FRIDAY, APRIL 7, 1876.

Dunstan Times, Issue 729, 7 April 1876, Page 2

FRIDAY, APRIL 7, 1876.

The rumor, if true, that it is the intention of the General Government to sell the auriferous lands of the Colony * would be a most suicidal policy, and notwithstanding what has been written upon the subject we can scarcely believe anything of the sort is contemplated. Looking at the matter in its general aspect, it would put a stop to all raining enterprise—prospecting would be at an end, as no miner would ever dream of seeking to find gold upon private property, while even the owners of aunferous land* themselves would ever do ranch towards developing them Of one thing we are certain that something might be done towards making the ownership of mining property more secure, and it would tend very much to bring capital into the mining districts. The system of ownership by miners’ rights gives no security whatever, in fact, it is only a conditional title ; under the leasin" system this difficulty is obviated, blit it has the drawback of • being monstrously expensive, and where discoveries are made in remote places the cost is almost ruinous. Jn the first place there are three guineas for the survey, three shillings per mile for travelling expenses, besides the cost of connection with the nearest trig statiod, and after that, the sum of two pounds ten shillings per acre for rent. In the case of persons prospecting for and finding quartz reefs, the charge is something monstrous, and is a very great tax upon enterprise. The leasing system is without a doubt the best way for securing the ownership of mining property, and it would be very generally availed of were it only cheaper—for instance, a reduction to one pound per acre per annum might easily bo made, and the costs of survey reduced to a nominal amount—under such a system the revenue would be very largely added to, and there would be also the advantage that there would be less litigation, and mining parties desirous of obtaining capual to work their ground would have something to show that they really possessed the property. Wo are thoroughly opposed to any attempt to part with the fee simple of auriferous lands, although we believe that after a long occupancy, and the expenditure of a given amount of capital upon a claim in California the owners arc entitled to the freehold, and the system is said to answer, however, be this as it may, its introduction into New Zealand, considering that our auriferous lands are only of very limited extent would be highly impolitic, still some compensating circumstan- 1 cos might bo introduced to make the ' land no longer chargeable with rent, or at least only so to a very small ex- i 1 tent. This matter is one well de- 1

sowing the attention of gold-fields’ members, and vrc arc very pleased to

Rce that the members for Naseby and Wakatip havo taken the matter up actively, and with the co-operation of others we think that something might be achieved towards remedying the evil. Gold-mining has now become a settled and recognised occupation and is pursued as systematically as mining for any other metals, and it is high time that owners of auriferous pro perty should be placed upon a secure basis, and with this much accomplished, there is little cause to fear butyhat the industry of mining for gold will be found in a prosperous condition for very many years to come.

We are requested to draw attention to the advertisement notifying the sale by auction of the property of Mr D, Scally, Nevis. To an enterprising and pushing business man the opportunity is one rarely to bo met with, and is worthy of attention. Messrs Barry and Long are the auctioneers. The advertisement of. the sale of the property of Mr James Hazlett, comprising the Belfast Stores, Clyde and Cromwell; also the stock-in-tvado, sections of land, and dwelling houses, should demand the attention of capitalists, business men, and the general public. Mr Hazlett having purchased a business in Dunedin impels him to clear out of his up-country businesses, therefore everything must be sold. We have received from Mr M. G. M‘G:nnis, of Butcher’s Gully, two samples of pears grown in his garden, which, for size and flavor combined, we must pronounce the best grown in the district. Mr M‘Ginnis, in the note accompanying the present, says, the larger sort, of which there were 3 cwt. on the tree, average three-quarters of a pound each ; the smaller sort average half a pound each, and from throe trees ho will gather fully halt a ton. We may note that on Saturday last a banker from Cromwell succeeded in obtaining, while on a visit to Clyde, the modest quantity of 200 ounces of gold. Our Cromwell friends, we hope, in mentioning the amount of gold taken from them by the next escort will bear this small parcel in mind and where it came from. Reports of business transacted in the District Court, Clyde, (before Judge Harvey) on the Gth mst., and of the proceedings in the Resident Magistrate and Warden's Courts, Clyde, we are compelled to hold over till next issue. We may state, however, the business before the District Court was the fixing the list of contributors in the matter of the Pneumatic Gold Mining Company. His Honor deferred making his order until he had considered points raised by Mr Wilson, who appeared for some of the shareholders. Mr Howell’s art union came off on Saturday, at the AthonaHim, Dunedin. The drawing excited a deal of interest, and was presided over by a committee of well-known gentlemen. Everything passed off satisfactorily. The first prize, value LIOO, was won by a bushman (No. 323), as also No. 2, value Ll2 12s. Two of the monkeys at the Jardin des Plantes, Paris, fought a duel with knives lately. By some accident two large clasp knives were left by one of the keepers in the cage of the animals, and no sooner had they been perceived than two of the largest monkeys seized them, opened the blades, and fell upon each other like men. One of them was killed at the first pass, whilst his adversary had one of his paws nearly cut off. The two persons sentenced to a month’s imprisonment for an alleged act of impropriety in the Botanical Gardens, Wellington, have been released, and have had the remaining portion of their sentence remitted. An anonymous donor has sent from Invercargill to the Resident Magistrate, Dunedin, Lls, to be handed to the Treasurer of the Dunedin Female Refuge on behalt of the funds of that Institution. m . .. ,

Our Auckland correspondent telegraphed to ns—“ It is said, on good authority, that Sir George Grey, considering no public end could he served by a personal altercation with Sir Julius Vogel, and regretting the strong personalities in which tho latter indulged, has informed him to that effect, and returned unopened a telegram sent on Saturday from Sir Julius in Wellington.” A meeting of tho Central Board of Health was held yesterday, A letter was read from Mr On Lautour, setting forth the necessity of a local hoard of health at St. Bathans. A letter was also received from Dr Whitten on the same subject. It was resolved that a Local Board of Health should be established at St Bathans as suggested. The Chairman submitted correspondence from DrDrysdalc, which was read. The following items of intelligence from Melbourne must prove of general interest : The Age has accused the Chairman of Committees of being drunk and incapable in the House, and has repeated tho charge Currency has been given to a moat disgraceful scandal, in which tho names of well-nigh the highest personages in the Colony are freely mentioned. There are all sorts of disreputable scandals about, and persons are so pointedly alluded to that they might as well be photographed. Only about a third of the whole shipment of salmon ova remains sound,—Scarlet fever is still prevalent, and many deaths continue,—Madame Do Murska has concluded her performances hero, and will probably leave for New Zealand next week. —Fearful drought in Queensland is rep'orted. In the Warrrgo district tho thermometer stood at 112 for three weeks. All the livers are fast drying up, and cattle are dying in all directions. In Bourkc there has been no heavy rain for two years.

In an assault case Leant before Justice Mellor, at Liverpool, a medical gentleman who dressed the wounds of the man assaulted was asked by the learned judge if the prosecutor was sober when brought to to the dispensary ? Dr Carmack—l should not like to say, my Lord. 1 have a teat in these eases. Hia lordship—What is the teat? Dr Cormaek -I asked him to pronounce tbe words “truly rural,” and ho said “ toory lural. ” (Loud laughter,'

The Waste Lauds Board’s doings of local interest are as follows James Thompson, of Roxburgh, requested that the deferredpayment section of land in block Y., Teviot district, might bo again thrown open for application, as the present applicant had neither fenced nor cultivated the land as required by the provisions of the Act. Deferred to the Hanger for report.—The Clyde District I.and Officer asked the opinion of the Board as to whether a deferred-payment occupant, whoso land was divided by an intermediate section, could comply with the conditions imposed by the Act by residing on and cultivating only one of the sections so cut off. The Board agreed that the occupant under such conditions could hold both sections, provided ho cultivated ground and made improvements on one in compliance with the regulations.—The same officer wrote with reference to a communication by Messrs Anderson and Sims, asking why the deposits received from them were not paid to the revenue. Received.

The Greymouth Evening Star venturing to utter plain truths has suffered the usual consequences. The “Man at the Corner” explains :—“ Newspapers are mighty inconvenient at times. My idea of a newspaper is a sheet of printed matter that is always extolling the virtues and usefulness of everybody and everything, no matter how useless that person or thing may he, and when a person descends and degrades itself by telling the truth about anything local, say a steam-tug for instance—it deserves to he annihilated ; and people are not mean nor narrow-minded—not a hit of it—if they go to that newspaper-shop—say the Greymouth Star—and peremptorily utter the terrible words, “ Take all my advertisements out of your rag.” I often think that newspaper men must occasionally meet with some strange specimens of the human family.” The Wagga Express narrates a somewhat remarkable occurrence in connection with the Urana poisoning case. An old man named James Parsons had been engaged to dig a grave for the remains of Mr Blunt, and he, in company with another, looked for a suitahle'site. This was before it was ascertained . that the body was to be removed to Muswellbrook for interment. Par.sons decided upon a place, and observed upon the prettincss of the spot, making the remark that, if he was selecting a site for his own grave, he would sooner have it than anywhere else. The grave was dug, and, strange to say, poor Parsons was con signed to it. He was found dead on Friday morning upon the side of the creek, close to the brickyard whore he worked. We are informed from various sources that two pheasants, male and female, have lately been seen in the district. They were first noticed between the Galloway Station and the Balmoral Hotel ; afterwards on the Manorhurn, and since then at Mr Watson’s Farm, on the Dunedin road. We say that only two have been seen, for anght we know each pair might have been separate and distinct, however, let there he one, three, or twenty pairs in the district, we hope that every possible endeavor will be made to preserve them, and that none of our local sportmen who may be out with the gun afeer a duck or a rabbit and come

across the strangers will prove himself dastard enough to pot them. By seeing the birds so far away from where they could possibly have been liberated is evident that the exertions of the Acclimatization Society are, so far, successful. TELEGRAPHIC INTELLIGENCE. Tokomaieiko, April 0. The Maiden Plate of 20 sovs., distance one mile and a half, was won by Mr T. Parson’s Clyde. The Jockey Club Handicap of GO sovs., distance one mile and three quarters, was won by Yeend’s King Phillip. Sir William won the Flying Handicap of 30 sovs., distance one mile; Parson’s Mystery, second. Dpnediw, April 6. The Criminal Sessions were concluded yesterday. Milford for rape at Otepnpo was sentenced to seven years, and thirty lashes. Jenkins, for arson in George-strcet, there was no prosecution. The Colima all but broke down off Waipapa ; she was towed into Lyttelton by the Alhambra. About thirty per cent, of the salmon ova is said to he good. Smat was found guilty of attempt to murder tho three men at the Hut; sentence was deterred—he attempted to escape by getting Hawn a deep well. Sir George Grey and Sir Julius Vogel are at loggerheads, Sir George returns Sir Julius’ telegrams unopened. Sir George wants correspondence, anent public money spent privately, referred to the Secretary of State, In the Waste Lands Board, John Marsh complains of the street lines and reserves Cromwell being illegally occupied, and asks for an inquiry—referred to tho Provincial Solicitor. James Conncw offered to lease sections 92 and 112 Leaning Rock district at a '-early rental of twenty pounds ; the Board had no power to recommend the application to the Government. Protectisn granted to Ward and Marty for three months to prospect for coal on the Rough Ridge. Justiano Roxas, the Californian oentenarian, died at Santa Cruz in that State at the ago of one hundred and twenty-two years, fn his latter days he became almost hideous to look upon, being very like a living sko'eton. His eyes were sunk deep in their sockets, and his hands had shrivelled and shrank away till they resembled the claws of a hawk. For many months previous to his death the old man slept upon a hearth, keeping himself warm by a wood fire which was never allowed to go out. A special feature in his rase was that his age was well authenticated, as eighty-six years ago he was baptised in the Mission Church at Santa Cruz, and this shows him to have heeu.thirty-six years at that time.