TELEGRAPHIC INTELLIGENCE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 721, 11 February 1876, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC INTELLIGENCE.

o Dunedin, Fob. 7. The following European nows is by way of Sydney : Russia is jealous of English power over Suez Canal. There is a scheme to neutralise it, to whioh Germany concurs. Ibo civil war in Spain continues unabated. The Grand Duke Nicholas has been sent to the Caucasus for four monthsfor intrigue with a ballet girl. Denmark and Prussia are not on friendly terms. The Timaru banquet on the opening of the railway was not a success. Proceedings were lively after the toast of the Superintendent, the Company sang the “ Dead March.” instead of “ He is a jolly good fellow." February 10 th. Vogel has arrived at Hokitika per the Arawata. Ho was congratulated by the Mayor, who presented an address. He proceeds to Wellington, where a banquet and toich-light procession is being prepared. The Hibernia and Edinburgh have commenced to lay the Now Zealand cable. A dastardly attempt to injure Yeend’a horses—King Phillip and Rory O’More—by partly cutting a bridge at the entrance of the training ground is discovered. A train ran off the Mataura line owing to the points having been tampered with. No serious damage done. A train ran off the Whiteclifle branch, Canterbury. The driver was slightly 1 scratched, and the stoker seriously injured. A man was killed by a fall of earth on Purakanui railway works. The Waste Lands Board have authorised the Spottis Hundred to bo sold on the 24tb, the sale to be conducted by amateur auctioneer, or Assistant Land Officer, or another. Mr De Latonr and others, aa a deputa. tion, waited on the Superintendent anent race and sludge channel. His Honor promised to push the work a-head. Melbourne. Mr O’Shanasey has been beaten for Villars and Heylsbury by 335 votes. The Stonewall policy continues. Mr M'Culloch proposes new standing order to counteract it. Proceedings quite lively. _ TT - , Arrow, Feb. 10th. Ihe u in venial Company, Arrow Fiat started work this afternoon. The centrifugal pump (Qroynne’s patent) is a great success. It throws up a surprising quantity of water. Mr C. E. Haughton arrives at the Dunstau on Friday; and will be here on Saturday. DUXSTAN DISTRICT HOSPITAL. o The annual meeting of subscribers wan hold in the Library Hal!, on Saturday afternoon last, the 29th inst, for the purpose of receiving the report of retiring Committee, and election of Committee for the ensuing year. B. Naylor, Esq., in the absence of the President, was voted to the Chair. The business of the meeting being explained the Secretary read the following re- . ports : Annual Report of the Committee of Management for the year ending 31st December, 1375 :—To the Subscribers,— Your Committee in handing over to you the trust reposed in them for the past year, beg to submit the following statement of facts and figures, and trust that on the perusal of same you will deem their effoits to maintain the influence of the Institution, in so far as the support accorded them, to have been successful. Your Committee, howy ever, would venture to say that if tjaey have not been so succcessful as could have been desired the fault is not theirs, their every effort having been aimed at the Institution’s well-being ; but rather to a fortuitous course of circumstances over which they had no control. These matters, however, will he dealt with at length in their due place in this report. The first matter your Committee will deal with is the absence of Dr Thomson. In February last Dr Thomson having been complaining, for some time previously, of failing health, applied to your Committee for leave of absence, he to nominate a gentleman to fill his position during his absence. Your Comp i'tea acquiesced in the proposal, and Thomson introduced Dr Allan, whom your Committee accepted, they understanding, from enquiries made, that Dr Allan was competent and in every respect qualified for the position. Your Committee, while deeming this explanation necessray, are pleased to say that though the arrangement has, so far, been satisfactory, and while according Dr Allan every credit for the efficient man-'., ner he has performed his duties, they will, nevertheless, most gladly welcome back Dr Thomson, who may now daily be expected, he having sailed in the ship Wild Deer, from Glasgow, on November sth last. With the view of saving money to the Institution your Committee instructed Dr Thomson, whilst at home, to make a selection of drugs and such expensive necessaries as would be required for the future working of the Institution. Advices of a parcel hav-' ing been purchased and despatched has been received. Your Committee, therefore, think that any inconvenience which has arisen through the absence of Dr Thomson will bo more than counterbalanced by the advantages the Institution will derive from I this purchase, if not considering the re- | newed energies of Dr Thomson from the sea voyage. The number of patients treated in the Hospital during the past year, and other particulars, is shown in the table as under ; the nature of diseases, the result of treatment, &c., is included in the Surgeon’s report, which lies on the table, and to which j ou are referred : Number of patients iu Hospital December 31st, 1874 ... 12 Do. admitted during the year ... C 7 Do. discharged, cured, orrelieved 03 Do. died ... ... ... 12 Do. remaining iu Hospital December 31st, 1875 ... ... 4

Of the patients remaining in the Hospital December 31st, 1874, seven were from the Cromwell district, two from Drybrcad, one Tinker’s Gully, one Ida Valley, and one Campbell’s Gully. Of those since admitted twenty Were from Cromwell district, including Nevis and Cardrona; ton from Clyde ; eight, Alexandra; six, S pearl! rasa Flat; six, Blacks ; four, West Bank Molyncnx ; four, Ida Valley ; three, Drybread ; four, Tinker’s Gully ; one, Chatto Creek ; and one, Serpentine. Of those remaining in Hospital December 31st, 1875, two are from Clyde ; one, Tinker’s Gully; one, Blacks. The financial position of the Institution is treated in detail by the Treasurer’s report. Your Committee, however, desire to bring under your notice what they cannot but think a most unsatisfactory state of affairs. At the first glance the debit balance for the year is only L4B 2s 2d, whereas, upon a closer inspection it will be found that on the year’s proceedings it is L 321 2s sd, the difference being made up by receipt of Government subsidy due for the previous year (’74), and the receipt of a special grant from the Government of Ll5O on account of Cromwell’s indebtedness on the year 1874 ; that is, the actual expenditure for the year was LI 114 5s Id, against receipts, L 793 2s Bd, During the year your Committee have held twelve meetings, at which the attendance of Committee-men were regular. Your Committee cannot close this report without returning their hearty thanks to those ladies and gentlemen who, during the year, have been instrumental in raising funds, x nd conclude with the earnest hope that in future years they will continue to afford that assistance. The Treasurer’s annual report for the year 1875, is as follows : Receipts. To Subscriptions, &c Clyde ... L 92 14 4 Alexandra ... 68 4 6 Blacks ... 54 5 9 Drybread ... 37 19 0 Cromwell ... 30 2 0 Tinkers ... 16 0 0 Speargrass Flat 11 12 0 Chatto Creek 3 3 0 Dunedin ... 3 3 0 Nevis ... 2 0 0 Stations ... 26 12 0 ~ Paying Patients ... 94 11 6 ~ Sale of Old Weighing Machine ... ... 7 0 0 ~ Provincial Government Subsidy ... ... 674 12 7 ' Lll2l 19 8 „ Balance this day ... 100 17 8 L 1222 17 4 Expenditure. By Salaries— Staff ...L390 0 0 Special Servants ... 21 15 0 Secretary aud Collector ... 60 0 0 Bonus to Mr andMrsßussell ... 5 0 0 „ Rations ... ... 250 3 5 „ Fuel and Light ... 96 15 10 „ Medicine ... ... '92 I 10 ~ Medical Comforts ... 47 810 ~ Bedding and Clothing ... I 410 ~ Burial Expenses ... 36 8 6 „ Repairs .. ... 49 13 9 „ Advertisidg, Printing, and Stationery ... ... 19 8 0 „ Use of Water Race ... 13 0 0 „ Incidental Expenoes— Insurance ... LlO 18 9 Interest ... 2 11 I Auditors’ Fees 4 4 0 Carriage of Patients to Dunedin ... 15 7 3 Sundries ... 8 4 0 LI 114 5 1 „ Balance from last Statement ... ... 108 12 3 L 1222 17 4 Assets. Balance in Bank N.S. Wales ... LI3 15 Q Provincial Government Subsidy for Quarter ending 31st Dec., 1875 62 15 6 Debit Balance ... ... 48 22 LI 19 12 8 Liabilities. Passed Accounts unpaid LI IS 12 8 Total number of Indoor Patients treated 79 ~ Outdoor ~ 328 Average daily No. of Indoor Patients 6 Outdoor ~ HI Average dailycostof Patients7s lOjdcach. Clyde, January 4th, 1876. J. E. Stevens, Treasurer. Wm. Eames, I . A. J. Denniston, | Audltor *- The reports were adopted. The election of Committee was now proceeded with, and the following gentlemen were elected Messrs Jas. Hazlett, W. L. Simpson, B. Naylor, J. E. Stevens, W. Auckland, Rev. J. Dewe, C.Attfield, J. U. Cambridge, and Geo. Fache, Clyde ; W. Greenbank, Drybread; Gilbert Sinclair, Blacks ; J. G. Mellor, Tinker’s Gully ; Jas. Samson, Alexandra; M. M’Guiness, West Bank Molyneux. The meeting was then closed in the ordinary way. Holloway’s Pills.—Bilious complaints and irregularities of the system, produced by depraved or over-abundant bile, can always be corrected by a few doses of these inestimable Pills, which are everywhere admired for their mo combination of mildness and power ; for though they conquer with ease and rapidity the most onstinate disease, they never weaken the stomach or necessitate' any interruption of ordinary duties or amusement. On the contrary, they increase the appetite, strengthen the organs of digestion, give increased energy and life to all the animal functions, and fit both hand and brain for fresh exertions. Tlie sick and enfeebled may by a single trial speedily discover what a happy revolution those Pills have the power to effect in the human system.

CRICKET. — 0 — _ Clyde v. Alexandra. Tho first match this season between these Clubs was played at Alexandra on New Year’s Day, and, ns will be remembered by many of our readers, resulted in a victory for tho Alexandra team by an overwhelming majority, the scores on the occasion being —Alexandra 181, Clyde 66. The match now under notice took place on Saturday last, the 4th instant, on the Clyde ground, and as will be seen on a reference to the returns below, again resulted in favor of Alexandra, though the game was a more even one, and it was the general opinion that had the Clyde men gone into tho field in good heart, and not with an established funk at their former defeat, the result might have been very different. Whether at cricket or any other game confidence must be established to ensure success, and there is but little doubt that, to the want of that very necessary feeling on the part of the Clyde team, may be ascribed their defeat on Saturday last. Tho batting on either side was so very mediocre that comment is unnecessary; the bowling however was pretty straight on, and from the very small number of extras the fielding must be looked upon as having been good. The arrangements for the comfort and convenience of the players was very fair, and redounds to the credit of the caterer, Mr T. Webb, in whose hands the whole affair was placed. A large marque was erected on the ground, which affordeded an excellent shelter, and in which a first, class cold lunch was laid. Clyde.—First Innings. Denniston, b Simmonds, 3 ... . . 3 Fache, W., b Rees, 12 3 Stewart, c Rees, b Simmonds, 111.. 3 Walker, b Simtnonds ... ... 0 Stevens, 1 b w, b Rees, 12 3 1 ... 7 Richmond, run out,. 1 .. ... 1 Simpson, c Simmonds, b Rees, 2 ... 2 Webb, b Simmonds, 1 ... ... 1 Mackay, not out ... ... ... 0 Phinn, st. Ratcliffe, b Rees, 12 1 ... 4 Fache, G., b Simmonds ... 0 Wides 2, leg-byes 2, byes 7 ... 11 35 Second Innings. Richmond, b Rees, 2 4 3 1 .. ... 10 Mackay, b Rees ... ... ... 0 Denniston, b Simmonds, 2 12 2 12 ... 10 Fache, W., lb w, b Rees ... ... 0 Walker, b Rees ... ... ... 0 Stevens, I b w, b Simmonds, 2 ... 2 Stewart, not out, 11111111 ... 8 Webb, b Rees ... ... ... 0 Simpson, b Simmonds ... ... 0 Phinn, hit wicket, 1 ... ... 1 Fache, G., cSimmonds, b Ratcliffe, 111 3 Byes ... ... ... .. 7 41 Alexandra.—First Innings. Mallard, b Stevens, 12 2 ... ... 5 Forrest, c Simpson, b SteveEs, 1 ... 1 Rees, st Richmond, b Stevens, 2 ... 2 Ratcliffe, b Richmond, 12 2 ... 5 Rice, not out, 2 11111113 ... 12 Brown T , run out, 2 1 ... ... 3 Crossan, b Richmond, 1 ... .. 1 Simmonds, b W. Fache, 2 3 2 ... 7 Ryan E., b W. Fache, 1 ... ... 1 Rees Jas., b Stevens, 2 . . ... 2 Dewar, b Stevens, 1 ... ... 1 Widea 3, bye 1 ... 4 44 Second Innings, Rees, b Stevens, 12 2 ... ... 5 Rice, o and b Stevens, 111111 .. 6 Ratcliffe, b Stevens, 1 ... ... 1 Forrest, b Stevens, 2 ... ... 2 Simmonds 0 W. Fache, b Stevens ... 0 Mallard, not out, 2 1112 ... ... 8 Brown, not out, 1 22 3 ... ... 8 Wides 3, bye 1 ... ... ... 4 34 Clyde total, 76 ! Alexandra total (with five wickets to fall) 78. MATAKANUI RACES. — o— a correspondent.) On Friday and Saturday week last the weather was delightful, jnst wind enough to make things pleasant. Never, 1 believe, has the Matakanui Race Club been more successful in providing two days’ racing thin on the 28th and 29th ult. On the first day the attendance was something over the average—the Ladies mustering strong, and decked out in the height of fashion. St. Bathans, Welshmen’s, Blacks, German-bill, Ida Valley, and Alexandra were well represented : Clyde was conspicuous by its absence. The racing was very good, and in several of the events the three leading horses, when passing the winning post, might have been covered with a sheet. The last race was run off a little after six o’clock, when the company at once took the road for home. I believe there was not one in the entire assemblage but what enjoyed himself. Saturday morring was oppressively hot until about midday, when a light breeze sprang up, which made it more p.easant. Punctually at two o’clock the first race was ran, Taffy, an outsider, winning both heats in grand style. Tho Midsummer Handicap followed, and more money changed hands on this race than on any other—the favorites being Little Dick and Jack the Flat. Clyde also had his admirers. It was grand to see the three leading horses at the finish, shaken up by their jocks ; in fact, I think this was one of tho best contested races 1 ever witnessed. Jack the Flat is a horse able to carry weight and win a good race, but his stable companion Manx Boy appeared to bo out of form, not being able to show in tho front at all. Clyclo is certainly an extraordinary old horse, and a dangerous customer to hot against. The Hospital Race was won by a horse that was working in a whim at Blacks No. 3 in the morning. He was ridden by h’s owner, who is a shareholder in No, 3 claim. Although working a whim there is some blood coursing through his veins,'his sire being Roebuck. The attendance was not quite so numerous as on the first day, the respective places indicated before being well represented with one exception. Messrs J. and O. Mellor, of Newtown, catered for creature comforts, and were deservedly well patronised, having gone to the expense of erecting a refreshment booth for tho special use of tho Good Templars. This is a step in the right direction, and I hope to see it acted on at other places

The Good Templars appeared to appreciate the compliment paid them by Messrs J. and G. Mellor by indulging freely in teetotal drinks. There is one thing I did not like to see, and that is a teetotaller drunk, and 1 am sorry to record that such was apparent on tho Matakanui race course on both days, Too much praise cannot be accorded the stewards, who exerted themselves to the utmost to get through their arduous duties ; aud their attention to strangers is the rule and not the exception, for which they have always been noted, and deservedly so. The talent, which was numerously represented, appeared to have a little spare cash at the commencement of tho meet, but I have doubts but that it was reduced at the finish. Tho Drybread and Tinkers Gents, are well up in racing matters, or, to be more correct, they know how to to lay off and on equally as well as a great number of the so-called talent. The following are the events of the two days : Maiden Plate: Keenan’s Freestone, 3yrs 1 Buoknell’s Foam, aged 2 Stewart’s Blondin, aged 3 Mellor’s Dagworth, 4yrs 0 Matakanui Handicap : Keenan’s Jack tho Flat, 9st 71b ... 1 0 Callaghan’s Little Dick, 9st 21b ... 2 Fraser’s Clyde, 9st 3 Halley’s Miss King, Bst 0 Harrington's Charley, 7st 121b ... 0 Handicap Trotting Race . Bucknell’s Gimy, 300 yds 1 Brown’s Loekerby, 235yda 2 Holland’s Lizzie, 200 yds 3 Taylor’s Tapioca, scratch 0 Mcllor’s Maid of »11 work, 210 yds ... 0 Kennedy’s Mary Ann, 300 yds ... 0 New Town Handicap: Fraser’s Clyde, 9st 1 O’Callagan’s Little Dick, 9st2lb ... 2 Keenan’s Manx Boy, lOst 3 Halley's Miss King, Bst 0 Harrington’s Bismarck, Bst 0 Buoknell’s Foam, 7st 121b 0 White’s Miss Grant, 7st 21b 0 Harrington’s Mignonette, 7st 0 Huddlestone’s Lucy, 0 Hurry Scurry : Fraser’s Clyde, 1 Halley’s Miss King, 2 Brown's Taffy, 3 Spratt's Doubtful, o Mellor’s Dagworlh, 0 White’s Miss Grant, 0 Mellor’s Tommy, ... ... 0 Harrington’s Mignonette, 0 SECOND DAY. Steward’s Purse : (Heats). Brown’s Taffy, 4yrs 1 Mellor’s Tommy, aged 2 Mellor's Digworth, aged 3 Harrington’s Charley, aged 0 Midsummer Handicap. Keenan’s Jack the Flat, 9st 101b ... 1 Fraser’s Clyde, 9st 21b 2 O’Callagan’a Little Dick, Sat 121b ... 3 Bucknell’s Foam, 7st 121b 0 Brown’s Taffy, 7st 51b 0 Keenan’s Freestone, 7st 0 Selling Stakes. Brown's Taffy, 9st I Harrington’s Charley, 9st 2 Harrington’s Darkey, 7st 3 Free Handicap : Fraser’s Clyde, 9st 71b 1 Keenan’s Manx Boy, 10st ... ... 2 O’Callagan’s Little Dick, Bst 71b ... 3 Stewart’s Blondin, 7st 41b 0 Hospital Race : Scott’s Jack. i Bucknell’s Foam, 2 Brown’s Taffy 3 Three others ran. Consolation. : Was won by Miss Grant, beasing Miss King and Mignonette. QUEENSTOWN. (from our Correspondent.) We have had quite a busy time of it lately with tourists from Australia. A few days since no leas than fourteen, all in a batch, came by the Otago from Melbourne, a number of the visitors being South Australians. All expressed themselves delighted with the scenery and climate, eulogized this land o! mountain, mist, and fiood. With the completion of the railway to Kingston we may look for a large increase of the tourist element, while numbers of even Otago visitors will seek to find pleasure upon the pleasant shores of the Wakatip. And find it they most assuredly will, for, besides what meets their view on the shores of this father of inland waters, there are some of the prettiest and most romantic places hid away in the ranges that the eye ever rested upon, and sufficient to charm even the dullest of imaginations. If our sleepy-headed Town Council would only adopt measures to get a cart road along the edge of the Lake to the Seven-Mile, there to join the intended road to Moke Lake, it would make one of the finest rides and drives in the world. It would not only prove most beneficial to the commercial and mining interests, but also an immense source of pleasure to holiday makers. But enterprise appears now to be quite out of placo at Queenstown, the last of tho old race which busied themselves to make the most of things, and one who “ never said die,” has been taken from us by the unsparing hand of death, and there appears none left that can take his place in the work of advancement, excepting when their own pecuniary interests are concerned, and then they operate in the narrowest of grooves. A very great deal has been lately said about Queenstown being so very dull, but, really, 1 fail to see that wo are so much worse off than many other people. It seems to be a feature here to pull long faces, shake heads, shrug shoulders, and whatever the subject may bo to deprecate it, just for all the world as if there was no bright side to anything, leaving people to believe that total annihilation was only a matter of time. Our “old fogios” cannot perceive any virtue in man, beast, or nature, and beyond a few shoep. feeding on the hills they take no interest in anything. In a monetary sense, a very different state of things exists, as, providing you happen to owe these ancient parties any money, their consciences are as elastic and pliant as india rubber Many a poor struggling farmer, having a largo family to support,.and toiling hard every day from early morn until dewy eve,

oonld “ such a tale unfold” of the interest j taken in him, or rather, from him, that ho | is ready to make common cause with even tho most oppressed of nationalities, and it I would not bo far from tho truth to say that this is one of the principal canker worms which, like a hungry rat, is knowing away at our prosperity, making things dull by starving tho very life out of our productive industry. Here wo have a district comprising ono-half of tho acreage surface of tho Province, with gold both hi alluvial and the matrix, splendid agricultural and pasture lands, together with an industrious thrifty population, and to hoar everybody putting on a “ poor mouth” and complaining about the dullness of tho times is an anomaly perfectly incomprehensible. Oh ! for some new blood to work a cure. In tho sporting world there exists some show of activity. Tho forthcoming race meeting and regatta are very liberally provided for, and some good -sport should be produced. The programme of the various events will, as usual, bo entombed in the columns of the Wakatip Mail, which journal, my friends down your way inform me, is rarely ever seen. I would recommend tho Race and Regatta Committees to patronise tho Dunstan Times or the Cromwell Argus with an advertisement of their programme, just to show people that there is some little life left in the Wakatip. Can it scarcely be believed in these enlightened times that, although it is a month since the election of a member to represent the district in the House of Representatives, the columns of our “local horgan” still bristle with recriminatory letters from the leaders of either factionists. The matter iu dispute (I have never been able to discover as yet what it all means) appears to have assumed tho form of a vindetta, of which the Corsican Brothers bears no equal for personal spite or folly ; even the schoolmaster of “ sleepy hollow” sharpens his pen, his sword, and his wits, and rushes headlong into the fray, and wages war iu the camp of the enemy, leaving the young idea to take care of itself. The proprietor of tho Wakatip Mail looks upon this fratricidal war as a God-sond, and gives his hard worked editor leave of absence, the columns of highly spiced malignant, nonsensical letters supplying the place of general reading matter, obviating the laborious work of Searching for extracts from the Danbury Newsman and Max Adder. The example is well worthy of imitation, and you should take the hint Mr Editor of the Dunstan Times, and when you find things dull and news scarce, set all your local scribes by the ears, and you will find no difficulty in filling up your pages. The legal fraternity is well represented up here, in the presence of three real live lawyers. You may often hear it said of people—How the dickens do they manage to make a living ? This question, in respect to our local members of the “ long robe," is equally perfectly unanswerable. If it can be accounted for iu any shape it must he attributed to the intense honesty of our population. This surmise is, in a great measure, accounted for by the fact that, while it has been found necessary by the Government to build us a new and commodious Court House, the same parental power is erecting an equally new and commodious Gaol at the Arrow. The Mayor and Town Council, it is said, are not going to be bluffed by these divided honors, but intend moving the spheres for the establishment of a reformatory and lunatic asylum. The official visic of the Colonial Assistant Secretary for Goldfields (Mr C. E. Haughton) is looked upon with much interest as a long felt want about to be supplied. The Provincial Government have quite neglected us, excepting in the shape of hunting up taxes and all arrears of money duo for leases, etc. Of Mr MacKcllar, the Provincial charge de affaires of Goldfields, w r e hear or know nothing, except that he lives at Cromwell, attends to Ms own business, and draws his salary and travelling expenses. Such a rosy billet, and its speedy extinction not being far distant apparently leaves it a matter of little concern to him whether we Wakatip miners are digging our graves or delving in the earth for gold. I understand that a strong protest will he made to Mr Haughton against the leasing of the Commonage, as a breach of faith with the miners and agriculturists of the district, let alone the covert means attempted to be adopted by the Provincial party to put their friends and supporters in possession ot the choice portions of this valuable public property. The Commonage Ranger, Mr T. M'Morran, quite took some of the Arrow defaulters, in the shape of depasturing' fees, by surprise on Friday last, when, to their utter astonishment, some sixty head of horses from the Crown Terrace were discovered by their owners to have been driven to the ponnd. The Ranger is now charged with an excess of duty in lieu of want of attention to it. The owners of great cattle having now had a turn, it would be nothing more than fair that the proprietors of small cattle should find a nice little flock of two or three thousand illegal trespassers consigned to the pound-keeper for safe keeping and tho payment of just dues. Mr Warden Beetham returned to Queenstown, after a two month’s absence on official business, on Saturday last. As the district does not need the services of two Wardens at present, Mr Beetham would prove a valuable assistance to Mr Haughton while making his official tour of the South Island goldfields. He is the oldest and most experienced Warden in the service, and considering his intimate knowledge of the various mining districts and tho requirements of the population therein settled. In the preparation of matter for a statistical report, what it is to he hoped Mr Haughton will give us, Mr Bcetham’a advice and counsel would bo very valuable. It is high time that something was done to show the value and extent of the mining industry of tho .Colony, it is capable of considerable development, and while wo 1 keep our light shining under a bushel” it is hopeless to expect auv progress to be made.

The Queenstown correspondent and the Arrowtown correspondent appear to differ very materially in connection with the road department; the former assorts that the men do not work well, but sit down all day nursing their tools, while the inspector uses his position and influene for political purposes, i.e., inducing his men at the late election to vote for Mnnders instead of Bradshaw. The latter correspondent writes to the opposite effect, and states that not only do the road-men work well, but the work is properly and skilfully executed. For my part, I must say that the latter is correct, ns having visited all the goldfields lately, I can safely say that there is nothing to complain about whatever in this district respecting the way the road works are managed, and it is an acknowledged fact by all travellers that the roads of the Wakatip are superior to any other portion of the province. It is but seldom I mention anything connected with public officers, but, really, this attack upon them by the correspondent of the Argus is too bad, and only arises from the personal malice that scribe bears towards the road overseer, Mr W. Powell. I always thought that it was a rule laid down by the Government, whether General or Provincial, that no public officers should correspond to newspapers. In this case there is a flagrant violation of that rule, it amounts not only to a prostration of tho press by making if the vehicle for personal abuse and enmity between Government officers, but it also opens the way for the perpetration of other abuses, the evils of which it will be difficult some day to stay. The Queenstown correspondent of the Argus and the writer of a number of malicious letters in the Wakatip mail and other newspapers is well known, and it is almost high time that his conduct was reported to his employers, in that department connected with his duties as a public servant. DUNEDIN'. (from our correspondent. ) February 7th. The widening of Princes street-about which the Supreme Court was called upon to decide, and an-amount of excitement was caused by the action of the citizens protesting against the arbitration made by order of the Corporation—is now in a fair way of being carried out by the removal of the buildings. The first operated on is one of the old land marks ot Old Dunedin, the Ship Inn, which is demolished. Those who remember the band-box style of building of the early days, cannot but be struck by the great improvement in the class of buildings which are now-a-days erected for the public accommodation in the shape of hotels. A number of first-class brick and stone ones grace Dunedin, and equal, if not excel, those of any of the cities of the Southern Hemisphere. The latest is the Panama, in Stuart street, which is built of brick and plastered, containing a large number of rooms, and everything replete for the comfort of guests. Mine Host .is one, who in the early days of the Dunstan rush was m a large way of business, being Mr Simeon Isaacs, the partner of Mr Mears—better known as the “Wonder of the World ” —and who once represented the Dunstan in the Provincial Council. Mr John Armstrong has announced that he will give a lecture at the Temperance Hall, of his peregrinations in Australia and New Zealand. Judging from the opinions of the Press, and the high enoonium passed by Judge Chapman on his last efforts no doubt it will prove a success. lam told he has wonderfully improved in style, and that the dry wit and humor for which “ Honest John ” is proverbial, as was shown when describing the political foils of Vogel, Maoandrew, and Donald Held he made a decided hit, there being so much truth undermining the sarcasm. Your M.H.R. (Mr Pyke) is not idle. He may be seen doing the yeoman’s work at the City Police Court. It is quite refreshing to see him as it were licking into shape tho young cubs of J.P.’s, coaching them up in the routine of the duties, there is no bungling Dipsomaniacs, or the fair sex of the Devil’s Half-acre get justice meted out to them on the shortest space of time. A man named Miles, and his donkey, wore arrested by Constable Stuart, the former for being drunk. The constable in his evidence said, tho donkey being a boast and could not walk straight, and it was therefore considered that that w as the reason for arresting the animal. The Corona, with immigrants, has arrived and is in quarantine. Some cases of typhoid fever, and one or two cases of bronchitis have proved fatal. At the opening of the railway at Timaru, it appears that they had lively times. A Mr Jonas wished to tell the Superintendent tho opinions held of him by a certain class of the residents of Timaru. This was objected to by the Chairman when some confusion ensued. The toast of the Superintendent having been drunk, the “Dead March in Saul,” instead of “ He’s a Jolly Good Fellow,” was started and sung. Tho Knight of Cashmere came again to the front (not this time in the matter of the honorarium) and said, had he been the Chairman he would have made it warm for Mr Jonas, as he would have jumped over tho table and put him out. When they build a railway the first thing they do is to break ground. This is often done with great ceremony. They then break the shareholders. This is done without ceremony. A Chicago man closed his testimony in his action for divorce asfollows “ Idon’t want to say anything again the woman, judge, but I wish you could live with her a littlo while.” A Wyr.oming jury, composed of seven men and live women, were shut up for two days and two nights and yet they couldn’t agreo. It is said that if they had remained out for seventeen years there would have been no verdict, as the five women talked I the seven men deaf tho first six hours,