The Dunstan Times FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 1879.

Dunstan Times, Issue 904, 15 August 1879, Page 2

The Dunstan Times FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 1879.

Beneath the rule of men entirely just the pen is mightier than the SWORD.

Mr Vincent Pyke in another column intimates that it is hia intention to again stand for re-election for the Duustan District at the coming general election, and that he will publish his Address in the course of a few days. Prom the attitude assumed by the electors, in so far that not a sound has been made or note struck in opposition, we conjecture that the seat is not to bo contested. Eumour, reaching even so far as Dunedin, has it is true been busy with the name of one gentleman as likely to come forward, but nothing official or from headquarters, that is from the gentleman himself. having reached us, we treat it as a rumour and nothing else. We have ever strongly advocated the cause of Mr Pyke, and no reason good or valid being given us to change our views, we purpose to again support him, and in enlisting the assistance of every voter in the Dunstan District, we do so in the firm conviction that by so doing we shall not alone benefit Mr Pyke, but to an equal extent ourselves. During the nine years Mr Pyke has represented

the district, his policy in the Bouse has been a general one, provocotive of discussion, we will admit, in many instances, but in the main tending to the welfare of no class but of the masses, while outside of the Hosue he has been patient even to a fault in investigating individual requirements, and we may say, lavish with both his time and substance in getting the demands satisfied. From his long acquaintance with, and intiamte knowledge of the district, no one corner of it being foreign to him, his arguments in favor of it carry weight, and into his hands the district can safely place itself.

We are informed that progress is so far made that the foundation stones of the Eastern pier of the bridge at Alexandra will be laid this day. The water is, however, very troublesome, it increasing materially in volume, as the area opened for the foundation enlarges. From the same source we learn that the Borough Council have called for tenders for the northern approach to the bridge over the Manuherikia.

Since the publication of the rolls for the year 1879-1870, the names of several members of the late Parliament are discovered to be omitted, through some error, from any roll, much as may be imagined to their disgust and annoyance. An attempt was made to rectify the mistakes by Mr Murray proposing in the House “ That measures be taken for enabling ratepayers, whose names do not appear on elect ral rolls from any fault of their own obtaining legislation.” On being brought to a division, it was, hov ever, lost by 29 against IS. Under the regulations published in the Gazette, under the Electric Telegraph Act, 1875, we notice that Clyde is the only Telegraph Office on the Otago gold-fields that is open on the Sunday from 10 a.m till 10.30., and 5 p.m., till 5.30. p.m., all the other offices being open only during the tatter hours.

The Wellington correspondent of the Lyttelton Times says that Vincent Pyke was induced to join the Fox party on the understanding that he is to receive the portfolio of Minister of Mines in the coming administration.

The past week has brought a complete change in (ho weather, the hard dry fiosts being succeeded by soft rains on the low lands, and snow on the mountains. The effect has been to unlock the land from its frozen bonds, thus allowing the farmers to commence ploughing, and giving the miners in many instances water to sluice with. Though, as we hear, that many of the creeks up country are running pretty strong, there is no perceptible change as yet in the volume of water in the Molyneux. The present low level cannot, however, be expected to continue much longer. The Cromwe l ! Argus learns that Mr F. Jeffery, who for the past two or three years has occupied the position of bailiff and under clerk in the R. M. Court, Cromwell, has been promoted to a responsible position at Roxburgh.—We, Dunstan Times, believe the position is that of Receiver of Revenue, and Clerk to the R,M. and Warden’s Courts.

Amongst the Candidates to come forward to represent the Lakes, the name of Mr H. J. Finn, Barrister, is named. Mr Macassey has declined to contest the seat. Mr J. C. Chappie notifies in another column a sale at German Hill, of a hotel, a lot of first class cows, horses and a valuable mining interest, on Monday the 25th of August.—See advertisement. In answer lo Mr J. C. Brown and Mr De Labour, Sir George Grey promised that the L 50,000 arrears of Laud Fund due to Otago Counties should be placed on the Esthnates for the consideration of the new Parliament.

The Evening Star’s correspondent writes as follows :—“ The coming elect ions are beginning to make a stir amongst politicians The probable candidates for the Wakatip are Mr Thomas Fergus, Mr William Mason Mr James Macassey, Mr H. Manders, and Mr Finn Queenstown will largely support Mr Mason ; the Arrow will support Mr Fergus. Neither Mr Manders nor Mr Finn wiM probably obtain many votes, the others having been first to declare themselves, Mr MaenScey will stand a firstrate chance, as people seem to think it was a mistake that he was not elected before. He is sure to poll well amongst miners.” A meeting of ladies of the Presbyterian Church was held in the School-room, Alexandra, on the evening of the 31st ultimo. An acting committee was appointed to receive and collect articles to be sent to the Gift Auction and Bazaar Sale, which is to held in Alexandra about the end of October, and to cooperate with the Church Committee in carrying ont the arrangements. From the numbers, both in the district and in the sir rounding parts, who have agreed to send contributions, it is anticipated that the Bazaar will be a success, and assist the Church committee, to improve and tastefully adorn the Church and grounds around it, which at the prssent time is much nseded. The Presbytery of Clutha, at its last meeting, also, recommended that a grant of LSO should be given to the congregation at Alexandra for the purchase of a piece of ground for glebe. We have to acknowledge from the Government printer rec -ipt of batch of parliamentary papers, including a most voluminous document, covering some 600 pages, being the second annual report of the Minister of Education ; the twentieth annual report of the Post Office Department, also, Nos. 4 and 5 of Hansard.

A miner, well hnowa throughout the district, named Edward Ba-nes, fell down the Cromwell Company’s shaft, atßendigow, a depth of 200 feet, and broke his leg. Mr Walter Inder, of Kaseby, has been appointed a Justice of the Peace for the Colony of New Zealand.

At the last sitting of the Lake County Council held on the 4th instant, it was unanimously resolved “ That, owing to the heavy outlay to which the Council will be subjected for some time to come; that no new works, unless those of a positively urgent nature, be undertaken for a period of six months from that date.”

The meeting of the.. County Council to have been held an Friday last, lapsed for want of a quorum, only one member putting in an appearance. The correspondent of the Daily Times in noticing the fact, says : —“ Having no money to spend, the inference is that Councillors consider it useless to attend.” An old miner, named Richard David M‘Donald, formerly of New Zealand, was found dead in his hut at Young, New South Wales, having cut his throat with a knife. There was found on him L 22 in cash, and Bank deposit receipt for 1 800. He was a Canadian, and it is thought he he had no relations in the Colony. The New .South Wales correspondent of the Daily Times says :—“ This may attract the attention of someone who knew him in New Zealand.”

ASgles says : —“ Another Chinese gentleman lately appeared in a witness-box at Hay. The clerk of the Bench inquired of him how he was usually sworn. The witness, who was evidently of an accommodating disposition, glibly replied, “ Ah I kiss him book—kill him cock—blow him match s’help me Bob—all along the same. !”

An amusing incident in connection with the Weiherg trial occurred. A constable who was stationed at one of the doors stopped every one who tried to get into the court, whether they had business fthere or not, and it occasionally took some trouble to convince himlthat some’people were’not desirous of entering out of mere curiosity. After the adjouinmeut forlTunch, the prisoners were being brought into Court, and as usual they preceded the turnkeys, but the constable did not'recognise them, and wan ed to know what their business was. Thetu.nkeys, however, set him right on that score.—Australasian.

William Madam was sentenced for two mouths’ imprisonment, with hard labor, by Mr Warden Stratford at Queenstown, on Wednesday last, for striking a police constable. The defendant pleaded intoxication, and ignorance of what he was doing, but the several witnesses proved that he was sober.

An Invercargill, tradesman in the nursery seed line has hail his eyes opened to “ ways that are dark, ” practised by other than the inhabitants of the flowery land. Anxious to extend his business, and by way of offering facilities for opening up a trade in the interior, he advertised that samples would be forwarded on application. He patiently awaited the result. By-and-by he received a number of letters from some obscure and out of the way place requesting “ samples ” to be forwarded. Of course this was done

with alacrity, the tradesman expecting that a profitable order would be the result. Weeks rolled on, but no orders came, although applications for “samples continued to be received. The tradesman at last became suspicious, and on making inquires he found that a number of people had been stocking their gardens on the cheap with “samples” The confiding tradesman has registered a vow that he will be more particular in future to whom he send? “ sanples.”