FRIDAY, JUNE 23, 1876.

Dunstan Times, Issue 740, 23 June 1876, Page 2

FRIDAY, JUNE 23, 1876.

When - we wrote some short lime since on the advantages sucli a body as the Dunstan Political League would be to the district, we took care to remark that if the various branches worked unanimously one with the other, success would be ensued But, our misgivings have been painfully verified, and we find that scarcely has this body met twice when they fall out amongst themselves, and start off in opposite directions. When Mr Vincent Pyke left for the seat of his legislative duties in Wellington the members of the League were quite in accord with him on the matter of the Abolition question, and the vast good the carrying of the measure would confer upon the up-country districts, and we believe that such is the idea of nineteen-twentieths’ of the population of the Dunstan district. Tlxe Provincial party—ever on the alert to support their own views—have been tampering with some of the members, as we find that ac the late meeting, held at Clyde, a proposition by the small majority of two that “ No good would accrue to the people of Otago through Abolition,” was carried. The Pro vinci al party think, perhaps, that they have made a success by this conversion; but they have done no such thing, in fact they have positively injured their cause. Looking at the question from a Dunedin and Taieri—which means in some quarters Otago—point of view, Provincialism is doubtless the best; but viewed in the interests of the upcountry districts it onlv means spo'iation and robbery, and the expenditure of our revenues upon improving the value of the private properties of our oppressors. It is a 1! very well for some persons to say that the General Government will rob us equally with the Provincial; and of this fact there can be little to doubt, as in all cases the weak are made to suffer by the strong ; but then it is easier to look after one robber than twenty : we can watch one, but we never can watch the larger number. The League, in our opinion, had no business whatever to deal with such a question : it was beyond their province, and the Chairman fell somewhat short of his duty wlien he accepted such a proposition, and let it go to the meeting. The business of the League is to keep the people, as far as possible, in accord with the views of their member, and him posted up in respect of our social wants ; in doing that, and eschewing political questions, the League will prove a success ; but having acted as they have seeds of dissension have been sown broadcast amongst them, and we have grave doubts that any good will ever come out of the organisation. Notwithstanding all that may be said against it Abolition will be carried. Common sense dictates that it must be so, and the Colony rid of one of the greatest absurdities which has for so long a time interrupted its progress.

The advocacy of the Wakatip Mail for the formation of the Electoral district of Wakatipu into a County, with Queenstown as its head, or, as we understand, to be made the County Town ; and that again of the Cromwell Argus, backed up by the Cromwell Protection League, for the formation of the districts of Wakatipu and Dunstan into a County, with Cromwell as the County Town has, to our mind in each case, too much of selfish ness. In our point of view the Wakatip and the Dunstan districts alone are not sufficiently populous to form a County, this must be made up at least of the whole of the Northern and North western Goldfields, or the cost of government would be unbearable. The salaries of a set of officers sufficient to conduct the business of a County would ab sorb all the revenues, while they would be scarcely able to find sufficient employment. In the matter of a County we must warn people that they will be required to tax themselves, and this is a matter deserving the particular attention of the agricultural and mining population, and who, we feel assured, will not keep any more cats than will catch mice. Any County of less dimensions than comprising the whole of the Northern Gold-fields mentioned, will be an absurdity, and positively unworkable; while as to who is most fitted for the office of Chairman, and which the most convenient position for the County Town 1 must be questions left for the future. As a mere matter of opinion, the only man we know of as possessing sufficient administrative ability, and who could fill the position with dignity is Mr Vincent Pyke, while as to the most central and convenient position for the County Town we would select Clyde, but of course a very great deal must depend where the boundary lines of the intended County will be struck.

The English Mail via San Francisco closes at the Clyde Post (Mice at 10 p. m., on Sunday next, the 25th instant. By advertisement in another column it will be seen that Messrs Barnes and Charnook are seeking the protection of the Debtor and Creditors’ Act. The first meeting of creditors is fixed for Monday next.

Members of the Court Star of Dunatan are notified that a summoned meeting will bo hold in the Town Hall, Clyde, this evening, at 8 p.m., for the election of officers and the transaction of other important business.

The Secretary of the Clyde School (dedesires us to express the thanks of the Committee to the public, for their patronage at the late Concert given in aid of the School funds. The net proceeds of the Concert was a little over L2O. The exact amount cannot bo stated, some of the parties who had tickets for sale, not having sent in their returns. We are requested to draw attention to the sale by auction of groceries, household furniture, horses, etc., at the Belfast Stores, Clyde and Cromwell, during the next week, (see advertisement) Mr Fache, auctioneer. As everything has to be sold without the slightest reserve, parties in business, others furnishing, and the general public are invited to attend the sales. The offertories which will be taken after the services held at St. Michael’s Church, Clyde, morning and evening, will be for the benefit of the Dunsteffi District Hospital.

A movement is on foot to build a Flour Mill at Spottis Creek. Mr H. J. Copn informed us that he was promised sufficient support for the purpose, and that in all likelihood the Mill will be erected in time for the coming harvest.

The circulation of copper coinage, which may now be said fairly to have started in the Colony, is as true a sign as can be of the badness of the times, and the scarcity of the circulation medium. In this particular district saving an occasional penny-piece or so, which is'to be met with in the hands of children, we have none, but how soon we shall have coppers as plentiful as blackberries in autumn, it is not very difficult to say, as we understand that a considerable parcel of copper half-pennies was lately sent to Queenstown, therefore we may expect soon to have our share. The last new industry that has been started is in the bow-wow line, and from the mob of canine pets the dog merchant managed to secure in Clyde the other day, we must think he dropped upon a patch. We understand they are to be sent on to Southland, where they are in great demand for rabbit hunting. We really hope they reach their destination, as, for our own part, we consider we are well rid of as great a pest as the eabbits appear to be to the Southland folk.

From the eagerness there is displayed to purchase interests in the Macetown Reefs, and the high prices given, it is very evident that they are looked upon as good investments. The last sale we have heard of is by Mr Raven of his interests in the Homeward Bound claim, for the sum of LI,IOO, Mr M'Lean, of Wanaka Station, being the purchaser.

M'Lellan and M‘Kenzie’s paddle-wheel dredge, we notice, is still as work on the beach opposite Sandy Point. Upon enquiry we learn that she is obtaining sufficient gold to pay working expenses. The Cromwell Argus says .—“A gentleman who visited Clyde last Wednesday evening, and who formed one of the audience at the concert held in the Town Hall, in aid of the school funds, informs us that the affair was a most successful one, both in point of attendance and performance. Our informant, who has considerable musical knowledge, says that the singing was of a very high order, and the amateurs acquitted themselves in a manner highly creditable. ” The contractors for the new Post and Telegraph Office at Alexandra, Messrs Ratcliff® and Simraouds, we notice, are making great progress with their work. The building, when completed, will be a decided ornament to the Town.

A most audacious attempt at robbing a bank occurred at Waimate on Wednesday evening last, at about seven o’clock, during the temporary absence of Mr Grant, the agent for the Union Bank of Australia. An entrance was effected into the premises by breaking open the back door. The would-be thieves, armed with a sledge-hammer, borrowed for the occasion from a neighboring smithy, attempted to force open the sa‘"e, which, however, proved to he too good for them ; and as all the bank properties of any value had been, as usual, carefully deposited therein, the burglars had to depart without the intended plunder. One of the scoundrels was impudent enough to leave the following notice tacked to the back door : “ I will call again next week.’’ The hares have been providing good sport lately to the lovers «f coursing. Some few days since Mr Edward Devine, the well known and popular driver of Oobb’s northern coach, tried his dog “ Bobbie Burns ” at Bushy Park, and during four courses he succeeded in killing three hares.— Daily Times.

What may happen under our licensing laws is tolerably well exhibited in the following graphic incident depicted by a country correspondent of the New Zealand Herald :—“ In -a bush public, quite a him dred miles from Auckland, where bushmen and gumdiggers most do congregate, it is customary tor the bar-keeper, when the men get to the ‘ fresh ’ stage, to run up lattice-work, specially made for the purpose, as guards to the windows and bar furniture ; but when * the heroes of a hundred drinks ’ are helplessly prone on the floor, under the combined influence of ‘tangle-feet ’ and ‘rotgut,’ a couple of stretcher-men speedily whip the ‘ dead drunk ’ off to an out-build-ing at the roar, known in the slang of its crtswbile occupants as the ‘ dead-house,’ there to sleep off the effects of the debauch. On a particular Sunday, eighteen ‘ travelling ’ bushmen and gumdiggers were lying ‘ heads and tails ’ in the ‘ dead-house,’ having been ‘ run in ’ early in the day, while in an adjoining room of the establishment, a parson was holding forth earnestly and eloquently on the Pall of Man, and the total——in fact, tec-total—depravity of human nature : ‘ All we like sheep have gone astray !’ I have heard of an old adage, ‘ Pull devil pull baker!’ but this, fancy, must be its latest illustration. ”

The Official Opening of the Clyde Bridge is announced for Wednesday, May sth, when an Invitation Ball is to bo given in honor of the occasion.

The latest thing in giants comes from China, and is 7ft. llin. in height. It is purposed exhibiting him in America. By a telegram from Hokitika we learn that an assay ot the Mount Rangitoto silver ore has (just been completed by Mr Manton, who lately came down from 'Sydney to inspect the mine. This assay confirms the reports on this ore mode by Mr Kirkland, of Melbourne, giving 4300z5, Idwt, to the ton of rough ore. The silver is found to bo richly impregnated with gold. There appears to be no doubt a very rich silver mine has been discovered, • and as the lode has been traced already for more than a mile it seems probable that other extensive deposits will be found in the same district.—Evening Star. The Telegraph announced yesterday (says the Lyttelton Times) that a distinguished man, who at the late general election disappeared from political life, has blossomed out in'the public service, where, as clerk to the Government Assnrance Agency in Dunedin, he will continue to smile publicly and benevolently upon the universe. Mr Thomas Luther Shepherd served the miners of his Province with undeviating fidelity and unabated good-humor for many years. He likewise showed similar qualities in the interests of the present Government. During his long career he braved ridicule and conquered opprobrium. He emptied the House which he adorned oftener perhays than any other man who belonged to it, and tne amount of sneering and snoring for which he is responsible is beyond computation. This brilliant [course was cut short by the base ingratitude of one of his patrons. In spite of all he had done, tried to do, and suffered for his constituents, Mr T. L. Shepherd did not succeed in obtaining their suffrages at the last election. It may be said that his other patron, the Government, have shown a sense of the fitness of things. We are not inclined to think that Mr Shepherd’s appointment is to be viewed as a reward for political service. The probability is that the Government wish to attract a larger measure of support to their Assurance Department than it has yet received. Eor this purpose they have selected a man whose air of confidence in himself and the department will reassure the public, and whose beaming and benevolent physiognomy cannot fail to attract investors.

Messrs Bass and Co., brewers of Burton Ale, paid the railway carriers last year L3,C00 a week for freight charges upon their goods. As they are not the largest firm in the traffic, it can be guessed what the largest firm pays : certainly not less than L 4,000. How much beer is drank in London every day ? We cannot tell exactly, but as there are ten thousand taverns, we can venture to calculate. There are not less than 25 gallons in each, and decidedly not less than 250,000 in all. There is a small inn close to the London Post Office where 185 gallons of stout are retailed every day, while one opposite the Bank of England, gets rid of not less than 200,000 gallons. (Query: in what time?) A not very large beer saloon close to the Great No rib Western Railway depot lately sold its goodwill for LIO,OOO. Many very quiet looking houses have a waggon-load of ale and stout every morning. The load is never less than a dozen and a-half thirty-six gallon barrels. Certain houses, such as the Elephant and Castle, the P>ed Cap, Adelaide, Mother Shipton, Royal Oak, Eagle, and Angel, couldn’t be bouirht under a moderate fortune, and would be cheap at that, so enormous is their trade.—Exchange. We report the result of the deputation of schoolmasters who recently had an interview with the Premier on the subject of a Colonial Education Bill, much of which has been made public. The following paragraph is, however, fresh to us “It appeared that the only real difference of opinion between Sir Julius Vogel and the deputation was on the subject of local committees. The Premier evidently thinks that the appointment of teachers should be in the hands of those bodies, and that they should be entrusted with large discretionary powers for the management of their respective schools. But. he also admitted that it would he highly improper to give local committees the power of dismissing a teacher without giving the teacher the right of appeal to a higher authority for redress.” The following, which we extract from Friday’s Dunedin Evening Star, appeared among the telegraphic intelligence.-—“ Clyde June 16. At the meeting of the Political League held on Wednesday,there were present Messrs Hazlett, M.P.C., Naylor and Sims, represuting Clyde ; Messrs Theyers, Samson and Coleman, Alexandra; and Mossrs M'Ginnis, Webb and Iversen, the West bank of the Molyneux. The meeting, after questioning the action of the Cromwell branch of the League in adopting a resolution re boundaries of Conn ties, without consulting the other parts of the Dunstan district, acted inconsistently by adopting resolution against abolition. Vcur correspondent, however, can safely say that the resolution neither expresses opinion of the district nor the intelligence of the meeting. Messrs Naylor, Theyers, Coleman, and Sims voted and spoke against it. The Dunstan Times is silent on the subject, and 1 am informed is waiting the result of the next meeting, to be held on the 21st inst. It is the talc of the tailors of Tooloy street repeated.”