FRIDAY, MAY 21, 1875.

Dunstan Times, Issue 683, 21 May 1875, Page 2

FRIDAY, MAY 21, 1875.

The abolition of tbe gold duty may almost be considered as an accomplished fact. His Honor the Superintendent in his opening address of the session having expressed the readiness of the Government to forego the whole or part of the duty renders it almost imperative that the measure must be carried. The proposition coming from the Provincial Government itself is safe to be very strongly supported, and howeverunpalatab’e such a thing may be to the wool growing interests its' accomplishment may be said to bo almost assured Twelve thousand pounds per annum

is about the loss that will accrue to the Province from this remission of the gold duty, and miners may congratulate themselves that they will very soon bo no longer objects for special taxation, but participate in the benefits of the public expenditure equally with others out of the general revenue. While thanking the Provincial Government for their liberality in consenting thus to sacrifice such an important portion of the Provincial revenue as that derived from the duty on go'd we must not however forget that it was one of the most undeserved and unjust taxes to which the industry of the Province has been subjected to, we will nevertheless now b ivy the hatchet on this matter and congraUTate ourselves that the Provincial authorities have acknowledged our wrongs, and have done all they could do to make reparation. A s an important interest, and one that returns a large amount of revenue to the Province, that of gold-mining takes precedence. It is not only in itself that it causes to be consumed a very large quantity of dutiable articles, but it likewise assists others to do so, while lastly, were it not for goldraining there would be little doing elsewhere, save that of sheep breeding The position of the gold-miner has not been appreciated to the extent that it should have been, and instead of being treated like any other producer of native wealth, and one who has largely benefited his species, has been made the victim of extortion, and like the willing camel in Eastern travel, the more weight that was heaped noon his back without flinching the more insatiable was the greed of his master to increase his load. It is a great pity that the abolition does not come from the General Government as it would affect all the Provinces alike, and there would be a guarantee that the duty might not be re-imposed, which in the case of any change in the Provincial Government is not beyond the bounds of possibility. The wedge has, however been entered in New Zealand, and we can scarcely doubt but that, other Provinces, whether they will it or not, must follow suit, when we may hope to recogni«e the baib irons practice of levying “ black mail ” upon an useful class of settlers, remain to us only in memory, as one of the absurdities of a time long since passed. The increased prosrerous state of the Province should cause the loss of LI 2,000 gold revenue to be but very little felt. The gold-fields instead of being benefittod have been injured hv the operations of the Public Works’ Scheme, owing to its having withdrawn so much valuable labor from them, while other districts have been correspondingly benefited. The abolition of the dutv, looking at the matter in this light is only a quid pro quo for injury done to a class of people who deserved better things. The next reform we hope to see will be tlio abolition altogether of special legislation for the gold-fields—mining tor the precious metals has become loug since a thoroughly recognised employment, and is pursued with about equally as much certainty as any other occupation. There may as a matter of course be some special enactments required for the regulation of gold mining as is the case with other minerals, but breaches of these, where gold-mining is concerned, might as easily be determined in a Court of Justice, as were the material coals or iron. The production of gold in these days of enlightenment should scarcely be hampered with restrictions unnecessary to any other native product.

We are requested to draw attention to the advertisement of Mr Michelson’s the agent for the Otago Bible Society, notifying his present location opposite the Bank of New South Wales ; also to his large and varied stock of books, most of which are at Home prices. Mr J. C. Chappie submitted to public competition on Monday last the Criterion Hotel, Alexandra, but failed in obtaining an acceptable hid, We understand, however, that it has since changed hands, Mr Frazer, blacksmith, being the purchaser, for the sum of L6OO. The purchase includes the hotel (freehold) with furniture, &c.

Mr Fache reports having sold, at Coal Creek, Tcviot, on Wednesday, a small mob of cattle, realising good prices. The first assembly of the Quadrille Club took place last Wednesday evening, and proved a success. The attendance was g rod, and the music exeel’ent. One thing tends to mar these social gatherings, and that is the want of punctuality on the part of those who attend for the purpose of dancing.

Next Monday being tbe Queen’s Birthday, the Clyde and Cromwell cricket teams intend playing their second match on the Recreation Ground, Clyde. This event is looked forward to with a great deal of interest by all parties. The fine open weather is being taken advantage of by the farmers, who have all their forces at work, ploughing and potatoe digging. This is more noticeable at Speargrass and Bald Hill Flats, and in the Teviot district. The crops of the past season do not yield anything like the quantities that was expected ; every kind of produce is consequently scarce and fetching high prices. Oats at the Teviot are three shillings per bushel, potatoes L 4 per ton. At the annual meeting of the shareholders of the Norwich Fire-office, a dividend was declared at the rate of L2O per share, L3O paid up. The dividend w r as accordingly at the astonishing rate of over C 6 per cent per annum.

The scholars attending the Alexandra School have testified their respect and esteem for their late master Mr Reid, by pro. seating him with a handsomely mounted and polished walnut writing desk, bearing the inscription :—“Presented to Mr Reid by jthe Alexandra School Children, as slight token of their esteem.” To Mr Reid tho gift wo feel assured will bo highly valued.

The following interesting piece of infermation appears in the Melbourne Argus of May Bth : —“ Dr Powell horsewhipped the editor of the Dunedin Mail, and was sentenced to 14 days’ imprisonment, but was afterwards released on bail.” The statement would be correct but for the fact that there is no Dr Powell in the city, and that a Dunedin Mail does not exist.

Mr Hazlett asked the Secretary for Lands (in the Provincial Council) —Why tbe Hundred, agreed to by the Council during last session, containing 6000 acres or thereabouts on deferred payment, on Mr Glassford’s run, No. 223, has not been opened, and if the Government have any objection to state what course is proposed to be pursued to cause the speedy opening of the Hundred or block as recommended ? The Provincial Secretary replied to the effect that, to the present, the Government had actually been unable to get a surveyor to have it surveyed. It was as well, however, that the block was not surveyed, as a sludge channel had yet to be laid off, and it would be better to have the channel laid off before the survey was made. But in a very short time, it was expected the District Surveyor j’ would commence this work,

The Daily Times says :—The railway bridge over the Taieri River near the Reliance Hotel, is now almost finished, as in the course of a day or two the engines and waggons will be going over it. There is also a strong gang of men at work at the bridge over the river running from the Waihola Lake into the Taieri ; and the contractors say that this bridge will be finished in the course of four or five weeks, when the whole line wit be quite open and available for a clear run through of engines, waggon-, &e., all the way from Mosgiel to the Clutha.”

M. Julcs Lanseigne, the gentleman who recently committed suicide 'in Caversham, was insured in the Government office for one thousand pounds. It was generally supposed that' tho amount would not be paid under the circumstances; but Mr Gisborne telegraphed that when the policy was issued, four years ago, suicide would have entailed forfeiture ; but an order in Council in 1873 limited the forfeiture within twelve months ; consequently the money will be paid.

The hopes of tho miners working on the banks of the Molyneux here again have been damped, a very considerable rise having taken place. As at this season of the year the beginning of winter, floods are to be expected, we do not agree (with the croaking heard on all sides, and with the expressed opinion that working on the river is next to throwing away money. Wo admit that the river bed is filling up, and that greater trouble and expense is needed than of yore to reach the auriferous drifts ; we, however, hold to the opinion that with a good system of working, and the displaying of energy, equally good returns as ever are yet to be obtained. It is not that all the gold is found, but the cunning of the miner is lost.

At the last meeting of the Waste Lands Board, Dunedin, a letter was read from the Secretary of the Bannockburn and Garrick Range Miners’ Association, objecting to an application by Messrs Grant and Richards, for a special grant of land in the vicinity of Kawarau Bridge. A singular feat of strength was performed a few days ago, by a small Shetland pony, only 3ft. Gin. in height, the property of Mr W. J. M. Larnaoh. Seventy-three sheepskins were placed on the plucky little animal’s back, with Master Lamach on the top, and with this load the diminutive quadruped gallopped from Mr Larnach’s residence, The Camp; into town, a distance of 10 miles, in one hour and a quarter, heating two favorite greys, which were started at the same time on a similar errand, by a quarter-of-an-hour.-—Averaging the weight of each skin at 31bs, which must be considerably below the mark, the pony must have carried over 3001bs ; we therefore think the feat of strength is singular in more ways than one.

The Daily Times says ■‘* Another painful accident occurred on the railway line, near Polichet Bay, about eight o’clock on Friday night, to a carter in the employ of Mr Lambtnn, named Thomas Borland. Whilst proceeding along the line towards his home his foot became jammed between some planks at Hanover street cossing, and though some persons, attracted by his cries, endeavored to extricate him, they could not do so. The last up-train was then due, and before the engine-driver could be warned of danger the poor fellow was knocked down and sustained frightful injuries. His left ankle was torn off, the flesh being wrenched from the leg, his right arm broken, and parts of his body severely bruised. Borland, who is said to have been the worse for liquor at the time of the accident, was removed to the hospital, where he remained iu a very low condition. [The poor man has since died.]

Holloway’s Pills.— Change of weather and temperature frequently upset persons who are most careful of their health, and particular in their diet. These corrective, purifying, and gentle aperient Pills are the s>cst remedy for all defective action of the digestive organs ; they augment the appetite, strengthen the stomach, correct biliousness, and carry off all that is noxious from (the system. Holloway’s Pills are composed of rare balsams, unmixed with baser matter, and on that account are peculiarly well adapted for the young, delicate and aged. As this peerless medicine has gained fame in the past, so will it preserve it in the future by its renovating and invigorating qualities and the impossibility of their doing harm.