The Dunstan Times.

Dunstan Times, Issue 913, 17 October 1879, Page 2

The Dunstan Times.

Beneath the rule of men entirely just the pen is mightier than fhe» word.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1879.

We need scarcely remind our readers that the Alexandra Eaces come off to-day. We remind members of the Lodge T»nnstan, No. 470, S.C., that a meeting will be held this evening, in the Town Hall, at 8 o’clock, for the nomination ot officers for the, ensuing year. We regret to hear that on some of the more exposed runs the mortality amongst the young Janihs is far and away above the

average. The weather of late has been very trying, hot and cold days following each other in quick succession. What with one loss and another, the lessened carrying capacity of the runs through the rabbit peat, the continued low prices quoted for the staple aHic'e wool, followed by this last source of loss, the prospects of the pastoral tenants are in no wise encouraging. But it is to be B'ncere'y hoped there is a silver lining to the black cloud at present surrounding the inte-est. To all accounts the poisoned wheat now being used on mo> t of ibe rim* is diminishing the .alibit nuisance, but it must of a necessity be a long lime before they are eradicated.

The contra cl or for tbe fencing in of the Alexandra Court Hone has begun this work. We no 1 ice 1 bat ; he picket fence is to he carried over the top of the rocks which surround the Court House building. This may save a little money, but it certainly does not say much for the taste of those who have authorised the wo'k being carried out as it seems to he intended. Tt might have been a saving, had the whole of the Government reserve been fenced in at the one time. The new Court House would have looked well with a neat picket fence round it ; but, if ihe present intentions are carried out the fence will be unsightly enough.

The Stewards of the Dunstan Jockey Club met on Wednesday evening, when the entries for the two handicaps (which will be found in our advertising columns) weie received. For the D.J.C. Handicap there are nine entries, and for the Vincent Handicap eleven entries. These numbers cannot but be looked upon as highly satisfactory, and if the handicappers should only be lucky enough to please the owners, we shall have two good fields at any rate. The weights for the D.J.C. Handicap will be declared at 8 p.m. on Saturday, and for the \ incer.t Handicap after the running for the D. JC. Handicap. The other events are post entry. We are requested to intimate that the first race will be run at 1 o’clock sharp. A public meeting is called for Saturday the 25 th instant at the Town Hall, Alexandra bv the Mayor of that town for the purp ’se of taking steps to procure a road to be opened to the Waikai Rush. This meeting should be well attended, not only by the residents in and about Alexandra, but the whole of those interested in the settlement of the people on the land iu the whole of the district. The formation of this road means cheap timber, and this should have the desired effect of causing a large attendance. We intend in our next issue to draw further attention to this subject. We would particularly draw attention to tbe advertisement in another column, to the effect that the Alexandra Brass Band will, with their usual courtesy, play for a dance after the Race Meeting.

In drawing attention to the Chureb of England Soiree, to take place on Friday, the 28th inst,, we may state that the affair is likely to be pitvonised by visitors from all parts, and as the programme will include vocal ami instrumental music, magic lantern, &c., it cannot but give pleasure to all comers.

We have to acknowledge receipt of a batch of Parliamentary Papers from Mr George Didsbury, Government Printer, and also the first two numbers of Hansard of the first session of the seventh Parliament of New Zealand.

From the annual return from the Sheep Inspector’s Office, Dunedin, we notice that since the previous return of 1878 there is a decrease in the number of sheep of 445,837. The report says the losses on freeholds are to be accounted for by the severe snowstorms, followed by floods in the spring, but the fact is too apparent that where the country is most infested with rabbits there the greatest loss has taken place.

The Waters trial was concluded on Tuesday, when the jury returned a verdict of “ not guilty,” and he was discharged. The prisoner appeared to be very much excited over the result of the case, and was warmly congratulated by his friends. At. the silting of the Waste Lands Board held on the Bth iastant, Mr Charles Coldough, on behalf of Mr Charles Peake, asked that the surveyed township of Bannockburn should be olfered for sale, so 'hat Mr Peake should he allowed to purchase the section on which his hotel stands. —lt was agreed to offer the township for sale when convenient, the price of sections being reduced from LIO, at which they were previously offered to L 7 10s. It is rumoured in the Lake district that Mr Mason, one of the defeated candidates at the late election is moving for the unseating of Mr Finn, the successful candidate.

The last meeting of the Tnapeka County Council lapsed for want of a quorum, there being only one member present. There being no money in the County exchequer is to be ascribed the fact.

The Hawkes Bay Herald in referring to the Ministry likely to be fanned in the event of the Vote of Want of Confidence motion being carried, says •• Mr Pjke might be one. He has previously been a Minister, though notin this Colony, and he then made a very creditable figure. The portfolio of Mines and Customs would suit him admirably, and he would suit the portfolios, so that there are more improbable things than that Mr Pyke will shortly be addressed by the title of “ Hon. ’ He possesses considerable tact, is personally an exceedingly popular man, and he would duly impress the ladies gallery, for no man in the House is more particular about the outer man than the member for Dnustan. ”

Goldsborougb’s wool report for October is angthing but cheering. It says the English advices continue unsatisfactory, and we cannot discover any tendency towards improvement. Prices throughout the August and September sales ruled at a fall of W 2d per lb lower than May and June

rates, the prevailing commercial depression being assigned as the cause of the reduction. The total shipment from Melbourne for the year ending October Ist showed a decrease on the previous year of 6328 bales. The appointment of Mr Thomas Frederick Duke Jeffrey as Receiver of Gold Revenue and Mining Registrar for Roxburgh, as from the Ist of October, is notified in the Gazette. Mr Jeffrey, we understand, entered on his duties on Tuesday last. Mr James Benson of Ludgate Hill and Bond street, London, jeweller and watchmaker, whose advertisement appears in another portion of this paper, informs us by the last mail that he has been appointed by special warrant under the hand of the Lord Chamberlain, jeweller and watchmaker in ordinary to Her Majesty. The returns of the Otago Education Board for the quarter ending 30th September, which have just been completed, show that, there were 146 schools open, employ ing 206 male and 144 female teachers, besides 11 teachers of sewing. The number of children on the roll at the beginning of the quarter was 15,975, and at the end of the quarter 17,131, composed of 8815 hoys and 8236 girls. The average attendance for the quarter was 7120 boys ami 6281 girls, making a total of 13,401. The average for the previous quarter was 13,639, the decrease being attributable to the prevalence of whooping cough throughout the district. Two new schools were opened by the Board during the quarter. The writer of “ Postscripts ” m the Evening Star says Should Mr Macandrew succeed in ousting the present Ministry, and forming a Government with himself as Premier, we can only say that we sincerely pity the departments which come under the rule of Mr Vincent Pyke. His name is even now a bogy in the Victorian Government offices, where he resigned a short fifteen months. It will be a lively time for under secretaries and clerks, for will not the redoubtable Vincent “ tell his slaves how choleric he is, and bid his bondsmen tremble” ! The Civil Service, however, will not be the worse for a little stirup, and the opportunity of a little wholesome swearing, without the chance of being kicked, may not immpossibly relieve the bilious secretions of the honourable gentleman, and pereaps tend to lengthen his valuable life.”

Not less than four newspapers, t wo morning and two evening issues, are now appearing at Ashburton. Considering that less than three years ago that township did not possess a single periodical of any kind, this is perhaps the quickest journalistic progress ever made in any part of Zealand.

The Wellington Post is not complimentary to Mr J. C. Brown. Nature, it says, has made Mr J. 0. Brown very small, but he must have felt immeasurably smaller still when writhing under Mr Hall’s justly excited contempt, expressed in clear and unmistakeable terms. Some small men have large souls, but Mr J. C. Brown is not of the number, and ever since he entered Parliament his career has been a continued succession of petty proceedings. When, however, he ventures into print to libel better men than himself, and writes for publication charges against bis fellow membe-s which he has not the manliness

to make face to face, it is time that he should receive such punishment as was administered to him. The idea of anyone thinking Mr J. C. Brown worth buying, under any circumstances, is rather an absurd one ; but what, we may ask, can be the sense of honour of a man who if attempted to be bribed and bought., quietly pocketed the insult and said nothing about it for seven years, and remained on friendly terms with the person who deemed him likely to entertain dishonourable overtures?