FRIDAY, JUNE 2, 1876.

Dunstan Times, Issue 737, 2 June 1876, Page 2

FRIDAY, JUNE 2, 1876.

Beneath the rule of men entirely just the PEN is MIGHTIER than the sword.

It is rather amusing to read the newspapers advocating the cause of tha Provincial Party on the subject of Mr Macandrew’s replies to Sir .Tubus Vogel re the sale of the “ big blocks.” That public works will be stopped and thousands of men tin-own out of employment dining the present coming winter appears to be the favorite theme, and this is the substance of all the arguments they have to offer in support of one of the most baneful attempts to sacrifice the public estate of any British Colony in the southern hemisphere. Il has always been said, or, at least, it has been the accepted popular theory that Mr Macandrew was the friend of the people, but, notwithstanding this we have always regarded him as a man who was very much in the interests of the squatters, and subsequent events seem to justify this assumption. Nothing can be more clear than that the squatters who were the first applicants for the blocks were apprised of what was about to take place, and all the specious arguments put forward only go to show that such really was the case, and that the whole thing was made up beforehand. We will allow that Otago, being the most populous and piosperous of the Provinces, consequent upon its goldfields, is entitled to an extra large share of the revenue, but in the Provincial acceptation of the term province, its literal meaning is Dunedin and Taieri interests, while in practice it is most unmistakeably found that the whole of die up-country interests are sacrificed in furtherance of the prosperity of these two places, and for no other reasons that the Provincial Party are lai-ge landed proprietors in both. It would, perhaps, be most desirable that the mountain tops should be converted into branch rail wavs, provided they would pay interest upon their cost of construction, or that they benefitted the Province at large, but will the Mosgiel and Outram line do this? Answer says neither in one shape nor another. This line could only benefit the owners of property through which it runs, and these ai-e the Provincial Secretary and his friends, as, for no earthly purposes of commerce can such a railway be

wanted. Foiled in their scheme the Provincialists fall back upcn the lame story that thousands of working men will bo thrown out of employment by the stoppage of public works during the winter months, but how poor is such an excuse, and how hollow are the intentions of the Provincial Party towards the classes they appear to express so much sympathy for, while we even find their own favorite organ, the Daily Times, complaining in a leading article that orders for railway material have been sent out of the Province when it could be manufactured here much more cheaply, and while men who could do the work are starving in the streets of Dunedin. It is all self with the Provincial Party, they do not care about the light of day being shed in upon them by Abolition—they are afraid of the rivalry of other seaport towns, which railway communication will bring us within easy reach of, and we would ask why should not Canterbury and Wellington commercial houses, although, the latter by the intervention of Cook’s •Strait, is placed under considerable disadvantages, have a share of the business|here, provided they can supply cheaper than. Dunedin. It will matter little to the Gold-fields who does the trade, so long as they are well supplied. Under Abolition “ every tub will stand on its own bottom,” and the best man wins. As things exist at present, merit has no avail, the whole system of Provincialism being one continuous monopoly of everything that is worth monopolising. No one can but deplore the condition of the working classes during this coming winter, it will be the reverse of prosperous, but that is no reason the public estate should be sacrificed for less than one half of its value, while it shows at the same time the fallacy of Mr Macandrew’s theory of the railways so largely raising the value of the waste lands, as in spite of railway communication within a very few miles of the blocks sought to be sold—he proposes to sell them at a price per acre, which they would have brought, long before Sir Julius Yogel’s Public Works’ Scheme was ever dreamed about. It is not the fault of the working classes that so many of them are without work ; it is that of the Provincial party who were so clamorous for cheap labor to till their farms and tend their sheep, and who would introduce us to the Scotch boothy system and all its concomitant evils. What care they for the working man, so long as they can enrich themselves by the sweat of his brow at a mere nominal cost. The longer Provincialism drags out its miserable existence, the more detestable it becomes, and we can only find consolation that the day is fast coming when the end will be reached.

; Now that the Library Committee have something like a presentable place to offer to the public, there exists little doubt but that the patronage afforded will be equal to the liberal provision made to accommodate them. Almost ever since the first establishment of a public library on Clyde, up to the opening of the present building, it has been a byword—confusion reigned everywhere supreme, and to find any particular newspaper or periodical the labor amounted almost to the same process of turning over a dust heap Happily, things have changed ; a mote enlightened Committee has taken matters in hand, and the Clyde Library, besides having the most ample accommodation and comfort to offer, let alone its collection of literary, scientific and general, useful works, including the most popular periodicals of the day. The reading public of the Dunstan have advantages second to none out of Dunedin. The composition of the Committee is a guarantee that nothing in the shape of individual efforts will be wanting to make the Clyde Public Library an institution worthy of such a name, and it only rests with the public to show their appreciation of the exertions made in their behalf.

Mr Hazlett issues a preliminary notice that the whole of his property, both at Clyde and Cromwell, comprising freehold premises, stock in trade, furniture, horses, &c., will be sold by public auction, without the slightest reserve, at the latter end of this month.

We have had brought under our notice lately several potty thefts, amongst other that of coal. We would advise the thieves —suspicion points —not to be too venturesome, or they may find to their sorrow that an enforced retirement into private life within the walls of the new gaol would not, at this season of the year, be quite as comfortable as perfect freedom even if they have no coals.

We regret to announce the death of the wife of Mr Duncan M'Ewen, of Clyde, which took place at Dunedin, on Friday last. We understand that death ensued after a very painful operation, undertaken with the view of relieving her from the painful disease dropsy, brought on, it is supposed, through an injury received some time since in Cromwell. As the matter is subjudice, an action being pending against the Cromwell Corporation, wo refrain from remarking thereon. Resident Magistrate’s Court, Clyde, before W. L. Simpson, Esq., R.M., Thursday, Juno 1. • Auckland v. Parsons—Debt, L 4 4s. Judgment for amount claimed and costa Os. L. Ilotop v. Parsons—Claim, L 5 ss. Judgment for amount and costs Us. T. H. Dell v. E. Aldridge—Claim, LI 0 lOd. No appearance of either party. In the Warden’s Court there was no business of importance.

The first meeting of Creditors (under the' Debtor and Creditors’ Act) ot Mr E. Aldridge, of Cromwell, late of Clyde, will bo hold in the Court House, Cromwell, this day, Friday, the 2nd inst., at 10 o’clock, a. in.

Announcement is made ot a Concert to be given on Wednesday evening the I4th instant in the Town Hall, Clyde, on behalf of the Clyde School funds. From tho very great success, previous Concerts given by 1 our local amateurs have been, and from the attention that is being devoted to their several parts by those to whom is entrusted the task ot affording amusement, we have little hesitation in prognosticating that the coming concert will bo successful from every point of view. The Clyde Brass Band, we believe, have consented to play for a dance after the termination of the Concert.

Tho annual meeting of tho Licensing Bench, Clyde, is adjourned from Tuesday, the 6th inst., to Thursday next, the Bth inst ; and at Alexandra, to Monday the 12th inst., to consider all applications for fresh licenses and renewals. We would remind applicants for renewals that unless they have received notices of objections to tho granting of their licenses they need not attend, as, in the absence of objection, their licenses must perforce be granted. We have to hope that Mr Jules La Fontaine, who has lately been granted letters patent for a now and improved apparatus for dredging for gold in rivers, will test his invention by aid of the hulk he has lying in tho river at the rear of the town. Dredging, as a means of obtaining gold from the Molynenx, has ever been looked upon with favor by the inhabitants ot Alexandra and Clyde, and we have but little doubt that if his invention meets with their approval, the inventor will meet with every encouragement and support. Fitzgerald and Pearson who, it will be remembered, were committed from Clyde some eight or ten weeks since to Dunedin to await evidence from Melbourne, it appears, are still in Dunedin gaol, the necessary warrant to convey them out of the country not having arrived. At this delay they justly complain ; the matter is to be brought under the notice of the Executive.

The’usual monthly meeting of the Committee of Management of the Dunstan District Hospital will be held on Monday evening next in the Committee Room, Town Hall, Clyde. De Barnardy’s Next of Kin Gazette, and Unclaimed Money, and Parish Clerks’ Register published in London, a copy of which we acknowledge the receipt of, contains to Colonists very useful information, more especially the list of names of persona entitled to sums of money left them by deceased friends and relatives. It would be a most valuable acquisition on the tables of Public Libraries and Athenaeums.

A correspondent of the Oamaru Times, writing from Naseby, cautions miners against rushing there, averring that the report of the new goldfield discovered in the construction of the Sludge Channel his been set on foot by storekeepers, and that there is no payable ground to be taken up. From what we can understand of the case, Mr de Latour, M.H.R. for the Mount Ida District, who resides at Naseby, sends under his own hand a telegram to the Provincial Government the fact of the last mile of the channel being paved with gold. Now, having every confidence in Mr de Lautour’s word and judgment, and feeling convinced that he would not disseminate such a rumor without foundation, we would, rather than dissuade people from acting on the averment of a writer who shields himself under the the protecting garb of a correspondent, advise those seeking a profitable field of labor to visit the new discovery. From the fact of the Government having expended so many thousand pounds on the Naseby Sludge Channel, musthave been informed that it was the only thing wanting to open up a largo and payable goldfield. By Goldsborough’s monthly Wool Circular for May, we glean that prices remain about the same as the last month. The total number of bales of wool shipped from Victoria from October 1, 1875 to May 1, 1876 was 296,017, being an increase of 7780 on the quantity shipped from October 1. 1874 to October 1, 1875, —Prices quoted Wool, greasy—lnferior, from 6d. ; superior fromls., fleece washed-—inferior from Is. Id.; superior from 2s. ; scoured—inferior from 10J., superior from Is. lid. ; sheepskins—butchers, from 2s. to ps. each ; dry skins, from 2s. to 4s. each ; station dried, from 4d to 7d. per lb plhides—New Zealand, wet salted, 4|d to 5d per lb ; calf skins, sdto6d per lb ; Tallow, mutton—L33 to L 36 10s. per Ton ; Beef, from L3l to L 34 ; mixed, L 27 to LSI per Ton. The report says The unsatisfactory advices respecting the London March and April sales have had a depressing effect on shippers, the reduction being unexpected. It is, however, evident that trade is in an unsettled state owing to the lessened demand for manufactured goods ; and the heavy supplies of wool which are available contribute to prevent any upward tendency in value. We trust, however, that as the year advances higher rates will rule, though we cannot at present see an immediate prospect of improvement. Our American advices report unfavorably on the position of the woollen interest in that country, and the largely augmented yield which is available this season from California contributes to maintain a low range of quotations for the raw material.

Sections in the townships of Manuhcrikia, St. Balkans, Hills Creek, and Naseby, are gazetted as to bo sold at the Survey Office, Naseby, on Monday next, the sth inst., at noon.

Though we have nearly got rid of prizefighting, we have not of prizefighters. There will, however he at least two less among us very shortly as Jem Mace and Joe Onss intend sailing for America, in which land of freedom championship matters arc more easily arranged than here. The Spelling Bee movement is still in the height of its popularity, and seems to be destined to invade all our places of enteri ainment in turns.