The Dunstan Times. FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 1880.

Dunstan Times, Issue 939, 16 April 1880, Page 2

The Dunstan Times.

FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 1880.

Beneath the rule of men entirely just<A pen is mightier than the SWORD.

It has been said—and not altogether wrongfully—that Sir Julius Vocm. sought to govern Parliament and the country by Select Committees, thereby averting responsibility from his own shoulders. It has been reserved for his quondam opponent and whi’onie pupil, Major Atkinson, to “better the instruction.” That astute politician now seeks to govern by Royal Commissions. Henco it has happened that the people of these far away regions have from time to time been startled from a state of dreamy repose by the sudden and unexpected advent of sundry Royal Commissioners. If we are rightly informed, there are some four or.five of these regal bodies wandering about in space at the presant time—their object, intentions, and functions being utterly unknown to Her Majesty’s liege subjects. For, strange to say, not one of these “ Royal ” Commissions has ever yet been published in the Gazette, which is the only recognised official medium of communication between the governors and the governed. One of these erratic bodies, calling itself “ The Civil Service Commission,” went to Queenstown lately, and, being apparently appalled either by the rugged scenery, or the ferocious appearance of local officials, returned thence straight to the sea-coast, thus utterly ignoring the fact that some of the oldest and most expert officers of the Gold-Fields civil service are to be foil mi in the Vincent and Maniototo Counties. Then a party of getlemen termed “ Railway Commissioners” axxned with what

authority nobody knows, dropped upon us like a thief in the night, without notification of any sort whatsoever. Upon enquiry we learnt that they came from Cromwell, whence they had travelled in the dark, ho as to satisfy themselves of the practicability of tbe route with their eyes shut. Which perhaps is as well for all parties Upon the receipt of our local contemporary we find that from Cromwell they travelled to the outer boundary of the best land in the upper Clutlia Valley and then, fearful probably of seing better soil, they turned back. From Clyde they disappeared soon after daybreak, travelling at a break-neck pace to Naseby direct and thus avoiding almost the whole of the route to he traversed by the great Central Line of Rail way, so far as this County is concerned To add effect to the farce, they stupidly allow themselves to be crammed (seven in number) into one of Craig and Company’s coaches dining the trip. Anyone who has ever travelled in one of these (and who has not 1) will at once understand shat their even seeing tie country through which they travelled was a moral impossibility. We note that the Commission as represented here is composed of gentlemen every one of whom is avowedly and pub’icly hostile to the Otago Central Railway ; and we greatly far that the whole affair is a mere plot on the pait of the Hat.i,Atkixson Government to delay the progress of this work. In view of this we are glad to learn that the Chairman of Vincent County is in communication with the Chairman of M aniototo County, with the intention of convening public meetings throughout the length and breadth of the Interior to consider this question, and to take such action as shall compel the Government to respect the pledges cf their predecessors and of the Parliament of the - country.

:l lings without being molested, clothes are stolen from lines, and other petty larcenies ii; are rife. The police force, as is the case here, is so much too weak that it is en- | tirely unable to cope with so much sconiii drelism. The Herald says that it is “ not | a bit surprised to learn that revolvers are | in demand.” People will, of course, proi tect themselves as best they can, if the puli''' are incapable from paucity-of numbers to perform their functions. The H Jil suggests that those who wish to protect themselves against the two-legged | curs with which our communities are now I overrun, should club together and pay a I watchman to guard their premises, and I that, in the meanwhile, the Borough Council of Timaru should lay a clear statement of their unprotected position before tbe Government. This idea might be adopted i here as a means of strengthening the hands of Mr Inspector Thompson. The I police force of this town must be substanI tially and permanently increased. We do ■? not approve of unnecessarily extreme mea- & snres, but until that is done we recommend the people of this town to keep their powder dry, and provide something to put I it iu. “ The same remarks apply here as I in all other towns, where wo maintain that for the public safety a watchman should be on patrol, not alone as ackeck against midnight prowlers, as against lire. The Auckland Correspondent of the Daily Times says :—“ Messrs C rant and Foster, Lincolnshire farmers’ delegates, left by the mail steamer for Home, with the intention of forming an association of middle-class farmers for the purpose of taking up land in the Upper Thames. Since the failure of the Broomhall settlement scheme, the | Thames people are rather chary of frightening capital away from the district, and no opposition need be feared from that quarI ter. Thu Waste Lands Board have agreed to give a reasonable time for organising the expedition, and the Lincolnshire tanners will he heartily welcomed. The delegates have wisely kept their own counsel, and as they have visited every district of importance north and south, no emigration party will come to our shores with a better knowledge of the vicissitudes of Colonial life, of the difficulties which lie before them, and of the prize which rewards perseverance and industry. The following sad story is told by the Grey River Argus “The unfortunate Chinaman Ah Kum, who came to the Kumara hospital some few days ago for advice, and who was pronounced a leper and was thence driven across the river Tarcmakan to his proper /ocofe, has quietly sived his friends all trouble, by departing this life. On his arrival on this side of tlie boundary lino between the two Counties, he was met by a policeman, who had received instructions through the County Chairman to provide a tent and provisions for the unfortunate man. This was done, and tlie Constable left his charge apparently : comfortable iu Ins bunk. On the constable’s return yesterday morning he found ii'n patient lying dea I on the floor, having rolled out of his bunk when alone and unattended, and died there. We relate the ’facts as they have occurred, an 1 ask— Vi here is our Christianity ? or. if not (hat, wacre is our humanity ? to allow a fellow creature to die like a dog.” He was young (says “.E-les”), Scotch, an I lately arrived ; so they organised a hush picnic for his entertainment. Exploring the beauties of Mount William, the | stranger became separated from his friends. Luncheon hour came, and the hungry party impatiently awaited his appearance. For an hour the gullies reverberated with the signal c oocy of various impatient persons, and at length the lost man leisurely approached the camping-place. “ Did’ut you hear uscooey ?” sai l several simultaneously. | “ A hat’s that ?” was the innocent reply. A shrill sample being afforded him, he added, “ Oh, yes, I heard that all the time. I thought it was the Laughing Jackasses, and was looking everywhere to see one !" A correspondent informs us that a dastardly and cowardly act was perpetrated last week by some gentlemen supposed to bail from Dunedin. Imagining 'themselves sportsmen (which the sequel will prove | -hey wore not) they formed a party to have a day s pig-shooting on tlie ranges adjoining West Taieri Bci Ige. Being unsuccessful in their object, that of shooting pigs, they seem to have been determined to shoot something, and coming across some cows belonging to Mr J. C. Millar, wantonly a nd deliberately shot two of them. Such reckless destruction of property we have scarcely ever heard of. Mr Millar, wo hear, has placed the matter in the hands of the Police, who we trust will succeed in tracing the offenders. From the bullets extracted from the animals it is evident they were shot by Government rifl.a and with Government ammunition. At Melbourne, M'Larcn, believed to be well known as an agitator m New Zealand and Sydney, has been sentenced to 4 years imprisonment for house-breaking. A reliable informant (well known in Lonalla) furnishes the Standard with what appears to be undoubted proof that Ned kelly IS not only in the district, but is located somewhere near Glenrowan. “ On Friday last,” says the informant, “as I was waiting at the Glenrowan station I saw a young woman whom I thought I recognised as one of the Harts, and, to be certain, I asked a little girl, about six years of age, if she knew the young woman. * \es,’ said the girl, ‘that is Miss Hart, Steve’s sister.’ Learning that my informant Was a resident of the neighbourhood, I enquired if ever she saw Ned Kelly.’ < Oh, yes,’ she replied, ‘often; ho is at our place sometimes twice a week. He was there last Monday for provisions.’ She had no sooner uttered these words than a girl about 17, who was standing by, came forward and rudely took the little girl by the arm, and said, • Shut up. What are you talking about?’ and dragged her away, scolding her in the meantime I after-

wards learnt the elder girl was a servant in the family (of which the little girl was a member), residing at Glenrowan, andkeepi i > a provision store there.” .-Egles has the following :—“ In a certain New South Wales township the police magistrate displays an exaggerated sense of his personal importance. He regards himself as the head man of the district, and takes care to let his self-appreciative views be generally known. He was lately on a visit to Melbourne, and with a friend visited a fashionable tailor’s Just after he bad been measured, and before be had resumed his coat, an itinerant game vendor came into the shop and asked him to buy. With an air of lofty disdain be rebuked the vendor for his impertinence in addressing him.” “ Beg your pardon, sir,” said the game merchant, “I mean no offence. 1 thought you were the tailor.” He has not yet recovered the shock. Mr Edison claims to have discovered a cure for neuralgia. He has given to the preparation the name of polyform, and describes it as a combination cf chemicals. Neither name nor description enables anyone to form an idea of what it is. He has cured himself and has tried its efficacy on a tramp with a successful result. It is used externally, and a slight application gives immediate relief from pain. This it may do without being entitled to be regarded as a “ cure.” It is open to doubt whether any external applieat on, however valuable as a palliative can attack the disease or remove its cause. The discovery, or invention, must therefore at present be put into the same category as the electric lamps of its author. Electricity is by some considered as of value in the treatment of the disease, and when Mr Edison’s discovery was announced, it was hoped that he had found some efficacious mode of galvanic application. As it is, however, sufferers from neuralgic pains will be glad of some further information about the salve.