The Dunstan Times. CLYDE, FRIDAY, AUGUST 19, 1881.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1009, 19 August 1881, Page 2

The Dunstan Times.

CLYDE, FRIDAY, AUGUST 19, 1881.

Eonca'h the rule of men entirely just The pen la mightier than the sword.

“Links to the Village Clyde" will appear in our next. Music-pupils may now commence their lessons. For further particulars see adver(isement.

Mr Geo. Mellor, a son of Mrs Mellor, storekeeper, of Tinkers, had, we regret to lea n, one of his legs broken la) ely. The fractured limb was attended to hy Dr Hyde, of Ophir. Mr Mellor is progressing towards recovery.

In mining matters at Tinkers there is not much doing at present. The Blue Duck and Undaunted Claims have been lying idle during the last few weeks, on account of tho scarcity of water. The Biuo Duck, however, is pushing ahead with tho tunnel for their new tail-race. It is already in 200 yards, and a fresh contract has been let for a further 200 yards, and when it is considered that tho whole is a perfect box of very substantial timber, It may bo imagined it is a work of great magnitude.

We loam that Mr N. A. Anderson has been busily engaged with a strong posse of men, for a long time past, in prepariug to wo k the celebrated Allwise Claim at Doctor’s Point, below Alexandra. Ho has now so far succeeded that he proposes commencing sluiciug operations at the end of next week. The indomitable pluck and perseverance Mr Anderson has displayed in connection with this claim merits a rich reward which we hope he will got. Tho ch im is situaicd on the s’ope of almost perpendicular ildgeabout 200 ft. above the river-bed, and to get it into working order what would have been insurmountable difficulties to many had to ha performed.

Thu quarterly meeting of the St. Dunstan Lodge, 1.U.G.T., was held in tto Town HaT on August 13. The reports of the retiring office!s svere read and adopted. The lodge now numbers S3 members. The Lodge Deputy. Bro. Craw'ord, installed the officers for the ensuing quarter, viz ; W.C.T., Bro Smart; W.V.T., Bro McCoanochie; W.S., Bro W. Williams; W.T., B'oMcFcrran; W.C., Bro Wa'ker; W.M. Bro Morris ; W.F.S., Bro J. Williams ; W.0.G., Bo Watson; W. 1.6., Bro McElroy ; W.D.M., 8.0 Cox ; W.A.S., Bro W. ilueston ; W.R.S., Sister L. Williams ; W.L.S., Sist-r C. Williams. Bro Dunn takes the chair of P.W.C.T.

Tjif. Co'lector of the Vincent County Comic'l announces his intention of visiting the principal towns throughout the county foe the pui pose of collecting the rates now line. It would bo just as well it it were understood by the ratepayers that, according to the RaJngAcfc, 1879, it is-not imperative that the Collector should personally coVcct the rates. If a post-card conta:niug particulars of tho amount be forwarded, that is qn! e sufficient from a legal point of view, a id tho ratopaye-s are bound to [send in their respective amounts; so Collector during his collecting tour would find it to be advisable to remit tho amounts of their rates wLhout delay It is not our wish to ho drawn into a protracted, uninteresting warfare with the “Cromwell Argus,” neither do we desire to have centred upon our devoted editorial cranium tho splenetic, scurrilous, almost unintelligib'e, and blustering literary aimer of on r prattling contemporary. In our publication of June 12, wo made an assertion, which we now find our friend could not very well answer, because he knew that the slatement was strictly and undeniably true and guided by circumstances; But, finding that tho position we took up was impregnable and unassailable, he indulges in °a farrago of abuse, in which inuendos and irrelevant allusions are glaringly apparent. Before our acerb contemporary again attempts to remove tho mote from our eyes, lot him first find out that his own orbs are “pure and undefiled,” and discover if ho has a right to sling bis acidulous inky compound at ns. We should also like him to satisfactorily prove if ho is entitled to rank ■ his paper amongst tho journals of tho day. We very much doubt it any but himself would willingly concede his paper that glorious honor.

The “ New Zealand Times ” states, apparently by inspiration, that meetings have been he'd throughout the district—notably at Opbir, tho centre of Blacks, and Alexan dra, emphatically protesting against theredistribution as proposed. This (says tho “ D rily Times ’) sureiy is an error. If our Dunedin friend had carefully perused the columns of the provincial journals, ho would have learnt that meetings (as tho “N. Z. Times” stated) And been held at Ophir and Alexandra,and that the meetings ini question did emphatically protest against the proposals of Government; so it is just possible that there is no error in tho statement, as our contemporary would have its leaders believe. Two persons only in Alexandra believed in tho proposals, and their motives were very questionable ones ; however, they have had ample can so to regret the foolhardy cause they pursued to bring about matters to their liking. As for Ophrr, the people there to a man protest against tho disfranchisement, so probably it is tho “ Daily Times ” that is in error, not tho “N. Z. Times.” Perhaps our contemporary will, in the future, take the trouble to look up exchanges before ho again makes a statement directly opposed to good sense and truth.

Bun pings are rapidly springing up all over Christchurch.

Louis Poxtee, of Glasgow Bank notoriety, died on June 7.

Attempts toaeclimatiso hares In Taranaki have been unsuccessful.

The Ashburton Boreugh Council wants to pawn its water-pipes.

2,500 shares in the Tcmuka paper company have been taken up. The offertory in aTapanui church lately was 8s 9d for two services.

In Hawke’s Bay people make a living by destroying hawks and shags. The manufacture of fencing wire in the colony is mooted in Dunedin.

The verb “ to Boycott ” is already found in some American dictionaries.

Settlement on a large scale on Crown lands in the North ia anticipated. The New Zealand Government has no control over its Auditor-General, The mother of George Eliott, the authoress, is living in Hobart; aged 90.

Cub Premier thinks tho law between landlord and tenant is unsatisfactory. Dirty bank-notes arc spreading small-pox i,i Sydney'. How about Now Zealand?

Mr Dick thinks bookmakers stand outside hotels like poachers waiting for prey. An attempt' is being made to reduce tho duly' on tobacco grown, in tho colony to Is per lb.

Tub Timaru breakwater has been carried out 1200 ft. from tho original high watermark.

A man was recently fined L 5 at Philadelphia for kissing a handsome girl in tho street.

“ Tub great Liberal and libellous loader " is what tho “Grey llivcr Argus” calls Sir Gcorgo Urey. The Hon. R. Campbell’s landed property in Otago is to pass into tho hands of a monster company.

Ip New South Wales continues to dispose of her laud at the present rate, sho will bo landless in fifty years.

Tub Dunedin E.M. thinks auctioneers are perfectly justified in telling falsehoods ; or “ blowing,” as lie called it. Ex-Judge Weston says tho wholesale administration of oaths in our courts is a perfect scandal to tho ago wo livo in. As an example to the people, the Mayor and aide mon of Sydney announced their intention 6i being vaccinated in a body.

A juryman in the libel case of Fees v. Wickham (Auckland) wanted to give a verdict for Fees because ho supported Sir Geo. Grey.

The proprietor of tho “Now York Herald” is to he married very sho*-tly to Jtdlle. Jeano Bonaparte, daughter of Prince Pierre,

The average number of rabbits killed In ouo road district on the east coast of the North Island is 1,300 a-weok. Two years ago thcro were none there. The member for TnapeVa would not lend himself to a faction to sc. vo his own purpcso, says a letter written in a local paper. Ls satisfactory to know that.

M iC. 0 Bowen denounces “ No-Confi-d inc” motions, as they dc'ay public business. II o docs not suggest a remedy when s'mLtova won’t taka tno hint of repealed dcf» a a. The “ Austva'ian Medical Journal” denounces foo haM, staling that—owing to our youths eating too much flesh, and not eating fuhnecons food—their bones arc too brittle for tho game. M. Sou dry, •.loloious from his connection with tho‘Greer tragedy in tho Melbourne Opera-house, was (on Us arrival in .‘a \i) dismissed from the Government service on account of his adventure. Eabctt-jkinnino is being reduced to a science i i Victoria. Lately three men had a contest as to who could skin tho most

vbb'ts in a hour. At the end of that time 'Vs number skinned w0r0—493,o —493, 434, aud 374-

At an inquest in Melbourne upon a lady li'.c'y, who had died f"ora tight lacing, it was shown by the post-mortem examination that the pool 1 croalu.’o had so abused the •fo m which Nature had given her, that slio actually had two stomachs, like a camel. It Is a edmo in Santa Crnz, S. Amc'lca, to sc'l or give a cigarette, cigar, or tobacco to a boy under 16 years old. New Zealand would he none the worse off if her rising generation were prohibited by law from smoking, and also drinking and gambling. Tin; average newspaper reporter is never abash:il, and is equal to almost any emergency. One of the dais was interviewing So .a Bo nlwdt recently, when she g ew euftvoc Ameiica, »ud tho wish lint the nation K%d but one month, so that she might kiss it. The reporter instantly suggested that he represented the nation to a certain extent, and ho had but “one month.’ .1

A'* excellent electioneering story, which hostiio advantage of being true, Is worth i .>1 n : ng !—A. candidate for nn East Coast r onto thus add -css-d a mooting of the elcctuai; « Ge" u Knon, —Without being an bn-goalist, 1 think I knows what yer wants ns well as yer docs yersclvos, and I’ll do what I can for yor. What w ; ll yor take to d ink, boys ? ” That man was the popular caulidale. Many nn hour-and-a-halt’s election speech means little more when boiled down.

Torch Is in the Victorian Houso of Assembly a gentleman inamed Bowman who follow i the profession of bagman or rpmmereid Cavelier. A sWfc time ago Mr Bowman rose to suggest the importance of tho Govern nenl imnrdi/teTy proceeding w ! hj a \ Ad .(Iteration Bill, in order to stop tho importa'ion of worthless teas. The Attorreply wass’m land decisive —“ Wecau’bdothatji.bnt I have given in-R-i'c lions to seize’ and do-troy the green t-ac B'dd by t jo hon member.” Mr jlowmuj jam in niger to explain, but tho 6puahor ra’ed him out of order. An astonishing story Is told of a man named Lemon, living in Detroit, America, to tho o.Tcot that two years ago lie swalowod a small lizard in aglass of water, and .bat it Lad Jived and continued to grow in tlio mans stomach until it has attained largo dimensions, and can bo felt just below the ribs and above the loins. It moves in the stomach, causing great pain and profuse vomiting. Lemon can only rest when tho lizard is still and lying flat on his back, and has come to be hopeless of relief save through death. When the accident occurred Lcmen weighed 1751b5; ids weight is now 731bs. Ho is (JO yea s old. Much has b en said and w itten in refercnca as t whether or not the assassins of tho laie O/.rr wore tortured to force a confession from them regarding their organisat on. The “Gx’.eta Ka odowa” now assorts posilivoly that they wee tortu cd in the b nuo manner as all those who attempted to t d.o tho life of tho Czar before them. Karatasoif, who fired at tho Czir in 1S(14, undo confessions nmlertorture which led to the discovery of tho conspl acy called Ad (Hell). _ Alexanderatloniptod to make an imp cs ion of magnanimity upon Bussia and Europe, and orde-cd that Karakasnff i.hould bo permiitod legal counsel and defence. Ho was informed that it would be impo'siblo, beeauso no lawyer could bo found who wouhl dare to undertake his defence. Tho Czar then sent for Counsellor Spasowics, and demanded that ho ,should defend tho assassin. Spasowics visited the prisoner, bat couhln’t draw a syllable from him which might b,.ve boon of assistance In preparing a defence. But tho lawyer persisted, and KaraUarolT finally opened Ji's coat and, ponding to his naked breast, s.vd, ‘‘All I can tell ia this, and here it is.” The sight was ho-r ble beyond description. His breast was burned to a crisp crust by the dippings of molten sealing-wax and lead. ■Spasowics relumed to tho Czar and told him that after torture had been used a dofonoo vyas superfluous and impossible. Tho Czar did not utter another word, and dismissed the lawyer. The Jew Goldcnberg, another Nihilist and assassin, was also tortured, and important secrets were thus forced from him. When tho Hebrew coneregalion to which he belonged demanded ids body for interment, they were told that hj a body con’d not bo found Ho succumbed to the terrible pain and died, and his body w.m never recovered.

CONCERT AND BALL AT OPHIR. A concert and ball was given In tlio school-houso, Ophlr, on Friday evening last, and passed of! most successfully and pleasantly. A number of gentlemen, including some old and at all times welcome faces, assisted at tho entertainment with songs and recitations during tho evening, giving satisfaction to the numerous company assembled. Tho concluding farce (“ Wanted a Barber ”) —tho characters got up in the most artistic negro style, with ebony faces, lee board collars, and longtailed coats—was highly amusing, the paits being well sustained; and, but for tho rather hasty manner In which tho curtain fell, would have boon a greater success than It was. The concert over, tho floor was cleared, and dancing by fully 40 couples indulged in with spirit and kept up till daylight tho following morning. Messrs Beattie and Cleary provided the music, and Mr J. Ryan performed tho onerous duties of M.C. Mr James Alexander (the Secretary), on opening tho concert, read the following prologue, which (by special request) we publish : Pdologue.

Kind friends, your humble servant greeting, Would wish you all a pleasant mooting j Our presence boro at onco declares Wo’vo left behind Life’s dull cares— Hero to beguile a fleeting hour, To bask in pleasure’s sunny bowers ; Songs, sentiments, burlesques, and dances Will banish thoughts of sad mischances. A niggard ho who would begrudge us Short relaxation for wo drudges. This life at best Is but a turmoil: Tho curse still holds, mankind must toil. To shirk our fate, we plan and plot, But our best schemes oft como to nought, Our hands may work, our brains may plan, Yet circumstances controls man. This truth found wo tho other night, When we in Cavan’s did unite, To sco if there wo could agree To sink deep shafts in No. 3, To raise blight gold laying there entombed; And benefit tho country round. But blasted nearly was our aim : Tom Blackwell had just pegged a claim. Just take a transient under view, And still the maxim will hold true. Some years ago joy filled this place— The Central railway starts apace. We thought by now, or soon hereafter. We’d hear the steam-horse’s welcome clatter Our hopes have proved but vain delusions, Tho works are stopped, and all’s confusion, “ Cut up tho runs,” we lately cried ; “ Jjet’s humble the large squatter’s pride.” Y.P.’s Land League is firmly knit— ThoGovernor-in-Oounoil “ must think fit,” But the Premier at Leeston says, “ Your Land League shall not get tho praise Ministers have long since decided That the big runs must bo divided.” And, last, Ibis cursed re-distribution Is now awaiting a solution. The Bill, we’re told, it docs provide The Duustan electorate to divide. And tack it on to districts three, And thus destroy our unity. Vincent is wroth, who can him blame ? They slight tho place that bears his name. Distressed, depressed, what could he do, But rouse his henchman, tried and true? Invoke their aid with lightning speed—“Tho cause is theirs, they must give hoed j Resist, protest, petition, pray, Oh 1 do not lose one single day ; For how can Vincent County flourish 1 f my seat hero they do abolish ? ” Tho baneful tidings came apace - The Clyde folks road with serious face j I One of them said, In deep depression, j “This simply means onr ruination : ' Let’srouso tho district to a man, . All must resist this monstrous plan.” To each town and village in tho land They spread like wildfire the command—- “ Assemble, Duustan electors all, 3 Resist this project of John Hall.” Tho “ Cromwell Argns ” said, “Tho Mayor Should call tho electors to declare Against division; or, fails tho plan,. For next electing our own man : The Mayor or Jolly, Mac, or Brown Would stand a show with Pyke in town.” The magnates met in chambers secret. Like a weathercock upon a pivot They turn right round, and who they thus, “ Dear Hall, —From Danstan do divide us, Pyke, Clyde and Vincent bear our curse— Wakatipu, or other, can’t ho worse.” Tho Alexandrans they said, “ With Clyde wo are unhapply wed, Welcome, Waikaia, to our vote 1 Old Clydo not row in the same boat, Since from our spouse we can’t be parted, Dividing Dunstan must ho thwarted.” Matakanui—“Oh, breathe it not, For Vincent wo don’t caro a groat 1 Though Duustan fall, wo will not suffer It never did our Dry-bread butter This eighteen summers and their winters. Yet part of Dunstan, still we've Tinkers, Why should wo fret or rave or rout, Though wc got joined to Ida’s Mount ?” Blacks said, “ Wc’ro Dunstan diatrict-brcd, Wo claim him as tho parent head, And Vincent County she’s the mother— Who’d dare to part them from each other ? Sho nurses kindly, and milks well, Strong has she roared our Bridge O’Connell; Sho made our streets, our roads and ditches, Just at a wink from Councillor Pitches. Divide us ? No 1 Confound thoir pictures 1 We’ll wire our protest to Ministers.” Some traitor down at Alexandra Says, “Wo want for to join Mount Ida,” And prints the lie beyond Cook’s Strait j Just let him scud us his portrait, Wo’ll have him hanged, drawn, and quartered, His (arcaso burned and bis ashes scattered. Dunstan united or divided— The question still is undecided ; Time will the answer yet disclose, It just depends on “Ayes’’and “Noes.” I’ll lay long odds, and take tho chances, The problem turns on circumstances Over which wo have no control— . Why need wc vex our hoary poll ? Let us enjoy life while we may, Before dark night obscures onr day. Innocent amusement are not forbidden, A long face is no key to heaven. Tho wise man wrole, “There is a time To dance and sing and read had rhyme.” This last I’vo done ; now for tho next: Let’s clear the room, and at the first May there bo no causehero for languor, Is tho fervent wish of Alexander.

BLACKS DISTRICT FARMERS’ CLUB PLOUGHING MATCH.

This event came off on Friday, Aug. 12, at Mr Chapplo’s farm, Tiger Hill, ami brought together a largo concourse of people, and, as the day was extraordinarily lino for tho timo of tho year, being in fact a beautiful spring day, every ouo thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Mr Chappie attended to tho creature comforts by providing a most excellent luncheon, which was done ample justice to. Mr J. Allen of Mannherikia, ■VIrJ. Butler of Bald Hill Flat, and Mr Jas. McArthur of Moutero, acted as judges, and succeeded iu giving very general satisfaction Tho following are tho entries and the prizes awarded : Swing Ploughs.—Open to all comers Entrance, ss. First prize £5, second £3, third £2, fourth £l. Downs Co , owners (A Haig) 1 J. Cochrane (Cochrane) .. 2 J. White, owner (W. Cousons) 3 For best Crown swing-plough—los, Club. A. Haig 1 For host finish swing-plough—los, Club. A. Haig 1 Double Furrow.—Open to all comers. Entrance, ss. Eiist prize £5, second £3, third £2, fourth £l,

John Mclntosh (owner, ploughman) ... 1 Matakanui Station (W. Walls) 2 ~ (J. Harley) 3 C. Jones (owner, ploughman) 4 J. C. Chappie (J. Gilligan) ... 0 Downs Co. (J. Calligan) 0 A. Mclntosh (owner) ... 0 Mrs Milward (\V. Tweedy) 0 H. Simmonds (owner) ~ ~ .. 0

T. Spain (S. Spain) .. ~ .. 0 For best finish double-furrow—los, Club. Jno. Mclntosh (owner) 1 For best Crown double furrow—los, Club. Matakanui Station (W. Walls) ~ ~ 1 For best team of two horses—loa, Club. Downs Company 1 For best team of three horses—los, Club. H. Simmonds 1 For best-matched team of three—Ono doz. Ducal Grape Wine, the gift of Mr J. D. Feraud. A. Mclntosh ~ 1 For best-kept harness in daily use—Hunting crop and thong (value 20a), tho gift of Mr Joss. Matakanui Station 1

For youngest ploughman—Whip, tho gift o Mr Fitzgerald. Stephen Spain was tho youngest man present. A subscription was raised, and tho sum of L2 6a was collected.