The Dunstan Times. FRIDAY, JULY 16, 1880.

Dunstan Times, Issue 952, 16 July 1880, Page 2

The Dunstan Times.

FRIDAY, JULY 16, 1880.

Beneath the rule of men entirely just th pen is mightier than the SWORD

The Mining Registrar at Naseby, according to the Mount Ida Chronicle, has discovered (a mare’s nest) that with dealing with applications for water-races under the .H R section of the Mines Act, the grave error in practice has been m>uu.„ by the Mining Ilegistrars affixing to the Applications a day for hearing. The Chronicle then goes on to say There is no authority in the Act for this course of procedure, and no provision whatever fora hearing in the case of unopposed applications. And, after citing a portion (only) of a Section of the Act in support of this particular and rather peculiar reading of the same, concludes by saying; “The Mining Regis- j “ trars who hold hearings do so therefore “ without authority—and give trouble, i “ and cause expense altogether un- j “ necessary. We think the first Registrar j “ to discover the general error was our “ local officer, and we observe that the I “ Registrar at Cromwell has also recog- “ nised the mistake. Rut \vc note that “ the old stylo is still followed by the “ Registrars at Clyde and Lawrence, and “ we think the Queenstown officer is also “as yet unenlightened. The sooner these “ officers adopt the proper course, the “better for the public and themselves.” The Mining Registrars referred to will doubtless bo extremely thankful to the Chronicle for volunteering such fatherly advice to them, but we scarcely believe they will follow it. The question raised is a shabby' one, and is merely whether the Registrar of his own right, without the sanction or a certificate from the Warden, shall issue a license, or whether the Warden shall direct. It is perfectly true that it is the Registrar that has to issue the license, but he cannot do so until the Warden has ata'ed whether any reasons are known to him why a license should not be granted. And it has been hold, and we consider most rightly so, that in open Court, on a day fixed for the purpose, was the only place where the Warden should make known his intention. Our contemporary concludes by saying the sooner the officers adopt the proper course, the better for the public and themselves. We agree with him in that, but are sorry to say our proper course differs from his, inasmuch as we hold the open Court to be the proper place for all applications to be granted instead of the Registrar's back room. We would advise the old course to be still pursued and adhered to.

Wf. have received from Mr Geo. Grant, Secretary to tire Otago Local Committee of the Melbourne International Exhibition, papers addressed to agriculturists, horticulturists and others engaged in the various branches of those industries, accompanied by a note asking us to kindly bring same under the notice of residents, with the view of obtaining samples of the produce of this district in their native or prepared form for the Exhibition. Mr Grant says when in Sydney last year he was more than once asked about tire fruit-producing regions of New Zealand, and he regretted that he had nothing to show. We can but say that we regret he was not provided with samples, and sincerely hope he will not bo similarly placed when at Melbourne. Amongst the farmers, nurserymen, fruit-growers, and timber dealers, we should be able to make a selection of samples that would do us ' all, collectively and individually, a lot of

good, ami well repay the slight trouble incurred. We shall be happy to place ourselves in communication with any person and to give what assistance that lays in our power. The following list denotes the products of which samples are required : Cereals and other farm produce, flax, hemp, and other textile materials, grasses, and substances intended for feeding cattle, tanning barks and dye plants, almonds and other oleaginous plants, samples of timbers of every class, fruits, do dried and preserved, ferns and native flower’s, medicinal plants and other products.

The Bill intituled the Members of General Assembly Expenses Bill provides that there shall be paid to each member residing at a distance exceeding three miles from the place of assembly the sum of two hundred and ten pounds for each session, and to every member residing within three miles of such place of meeting the sum of one hundred and tifty-seven pounds ; and to members of the Legislative Council the sum of one hundred pounds, together with the actual sums expended in proceeding to and returning from each session.

There are always two sides to a question, ami Mr Conyers’s letter to the Minister of Public Works refuting the charges made against him in the Civil Service Cnminissiouers’s Report, exposes what the Commission would never have dreamt of ever seeing the light. Mr Conyers exhaustively deals with the Report, and characterises it as superficial, inaccurate, misleading, and accordingly untrustworthy; and charges the Commission with basing their Report or portions of it on the evidence of men who had been d'seharged the service for various causes, and who consequently were biassed against the management.

The prospectus of the Conroy’s Gully Quartz Mining Company, Limited, which appears in another column, is worthy of perusal ami careful consideration at the hands of all who havejthe true interest of the district at heart. The statements set forth in the prospectus regarding the mine —from personal observation—having on several occasions personally inspected it, we can corroborate and we fuel fully persuaded that the only things wanted to make the mine a paying one is the judicious expenditure of the money the present proprietory are now seeking to raise from the public. Of the richness of the stone there is convincing evidence in the returns obtained at the trial 'crushing at Messrs Kincaid and M'Queen’s private battery in | Dunedin, and in the returns obtained from the stone when originally worked. We have ever refrained from forcing any company before the public, always holding that people are equally as good judges as ourselves as to what is a good investment. Nor do we purpose with the Conroy’s Reef Company to depart from our rule ; but we fuel tint we snail mu. lie doing our duty either to the district or ourselves if we allowed our diffi lenoo to interfere. As we said before, we can corroborate everything advanced by the provisional directorate in favour of the mine ; and after a careful

examination of the mine anil its surroundings, we can only say that should it not prove a permanent lode we shall ho deceived. The amount sought to be raised is not large, but that amount expended with anything like judgment will be far and away more in our opinion than will bo necessary to prove whether the promoters are right in their conjectures of the mine being a paying one. The now rush to Long Valley, Lake FTawca still continues to attract atthntio”, there being at the beginning of the week about 120 men on the ground, and a good few from all parts making their way there. The generally expressed belief is that gold will be found on the opposite fall of the range into Lake AVanaka, as some very likely gullies are there—one especially, a long one, known as Quartz gully or creek. As the top, ami a long distance down the range is deeply covered with snow, prospecting any distance up the range must necessarily be delayed till Spring. No special finds have been reported, but we hear a good few parlies have payable prospects. Mr B Short, Agent for the New Zealand branch of the Australion Mutual Provident Society, announces in another column that ho will deliver a Lecture on Wednesday Evening next in thoTown Hall, Clyde. The sni ject matter of the Lecture will he “Life Assurance,” treated, however, in such a manner as to bo not alone instructive hut amusing. Mr Short is so well known, and spoken so highly of as a lecturer that we can safely recommend all who seek an evening’s amusement to put in an appearance. The great attraction, perhaps, will be the fact that the admission is free.

Mr W. F. Forrest, Alexandra, notifies in another column that he has just received a consignment of Eucalypti Essence. Mr .Tames Spratt, of Tinkers, mot with a nasty accident a few days since. Whilst out shooting his foot slipped into a rabbithole, and his leg was fractured a few inches above the ankle. He was some distance from home and had to be conveyed thither in a spring cart. Dr Sleeman was sent for, who with his usual promptitude was soon on the spot and sii’cessfully sot the limb. We arc glad to hear the patient is progressing favourably. Mr Spratt has been particularly unfortunate, having broken the same log twice within the past twelve months.

Mr Facho requests us to draw attention to the sale by auction of household furniture, fro., on Saturday next (to morrow) at Clyde, the property of Mrs James Taylor, who is leaving for the Home Country.

At Anowtown on the 12th inst, Mr Henry George Jones, a clerk in the Bank of New Zealand committed suicide by shooting himself with a rifle. No cause can be assigned for the act, as the affairs of tire Bank are correct. Deceased, who was unmarried, has a brother in the Colonial

Bauk Dunedin. The deceased was alright when last seen the night prior only. He shot himself in his bedroom, placing himself on the side of his bed, and pulling the trigger with his foot. Mr Coroner Stratford held an inquest the same day, when a verdict of “Temporary insanity” was returned.

The current-wheel dredge on the Molyneux, just above Alexandra, continues steadily at work, and by all accounts is paying well. The river is [getting remarkably low, consequently e verythiug is in her favor.

The laying of poisoned wheat and oats for the rabbits is now being carried on in a most systematic manner on all the runs in th's district and the effect upon poor bunny is most disastrous, as their dead bodies are to be found in many parts by the thousand. A great many men and youths are engaged at the work and are making good wages. We have received by the last mail J. J. Miller’s pocket pamphlet of 70 pages, containing last season’s principal performances I of all horses nominated in the Hawkeshury Cup, Sydney Metropolitan, Melbourne Cup and Champion ; also list of entries for Sydney Derby, Melbourne Derby, &c., and other matters of interest to sporting men, none of whom should be without a copy for reference. The price is only sixpence. Orders left with us will receive attention.

We acknowledge with thanks receipt from'the Government Piintor of parcel o: Bills and Acts, Parliamentary Papers, am numbers of Hansard.

The total quantity of hear brewed in Dunedin last year was 1,287,000 'gallons. If the present proposals of the Government as to duty 7 tax be carried out, and estimating the production for the ensuing twelve mouths at the same quantity, Dunedin’s contribution in the shape of beer tax would be L 32,175, while the whole Colony would probably contribute no less than 1,17( 100.

Another attempt to remove the scat o

Government to Christchurch will be made this session. It will be recollected that in 1878 Mr Shrimski moved a resolution to that effect, and carrying it created considerable surprise. The adoption of such an “instruction” from the House was out of the question on several grounds. It is probable that if the question is brought forward again it will be in [the form of a petition from the House, praying His Excellency 7 to cause to be placed upon the Estimates a sum of money for the purpose of holding the next session in Christchurch.

The Goldfields Committee of the House intend to recommend the constitution of a Department ot Mines fir the Colony, on the ground that the present management of the goldfields is unsatisfactory, owing to the work being added to the duties of a

51 blister already overburdened, and it is therefore suggested that a readjustment of portfolios is desirable.

There appears to lie a piospecb ~f tbo impounded land fund rea'hing its proper destination. In the Uon.se last week Mr Fyke moved that the balance of the surplus of Otago and Canterbury laud funds should he pahl to the inland counties of those provincial districts on the same principle as sanctioned by the House iu repayment of subsidies to said counties on account of the year IS7G.—The Hon. Mr Hall thought the House had not sufficient evidence upon which to decide the question. He would suggest that the matter be refenci to the Public Accounts Committee. —The snggos.

tion was adopted, and a motion to that effect was carried. Mr Bain has asked tho Minister of Public Works if there is any insuperable difficulty in tho way of using firewood as fuel for railway locomotives? He said ho understood that in India, where a high rate of speed was maintained, wood was employed. It appeared to him that in this Colony a large amount of timber might be utilised in that way. In Southland alone, where timber was plentiful, a sum of LnOOO was spent annually in providing fuel for locomotives, and if timber could be made available he considered a saving would not only be efleeted, hut the money spent would be largely employed in labour, thereby benefiting the working classes and the community generally. Mr Oliver replied that it was just a question of economy, and a further examination of tho question would be made.

The Trustees of the Tapanui Rabbit District have decided to dispense with the services of their inspector, and otherwise curtail expenses in all directions. Several sheep inspectors have received instructions from headquarters to report upon tho rabbits in their respective districts, which (says the Mataura Ensign) would lead one to suppose that the whole subject was about to take a new form.

As an example of the extent to which consultations are carried in Melbourne, we notice that Mr J.J. Miller distributed no loss than 1.31,001) on the races—namely, L 20,000 on the .Melbourne Cup, L 12,000 on the Champion Race, and L‘2ooo on the Australian Cup. It is stated that in Auckland, a gentleman largely interested in the coasting trade has in view the formation of a new line of first-class coasting steamers, with headquarters at Auckland. By the last mail advices were received of substantial offers of capital from a well-known Clyde firm, as well as prices and quotations for the building of a fleet of steamers suitable for the trade which it is proposed to take up. The prices named arc very moderate, owing to the cheapness of iron and the lowness of wages. A meeting is to be called of those interested in the shipping of commerce of the port with a view to enlisting local capital in the enterprise. The Hon. Mr Oliver is thus sketched by a Wellington paper When you look at him, ho reminds you of a Yankee clockpedlar, when you hear him speak you are compelled to compare him to a village schoolmaster, lie is not a man to laugh

with, but at. lie seems to be only half dressed unless he has a. carpet bag in his hand, or a valise. Some men are horn to this habit—developed, adapted to their environments. No person who ever asks him a question expects an answer conveying any imformation, because beyond the price of, and the profit on a spade, he cannot reach. His conceit is commensurate with his imbecility Imagine a petty iron-

monger talking about minions of the Press committing petty larceny. Of course John Knowles will keep him as near straight with the chalk-line of official decorum as possible, and as Atkinson will only give him money to spend upon approval, and under direction, no great harm can result from his holding a portfolio, it being something handy for him to carry. Mr Shanks, M.H.R., writing to one of

ds constituents re the distressed deferred

payment settlers, says : —“ The manner of relief which will be most in the interest of settlers themselves, and this Government think can be accomplished, is as follows : The land to be declared forfeit, and then the Government "valuator to he instructed

;o place the full value upon all improve

ments under, I think it is, the 150 th clause. A low upset price will be placed on the land, subject to such valuation as may be placed on improvements, ami should tbo settler not be himself the purchaser, then the purchaser shall pay over to the original

holder the whole sum at which improvements are valued. By this meaues it is hoped that settlers can arrange to borrow upon security of the land a sum which will purchase the freehold ; while should it come about that he lose the land, he will receive to the last penny the value of his

improvements.” The United States Consul at Liverpool, in his annual report says the imports from the United States to Great Britain for the

last year exceed those of the previous year by over 55,000,000 dollars. The most remarkable increase is in provisions. In IS7-t Great Britain paid the United States for bacon and hams, beef, butter and cheese, .37,000,000 dolla’S ; in IS7S, GG,000.000. In hreadstuffs the increase of the last over the previous'year was .32,000,000 dollars ; over 1874 the increase [was 85,000,000 dollars. Generally, British trade with the United States shows an important increase and revival.

Statistics lately published show that the entire wool clip of Great Britain in 1875 was 325,000,0001b5, having increase ! fourfold since 1801 ; the wool clip of the United States in 1875 being only 7 2t)0,000,0 l .)01bs, nr scarcely two-thirds of that of Great Britain. The total of the world last year is estimated at about 1,497,500,0001b5, worth about 1.300,000,000.

It is said, and doubtless truly, that iu 1830, a little less than fifty years ago, only

one citizen of New York, John .1. Astor, was worth more than 1,000,000 dollars. Nothing can illustrate the growth of wealth in New York more than this fact, which now seems surprising enough. It his been asserted that there are at present in the metropolis fully 500 men whose property 7 is estimated at one million of dollars and upwards New York Times.

Last year (says a Home paper) tlio consumption of wines, spirits, and beer showed a falling off to the extent of over fourth n millions sterling, thus reducing the Drink Dill to an amount below that of any year since 1871.

Perhaps few stories of batt’e so truly ii’nsp-ato the true British spirit as the little incident at a iveonnaisauco before the battle of Ulundi, of which Bor I William Bercsford was the boro- The British were almost led into a terrible trap, and discover'd their danger only just in time. They turned to retreat, and the Zulus poured in a volley, which brought down the gallant grey horse of a mounted infantryman, his rider falling head foremost. The correspondent of the Standard was where there was most to he seen. “ [ thought,” says he, “ both man ami horse were killed, but the former soon struggled to his feet, with his face covered with blood, and dazed with his fall. Lord William Bercsford seeing what had happened'pulled up, and in tho face of advancing hosts and yelling savages within easy range, quietly trotted hack and told the man to mount behind him. with a cool courage scarcely second to Sir William’s, the noble fellow refused, preferring the certain sacrifice of his own life to tho probability of destroying his preserver’s. The reply was admittedly torsi; and telling. Tho savages swarmed closer and closer ; bullets rattled around them ; the two who lingered were almost within reach of the assegai o , and Lord William returned with ‘ Get up, or I’ll punch your head.’ The man obeyed, and preserver and preserved escaped. It was this act that gained Lord Bercsford the Victoria Cross.”

Grave apprehensions have been excited at Athens in consequence of the hostile attitude assumed by Turkey, owing to Greece insisting upon the recommendations of the Berlin Treaty being carried ont in reference to the frontier question.