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Dunstan Times, Issue 937, 2 April 1880, Page 2

The season for shooting native game opened on Monday last, but as the birds are very scarce there have been no big bags In the stubble fields there are a good few mountain ducks of the grey species however, there are but few to be seen anywhere. A late Gazette notifies as follows :—A. F. Blood to be Clerk to the Supreme Court, Christchurch, and J. T. D. Jeffrey to .be Clerk to the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Roxburgh. We arc reliably informed that Murphy and Coy Tinkers Gulley; have obtained another 500 ounces of gold from their tail ditch, which together with former return of 12U0 ounces gives a total yield of 1700 ounces as the result of the past years work. The usual monthly meeting of the Committee of Management of the Dunstan District Hospital will be held in the Library Chambers on Monday evening next, the sth inst. The next two-monthly sitting of the District Court, His Honour Judge Harvey presiding, will bo held at Clyde on Monday next, the sth inst. The entertainment to bo given on Saturday evening next in the Town Hall, Clyde, in aid of the funds of tho Dunstan District Hospital, the programme of which -appears in another column, will it is hoped lie supported to the extent tho cause would warrant. By a reference to the programme it will bo seen that Mrs Gray, nit Mdlle. Muriellc, a lady who by her refined acting and pleasing melody has made her-. self so groat a favourite, has kindly, consented to give bet assistance, ( The names of Mr Pyke, Major Keddell, Mr Wilson,

Mr A. D. Harvey, and others not unknown to fame also appear. It may fairly he assumed that the entertainment will be one in itself deserving of support, and doubly so in recognition of the efforts of the ladies and gentlemen to assist so deserving an i nstitution as the Hospital. The prices of admission, three shillings, two shillings, and one shilling, being within the means of all classes. Mr George Bennett’s humorous story about his having been “ on the wallabl ” with Mr Vincent Pyke, M.H.K., when he lived on snakes for a week, does not seem to nold water. The Press Association agent at Napier has received a telegram from Mr Pkye, asking him to contradict the tale, and adding : “ I was never ‘on the wallabi,’ and never ate snakes. Snakes are too luxurious for me. Lizards are sufficient for my simple tastes.”—N. Z Herald. Friday last (Good Friday) was observed as a close holiday- in Clyde, In the morning the Rev. Mr Ash conducted divine service in the Church ot England--St. Michael’s. In the evening the pulpit was occupied by Mr Wilson. We have received thelast two numbers of Tomahawk, a journal of satire, published in Melbourne in the interest of the Berry or Liberal party. We have placed the copies on the table of the Public Library. We have received from Messrs Mills; Dick, and Co., the publishers, a copy of a bonk entitled “ Old Identities.” The book is pleasantly written, full of wit and anecdote referring to the earlier settlers in the Province-the old identities-hut is particularly quiet on the earliest settlers. As a whole it contains a great deal ot information, and being well written is well worthy a place on every library book shelf. The printing and binding is of a class which reflects credit on the publishers. We can do no better than recommend all our readers to obtain a copy. Our attention has been called to the irregular attendance of many children at the public school here, and doubtless it is the case elsewhere. In addition to the annoyance this must give the teachers in their endeavors to keep each class at its proper standard, it has an eflect that parents may not he generally aware of, viz., the absence of children by diminishing the average attendance seriously affect? the incomes of the teachers, which now chiefly depends on the number of children in regular at-, tendance. The evil does not end here ; the teaching of children whoso attendance is only spasmodic, is far more arduous than I the teaching of regular attendants, it will | be seen therefore that not alone does it tend : to diminish the incomes of teachers, but entails more work on them, which it must be admitted is anything but encouragin". Parents have but to look at it in this light, and we feel but euro tbov will do their part in keeping their children regularly in attendance. The injury to the children: we will not comment on! To station-holders, sheep farmers and others interested, wo have been requested to draw attention to the fact that a number of the well-known America Merino rams are still on hand, and are open for sale. On , reference to an advertisement appearing in ! another column that this special breed 'is appreciated by a large number of the most i influential of the growers ot mutton, and | producers of wool in this Island, is mani fist. We need comment no further, as it is evident that they must be good and profitable to have been kept on the Shag Valley Station, Waihemo. Attention is called to the advertisment. in another column of the sale by auction of household furniture on account of the Rev. Mr Ash, on Saturday the 17th inst., at the parsonage Clyde. In the Warden's Court at Clyde yesterday, Agricultural leases were granted to MrJ. D. Feraud, Mr Attfield, Mr Oliver and Mr Williams ; the land is situate on the Dunstan Commonage, and is contiguous to the Dunstan Race Course. At a meeting of the Trustees of the West Oroti Rabbit Trustees held recently, it was resolved to give notice to those run lolders who at present make no effort to keep down the rabbit nuisance that if they do not at once put on rabbiters the trustees will do so at their expense.—Western Star. The Tablet says : —“ Frequently in our Protestant exchanges wo see violent complaints that Catholic convents draw so many Protestant children into them to be educated, Protestant parents, however, do not seem to heed this reiterated Complaint. There are few thoughtful fathers of nonCatholic families in the country, able to give their daughters an education of the higher order, who would hesitate, were the alternative offered them, between a secular boarding-school and a convent. In that part of the world that calls itself * society,’ a convent-bred girl is immediately known. There is a sirap'icity about her, even if she forget herself so far as to appear artificial, that is very pleasing to all who are not spoiled by the false air of worldliness which modern education gives to so many of bur young girls. Purity is safely guarded in the convent schools ; it would be well if this could bo said of all boarding-schools—-even of those controlled by the religious sects. No book, no paper, no letter enters a convent school without rigid supervision. This knowledge gives parents confidence. They know that their children are safe. Guarded by teachers who have devoted themselves to all that is highest and purest, what harm can come to them ? This being so, it is useless tor our Protestant contemporaries to complain.” The Morning Herald believes it is correct in stating that the Laud Tax will be levied up to the 30th June next, and that the Property Tax Act will come into operation on the Ist July. Taxpayers may rest assured that they will not be called upon to pay the Property Tax so- long as the Land Tax is in operation, and this heinjj the case, they need not ho over anxious for the change. '

j Tho Cromwell Argus says : —“ Many per- | sons in this district will remember Edward | Donoghue, who followed the occupation of a butcher. A few weeks ago Donoghue met with some severe injuries while worki ing at a slaughter-yard in Invercargill Erom the nature of his injuries, which were sustained while working at a windlass, very little hope was entertained of bis recovery, and bo gradually grew worse until Sunday week, when he died. The deceased left a widow and three children totally unprovided for.” O’Douoghne was employed formerly by Messrs Attfield and Weisford of this town. At Christchurch, on tbc2Sth ultimo, the well-known race-horse “Templeton,” while taking exercise, cannoned by some extraordinary mishap against a cow, and smashed his shoulder. Tho injuries were so severe that the gallant little horse had to be shot. A disgraceful row took place at Oamaiu on Sunday afternoon last the 28th instant. A number of prostitutes and a man named Hoskins attacked two brothers named Falls in the principal street of the town, and & crowd of about 200 persons soon collected. One of the Falls was struck on the head with a bottle, and was unable to attend the trial of the combatants the following day at the Resident Magistrate’s Court! The case was adjourned for the appearance of the injured man. The (lon. Thomas Dick (says a Northern contemporary), has been sworn in as Colonial Secretary. The Government now undoubtedly possess the proverbial “Tom, Dick, anil Harry ” (Atkinson) and are to be congratulated accordingly. says :I don’t know whether this incident of a close Parliamentary division long ago has ever been recorded. Upon a critical evening, to the surprise of the Government (Sir John O’Shannassy) an Opposition member opportunely voted with Ministers. The next morning the Premier asked the Attorney General how it was that Mi Blank bad voted with them. “Oh” was the reply. “I promised him the police magistracy at Portland.” “ But,” said Sir John, aghast, “ there is no vacancy, and, in any case, you know we couldn’t give it him!” “ It’s easy for you,” said Mr Ireland, “to find fault in the cool of the morning—last night I was in a hurry.” 1 1. may he known (says “Atticus” in tho Melbourne leader) that John Morrisey, the prize-fighter, who was elected a member of Congress, was a man who owed everything in life to his wife. She taught him to read and write, and may be said to have fairly " worried” him up the ladder. Every night she made him spell for an hour, and say r a in her memoir - a very curious book, by-the-way—“The morning after John beat Heeuan bo was sore and bandaged, and blind of an eye, but I made him sit up in his bed, and propped him with pillows until ho had said his lesson. ‘ What is the use of all this study, Susie,’ he would | say. ‘To go to Congress, John.’ Oh, j that’s your lay out for mo, is it? Wei! I we’ll go to Congress ;’ and he did." This I is a lesson of pluck and affection which | more retiued people may not blush to learn. Five or six children in Moray Place yesterday had a remarkably narrow escape from being poisoned. They had been par-taking-freely of German sausages, and one of the youngest of tho children showed such dangerous symptoms that a medical gentleman residing in the locality was immediately sent for. Emetics were used, and tho youngsters are not likely to he seriously indisposed. We understand that at this particular season of tho year German sausages, if kept for any length of time, arc liable to become unwholesome and poisonous.—Dunedin Herald. A correspondent from Clive, Hawke's Ray, informs the Telegraph that between 12 and 1 o’clock on Sunday morning some of the inhabitants were aroused by the barking and howling of dogs, and, on looking out to ascertain the cause, saw that the township was inundated with water. An a arm was at once given, and everyone was soon astir, some in trying to secure their furniture by placing it on tables and chairs, while some were endeavouring to save their cattle and horses and such live stock as was found possible. At about half-past 1 the water had risen so rapidly that it became doubtful whether the inhabitants whose cottages were on low ground would bo safe. A boat was launched in the road as soon as possible, and the families who were in most danger were removed, in some instances the water having risen 3ft. and 4ft. in their houses. The boat was taken right into the doors of the (houses while the occu pants wore removed, some to the police station, and some to Mr Mitchell's. These two houses fortunately escaped. Tho work of removing families was carried on till 9 or 10 on Sunday morning. It was not until noon on Sunday that the water had gone down to any perceptible extent. It is hard to estimate the loss until tho flood has entirely subsided. An individual who had formerly been in business as a stockbroker, lately died at Lyons, leaving a fortune of 1,800,000 franca. When the seals wore removed, in the presence of the relatives, a will, written entirely in his own hand, was found, under which tho deceased left his property among his brothers and nephews. Just as they were congratulating ono another on their luck, however, a second testament came to light, annulling tho first, constituting one of hia nephews, a young man named Malgras, a completely uneducated ploughman at Moutelimar, his sole heir, and leaving the original heritors to reflect as best they might over the adage about the distance between tho cup and the lip. Malgras, on finding himself thus unexpectedly a millionaire, is said to have been so dozed by. the good news as to have lost l)ia power of speech during two days,’ fears bcin g, Indeed, entertained for his reason! ’■

A professor of mesmerism, with a lady “ clairvoyant,” was out in search for bodies lost through the Tay Bridge disaster the other day, says the European Mail. The lady was taken out in a yacht and mesmerised. She then pointed out the place where a body was lying deeply embedded in the sand, and when grapnels were used the collar of an overcoat Was brought up. The “clairvoyant”' afterwards declared that twenty lay underneath the girders. The object of this experiment was of course to gain converts to the doctrine of Spiritualism.