FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 1875.

Dunstan Times, Issue 678, 16 April 1875, Page 2

FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 1875.

We feel ourselves in a state of awful trepidation, and almost annihilated by the terrible threats of our Queens town contemporary. Because a storm in a teapot rages in the usual quiet City of the Lakes must no one say anything at all about it ; or dare any newspaper—save its own dear and wise local luminary—record the occurrence under the pains and penalties ot an action for libel 1 Whatever can be the cause of the Mail’s uneasiness, or, whatever is the party strife ruling of which it is the champion is yet to be understood. Sorry we are, and we believe that Mr W. j. Barry has the sympathies of everyone in this district with him for his late unfortunate affaii-, while some measure of regret must also be extended towards the girl Charlotte Sloan. The case appears to be equally an unfortunate one for all parties, and it would have been better that it had never been the subject of a judicial enquiry. It now appears to have resolved itself into a species of internecine warfare of party against party. Even the lawyers have been set by the ears ; while the quarrel also shows symptoms of having extended its influences to “the powers that be.” However, we shall not, in consequence, discharge our Queenstown correspondent, or refuse insertion into our columns any communication coming from that quai ter when written dispassionately, and when nothing but facts are stated, because we believe we are best serving the public interests by admitting into our columns any free discussion of public opinion ; and, when matters of news are concerned we object to have our correspondents coerced, or dictated to as to what they shall send us. If the Mail’s report of the case is to be believed, and from what letters we see in that paper, published afterwards, the correspendcnts to the Dunstan Times, Daily Times, and Evening Star, took a most favorable view of the case, and evidently tried to make things look much better than they really were. Mr Barry being a wellknown character in the Province, anything coucerninghim was consequently of interest, and it was right that it should be published. The matter now presents a different aspect. Barry and the girl Sloan are only chosen as the war cry of the contending factions, a fact palpable for anyone to perceive living at a distance, notwithstanding that a minister of religion, a M.P.C., and some of the leading tradesmen of Queenstown sign a declaration to the effect that they believe the woman innocent and undeserving the incarceration she is at the present moment suffering. The other parties interested in the case must have a reputation to lose ns well as Mr Barry. Surely they are equally worthy of belief. The Magistrate doubtless acted quite right in not sending the case for trial, the value of the articles proved to have been stolen being but small, and not worth expending £5Ol over, and when he discharged

the prisoners ilie matter had best been allowed to rest. The letter published in the Wakatip Mail and signed W. J. Barry and Charlotte Sloan respectively upon being dissected show to have been written by one and the same person and this also holds good in Barry’s letter thretening ourselves and the Dunedin newspapers with probable actions for libel. Nothing is more certain then that the parties signing them never wrote them, nor can they scarcely express their ideas, there is too much of the legal twang about them for that. Whenever any person now-a-daj s imagine their feelings to have been hurt though some matter published in a newspaper, it ia at on '. e eon . struod into a libel, and the te.Tors of the law are held over the offending journahst. As the press is only, after all, but a record 0 f current events, so)mebodys toes must necessarily be rit bIT/f u 6 Cl " tifis of the jonrnaiist be faithfully discharged; and we If Vie ° GlVe lat le P 11 l ) lic journals ago cannot be accused of else but tair and impartial dealing. In the present case the question suggests itJJL.’ 18 a 1 . thlS , s y m P at V at Queens,genuine,? And the echoes answer a most emphatic, “No.” A correspondent in this paper lately said that, “a class ot persons living at Queenstown Pad been there so long that they had °atgr o wn the place, and to preserve further existencemust have everything their own way! while that an infusion of new blood was badly wanted.” Was he right, or was he wrong? remains to he seen. Atone time, when public opinion was honestly expressed at Queenstown, and the surface of its little teapot was ruffled by storms, it drew public attention and sympathy in its direction! but its cry of “wolf” is no longer heeded, and it may rave and tear as it pleases without attracting recognition. As soon as the Council meets next month a fine field will be opened for the display of its particular local talent, in the person of the great Ti. M., “Then we shall see, what we shad see,” and the effect, will be, “prodigoius ”

To day a cricket match between the Clyde and Cromwell e’evens takes place at Cn m well. The return match is arranged for the 21th May the anniversary of the Queen's birthday at Clyde. To morrow evening a meeting will he held,, at Alexandra the subject for consideration is the formation of a Laud Reform Association. We would particularly draw attention to the Advertisement, respecting amount, duo to, and by the late Wilson Grav. An accident fortunately however not attended with very serious results to the son of Mr Thos. Horley ot Sandy Point, it appears he was out on Sunday afternoon last With some companions duck shooting and young Horley received the contents of one of the guns in his legs and rump, he was at once conveyed to the Hospital where he now lays, and from what we can learn progressing favorably. We are requested to draw attention to the Ball and Concert, tohe given in Mellor’s Assembly rooms, Tinker’s on Wednesday the 21st inst in aid of Thomson’s district School funds. As every arrangement has been made to render the evening ot the most enjoyable character we wish for a good atendanoc. The Sale by Auction of Dairy Cattle, Brood Mares, Farm produce, implements at Spear Grass Flat on Tuesday the 20th inst we are requested to draw attention to J C. Chappie, auctioneer. In drawing attention to the advertisement of Sale by .auction of Colts and Fillies at Goodger’s Yards Cromwell Thursday next the 22nd inst G. Fache auctioneer we can only repeat what has so often been said, that the lot to he sold are prime and that any person in want of a first class horse should attend the sale. Mr Fergus, the district road engineer, has received instructions from the Goverment to visit the Waikaia Bush, and report as to the practicability of making a road from it to Alexandra. His report will he anxiously looked for by the residents on the Dunstan Goldfields, as mining operations could he carried on much cheaper there, provided a regular supply of timber at a reasonable price could bo procured. We acknowledge with thanks the receipt of the April number of the “Illustrated Neiv Zealand Herald” which iaundoubtedly the best yet produced. The whole of the pictures are of a first class character and highly interesting. Wo are requested to draw attention to the advertisement, notifying the appohtment of Mr Geo. Fache as agent for the receiving of applications, for shares in the Colonial Building and Investment Society. The Tuapeka Times says:—The retnil price of the 41b loaf is 9d in Lawrence, but hysome extraordinary means some of our local bakers manage to forward it, coach free, a distance of from twelve to fifteen miles, and then sell it at Bd.

We observe (says the New Zealand Times) that Captain Underwood, of the s.s Albion, who interested himself most kindly on behalf of the widow of Captain House, has been no less active on behalf of the lost crew of the Gothenburg. Whcnlast in Melbourne he paid over to the Relief Fund the sum of £124 Cs, collected by him chiefly in New Zealand ports. No loss than £43 2s Gd of the amount was subscribed by the officers and crow of the Albion, A fireman on board the Albion named M'Lean also paid over to the Victorian Seaman’s Union a sum of £l7 10s, collected by him in the ports of this colony vistod by the Albion, for the benefit of the sufferers by the wreck of the Gothenburg.

Three brothers, named Gorrio, working at Maryborough (Victoria) as miners,(have come in for L75.0C0 sterling by the death of a relative in England,

Tho following items of Sporting news will bo interesting to many of our readers. “The Sydney Cup was run on Thursday, Ist inst. Six horses started. Imperial was Ist Deprive 2nd, Lnrlino 3rd. Tho race was won by a length, pretty easily. Lnrlino won tho All aged Stakes on Friday, 2nd, beating a moderate held. At this meeting Sir Hercules liobinson won no less than seven races, and got places in five others.”

The leading article in our Tuapeka Contemporary of the 10th inst on the Tokomariro and Tuapeak rali-way says. From all accounts the contractors have run short of the “neodfull,” and not a single hand, wo are informed, is at present employed on the railway from the Round Hill to the Tokomairiro junction. This is indeed a pretty plight to be in, and tho completion of the railway, which we fondly hoped would bo realised in twelve months, is now more liketo extend over a period of years .... Great complaints were made by many against a monoply being given the Messrs. Brogden, but of this we arc confident, had that firm been entrusted with the formation of tho Lawrence-Tokomariro Railway, it would have been completed simultaneously with the Clutha line, which will be opened in a few months, whereas, at the present rate of progress, the iron horse will not be at work on the Lawrence line for the next three years. We would recommend tho Tuapeka Progress Committee to again address the General Government on this subject, but in much stronger languoge than previously, as the case is one requiring the adoption of strong measures. Mr Henry Smithies has again presented an application for re-admission as'a barrister and solictor of the Supreme Court.

From a contemporary we learn that the system of one afternoon’s half-holiday during the week is still in force at Lawrence. Every Friday at noon the various business places are -closed, when both employers and employes are enabled to recruit their energies by an agreable change of scene, and so enter into the busy duties of Saturday with renewed vigour. Wo think the same system might be adopted in Clyde without any injury to the business people. Old Acquaintances. —“ Accidents will happen in the best regulated families,”'andin accordance with the old saying, the Grey River Argus of a recent date records that Val Vose’s dummy assistants, “ Johnny Trotter,” “Mrs Brown,” and others who have afforded so much amusement to the residents in town, were seized by the bailiff at the suit of a former servant of Mr Vose. The suit was brought at Charleston while Mr Vose was performing at Reefton, and as he could not appear judgment went by default. The claim was resisted as being an unjust overcharge, about the merits of which we know nothing. The consequence was that our old friends “ Johnny” and others were sold by auction, and bon'dJ in by a member of the company, but the price did not cover the costs of the warrant, execution, J-c. Advantage was taken of these proceedings to give another enter! ainment at the Volunteer Hall, when the appearance of Val Vose and his assistants was immensely applauded, more especially -when many happy allusions were made to recent proceedings and experiences. Commenting upon the proceedings of the Westland Provincial Council, the West Coast Times indulges in the following remarks ; —“ Men have keen heard in that Council Fall, night after night, transposing the alphabet and immolating the Queen’s English on the alter of patriotism and their duty to the Province, with acontemnt for letters and the memory of Bindley Murrey, with a recklessness anti abnegation of respect for themselves and others, which few patriots cr Provincial Councillors have been known to do ; and they are at perfect liberty to do so, because there is no education test required in the election of our Councilors. The commonest etiquette acquirable in the commonest dancing-room has been despised as some relic of the dark ages ; the principle which maintain ordinary order in the most oidinary pot-house, without the aid of a policeman, have boon ignored as unworthy of a public meeting-place. People pretending to legislate for the proper conduct of other have shown so little knowledge of the properties of life, to say nothing of the proper instinct of manhoo 1, that in the interchange of comments on public questions, they have descended to miserable personalities and mean insinuation which would become better the typical fishwife or bullock-driver. Theyhavo revelled in disorder in the discussion of points of order, and have done so indifferently ordered by the centre of order, the Speaker.” A party of influential gentlemen waited on His Honor the Superintendent to request him to use his influence with the General Government to obtain early payment to the executor of the late Wilson Gray, of the Salary which should have been paid had he lived, and to obtain some further recognition of Mr Gray’s services to be applied for the benefit of his family. Mr James Macoassey acted as spokesman, and in the course of his remarks said that he understood that what money Mr Gray had le r t behind him consisted principally of debts due to him by various persous, through the conn try, whom Mr Gray had assisted with loans without interest, and that these moneys would probably not he realised for a considerable time. His Honor stated that he had already himself taken action in the matter, and had written to the General Government and he assured the deputation that no effort would he wanting onhis part to secure for Mr Gray’s family, the most generous recognition of his services as District Judge, and of his unseen butwidely-folt, usefulness and influence for good throughout his district. After several members of the deputation had expressed their warm regard for the deceased Judge, and their anxiety that the General Government would make no delay in communicating with the executor of Mr Gray, they thankel His Honor for his warm expressions of_ sympathy, and withdrew.

Tho Evening Star says:—lt is proposed in tho Dunedin City' Council—“l —“ That after the now Municipal Act comes into force, all korbing and channelling not yet constructed be paid for out of a loan to bo raised for the purpose ; and that tho interest and sinking fund upon the same be raised by a special rate to bo levied upon the property benefitted.”

In an article upon certain proceedings in relation to the ship Dallam Tower, which recently brought out a lot of single fema'e immigrants, the Wellington Post says:—lf half the stories which are current as to tho incidents of the voyage are founded on fact the mater is one which acquires the attention of the Government. Tho scene which took place on board the ship when the single girls left her to be landed gives an air of credibility to those reports. It is not difficult to imagine that discipline was not very strict on board during the voyage, when so affectionate farewells wore takenonleaving. We do not know whether hugging and kissing are classed as medical comforts, but on the occasion referred to they were certainly prescribed rather liberally and duly administered, to the great edification of an admiring, but perhaps slightly envious crowd o! |’\ spectators. *