DUNEDIN.

Dunstan Times, Issue 732, 28 April 1876, Page 2

DUNEDIN.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRTSFOS DF.N’T.} Duxkdiv, April 23rd. ‘‘Save xiß from our friends,” is an old axiom, and may bo. xvell applied to the Provincial Government of Otago The rumor I mentioned in my last that large blocks of land havo to be got rid of to meet deficiencies in tile Provincial Treasury is confirmed ; the Government have declared that blocks containing in tliG bohio 64,000 acres, on Run 170, 13.000 acres; Run 48, 3,000 acres. Runs 190, 109, 15,000 acres ; Run 309, 10,000 acres, and Run 247, 23,000 acres, Run 170 is on the east bank of the Molyncux, and known as the Beaumont Home Station, and includes the river frontage from Beaumont, to Frnidbnni, thus rendering the back conn'ry use'ess to anyone but the purchaser of the front block. The 25,000 acres arc on Runs 109 and 369, Messrs Cargill and Anderson's, situated on both banks of the Molynnnx. The 23,0(10 acres arc on Mr Watson Sheeuan’a Run, be-

tween the Bough Ridge and the Taieri Itiver, By arrangement the present occupiers have been enabled to be the first applicants Mr W.J. Larnaohhas also applied for the whole 64,000 acres. It is said that the Waste Land Board have intinlated that they consent to the sale and that the matter will bo decided at their next meeting who shall be the lucky purchasers. The purchase money is to go to pay for making railways in Southland. Our paternal Government seem to have a spiritualistic spell iis regards that portion of the country situated between Lawrence and Switzers on the one hand, and Lawrence and Clyde on the other, that this shall be the elysium of the bloated capitalists, or is it that more cogent and substantial reasons that are unheard of in the spirit land but are often of groat influence in this mundane sphere, where the almighty dollar plays such a prominent part in its affairs, are the reasons that one of the fairest portions of the country should pass into the hands of those whose earth-hunger is unappeasable while the banks are ready to assist with the needful. It is probably only tightness on the chest of the almighty dollar that this onslaught has not extended in closer proximity than it has already done, as no doubt this is only a prelude to some more large blocks being slid off in the same fashion. L 50,000 is not likely to pay what is deficient (some 1.300,000) and who knows but what our facile Lxecutive may not have an eye on vour commonage, or the Earnscleugh. What matters it to them if the whole of the interior is shut up in vast sheep walks, owned in the foe simple. Your inland towns may be ruined and the suburban population scattered God knows where so that their spiritual or mundane plans may be carried out. They care not one jot, and will, by and by, go in strongly to make railways through these blocks at the expense of the community at large ; and then will, no doubt, consider themselves great patriots. Should these acts prove the death knell to the actors we can well exclaim that the j "wintry could well have spared better men. Had they common political honesty, or had the interests of the country at heart, instead of selling large blocks, they would have disposed of it in sections of from 1000 to 3000 acres, then something like the fair value would have been obtained, instead of perhaps a paltry few shillings per aero. Verily, we are fast approaching the Yankee fling system, and to use a threadbare expression, originated during the Tichborne trial, would you be surprised to hear that a powerful Ring does exist in Dunedin, and were the secrets of the prison house exposed it would soon be apparent who are the select ones and how the little joker is worked under the thimbles to their great advantage. Sir Julius Vogel has replied to his Honor the Superintendent’s letter refusing to rendei assistance to the three commissioners appointed to collect statistics re Abolition of the provinces. Sir Julius evidently has the best of the argument, and no doubt, after all, good will arise from the correspondence, as it gives a slight insight into the future plans of the Government An accident occurred on the railway works near Blueskin. Three men were excavating a bank when a large portion gave way killing one man and slightly injuring the other two. In the case of C. E. Bird v. Rational Bank, a verdict was given plaintiff for L 250. The details of the case were of a very dry character, being chiefly points of law and custom precedents, etc., but there were several little episodes during the trial. The Foreman of the Jury complained that the reporters had misrepresented him in some remarks relating to his complaining that he would be unable to attend to bis hot cross bun business on Good Friday, if the Jury sat late, which was untrue, and he wanted the Judge to reprimand the reporter, which the Judge declined to do. Then a free and easy wordy tight between the legal gentlemen engaged ; though there was no dirty linen washed by either, it certainly tended to enliven the proceedings though it did not add dignity to the Bar, who it seems, claim the especial privilege of haggling like old ladies whose profession is eclulcoratiou. Business is still dull, and the winter is approaching. The building trades are now feeling the effects of the sudden stoppage of speculation, a short time since, when the banks put the screw on, hence a large number of skilled artisans are out of employment ; and should the Government persist in pouring in new chums during the winter months, I fear a good deal of privation will have to be encountered, as it is evident that there is very little demand for labor in the country districts at this season of the year. The Alhambra on her last outward trip from Melbourne, grounded (supposed in Hobson’s Bay), knocked a hole in one of her plates, and had to put back and go into dock. The Arawata will bring on her cargo and passengers after a delay of a couple of days. De Murska had a crowded house the first night, but in consequence of indisposition, she had to postpone further concerts till Monday, tho 24th. The Acclimatisation Society are again taking steps to get the thin end of the wedge in, which, if successful, we shall have supported one of the greatest curses, and what has been a standing disgrace in the Old Country, viz., that of a class law imposing a gun tax. Better no acclimatisation than we should have a law made to tax a man for carrying a gun. The accliraatisers would like a game law similar to the English one ; they have already got so far that imported game or fish cannot be taken without a license. Mr Tiaroa, M.H.R., by advertisement, notifies he will prosecute any person in pursuit of game on his estate, called the Victory Flats, near the Heads. It is a pity the air was not capable of being parcelled out in the same manner as the land ; it would give greater scope for the gratification of making a largo number of prohibitive laws, and the much more pleasing if penal clauses could he made ad in finitam. It would require all this to satisfy the cravings of some colonists. A wail! a lamentable avail comes from the West Coast, it is not this time that an unfortunate cockatoo avho has to complain of the base ingratitude of the now chums avho demand an extra glass of grog in tho harvest field. No, no !it is nothing of the sort, it comes from one of those persons who am made gentlemen by Act of Parliament, who complains of tho scale of fees agreed to by the Dunedin Bench. It is a pitiable case—the poor fellow has to avork a full half hour over a case, for which he only gets a guinea. Think of that you briefless Barristers of the Homo Country ! Picture to yourselves the severe trials and vicissitudes, and the miserable pittance they are c impelled to exist on to which your brethren, if colonially made, are tho Attorney and Barrister, in fact, the two rolled into one, have to submit to, sn-ely you must condole with thorn under such trying circumstances. Is there no J. G, S. Grant in tho country to stand forth to defend these gentlemen against the injustice of a couple of guineas per hour. Can such tyranny be allowed to exist in a free country, and one ovhere Acts and Ordinances have already been made in such quantities, and avith such facility that, surely, it would not he difficult to got a short one passed to suit the ideas of this particular legal luminary - -the public are fine game for plucking, more especially if done by Act or Ordinance,