The Dunstan Times. FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 1879.

Dunstan Times, Issue 884, 28 March 1879, Page 2

The Dunstan Times.

FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 1879.

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

We have apologise to our readers for the absence of our usual supplement. It will appear with our next.

I There will be a sitting of the District Court at Clyde, on Monday, 7th April, before His Honour Judge Harvey. Messrs Maitland, Bastings, M. H. R,, and W. Arthur have been gazetted Comiuis- | sioners to classify block XIV, Beuger District, part of Run No. 3ti9, Amongst the newly appointed J. Ps’ we notice the following L. VV. Busch, Esq., Naseby ; Patrick Dignan, Esq., Cromwell; I K. C. Ferguson, Esq., Tapauui; G. P. Burton, Esq., St. Balkans.

A birth took place recently in the express train on its way from Christchurch to Dunedin.

We would remind those gentlemen who have taken in hand the collection of subscriptions to the Kaitangata Relief Fund, that it is very desirable the lists, with the amount collected, should be returned to the Secretary on or before Saturday, the sth April, so that the sum total may be remitted to the Central Committee without delay. Signs of approaching winter are beginning to show themselves, the llawkduu ranges being covere 1 with snow almost to the foot on Monday last. M r Leask’s little boy. who was severely kicked by a horse at Ophir recently, is recovering rapidly. The Terrace Hundred, Clntha river, is proclaimed in the New Zealand Gaaette. T he survey of the Strath Taieri line is being proceeded with at a perceptible rate, the Engineer an 1 his staff haring arrived on the Dunstan Flat. On Monday last they erected for the first time their flags in Clyde Now that tho laying out of the Hue is completed, ve hope soon to hear of tenders for the various sections being c died for. It will be seen by advertisement that the Hon. William Fox, who is giving lectures throughout the country in the interests of the New Zealand Temperance Alliance, will address a public meeting in the Town Hall, Alexandra, to-morrow evening at 7 o’clock. He will also address a meeting in the Town Hall, Clyde, on Sunday next at 3 o’clock. Presbyterian services will be conducted at Matakanui, Blacks, and Ida Valley, on Sunday next.

kt the sale of Runs at the Wasto Lands Office, Dunedin, on the 17th instant, Kan No. 424, Waikaia, 11650 acres, upset price LI2C, was knocked down to Mr H. Driver, for Mr J. M‘(Cellar at the upset price. Mr Mervyn had bid L 260, hut he disputed it. It was again put up, Mr Mervyn’s bid being refused, though ho offered L2OO, and it was knocked down as above stated. Run 424 at Waikaia, 6150 acres, upset price L6o— Driver for Joseph Clark, L 129. Run 525b, Waikaia, 16,800, upset price LIOO, the same purchaser, L 205. Run 428, Waikaia. 10,000 acres, cpWt price L7O the same purchaser, L 220 Run 4.17, Earnsoleugh, 12,000 acres, upset price L6o— and Fraser. L 235. Mr Mervyn was the opposing bidder in every instance.

Mr Pox, whilst delivering his address on the Temperance question in Milton recent- | ly, observed that anyone might join the I New Zealand Temperance Alliance by paying a subscription of 6a. A publican from the body of the hall interrupted the lecturer to ask whether they would be willing to receive subscriptions from hotelkeepers. Mr Fox replied : “ Yes, we would be quite willing ; although,” he ad- 1 ded, “ it would come from a dirty source.” We have been requested to state that the large number of fires which have lately happened has induced the insurance companies to offer a reward of 1,200 for the conviction of any person setting fire to premises. This is a step in the right direction, and should be hniled with delight by those interested in our local companies, whose losses from suspicious fires have latterly been very large. A curious story is tol l about the recent exhibition of the electric light on board the Victorieuse in Sydney Harbour. It is said that the light was found suddenly to illuminate Mrs Macquarie’s Chair, and that a tnirtdle-a ed gentleman, who had not been observed previously, was notice* by the bystanders in the very act: of kissing a lady. Whatever the reason, he suddenly took to his heels. The man, we can imagine. is one , "t the frmest believers in the benefits of gas in Sydney. Clergymen, and others ton, might do worse than take a hint from some remarks by Archdeacon Innes at a Wesleyan tea meeting at Hamilton, where the Napier Telegraph reported him as saying ;—“ People tell me they are getting ‘ full’ of teameetings, and [ fear the reason is because ministers of religion often make s”ch great fools of themselves on these occa-ions. We talk so much twaddle that one would think the tea got into our heads! A gentleman who, on Sunday, caiefully prepares a sermon to deliver to his ordinary congregation, accepts an invitation to address double the number of people at one of these gatherings, and he begins by saying, ‘ Ladies and gentlemen, I have not prepared a speech!’ That is surely not a compliment to the company. Moreover some ' f the anecdotes related at times are simply imbecile. We must make our tea-meeting speeches more manly, and take more pains in their preparation, and especially have a care that our anecdotes are truthful. ”