FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1875.

Dunstan Times, Issue 669, 12 February 1875, Page 2

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1875.

It is very satisfactory to learn that there exists every probability of Mr Vogel’s mission to the old country proving a success. If the telegram that, the floating of the loan has been undertaken by the Messrs Rothschild is reliable, there is very little to doubt but that tl.e four millions will soon he at the disposal of the Colony, and the only difficulty in the way of the realisation of the Public Works’ Scheme, so far as monetary matters are concerned, removed. In matters of finance, Mr Vogel has displayed a vast amount of ability, and consider ing the circumstances of the Colony, previous to his taking the lead as head of the Government, he was evidently the man "New Zealand wanted to assume the charge of its affairs Mr Vogel made a bold stroke of policy when he conceived the Public Works’ Scheme, and although wild and visionary as it may have first appeared, we cannot bub congratulate ourselves on the results of its probable success. Of course we do not idolise Mr Vogel as a prophet—the same ideas would of course have been conceived or have forced themselves upon somebody else. New Zealand could not have stood still, and seen all the world going ahead without making some effort towards iniproveilient in herself, and it is due to Mr Vogel that he was the first to see that the proper time had arrived when something should be begun. New Zealand possesses capabilities of colonization no f to be met elsewhere in the Southern hemisphere, and while it is not only the antipodes of our own loved England in regard to its geographical situation, it occupies an exactly simi'ar position for becoming the island home of the commerce of the opposite hemisphere. We have not the vast landed territory possessed by the Australian colonies, but we have equally corresponding advantages. Our sea-girt home possesses numerous harbors on its coasts, which not only afford shelter for our ships, but are convenient ports of entrv for commeice, afford ing retdy communication wi‘h the interior unobtainablebv onr neighbors except a t g eat cost, 'this obviated in a great measure the necessity for railways, f r had if not have been for the nn raeious shipping ports on the coast, the Colony could not possib'v have mnd° the progress it has ■ but we

have been drawing ve-v largely lately upon our natural facilities and resources, and there" is nothing left to us now, but to turn our attention from the seaboard towards the interior, and to accomplish this, railroads

kve of paramount necessity. 'The oIH fashion system of land carriage has been strained to the utmost, and so fav as produce can be carted to the coast with a profit, the land is all taken up and occupied. The large influx of poi.ulationseeking our shores together with the natural course of increase, bids us extend our operations further inland, and draw our Supplies from the yet untilled interior This, is essentially necessary not only for the increased wants of the population, but we must also produce something as a means of export to keep them employed. The only way to accomplish this is to increase our moans of communication further inland, and as it were, shift the basis of operations by means of the iron horse from the seaboard almost to the point of contact snland. Tt matters not whatever may be the distance, so long as the communication is cheap and easy. Farms on the plains Taieri, Maniototo, b'nnstan, or Mannheriki-, will with railway communication become as convenient, ns were all within a very few miles ot the fanned in market. The transport of produce over hund’-ed miles of a railway line, will be as readily and as cheaply accomplished, as over ten, upon an ordinary road ; thus a profi'able field of enterprise is assured to the agriculturist, which, under existing circumstances he could not avail himself of. It is very clear that, we must find something else besides gold-raining if we desire to increase our population, or even to retain what we have got, and unless this is accomplished, we shall never go ahead. The alluvial deposits of gold are not to easibly accessible as heretofore, a'd although there may exist plenty for generations to come to amnse themselves in the gel-ting, vet, the work becomes ’"ore difficult every year, while mechanical to a large extent is superseding manual labor. To make us prosperous, we must learn to combine mining with agriculture. By these means, employment will be less desultory, and people will be enabled to live upon much smaller gains A ll this, the railways w ; ll assist us to accomplish, and when not exportinggohl, we shall be enabled to export corn, and bring up a hardy and industrious population, the possession of which is

indispensihletothe position that the natural facilities of New Zealand, at

some future period of the world’s hishistory will entit'e it to command. The making of railways will not al--wavs prove such a profitable field of employment as i- 1 at r.lie present time the case, and the population tint lias been drained from the interior towards the coast for this purpose must return to their old haunts again, when thev must be provided with work in some shape or another, or their next move will he to shift out of the country. The opening up of more land will Supolvall that hj wanted in t''is respect, while it will not only materially assist the traffic of the vail wavs, hut other employments wi'l spring out. of it, the nature of which it is mere conjecture. The’ Public "Works’ Scheme supplies the desired desideratum ; we cannot hone to go further without it. and although it may have appeared a luxury at one time, our tastes have been so cultivated in tbe direction of railways that, they have become a part of our existence.

At a late meeting of the Waste Lands Board the fol’owing business was transacted:—Mr J. Holt requested that his rert navable for coal lease, be reduced from Lit) 1 1 L 5 per annum. Applicant, wrote stating be had expended LOOP on the mine during the last two years. Resolved that District Land Officer be asked to say whether there were any special circumstances in the case. —Mr G, N. FT ‘Donald’s applications for section P, h'o"k IX, leaning Rock, was r nted.—FL - F. Gemme’l’s application for section 5, ’lock X. same distreet, was dc, e’ined, as the Warden docs not recommend i s being granted.

The following extract for the Pai’y Times may hn.v" the effect of settling the minds of resident, shareholders W S. Douglasv. H. Toohill.—An adjourned claim of f 3 on unpaid shares m the Pneumatic C'omuapy. Mr Lewis for plaintiff. Judgment for the amount f"aimed, wi!h costs. In the course of an eloquent sermon delivered hv Bishoo Moran at St Joseph's Catholic Ohu-eh d'sr, evening—the subject, being the marriage feast, a*- Capa. h : s Lord, s’uri aduiimstnre 1 a severe rcdnik'■ to these. al”oea*-ps of tho temper nee mnvpm mt who he sail would flelrv Mmir fePow-men fro-" the tno 'crate me of wipe and other alcoholic Honors. Tip rom” kod 'Pet w'-i'e no one vh wed with greater detestation and an 1 v error the crint- n r d-uok»uucss than himself, yet, the teaching and example of Christ were total'y op'-oand to the fanatieal efforts of those who endeavoured to interrere u Bh the undoubted right of persons to the use, but. pot the abuse of vinous and spirituous liquors.—Dunedin “ Evening Star,' b

There are no less than eighty applioatioiP in the Provincial Government Gazette for teachers, six male, and two female, for upcountry district schools. The salaries range from £OO, with residence and land, to £IOO per annum, exclusive of school fees. Tho Clyde Brass Band gave another dance in the Town Hall on Wednesday evening last, and we wore glad to see some new faces mingling with our townsfolk, in the “ mazy waltz ” The Band, as usual, discoursed iheir excellent music to a delighted assembly. A notice ema ating from tho Comma* sioner of Crown aLamls, Dunedin s published in the Provincial Government Gazette, which gives tho particulars of Crown Grants now ready for delivery. Persons in whose names the Grants are, should bear in mind that a rental of six-pence per week, equal to twenty six shillings per year is aeojmulatin on them, so long as they remain une'aimed ; and further, that the Government have the power of suing for the arrears of rent. We know of several instances where this has been done, entailing considerable loss and inconvenience.

It is with mixed feelings of pleasure and regret that we shook hands with Dr Thomson last evening: and bid him good bye. The Doctor left the Dimstan district this morning, on leave of absence. He proceeds to England via Dunedin. Feeling, after a long resi ence in our midst, and a little while ago having been seriously indisposed, that a change of air and scenery will do him good, we heartily, agree with him, wishing, at the same time that he may have a prosperous journey. Throughout the district Dr Thomson will he very much missed as he is a general favorite. Speaking of the new India rubber boits, the Sydney Morning Herald of January 12th says:—“ The fust, importation of these ingenious machines arrived from Melbourne by the City of Adelaide being a speculation of Mr J. Sunderland, who will take an early opportunity of practically illus.rating the advantages of these novel boats. The miniature vessel is entnnosed ef air-tubs constructed of india-rubber, is shaped like an ordinary boat, and is about 12 feet long. The appliance for filling the tubes with air is a small bellows shaped •like "n accordeon, which is easily attached to fbe air-tube, and widi 20 minutes ordinary exertion, tho boat is fit for service-end will float, with ease, 20 persons. It is supplied with jointed keel and bulwarks, as also oars, thwarts, &c., and the whole when packed up, can easily be, carried by any ordinary person. The idea is a most valuable one. and will.doubtless bo appreciated esrecially in the interior parts of the colony where floods may occur.”