FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 1876.

Dunstan Times, Issue 731, 21 April 1876, Page 2

FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 1876.

As we thought, tho visit of tho three Commissioners, Messrs Gisborne, Seed and Knowles, was too bitter a pill for the Provincial authorities to swallow, and they have even refused to swallow it. How like the death knell of Provincialism is this ominous visit! What a refined piece of civility on the part of Sir Julius Vogel 1 How like requesting a culprit to dig his own grave! Such an indignity has no parallel in history. Wo admire his Honor’s pluck in resenting it, and only feel sorrow that so good a man should be found advocating so bad a course. Provincialism, notwithstanding that the new Parliament has not ratified the Abolition Bill, is dead, its requiam has long since been sung, and we can only wonder that the Otago Executive fail to appreciate the great good the Colony will experience when Provincial Governments will only remain to us as a matter of history. Provincialism, as we have many times said, was without doubt a valuable institution in the early days of the Colony, but it has outlived its time, and like many other things, the march of improvement has obviated the necessity any longer for its continuance. A more unwise step was perhaps never taken by Mr Macandrew than his refusal to supply the information required by the Commissioners ; such a course cannot pos sibly assist the cause of Provincialism, but must have quite an opposite effect, the General Government will not quietly submit to such an affront, they are sure to retaliate, and instead of being able to dictate the terms of our capitulation, we may have to surrender at discretion. We cannot agree with his Honor that if a plebiscite were taken a vast proportion of the votes would be in favor of things as they are. This may possibly be the case with the Dunedin people and its immediate surroundings, but such will not be so elsewhere, the goldfields especially, residents upon the latter know full well that things under any government could notbeworse and anychame must he for the better. Reading his Honor’s reply we would almost imagine that he is inclined to counsel the people to open rebellion against the General Government, but his Honor calculates without his host, his supporters would only amount to a few immediate friends and Provincial fanatics. Any sensible person must see clearly that if the Colony is to continue to be prosperous itmustbe united —the interests of one portion must be identical with those of the other, and such can never be the case when it is split up into coteries and conflicting complications. Instead of resisting the policy of the General Government it would be far wiser on the part of his Honor and his executive to pave the way so that the terms of our capitulation might be as advantageous as possible, for, give in Provincialism must, the course of events has rendered that inevitable. Taking the distribution of the revenue as promised by the Colonial Executive upon aii acreage and population basis, Otago will have the lion’s share as heretofore, the only difference will be the personal of its distributors The Provincial Council of Otago have most unmistakeably shown their incapacity for this work and the country has been neglected to bolster up Dunedin. Take, for instance, the departmental business of the Province, is it not acknowledged on all sides that things are in a most unsatisfactory state, almost amounting to chaotic I Tho management of the goldfields is something disgraceful, and it is neither more nor less than one obstinate resistance to the wants and wishes of the'people. All that the goldfields population know of Provincial management is that there exists such a being as a Goldfields’ Secretary, that he enjoys a snug billet at a good salary and travelling expenses, and that he lives at Cromwell, where he looks after his own private affairs at the cost of the country. Education is no better, it gives no Satisfaction for the enormous outlay it entails, and any unprejudiced person must allow that one general system for the whole of the Colony is sadly wanted. Public works may be said to be in a wretched state ; there never is any money procurable for urgent improvements in up-country districts, and when even a road or part of one is made, it is suffered to go to ruin because no funds are available to keep it in repair. Looking at the matter however we may there exists no redeeming circumstance which can make us look favorably upon provincialism. The system has worn itself threadbare, it has even become odious, and demands to be swept away like a thing which encumbers the earth. When Sir Julius Vogel first propounded his famous Abolition resolutions it was quite easy to see that instead of being confined to the North Island they must bo extended equally to the South, and the voice of public opinion soon made that a most unmistakable fact. The Superintendent and his Executive have done

a suicidal act in refusing information to the General Government Commissioners, and the Province will not indorse it, and wo will tell his Honor, Mr Donald Reid, Mr Green, Mr MacKollar, and other satelites of the Council, that place and pay are gone from them for ever, and that by their action they have rendered themselves detestable, while the injury committed upon the people of Otago will never be effaced. What course the General Government will pursue in the matter wo cannot say, they surely will not submit to bo thus dictated to and pocket sucli an affront quietly. If Dunedin is up in arms against the Colonial Executive the country districts are not, and the policy initiated by Sir Julius Vogel will find inuumeable supporters. Do something the General Government must, or people will lose confidence in them.

We have to acknowledge receipt of a pamphlet entitled “Our Land Laws : what should be their basis ?” by C. N. Purnell, and published by Joseph Braithwaito, of Dunedin. In our next issue we will endeavor to review it. Contractors would do well to bear in mind that fresh tenders for tho erection of a Post and Telegraph Office at Alexandra close on Tuesday next, tho 25ih instant. [See advertisement.] We would draw especial attention to this matter, as it is understood by many that the contract has already been let. At a special meeting of tho Clyde Town Council held on Wednesday Evening last, (Councillor Facbedu the chair). A regulation for fixing the amount of license fees to be paid into the Borough Fund by hawkers and peddlers, was passed. We are requested to draw attention to the advertised sale [by [auction, on Wednesday, 3rc£May, of Gideon Smith’s coal lease, situate at Coal Greek, Teviot. George Facke, auctioneer. We have to acknowledge receipt of the first number of the Mercantile Gazette, a weekly publication issued in the interest of the mercantile community, by whom, we have no doubt, it will be supported, its principle feature being all transactions under the “Bills of Sale Act,” the “ Mortgage of Stock Act,” the “ Wool and Oil Securities’ Act,” and the “ Agricultural Produce Lion Act.” From tho thirteenth annual report of the Otago Benevolent Institution for the year ending 31st December, 1875—a copy of which we have to acknowledge the receipt —we glean the following particulars : —Rcceipts for the year, L 4391 4s lOd ; expenditure, L 4287 Os Cd ; number of [persons who received out-door relief, 1211, of whom 806 were discharged, leaving 406 ; number of persons admitted, 130, of whom 52 were discharged, leaving in the institution 78, Mr Scott, late schoolmaster at Macetown, while passing through Clyde yesterday, on his way to his new appointment at Cambrian, St. Bathans, visited the Public School in this town, and was greatly pleased with Mr and Mrs Stevens’ method of instruction and the thorough discipline ho found in the school. Mr Scott has received a very handsome testimonial ou leaving, from his own Committee. We learn by a telegram, which was kindly handed to us by Mr Scott, of Macetown, that Mr and Mrs M'Niool, of Emerald Hill, Victoria, have been appointed master and mistress of the Queenstown School.

In tho Resident Magistrate’s Court, Clyde, on the 20th inst, (before W. L. Simpson, Esq., R.M.) the following cases were heard: —Feraud v. Miller, claim, Ll4 Is 6d. No appearance of defendant. Judgment for amount claimed and costs. —Same v. Rose, claim L2 1 Is. Settled out of Court. In the Warden’s Court a party of Chinamen for interfering with and damaging another party’s tail race and claim in Butcher’s Gully, were fined Lfi and costs. The Warden instructed the interpreter to inform the defendants that if they again interfered with the plaintiffs property they would be liable to be criminally proceeded against. M‘Kenzie, M‘Lellan and party’s current wheel dredge, which has been under construction for some time past, we are informed, will be completed within the next week, and will be set to work provided the state of the river is favorable. The principle of the dredge, which is the “ elevator,” impelled by current wheels is tho only feasible one by which the auriferous deposits on the bottom of the river Molyneux cau be reached, and we have to wish the proprietors every success with their venture. The ground to be first tried is about midway between Alexandra and Clyde, and >s known to be rich in the precious metal. The main difficulty to bo contended against is the ever running stream of tailings ; hut with the steady and continuous action of the elevators we think that wdl be successfully combatted against.

The Clutba Leader urges the appointment of Mr Donald Reid or Mr Maitland, 11. M., to the Chief Comraissionership of the Waste Land Board, which is now vacant by Mr Thomson’s promotion.—The Tuapeka Times puts forward the name of Mr E. Carew, Warden, and says: “That gentleman, by hispainstaking investigation into the various points raiscil on the working of the Waste Land Act, and his careful and just decisions in his capacity of Warden has bcoomn eminently fitted to preside over the board which deals with the waste lands of the Province. We think that an intimate knowledge of the gold-fields'should be hold to be indispensable—in fact, should bo a a leading qualification in the person selected for the office, as at least three fourths of the business brought before the Board closely concerns goldfields interests.” We thoroughly endorse the argument of our contemporary, and hope His Honor the Superintendent, when nominating an occupant for tho oliice for the approval ol the Governor, will bear in mind tho goldfields interest, and the peculiar adaptability of not onlv Mr Carew but anyone of the Goldfields Wardens for the post.

Policemen and their duties.—ln the course of a trial for bigamy, at tho late sitting .of a trial for bigamy, at tho late sitting of the Circuit Court in Christchurch, his Honor tho Judge remarked that it was an extremely improper thing for tho police to interfere in cases whore no. action was taken by tho principal parties concerned. If detectives and others went about trying to pick out offences of this or a similar kind, when the parties themselves did not move in it, they ran a great chance of bringing tho police force into deserved odium. In this part of tile country there seemed to bo some notions with regard to the duties of policemen which did not coincide with his own. An alert, active, intelligent police was a very great blessing to a country, but a meddling police was a great curse. A will case, arising from the sudden death in Melbourne of an old Duuedin celebrity, “ Scotch Jock,” is likely to afford a bone of contention. The estate is said to be worth some L 17.000, and there are said to be not only two will but two “ relicts !” lu the first will the whole of the deceased’s property was left to his wife, but in the second will it is shown that he had changed his mind, and loft his valuable horses to Mr Morlcy, of Sandridge. and the remainder of his property to the later friend of his bosom. At present the case has not advanced beyond the stage of the '• reading of the wills.” The London correspondent of the Manchester Evening News says “ Everybody it talking about the 000 l reception that was given to tho Duke of Edinburgh on Saturday, on the occasion of the opening of the Aquarium. Scarcely anybody noticed him.” TEIiEGRAPHIC INTELLIGENCE. —o— Dunedin, April 13. The Provincial Solicitor’s opinion re Marsh’s complaint of the illegal occupation

of Block IX, Cromwell, if granted to the Superintendent, and if no eonvoyaucehas been made to the Corporation the Superintendent can sue trespassers, but if granted to the Corporation, the Superintendent may sue to restrain the Corporation from allowing illegal occupation. Occupants of street lines may be indicted for a nuisance by anybody. The Waste Lands Board have no power for trespass, except upon unsold or ungranted lands. The news by the Suez mail is unimportant. The Government have stopped the house correspondence of Stevenson and Co., soft goodsmen. The Customs officers after a hard fight hold possession of the store. Bird v. National Bank, verdict for L 250. Smith and Barton had twenty passages of arms. The Judge said he would not allow such unseemly conduct. Peace was ultimately restored, Hughes v. Shand is being argued in Banco this day. THE ESCORT. —o — The following quantities of gold were taken to Dunedin by the Escort which left Clyde on Monday last:— ozs, dwts. Queenstown 612 0 Cardrona 225 0 Arrow 230 10 Cromwell 1,517 15 Alexandra 317 0 Teviot 440 0 Blacks 350 St. Bathans 400 0 Mount Ida 630 0 Total ... 4,722 5 ARROWTOWN. (from our correspondent.) We have had rather a lively time of it this last week, what with the trials, civil and criminal, at the District Court, Queenstown, the proposed sale of tho Runs, and a Hospital for the Arrow, there has been plenty for people to talk about. The summoning of a jury from the Arrow is a most grievous wrong inflicted upon the people here, and when it is considered that the pay is only eight shillings per day for attendance, and find yourself and travelling

expenses out of that, there is much cause for complaint. Upon poor people this comes very hard, as a walk of fourteen miles to and fro is no joke—one poor devil after getting half the distance fairly broke down, and was fined a pound for not answering to his call—he could not procure a medical certificate, as there is no doctor resident at the Arrow, and that could only be accomplished by walking to Frankton and paying half a guinea, so the bewildered juryman wrote an explanatory letter to the Judge, detailing the circumstances of his case which he got signed by a few of his neighbors testifying to its accuracy, which 1 believe his Honor accepted—had the fine been enforced the man could not have paid it. After all this bother and trouble, the trials ended in smoke, the prisoner Brettal was acquitted by the Jury, who after returning their verdict of not guilty, coolly requested his Honor to give him a severe reprimanding such a recommendation his Honor failed to see, and seemed amused at the idea of a man being severely reprimanded for being not guilty of an offence for which bo was charged, more especially when the evidence most unmistakably pointed to the fact that he really was. Judge Harvey, however, turned the tables upon this sapient jury, and reprimanded them. The other prisoner Price by the advice of his Honor pleaded guilty, sentence being deferred until after the bearing of Brettal’s case, Price being allowed his liberty upon his own recognisances. Price the next day put in an appearance, when ho was sentenced to twenty-four hours’ imprisonment computed from the time of the rising of the Court when it heard Ids case, this amounted actually to an acquittal. Your old friend Mr Thomas M'Morran came in for it rather hot—you must know that he is Depasturing Banger here, and it is his duty to impound all cattle found illegally trespassing upon the commonage. In accordance with instructions from the Waste Lands Board, Mr M'Morran has made several raids upon cattle lately, belonging to persons permitting them to graze without paying assessment thereupon. This last raid, included a number of bovine favorites belonging to Mr James Macassey, Solicitor, of Dunedin, which had strayed beyond the boundary of his run, when they were picked up by the ranger. Mr Macassoy elected to teat Mr M‘Morran’s right to impound and brought an action for LIOO damages, when it was discovered that there really was no commonage at all in existence in the Wakatip ; tire country was a goldfield and reserved for the use of miners and settlers, while there existed no legal enactment enabling any person whatever to impound cattle illegally grazing thereon. Mr Macassey obtained a verdict for LuO and costs, amounting to a trifle over L2O, The

other cases were merely disputed accounts, and uninteresting to any but those immediately concerned, A movement is now on foot to secure tlio services of a medical attendant for Arrowtown, and it is proposed that residents guaranteeing an annual sura of two guineas should be entitled to visits at tho nominal cost of something like half a guinea upon stated days in tho week, with a moderate allowance for travelling expenses at any other time. It appears that Dr Cecil Jackson is anxious to meet the wishes of tho Arrow people to any reasonable extent, the support for a resident medical man not being sufficient, while tho high prices hitherto charged, acts as a deterrent to the services of a qualified practitioner being called in, when oftentimes badly wanted, the thing doing harm to both sides. I think that some arrangement will bo come to so that people, if sick, may not die, while the Doctor may also be permitted to live. In mining matters there is not much to report upon. All alluvial mining is very dull, public attention being directed towards the quartz reefs. The companies on the Arrow Flat are still in a state of idleness. Tho “ Universal ” would he able to go ahead and bottom, were the “ Arrow United” but to make a move, this they do not seem inclined to do, but when such is the case, something or another crops up in the Warden’s Court, and then follows either a vexatious suit or an injunction. One of the Dunedin directors is now on the ground looking after the Company’s interests, and it is to be hoped that he will do something towards setting things right. The reefs at Maeetown appear to look as well as ever, in fact, the more they are developed the better things are. The great drawback is the want of means of communication. This week a pack horse track will be completed throughout all the claims, connecting one with the other, so equestrians will be able to ride round and see every one of them without dismounting unless he chooses. All this has been completed by private enterprise, tho “ All Nations ” and ,l Maryborough " Companies having bourne all the expense. The action of the Provincial Government is really shameful, they first promised subsidies to find reefs—now they are found and no subsidy asked, and even a pack horse track to make them available is refused. I fully believe that the Provincial Secretary for the Cold-fields would be burnt in effigy, were it not that wood was so scarce and dear. Happy day will it be for hs here when Provincialism is finally abolished.