The Dunstan Times. FRIDAY, AUGUST 13, 1875.

Dunstan Times, Issue 695, 13 August 1875, Page 2

The Dunstan Times.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 13, 1875.

Beneath the. rale of 'men entirely just ih PEN is MIGHTIER than the sword.

Tub doom of Provincialism is well nigh cast now. That odious system of misgoverument has been weighed in the balance, found wanting, and condemned accordingly. Presently we shall find Superintendents, Provincial and Goldfields Secretaries, Secretaries of Works and Ponds, and members with and without portfolios, and all the other paraphernalia of an exploded and worn out absurdity, sent about their business as encumbrances preying upon society, and of no earthly use but to themselves. If ever Provincialism disgraced itself it was during the last session of our Otago body, when they wilfully interrupted the business of the Province by party and personal squabbling, for no other apparent reason than to prolong the sitting and so acid to their emoluments of office. Previous to this we did hold some hopes that at least Provincialism, having the fear before its eyes of certain abolition in the future, would have endeavored to spin out its brief existence in a manner somewhat approaching to respectability. But it seemed evidently determined that its approaching dissolution should be with even increased ignominy, and that it had determined to pass out of existence respected by none and abhorred by all, its memory only remaining like that of an unclean thing which has been swept away from the face of the earth because man would tolerate it no longer. This achievement has been realised to an extent even greater than its most dearest well wishers could have desired. Even persistent supporters of Provincialism felt convinced that the past session of the Council must be its last; the recurrence of such an absurdity would no longer be tolerated. The General Government have gone further than Mr Yocel, and have extended what he intended, for the presen| to refer to the North island, should be equally applied to the South ; and a very wise course they have adopted, and one which appears to merit the most unqualified approval of all parties. All the revenues derived by either of the Provinces will be available to the local governing bodies, as subsidies to Municipalities, Road Boards, <kc , while the goldfields’ revenue will be expended upon the goldfields themselves, a measure which will not fail to be appreciated by the inhabitants of the mining districts, who fully understand the measure of wrong which Provincial Governments have, over a long serief of years meted out to them by expending their revenues in other places, leaving the goldfields to struggle on as best they could under disadvantages purposely created. To the incompetence of Provincialism must, in a great measure be attributed the dullness pervading the mining interests. The want of roads has prohibited enterprise and development in numerous instances, the cost of transport of stores and material being such that scarcely any profits would cover. For instance, at a meeting of indignant minors, held at Skippers Point a short time since, it was pointed out by one of the speakers that the cost of conveying stamper boxes to that place from Queenstown amounted to the nice little sum of 840 each, a sura sufficient to make the erection of machinery almost prohibitory. Thank Providence we have not met such an extreme case in our own district, but wo need not thank the Provincial Government for that, but rather record our praises that the country at the Dunstan is more easily accessible. Were wo similarly situated as our unfortunate neighbors at Skippers are, we should most assuredly be suffering from the same impediments to our industry. Wo cannot but congratulate ourselves that Provincialism is doomed shortly, only to remain to us as one of the absurdities of a past age of gross misrule.

A correspondent writes us that the Abolition of the Provinces is very favortibly looked upon at the Lakes ; their existence having been long forgotten by the Provincial Government. At Skippers the minors say they only know of roads by reading of them in the newspapers. The O'Connell Centenary Ball and Banquet at St. Bathans, on the Cth instant, was a brilliant success, fully 250 guests from all parts of the district being present. Host Hanger, of the Vulcan Hotel, under whoso roof the celebration took place, acquitted himself in the most satisfactory manner. We have to record the death of another old resident miner in the Blacks district, in the person of Mr W. Middleton, of heart disease. The deceased was followed to his last resting place by over 200 of his fellow miners, a fact significant of the respect in which deceased was held. Deceased leaves a widow to mourn his loss. The Arrow Observer recounts the sudden death of Mr John Thomson, of the firm of Thomson and Jenkins, drapers, of that town, of “ serous apoplexy.” It appears he was very ill, and had been conveyed to Queenstown for medical advice, and that ho was found dead in his bed on the following morning. We are requested to draw attention to the sale by auction, on Wednesday next, the 18th inst., of the freehold premises, the property of Mr W. Grindley, together with household furniture, sausage machine, and other property. Geo. Fache, auctioneer. Dr Allan, Resident Surgeon of the Dunstan District Hospital, on Wednesday evening last, delivered a lecture in the Library Hall, Alexandra, in behalf of the funds of that Institution, and from what we can understand (other pressing engagements prevented our attending) it was an unqualified success, and a rich intellectual treat. The Doctor handled his subject "The advantages to be derived from the study of Natural Science,” in a masterly manner, and in his illustrations was most happy. The lecture throughout, which lasted about an hour and-a-half, was listened to with wrapt attention, and the hearty vote of thanks accorded the lecturer at the termination fully evidenced the satisfaction of his hearers. J. Samson, Esq., Mayor of Alexandra, in the chair. We notice, with sincere regret, the intimation, in our Dunedin exchanges, of the sudden death of Mr Wm. Alexander Tolmie, M.H.R., M.P.C. The Guardian says —During the past few davs he had been ailing from a severe cold, which developed into bronchial affection ; but on Saturday lie had so far recovered that arrangements were being made for his speedy departure .for Wellington. Yesterday morning the improvement in his health was still further perceptible. Towards evening, however, be was a shade worse. Still, not the slightest apprehension of a fatal termination was felt by bis family or friends. But after halfpast six it was deemed advisable to call in a second medical man, and Dr Hume was accordingly soon in attendance. Within ha f-an-hour after his arrival. Mr Tolmie breathed bis last. The Clutha Leader, understands that tie Crown Hotel, Balclutha, has again changed hands ; Mr John M’Neil having disposed of the same to Mr Thomas Logan, shareholder of the Bendigo reef, Cromwell, for the handsome sura of L.3,000. Mr Stanbrbok is still lessee, and the hotel is to he considerably enlarged. The Evening Star says:—lt is reported that Mr Thomas Logan recently received an offer of L 1.5,000 for his share in the Bendigo reef, Cromwell, but the offer was refused. It may interest some people to know the cost of a knighthood. It is LOO 14s fid, and no credit is given. Lord Carnarvon, in the despatch announcing Sir J, L. C. Richardson’s appointment as a Knight Bachelor, intimates that the patent will proceed through the Home Office as so- n as it is intimated by whom the above “ necessary charges” will be paid. When the resolution for the appointment of a Gold-fields Committee was propose 1, Mr O’Conor pitched into the constitution of the Committee. In reply, Mr T. L. Shepherd said he would ho glad to be off the Committee, as being on it was not pleasant work for gentlemen—Messrs Pyke and J. C. Brown being in the habit of getting up combats to defeat anything not emanating from themselves, and not caring anything about the interests they were supposed to represent. Indeed bethought that this move of O'Conor’s was the result of a design on the pjrt of J. C. Brown, who being a silent member, got O’Conor to talk for him. Tho Australasian says :—"The prospecting operations conducted by the Mining department under the authority of the prospecting vote passed last session are in progress. At Ararat and in the Ovens district bores have been sunk, and in the latter instance gold has boon struck, although in very small quantities. Monday was the day fixed for the opening of tenders for sinking shafts in the Stawall district, at tho Welcome rush, about eight miles from the town. Although tho conditions were very favorable, the department undertaking to pay a certain price per foot for tho sinking, and tho contra ctoi having besides the privilege, if gold was discovered, of marking out a claim, no tenders were received. It would appear that in the Stawell district there can bo no lack of employment.” Tho practice recently adopted at tho R.M. Court by Mr Bathgate, of making litigants pay hearing fees before the cast s are proceeded with, is not without its drawbacks, and occasionally causes an interruption of business, especially avhen the parties have no money with them. Perhaps, as was the case yesterday, when cash is not handy, a liberal counsel may go bail for his client, and inform the court bailiff that it is all right, but when another was backward in payment Hia Worship promptly observed, "This you must know, is a roady-money shop,"

So far as wo have yet been able to learn the following are tho particulars of the damages sustained at tho late fire in Thames street, Oamaru, (says tho North Otago Times). Mr Spencer, three shops, uninsured, about 1 300 of stock in two of these, L2soj Mr Draper, seedsman, a little over LI 00 in stock ; Messrs Larkins and Boxhall’a shop, and tho old Butchery belonging to tho Bank of Now Zealand for LIOO, and Messrs Larkin and Boxhall’s stock was insured in the same office for L2(JO. Only one accident happened, and that, wo arc glad to say, was not a serious one. Mr G. Sumpter was running round from the street to the back of his promises, and when passing through the yard of Messrs Jack and Co.’s premises ho stumbled and fell over a corn screen. He received a wound over the left temple and a deep cut above the right eye. Yesterday be was getting on all right, and to-day he will, it is expected, bo able to attend at the first meeting of the new Council, to take his seat for tho first time ns Mayor of Oamaru. Mr M ‘Laron, bootmaker, has had a quantity of his furniture and stock damaged, and estimates his loss at LIOO. Ho was insured in the New Zealand for L7OO ■ - L 350 on the budding, and th s rem ~'n or on his stock.