FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 1876.

Dunstan Times, Issue 726, 17 March 1876, Page 2

FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 1876.

Provincialism dies hard and will not give up the ghost without a severe struggle. The petition which lias been circulated for signature throughout the Province praying that another meeting of the Council might be convened ns usual, is one of the greatest pieces of presumption we have ever heard about, and we sincerely hope that the General Government will not listen to the prayer, but give full effect to the provisions of the Abolition Act as already passed. So far as up-coun-try districts are concerned there is nothing whatever to be desired that Provincialism should be perpetuated, it has utterly failed in its purposes. Still, another session may possibly be of benefit to Dunedin and the “Old Identity” clique of the Taieri, but with them, and their centralising policy wo hold no interests in common. Looking upon the matter in the broad light of the “ greatest good to the greatest many,” the up-country districts have always been systematically ignored, and what few favors have been obtained has only been so by the exercise of considerable pressure in the shape of importunities, for which they had a just right to without ask-' ing. The greed of members of this expiring body may possibly have something to do with the petition for ■ another session One pound per day and liberal travelling expenses, goes a long w r ay towards stirring up some , people’s patriotism, and the stimulus , of a forty or fifty pound cheque for a month’s residence in Dunedin, and the | privileges of looking after their own j affairs at the same time, is a great in- ]

centivo to continue the abortion. Now that Sir Julius Yogel has assumed the reins of government again, it is not likely that such an absurdity will be permitted. Provincial Councils may elect to triilo ; but it will not bo so with the Parliament of the Colony, in that, at least, the pe< pie must have confidence, and this cannot be secured when Acts of Parliament are permitted to be set aside upon the mere importunities of an interested few. So far as the General Government have gone they have redeemed the whole’of their promises, and there really seems no reason whatever to doubt but that everything else will be as promptly given effect to. Such being the case a petition for another meeting of the Provincial Council practically amounts to a want of confidence.

AVe are advised that an action has been entered in the District Court byMr M'Ewen, of Clyde, against the Cromwell Corporation, to recover LSOO damages for internal injuries, of a permanent character, sustained by his wife some eighteen months ago whilst promenading the principal business street -of that town. In the Resident Magistrate's Court, Clyde, on Thursday last, besides throe summonses by the police against the owners of unregistered dogs, in each of which the full penalty of 40s was inflicted, there was a trumpery assault case, for which the defendant was mulct in theifine of ss. 3 There waspio other business. AVe notice that Mr James Holt is again making preparations to get his coal pit into working order. Two largo and powerful water wheels to work direct off the axle, without the aid of cog-wheels, whioli hitherto have proved so fruitful a source of cost and loss, are [in position, and only await the fixing of the pumps to start their work of draining the mine. Mr Holt’s intention is to have everything in order for raising coals by the time the) cold weather sets in. If our wishes for his success avail him anything, we most heartily give them, as will doubtless many others who know the value of the coals taken from this pit. AVork at the Clyde bridge is being pushed ahead, and by the time this issue reaches many of ouFrcaders the only thing wanting to complete the structure, so far as the present contractor, Mr AATlliam Grant, is concerned, will bo the laying of the road planks. The question is frequently, and very naturally asked, but when willjthe connecting link between the bridge and the approaches be done so that the bridge will be available for traffic ? AVe are unable to answer, we only know that after no inconsiderable trouble, the Government were induced to admit that they were responsible for the work, but as to when they will call for tenders or otherwise arrange for the work to be done is completely beyond our understanding. To-day and to-morrow takes place the Nevis Races, and from the number of entries for the main events there should be good sport. The total amount to be competed for on both days is Ll3O. To-morrow, the ISth, on the Clyde oval, is to he played the return match—Squatters v. Towns. From the amount of interest taken by the towns in this game we may expect a keen contest. The refreshment booth will be under the management of Mr Allred Moore.

The Deep Lead at Blacks No. .1 is again deserted and idle. The last party who ventured a trial of it—Messrs Blackwell and party, after successfully bottoming a shaft and obtaining some excellent gold, iucontestibly proving that the load continues, have had to succumb to an extra quantity of water, which burst in upon them from some old workings they were driving too near to. AVe understand they will make another attempt, if so, wo hope they will give the old workings a wide berth. Mr Robert Stewart, Manager of Hawkshurn Station, cautions parties against removing or disturbing Cattle or Horses on his run without authority. Mr Stuart explains to us that the reason of him inserting this notice is not that he so much objects to people removing their cattle or horses, but that he most decidedly does to having his fences broken down, and which he says are frequently done in a most wilful manner. He cited an instance of a fence having been broken down to get cattle across, and yet there was a gateway within a mile distant.

Seeing tliat an action has been brought against the Cromwell Corporation for alleged carelessness in the keeping of the footpaths, resulting in personal injury, wo would advise our Corporate hody to look to several traps both in the roads' and footpaths and have them repaired, if they do not wish to figure as defendants at the next sitting of the District Court. We allude principally to the broken culvert opposite Mr Pache’s private residence, the which is exceedingly dangerous, and to several box drains which cross the footpath on the cast side of Sunderland-street. At the R.M. Court, Blacks, on Tuesday last, before W. L. Simpson, Esq., F. Ryan and T. Edmonds were each bound over to keep the peace in the sum of L2ocach.—R. Ryan was fined os., for allowing dancing and music in his licensed house, though ho said there wore none present but members of his own family.—M. M‘Nolly v. Conelly. Claim, money lent. Judgment was given for defendant, it being proved to the satisfaction of the Bench that the. money was given for goods bought, and not lent.-—.!. Mrllor v. hi*Nally. This was a ease of disputed accounts. During the evidence it transpired that transactions of hundreds of pounds wore frequent between the parties, and that acceptances, I O.U.’s, and settlement of accounts were almost as frequent. A verdict at length was given for plaintiff forL22odd. Mr IV, F. Wilson appeared for Donnlly and J. Mcllor; and Mr Rowlatt for M‘Nolly, in each case.

Forms of application for registration can bo had at tho office of this paper. Wo would remind those that are not on the roll that tho 31st instant is tho last day for, applications, Mr James Rivers, storekeeper, Alexandra, has filed a decimation under “ The Debtors and Creditors’ Act, 1575.” Our Alexandra friends are reminded that a Concert and Ball, in aid of their local Brass Band, takes place to-night, in the Library Hall. Dr Stewart announces that on and after tho 2Sth inst., ho will visit Blacks Hotel every alternate Tuesday ; and Alexandra every Friday. Tho new gaol at Clyde is finished, and as soon as tho Inspector has approved of it tho keys will be banded over to (the gaolnr, A fuli description of tho above building will appear in onr next issue. On Monday last, at Blacks No. 1, Mr Chappie submitted to public competition a largo parcel -about 3000 bushels—of oats, and realised Is Cd per bushel. Ploughing matches in tho old country continue to attract attention, though not so much as formerly, owing to the widespread use of thc£steam;Jcultivator. By the mail just in we have received an account of the last contest in England for the year 1875. The match-one of tho largest in the kingdom—came off just before Christmas Day, at Cottenham, hard by the oldJUnivorsity uf Cambridge. Forty five teams entered die field. Eighteen prizes were competed for, and of this number tho champion and eleven others, both for single and double furrow, were won with ploughs made by the old andjrenowncd firm of Howard, [Bedford ; a first, second and fourth prize with Hornsby’s ; a second with Fison and Page’s; and a third with Ransome’s, It appears that the Howards have for several years past discontinued competing at these matches with their own men and teams, believing it to bo a fairer criterion of the merits of ploughs to leave them entirely in the hands of local ploughmen, as at the Cottenham contest.

An Auckland paper has the following As we are now in almost daily receipt of telegrams from Europe, it may not be uninteresting to show the apparent effect which the difference of the mean time observed at London and Auckland have upon the transmission of telegraphic messages by cable. Auckland is situated 17-1 deg. odd cast of London, and our noon is 11 hours 39 minutes in advance of Greenwich time. The apparent effect is readily seen, and its cause understood. If a message were sent from London at noon, and its transmission to Auckland were instantaneous, we should receive it at 11.30 p.m., or near midnight of the same day, so that nearly twelve hours would have appeared to have been occupied in its journey. When messages are spoken of as'being two days old, they are really a day and a-half, or 35 hours 30 minutes old. On the other hand messages from New Zealand to London, by direct communication, would be sent in considerably less than our time. A telegram from Auckland, if not delayed in the transmitting stations, would appear to reach London 11 * hours before it was actually written. This seems very much like annihilating time as well as space.

The Melbourne correspondent of the Dunedin Daily Times writes :—The sudden death of a solicitor of Melbourne a week or two ago has furnished matter for a very strange story, which has been whispered about town, but which is not of a kind that can be printed in a decorous newspaper, but there is no harm in mentioning some of its circumstances. It seems that the solicitor in question, who was of somewhat fast tendencies, and a bachelor, was consulted on professional business by a lady client. The nature of the consultation involved a little run down in company to the son-side, and a cosy little dinner in a quiet hotel. Afterwards the lady and gentleman returned to town, and to the profesional chambers of the solicitor in the legal quarters of Melbourne. Hero it is that I am obliged to pass over some of the decails of the story. The lady stated at the inquest that while they were sitting on the sofa, engaged in important conversation, the legal gentleman suddenly fell forward upon her, and she was horrified to find that he was dead. She rushed out into the street, gave the alarm and a medical man was called. The inquest showed that death was due to physical excitement acting ou heart disease, and verdict accordingly. 2ut it remains a fact that this common-place verdict throws a discreet veil over a story which might bp fittingly told by Boooaoio or by the Queen of Navarre, but not by a writer who has to consult the delicacy of a prudish generation.

The total earnings of the Otago Hallways for February was L 12,109 18s scl. A correspondent writing to the North Otago Times saysßeferring to Mr Fyke’s remarks, rc ‘ slops,’ 1 would suggest that if a little straw or grass litter were put round the roots of fruit trees and bushes, and the slops then poured over, the effect on the trees would be astonishing—the litter would prevent the soil being baked, and the slops would soak through at once.” A novel case of obtaining goods under alleged fraudulent pretences was heard at the Police Court, "Dunedin, lately. A woman well known to the Police, named Mary Upjohn, had called at Esther and Low’s grocery, and ordered certain goods, representing herself to be Mrs M'Cullooh, of Drybread. She requested the goods to bo packed up for her by Monday morning, when she would call and pay for them. Accused, it appeared, gave similar orders to several shopkeepers. Their Worships Isold that inasmuch as she had promised to pay on delivery of the goods, there was no offence. notwithstanding she gave a wren" name, and the charge would bo dismissed. Daily Times. At Liverpool lately, while two men wore disputing as to paying for a game cf billiards, ono suddenly fell down dead on being pushed by the other.

An extraordinary somnambulistic freak-is recorded by the Freeman’s journalAt Enniskillen, one Wednesday night, as hundreds of skaters were returning from the ice, a young man, clad only in a shirt, was seen running down Darling street. Ho stopped at Captain Caine’s door, and said a Mr Copeland was dying, and piteously implored help for God’s sake. He was then referred to DrWalsho’s door, and there he begged assistance for Captain Caine. By this time crowds had gathered after the strange object in such a state, in freezing weather, and he then darted down to the hollow, and returned to the Ulster Bank, where ho was accosted by a gentleman who knew him, and took him home. It was a lit of somnambulism, and the youth afterwards declared he had rememberedlof nothing but a horrible dream ; and though the night was frosty, and he semi-naked, he was profusely perspiring.

In reporting the attempts'inado to obtain a reprieve for Henry Wain weight, the Scotsman of December 21 relates the following comical occurrence “On Saturday and yesterday several excited individuals presented themselves at the Home Cilice, saying that they attended in order to procure the reprieve of the condemned man. Among them was one man most eccentric in ids manner. He insisted on seeing tin Home Secretary, and being informed that lie could not, declared that ho would go to the Queen direct. Ho placed himself in an attitude of defiance when told that anything he had to say must he put down in writing and sent according to form. On this lie drew forth about twenty small books in different languages, winch were kept in a huge pair of top boots that were filled to the brinv with 'MSS. He was told that he must go elsewhere for writing materials, whereupon he criednut terribly, plunged his right hand into tho breast of bis coat, as if ho had some weapon concealed there, drew out' about a dozen other small hooks, and commenced to speak in different languages, to the astonishment of everyone. Subsequently Police-constable No. 420 A ordered him off the premises, and he left, vowing to wait for the Home Secretary. ” A singular state of things (says the Melbourne Age) has arisen in connection with tho mining department, the permanent head of which is Mr Brough Smyth. This gentleman, it seems, has for years carried on such a system of terrorism and oppression towards his subordinates that at last all, by common consent, signed a memorial addressed to tho minister of the department, in which they unreservedly stated their grievances, and asked for an enquiry. The Government could not shut their eyes to tho importance of the matter, and acoordingly appointed a hoard of enquiry to investigate the charges, consisting of Mr James Service, M.L.A.,; Mr Jeffrey, President of the Chamber of Commerce ; and Mr Sargood, M.L.C. The heads of tho various

branches of the department constituted, themselves the complainants, and in the in- | quiry which ensued counsel was allowed on both sides. Mr Smyth in the meantime being relieved from duty. The evidence given up to the present discloses the fact that the business of ;the department has been conducted for years on the one hand by trucculence, cruelty, and individual persecution, and themost abject submission, pain, and humiliation on the other. With a skill that had something sciont : fic in its exquisitiveness, Mr Smyth is alleged to have so inflicted mental torture on his harmless subordinates that one old and faithful civil servant died under the infliction, his last moments haunted by the terrors of his chief, while others were completely unmanned and broken in spirits or driven out of the office. Personal abuse, charges of inoompetency and dishonor, overwork, and the prospect of dismissal at any moment, were, it is said, the weapons employed by Mr Smyth to effect his object, which, so far as the evidence has gone, appears to have been to shine as an author, and to conduct the department so as to render himself a terror to all his subordinates. The Hobart Town Mercury states that at Bellerive, on the 15th ult., two children, evidently under the age of 12 years, were brought in a cart to the jetty, to be taken to Hobart Town in the steamer. Their hands were tied together (handcuffs sufficiently small for their wants not being available, we presume), and they were seated on the quarried stones on the wharf. In this ignominious and cruel position, and dressed in brown Holland pianotores, and looking the picture of misery, they became a spectacle for the children of the neighborhood to gaze upon, and as much objects of horror as if they were a pair of criminals of the deepest dye, and were on the road to the gallows. Upon inquiry it transpired that they were being escorted to Hobart Town Gaol by one of the Sorell police, and that they had received a sentence for eating apples without the consent of the owner ! The hands of the children were kept tied while crossing over in the steamer, a breach of the regulations for which the constable ought to he severely punished.

Holloway’s Pills and Oistmkst.—The most effectual cure for gout and rheumatism. —A frequent cause of these complaints is the inflammatory state of the blood, which usually attends bad digestion, produces lassitude with great debility, and indicates the want of a proper circulation of that fluid, with which its impurity superinduced greatly aggravates these disorders. Holloway’s Pills are of so purifying a nature, that a few doses taken in time are an effectual preventive against gout and rhou’iia‘"'cn, but whoever may have an attack of cither should use Holloway's Ointmcrp Wo the searching properties of which, combined with the effect of the Pills, ensure a certain cure. The Ointment should, at Jea’t twice a day, bo thoroughly rubbed into the parts affected, after they have been sufficiently fomented with warm water to open the pores, and thereby facilitate the introduction of the Ointment to the glands. High Time.—A church clock.

Hard on cricketers. A Victorian exchange states that the Hamilton players were defeated by the Coleraine in a match for the Murray Challenge Cup, and the losers in the first innings only made ten runs. To add to the bitterness of defeat, the following advertisement appeared in the Hamilton paper: —“ To the Hamilton CricketJClub. - The undersigned, on behalf of cloven washerwomen of Hamilton, do hereby challenge the above club to a friendly game of cricket, on their own ground, on Saturday next.— Bridget M'Carty, mother of twelve children.9yjAlso, for sale, a quantity of duck’s eggs. Apply to H.C.C. Guaranteed fresh from Coleraine.”

Mr Kenoaly printed in large letters on the content-bill of the “ Englishman ” tho dispairing cry, “No justice for Kenealy.” It certainly, remarks the “World,” hashither'o appeared that such was the case ; hut honest men live in hope.

We take the following from the Daily Times:—“An accident unfortunately occurred to Mr Harry Prince, tho well-known bookmaker, and Mr Wilson, of the Palace Circus, on Saturday afternoon. They wore driving Mr AV. 11. Taggart’s crack pair of chestnut horses in a buggy along the Anderson’s Bay road, when Mr Prince, who was handling the ribbons, endeavored to pass several vehicles near the railway crossing, and came into collision with the fence adjoining, 'ibe yoke giving way, the horses commenced kicking and bolted along the road. Mr Wilson jumped .clear of the vehicle, and landed safely. Mr Prince was less fortunate ; he also sprang from the huggy, but sustained a severe cut on the knee-cap, and some slight bruises. He was immediately driven home, and is progressing favorably. The runaway horses came nto contact with a heap of metal in Craw-ford-street, where they left the buggy, which was extensively damaged. They then found their way into the mud on the southern side of the Jetty-street Jetty, and much -iiffioulty was experienced in extricating them. One escaped with a few scratches ; the other was bleeding and rather severely injured.” Mr George Darrell has been risking bis neck by being carried on Blondin’a "back across the tight rope. In reference to which the New Zealand Times ’says :—“At the conclusion of the drama, M. Blomlin went through Ins performances on the tight rope, and further, he carried Mr Darrell across on his back. Opinions were divided as to who deserved the most—Blondin or his burden. Mr Darrell looked more composeo, and even bland, than a man unacusturned to that style of riding could reasonably be supposed to do ; but he took occasion to remark afterwards that it was the first rope lie had ever travelled across, and rather thought it would be tho last. An officer in an army laughed at a timid woman because she was alarmed iat the noise of a cannon when a salute was fired. He subsequently married that timid woman, and six months afterwards he took off his boots in the ball when lie came in late at night. From a correspondent’s letter in an exchange we learn that Mr Joseph Arch, thy. leader of the agricultural laborers’agitation,' has suffered a terrible blow in the conviction of bis oldest son for felony. He has pleaded guilty to stealing ten gold watches from a railway station, and has been sentenced to six months’ imprisonment with hard labor. One cannot fancy a more dreadful blow to such a father, since it will offer opportunities of public detraction of the most cruel kind—which there are plenty of mean natures to make use of.

As the favorite daughter of the late Lord St. Leonards, the Hon, Miss Sugden was taught by him to understand not only those matters of business which are generally so alien to the female intelligence, but the nicest technicalities of tho law; and she was fully cognizant of tho contents of that lost will which has been so long engaging the attention of the law courts. As the will could not be found, Miss Sugden undertook to reproduce it, it not verbatim, yet in all important particulars, just as her father made it, and she has done so. And notwithstanding that ‘ she herself benefits largely by the will, such was the confidence felt by the Court in her integrity and intelligence, strongly corroborated, of course, by circumstantial evidence, that it has pronounced in favor of what may be termed the testatrix, acting as it were 'on behalf of her dead father. Such a judgment is most exceptional, since the law holds that a man has died intestate when his will cannot ho found, but 'in this case industry, application, sagacity, and a good character, have triumphed over tho law itself, and attained a practical benefit for their possessor such as even the most sceptical can question.

The Kew Zealand Times, nf the 2nd inst., records the following amusing incident as having occurred at the Hutt Police Court on the previous day. An information was sworn against a man, hut instead of standing un before the Bench the prisoner took matters easily, and kept his seat; hut a sprightly young fellow, specially “got up ” for the occasion, and who evidently thought ho created an impression, stepped forward to be examined as a witness. He being the only person in Court standing, the Resident Magistrate took him for the prisoner, and accordingly read over to him tho statements containol in the information, and added “of course wo don’t want you to plead, or say anything, but you must listen to what these people say,” Tho young man began to look very uncomfortable, and murmured apologetically “I know something about the matter.” His Worship, taking this to he an admission of guilt, said sarcastically “ All, I’ve no doubt; constable, where are the witnesses ?” This brought matters to a climax, fur tho young man declared vehemently ho was a witness, and had come a long way to give evidence. The magistrate smiled incredulously, hut the real accused being at, this juncture dragged out from the corner, put all doubts at an cud, and the piocess was commenced dc novo.

The following advertisement, taken from the Dunedin Evening Star, shows that the fruit grown at Clyde is considered to bo of a superior quality Wanted everybody to come and sou the beautiful peaches grown by J. D. Feraud, Esq., Clyde. A. W. Geddcs, fruiterer, &c., Dunedin.” A heavy shock of earthquake was experienced at Naples on the 14ih December. It lasted eighteen seconds, and proceeded from north-west to south oast—was at first undulating, then vertical. The effect was, of course, terrible, and not unlike what was witnessed and felt some years ago, when many lives were lost in the Province of Basilicata. Bolls rang, windows shook, and the walls of houses in some directions wore sensibly moved ; but, as a heavy storm was ra ging. the indications which in some parts of the city wore so strong, were mistaken as proceeding from the violence of the wind. As may be expected, numbers of people left their houses, and the roads and squares wore crowded with fugitives, who added to the terrors of the moment by their cries, those who could find refuge in carriages and omnibuses were only too glad to obtain shelter in them, but many were compelled to pass the night in the open air, exposed to a severe storm. It is the opinion of some whoso opinion is of value that the shock which created such a panic is not directly connected with Vesuvius, and that the centre of disturbance may be at somo distance. TELEGRAPHIC INTELLIGENCE. —o— Duxedix, March 10. The acceptances for the Dunedin Cup are as follows : Seabird, Merry Monarch, Sir William, EoryO’More, King Phillip, Daniel O’Rourke, Right Bower, Amohia, Guy Fawkes, Korori. Gamecock, Cloth of Gold, Templeton, Fishhook, Tatler, and Pungawerewero. . March 11. The Melbourne Leger was won by Richmond ; Maid of All Work, second ; Bullion third. The Two-year-old Race was won by Newminster. Southern Cross won the Brunswick Stakes. By a cablegram posted up at the Empire Hotel, the following is the result of tho Melbourne Cup Race Richmond, first; Feu de Artifice, second ; Imperial, third. Duxedix, Hatch 10. The Tairoa salvage case is still pending. The privileges for the Dunedin Racecourse realised LI POO. The Australian News is unimportant. R. B. Martin has been appointed permanent auctioneer to the Waste Land Board on moribund Provincial Executives recommendation. CROMWELL. (from our own correspondent. ) The finding of the public aneut the Local Board of Health was too conclusive to admit of mistake, and it is currently rumored that more than one member intends to relire into private life and rusticate on tho banks of the meandering Clutha. Society .may suffer, and not only the Town, but the 1 ro\ inco sustain au injury by the reason thereof, but little boys will learn to sing, “ Lot ns bo joyful, joyful, &c.”

What is to be done about “ Mystery ” is the general question, and to which no person bore appears able to reply. In the first place it must bo remembered that the said “ Mystery " is a racing mare belonging to Mr Thomas Parsons, but owing to her having been entered under a false age at the hist Cromwell Races, a protest was lodged and heard, when the money was paid over to the second horse, but singular to add tho Jockey Club did not disqualify either tho owner or mare. After this Mr Parsons ontered and ran his mare at Clyde, and subsequently nominated her for the Nevis Meeting, lint tho Stewards, from some unknown cause, and apparently inexplicable \ ieason, refused to receive the nomination. The consequence is that a lawyer’s letter has been sent, and the sporting fraternity have been reluctantly forced to alter their “Books.”

Perhaps there is no pleasanter trip than by moonlight to Bendigo, and certainly more obl ging folk are not to bo found throughout the district. Arriving at Wakefield, or Bendigo proper, the traveller is ’ consigned to the tender care of Mr Smith, who does his best to smooth the ‘ nmged Path.” Leaving this happy spot, and ascending the second Himalaya range, tho hostelry of Mr Cameron is reached, atwhich place horse and man receive every attention, while the weary can bo at rest, and tho noisy pacified. The rapid strides Templarism has made in that district appears in no way to daunt the pubs, who complain loudly concerning late hours, and the unusual time selected by the inconsiderate public for travelling.

Gloat dissatisfaction has been expressed at the change in thosi tingof the Court from tho usual Friday to the following Tuesday as advertised the Cromwell Argus. It surely was not expecting too much that an official intimation from tho Bench on last Court day would have been given when those whose duty it was to chronicle tho fact would doubtless so have done. I know that summonses have been issued for tho Friday, (this day) and likewise for Tuesday next, when the cattle case, to which in your last T referred, will engage the time and attention of the Resident Magistrate. I understand a number of witnesses will ho called, and tho evidence to bo adduced will be of a most conclusive character. A general desire exists to suppress the cattle appropriation of late so frequently practised.