The Dunstan Times FRIDAY, JUNE 4, 1875.

Dunstan Times, Issue 685, 4 June 1875, Page 2

The Dunstan Times FRIDAY, JUNE 4, 1875.

Beneath the rule of men entirely just the pen is mightier than the Sword.

While always being ready to acknowledge any notice taken by our Dunedin contemporaries in matters relating to up-country interests, it may perhaps happen that, once now and then, we have more than sufficient to be thankful for. Such a circumstance has occurred in connection with a land meeting held at the Teviot about the 14th of May last, and we find published iu the Daily Times also, the last issue of the Witness, a most scnrrillous account said to have been specially reported of the meeting referred to, commenting in the most infamous manner in what took place, as well as the persons assembled there. Our Toviot friends we will allow have been always pretty demonstrative upon the land question, still they have never failed to conduct themselves with decorum, while, as a rule, jvhat they ha re taken in hand to obtain, has been attended with something approaching to a favorable result. The district of .Roxburgh in a gold-mining point of view, is rather differently situated than most other places; its alluvial deposits are chiefly confined to the banks of the Molyneux, and consequently approachable to the miners during a comparitively small period of the year, while, as it oftentimes happens, through the succession of floods in unfavorable seasons they are scarcely approachable at all. Luekilyfor Roxburgh it possesses some very excellent land, and this in a climate more moist in character than that of the Dunstan, it only natiu'ally followed that to provide themselves with employment when they were presented from getting gold, the residents shouldseek

to help themselves along by occupying their otherwise involuntary imposed idleness in the pursuit of agriculture. This was no mean difficulty to overcome, as the land was upon all sides held by influential and rich squatters, and had it not been that great determination was shown by the persona desiring the land, it would still have all remained a sheep walk. The result has been that a judicious agitation has accomplished much, and the people of Roxburgh have secured a very fair share of land being thrown open for occupation in their district. It however often happens that agricultural pursuits appear to prosper there, and people are attracted thereto, and what can lie more natural, hut that there should be born of the occ: - siou a desire for more land, and to obtain which, a public meeting was accordingly held. Had the Daily Times’ correspondent—an unimportant attache of an adjoining sheep run—stated the facts of what took place at the meeting, his services would have been appreciated, but, instigated probably by his employers, he insults every person who was presept, and who took a part in the business. The report as furnished supplies no other purpose than making a very insulting burlesque upon a matter of considerable importance to a number of evidently respectable well-meaning people, while it does no credit whatever to the Daily Times for inserting it, and we very much question whether even viewed by the runholders interested, they have accomplished anything beyond the nature of a good joke, appreciable only to themselves. So far as the Daily Times is concerned the publication of the offending article only tends to bring that newspaper into contempt, its advocacy or not, of the cause of the squatters can do but little harm. The time is fast coming, when people desiring to possess the land must have it. Unless this is accomplished all our great public loans, and our railway, and immigration schemes will have been effected for nothing. The Colony is pledged to a course of settlement, and its future prosperity is therefore bound up in the profitable occupation of the lands.

Whether the Provincial Council, after fighting their own personal little battles, will devote some attention to the necessity of substituting the contact system, for that of clay labor in the repairs and maintenance of upcountry roads we are at a loss to learn The matter has been brought forward by various members time after time, and as often shelved upon the representations of the Pist : ct Officers, who appear to take an especial delight in making and repairing roads with the best possible expedition, and at the greatest want of economy. It is very little u«e being liberal in apportioning sums of money for mad making and repairs to roads in c run try districts, unless it is laid out to advantage ; as everybody is interested in getting as ranch done for the public money as possible. The winter is now upon us again, and with it comes the same old complaint from travellers, of bad roads and imperfect repairs. Of surface men, or as Mr Chas. E. Haughtou, when an M.P.C., delighted to designate those “ picuicers,” sitting clown, or reclining upon banks, calmly smoking the “ calumut of peace,” looking at the weary wanderers p'onghing through the mire, with the utmost unconcern, instead of resolutely trundling their wheelbarrows, or plying their pick and shovels to make things better, and entitle them to their vouchers. Taking things up country as they now go, nine shillings per clay of eight hours, road making, at the Government stroke, is exceeding good pay, and men should not only work hard for it, but, do it well in the bargain. Under the present system of clay labor, this is unobtainable, because it is impossible to exeriso a proper system of supervision. On the gold-fields especially, all of this work cord Ihe clone much better bv contract, almost every man is used to handling the tools necessary for road making, while many desirable and well intentionecl persons resident upon the various lines of road would willingly take up small contacts, and do the work properly, who, otherwise object to be members of clay labor road parties, it being pretty well understood that having been a Government road laborer, it is no recommendalion for any other employment. The present system’ of keeping the roads in repair is waste fill and extravagant in the extreme, while as every one of ns contribute in some shape or another towards the cost, we arc individually interested in seeing that the money is judiciously expended.

the signally weak Basting’s government no one could have had the least confidence, and it is duo to that gentleman and his supporters that they had done more to bring Provincial Institutions into contempt than has ever been accomplished by any previous administration. Wo are by no means ardent admirers of Provincialism, and believe that, for tho interests of the country it should be abolished ; still, it is no reason why we should bring an old Institution, which, although it has seen its day, into contempt. In the early times of the Colony, when it was quite ns easy to communicate with Australia as with the seat of government Provincialim did good service, and so far as Otago is concerned there has been rather more for congratulation than regret. It must be pretty clear to everyone that by the abolition of Provincialism wo have something to lose, while other Provinces have squandered their land fund has conserved her’s, and in justice to ourselves, it would be the height of folly to throw ourselves into the arms of the General Government —saying, take us at any price, we are at your mercy. When we capitulate, let us do so with honor, and reserve to ourselves the liberty of making our own terms, rather than accepting what the conquerors may choose to leave ns ; and we may rest assured that it will require all we know, to hold anything like even our own. Mr Pastings and his followers have placed the Province in imminent peril, and every well meaning man must congratulate himself upon, by almost a mere fluke, having escaped a most unmitigated evil. So far as the goldfields is concerned, in Mr M’Kellar there exists very general confidence. Like every other man, who has held a public position, has made some enemies, but his detractors, although noisy, are few, and we must wish them joy whilst chewing the cud of bitter disappointment.

The licensing Court for the district of the Teviot to have been held on Tuesday last the Ist instant, was adjourned till Tuesday the Cth day of July proximo, there not being a quorum of members present. The usual monthly meeting rf the Committee of Management of the Dnnstan District Hospital will be held on Monday nex', the 7th instant. It is much to our regret to have to announce to our readers the death of Mr Joseph Knowles, which took place, after a brief illness in the Dunstan Hospital. The deceased has been long resident, and well known and respected. His death took place on Saturday last the 20th ultimo.

We are instructed to state that the auction sals at Black’s, of the bakery, and other property belonging to Mr James WotherSpoon has been withdrawn from public competition, having disposed of the same by private contract. We have been given to understand that Mr M'Donald, late of the Criterion Hotel, Alexandra has become the proprietor of the Royal Mai! Hotel, (Knox’s), Clinton. The purchase money being L 1.700. We wish him success in his new undertaking.

It is said that Sir Donald M‘Loan will leave the House of Representatives during the coming session. Mr Vogel being absent it is believed that the session will be a short one. the business to be. confined to the estimates and necessary measures only. In the Provincial Council on Tuesday last Mr Hazlett presented a petition from 87 settlers in the Dnnstan district, praying that certain agricultural land might he thrown open for settlement on Run No. 221.

On Wednesday evening next tlie second meeting of the Clyde Quadrille Assembly ■will take place at the Town Hall. We are particularly requested to draw the attenof members and visitors that it is intended to commence at half past eight o’clock, and that they are respeotfidly requested to attend punctually at that time. The music as usual by fthe Clyde band. Gentlemen desirous of becoming members have only to communicate with the Secretary. A petition has been forwarded to His Honor the Superintendent and Provincial Council from Cromwell, praying for the establishment of a District Court having also Criminal Jurisdiction. The petition also requires the erection of a gaol, and such permanent buildings as are necessary to an important Goldfields town. A Warden to be resident at Cromwell is also included.

In perusing the columns of last week’s Southern Mercury wo find that our old friend “ Timon ” is missing from amongst the Hit of contributors to that newspaper. It is to be hoped ihat this, gentleman, together with “Passing Notes,” and “Flotsam and Jctsum,” in the Otago Witness, will perceive the advisability of ceasing to inflict upon country readers the large amount of rubbish which they have for a long time past been in the habit of providing for them. Such trash is neither entertaining or instructive, and we can only wonder that it can find room in respectable Dunedin journals.

Mr William Grant is pushing on vigorously with the building of the now bridge crossing the Molyneux, at Clyde. The stone abutment on the eastern bank of the river is fast verging towards completion. On Monday last the workmen commenced preparing for the foundations of the abutment on the western side. A desk in the bailiff’s office in the Tlesident Magistrate’s Court, Dunedin, has beenbroken open, and about Ll3O stolen therefrom. There is no clue to the robbery.

The borings from the north and south ends of the Chain Hills tunnel successfully met each other on Tuesday last. The total length of the tunnel is 571 yards. The opening of the railway as far as Balolutha should not now bo delayed beyond the coming months of October or November.

Ur R. W. Stirling in his report to the Local Board of Health, Cromwell, dated the 22nd May last, states that during the past throe months ho has had under treatment six eases of typhoid fever, of a much milder typo than characterised that epederaio last autumn. Dr James Corse in his report of the 25th of the same month, testifies that ho has not any special cases of infectious or contagious diseases under treatment at the present time. Both gentlemen now deem the town of Cromwell to be perfectly healthy. There is nothing like going from home to hear news. The Tuapeka Times, after noticing MrD. M'Pherson’s petition to the Provincial Council re compensation for losses sustained through, the building of the new bridge at Clyde, obviating, when finished, the necessity for the punt, states that, should the Government refuse to recognise Mr M'Pherson’s claim it is his inteution to at once remove his punt off the river. We are inclined to think that Mr M'Pherson never contemplates any such foolish action, as any attempt to coerce the Government could only result in securing the opposite to which that gentleman desires. Mr M'Pherson’a claim for compensation certainly deserves recognition, as he was the first to introduce self-acting punts into New Zealand, while his speculation has not proved a very profitable one. The Government will no doubt do Mr M'Pherson justice, if approached in a proper manner.

It is generally supposed that Mr John Kinaston, Town Clerk of Roxburgh, was drowned in the Molyneux on Monday night 'ait. Early on Tuesday morning Mr F. Tubman, when about to cross the punt’ found a roan’s hat and some books under tho seat, these were traced to have been placed there by the missing man, who was on his way to attend a Council meeting. It is thought that deceased has committed suicide, as he has been in depressed spirits lately. This is the second Town Clerk of Roxburgh that has come to an untimely end.

The Arrow Observer says : Wo hear from reliable authority that the Brothers Mackay, working at Skippers Creek, have had a fortune left them, viz., L 15,000. We are glad of this, and sincerely hope they will make a good use of it.

The same paper states: The mining manager of the Sons of Fortune Company informs us that while working in the tunnel, a depth of 90 feet from the surface, last week, the men came across several fine totara logs, about 2ft Ciu through. Tliey were in a perfect state of preservation. The manager reports very favorably of the mine. —Also that work has been recommenced in the Arrow United Company’s shaft, the new turbine wheel having arrived from Dunedin. —A number of new claims have been taken up in the bed of the Arrow River.

A Wellington telegram in the Brace Herald says, that “ despite contradictions which have appeared, it is still authoritatively said that Mr C. E. Haughton will contest Mr V. Pyke’s seat for Wakatip, in the approaching election. ” Oyster dredging “t Stewart’s Island must he a profitable occupation. One of tbe cutters engaged in this work, it is stated, averaged £l2O per month lately. Whales are reported to he very plentiful on this coast. The Elgin Adams, of New Bedford, which put into the island, to try out in January last, her captain reported having taken, between the Solander and South Cape Island, in two months, three sperm whales, yielding from thirteen to fourteen tuns of oil each.

The following reports from the select Committee on gold-fields were submitted by Mr De Lautour ; —ln re petition of 133 miners and others of Bannockburn and Carrick Range.—The petitioners pray that a block of land may be set apart as commonage on the Eouth side of the Kawarau river. Your committee having given this petition due consideration, i s of opinion that it cannot see its way to make a distinct recommendation in the matter, but would suggest that if any arrangement cannot be arrived at with the run-holders, to tolerate the unavoidable trespass of the necessarycattle and horses belonging to residents in the district, a commonage should be set apart in such a way as to injure the run as little as possible. The Tuapeka Times says : A shocking accident happened on Monday afternoon in the Nelson Company’s claim, Blue Spur, to a young man named Gi'es. We understand that he was employed driving, and bad just placed a charge of powder in a drill hole and was ramming it with a rod in place of a wooden rammer, the consequence was that the charge exploded, causing frightful injuries to the unfortunate man’s face and hands. He was at once removed to the Hospital, w here his wounds were dressed by Dr Halley. iEgles in the Australasian has the following “ A gentleman engaged in business near Adelaide, feeling pietty confident that his stock of firewood was diminishing in some other way than the consumption under his own roof, thought he would give his nocturnal visitors a shook they w'ould remember, as well ns enable him to find out the violators of the canon against theft. Not even telling his wife of his intention, he one night primed three logs of wood with gunpowder, and then to bed. He was awakened the following morning much earlier than was his wont by a terrible shaking of the house and a most unusual noise. Slipping into his dressing gown be found his way into the wash-house or what was left of it, and there he saw what he had done ! The washerwoman came at G, as usual, innocently put on one of the powder-logs for a fire—and then—the tableau.

Musical Fashions,—How musical the ladies appear this winter, with their dresses covered with bugles and a brass band around their waists.—American paper. A Fact, —A man may be very sharp, and yet never cut an acquaintance, Dead-locks.—False curls.