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Dunstan Times, Issue 703, 8 October 1875, Page 2

We have to.acknowledge receipt of batch of Parliamentary Papers, and Nos. of Hansard. The tender of Mr W. Grant, of Cromwell, for the approaches to the Clyde bridge, has been accepted by the Provincial Government. The amount is £1,624 13s 4d. Owners of cattle and horses are reminded (see advertisement) by Mr A. R. B Thomson, ranger of the Clyde Commonage, that application for depasturing must be made forthwith. We have received from Messrs Burton Brothers, a catalogue of photographs of photographs of New Zealand scenery, in all, 568 pictures. The orchards and gardens in and around Clyde, of which there are now a good many, are looking exceedingly pretty, the whole of the frut trees being in blossom, and the willows, poplars, and other trees, jnst bursting into leaf. If the quantity of blossom is any criterion.of the quantity of fruit, there will bean abundant crop. The first number of Dalgleish and Reid's “ Bradshaw’s Guide to New Zealand,” just published, contains the time-tah’os and fares of all the railways, steamers, and coaches in the Colony, and a variety of other information.

We have to record with sincere regret the rather sudden death of Mrs Purcells, midwife, of this town. Death, wo understand, was accelerated by a severe cold ; the main cause, how»vor, fatty degeneration of the heart and kidneys. Deceased was 64 years of age, and up to within about a week of her decease, was an active woman. Deceased was very skilled in her profession, and will not only be greatly missed by her friends and relatives, but by n very largo number of families in which her services were always engaged. Mr Fache requests us to draw attention to the sale by auction, on Tuesday next, the 12th inst., of first class business site, with stone cottage and fenced paddock, at Coal Creek Flat, near Roxburgh ; also largo quantity of building material, furniture, &o.; also a few head of horses and cattle. In our present issue is an addition to the' list of stud horses that will travel the district this season, viz., Mr , M‘Arthnr’4 Clydesdale Surprise, and Mr Farrington’s Thoroughbred Young Scud. The former is so well known that we will not say further than that he is in splendid fettle. The latter is a comparative stranger, but we feel assured that as he becomes known he will force himself into public favor, as he is a very handsome horse, and possesses good frame and the best blood in the country. Messrs Smythies and Son {the latter a long resident in Cromwell) intimate in another column their having started business in Dunedin as Arbitrators, Land and Stock Brokers, Financial and Land Agents, Surveyors, &o. Mr Harry Smythies, junr., purposes visiting the district within a few days. The Wheeler Troupe, consisting of Miss Elis6 de Courcv, Mr B. Wheeler, Master Bennie, and Mr T. Wright, advertise their performance in the Town Hall, to-night and to-morrow night. From the high’y flattering notices given of this troupe we cannot but conclude them to be a superior class of artistes, and that their entertainment will be a highly appreciative one. The apf roach to the Clyde Bridge, on the east bank, was commenced on Wednesday 1 ist, the motive employed being the water of the town race, assisted by four or five men. With the good supply of water available, the work will not remain long on hand. The approach finished, the completion of the structure will be comparatively plain sailing, and we may fairly assume that by Mr Grant applying his wonted energy to the task, the entire work will be finished within the contract time. On the west b ink the excavations for the moorings are being proceeded with From the substantial natuee of the abuttments and piers already built, and the material on the ground, the Clyde Bridge will be a ciedit to all concerned. About 16 men are employed on the work. F. A. Learmonth, land agent and immigration officer, Hokitika, met with a serious accident from a pistol-shot, on Monday. He was shooting a stray cat in his back yard, when the pistol went off, and the contents penetrated his body near the heart. There is little hope of his recovery. We are given to understand the above gentleman is brother-in-law to Judge Harvey, and that by latest accounts be was progressing. The escape from a sudden death is miraculous, as the pistol, a “ Dean and Adams’ revolver,” was loaded with a ball, which not only penetrated the breast but remains somewhere in the body. The Governor of Fiji is reported to have concluded a speech delivered by him to the planters in the following terras He had come to Fiji at many and great sacrifices,but it was because he believed he might be useful . The|fame of Fij i had not been of thefiie it, bathe thought the charges unjust. There was a certain amount of rascality, and more drunkenness and dawdling than he liked to see, but not more than was to be found in other young communities. The Governor is in great favor with the residents. According to the North Otago Times, Oamam has a bright future before it. It says : Soon, with the changes in view, we shall be independent cf Dunedin, and before very long we may look forward to rivalling it in business, wealth, and importance.” Some amusement was caused on the Spit yesterday, says' the Hawke’s Bay Telegraph of the 24th ult., on the landing of the single girls from the Helen Denny, by the old native chief, Paora Kaiwbatu, insisting on engaging one of them as a cook. The old gentleman, who is credited with already possessing three wives, was exceedingly indignant at the Immigration Agent’s refusing his offer, while the girls were extremely amused at the impudence of the fellow presuming to suppose that they had come fifteen thousand miles to “better themselver” by taking service under a tatooed savage. A contemporary says Officials . and others appearing in public courts have lately been getting, gratuitously, much instruction as to their manner and mode of procedure. This has been the case in the Sunreme Court, before Mr Justice Johnston, and in the District Courts, before Judge Weston. It is noticeable, however, that it 's not always on the same points that the Judges pronounce passing judgment. A barrister leaning on a witness-box, or approaching a Court-house fire, wero lately circumstances to which attention was di rected, though not by words, in the Court at Grey mouth, and at Recfton, we arc told by the Times, Judge Weston suggested to counsel the propriety of hot' leaving the barrister’s table for the purpose of handing documents to witnesses in the box. He said there was an officer in attendance whose duty it was to perform that service, and it was more becoming the dignity of the profession, no less than in respect to the Court, that the latter course should ho aloptel. His Honor continued, “The proper practice and forms of theCnurtshouhl he adhered to as closely as possible, otherwise we shall degenerate, and Iktlo by little all coremon will disappear, and as young men grow up they will follow in the same course and eventually thc-rej will bo no practise at /ill"

A person of a "gentlemanly appearance" lately shot himself in an hotel at Windsor, New South Wales. Ho left a slip of paper on which was written in pencil—" Am tired of life—resolved to make an end of it. A Oken, from Now Zealand.*’ , In the Legislative Assembly Mr T. L, Shepherd’s Gold Duty Abolition Bill No. 2, which provided tor reducing the gold duty to 6d an ounce, was thrown out by 28 to 14. Sir George Grey moved the second reading of the Gold Duty Abolition Bill, and considerable discussion ensued Mr Buckland considered the tax exceptional, but said it would be suicidal to remit it. Mr Wakefield supported the tax. The Bill was opposed by the Government, and thrown out by 27 to 18. A serious-minded doctor, if given to outward display of piety, may sometimes unpleasantly startle a patient. One medical practitioner in Victoria—(since dead—poor fellow)—had an emblazoned text over the ifmntel-piece of his consulting room to this effect, “ Prepare to meet thy God.” Now, sound as is this sentiment, it has a peculiar suggestiveness to a stranger putting himself in the hands of his doctor. He would be a little apt to regard the doctor and the text as cause and effect. Another medical man has adopted' 'something similar. A friend who visited him the other day found this sentence in illuminated characters on the wall—“ I will be with yon all the timeeven unto the end." No doubt of it. The following notice of the late Mr Edmund Pnrton, brother of Mr Pnrton, manager of the Scandinavian Water Race Company, St Rathan’s, we take from the New Zealand Tablet: —lt is with deep regret that I have to chronicle the death of Mr Edmund Pnrton, of St. Bathan’s, which took place at 5 o’clock on Thursday morning, 23rd September. The late Mr EdmundPnrton was horn May, 1838, at Hanley Castle, Worcestershire, England, and at a very early age destined to study for the priesthood. He was first at Sedgeley Park School, near Wolverhampton ; then for a few years at the English Benedictine College, Douai; and subsequently, and for many years, at St. Cnthbert's College, Ushaw, Durham ; in all of which he took first honors. After the completion of his theological course, he suffered severely for some time from disease of the eyes, which resulted in the total loss of sight of one, and permanent weakness of the other, thus debarring him from attaining the dignity of priesthood. In 1870 he came to St. Bathan’s Otago, where, until within a few days of his death, he worked as a miner, and was distinguished among his fellow-workmen for his industry and persevering regards for the interests of his employers. The influence he exercised by his example and kindly warnings in the cause of temperance, morality, and religion, together with his genial disposition, will cause his death to be deeply regretted by all who came within the range of his acquaintance. The complaint of which he died was pneumonia. He was only ill a few days, and. his death took ail .by surprise. The deceased was interred. on Saturday, September 25, and the funeral was attended by all in St. Bathan’s and by many from the surrounding districts. On Sunday, Eather Walsh, in asking the congregation to pray for the repose of Mr Purton’ssoul, sail : “That he (Mr Pnrton) had died nobly and bravely. He had banished from his mind all idea of the world. He had turned his whole thoughts to heaven, and calmly awaited the moment when he would appear before his God. ‘ As a man lives, so -shall he die.’ Edmund Purton had live I an exemplary life—at least, as far as he (Father Walsh) knew from what he himself had seen, and from what they all had told him ; and having lived an exemplary life his death was edifying. —R.I. P. ”