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Dunstan Times, Issue 967, 29 October 1880, Page 2

In a supplement published with this issue we give a summary of the Hansard report of the proceedings in the House of Representatives during tire celebrated “ scene ” in which our representative played such a prominent part. I; will bo seen that with scarcely an exception his action was justified hy every member who spoke, and that the reporters’ version of the affair was grossly and unjustly exaggerated, out of mere devilment, as we may say. We may also state that we have been favoured with the inspection of a host of letters addressed to Mr Pyke by members of both Houses, expressive of sympathy with him, and indignation at the untruthful statements which have appeared in the press. The honourable gentleman is not only exonerated from blame, but comes out of the matter with flying colours. And it is to his credit that to the last he asserted his entire ignorance, and refused to apologise, not having committed any wrong. There appears to be some doubt as to whether this County' will not lose some portion of its revenue through the perversity of officials. The County Chairman has writen to Warden Robinson asking whether ha is crediting Vincent County with moneys received at Blacks, hut Warden Robinson has not thought fit to reply. The next phase in the affair is, that in reply to a telegram addressed to the Secretary of the Treasury, the Chairman is informed that Mr Harvey is the only recognised receiver of revenue at Blacks. Bur, a junior Clerk from Naseby receives the money. Where does it go to ! From what we can learn a brisk correspondance is going on; the Treasury declining to know anything about the Goldfields Department the Goldfields Department ignoring the Treasury, and the County Chairman wanting to know where the money is. This is very hard ware indeed. Sir Francis Dillon Bell his accepted the Agent-generalshipi—his salary is to be L 1250 a year.

We learn with pleasure that Mr Fyke has succeeded in inducing the Government to abandon the extra charge of 6d per message on telegrams from and to Ophir and Roxburgh. There now only remains Alexandra and St Bathans, and when the taldo published by us last week is considered there need be no fear of the result. We understand that our representative is urging the matter forward.

Mr James Hackworth,' Collector of Customs, and Inspector of Breweries and Distilleries, has been in the district the past few days inspecting the local breweries. From here he passes up to Cromwell, and thence on to the Lakes.

It is notified in the Gazette that the prisons at Arrow town and Queenstown are abolished—That Mr H. A. Stratford is appointed R. M. and Warden for Greymouth and Hokitika- Regulations under the “ Beer Duty Act,” approving the size of casks, and notification where beer duty stamps can be obtained— Also the comparative return of the quantity and value of gold entered for export from New Zealand for the quarters ending 30th September, 1370 SO, showing that Gl.lGloz, value 1 at L24',7y4, was exported in th” 1370 quarter, and CO.Guloz, valued at. 1,279,544, was exported iu the 1330 quarter.

A cricket match will be played on the Clyde ground on Tuesday, 9th November, between elevens of the Ophir and Clyde Clubs.

We have to tbank our Cromwell contemporary for kindly re-publishing the salient points of our sub-leader iu last week’s issue, with self-accusatory additions, which are entirely correct, although they did not appear in our columns. Our contemporary intimates that he is preparing a thunderbolt for us, but that ha requires a fortnight to get his combustibles together. We can wait.- 1t.1.P.

By a gentleman who lately visited the new diggings at Long Valley, Lake Hawea, we are informed that about seventy men are on the ground, the majority being on payable gold, which is of a coarse character. The quality of the gold, however, he says, is not up to the standard, but the quantity obtained fully makes up for any deficiency on that head. From what he could glean from the diggers and business people he is confident the locality will prove a remunerative one, but would strongly advise none to try their fortunes there unless t-hey are prepared for a little roughing and for some hard work. There is to bo a concert and dance at Alexandra on the 9th November, on the occasion of the winding up of the Quadrille Assembly for the season. The New Zealand Gazette ■ notifies that the District Court for the Otago Goldfields will sit at Queenstown on the 28ih of April and October in each year, and iu Lawrence on the 28th of January and July of each year. The appointment of Mr Jackson Keddell as Chairman of the Licensing Courts of Arrowtown and Queenstown. The acceptance of tho resignation of Mr Horace Bastings of a scat at the Otago Waste Lands Board. Forms of assessment rolls under the Property Tax Act ; also, forms notice of assessment and notice of appeal. We with regret have to record the sudden death of Mis Murphy, the beloved mother of Messrs Murphy Bros , farmers and minors, of Spottis Hundred and Tinker’s Gully, at the advanced age of 84 years. The old lady was taken ill on Wednesday, the 2l)th inst., and breathed her last on Friday, the 220 d. The funeral took place on Sunday last, the remains being followed to their last resting place in Blacks Cemetery by one of the largest corteges ever remembered being seen up country, there being counted 24 vehicles, and 92 horsemen, besides a large number on foot. The old lady and her family, which consists of three sons and one daughter, an elder son having died some three years ago, are amongst the earliest residents in the Blacks district, and no one in it we think are more generally respected. I The usual half-yearly meeting of the Bmk of New Zealand was held on Friday last the 22ml instant, when the customary divi lend, of fifteen per cent, was declared, | and L 2.'!,.".'17 carried to profit and loss new account.

Negotiations have,(or a long time been pending between the Government. the miners, and Mr Feraud for the purchase from the latter of a freehold of fifty acres in Wai Keri Keri valley, the land being required hy the miners as an outlet for their tailings. The Government offered to give a portion - one half we believe—of the amount n quired hy Mr Feraud on condition of the miners giving the ha’ance. We understand that as the miners are unable or unwilling to give their quota, the Government have withdrawn, and intimate that the miners and Mr Feraud must settle the difficulty between themselves. Since the above was written and in type, we learn that the miners and Mr Feraud have come to terms. We are directed to draw attention to the sale on to morrow week the Gth of November of brood mares and young stock, the progeny of Architect and other well-known sires. G. Fache, auctioneer

Wellington telegrams in the Dunedin Dailies say that Mr Nugent Wood, KM. and Warden, is to be transferred to Ashburton, the work of his late district to be shared between Mr Carew, R.M., of Lawronce, and Mr McCullough, K.M., of Invercargill. As Mr Stratford has been removed from the Lakes to Greymouth, Major Keddell, of the Dunstan doing the work, a saving of fully LIOOO a year Las been effected by these changes. We have received the September number of the American Exporter, it contains a vast amount of statistical and other informa.ion anent the trade of America with oilier countries of the world and is well worth reading. The Wanaka annual races came off on Thursday and Friday last, and was highly successful. Mr M'Keuna we are informed carried off the two handicaps, somewhat, making up for his bad luck at Alexandra aud Clyde the weeks previous.

The Ashburton Guardian states that complaints are being made by the fanmrs in the Wakanui district of damage done to crops by innumerable larks that infest the locality. These birds pull up the young shoots of the grain as it appears above the ground and eat the soft seed. In consoqucnce of the ravages of the larks several farmers have had to re sow.

Tho question of the admissibility of newspapers as legal evidence was raised before Mr Bcotliam at Timaru the other day. The Herald reports that Mr Perry wished to put in a copy of a newspaper to show that a certain notification had been published. This was objected to by Mr Hamersley, on the ground that the printed advertisement was merely a copy, and the original manuscript ought to he produced, and its authenticity proved. Mr Perry replied that so far as the public ware concerned the printed advertisement was the Tnc Magistrate was also of opinion that the newspaper being tho Vehicle by which tho inhumation was conveyed to those interested, it should be

original

taken aa evidence. Common sense pointed in this direction, at any rate, but unfortunately the law often ran counter to common sense.

The Daily Times understands that some uneasiness has been caused amongst his friends regarding the whereabouts of the Ilev. Mr Ash, who formerly was at the Dunstau.

News, says an Ashburton paper, has been received that a parcel of wheat shipped by Messrs P. Cunningham and Co. for Mr Hay T. Smith and some other Ashburton farmers, has realised the high price of 56s 6d per quarter. This is quite equal or superior to prices obtained for the beat Adelaide wheat, and must be highly encouraging to our farmers, as it shows the estimation in which New Zealand wheat is beginning to be held in England, At New Plymouth tenders were called for lowering the grade of a tramway. The Engineers ' estimate of cost by day labor was L 916. The lowest tenders was 1.984 while the highest was L 2850. Who after that will say there arc no advantages in tendering. The Southland Times says :—“That the unemployed-men—who lately arrived from Dunedin were as a who a dissipated lot of men.

A Wellington telegram states that the acting Governor does not intend to interfere with the sentence of death passed on Ah Lee.

An Auckland telegram states that the Public Words dismissals will not affect Auckland.

A good story (says the Lytt. Iton Times) comes from the Northern Stock Market. Two rival dealers in stock were haggling about the price of a mob of sheep fit for the butcher, and 13 s 61 per head was the highest offer made privately for them, but 14s was demanded. Tbe vendor, however, refused this offer, and while the would be purchaser was otherwise engaged, shifted the mob into another yard, and allowed the auctioneer to put them up to public auction, when the dealer who had previously offered 13s 6d per head was foremost amongst the buyers of tbe lot, and they ware finally knocked down to him at 16s per head. He then went to the yard in which the sheep had been formerly, with a view of buying them at the price required, and the discovery was made. That dealer waxed wrolh.

The Blue Spur Tailing’s Company, Lawrence, tried their jet on the 21st instant under the low pressure, and found it to work admirably, throwing the tailings, consisting of gravel and large stones, a distance of tifty or sixty feet. In a short time the Company expect to commence work in earnest, when largo quantities will ho scut through the sluice-boxes. The Savings Bank returns for the quarter ending 30th September, shew that the number of deposits w ere 22,044. Amount deposited L 220.293. Number of withdrawals It, 639. Amount withiravvu LI 95,147, while for the corresponding quarter of last year, 1.172,207 was deposited, and 1,198,542 withdrawn. As an evidence 'of the wealth of the fruit industry in tho Paramatta District, N.S.W., it is mentioned in the -Sydney Telegraph 11 that the single crop ot oranges in one of the principal orchards was this year sold for 1.0(100 cash, as it stood on the trees, the purchaser hearing the cost of its package and removal. The orchard in question has an area of 170 acres,”

A contemporary of a calculating turn of mind estimates that over a quarter of a million of money, invested in “consultations,” depends this year ou tho Melbourne Cup.

JEgles iu the Australasian has tho following Just look at that magnificent organ,” said the Pi nna One on the opening day of the Exhibition to Commodore Dareall, of H.M.3. Wolfhound. “We should never have produced that, sir, under a policy of free trade.” “ It is indeed handsome,” said the commodore, “but what has chiefly pleased mo to-day ia the hearty and spontaneous loyally displayed towards the representatives of Her Majesty.” “Yes” said the P.O. dubiously’, the loyalty was pretty general.” “Of course,” added the commodore, “ 1 refer uot to tho loyalty of the Government, but of tho people.”

Tho New York Herald says :—“ Mrs Emiline Winans, a lady 43 years of age, died recently at Newark, N.J., after having been absolutely’ without food for 4C days. When a young woman Mrs Winans was remarkably line looking, strong, and healthy, of fair complexion, with very light hair and large blue eyes Nine years ago sbo was afflicted with rheumatism, and became somewhat crippled. One Sunday* Mrs Winans thought to surprise her sister by making the fire and getting breakfast. She was taken with a lit and had to be placed in bed at once. From that day until she. died she had never taken a particle of food. Once she asked for some pigeon, but when it was prepared she could scarcely taste tho soup and ate not an atom. She was very thirsty ami wanted water constantly, which was given her sparingly. She wasted away to a skeleton. Almost every hour, day, and night she vomited. She bore her sufferings with great fortitude, and was the most cheerful person iu the house. She rejoiced iu tho approach of death, and selected the text and hymn for her funeral service. When lifted into the coffin the corpse of the woman who, nine years ago, weighed 200 pounds, weighed only about 50.

The following appears in a San Francisco paper received by the last mail—"Chicago, Sept. 24th— A Times Quebec special says : Just before the Confederation the Government of Frince Edward Island passed a compulsory laud bill, which forced the landlords to sell and then divided the properties into holdings of moderate size. The value of the lands was determined by arbitration. The Government bought the land,

gave the tenants the refusal of purchase, and allowed a greater part of the purchase money to remain on mortgage. The greater part of the land is now held in fee by tbe former tenants. Now comes the important news that Lord Kimberley, of the British Cabinet, calls on the Governor-General of Canada for information as to the workings of the Prince Edward Island Compulsory Land Bill, and tue Marquis of Lome is making enquiries of the Crown Land Commissioners. This is believed here to foretell action by the Gladstone Government as to Ireland ”

A recent cablegram from London states that the Duke of Connaught recently met with an accident by falling from his horse,, but ho was only slightly injured.

A saving of over L 20.030 a year in the Customs’ department, Victoria, by tbe recent dismissals, has been effected.

Judging from a recent case heard in the Small-debts Court, Mudgce, a gieat many newspapers subscribers are ignorant of the law bearing on the subject. For their bene, fit we make the following extracts, which we commend them to “read, mark, and learn ” “ Any person who takes a paper regulary from a post-office, whether tlirected to liia name or another's, or whether ho lias subscribed or not, is responsible for ths payment.” “If a person orders his pipers to be discontinued, he must pay all arrears, or the publisher may continue to send it until payment is made, and collect the whole amount, whether the paper is taken from the office or not.” “ The Courts have decided that refusing to take newspapers and periodicals f cm the post office, or removing and leaving them uncalled for, is prima Jnde evidence of that intentional fraud.” The Trade Protection Society sued sixteen of their subscribers for arrears of subscription to their papers. The defendants admitted that they were subscribers, but refused to nay the amount sued for, alleging by their attorney as a defence that the paper |was sent to them after they had given notice to proprietors to discontinue sending same to them. The plaintiffs, by their attorney, Mr J. M'Carthy, contended the defendants were liable, as at the time the notice was sent the defendants were in arrear in their subscriptions, and that his clients could, in face of that notice, continue sending the paper until all arrears were paid. In support of this view ho referred the Court to several authorities on this matter. The police magistrate, after hearing the attorneys on both aides, sustained the view of the plaintiffs’ attorney, and gave a verdict for the amount claimed in each case together with witnesses expenses.

The Attorney General has granted his fiat for the appeal of the Claimant against his double conviction being carried to tho House of Lords. His solicitor submittel eight points to Sir Henry James on which he claimol that the application should bo acceded to, l-Vw persons imagine, however, that the Lords will reverse the.de-

•■•itii'in of the Court of Appeal already given in the ease Th • notorious J.ih" lane w» released from Millbank on tlm !3ih just., anil one of the lirat uses he made of hi i liberty was to write a long letter on the subject of the charms against him, which has been published in tbs papers. At first many thought the communication was a hoax, hut it ia understood to have emanated from Luie, although, doubtless, it was not actually written hv him. Luie persists in saying that the Claimant was fished up by the Osprey, of which ho was steward, and was taken to Melbourne ; and he adds that if Providence spares him a little he will bo able to prove it by facts. Luie conveniently grosses over the charges made against himself in connexion with his career prior to being brought into notoriety by tho historic “C' tno esta Luie.” He, however, acknowledges having been convicted at Cardiff in IBC7 for feloniously obtaining 1,20, and he states th d Mr Lewis informs him that tho sentence was illegal, and he intends to bring an action against tho chairman of the bench at Cardiff for false imprisonment. As regards the oft-told talo of the Osprey, Luie asserts that in December, 1833, it was bound from New York to Melbourne, and in April, 1854,. they picked up a boat in which there were six men, one of whom was the Claimant, and these were landed in Melbourne One of the closing remarks of his letter is tho expression of his belief that the log-book of the Osprey i* still in existence.