The Dunstan Times. FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 1880.

Dunstan Times, Issue 926, 16 January 1880, Page 2

The Dunstan Times. FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 1880.

Beneath the rule, of men entirely justl/i PEN IS MIGHTIER than the SWORD.

In another column it is announced that the re-interment of the remains of the late Mr John Mellor, of Tinker’s Gully, who it will be remembered lied some short time back in Dunedin after but a short illness, will lake place on Sunday next, the 18th inst., in the Matakanui Cemetery ; and that the procession to meet the remains will start from his late residence in Tinkers Golly at 12 o’clock sharp ; and the body will leave Mill ward’s White Horse Hotel, where it is anticipated it will arrive on previous evening, at about the same thus. The deceased in life was a strictly honour able and conscientious business man, and by the exercise of good sound judgment, backed by industry and perseverance, had worked himself into a very comfortable position, and bad be but lived a few more short years he would have been in a position to retire and live peacefully on bis well earned capital. Th nigh a thoroughly strict man in business, be yet was warm-

heart'd an I liberal, •■u;l many is the man who owes him a debt of gratitude for the timely relief he afforded, either to help them on the road, or to enable them to prosecute to the end some seat of work comm'-need. He wis a sincere frien I and a kind and indulgent husband and parent, and his widow and family and large eirole of friends deeply mourn his loss. To [ay the last tribute of respect to the memory of deceased we shall hope to see a large concourse present, and assist in carrying out one of his last wishes, viz., that should the worst come ho might be buiiod in the neighbourhood where he had lived so many years.

The Treasurer of tho Dnnstan District. Hospital desires ns to acknowledge the receipt of L 6, the same having been collected by Mr A. A. Oliver from the shearers engaged on the Galloway Station.

We draw attention to the advertisement in another column giving notice that the Valuation lists forthe Ridings of Alatakanui, Manuherilda, Rarnscleugh and Dnnstan, in the Vincent County, for the year ending ISSO-Sl, are now open for inspection.

Wo beg to acknowledge receipt from the Government Printer of “Statistics of the Colony of New Zealand for IS7S,” and other papers. The Celebrated Blue Duck Claim at Tinkers Gulley, has had another splended washing up, fairly eclipsing all previous yields. The amount of gold obtained being 115(17 ounces, as the water run short, they had to be content with that lot, but it is estimated by the shareholders that there is another 700 to 1000 ounces of the precious metal in the tail ditch, but which cannot bo got till more rain falls.

The lute rains have had a gran 1 efT'et on the crops right throughout the district, and at the very lowest possible computation it will put an average of live bushels to the acre on all grain crops, whilst the improvement to root crops is incalculable. S me fields of oats are splendid, and the average yield it is estimated will be about forty bushels ; potatoes about five tons to the acre. The wheat is looking strong and particularly free from disease, and promises a better crop than ever. This is cheering and good news, and should tend in a degree to relieve the monetary pressure that is so very general. During a journey through the Matakauui Hiding we were particularly struck with the grand feed for cheep and cattle, both of which look remarkably wiT - • aicat" : ki ieoutr'st to other parts

o r the ' (unity where ra.i-.bits are plentiful We noticed, however, a good few ot the pest, towards the U«-«i of Challo Creek.

I The minors at Drybread are all in full I swing of work, with a plentiful supply of I water. Greenhank and M'Lean’s party are working three separate claims. One of these is now being washed up, and pre-ent appearances indicate a good return. This party work in a most systematic manner, and with a system that makes very poor j ground pay handsomely. The Welshman’s parly (Rowlands and Jones) have two faces open, and with a plentiful supply of water are taking out a lot of ground, and consequently doing well. Mr Charles Wise, the only other claimholder, is unfortunately short of water, and can work only about half time. In the long run from year to year he succeeds in making a good thing of it. A ll the miners on this Retd have very comfortah'e residences, ami the neat gardens surrounding them, and the many cultivate! patches dotted about the hills and gullies give the place an appearance of contentment and stability. The township is not particularly pretentious, the business places being confined to a hotel and store, kept hy a very worthy man named Henry Duck, and a butchery, hy Keenan and Morgan, a well known firm.

We observe hy advertisement that Messrs Dimaiit and Co., drapery importers, will in a few days pay a short visit to the Blacks, Tinkers, St. Bathans, and Naseby Districts.

At a meeting of the Committee of the Presbyterian Church, Alexandra, it was resolved—“ That a cordial vote of thanks be recorded to the Alexandra Town Council for the free use of the Town Hall on the days of the bazaar, to the Alexandra Brass Band for their services during the evenings of the bazaar, to the ladies for their kind services at the stalls, to Mr George Faclic, auctioneer, for his gratuitous valuable services in selling on both evenings of the bazaar, ami to all donors and contributors to the bazaar, and that the conductor of Dunstan Times be requested to publish same ”

We have much pleasure in announcing that the Dispensing establishment, lately conducted by Mr Henry Hotop, will be reopened for business within a few days, by Mr 1! L, Begg.

The bridge across the Mannherikia at 1 Blacks is lieing pushed ahead, the w hole of i the wires and iron work is on the ground, I and the wooden superstructure is all to- ’ Kether and litted on the shore. Three or j I four months at the outside should see it i well nigh completed. s By request we draw attention to the sale 1 of valuable mining properties at Tinker’s 1 gully and Drybread by order of the executors of the estate of the late John Mellor. 1 d his sale presents a most favorable opportunity for investment, or to men who are ' desirous of purchasing a good mining interest to represent personally. 1 The Interprovincial Cricket Match between Otago and Canterbury has again been won by Canterbury—for the sixth * time in succession, fn their first innings 1 Canterbury scored 190, and in the second * 15 for the loss of one wicket. Otago made 1 105 in the first, and 99 in the second innings. Canterbury thus won by nine wickets, and of previous matches Canter- C bury lias won ten and lost six. i The Armw’town correspondent to the * Cromwell Argus says : ‘•'i’ii.i Like Comity ‘ Council is fast dev. loping int., a bear-gar- : den ; every succeeding meeting excels its , 1 predecessor in riot and violence.’ - He be; to acknowle ge receipt of tiro 1 1 first number of -‘The Fresin ismi,” a i journal intended to promo e the interes's ■ ' of the craft. It is well print 'd in Messrs 1 Maekay, Bracken, and Co.’s (Dunedin) usual style. Mr Symons, pianoforte tuner, intimates by notice in our advertising columns, that he will stay in the district to-day and tomorrow Mr Symons brings with him some most excellent credentials, which we j have inspected. We accordingly recommend those who have pianos or barmo niums to take advantage of Ins visits and . engage him to overhaul them. The quarterly attendance returns that j have just boon compiled by the Otago j Education Board show that the number of children on the roll at the beginning of t the quarter was 10,079. and at the end of ] the quarter 17,784, consisting of 9194 boys ( and 8590 girls. The average attendance t for the quarter was 7732 boys and 0905 f girls, making a total of 14,037, which is an l increase of 1230 over the previous quarter, ( and the highest average which has ever j been attained in Otago. The number of . teachers employed by the Board was 209 i males and 145 females, making a total of i 354, besides 15 teachers of sewing. No i now schools have been opened in the dis- r triot during the quarter. But for the want i of school accommodation the attendance i would have been much larger. The “Postscripts” writer in the Star says:-“ The Canny Scotchman or Glas gow Irishman who endeavoured to work a point in the matter of the Southern Market ' Reserve, Dunedin, must lie a sad and sorry man just now. lie has the use of | j that eligible plot of ground six weeks for . the purpose of exercise or exhibition (of himself), and has the pleasure of paying 1.60 for the privilege. It. is not, however, generally known bow it came about that 1 the advance agent of the circus manage 1 to elude the necessity of paying the largo terms asked for occupation of the reserve, i and got a capital site elsewhere for a mere 1 trifle. Circus frequenters, it seems, are not only numerous, hut, possibly from the ; effects of sawdust getting into their throats, I i exceptionally thirsty. Those interested in a certain big hotel saw the chance, and I he 1 thing was worked through a disinterested I friend.” The following paragraph wc extract from j the Clnth.a Loader : “ That the citizens 1 of Bnlclulha arc of a sporting turn of mind ( may be gar-ben;: from the fact tint at the ■ present time tip re aivro fewer than f-igl ly ! 1 two dogs registered i.i tip- municipal hooks. «

It may safely l)e assumed that there are at least as many, if not more, whose owners have modestly kept out of the way of the collector, and wo have not, the slightest fear of contradiction when we proudlv assert that the burgesses of this favored borough are in the happy possession of IC4 curs of various sorts and sizes. If we wore asked to what purposes all these representatives ot the canine foully were applied wo should bn compelled to acknowledge our utter ignorance, nii Iwe fear the owners are in a like position. The simple fact is, that it has become the fashion to keep a dog of some sort ; if you .are in the receipt of a good income, then a greyhound is the prop r thing? If only in moderate circumstances, a retriever will he the tiling for for a man of your cast ; and if in the unfortunate position, which is so well described as “ taking all your time to make hotkeuds meet,” you must put up with any mongrel you can lay hands on, but better this than no dog at all ”

While the Tuapeka County 0 nnncil were rising from their labors on Friday night, and the rough minutes had been read, a Councillor asked the Chairman whether it would he in order for him to move an adjournment for two months. The Chairman thought it was not in order. Another Councillor suggested that the adjournment might he made for six months ; hut the suggestion was received in solemn silence. We record both queries, however, because they seem to us fairly pertinent in the present congested condition of the Comity chest. If the Council, as appeares, have not a penny to spend, why sit for eight or ten hours once a month ? A Councillor suggested some months ago to give the Engineer a long holiday to visit the Sydney Exhibition. Were the Council to adopt a similar suggestion as applicable to themselves it might he worthy of consideration at this juncture.

Recently at T.ap.anui an extensive hush fire raged in the hush there destroying valuable timber. As the timber belongs to the Covernment no one t-'ok sufficient interest to extinguish it

T e following is from the Geelong Times How are the mighty fallen ' A greyhound with a p Migree dating hack as far as Master M’Cratli, was sold by order of the assignee in an insolvent estate recently. The auctioneer dilated for a considerable time on the merits of the animal, concluding his peroration with start the bid-duo at 1/20 ? ” There was no

response for some time, when at length a bold speculator)- butcher’s boy shouted out “ i’ll give you a ' bob ’ for him, master ; ” and no advance being made over this liberal offer the auim d was knocked down. A rival butcher's hoy, who was envious of the purchaser, here remarked, “ I suppose your master will lower the price of sausages now; why, heT weigh 201bs. ” A number of residents mustered on Grouv.vci! ii.ii, on Friday afternoon to witness a lumdre I yards spin between two youths, representatives of Clyde and Cromwell respectively. The result was a victory fur the Cromwell 1 id, James Coodger, who touched the tape a yard in advance of his opponent, Master Iveddeli. During the last few days (says the Lyttelton Tiiin’s) two or Hire license holders have ii.-un indulging in tin very unsportsm udi ;e co:i .net of cross-fishing the Avon from the uaritou bridge to some distance down the terrace. To the uninitiated, cru.-sdidiiug consists of two rod-holders (a-igicr-s would be a misnomer), one on each side of Hi.: ruor with limit- lines tied, aud having dies of various kinds, strung therefrom noarlr ibe wh-.ie width of the river, i’-ieso pers -ns wooit slowly along the bank, “dipping "as they go, and through each end of tiie line being controlled, the artilieia'iiy can be mi!e to drop as naturally on the uaiei'as a living fly. When a fish is struck. Hie rod hj >;dar near to the nicest lan-iio .--place reels in, while- his friend on the other side pays out. It a strong and “ troublesome" happens to be hooked, he is played out. hacku aids aud forward across stream. And his is called sport! Every part-if the riv-l is thus fished by this means, ami one evening’s woik will clean out th-> stretch of river manipulated upon. So ki Hug is this practice that at Home a heavy penalty, with the alternative of imprisonment, awaits offenders. In the case under reference the crossfishers secured in one hour the other evening a bagfull of trout. As no power exists under the present Fisheries Act (of which the parties seem to he aware) unless the Acclimatisation Society takes prompt measures to make cross fishing illegal, it will he useless fir them to spend money in breeding trout or salmon, as by the above means the Canterbury streams can can he as efficaciously cleaned out as if a not were used.

At Stawell (Victoria) on New Year's Day, one of the pedestrians, named Gough, challenged a man nine I Murphy (who acted as starter) to fight, The challenge was accepted, and in tin: first round Murphy struck Ornish in the region of the heart. Aftei receiving the blow Gmigh turned to face hi> antagonist, and dropped .lead. Reminiscences of the Victorian bushranging days of the Black Forest, when Black Douglas ruled the road between Aiken's Uap and Sawpit Gully, were recalied recently (it the Melbourne Police Court, when an aged blind man, named Thomas Flood, who for the last score of years lias subsisted on the charity of the public, was charged, for about the dozenth time, with vagrancy. Flood stated that he had ahour. 2 ounces of shot and slugs in his faeo and heat, which had been lodged there by the fowling-piece nf one of Black Douglas's p,ni)(; in on bncounter with a party of d'igeva, who wove returning from Forrest Creek after boVlna made their "pile." Flni-d. it appears, wna one of the luckey diggers, and twisted the lobbers, who eventually I'd , ; a'.cd without obtaining

their expected booty. Since that time Flood has earned a precarious livelihood by begging. The prisoner, whoso story was corroborated by Mr W. H. Whelan, the clerk of the Court, was sent to gaol for 12 months. There is a right way and a wrong way, a hard way and an easy way, an awkward way and a skilful way, to catch and handle sheep. A great many men will catch the sheep by the wool on the hack with both hands, and lift the animal clear from the ground by the wool only- Barbarous! Let some great giant grasp you by the hair of your head and lift yon from the ground by the hair only 1 Would you struggle and squirm worse than the mute sheep does when lifted by the wool? And would there not he a complaint of a sore head tor a week or two 1 ff you do not believe it try the experiment. We have slaughtered a great many sheep in years past, anil when removing the pelts of such sheen as had been handled by the wool, we never failed to observe that beneath the skin, whereever the animal had been caught by the wool, blood had settled. In many instances the skin has been separated apparently. We have known proprietors of sheep to he so strict in iegard to handling them, that they would oHer a helper from the premises if he were to catch a sheep by the wool or any part of the body. Some owners of sheep direct them helpers thus: “When about to catch a sheep move carefully towards the one to be taken, until you are sufficiently near to spring quickly and seize the beast by both ends, then pass one hand round the body, grasn the brisket, and lift the sheep clear from the ground. The wool must not be pulled. If the sheep be a heavy one, let one hand and wrist, be put round the neck and the arm pressed against the leg.” We never grasp the wool Others seize the sheep by the hind leg, and throw one arm around the hotly and take hold of the brisket with one hand, both ewes and lambs should never he caught by the hindlegs, unless they are handled with extreme care. When sheep are handled roughly, especially if their wool is pulled, the small bruises and injuries will render them more wild and difficult to handle.—Exchange