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Dunstan Times, Issue 706, 29 October 1875, Page 2

j A mining party, owning some private property on the hanks of the Arrow River, near its junction with the Kawarau, are making L2O a week per man, by sluicing qway the ground. This is another evidence of , how careful the Government should be before they suffer auriferous lands to become alienated. The continued drouth is being felt on all hands, and frqm the very little snow lying on the ranges, an unprecedented bad summer is expected for the mining community, as, without water, everything is at a stand still. No water for the minora means loss of time, and loss of time necessarily implies loss of money, not only to the miners, hut to all classes. The coming season’s prospects therefore are not the brightest. Wo are informed that thecountry, or a greater portion of it, between War Keri ICeri Valley and Chatto Creek, is .a virtual,, living, creeping, mass of caterpillars. Onr. informant says that, as yet there is no perceptible effect on the grass, but adds, as catc-pillars, like every other creeping thing, must eat, there is no doubt they are eating up the young grass just as it appears through the ground. Wo would advise owners of gardens to bo on the alert, as a visit from these strangers might he ruin. Work in connection with the Clyde Bridge, also the approaches, is approaching apace. Largo quantities of timber are arriving on the ground, and to appearances is of first class quality. Mr Grant, the contractor, inf onus us that the wire rope,, of which there is 30 tons, left London in the ship May Queen, on August 31. Ita arrival therefore may bo shorty lookol for. Wo are given to understand that the challenge by the Clyde Cricket Club tp that of Cromwell, to play the opening match of the season on the Clyde ground on Tuesday, the 9th of November, has been accepted, and that the return match is to bo played at Cromwell on November 30. Whether it is that the Clyde team are eo confident in themselves that they think practice unnecessary, we cannot say, certain it is that with tire exception of one or two, we never see, them in the field. We would suggest a little more’ practice, 'or tiny may receive such a hea’iug they little dream of.

Qur Teviot correspondent informs us there WM no ground for the rumor of the accident to Mr T. Wilkins, that gentleman having, since the rumor got abroad, visited Roxburgh, thoroughly sound in every limb. The marine cable to connect Australia with Now Zealand Las loft England. In answer to a question on the last day of the past Parliament by Mr O’Niel, the Government said it had not yet been decided where the cable would touch New Zealand. Mr Collins, of Hyde, has been appointed Inspector of Works, at Clyde, during tho building of the new Gaol. . Mr Bridges, the manager of the National Bank, must be a strange sort of individual, and ho makes some queer disclosures. Sir Julius Vogel when he returns will doubtless bo highly delighted at tho hints thrown out respecting his political honor. We were quite unaware before that the Bank of New Zealand was such a power in the state that it could either oust a ministry or compel a government to purchase a railway at double its worth. Tho whole matter appears to us “ Worry like a whale.” First, Mr Bridges informs the Public Accounts Committee that while Manager of the Bank of New Zealand at Wellington be was desired by the directors not to grant the Government, because the Weld Ministry held the reins, an overdraft that they required to meet a demand, and yet he afterwards makes the advance upon his own responsibility, without incui ring the censure of the direo'ors. Secondly, Mr Bridges-is jealous of the bargain for the deposit of the three and a half millions of the last loan made with the Bank of New Zealand, and declares any other bank would have given almost twice as much, and hints that he.knows sufficient, which, if divulged would imke the Bank of New Zealand divide with the National the profits of the transaction. Th'rdly, ha brings unfounded charges against Sir Julius Vogel of haying a large overdraft rubbed off because of the Port Chalmers Railway bargain, which charge the Public Accounts Committee in their report say is entirely unwarranted and unfounded. The only

charge made by Mr Bridges worthy of notice is that better terms could have been made for the custody of the proceeds of the law. As to the conduct of the Bank of New Zealand it is very clear that they could not exercise any pressure upon members of the Government; while, if they made good bargains they only did what Mr Bridges would have done had he only known how. It must be fortunate for the Bank of New Zealand that Mr Bridges has ceased to be connected with that Institution, or the consequence might have been disastrous. Babbling is an unpardonable fault in a Bank Manager, who should hear, see, and say nothing. The trial crushing of two tons of quarts from the Cornish Reef, Crown Terrace, made at, Southberg’a machine, Skippers, resided 2 ozsSlts of gold. It appears, however, that there was only one ton of quartz sent. When taken from the Arrow it was placed on the pack horses all wet and mnllocky, from the effects of the previous night’s rain, while the stuff itself had been thoroughly Saturated hv the rising of the creek near the claim. When the quartz arrived at Skippers it only filled the usual two half ton trucks used for computing the quantity of stone reduced at the raeohine, and it was accepted as a ton. and paid for accordingly. The rumor that the stone crushed oozs Idwt to the ton was incorrect, although! the local luminary, the Observe-, published an “ extra" to that effect.

The Colonial Bank' of New Zealand is about to’ettablish a branch at Arrowtown, that corporation having for that purpose purchase! the promises and land of Mr James Marshall, at the corner of Bucking* ham-street, opposite the Bank of New Zealand. L6OO is said to bo the amount of the purchase money, and to make necessary alterations the cost will probably be L 309 or L4OO more. The new premises of the premises of the Bank of New Zealand is a rather expensive affair for a goldfields town, and when completed will cost little short of L3OOO. When the Bank started to build, they declined a contract for LI6OO as being too high, so they employed day labor. However, for workmanship and finidr the building has no equal outside of Dunedin. The changes of the mails at the Lakes gives very general dissatisfaction. The alteration of the days of arrival and departure producing universal inconvenience. To reach Clyde from' Queenstown or the Arrow requires one night to be spent on the road, and an active man could walk the distance in the same time as is now occupied by the coach. Passseugors to Tuareka or Dunedin express themselves positively disgusted, especially those who have spent Saturday night,.Sundqv, and Sunday night, consecutively,, at .the charming little village of the Bengerhurn. Thirty-six hours in gaol can only bo compared to it—is the generally expressed opinion of unfortunate passengers. And, worst of all, the time occupied in the journey from Queenstown to Dunedin is nearly four hours longer, notwithstanding that forty miles is performed by railway. The mail arrives at the Arrow and Queenstown about two and a half hours earlier, the advantage being scarcely perceptible. , The long stay at Bongorburn is, however, the most outrageous proceeding of all, and wo cannot really sea why, when once a coach [carrying her Majesty’s mads starts upod" a, journey, that it should not keep on, irrespective of days, until it is until it is finished. Such is the rule in Australia, and why not in Now Zealand. It is high time now that the irrepressible Cobb and Co. improved with the times, and now that the roads are. good, Queenstown should be reached within two days frem Dunedin. The same distance in the old coaching days in Victoria would be accomplished in from 2.3 to 24 hours. This was always done between Melbourne and Beccbwortli, and then there wore scarcely any metalled roads. It is high time that Otago coach proprietors should accellcrato the speed ,of their vehicles, and keep on I both night and day. The Post-office I authorities should [insist upon} Quicker travelling.

The following recipe for acquiring mad* ncsa in the shortest manner possible is fur* nishod by On American paper!—" Be an editor ; let the devil be waiting for copy ; sit down to write an article, and put a few sentences down ; then let an acquaintance drop in and begin to tell you stories and gossips of the town ; and let him sit, and sit. This is the quickest way we can think of to go taring distracted mad." Our Campbell’s Eeef Victoria friends will be pleased to hear of the prosperity of an old acquaintance. Mr Robert Grieve, is now the sole proprietor 'of two claims on tho well-known Blue Spur, Tuapeka district, on which ho is now engaged erecting a battery of stamps to oru«.h tho cement, of which both claims are comprised. The motive power is a Leffcls’ turbine. We perceive by the Guardian that the directors have made a call of ona pound per share. We feel very sorry that our town contemporary is not in a prosperous condition. Dunedin should at least support two morning papers. As, to obtain a free expression of public opinion, as well as ah unprejudiced representation of affairs, two newspapers of the calibre of the Guardian and Times are essentially necessary. However, with the abolition of the provinces, the Guardian will in all probability find increased support. By the bye, our friend the Daily Times appears to have not come forward with his usual half-yearly dividend of 12 per cent. Does the keen rivalry existing between'the two journals amount to something in the shape of a war. of mutual extermination, or does the Evening Star eat the oyster and award its morning contemporaries a shell each. The Daily Times says :—A most interesting case will, if not previously settled, come on at the next civil session of the Supreme Court. A gentleman at the Taieri who has more than once moved the sweet voices of that Arcadian constituency, has thought it meet that ho should woo something better, and at a somewhat advanced period of his life, enter the bonds of holy matrimony. That is what rumor says, and though it often speaks false, we have on this occasion the very best information for believing it to be true. But there is bitternosss in the sweetest cup, and yesterday, just as the happy moment is approaching, the bridegroom has been served with a writ, on behalf of a lady to whom, it is alleged, ho has been false and faithless, or in legal phraseology, has committed breach of contract. The damages are laid.at I*3ooo. The best professional talent in Dunedin has already been engaged on behalf of the lady, and the case, if it ever comes to he reported, will, it is whispered, be most readable. The Evening Star says:—According to present calculations the new year should see us in tho midst of the general elections Already there are some signs of the coming struggle in this Province ; and simultaneously with the “ stumping” of the Pro vjncialiata, tho Centralists will begin to woo the sweet voices of the electors. Numerous political rumors are now current, blit few of them can be treated as reliable. We have the best authority for stating that Mr C. E. Haughton has no intention, as was at one time stated, of re'-entering political life, and of standing for his <ald constituency of Wakatip, for which we believe Mr Pyke does not intend to offer himself for reelection. For the Dunstan two local candidates are named, but whether Mr T. L. Shepherd will again stand, or run for the Wakatip against Mr Manders is not yet known. Mr Mervyn has no intention of offering himself for Mount Ida, but intends to contest Waikaia with Mr Bradshaw. Opposition is threatened to Mr Murray for Bruce and to Mr Thomson for tho Clutha, but we doubt if it will be serious in the latter case Tho seats of Messrs Steward and M‘Leau may be considered safe, but for the addition*! Waitaki seat there is certain to be a number of candidates. Mr Cuthbertsouhas not finally decided upon retiring, but should he stand for Invercargill there will be at least three candidates. Indeed all the Southland seats promise to’ be hotly contested. The rapid growth of London may ho in ferred from the following, taken from the published report, for 1874,- of Colonel Henderson, the Metropolitan Commissioner of Police. There were no less than 7704 new houses built in the metropolis. There were formed 145 new streets and two new squares, whoso aggregate length was upwards of 22J miles, or farther than from Dunedin to Taieri Ferry. But in addition to these completed buildings there were 3542 others in coarse of erection when tho year closed. During the last 25 years the length of the new streets opened in metropolitan London amounts in the aggregate to 1200 miles. The enormous population included within the Metropolitan Police District is controlled by a Police Fores numbering 9953, all told. The total number of persons arrested was <57,70.3 of whom 2G, 155 were charged with drunkenness and disorderly conduct. To accommodate the traffic London Bridge is to be widened, at a cost of L 55,000, What is a Larrikin ? This question, never yet properly settled, cropped up agrin at the Police Court, Maryborough, recently (says tho Northern Argus), when a Chinaman was charged with resisting the police in tho execution of their duty. A Chinese witness said that as the police constable was in plain clothes the accused did not know that ho was a police officer; bethought he was a lamkih who was carrying off a woman. Sergeant Fahey: What is a larrikin ? The Chinaman; A bad man—not a good man. Mr Carr : A bad man ?—no ; rather a bad youth. Sergeant Fahey: What is the Chinese for larrikin? This seemed to puzzle tho witness tor some time, but at length he said something like “ Kok-a-hai-man,” which being interpreted again was stated to bo a man who knew nothing at all On this Mr Coakburn said that perhaps tho best definition of a true larrikin was a young man of neglected education who “ edited" a seurrillous print. The Chinaman said “No savee” to that: hut said a larrikin was a man who ran away with another man’s wife. The point cannot bn said-to he settled yob

Tho Commissioner of Police (?ifr Weldon) has been seriously' indisposed necessitating confinement to his bed. r JT <■ ‘-i ,>, According to contemporaries Mosgicl must bo a thriving town. Tho Bank of New Zealand are erecting new premises, and tho Coionial Bank will also open a branch. A movement is on foot for the erection of a Masonic Hall; and a number of other buildings are being put up oh the township. Tho Mosgiel Woollen Company have improved their buildings, which are now lighted with gas, made on the premises.