Untitled

Dunstan Times, Issue 936, 26 March 1880, Page 2

It is proclaimed in the Gazette of the 11th instant, that the price of deferred payment lands, proclaimed before the Ist of January last, but not selected, is fixed at 30s per acre. We had expected that beside this announcement, it would also have been announced that a refund of 30s per acre would be made to all selectors, who came under the 60 th rule. It is very well known and even admitted on all sides, that it was purely and simply inadventure that so fixed the price, consequently it would be but an act of justice to make the refund. The question is one that affects every constituency, and we think it would not be out of place to jog the memory, or even to extract a pledge from their members_that at the next session, they would support any measure for the refund. Wo have received a sample of oats from the farm of Mr J. Glass, Ida Valley, which we think would be hard to beat. With the head it stands fully six feet high, the head itself being about nine inches. From one taken haphazard from the bundle we obtained 194 well-formed plump grains of oats. We notice the following amongst the recommendations on New Zealand exhibits by the judges at the Sydney International Exhibition “ J D. Feraud—A sample of well prepared raspberry vinegar, of good quality, but slightly fermented. Third degree of merit.” The other exhibitors in this article were—G. Dixon, of Wellington, who was awarded first and third degrees of merit; Kempthornc, Prosser, and Co., Dunedin, third degree ; and N. J. Moffatt, Invercargill, fourth degree. The following telegrams received by Mr Pyke, Chairman of Vincent County, relating to the opening of lands in the County, and the Strath Taieri line of railway, has been kindly placed atourdisposal Lagoon Gully Block, Poolburn blocks, and blocks on M’Laren’s run, all now open for application in Gazette No. 26, March 18th ; block 11, Wanaka, near Mt. Barker, 1900 acres ; and Anderson’s block of 2500 acres, preclaimed open for application on Thursday, May 6th ; Earnscleugh block will be proclaimed open as soon as the road survey is amended. Pastoral deferred payment blocks on Cargill and Anderson’s rnn not to be opened this year.—We are going to call for tenders for the next section of the Otago Central Line about the middle of April; this section will bring us on the plains at

the Sutton—it is ten miles long, and terminates at about 33 miles from the commencement of the line, and 40 miles from Dunedir. We have seen no end of paragraphs through the papers of the yield of wheat and oats in the Canterbury country, but as yet we have seen nothing to equal the yield from the first threshing in this County, which totted up the respectable figure of 93 bushels of clean grain ready for gristing to the acre. The crop was grown on Mr Lees’s farm on the bank of Spottis Creek, and was threshed out by Mr Jones’s steam thresher. The Opel a Bouffe and Comedy Company have had an unprecedentedly successful season of four nights in Clyde, and in saying they richly merited the support given them, we are confident we but express the sentiments of all who were fortunate enough to attend. ? The very fact of the entertainment “taking ” for tour nights is in itself a guarantee that it was of no ordinary character, and fully justifies us, without making , use of the usual stereotyped phrases, in saying that it is as good, if not better, than any entertainment ever before offered to up-country residents. The Company consists of four performers and a pianist, Mdlle. Murielle being prima donna, Mr T. Browning, bass ; Mr Crothers, tenor; and Mr Fisher, a funny man - and a really funny man he is—in whose company it is impossible to be grave. Mdlle. Murielle is a charming piquante actress, and possesses a sweet melodious voice of great compass, and specially] effective in ballads—“ Land of the Leal,’’ “ Bide-a-wee,” “Sing, Sweet Bird,” “ Tell me, my Heart,” and so on. Mr Browning, as a bass singer, excels in “ The Ship on Fire,” “ The Desert,” “ The Village Blacksmith,” “The Sexton,” “The Maniac.” He has a powerful rich voice. Mr Crothers has a powerful yet pleasing tenor voice, and in the solos, duets, and glees was particularly noticeable, the solo “ The Death of Nelson,” being excellently rendered. Mr Fisher, as we said before, is the funny man, doing as_well the “ darkey business.” The song “Old Black Joe,” with chorus by the Company behind the curtains, was very effective and fairly brought down the house. On each night there was an entirely different programme. On Wednesday evening when the house was fairly crowded, besides a number of songs, duets, glees, and a .farce, the Company gave some selections from “Pinafore” which were well received, Josephine and Little Buttercup ]being represented by Mdlle. Murielle, Captain Corcoran by Mr Browning, Ralph Rackstraw by Mr Crothers, and Dick Deadeye by Mr Fisher. There is really no saying who performed their parts the best, all alike being well up, but Mdlle. Murielle]must receive the palm. The Company from here visit Cromwell, Bannockburn, Arrow, and Queenstown, tbence on to Invercargill, and we can fairly recommend all on this line of march to pay them a visit. A proclamation in a late Gazette announces that the season dating which Native game may be killed will commence on the 20th of this month, and terminate on the 31st July, both days inclusive. Another cake of gold from the Tipperary claim, Macetown, was brought into the Arrow on Friday last, weighing 443 ounces from about 400 tons of stone. Much delay occurred in reducing the stone on account of the short supply of water. The public battery is now crushing for this company, and will wash up shortly. The absence of Councillors Jolly and Colclough from the County Council meeting was explained by the fact of those gentlemen attending the Easter Volunteer Demonstration at Christchurch with a contingent of 25 members of the Cromwell Corps. The Resident Magistrate’s Court, Clyde, yesterday, was the scene of unwonted liveliness, a number of cases being for hearing. Space will not allow of us giving a report of the same which we regret. The Bruce Herald learns that the wheat for which Mr M'Gill, of Tokomairiro, received the first prize at the Sydney Exhibition, was grown by Mr Oliver, of Spear Grass Flat. A meeting of the Vincent County Rabbit Trustees was held on Saturday evening last, when the rate of one eighth of a penny was struck. Instructions were issued to the Inspector to issue Certificates to all owners of dogs kept expressly foi rabbit killing (not to exceed 5), and other business of minor importancewas transacted. A new forage plant has boon introduced into New Zealand. It is called the teosinte p’ant, and was sent by Sir Julius Vogel to Mr Murdoch, of the Bank of New Zealand, Auckland. The plant has been recently brought from Egypt where, when it is mowed down, grows rgain at the rate of a foot in four days. It is alleged to be rich in saccharine matter, and highly nutritious. It is a grass of gigantic size, growing in cnormoiis bunches. It is a recommendation to those who intend to grow it in New Zealand that it should be started in pots, and after all danger of frosts is over, planted out.—Press. At the Warden’s Court, Lawrence, yesterday, before E. H. Carew, Esq, Warden, a case, the Great Extended Sluicing Company, (Registered), Blue Spur, against the I North of Ireland Goldmining Company, 1 which is a claim for damages for encroachment, LI9SS Hs, was heard. Mr Haggitt with whom was Mr M'Coy attended for the complainants; and Messrs Howorth, Mouat and Webb were for the defendants. Evidence was taken of which a full report will appear in a future issue. At the close of the complainant’s case, the proceedings were adjourned in order that a fresh survey should he made.—Tuapeka Times. A somewhat interesting circumstance in connection with the Wesleyan soiree at Blue Spur on Thursday evening, of which a report will be found in this issue, is the fact

that, notwithstanding the extreme youth of the Colony, two of the rev. speakers were born and reared in it. Messrs Buttie of 1 Balclutha, and Luxford of Lawrence, in point of energy of character, singleness of purpose, enthusiasm in their work, and general tone of mind and conduct, would do honor to any community.—Tuapeka Times. The following is from the Tablet“ It will be remembered that Butler, alias Medway, alias Donnelly, was four years ago teacher for a month or two of the Catholic school at Cromwell—a position he had obtained on false pretences. He is not, however, a Catholic, and it was noticed that he could not be prevailed upon to teach the Christian doctrine to his pupils ; he systematically neglected it in spite of all remonstrance. On his conviction for burglary in Dunedin in 1876, he described himself as a Piotestant, and attended Protestant worship during the term of Lis confinement. The Mataura Ensign furnishes the following:—“An event has occurred in the Invercargill Hospital of a rather suspicious nature. Mr Chirgwin, who entered the Hospital on the 6th March, having been ailing for some twelve months with liver disease and unable to work for five weeks prior to that date, died on the 15th inst , and was inWrcd yesterday in St. John’s Cemetery, Waikiwi. At the time of his entering the Hospital he possessed Ll3 He was under no expense during Jus stay there, save for board, which was paid after his death by Mrs Chirgwin. Yet when Mrs Chirgwin examined the deceased’s clothes only 1.3 remained of tne Ll3. The matter is now in the bands of the Police.” Favourable reports of the richness of the Vinegar Hill diggings, near Cambrian (says the Mount Ida Cnronicle) are being circulated, and great expectations are formed of the extent and rich character of the country in that locality. Prospectors are jubilant over their finds, and anticipate, when additional water is brought on to tlie ground, that yields of precious metal, such as we have not been accustomed to hear of in these times, will he the result. We hear that prospects of from two to six pennyweights to the dish have been obtained in more than one shaft, as Well as in the face of some of the claims already opened. The Keep it-Dark Company at Reefton have just had another successful washing up, the result being 27S ounces of amalgam from 192 tons of stone. I Rather a curious mistake (says a Wei- | lington paper) W’as made by one of the i spectators at the Police Court a d. y or two | since. At the bead of the Court, over Mr ■ Mansford’s head, there hangs a full-length ; picture of the late Dr Featherston, and in the background behind are seen two Natives. One of these is very much tatooed, and wears a white beard, and in the shadow it is not, at a short distance, unlike a well-known New Zealand statesman. The spectator in question was looking at this picture, and apparently speaking abdut it to a friend behind him. “ And who is the gentleman with the white heard at the back?” asked the latter. “Oh, that—everybody knows that. It’s quite clear you are not a Good Templar—that’s Sir William Fox, and an uncommonly good likeness it is of him, too.” And the friend felt pleased that he had seen the portrait of this leading Templar before he died. | The Southland Times tells an amusing story of the flight with his barmaid of a j Dunedin publican, leaving behind his wife j and four children. Having completed their plans the guilty pair proceeded to Port Chalmers overnight, and took passage by the Te Anau for Melbourne. They reached the Bluff in safety, but not without fears that certain creditors might discover the flight and cause some unpleasantness at that port. These fears proved groundless and the Te Anau proceeded on her voyage to Melbourne. When 400 miles out an accident happened that necessitated the return of the steamer to the Bluff. Meantime the creditors of the ex-publican had been made aware of his sudden departure, and armed with the necessary legal process, their agents literally came down upon the publican like a pack of wolves. He found in a short space of time the L9OD he had managed to take with him had dwindled down to nearly L7OO, and that there was a prospect of still further trouble should his wife take action. She did not, nowever, being satisfied with an unencumbered public bouse, and the publican and sinner, after loafing about Invercargill for a day or two with the girl for whom his dam of affection had burst, was allowed to proceed over ibe briny waters without further interruption. The Daily Times of the 22nd says :—“On Friday night last the premises of Wong Tape, Chinese merchant, in Stafford street, next door to those of Messrs Murray, Roberts, and Co., are said to have been entered between the hours of 10 and 11, and a sum of something like Ll2O in notes taken therefrom. The circumstances attending the robbery, as reported to us, argue a very intimate acquaintance with the premises on the part of the supposed thief; and a strange thing in connection with the affair is that a large sum in gold and silver is stated to have been left untouched. From the Tuapeka Times we hear that a contingent of Lawrence people intend to avail themselves, we hear, of the liberal railway arrangements recently advertised for the benefit of those desirous of visiting the Lakes. Among those whose names we have heard mentioned as likely to be of the party are Mr and Mrs M- Fraer; Mr and’ Mrs Evans ; Mr and Mrs Downes, and two children ; Mr and Mrs M’Nab; and Mr and Mrs J. Roughnau. They intend leaving Lawrence by the afternoon train tomorrow (Thursday), and will await at Milton the train leaving Dunedin for Invercargill the same evening. The trip is expected to take ten days, and we doubt not the opportunities it affords to view tho

Lakes and intervening places of interest 1 will be embraced by many more of the 1 residents of Tuapeka. The fare, which is only L2 0s 2d, includes the steamer fare as well as that of the railway. The Christchurch Star on the 20th inst. suggests that the Railway Commission, which will sit at Christchurch next week, should inquire into the practice, said to exist, of granting free passes to ship captains during their Stay in port, while they are withheld from civil servants when they obtain a holiday to recruit their health ; also with reference to alleged pressure said to be brought to hear upon employers in the railway workshops to record their votes in the manner most agreeable with the political sympathies of their chiefs. A letter from a person 13 years resident in Christchurch, is cited in support of this. Bell’s Life records an extraordinary game of chess played by four gentlemen of Presshurg recently. A brilliant table was the chess-board, and the sixty-four squares were duly chalked out. Each of the pieces was represented by a bottle of wine. Champagne was the king, claret, the queen, Burgundy the Bishops, port the castles, Madeira the knights, and pint flasks of Hungarian wine the pawns. The one novel and original rule which governed the play was this : —Whenever a player took a “ piece” ho was to empty his own and the captured “ piece ” at a draught. Unfortunately for the success of the experiment the chessmen were more than a match for the plavers, all four of whom ignominiously collasped before the game was half finished. There is a limit, as experienced topers know, to drinking “ no heel-taps,” and if this new fashion of playing chess is ever to become popular theie will ha ve to be fewer “ pieces.” If four players are unable to consume thirty-two bottles of mixed wines between them without becoming ignobly drunk, what hope is there for two players! But, at any rste,'no one can deny that this was a gallant attempt to relieve chess from the charge of slowness. A Californian paper received by the mail states that “Captain Thomas O’Malley Baines, of Fenian renown, has gone to' Australia for the purpose of raising a treasure of LGO.OOO, buried by Frank Gaidiuer, the notorious bushranger. Gardiner, prior to his imprisonment, had buried the swag obtained by countless robberies about a mile from the Fish River, in a clearing between Gonlburn and Bathurst, New South Wales. After his release he came to San Francisco, the vigilance of the Australian police, compelling him to leave his booty behind. Here he has become a total wreck. Tho only j i person who befriended him was Baines, ! : and knowing that he had but a short time ; to live, he confided to him the whereabouts ; of the deposit, which is said to consist of ■ gold coins, hills, and jewellery. He has 1 furnished Baines with accurate plans and diagrams .of the buried treasure, which is , to go entirely to him, with the condition ! that he shall provide for Gariner during j his lifetime.” | An American legal journal says :—“The j use of profane and indecent language in a 1 railway coach in the presence of ladies is | such a breach of decorum as will afford i jnst cause for the removal of a passenger from the train, although he was provoked to such expressions by the command of the conductor for his fare, which had already been paid. If a person, having purchased a ticket, attempts to get on hoard a car disgustingly drunk, or so drunk as to he likely .to violate the common proprieties and decencies of life, be has no right to passage while in that condition ; hut slight intoxication, such as would not be likely to seriously affect tho conduct of the person intoxicated, would not he sufficient ground to refuse him passage although his behaviour might not ho in all respects strictly becoming." /Egles in a late issue of the Australasian has the following:—“A good tempered matron was quietly listening to the speculations of an effusive husband upon the principles of taxation. He eloquently pointed out how custom-house taxes fall so much more heavily upon married than upon unmarried men, winding up with an expression of opinion that it would be a right and proper thing to inflict a heavy tax upon bachelors, if only to compel them to enter upon the matrimonial state. The alternative touched the tender sympathies of this amiable woman, and she expostulated, “ Why, my dear, would yon try to make the poor fellows miserable.”