The Dunstan Times
FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 1877.
Beneath the rule of men entirely just the PEN is mightier than then WORD.
If the Councillors of Maniototo County hare not succeeded in demonstratin'; their own wisdom and fitness for office, they certainly have been very successful in showing the folly of those who elected them. Their refusal to constitute, or, more correctly speaking, to adopt the Coantv system in its entirety, is either a tacit admission of incapacity, or an act of cowardice. Either they admit their inability to discharge the duties which they have undertaken, or they shrink from the responsibility which devolves upon them. Home vague notion of this seems to have floated through the mind of tho astute gentleman who ro-
presents the Serpentine Riding, for ho proposed that a Board consisting of live members should be appointed “ to supervise tho expenditure of tho County revenue in conjunction with an efficient Engineer or Road Inspector.” Why, what is the whole Council but such a Hoard; and what are itsfunctions, save and except the supervision of tho County Revenue 1 ? And why, forsooth, should four of tho nine members be deprived (if the powers vested in them, conjointly with the others? Well might Mr Foster point out that in submitting the question to an Engineer appointed by the Government, they would be entrusting to such an officer the work which the Government desired them to do for themselves from their own local knowledge ; which, in fact, tho Counties Act authorises and empowers them to do. Virtually, Mr Turnbull’s proposition amounted to an abnegation of the functions of the Council. If they are unable or unwilling to discharge those functions they are in duty bound to resign and give place to more capable men. That the Government would ever sanction such an extraordinary course is quite incredible, and it is slightly consoling to find that Mr Turnbull’s motion was eventually shelved in favor of one just a shade more satisfactory proposed by Mr Ewing, as follows;—“ That the Government, be requested by telegram to at once appoint an Engineer, and that he be requested to report to the Chairman as to the state of the roads, and the probable expenditure required on each for the current year; and that the Council adjourn to Thursday the 29th, on which day the annual meeting for the distribution of funds, as provided by section G8 of the Act shall take place.” It is very doubtful whether the Maniototo Council can, or will be allowed to wrest the Act in the manner proposed. Where there are both Road Boards and outlying districts it is competent for a County Council to distribute tie revenue be'worn such Boards and districts, and to appoint any or eith°r of the Boards to supervise works in the outlying districts. But there are no Road Boards in Maniototo Conn tv, and unless the Council which in fact is but a large Road Board under another name—adopts the whole Act, their power to allocate the revenue for particular works is at least questionable. Certain it is that even if the course proposed receives the sanction of the Government the Council will find that its working will be unsatisfactory and the reverse of economical. It rnav save the salary of a Clerk, but it will not prevent the extravagance of an Engineer, for whose services they will have to pay whatever the Government chooses to allow, and over whom thev will rot have any control—a species of economy which savours ol savin? at tho spigot and letting run at the bung-hole. In plain English the Council has rejected local self-govern-ment. preferring apparently to be governed from Wellington. Such a procedure is so strange that one naturally seeks for an explanation; and, un deriving the surface, it seems to be found, in the selfish desire of the pro party owners to escape taxation. If there is no rate struck, the entire revenue of Maniototo will be derived from one class—the miners. Mr Shannon simply talked nonsense when be asked—“ Wnn’d the Council undertake to rate the minor or tho small farmer.” Alining property is exempted from rating because of the continuance of the gold duty. If the latter were abolished, mining property would be rated equally with any other, and it is doubtful whether the miners would gain by the change. Of course if a rate were levied the miners would have to pay a few shillings yearly on their residences, and the farmer, largo or small, would also have a trifle to pay. But the amount wouVl be insignificant as compared with that which would be derived from other classes of the community, who will otherwise escape scot-free, and it is precisely because the gold-producers do already contribute largely towards the County revenue, that the, property owners and rnnholdevs ought to be also made to contribute ; which, as "matters have been determined by the united wisdom of the Council, they will not do. There is just cue little matter which it may be well to point out. The County Electoral Roll which is to be made up in the month of May is to consist of ratepayers and hollers of Miners’ Rights and Business Licenses. As no rate will have been made by the Council, there will of course be no ratepayers, and consequently the. Maniototo Electoral Roll will consist entirely of hollers of Miners’ Rights and Business Licenses. When another election tak°s place those who by their representatives refused to contribute a fair quota to County taxation will probably find themselves left out in the, cold—a result which probably they did not, contemplate when they resolved “ not to constitute.”
Testimontalism, whether the outcome of Provincialism or horn of the soil is a matter for speculation ; but there is one thing certain, it is an unmitigated nuisance, and is daily becoming more and move unbearable. If any person holding almost any position in society, having managed to secure a iew admirers, elects to remove to “ fresh fields and pastures now,” fails in an enterprise, loses a ship, or merely contemplates a holiday visit to Europe, there is a hubbub got up immediately, when
it is found tint ho possesses many valuable ami estimable virtues, hitherto quite unknown before; and the e follows, us a matter of course, a testimonial in the shape of a gaudily emblazoned piece of parchment, accompanied by something more substantial in the shape of a purse of sovereigns, or other gift having a monetary value, It mutters not, so long as the person has a few noisy friends to urge his cause, whether lie is the g-eatest fool that ever lived, or whether ho might not have done a groat deal bettor than he did do ; it is all the same, the little notoritv thus forced upon him by his pretended admirers makes him an id >1 at which every sycophant desires to how down; while, not content with th ir own cot,l Tuitions to llunkeyism, seek also to make (he public subscribe towards their folly and imposture. Testimonials, as a rule, or rather as we understand them, we thoroughly object to. There might have been a time when they were a reward of merit, but that ban passed tong since; nowadays they certainly do not represent anything of the kind, but are rather therecordsof bungling and incapability, for there really appears to be no act. in the ordinary occupations of our daily life which, according to some people, is not worthy of a testimonial. There exists an old saying that “ good wine needs no bush this is applicable equally so witli men as with things, and where a man has done meritorious it will not fail to lie reco<£ nized, even in the absence of a written testimonial or more substantial gift. We all have our appointed task in 'this world ; it is our duty to do it to the best of our ability, and without any view of reward ; but we ma y take comfort to ourselves this much, that having penonned our mission faithfully and well, it is sure to be recognised : and what better recognition can we desire than that the memory of our good deeds_ will last long after the bade of life ” has ceased to trouble us. In the case of public servants and bank officials the testimonial nuisance is positively sickening, just as if those individuals possessed virtues superior to any other ordinary mortals, when peibaps the real iacts of the case are, that having sought out an easv billet they managed to find one, and having retained it sufficiently long to answer their purpose, or perhaps by some act of folly have lost it, desi-e public praise for doing what any other individual of mundane existence placed in the same position would have done aLo. People, as a rule, who receive testimonials, are not producers of wealth or pioneers of civilization, but lecipients of stated salaries, while meiit and personal exertion is not immediately connected with their reward. Putting the subject more plainly; those persons view the possession of testsmoninls either as purely mercenary considerations, or in precisely the same light as a servant girl does her character from her last mistress, it being a recommendation for another place When people are paid for doing their duty it is hut reasonable to suppose that they should do it, and if they are honest well-meaning men they will do so without any nltenor motives o'" future profit. In the ease of a philantvonist, or some ono who has accomplished something whereby mankind in general have been benefited the matter mav he different ; hut how many men are there in New Zealand who have suffered any self-sacrifice purely for the love of their fellow colonists 1 Whenever we do find such an one, it is time then to talk about testimonials. Unless under these circumstances the very mention . of a testimonial is odious.* At the present moment it is proposed to present a handsome and substantial testimonial to Air James ATacandrew, the * 1 late Superintendent of the late Pro- ■ vince of Otago. Now, we do not wish to inf 'r that .Mr ATacandrew does not deserve some public recognition ofhis services, and we feel assured that he will obtain it, oven in addition to the testimonial as intended by tho Convention party, for f be name of Alacandrew will last as long as the memory of Otago which, although blotted out as a Province of Now Zealand, will nevertheless fill an interesting page in our future colonial history. Air ATacandrew possesses, doubtless,a large number of friends and admirers, many of whom have fattened under his reign, and we should judge that all of these are thorougly wc'l-known to each other ; while it is also in their power to carry out their benevolent intentions of rewarding him from their own pockets without levving contributions an the public to do so, for we look upon all subscription lists as merely polite requests “to stand ami deliver,” and which but few people have sufficient moral courage to resist. As Superintendent of the late Province of Otago Air ATacandrew received the very handsome salary of LIOOO a year, with L2OO extra as member of the General Assembly for Dunedin, and all (ravelling expenses paid in either case. Considering, therefore, that his position did not compel him to keep up appearances, or maintain an establishment beyond what might be expected from any other citizen in comfortable circumstances, Air Alacandrew possessed almost a princely income, and from which he should have been able to save something worth while. There is nothing whatever to show that Air Mncmdrew has in anywise distressed himself, or impaired his fortunes on account (f the pu'dio good, and wo scarcely ran conceive that in excess of bis ample salary ho
litis set a further money value upon his services ; and we leave it to his mercenary friends to draw the vulgar conclusion that merit and good deeds should bo bought and sold like any other marketable commodities. If Mr Macandrew has behaved well to his country, his country has behaved well to him; putting, th-refore, these conciliations together, the advantages on either side are pretty equally balanced. In the matter of a testimonial Mr Macandrew’s ftiends are at liberty to do just what they please, but they have no right to go any further by taking the public outside of their own circle.
We have to apologise to onr readers for the non-appearance of our customary supplement. owing to unforeseen circumstances. Mr Chappie notifies a sale of cattie, 5,/rses, and grain at Ida Valley on Thursday next. A meeting re the merging of the Corporation of Clyde into the County between representatives of the two bodies took place on Tuesday evening last. Another meeting, wo understand, will be held on the 27th instant. To-morrow (Saturday) a cricket match between the Clyde and Alexandra elevens will be played at Alexandra. The wickets are to be pitched at Il a.m., and on a piece of first-class ground about a mile from Alexandra, up the Manuhenkia River, nearly opposite M ‘Lachlan’s farm. We an-ticipate-a good day’s sport. A Chinaman now-residing at Clyde, who has been for some weeks past employed at the Hawkshnrn Station at wool-washing supplies us with the following. - He, with the other men-engaged with him went to dinner, on a day named, and were supplied with the customary joint of mutton by the Cook (a Chinaman) but much to John’s disgust be-discovered a large centipede in the meat, which had by some means found its way there, but our friend “ John ” believes it was put there intentionally for Ivm - he doss not think very highly of this “Heathen Chinee ” conk, for when speaking of him he says“ Welly bad man ” —“No good.” By advertisements it will bo seen that Wednesday next, the 21st inst., is fixed upon for laying the foundation stone of St, Michael’s Anglican Church, Clyde. Besides the customary religious formula on like occasions, -She Masonic form of ceremonial will be observed, making on the whole a most imposing and solemn affair. As occasions for witnessing a ceremony of the kind present themselves but rarely, all who take an interest in such matters should attend. In the evening a Concert in aid of the Building Fund will be given ; a glance at the programme of which will convince all that a musical and vocal entertainment is promised that shodid satisfy the most fastidious. There, will probably be another change shortly in our down-country mail arrangements via Dunstan, whereby this district will practically he brought nearer Dunedin. We hear, on completion of the branch railway to Lawrence (which will be in about a week’s time), Mr Bastings, the mail coach contractor, has expressed his readiness to carry passengers through in something like ■3B hours, 'I he plan proposed is to leave Queenstown at five or six o’clock in the morning, reaching Teviot at night, whence the coach will start next morning reaching Lawrence in time for the mid-day train to Dunedin—thus accomplishing the distance in two days and a night. This route would then be placed on an equality with that via Invercargill, and as it is a step in the right direction, the Postal Department will no doubt accept Mr Bastings’ offer.—Wakatip Mail. Dr Carr, of pbronologic fame, gave an entertainment in the Town Hall, Clyde, on Wi dnesday evening last. The attendance, however, was very limited. The Doctor nevertheless gave a most interesting disf ourse, concluding by manipulating the 'viputs of some seven or eight subjects who placed then.selves under him. In every instance the delineation of character was remarkably correct; in some instances though not particularly flattering to the subject, yet was highly amusing to the hearers. A particular feature in Dr Carr’s style is the entire absence of anything approaching coarseness, and while compelled at times in delineating character to utter some unwelcome truths it is done in that nice pleasant manner that no offence is given, and no sting left behind. Last evening Dr Carr appeared at Alexandra; to-night and to-morrow night we believe he appears at Roxburgh. Valuable Discovery for the Hair. If your hair is turning grey or white, or falling off, use the-Mexican Hair Renewer, > for it wi I positively restore in every case Grey or While hair to its original color, without leaving the disagreeable smell of most “ Restorers.” It makes the hair charmingly beautiful, as well as promoting the growth of the hair on bald spots, whore the glands me not decayed. Ask your Chemist for 'The Mexican Hair Renewer,” prepared by Henry C. Gallup, 493, Oxford Street, London, and sold by* Chemists and Perfumers everywhere, at 3s Cd per Bottle Holloway’s Ointment -and Pills.— Fistulas, piles, excoriations and strictures me spee lily relieved and ultimately removed '[ a pplying this Ointment after fomentation ■with warm water. Persons suffering from these scourges of the human frame should mrest their progress, for it is both insidnous end rapid. Fistulas, if long allowed to go Unchecked, not only weaken the nervous Bytem, but destroy life. The sooner those n estimable remedies arc used the more certain is success, yet none nee 1 despair; opeless cases have likewise yielded, and e S| ifferer relieved a painful death. In excoriations a few applications of this heallnß Ointment ellcct a cure, while the Pills, conjointly with it, are especially beneficial !n r °' ax 'ng and removing strictures, whatever their situation or duration.
To-morrow (St. Patrick’s Day) we understand, is to bo very generally observed as a holiday throughout the district. At Bald Hill Plat there is to bo a picnic and sports on the race course ; at Blacks there arc to bo similar amusements during the day, to wind up with a ball in the evening ; and at Alexandra a cricket match between Clyde and Alexandra. On Monday last, before Vincent Pyke, Esq., J.P., at Clyde, Ah Poy, a Chinaman, was charged with stealing gold from the tail race of the Blue Duck Mining Co., Tinker’s Gully. Ah Dang acted as interpreter. J. Spratt, Manager for the Company, deposed—l was, on the night of the 10th inst., between the hours of 12 and 1 p.m,, informed that some one was in the claim. On proceeding there 1 found accused washing the stuff with a cradle from the tail-race. Aco-'sed seeing me ran away. After a chase I came up to him, when accused attacked me, and I knocked him down with a sluice fork I had in my hand. I then took accused to the store of Messrs J. and C. Mel’or where I left him, to see what gold was in the cradle. 1 roughly washed it, and found IJdwts. On returning to the store 1 found that accused had escaped. On Sunday morning the 11th instant, 1 gave information to Constable Brown of the robbery and escape of the accused, who at once proceeded with me to the Chinese encampment in search of the accused. After a great deal nf trouble, we discovered him secreted in a hole in his hut. Accused, through 
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