FRIDAY, JUNE 11, 1875.

Dunstan Times, Issue 686, 11 June 1875, Page 2

FRIDAY, JUNE 11, 1875.

A correspondent writing from somewhere on the Molynenx between Clyde and Cromwell sends ns a very interesting leUer on the agitation for the establishment of a gaol either at Cljde or Cromwell. AYc cannot entirely endose all the writer’s views on this subject, still, many of his argument 0 , when considered impartially have a very great deal of truth in them. Because a gaol is asked for at the Dunslau it does not necessarily follow that the morals of the people are any more corrupt, or that society lias become more lax in its views of the laws of meum and iuurn. A gaol is not asked for on account of any perceptible increase of crime, or that there exists the immediate possibility of such an untoward event taking place. The desire for a gaol is, that crime might be prevented, also that, when as is oftentimes the case, it becomes necessary to punish offenders, they might not be permitted to escape because of the expense of bringing them to justice, or when this is done a greater punishment is not inllictfd upon the persons piosecnting than the offender himself, ft is a well known fact that numerous crimes are condoned because of the expense and Joss of time in bringing the evil doer to justice. Any man of business had better submit to a severe loss than be dragged down to Dunedin’and perhaps be detained there as a witness for weeks merely to give evidence against some wrong doer, who, perhaps after all, gets acquitted through a legal informality. The expense and loss of time of such a journey is something serious, while the p'oceeding itself is more likely to lessen our respect for the laws of the country than increase it. The necessity for the establishment of a gaol at the JDunstan is by no means a new idea, it has been mooted upon several occasions, and once especially some eight years ago it was brought prominently forward. No question was ever raised, but that a gaol was highly necessary in some central position on the gold-fields, but the difficulty in the way then was there being no resident and properly qualified legal practitioners nearer than Thmedin, persons charged with the commission of a crime, unless possessed of considerable means, would bo unable to obtain skilled assistance for the conduct of their defence. An offender arraigned upon a criminal charge, would, as a matter of course, have the Crown prosecutor opposed to him, but the law might sadly] rmis-

carry were the accused thrown upon his own resources to defend himself in Court. The action of the law is, as a matter of course, retrospective, and this is particularly noticeable in criminal jurisprudence, as in all cases the person charged with the commhsion of an offence is given the benefit of any doubt where the law is 'not clear upon the subject, while no advantage is taken of any want of knowledge on his part of purely technical points which might be used to his prejudice, and it would be impossible that the scales of justice could be balanced evenly were persons charged before the Court placed in such a position that they could not under ordinary circumstances avail themselves of legal assistance to conduct their defence Were such to be the case, the position of the person accused would be hopeless indeed, and it would amount to a direct contravention of English law. All of these difficulties and objections are however now removed, gentlemen well learned and practised in the law have found it worth their while to settle down to the pursuit of their profession on the Dunstan, and there can be no such a thing now as any miscarriage of justice through lack of professional advice or assistance, and in justice to residents on the Northern gold-fields the establishment of a gaol in a central and convenient position should be at once effected, so that the application of the criminal jurisdiction, either of the District or Supreme Court might be applied in a form advantageous to public requirements. We may, by some of our readers, be considered prejudiced in favor of Clyde, when we select that place as the proper one for the proposed gaol, but, taking into consideration the extreme central position occupied by the town, its healthful climate and immunity from dangerous epidemics; its availability of access, also, that, properlv qualified legal practitioners are resident therein ; it therefore offers the most suitable position for a gaol and its various accessories. As to the question of a large and immediately resident mining population, that has nothing at all to do with the matter at issue, purely local matters govern this, no one can te l where or when a mining population may nob he permanently located. The chances are very considerably in favor of Clyde for the future, while it will pos-ess the very great advantage that, upon the ojiening of the Tuapeka railway, rt will be within one day’s easy reach of Dunedin.

Frost a large amount of correspondence that lias lately taken place between applicants for auctioneers licenses and the Municipal Councils of Oomwell and Queenstown, it would appear that such applicants entertain very mistakened ideas as to the powers and means of revenue of those lo cal bodies. The novelty appears to have cropped up at Cromwell when the ingenuity of Mr Charles Colclough succeeded in persuading the Council of that Municipality in agreeing to remit as a rebate pro rata some five months of the expired term for which Mr Colclough’s licence had he taken it out at the beginning of the year would have been current. The same was tried a few days since at Queenstown where Mr William Jackson Barry'had applied for an auctioneer’s license, but Mr Thomas Betts, the astute Mayor of that Municipality could not see the wisdom of such a proposal, and very correctly ruled that such a preceding would be file gal In this opinion he is held to be correct by the Provincial Solicitor, who expresses almost the same views held by the worthy Mayor of the Lakes’ City. W ere it in the power of Municipal bodies to reduce License fees authorised by Statute for any portion of the term of their currency which may have expired, people in a very large number of cases would defer taking them out until the very latest moment, postponing their operations until the last. For example, it might be convenient for some hotelkeepers only to open their house at night, in which ease it would be necessary to pay five pounds instead of twenty-five. A person having goods of his own to dispose of by auction would delay his sales until December, and so have only one month’s license to pay, while there also exists the probability that when once Municipal bodies felt themselves competent to make allowances on licenses they would in process of time feel themselves competent to reduce them in amount, when a keener competition would ensue as to whom should do the most business, and auctioneers would he found patronising those towns where they could obtain their licenses the cheapest, to the great loss of the public revenue. It should he recollected by Municipal bodies that the licenses they are permitted to collect come to them in the shape of a Government subsidy in aid- of public works, and that to make a rebate of any portion of that amount, is not

only defrauding the revenue, but also a fraud upon the ratepayers who pay their taxes with the full understanding that the license fees which the Corporation are entitled to, together with the sums contributed by them, must after payment of the necessary expenses of the Corporation bo all laid out in the prosecution of public works. In any case where this rule lias been departed from, the Corporation is liable to an action at law by any ratepayer, who may choose to bring one, while any auctioneer thus licensed is in reality not licensed at all. Such a vicious proceeding could only end in the greatest amount of confusion, and wo must congratulate the Mayor of Queenstown in taking such a decided stand when even he had a very strong precedent to do otherwise. The promise of the Corporation of Cromwell to remit fivetwelfths of Mr Colclough’s license fee is worthless, and they cannot do so under any circumstances direct or indirect.

Messrs Attficld and Wclsford, huthTrra, of Clyde, tired of waiting for the tardy movements of tho Coiporatiou to continue the curbing and channelling at the lower end of Sunclerlandjstreet, have completed a portion of the same at their own expense, opposite their premises.

Mr H. Craig, the driver of the Tuapeka Coach, who was injured by being thrown from his seat on the Dunstan Flat on Saturday morning last, is able to handle the ribbons again. He brought the coach in last night from Tuapeka, making the journey, considering the state of the roads, in excellent tune.

The death of Sir John Gray] FM. P. for Dublin, and brother of the late Wilson Gray is announced. At the Teviot mutton is sold at threepence halfpenny per pound, and beef at fourpence.

Shortly after midnight on Friday last, the extensive store and outbuildings of Mr John Jones, Cambrian, otherwise known as Welshman’s Guliy, was totally destroyed by fire. The origin of the disaster being the bursting of a kerosene lamp. We understand that the property was insured for LI,OOO.

Intelligence of an accident, resulting in the death of Mr N. Gordon Glassford, is telegraphed from Christchurch. It appears he was thrown out of a buggy he was driving. Atjthe inquest on the body, a verdict of accidental death was returned. A committee of gentlemen has been formed in Dunedin, the object being to erect a fitting tablet in memory of the late Wilson Gray.

We have to acknowledge with thanks the receipt of pamphlet from the School of Mines, Ballarat, and being * e Descriptive papers relating to that Institution.”

The squatters are about taking active measures for the extermination of the rabbits, which are increasing to an alarming extent. The Earascleugh station has already secured a supply of ferrets, and the same has been ordered for tho Galloway station. The shepherds on these stations it is sai 1 will he supplied with guns and ammunition.

One of the free immigrants that arrived at Oamaru from Dunedin, ex Wenningtoo, described as a single girl, is a decrepit old woman aged 0,1, bent double, and scarcely able to walk. She is now in barracks awaiting employ mont.

The election called on Wednesday by the Mayor of Clyde for a Councillor; for East Ward in the room of Mr D, M‘Con. nochie, resigned, met with no response. It could hardly he expected that any person could be found insane enough as to offer himself for an office they could not hold more than two months.

The “ Jeremy Diddler ” or ** Wanderer ” referred to as having victimised a few persons at Clyde, paid a visit to the Carrick Range, where, representing he was going to be employed in the Elizabth Co’s mine, managed to make a few more dupes. On Sunday evening last he passed through Clyde on his way to Black’s, Tinkers, &c When a clergyman, travelling upon an American railway, applies at tho depot for a minister’s ticket, and the official ventures to express a doubt as to his clerical charaeter, he says, “ I’JI read one of my sermons.” The ticket is passed over instantly without any proof.

Judging by the telegrams which appear in the Dunedin daily papers the storm experienced bore during Friday and a portion of Saturday last was felt pretty well all over tho whole of the South Island. The shipping lying at the Torts of Lyttelton and Oamaru were placed in severe danger.

The Marlborough Proviucial Council not only acts without honorarium, hut refuse to pay travelling expenses of members of the Executive.

Under the heading of “ Grants in Aid ” tho sum of LI ,000 for prospecting quartz reefs upon the LI to LI principle, forms an item amongst the gold-fields’ estimates that have been carried in the Council. With the present desire to open up reefs, the amount voted, although small, should accomplish something towards developing this valuable branch of mitring industry. Tho Auckland correspondent of the Daily Times telegrams “ A ronrarkab’e incomprehensible letter two columns and a hah appea’-s in the Wabarapa Standard, signed “ Sir George Grey.” on constitutional questions, iu which he denounces an alleged attempt to crcato class distinctions in New Zealand, under which pror men will bo ground down. Reference ,s largely made in the letter to tho Tower of Loudon, Bastile, and Inquisition. The writer says—No matter what may be the risks or difficulties encountered, persistent efforts shall bo made to prevent tho establishment in Now Zealand of a system by which such class feeling Jean be engendered. ’,

Tho Homo correspondent of the Journal doa Debuts writes to that paper that tho Pope will take up his residence iu tho United States if it should become impossible for him to remain in Homo, and says, “ it was with a view to such possible emergency that Archbishop M’Closkoy was elevated to tho cardinalato. At Bath a married pair attempted to destroy ono another by poison, hut failed, and aro committed for trial.

An explosion of giant powder took place recently at San Francisco, by which six persons lost their lives, and a dozen moro were seriously wounded, and a whole block of buildings, property of tho value of ono hundred and eighty thousand pounds destroyed.

On Saturday the 3rd of May the Tower of London was thrown open to tiro public, when 4,000 persons were admitted. Mr Hop worth Dixon described the] historical objects to the visitors.

The mining parties working under tho Dunstan Kange have now a good supply of water. Messrs Greenhank and Co., Drybread, are employing the large quantity of forty heads of water in their two claims. The Welshman’s party had a first rate washing up lately—the yield was equal to Ll4 per week pec man. At Tinker’s and Devonshire, all are iu full work, having an abundant supply of water. Messrs M, Nally> Hastie, and Co. expect to he able to bring in a stream from tho Wai Kcri Kori to their ground on the Clyde commonage iu the course of a fortnight or three weeks. Society at Queenstown appears to have attained a degree of refinement never before reached in Australia or New Zea’and, and when we are told by our Airow correspondent that the kilted members of tho .A r iow Dramatic Club, while representing the usually favo.Le drama of “ EohEoy ” at the Town Hall, Queenstown on Friday evening last, offended the nerves of some highly sensitive individual, wo are bewildered with astonishment. Whoever the gentleman may he, every Sobotchman should unite in the purchase of a leathern medal, for presentation to him as a salvo for his outraged feelings. Our correspondent very uniquely says One worthy gentleman who quotes Wellington society as his model, was so much shocked at seeing the performers dressed iu kilts that he turned up his nose (a pretty long one) and walked out of the hall, explaining as he did so to several of Ids friends that the actors were immoral. •’ Whatever will the Otago Caledonian Society say to this ? Eather a novelty in advertising for a medical appointment appears in Monday’s issue of the Dai'y Times, au advertisement h-'aded “ Douceur ” goes on lo say—“ A handsome douceur will be given to anyone who will procure for a Married Medical man, of middle age (without family) a p er . manent Government Medical Appointment. Salary not less than LSOO per annum. The best of testimonials and the highest references given. Apply by letter toF. 0. S. L. Gordon and Gotch, Me'bouvne. The medical gentleman whoever he may ho should he elect to come over to New Zealand need not trouble h'tnsolf about tho payment of a douceur to he provided with employment a'Jhis services will le eagoi-iy sought after. Any thoroughly or nape ..eat medical practitioner might elnort make any selection of a pGee of residence, etpecia! y on the gokl-cekls and realise L10C) per annum by payingstdet atten'don to his profession.

Up in the morning early, does not appear to be a distinguishing feature of the Queenstown Volunteer Corps, if we are to abide by the last report of the Municipal Council of that town, published in the Wakatip Mail, while shooting at and hitting a target, are too widely different matters. Itap* pears that the redoubtable Captain Macklin Laving so signally failed in his epistolary correspondence to Dunedin newspapers, is burning with intense military ardour, and has applied for and obtained the promise of prison labor to erect a mound of earth behind the volunteer target in the Park so as to protect passing boats from being struck by stray- bnliets. The question appears to Lave been disposed of in tho following and very amusing manner : —The Mayor said “ tho employment of prison labor outside the Camp grounds w'as against the regulations—except for long service men—of whom there were none here. He bad not given bis consent, although bo thought it belter to erect such an embankment to prevent danger to boats on the Lake.”,— Cr Crofts “ thought such an embankment wouhl have to be as high as Mount Cecil to he thoroughly effective in stopping bu"ets.”—The Mayor also told Mr Macklin that the Corporation would decidedly object to the volunteers firing in the middle of tho day on Queen’s Bi-thday. The reason adduced by Mr Macklin was that the volunteers could not get up these cold mornings.”

A piiUul ea'-o of destitution and cruel neulect was brought under the notice of tho City Bench, Dunedin, on Saturday last. Tho Daily Times says: Three melancholy waifs, Bertha, Florence, and Francis Cyrus Healey, aged respectively 8, G. and 3, years progeny 1 f the notorious Cyrus Healey, now undergoing life imprisonment here for arson committed in Auckland, appeared hatless, shoeless, and in tatters, as neglected children Constable Carter, who, in a spirit of sympathy as much as of duty, charged them under the Act, dccribcs the deplorable condition ho found them in tho previous night—Ono of tho coldest experienced here for some time. They wore in a mere wreck of a bouse, the atmosphere of which was almost unbearable, arising from its filthy condition the mother was helplessly drunk, and tiro three little starvelings where huddled on a mattress without any protection from tho severe weather.—A writer in the Guardian commenting upon the subject pr osecds to say it maybe remembered that Haley was tried at the Supreme Court in Auckland, for attempting to murder tho Horn Thomas Bussell, and for burning down the Choral Hall, iu tho Northern city, Ire was sentenced

to a term of penal servitude for life. Shortly after his sentence his unfortunate wife and family left New Zealand tor London in the ship Caducous ; the woman having relations in the Old Country, who, it was thought, would make provision for her and the children. But this does not appear to have been the case, for she arrived at Port Chalmers in an immigrant ship a few months ago, bringing with her her family. The poor woman evidently loved her husband, with all his faults—nay, crimes ; and seems to have taken an early opportunity of coming back to New Zealand, in order to bo near him. Since she has been here, however, she has been going from bad to worse. She has neglected her home and the children, and the climax was reached on Saturday, when the latter were sent to the Industrial School for a period of six years Whether, since her arrival, she has been allowed to see her husband or not, wo cannot a ly ; but the case is a sad one throughout. The writer knows the poor woman’s history for many years past, and remembers her when she held a good, if not a first-class, position in Auckland. He remembers distinctly the occasion when she sang as a lady amateur in the presence of his Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh in the Choral Hall, which her husband afterwards burnt down, and for which ho is now suffering. For a long time after his conviction he was known and spoken of as the Auckland “ fire-raiser.” Until the time of his apprencnsion he was greatly respected, and occupied a position as one of Auckland’s leading citizens.