The Dunstan Times. FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 1879

Dunstan Times, Issue 882, 14 March 1879, Page 2

The Dunstan Times.

FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 1879

Benep'h the rule of men extirkly .icst the PKN is mightier than the sword,

The member fir the distent, Vincent Pvke. Esq , informs us that it is his intenli n, prior to the meed no of the next Pa l- , ban ent, to address his eons'i'uen's at several centres of popnWion. We do not, wish to sav what Mr Pyke eh m’d or should not ''o, l.u* we venture to suicest that as last y ar he se'eeted A 1 xan Ira, R’aeks, and Bannnekhnrn. he thir, vear wi'l ■ ive some other of the centres the benefit of Ivs eloiience.

A Oazotte Extraor’inarv, pnh’ishe 1 on the 4‘h instant, notifies the extension i f the nrnrni.atinn of P nliam'Mit from the 14th March to the 14 hj May.

We again re muni all those pc-sons whose names are not on the electoral roll of the •Ustiict in whi hj they resile, nr even hj ive •he property (freehold) qna'ifica'ion entitling their oam s to he eornMed for anv district, that the 31st inst is the la«t day on which they can nrke anpl cati >n to have the omission ree'iHed As the roll "ow being made will hj the one in use at the next gen Tal elec‘io ■, it behove- - everyo ie.who hna the qualification, or who peen's to have an interest in the County, to have his mme on-oiled As the nn'y t'ou'de entai'ed is that of signing a name, and as forms can readily he obtained, there is no reason why any name should be omi ted

It. will 'e ae >n in another c>'umn tint, then* was on'y a limited attendance at the meeting on Tuesday, called for the pippo=e of augmenting 'he fund now being e dlected f r th- benefit of th se who suffered l»v the late catastrophe at Kai'anga l a Mr Vincent Pyke oa up’ed the chair Th- gentlemen present f rmeil themselves in'oa Committee and th- meeting therj a'jonrned til! tomorrow (Saturday) evening at 8 o'c’ock, at the Town Hall. Ml sympithis is in the mov meat are nartien'arlv requested to he pres- nt, and any gentlemen in the outlying dis'ric's who are nnalde.to at>e->d, and who may he de-irons of undertaking the collection of sniiscrip'ions, or of subscribing theniFehes are pon sted to communicate wi hj Mr Pyke, We need say no more, as the o 1 j ct is so lan ha'dc a one as to commend i self to cvi ry Britisher. We shall hope to see a full meeting td-mn'Tow night, ami trust, that this di-trict will he able to forward such a list to Dunedin as will compare favourably with towns containing far more inhdntants Attention is drawn to the advertisement. A curious fact may he mentioned in connection with the forthcoming comple ion of the means of erns ing the Molyneux a' Clyde and Bup ockhtirn in we 'ed vehicles It will he remembered that hj th bridges were carried away 'h" same day, and by a singular coincidence, an 1 entirely unpre me Htated, the river at both these places was eros eil by vehicles for the first time on Saturday last. Mr Pyke crn.sing the n ov almost completed bridge at liannoi kburn. whilst Mr Hidden took a cart-load of coal across on the punt at Cly 'e. The llegn'attnn of Mines Act has been brought into operation in each Provincial d strict.

>ir fferentes Robin-on wi’l leave Sydney next Wednesday, and is etpected to arrive in - ellinuton on the 26th. Preparations are being commenced to accord him a suitaide reception. In the advertisement published in our ast week's issue, not if;, ing the holding of sports at Alexandra on Monday next, the 17th inst. (tit I’atiick's Day), the fact of a ■ lance in the Town Hall to conclude the day's amusement, was omitted. By request we intimate that in the evening, after the sports, a danc- will lake place The Alexandra Brass Band will be in attendance.

T he Cyde Punt approaches being com pleh d. traffic of every class, we ate now inf rmed. can cross.

We understand that Messrs Edgar and On., the contractors far the bridge >m-i he Manuhenkia, at Blacks, have commenced operations. The Rev. Father M. Walsh will pay a visit to Alexandra on Sunday next, on which occasion he will celebrate Mass.

A f.tmi y of old Southland residents have left for Palestine, where they purpose settling, having receive! pool advice of the cheapness of land and labour there. Though late in the year, we have to acknowledge the receipt from Mr T, Hotop of Mackay’s Otago Almanac for 1870 It is a most voluminous document of nearly 700 paces, and contains a varie y of information alike inf- n-s’i ig and useful, whether to rest 0 nts or th se intending to s-ttle.

The enquiry into the cause of the rectnf ex-dosion at Kai'anga'a was brought to a close on Monday. Three n.-w wrnesses we e examined, and the jury, aft'T about 40 niinutea* retireme t. savs the Daily Times, returned a verdict equivalent to one of manslaughtei against the deceased Wil liam and Archibald Hodge William Hodge, they considered, had not used necssary precautions vn the management of the mine, and Archibald Hodge, they regarded as having caused the explosion through entering the ol I wo kincs with a naked light. They added a riib-r end>odying thfi" minimi that measures ought to Ixi adopt by width mining accidents may bo

averted in future. Mr Bmns, coal-viewer j

for the New Zealand Government, rai I he wits in the mine on the 24th of January last, when he formed the opinion that although the new workings were, comparatively shaking, sufficiently ventilated, the old workings were likely to become very dangerous. He also examined the mine yesterday morning, and in the locality where Archibald Hodge was found, he deterged a large quantity of gas—sufficient, in fact, to cause another exolosion. He was of opinion that this gas had accumulated si-'ce the explosion took place. One explosion often followed close on the bee's of another, and hj" wondered greatly that a secon 1 exolosion had not taken place in th“ mine. Mr Ho'mas, one of the directors, deposed tha he had repeatedly urged noon the late manager the necessity of exercising every precaution in working the rai le. The attention of owne-s of pigs and goats is drawn to advertisement which appears in another column nnd-r the head ot Vincent County Notices. We have been informed that it is intended to strictly carry out the Regulation, and now that notice has teen given it would be as well to respect it. We referred the other day to fruit grown at. the Teviot. We now learn from a Dunedin contemporary that Mr Bull, fruiterer. Fauces street was this w ek exhibiting some excellent [teaches, grown by Mr MTJionis, at Butchers Gully, Alexandra 'I by arc equal in quality to the best Gan terbmy fruit, and it is evident that the mine's in the interior may in a few years by planting orehir ls, supply large quai • ti ies of fruit. to th coast markets.

The Standard Insurance Company, at iis meeting an Mon lay, adopted the report o the Directors It piys a dividend of IP per cent, upon the pai '-up capital, and carries forward a balance of L 19.260 2s 11 to the credit of profit and loss new account. The Welcome Company at Reef ton had a partial eh aning up last week, when they obtained 2d()5 ounces of amalgam from 140 tons of stone. It will probably average over 5 ounces of gold per ton. The Hna' clearing up takes place on the 17th, when a big dividend is 1 oked for. A man well known in Dunedin, named Thomas Barry, committed suicide on Mon

'lay He ha'l been drinking heavily, and had been heard to say that, he was tired of his life. About twenty minutes to two he entered the kitchen of the Piovincial Hotel and mixed in a tumbler what appeared to he a seidlitz powder, but. what, turned out to be strychnine. He drank the mixture off and left, the kitchen, saying to the head c ok, ‘.‘The next time vou see me will he on rav inquest." He then lai I down in the commercial room, when he wis soon af er seized with convulsions. Hrßr wn was a‘ once sent for, and ordered his removal to the Hospital, but he died be'ore reaching there. At the inquest held next day, a ver'ict was re'urnel “that deceased had die 1 hv his taking noison, whilst in a state of temporary insanity. Charges against Mr T. H. Dodson and Messrs Brake and f'ol’ins, of Dunedin, for having conducted Calcutta speeeps and Consultations respectively, were hj a d at the Ci*y Police Court on Saturday. Afier hearing a lot of evi lenee on both chargis, judgments were reserved. The hihle used at the R. M. Court, Wei-

Huston, bail become so creasy anil dirty that the bailiff, for the sake of the -dignity of the District Court, purchased a new one out of his own pocket. The old hook had hem in use 13 years. The bailiff, who has been appointed, without salary, to the newly created District Court, has had to invest in gown and articles to match at a cost o L2O.

The residents of Mataura must possess the

sense of hearing in a high state of tleve opment. Acc inling to the En<ign the whistle

or horn wi f h which the A meric ill engins the express—are titled is much better as an alarm than the nrilinary l«c in live whistle It can tic heard at a much greater ilia ance and with greater ois inetness. Hut we hao no idea that the .sound could he heard so far »s we find it can. lie idents at the Mataura Bri Ige assert th it they liave heard it diatincly as the train arrived at (Jure, a distance of eight miles. The following paragraph from the Lyell

Argus is short, ye it emit ins a good deal of meaning "The luing'htia County Council has decided to dismiss Messrs Caron s, Fi small i ice, and Stewart, f > what reason we k ow not ; biu we knew ihis, that there are governing us in the County Councils tho-e who wouhl be mortal home driving a costermonger's donkey." It is somewhat la'e in the day to tell it says a writer in the Lyttel on Times) W inasuineh as the story has not been tolil

before—not too late. Shortl after Sir fi. Grey succeeded Major Atkinson, the Major upon leaving a house at which they wcie both veiling, took up Sir George's har by mistake, and immediately apologised. “ Don't mention it,” said the owner ; “ it’s only a fair exchange.” “How so?” asked Major Atkinson. “ Well, you know," was the reply, “ I have just stepp 'd into your shoes.” The gallant ex-Premier “smoled a smile."

The Wairarapa Standard writes "The Assistant Colonial Dnder-S-cretary has come to sore grief. He owes upwards ol L3OOO. and has assets of I 100 It was impossible to overlook a state of affairs so grave, and he has been asked to send in h' ■ rcsi. nation.” Robert Bird, of Dunelin, has issued n chaPenge to walk any man in New Zealand (earning 12 loicka) 20 m les for from LlO to 1,100 Horatio Pine has accepted it, but the stakes are not yet fixed. During the quarter ended December 31st. there were exported from the colony 1,369, 729 rabbit skins, valued at LI 1,620. Referring to the L mgwool re' fs, near Riverton, the 'V e s*ein Star, says " Work is b ing carried on vigorously in the claims in the vicinity of the love Cargill Co,i ground. Tin, Invercargill Co. have flow

sunk to a depth of 53 feet, and driven 10 or 12 fee f . They hi I great trim >le with water, five hours a day being 9]>erit. in keep ing the claim clear. They expect very soon to strike the reef. Douglas and Co. have started to sink a shaft to the southward of their drive. M‘Gregor and party, to the east of Douglas and Co., have put in a trench. They have two well defined walls with leader dipping at an angle of about 45 degrees. Hopcroft and Co , are following up a leader, and have very good prospects. The reef nms due east and west. It is the opinion of an experienced miner, who has given considerable attention to the sul ject, that the leaders will junction somewhere about M'Gregor’s claim. The leaders are making towards Specimen Gully, where it is supposed they will ho very rich. Several new claims have been taken up lately, ami there are now about a dozen claims pegged off "

The steam threshing machine, the proper'y of Mr J. C. Jones, of the Backs Fl-rnr Mill, has commence I work. The crops of Mr Leahy, of Blacks Flat, and of Messrs Murphy, Spittis Hundred, have been put through, Mr B and MrG Naylor coming next in turn. The engine lias every safeguard against causing fire, while the machine combines the very latest improvemen's, an ’, as was to he expected, gives the utmost satisfaction.

On the 7 r h iost. a man named Christensen reported to the police at, Lawreno ■ tha*. on the prevb ns day. wh le returning to his residence a* Jemmy’s Beach, on the West side of ihe Moljnenx, he found the body of a Ohmaman embedded in a fall of enlh at the heaeh in question, the only part of thholy visible hei-’g his hare feet. The Ohinaman had been sluicing at the beach ‘’nlly twelve months. The beach is eight miles from the site of the B.;i.umont Bridge. There is only one settler named f hn Carson, who resides in the neighbourhood. His p’ace is midway between Beaumont and Jemmy’s Beach. Christensen mentioned the matter to Carson, hut the hitter knew nothing about, the Chinaman. Messrs Goldahrongh and Co.’s Monthly Circular, ju-d to hand, contains a very interesting table showing the export of wool from the Colony of Victoria from 1837 to 1878. Fion; it we quote the figures civ<n for each tenth year as follows:--In 1837, 514 bales; 1847, 30.029 bales ; 1857,60 520 bales ; 1867, 175.216 bales ; 1877. 329 791 bales; and in 1878, 298,573 bales These figures suflh iently show tne great increase Poth in quantity and value of this export. From ihe same since we also learn that the quantity of New Z aland wool imported into London in 1866 was 64,2-13 bales, and in 1878 it had reached 178 091 hales. The total number of bales imported into London from the whole of the southern colonies

(innhtding the Cape) last year was 94C,5(i9. In the gale wh ch prevailed on the English coast on Jan. 11, several serious disasters to shipping occurred. The Schieh ill ion from New Zealand, ran on the rocks near Black (tang Chine, Is’e of Wi ht, ami a man and a boy were d rowned; the passengers and crew were brought to the cliffs by means of the rocket apparatus. Early on Friday morning, it is repo ted, a

most determined pugilistic encounter look place on the Ocean Beach, Dunedin, for L 29. The cnniba-ants we e a cabman and a tailor, aid the light lasts I for two hours, thirty rounds being fought in rapid succession, resulting in the defeat and severe punish* ment of the knight of the needle. County and Town Council Chambers are about to be erectedat Riverton, at a costof Id 3'lo.

A telegram from Auckland in a Dunedin contemporary, says: The land tax is likely to bo at ilnrein this pirtof the Col ny. In o ie nistriot it has been ascertained that tlie capital value of property is L19i>,040; value of improvements, LSO.IISI ;not value of land, L101),565; number of properties in district, over 3000, owns Iby some 600 people Out of this number oidy 43 are liable to the tax, and the amount of lax leviable upon this 1.100,566 worth of property is only L4l 12s 241. The individual amounts payable ranee from 241 to L 5 16a. In some casts, where ,he tax would o herwise have been leviable, part of the property hj is been conveyed to the owner’s wife, thus largely reducing the biais upon which the tax can he levied. 1 1 eons -queuco of the prevalence of fever at Reefton, instructions have been given to the Chief Postmaster at Gpymou.h to 0 efully fumigate all mails received from that township. The Timaru Herald is “sirry to lie obliged to admit that the late race-meeting at Dunedin is not calculated to raise the oh trwter of the New Zealand turf” Toe Herald mak-s some comments upon the scratching of Titania. The water supply at the Blue Spur has fallen off, consequent on the long continued dry weather. Several of the claims are not working for vant of water.