The Dunstan Time. FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 1880.

Dunstan Times, Issue 927, 23 January 1880, Page 2

The Dunstan Time. FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 1880.

'eneaOi the rule of men emtirkly just</i PEN is mightier than Ihf SWORD.

The present Committee of the Clyde School, and for the matter of that no other Committee in this large district, that we have ever heard of, have as yet taken steps to enforce the compulsory attendance clause of the Education Act. Whatever it is that has held them back from carrying out this clause we cannot divine. From the number of children who are to he seen every dav, in whatever direction one takes, lying about in idleness, in other cases, poor little things scarce able to tell a cow from a horse, yet are engag'd in semi-manual v.o.k, there have leva no lac!* of cases to

operate on. We draw attention to this subject, so that at the annual election of Committees f o he held on Monday, the 20;h, an effort will be made to secure those on each Board who will fearlessly perform their duties in this direction. It must be borne in mind that in accordance with the strength of the attendance roll so does the school rate, and if with the material at hand— that is if the Committee quietly submits to an average attendance of 80 out of a possible 100, or so on in proportion—then to them is due the blame if their school does not rate so high as it should. When school fees were charged, inability to pay was the excuse of many, but now that the school doors are open free that excuse docs not hold good. The duty of the parent is to educate his offspring, hut if he fails, from whatever cause, then he should he made, and to make him is the duty of the Committees ; and none but those who are willing to perform this duty should be eWo.,) on Monday »xening next. At the last meeting of the Waste Lands Board on the motion of Mr Bastings it was resolved That, all deferred payment land having been opened tor three j-ears and not taken up, and any cancelled licenses that have been re-opened and not applied for. necessary steps shall be taken to have the same proclaimed open for sale by auction at 20s per acre." In moving above resolution Mr Bastings said he had hoped that some provision would have been made uu der the new Land Act to deal with deferred payment setions, but this bail not been done. Throughout the country vast areas of land have been thrown open under the deferred payment system, and in some of these blocks certain sections have not been good agricultural land, the consequence being they have not been taken up amt fallen into the hands of the Board again. Thus in either case the land is Ling dormant, is only a nuisance to settlers in the county, and is a universal cause of complaint. The cattle that stray on these blocks do not stay there, but break down the settlc-is' fences and do a deal of damage in many other respects. It was in consequence of there being no provision made under the new Act to deal with such land that he move 1 the present resolution.— The motion was put and carried unanimously. The above r solution has a double effect first, that of enabling many holders of deferred payment areas to increase the size of their holdings, a thing never contemplated by the frame’S of the Act, who laid it down as a principle that no man who secured his land under that regulation should hold more than 320 acres ; and secondly, which is not of lessor importance, it lays down the price of lan Is of inferior quality at 20a per acre. Mr Bastings, during his seat at the Board, hashit out straight foom the shoulder in the direction of settling the people on the land. This last act will have a more direct effect than all previ ms ones, and wo think he is justly entitled to the thanks of all classes.

The Public Meeting convened by Vincent Pyke, Esq., Chaiim.m of Vincent County for Saturday evening next the 24 .U instant to initiate a subscrip'ion in aid of th “Irish Distress Relief Fund” will, as a matter of course from the nature of things, command a large attendance, but whether the cause warrants that opeu-haiHed liberality so conspicuous not only in Vincent County, but from one end to the other of Otago, is a question we will not take upon ours-ives to answer We, however, assume the right of comment, and of putting the ma tor in a lijht in which perchance it may not have appeared to many of our readers We fully admit that the extent ot the misery is truly lame..table, but we will ask ; are not the channels of relief far more numerous nearer home than here ; and further, are not there plenty and to spare of most worthy in lividual cases and Institutions at our elbows to swallow up every available coin there is to spare for charitable purposes ? In cases of a National disaster, as this distress can justly be called, it is the dutv of the Government to step in and give the required relief. To this opinion we incline, and if we rightly interpret a late telegram from London, wherein it says “ That subscriptions to the Duchess of Marlborough’s Fun I are coining slowly in, as an impression prevails that the Duchess’ Fund is intended to relieve the Government of the responsibility of providing relief”- the people of England hold the same views, or with money so abundant a larger amount than L 14.000 would have been subscribed. Besides the Government, there are other legitimate sources to draw from, and if all come down so handsomely as the Irish Church, who, out of its surplus funis give L250.0 ! 10, we think we are perfectly right in saying there is no need for the Australias to taka from its own needy their dues. The distress, though to be deplored, is not so gnat but that a good season, and the means at home can, if properly dealt with, relieve it. Should that, however, be found wanting, which a few months will tell, or for the matter of that the cable would in a few hours, then would bo time enough for the Colony as one man to look the trouble in the face, and from the fulness of its heart, and the plentitudc of its purse give to the full ext cut of its means. What we have sai I, we do not suppose ; in truth, we sincerely hope will not have the effect of staying the truly wonderful flow of generosity the Colonists are famed for ; our aim is to regulate it, and by one and all we trust our remarks will bo taken in the ! same kindliness of spirit in which they are written. Since the above was in type, we understand that a meeting for a like purpose will he held at Alexandra on Saturday evening next, Mr James Rivers, Mayor, being the convener.

The Animal Mc:;lLn 3 ' of resi tents fnr the elettion o' Reboot Committees throughout tho County will he hold in the respective School-houses on Monday evening Lost the 23th iustupt.

j The lately surveyed block of land on Earncleugh run failing entirely in giving satisfaction to any of the interested parties whether intending applicants, or runholder. Accordingly a meeting was held on <bo ground during the week amongst whom were Mr Vincent Pyke, Mr Fraser, Mr Pvivera Mayor of Alexandra, Mr M'Cinnis member of the County, and some others, when such an understanding was arrived at that when resurveyed all parties will ho satisfied. By the new survey the main road instead of as now coming through tho ccntie of the flat and crossing the Earnscleugh river some three quarters of a mile below the station, will cross the river immediately below the station and then follow the foot of the ranges to Conroy’a Gully. This survey will we believe not only shortened the road by nearly a mile hut more ”ood land will he included than in the former survey. Wo are particularly requested to state that in consequence of unlorsecn delays in Dunedin in the removal of the body of the late Mi J. Mellor, of Tinkers, the re-inter, ment is postponed for a short time. Duo notice of the date to he hereafter fixed upon will he given.

The next ordinary two-monthly meeting of the Vincent County Council will he held in the County Offices, Clyde, on Wednesday next the 28th instant. From the Order Paper, which appears in another column it will he seen that the meeting will not he a long one, except that the Report of the Committee appointed at the last meeting to t > take into consideration the financial condition of the County, is voluminous and aggravates discussion. The newly elected Member for Matakunui (Mr John Stronach) vicr. Mr W. Greenback, resigned, it is expected will take his seat.

Messrs Dow ami On., contractors for the aililitinns ami repairs to both Alex m Ira ami Clyde Schools, we nnderstrn I have completed hoth jobs, giving in each instance satisfaction to the respective Committees. The new work lieaiile the oM gives the whole a patched appearance, and wo fail to a-.-e on what principle tne Education Board’s architect or the building inspector could have been working in recommencing such patched woik to he hone.

It is announced elsewhere that a party of amateurs styling themselves the “Star \ ariety I'ronpo ” will give an cnrertainineut in the Town Hall, Clyde, this (Friday) evening, the 27'h inst , in aid of the fun.ls of the Dunstan District Hospital. Tho offering is a purely voluntar- one, and it is to he hoped the public one and all will respond to the invitation, and cive the troupe a bumper house. The character of tho entertainment can he seen from tho adver tisement, hut we may say amongst the performers are some vocalists ami instrumentalists of no mean order, and who are wed worth hearing. Ihe newly-elected Babbit Trustees seek the services of a collector and inspector, A New Zealand Press Consultation on the Dunedin Cup has been -started in Dunedin, ami the inducements to join may bo seen m another column. It will ho under the superintendence of highly respectable gentlemen connected with the Ibess. As the list is rapidly tilling up, earl- application for tickets is necessary. Wo hear that Mr Thomas I-'gan, tho well known reefer, has been on a visit to the Maeetown reefs, and that after inspecting the Tipperary claim he was so well satisfied witlt Us prospects that lie brought into it laigely at L'Jd per share. "Evening Star.” A troupe styling themselves " The Alexandra Ama’cur Christy Minstrels,” hag recently been formed at Alexandra, ami in our advertising columns they announce that their first perfm mince will he given in the Town flail there next Friday evnrng, the ,‘iUth inst. Alexandra is noted for its musical talent, and we doubt not the troupe embraces the bcs„ of it. Bones and Tatnbo, however, we recognise as very old ami favourite public pert m iners, and if they are the same who played with the “ Original Christy® ’’ they are really firstrate. In addition to a good singing jrogramme, they play two farces, and there will lie a dance aftenvar la.

Messrs Clark, Green and Bastings have been re-appointed members of the Waste Lands Board.

We have receive! a copy of a journal published in Tumut, New South Wales, bearing the somewhat startling title of “The Matrimonial Gazette." Before we opened it we expected an oil,a podrida of literary rubbish, but to our surprise its contents are anything but that, some very readable matter being in its pages. Several advertisements appear on the back page from parties desirous of entering th- bonds of Hymen, wlti-h have the appearance of bona tides. We have little doubt but that the matrimonial chronicle will work its way into favour. The Gromwed Argus says It will be remembered that “ome three years since a miner named M’Keown was reported to have been lost on his j-m-ney from Groin well to Nevis, of which latter placebo was a well-known resident. Active sc irch was instituted at the time, but without finding any trace of the missing man. From information received through a party of Chinese, Constable Bridgenian yesterday proceeded to Carrie!; Range, and near the beat! of the Bannockburn Creek found tho skeleton of a human being. From the remnants of clothing about tint remains and ,a few so ups of papers in the pockets —one addressed to the man M'Keown—there can lie iittle doti t as to the indenii y . f the remains. They were f nr.d under a high precipice, and from the position it is supposed that the unfortunate man —who at the time wa- in a weekly >taie, having a short, time previously 1 ft Cromweli Hospital ha I soa.lit shelter from a storm, an I{d! a victim to exp sure. An inquest will bo held on Friday.

Application 'vo understand has boon ma le thmugb the District Land Officer tor the extension of the survey of Township s -eiinna, Ophir, and that the same may he early placed in the market. With the survev extended, the new Court House and same other buildings that are contemplated’ eivcie i, Ophir will present a very substantial appearance.

P osbyterian services will be h"ld on the 1 . February at Matakanul at 11,33. am.; and Blacks 3 p ni.

A Royal Arch Chapter of masons has been established at Naseby. Mr Ireland, M.H, R. for Waikaia, met hi« constituents at Ettrick on Monday week last, when an elector (Mr J. Kerr) said • He considered Mr Ireland did not get ennu di for the district, citin • as a case how MrJ. 0 Brown, before he was elected for Tuapeka. assu r cd his constituents that if they ret urned him at the hea l of the poll, be would get a railway in 12 months—and did. Mr Ireland said ha had done his best for the district, ami ha I got the promise of a survey of a line of Railway. Furthermore, Mr Kerr must remember that men sere not all J. C. Browns

In replying to a deputation which Waited upon him in a North Island town recently. Major Atkinson, the Colonial Treasurer, s.aid that he could not give any indication us to when subsi lies to local ho lies were likely to cease. The Government had promi-ed to bring down a scheme next session. The subsidies were provided for op to the end of March, and really Ihe finances of the country were in such a deplorable condition as to give him grave cause for anxiety.

At a mooting at Christchurch of the Association for encouraging local industries hold on the IGth inst., the president said tha’ Mr of the firm of Watson, Oow, and Co., large, ironfounders in Glasgow. had, during his recent visit to Christchurch, called on him, and in a course of conversation state 1 that, after seeing a locally ■manufactured stove at the foundry of Sc > t Brothers, it would be useless to send any more stoves to this part of the Co'ooy, as they c mid not compete at Ho ne with such articles.

A Co-operative Universal Emigration Cluh has just been formed in London, having for its object the assistance of working m m in all parts of the kingdom to emigrate. The henelits of the club are obtained by ballot. Count Fleury has offered CO,QUO acres in West Virginia to the club on condition that the emigrants pay one-third of the profits. Captain “Jack’’ Barry has strongly advised working men to join the club, which, it is th./Ught, will soon have branches in all parts of the kingdom. The crushing of the Keep i -Dark Mining Comoany realised 2270z of amalgum from IGI tons of stone.

Mr Mortimer, proprietor of the London ‘ Figaro, ’ has been sentenced to three months' imprisonment, and ordered t > pay a line of LKK), for publishing articles on the lunacy laws written by Mrs Weldon, alleging that she was deprived of liberty ly the conspiracy of her husband and General Sir 11 de Bathe.

A love tragedy occurred at Emerald Hill. Wade, late firenian of the steamer Suava, endeavored to enter a house where as Miss Driver, a servant lived. She was one.; engaged to him, hut the match hail hecu broken off. She refused to admit him, whereupon lie tired twice at her with a revolver, missing her. She then escaped to a neighbour’s house. Wale, after trying to gain admittance, blew his own brains out. Cheek is a plant that 11 mrishes in the far 'Vest much more luxuriously than anywhere else in the world. A burglar broke into a 1 iwyer’s house in F irt Scott, Kansas. Ho was Scott. When lodged in god, he sent, for the lawyer and offered him half the spoil if lie would doieu 1 tho case.