracnt which appears in another column. The case of Wenkeim v. Malaghan wa« concluded on Monday last at the Supreme Court, Dunedin, and resulted in a verdict for the plaintiff, with one farthing damages, which will not carry costs. The total costs of the case will be at least 500f. Harvesting may now fairly ho said to have fairly commenced, in the district. The crops, so far, we are sorry to hear, are nothing to compare with last year’s in quality, in oat crops especially. Wheat however, which has been sown in fair quantities, is an excellent crop.

Wo (Arrow Observer) are informed that the reef on the Crown Terrace, known ns *’ Cornish’s” has been taken np by a party of men, and will bo subjected to a thorough prospecting wo hope with a successful result. This action we presume, is taken on account of tho favourable opinion of the lode expressed by Mr Ulrich, who visited the locality. It will ho well for all residents in tho various electoral districts to examine tho rolls, and if their names are not therein inserted, to take such steps to have the omission rectified. Registration ’forms are to be had at all Government offices. The last day on which registration forms can be received is 30lh March nest.

Beceptly a't Poverty Bay, a settler name ! BoueefieM repaid a debt by saving from drowning a neighbor who, some years bo • fore, had rendered him a like service.

Wo have to acknowledge tho receipt of a copy of ifackay’a Otago Goldfields Almanac, which contains a large amount of very useful information. In its compilation great credit is duo to tho publisher, whom we trust will be rewarded with a large circulation.

Tho local paper says Charleston now possesses amongst its other institutions a Temperance Hotel, Mr William Ballard having started in business in that line, in Camp-street, in a commodious building erstwhile devoted to Bacchanalian pursuits. Mr Ballard announces that travellers, and the public in general, will find every accommodation at this establishment and that the hotel will be supplied with tho latest English and Colonial papers. The result of a charge preferred lately in Melbourne by a barman against an obstreperous individual who had called for drink without tho means to pay for it is worth knowing by publicans generally Henry Martin was charged with assaulting FTenry Fern, a barman at the Parade Hotel. The defendant, in company with reveral other men call at the hotel and ordered drinks for which they refused to pay. They attempted to leave the premises, when, being detained by the complainant, Martin struck him a severe blow in the eye. Mr Edwards, who appeared for the defendant, urged that as a publican cannot recover for liquor supplied on the premises, Fern committed an illegal act in detaining the defendant for the money, and he therefore bad no legal redress for the assault. The Bench held the argument to bo valid and dismissed the case.