FRIDAY, MAY 7, 1875.

Dunstan Times, Issue 681, 7 May 1875, Page 2

FRIDAY, MAY 7, 1875.

As the abolition of the Pro vine is will he one of the mostimporfcantmeasures that will engage the attention of the Provincial Council, it may perhaps be as well to consider how it is likely to affect us up here on the gold-fields. So far as Provincialism is concerned, there is nothing in it that we can specia’ly admire, and it is unmistakeably plain that the loaves and fishes have, for the most part, been appropriated by Dunedin, and the other large towns on and near the seaboard] still, before we commit ourselves to any change, or consign ourselves to the care of the General Government, we should give due consideration to the probabilities of the bargain, and make the best terms we cm for ourselves That the system of Government by Provinces will he abolished there can be no doubt, and the change will be not long in coming ; but, as Canterbury and Otago have still left to them a valuable landed estate, they nothav'ng sqiunlered it, or given it away almost for nothing, it would be scmely fair to expect ns to share what wo have with the Northern Provinces, because they have so wantonly parted with theirs. Looking at the matter in this light, we have everything to lose by the proposed change, and nothing to gain, and when we take into consideration how General Government promises have been broker, too much caution cannot he taken to secure ourselves. Mr Yogel’s promises that tho land revenue of the Provinces shall be preserved in tact to them, but he does not say how he will accomplish it. The compact made by him with the Provinces in 1870 when they wore to receive L2 per head as capitation allowance as their share of the Custom’s revenue, that sum to he reduced 2s. per annum until it reached 305., at which amount it was to stand, has been scandalously broken, and all the Provinces get is 15s. per head capitation allowance, and there is no hope of obtaining any more. With these facts before ns, we cannot be too cautions in making a change, and before parting with any of onr privileges it becomes unmistakeably obvious that we should he properly secured. With telegraphic communication radiating all through the Colony, and with the improved means of rapid travelling which the railways will afford us, the system of government by Provincialism becomes obsolete, while it is also too complicated and expensive. Our representatives in the Provincial Council must therefore before pledging themselves to any measures for the abolition of the Provinces be fully assured that they are making the best • bargain they can for their constituents,

It •will be well for hotel-keepers to bear in mind that all applications for Licenses must bo lodged with the Clerk to the Bench on or before Monday next the 10th instant, or they cannot be entertained ; and further, that the June quarterly sitting ot the Licensing Bench is the only one for the year that Applications for Licenses can bo considered, the other quarterly sittings being only for transferring. There is no necessity for applicants to attend the Court except where objected to, of which they will receive notice in writing.

In our last issue wo fell into an error in stating that Mr T. Fergus, District Road Engineer, had reported to the Alexandra Corporation respecting the capabilities of the Waikaia Bush, or the making of the road to it. We now learn that, on Mr Fergus’s return from his visit of inspection, he casually remarked on both road and bush, and said that he would say nothing definitely until ho had reported to the Government.

When will the new Library building be opened, is a question asked on all sides, and we think most justly, as wo nro miro the ornamentation to bo put on the outside will neither lessen or add to its usefulness. The building has now been finished internally for nearly a mouth, and wo think it high time if ever the doors are to be thrown open open they should be, and that at once. Humor has it that the delay is caused by the non-appearance of the Architect to pass the work. We will leave sufficient space in our next issue for him to speak for himself.

A most decided break has taken place in the weather, snow on the hill tops, and rain in the valleys. To all classes the change is most welcome, it enabling the farmer to plough his ground for next season’s crop, and affording the miner the motive power he cannot dispense with. In consequence of the absence of Dr Allan (Resident Surgeon of the Dunstan District Hospital) in Dunedin, the usual monthly meeting of Committee, to have been held on Monday evening last, was postponed to Monday evening next. A Mr Roissler, of Sutherland’s Beach, Shotover, according to the W akatip Mail, has made an application for the bonus for a new Gold Mining Apparatus, suitable for the end of .tail-races, no matter how large the volume of water.

From telegraphic despatches we ascertain that the information against Mrs Powell, of Queenstown, for perjury was dismissed. The Bench said she left the Court without a stain upon her character. At the re-hearing of the case (in the E.M. Court, Queenstown) Manders v. Powell, for assaulting him with fists, and kicking and horsewhipping him, the former judgment of 14 days imprisonment was set aside, and the defendant was ordered to pay a fine of LlO. A correspondent writing on the subject says : —“ The fact of a lash having been applied to the back of an august representative of the people—to a real live M.P.C.—may, in the eyes of some make the affair more serious, but to my mind too much has been made out of a mild cowhiding, as it does not appear that the correction was other than a mild one, the celebrated member for the Lakes not being confined to his lied, nor were the services of a disciple of Esculapius called into requisition.”

Wo have been requested to draw attention to the sale by public auction of the hotel property, store, cattle, furniture, &c., on Thursday next the 13th instant. For full particulars see advertisement in another column.

Tho effect of measles says tho Auckland Evening Star is felt everywhere. This morning during the hearing of a case in the 11. M. Court, a gentleman was asked for as a witness, and his absence was accounted for by “ tho measles.” This was quite sufficient for court and counsel.

They keep up-old English customs in and about Nelson the Mail says -What is termed a hop feast was given by John Broon of Waimea West to his hop-pickers, and a numerous body of friends. Sports of various descriptions were indulged in during tho afternoon, and in the evening the whole of the party adjourded to the large hall room, where, after doing ample justice to the good things set before them, dancing was commenced, and kept up with great spirit till the small hours to tho strains of the Waimea West.band, which by tho way discoursed some very excellent music.

The Committee of the Victoria Racing Club have issued their programme for the ensuing season, the most notable alteration from former years is the three mile Champion race, to take place on Now Year’s Day. For this race the Club give LISOO added money to a sweepstake of 25 sovs. each. The second horse is to receive LIOO, and the third LSO.

During the taking of evidence in the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Dunedin, on a judgment summons, his Worship, consequent upon some remarks made, reminded litigants that the practice of imprisonment for debt had been abolished, and that imprisonment was only ordered when a debtor, having the means, refused to liquidate his liabilities, or, when acquiring the debt, was guilty of fraud. We republish the above for the benefit of the few.

In consequence of tho scarcity of water in Dunedin at the water-works, it has been resolved by tho City Council, that the public supply of water will bo available on'y between C, p.m., and 5, a.m. A fire occurred in Horviot Row, Dunedin, on Friday morning last, resulting in the destruction of a two-storied house, and tho whole of tho furniture—tho residence of Mr Swan. Neither house or furniture was insured. The Daily Times says, for want of a water supply the firemen stood helplessly looking on unable to make an effort to lessen the destruction.

The West Coast Times regrets to leam that Mr George Preshaw, formerly of Hokitika, has lost two of his children by diphtheria, in Victoria.

From Goldsborough’s Monthly Circular, published in Melbourne, wo learn that the export of wool from Victoria this year shows an increase of 35,815 bales over that of 1874, the total being 284,672 halos. From South Australia there was also an increase of probably 7000 bales ; Queensland, an increase of 3280 bales ; New South Wales a decrease of about the latter quantity. The shipments to America show an increase on last year of about 12,000 bales. As the increase, however, was considerably short of the estimates formed in London, a favorable influence on prices should be exorcised. The Grey River Argus says:—“ Our Hokitika contemporary must have experienced a feeling of intense relief when the-Provincial Council prorogued. This is how it concludes its adieus to that illustrious body * Using the word in its restricted sense, there was a little of the same disorder towards the closing scene of the Council, 'when Standing Orders were suspended, but the scene had some picturesqueness, as rockets have when they burst, and some amount of utility because members Leva opportunity for a free ning at each other, and confessed their sins “in open Court,” They did not act the ostrich. They did not conceal to themselves what the community was long’desirous of seeing -- their end ; and at that end they gave themselves a parting kick, for which, in the name of the community, we thank them sincerely, because it saves ns the trouble of doing it. It is a credit to their good sense that Mr Seddon’s motion, moved during the suspension of Standing Orders, that the Superintendent should be recommended to prorogue them only for six months, met with a hearty negative. At that moment they were all clothed in their right minds. There was a little loss of dignity also in the adjournment of the Council for a little time till the Superintendent should prorogue them, because some members had a higher appreciation of their dinners than the dignities, and were represented on the occasion only by their chairs. But their absence was of no material consequence to the country, seeing that the business had been concluded, and we understand that they subsequently met the Superintendent, as they also met the Speaker, under circumstances so agreeable that they frankly forgave each other and all other men, as we hope they also forgave the West Coast Times. Like Saul and Jonathan, if not “ lovely and pleasant in their lives,” “in death they were not divided.’ ”