FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1875.

Dunstan Times, Issue 670, 19 February 1875, Page 2

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1875.

His Honor Wilson Gray, Judge, sat in the District Court, Clyde, on Wednesday last. He briefly referred to the case Phillippi v. Felton, and adjourned the Court till Tuesday, March 2nd.

Old “ Timon ” made a feeble growl last week out of the dingy recesses of Iris murky dwelling. It is a great pity the poor old fellow cannot let his country contemporaries alone. Surely his Dunedin modesty do°s not aspire to snuffing them out altogether with overstrained snatches ol mouldy wit. Judging from his last effusion, the “ pills ” that he intended for his Clyde contemporary must have been swallowed by himself in mistake, or he would never have cried “ago ”so soon. Now, that Timon has allied himself with the squatters, the strong smell of wool penetrating the interior of his tub may perhaps suggest the propriety of turning it into a sheep-dip. It is impossible that any more good jokes can come out of it. Spontaneous thought is like “free selection before survey,” it don’t like to be cribbed, and Timon’s new friends believe in having everything to themselves. The acclimatizing of white swans in the neighborhood of Oamaru appears to be a -success, as on the Kakanui River two broods of seven and five respectively, together with seven old birds have taken up their abode. The Oamaru Times says—- “ One would have thought that they would be safe from molestation, but it is not so,' as only a few days ago some men were ob‘ served pelting the young swans, and when asked what they wore doing this for, replied that they didn’t know what they were, and wanted to kill one, so as to have a look at it.”

The Daily Times says :—“ The Switzers Races have been postponed till the 17th and 18th March.”

Mr S. C. Worth, of the Colonial Bank, passed through Clyde on Wednesday last, for Cromwell, where it is understood a branch is to be established. We hear that it will be opened to-day. A third share in the Welshman’s claim, Drybread, the property of the late John Owens, w’ho was unfortunately burnt to death a short time since by the accidental tiring of his hut, was submitted to public auction by Mr John Chappie at the Matakauui Hotel on Wednesday last, and realised the largo sum of 4251.. It was knocked down after a spirited competition to Mr H. J. Cope who purchased for Messrs J. and G. Mellor of Arrowtown, Tinker’s.

Writing on the subject of recent changes on the literary staff of the Dunedin Guardian and Mercury newspapers, the New Zealand Tablet says:—“ Wo understand that material changes have taken place in the management and literary department of our High street contemporary. The late manager Mr. K. H. Leary finding his other business engagements precluded his paying the necessary time to the affairs of the company resigned his position and has been succeeded by Captain Baldwin. Captain Baldwin assumes tbo position of editor managor-in-chief of all the departments, literary and mechanical the late editor Mr Vincent Pyko taking the chair of tho Mercury. Wo will not say that those arrangements will ho for the benefit of the Guardian or otherwise, huh we lave little doubt the Mercury willbemateiially the gainer thereby.

A Humorously attended meeting of the inhabitants of St. Bathan’s assembled at tho School House on Saturday evening last for the purpose of presenting Mr WilliamjPyle with some public recognition of his services during his long residence in that township. Mr John Ewing, tho gentleman deputed to make Wo presentation, remarked that in all small communities there existed much difficulty in getting some one to take a leading part in public affairs, as well as to efficiently fill tho numerous honorary offices that necessarily arose. Mr Pyle had been of valuable assistance to them, and he Mr Ewing did not know how they should supply bis place. Tho thanks of tho miners were especially duo to Mr Pyle ; his large purchases of gold for Melbourne had practically increased its price six-pence per ounce to the miners, as the Banks were compelled to give that amount extra for the gold they purchased at St. Bathan’s and surrounding neighborhood to compete with Mr Pyle. Mr Ewing’s remarks were loudly applauded. Mr Pyle, who evidently felt much impressed with the proceedings said that, while thanking the inhabitants of St. Bathan’s for their very handsomegift.it was tho more valuable as it expressed the good feeling of the inhabitants towards him, and he hoped to wear their beautiful present as long as he lived. The presentation • consisted of a handsome gold lever hunting watch, with suitable appendages—it was purchased at a cost of thirty-three guineas, and came from the establishment of Mr J. Hislop of Dunedin A large number of persons accompanied Mr Pyle to meet the Dunedin coach on Monday morning at Hill’s Creek. Mining matters at St. Bathan’s show signs of considerable improvement. The Otago Water Eace Company have just com pleted their race from the right hand branch of the Manuherikia to Muddy Creek, tho length of the race is between forty and forty-five miles. The Company is a private one. and consists of twelve members, all working men, and who executed nearly the whole of the work themselves having very little outside assistance. They will rent water at 31. per week, thus practically effecting a reduction of onepouncl, 4Z-. being the price charged by the ocher Companies, With water at a cheaper rate, there is a large quantity of ground to be operated upon here, but which will not pay at the old rates. Rather than suffer a reduction, the large Water Companies prefer to use it for mining purposes: themselves, but whether they will find it the most profitable course to do so is a query not yet decided.

The inhabitants of Welshman’s, now Cambrian Gully, intend celebrating St. David’s Day, the Ist of March next with a public pic-nic in aid of the School fund. The gathering will be on the banks of a very large dam, locally known as Lake Cambria. It is thought that a considerable number ofpersons will avail themselves of this opportunity of celebrating the festivities of Taffy’s Day. The water supply at Drybread and Tinker’s has fallen off considerably of late, andjnot more than one-half of the mining parties hitherto at work are at present employed. Things notwithstanding are pretty prosperous, as in these highly auriferous localities, the results of six months’ work oftentimes produce as much as twelve elsewhere. No places in the Duustan district produce as muen gold as Tinker’s and Drybread, ner is the ground wrought more extensively or systematically. There was quite a field day at the Court at Blacks on Tuesday last. A case in which both plaintiff and defendant wxre Chinese excited much interest. Mr F. J. Wilson, of Clyde, conducted the case for the plaintiffs, and Mr Wesley Turton, of Queenstown for the defendants. The plaintiffs Ah Man and party complained against Ah Cow and party for interfering with their claim, for which they claimed 20/. damages. Judgment was given for the plaintiffs for 15/. and Court fees. Defendants to get 40/. subsidy from the Government for a tail race through complainants ’ claim.—The 15/. represented compensation for taking the tail race through plaintiffs’ claim, and for the encroachment.

The crops about Blank's and neighborhood are very light this season. Some of the fields which the reaping machine has just passed over, show but a very poor yield. There appears to have been less rain this season about this quarter than any other district in the Province. The Resident Magistrate at Taranaka is likely to have a warm time of it, as out of a thousand ratepayers, not half have paid the Education Tax, and the others are all summoned.