The Dunstan Times Beneath the rule of men ENTIRELY JUST the PEN is MIGHTIER than the SWORD. FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 1877.

Dunstan Times, Issue 783, 20 April 1877, Page 2

The Dunstan Times Beneath the rule of men ENTIRELY JUST the PEN is MIGHTIER than the SWORD. FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 1877.

It is but seldom that we take any notice of our Cromwell contemporary, for the very sufficient reason that he is seldom worthy of notice. To trounce him is hut to crush a butterfly upon a wheel; and a very noxious and pestilent butterfly it is. Bilious abuse and splenetic virulence are his staple commodities : for, indeed, he is nothing if not abusive. The very pith ot the articles, which in his columns are made to do duty as “ leaders ”—Heaven save the mark!—is to be found in insolent, invective against all and sundry who fail to regard the hole-and-corner hamlet of Cromwell as the one great fact of universal geography. Nothing is sacred to, and no person is safe from his pen. This week poor Donald Reid comes in for a column and a half of solid abuse, because, forsooth, he did not promise to the hungry mob that deputationised him everything for which they clamoured. The description of the interview with the Minister reminded us most vividly of a pack of wolves, ravenous for food -, and the comments ot the Cromwell Argus thereupon equally reminded us of the same puck when disappoinled of their hoped-for prey. But, in vain do they bay the moon, Cromwell is rot all the world, nor even a little bit of an important part of it; and the Argus does but invite the contempt and arouse the laughter of the body politic by its violent outcries. A very fair and tolerably well-to-do little township is Cromwell, but it is not a place of any special importance, nor is it ever likely to be. But the one great object of onr bilious contemporary’s vindictiveness is the County Chairman. Disappointed in not having been able to make a tool of him, the once exalted person, of whom nothing too excellent could be written, has become as salt in the eyes of the Argus, and now no l bing too insulting can be said ofhim. Does be do that which is right—then ho does it from an unworthy motive. Does he do that which is wrong—then he is no better than it was pre. dieted he would bo, Like the old sol.

dier sentenced to bo flogged - flog high I or flog low there is no pleasing our j contemporary. He seems to bo ani- , mated by the same hard, cold, cruel l spirit as animated the did Puritans — . “If the unregenerate man does good i 1 works it shall be accounted as a sin, ; and displeasing; nevertheless, if he ' neglects to dogood works it shall boaccounted as more sinful and displeasing.” So with our contemporary. If the County Chairman does that which is ■ right, it is displeasing to our contemporary, and if he fails to do right it is more displeasing. It is however noteworthy, that, spiteful as the Argus is, and anxious to pick a hole in the Chairman’s coat, it has not yet been able to do so. It has sought to find a fault and has failed in its efforts. But it has him on the other tack. He has tried to do good, and therefore the Argus assails him. He has moved in the matter of the purchase of the Bannockburn bridge, and his enemy fastens upon him tooth and nail. The Chairman did so, it is said, from bad motives He is not sincere —he only wants his constituents to think ho is sincere. Now what ground is there for this , base,'lnsinuation 7 Surely, it will be time enough to make such a statement when facts wanant it. But the way in which the matter has been represented by the probably have the effect of inciting other Councillors to oppose the purchase of the Bridge; and when we consider the connection that exists between our contemporary and the lessees, it seems more than probable that such is the effect which it was intended and desired thearlicle referred to should bring about. That the Chairman is sincere, is a matter which we decline to doubt We also decline to doubt the sincerity of the Argus in trying to prevent the purchase. The absurd demand that the Council should first resolve to buy, and then ask the price is quite worthy of the Argus, and would be equally unworthy of a sucking idiot. Business men first count the cost of an undertaking, and afterwards decide whether they can afford to purchase, and if the County Council were to take any other course they would be fit to edit the Cromwell Argus ; which, next to filling a cell in a lunatic asylum, would be the womt fate that could befall any human being. Nevertheless, we are willing to believe our contemporary when he asserts that he represents public opinion —that is to say, Cromwell public opinion, which never includes in its calculations anything beyond the municipal boundary, and not always even so niuch. For, if he is only a moderately veracious chronicler of events, his clients are, as he is himself—prone to suspicion, and given to think evil of their neighbors. In everything they scent mischief; in every visitor they recognise an enemy in disguise. Is an election delayed—there is some villany intended. Is it proceeded with—there is a da v k desire to serve some wicked purpose. Do men, not of Cromwell, register their claim, as voters—there is a plot against the peace of the people therein resident. If a warden will not dwell amongst them—he is their enemy. If a constable is removed—it is a conspiracy to degrade them In everything—everywhere they see nothing but evil intention. They Jive in an atmosphere of doubt, duplicity, and danger Such, at least, is the character bestowed upon them by the Cromwell Argus , if it is to be accepted as an honest reft' x of local public feeling. But we take leave to question the accuracy of this gloomy picture. We believe our neighbors of Cromwell to be just as good citizens as are to be found elsewhere, and consequeut.lv we regard the newspaper by which thev have the misfortune to be represented ns the defamer of their character and reputation. Unfortunately, the outside word which is a tolerably large one —will persist in judging a people from the I one and standard of their local organ ; and it is not surprising, therefore—the Argus being in tins case the standard—that the name of Cromwell should he unpleasantly odorons in the nostrils of the public. Let our contemporary “ tak’ a thought and mend”—as Burns advised the de’il. It is not possible to wash the Ethiopian white we know, and our Cromwell contemporary would experience considerable difficulty in the endeavor to lose his present unen viable reputation. But by the diligent study and observance of the Ten Commandmentss he might possibly be able to improve bis moral condition ; and after a lapse o r time his errors might be buried in oblivion, suffic:ently at least to entitle him to claim a, tolerably respectable position amongst country newspapers.

A Gemekal muster of all Horn s and Cattle running on the Dnnstan Commonage was made during the latter part of last week by, Mr Campbell, Sheep Inspector. The total number on which assessment was paid last year was horses, and Cattle, while the number mustered was horses, and cattle, the extra amount of revenue to be derived this year will therefore pay for the cost and trouble of mustering. As a matter of course, loud and deep were the complaints of owners at having their stock driven off the feeding grounds, and according to their ideas of things unnecessarily harrassod and knocked about. To thoso who regularly pay tho assessment, it doubtless is hard that their property should bn knocked about, and they themselves put to tho

trouble and inconvenience o! attending and pointing out their property, and a certain * amount of sympathy is due them, hut those 1 who have been reaping the benefit, and , many wo are informed have done so for years and not paid one shilling, wo with but very little hesitation record the verdict, “ serve them right," and to our mind it would only have been a fair metoing out of justice, if it could have been eufcreed, to have made them pay a double assessment, or a something, to cover ths cost of the muster. As a rule to punish an offender, and thus do an universal good, a certain amount of injury must bo done, and in this case, those who have suffered, will have the satisfaction of knowing it was in the public interest. Now that the matter has been taken in hand by the Government to obtain a proper revenue from those who make use of the Commonage, we hope they avill continue it and by a periodical mustering, see that all pay for the benefit they receive. Up to the present tims there has been no system of managing the Dunstan Commonage, and we think it high time one was inaugurated. Mr Geo. Fache desires us to call attention to the unreserved sale by auction cm Wednisday next, the 25th inst., at Clyde, of a lit of household furniture and effects, including a number of first-class engravings, in worked leather frames. We were shown a magnificent basket of quinces during the week,* averaging over 11b each, and were informed that they were but an average of all grown on the trees. Few persons are aware how delicious the quince is when preserved as jam or jelly ; the sceptical, however, on that point we would advise to make a trial. Mr Feraud, we understand, has a large quantity on hand. Large quantities of sheep, in droves from 1000 to 6000 are constantly passing along towards the Lakes country. At the rate they have been going at for tbe past two or three years we imagine that that country will soon be stocked. During the last few months scarcely any perceptible change has taken place in the caudition of Miss Boss, better known as “ the Taieri fasting girl,” who has now been confined to her bed for over eight years. She is unable to take any more nourishment than she was at the time when her extraordinary case attracted so much attention. Physically she is so weak th it it is almost impossible to move her from one room to another, but her mind is unimpaired, and she instantly recognises those who have visited her before, no matter how distant the date. She can converse intelligently, but her voice is very weak, and her breathing quick and painful. Maokie’s steam-driven composing machines.are rapidly nearing perfection. One of a number now in the London office of the Warrington Guardian we (Register) watched some days ago setting minion at the rate of 8001 an hour, with only a lad to attend it, whose duty was to simply it avith type and ' remove what aa’as set in long lines. Apart from that the maohing might have been in i a locked-np room. We also saw Mr Mackie’s new perforators avorked by a young avoman, who had no difficulty in keeping up to 8000 an hour. One composing machine of a large size was setting a nonpareil edition of the New Testament, which is to ho sold in the shape of a newspaper (Globe siz'd for a penny. We were shown—from the garden of Mr Iverson, of Conroy’s—during the week a somple of most magnificent pears, one especially was a mammoth, it measuring in length 7 inches, avith a circumference of 13 inches, and weighing 21bs. At the same time ave had the pleasure of seeing a quantity of grapes grow a in the same garden, which for quality and size of grape and hunches, equalled anything we have ever before seen in the district. They avere of the black Hambro sorts. On Sunday morning last a stack of oats on the farm of Mr J. Dimdas, Blacks flat was discovered to be on fire. Water being handy, and plenty of willing hands about, the fire, after some difficulty, was put ont, and all was thought to he right. During the afternoon, however, the flames again burst out, and this time before it could be extinguished a great deal of it was destroyed, there being no wind about, and as we said before, plenty of water and assistance the fire was confined to one stack, two others close by escaping. The origin of the fire is unknown, but it is assumed that it must have been caused either by a spark from a neighboring chimney, or by a match having been dropped by one of the men who was engaged threshing on the Saturday previous The grain consumed is estimated at about 400 bushels, and valued at L3O. The threshing machine was slightly damaged to the extent it is thought of about L 8 or LlO. Advice to Mothers !—Are you broken n your rest by ,a sick child suffering with ho pain of cutting teeth ? Go at once to a hemist and got a bottle of Mas. Winslow’s Soothing Syrup. Ik will relieve the poor sufferer immediately. It is perfectly harmless and pleasant to taste, it produces natural quiet sleep, by relieving the child from pain, and the little cherub awakes “ as bright as a button.” It soothes the child, it softens tbe guns, allays all pain, relieves wind, regulates the bowels, and is the best known remedy for dyssentsry and diarrhoea whether arising from teething or other causes. Mrs Winslow’s Soothing Syrup is add by Medicine dealers everywhere at Is IJd per bottle. Manufactured at 493 Ox-ford-Street, London. Great progress we notice is being made with the building of the new stone church at Clyde All the windows and doors aro in position, an I the walls are ge ting well up to their full height. When completed it will present a commanding appearance, and will be a great improvement upon the old shaky, draughty building that has done duty for the past 12 or 13 years,

“Deoicodly one of the moat novel catches that has over boon made on a cricket 1 ground,” the Hamilton iSpootator, Victoria, ] states, “ was that which of Mr t Chandler on Saturday in his second innings > at Cavendish. Ho was batting in splendid t style, doing pretty well as ho liked with S the bowling, when Captain O’Connor sent t in a slow one. This he got hold of pretty well, and sent it away to long-on—a low, t skimming hit, that but for a strange aooi- ( dent must inevitably have been the means | of adding six to the score. One of the C«- j vendish players (Mitchell), who was stand- ] ing at mid-on, made an attempt to catch it, but missed, the ball travelling altogether i too fast for him to hold it. Suddenly the - leathern sphere disappeared; none could ; tell where it had gone’ those in the field were nonplussed, the spectators wondered, and the batsmen continued to run. Then Mitchell recovered from the shock ho had received, felt a lump in the body of his shirt, put in his hand, pulled out the ball, and joyfully cried, * How’s that V ‘ Out!’ said the umpire, and Chandler had to retire, very crestfallen at his bad luck. The ball struck Mitchell on the wrist, ran up his sleeve, ripping it up as it went, and safely lodged itself in the body of his shirt.” 1 ■lEgles in the Australian has the following At the local Land Boards the investigations are sometimes rather brusquely conducted. Probably the applicants are occasionally perverse and slow. There is one official gentleman who is not considered to love electors much- He was once scandalised by a minute from the Minister of Lands, which, after detailing certain instructions, concluded by directing “ the surveyor” in connection therewith “ to embrace all the applicants !” Since then, while he was assisting at a Land Board, there was an applicant vho was young, buxom, and female. “Are you married,” he inquired? Selootress— *• No, sir.” District Surveyor— “Have you any intention of getting married? Seleotress—“ Not at present. But—are you a bachelor ?” He asked no further questions, and that young woman got her land. Pnoley and Bramhall, the two English Cricketers who were detained in Christchurch on a charge of assault and for wilful destruction of property, on which a verdict of acquittal was however recorded, left for Melbourne on Saturday last. Before leaving they were presented with a purse of LSO. Pooley was also presented with a gold ring. The annual value of rateable property in the Waitaki County as per Valuation 801 l is L 154,000. The Council have agreed to a rate of 3d in the £, which will yield a j revenue of L 1925. In consequence of the absence of Mr Warden Simpson, there was no business in the Warden’s Court, Blacks, ou Tuesday last, In the Resident Magistrate’s Court, i Vincent Pyke and James Samson, Esqs., J.P.’a presided, and inflicted the customary penalty on two drunk and disorderlies. A i few small debt cases were entered up as , settled out of Court. j A marked imp'-nvemont is perceptible in 1 | the township of Blacks (Ophir). The mo-it 1 prominent addition to the buildings is the new stone hotel of Martin Gavan, which when completed, will to all appearances be as commodious a house as there is in the district, and wanting in nothing for the accommodation of man or beast. The site for the new school building is selected, and when erected will give a substantial appearance to the town. Altogether the town and district present every sign of prosperity, and is bidding fair to rival many other places that have more pretensions. Tuesday last being the customary court day, the County Council also meeting, a great number of people-miners and farmers-from the surrounding districts were in Blacks, and gave to the place an air of cheerfulness and activity not often witnessed. Wo acknowledge receipt of parcel of Parliamentary Papers from the General Government printer, including return of all Educa. tional Reserves in the Colony. We find in the Loaning Rock district there are five blocks, aggregating about 70 acres ; in Cromwell there are four sections aggregating 2 roods, 21 perches ; Clyde has fourteen „ sections, in all 3 acres. 0 roods, 13 perches ; Alexandra has nine sections, equalling 2 acres; Roxburgh has three sections— 3 roods, 24 perches. The following very sensible suggestions are made by the Poverty Bay Standard “Whit we demand on behalf of those who 'pay as they go' is that there shall be marked distinction made in their favor, as against those who take long credit or do not pay at all. Let those who have heretofore done what is known as a * booking business’ make it clearly and emphatically understood that the cash price for goods is so much, and the credit price so much more. Traders will soon learn how much the prin--1 ciple will be appreciated, and how many will only lie too ready to avail themselves i of such an arrangement. There should be no evasions on the part of those who sell, . and no excuses for departure from the rales laid down by those who buy—‘So much for • cash payment; so much for credit.’ ” Throat Affections and Hoarseness. ' All suffering from irritation of the throat 1 and hoarseness will be agreeably surprised 1 at the almost immediate relief afforded by the use of “Brown’s Bronchial Troches.’ 1 These famous " lozenges ” are now sold by ; most respectable chemists in this country 1 at Is IJd per box. People troubled with a r 1 hacking cough,” a "slight cold,” or bron- * chial affections, cannot try them too soon, 1 as similar troubles, if allowed to progress, ’ result in serious Pulmonary and Asthmatic affections See that the w;ords “ Brown’s ! Bronchial Troches ’’ are on the Government Stamp around each box. Manufactur. dby 1 John I. Brown & Sons, Boston, United ! States. Depot, 403 ord-street, London

The advisability, or otherwise, of starting a boiling-down establishment in this dig. trict wo have lately heard mooted. Nit knowing, however, anything of the subject wo dou’t venture an opinion.

■ The appointment of Mr Charles Whelan, Post Master, Alexandra, as Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages for the District of Mamiherikia, is notified in the Government Gazette of the 12th instant, la the same Gazette the appointment of Mr Stewart Dowar as Post-master at Clyde is also notified. Wo regret having been unavoidably absent from Tinkers Gully ou Sunday last, the occasion of the confirmation of a large number of young people—male and female—by the Rev. Bishop Moran, assisted by the Rev. Fathers Walsh, Kehoe, and Royer. We are informed, however, that the ceremony was very beautiful and impressive, the group of young girls all dressed in spotless white being a sight long to be remembered. The attendance of visitors from all parts of the district was great, while there were a good many who had travelled many miles to be present. The Tnapeka Times says :—Bronchitis is very prevalent in Lawrence at present. Dr Stewart informs us that he is attending no fewer than twenty-five eases. On Monday morning the only son of Mr E. H. Carew, our respected Magistrate, died from this disease after a few days illness. Great sympathy is felt for Mr Carew in his bereavament, as he has hail more than his share of family trials during his residence in Lawrence. The Canterbury Autumn Meeting commenced on Tuesday last, and by te'egraras in onr exchanges we learn that for the St. Ledger Stakes of 100 sovs., only two started, Pui iri and Dead Heat, the former winning easily. The Champagne Stakes, of 10C sovs., had seven starters, Tramp Card, Jangler, and Tell Tale being first, second, and third. The great Autumn Handicap, of 300 sovs., brought 12 to the fore, Bribery being first past the post, with Pungawtrewere second, and Guy Fawkes third. A curiosity of numbers.—The multiplication of 957G54321 by 43 gives 4444444443. Reversing the order of the digits and multiplying 123456780 by 45 we got a result equally curi0u5—5555555503. If we take 123456780 as a multiplicand, and interchanging the figures of 45 and take 54 as the multiplier, we obtain another remarkable pr0duct—6666666106. Returning to the multiplicand first used—and taking 54 as the multiplier again, we get 53333333334, all threes except the first and last figures, which read together 54. the multiplier. Taking the same multiplicand and using 27, the half of 54, as the multiplier, we get a product of 26606666667—a1l sixes except the first and last figures, which read together give 27, the multiplier. Next interchanging the figures in,the number 27, and j using 72 as the multiplier with 937054321 as the multiplicand, we obtain a product of 71111111112- all ones except the first and last figures, which read together give 72, the multiplier. I Floriline!— For the and Breath. —A few drops of the liquid “ Flori tine” sprinkled ou a wet tooth-brush pioduces a pleasant la'hcr, which thoroughly cleanses the teeth from all parasites or im- | purities, hardens the gums, prevents tartar, 1 stops decay, gives tp the teeth a peculiar 1 pearly-whitencss, and a delightful fragrance to the breath. It removes all unpleasant odour arising from decayed teeth or tobacco smoke. “The Fragrant Floriline,” being composed in part of Honey and sweet herbs, is delicious to the taste, and the greatest toilet discovery of the age. Price 2s fid, of all Chemists and Perfumers. Prepared by HryenC. Gallup, 493, Oxford-st., London Holloway’s Pills. —To nervous sufferers,—Nervousness, so called, has been said to arise from foul blood or a guilty conscience. When the first is the origin, the afflicted may be cheered by the knowledge that a course of Holloway’s Pills will dissipate both cause and effect. Many nervous invalids of 'ong duration have afforded the most remarkable recoveries under these purifying Pills, which have assuaged sufferings of the severest character, and steadily restored to comfort, confidence and health, after change of climate and every other means had signally failed. Holloway’s Pills renew the lost appetite and regulate digestion, without permitting those feelings of I fulness, flatulency, distension, faintness, and palpitation, which seem to threaten instant death to the enfeebled.