The Dunstan Times. CLYDE, FRIDAY, OCT. 28TH. 1881.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1019, 28 October 1881, Page 2

The Dunstan Times. CLYDE, FRIDAY, OCT. 28TH. 1881.

A gentleman, who came across the Knobby Ranges from Teviot to Alexandra, inf rrns ns that the country is positively alive with rabbits.

A requisition to NTr Win. Fraser, of Earnsclcugh, asking him to contest the seat for the Dunstan in the House of Re prosentatives, has been going round Alexandra and district for signature. We learn, however, that but few have signed it.

Recently, there has been a great clearing out of cats at Wellington, several run holders, pestered with rabbits, having bought them up by hundreds at 2s G I each for full-grown animals and Is 6 I for kittens. Tho people up cmntry are now beginning to cry out against the practice, as they fear, with good reason, that in a short time the plac* will be overrun with wildcats instead of rabbits.

1 HE following significant notice appears in the Wellington morning journal: Subs irihers to the New Z 'aland Times an 1 New Zedand Mail who are more than twelve months in arrear w th their piymonts are hereby notified that after (Jetoho l- 31st their papers will he enclosed in yellow wrappers, stamped ‘‘Subscription in arrear.” l .We arc impelled to ihis course by self-defence, so many of our distant subscribers finding it convenient to ignore our existence.

A great number of fishing licenses are held by parti s in this district, hut there have been no great lakes yet. One fisherman returned from the Fraser lately minus his line, which had been carried away by a leviathan trout ho had hooked. Ho says he would bo sor-y to sny how big it was, hut he is perfectly sure it was a ton-pounder. Speaking of trout reminds us that wo aro often told of big fish being seen jumping in the Molyneux. A monsirous fish was picked up the other day about midway between Clyde and Alexandra, where the river is very wide and a number of small islands are formed, reported to weigh fully 2011)8. Some Chinese were tho finders. The head of the fish weighed 21ba. An opinion therefore oes be formed of the grots weight.

The following notice by a Virginia black* smith indicates lleadjustor sentiments on the part of Mosc’a partner : ‘Notes —Do copartnership bcretof >re resisting b twixt me and Mose Skinner is hereby resolved, Dem what owes do firm will settle wid me ami dem what do firm owes will settle wid Mose.’

The current wheel dredge Duke o Sutherland, which was constructed at Alexandra, and has been at ,/orlc ncartbas town for the past two years, is now being dismantled, preparatory to being shifted to the Teiiot, where the company hold what is supposed to be a rich claim. Scott’s new steam dredge has dropped down the river to the old Duke of Sutherland claim, and we believe is doing well.

Missus Drummey and Simmonds, fhe contractors for the Alexandra bridge are getting on with their big job, and by the end of next week they think they will bo so far advanced as to admit of their getting over the wires and placing them in position. The whole of the ironwork is on the ground, painted, and otherwise ready, while nearly all the timber work is complete for putting together. The bridge is the largest yet essayed in the province, and for design reflects credit on the engineer, while for workmansh p, so far as is gone, it could not bo beaten.

In a hnmorus article on the coming elections the Ashburton “Guardian” says: We agree with all our contemporaries in th ; . ir excellent ethico-political principles. But the difficulty is where are we to find these model politicians? Even if two or three of them were to be discovered in some out of the way holes or corners of the colony, how are we to secure their services? First of all, it is not at all certain that we- we refei, of course, in the 11 we ” to erring electors on rolls, not to infallible pressman —should have the sense to elect them. As a general rule in large colonial constituencies, if there are say, three candidates, the best man is found at the bottom of the poll, and the worst at the top. And then, too, even if we were intelligent and right-minded enough to select one of these few political birds of paradise, perhaps he might not care to represent us. We seem to be in that unfortunate position in which Carlyle thought the whole English nation was- “thirty million people, mostly fools.” According to the Chelsea philosopher, the nation was going rapi lly to the devil for want of a hero to lead them aud yet the hero was described as being by far too great a man to bo asked by the public to come forward, and by too modest a man, to come forward of his own accord.

It may be useful to our country readers to know that Patow-Lalondorf nas declared that the best metho I of applying artifl dal manure to potatoes is by harrowing them in. That method gives a better result tlian hoeing the manure.

IV E are informed by the County authorities that, in consequence of the statutory day for holding the election of Councillors for Vincent C .unty falling on the Prince of Wales Birthday (November 0), and Order-in-Council has been gazetted postponing the elections for any time within 21 days from the 9th of November.

Major Keddell stated from the Bench at Alexandra on Wednesday last that, in in consequence of the next Court day (November 9) falling on a [midis holiday, it would not be held till the following day. He also said that, in consequence of the coming elections, during which his time would be fully occupied, he was unable, as yet, to definitely fix on the days ha would hold his Courts during December, ile said he referred to the matter so as not to cause any unnecessary trouble or annoyanca.

An accident of a painful nature, resulting in a fracture of the thigh, occurred to John Burres whilst working at Theye s and Beck’s brewery one day last week. It appears that a piece of scantling he was standing on suddenly gave way. Mr Burres was at once removed to the Dunstan Hospital, whore, under the care of Dr Leahy, he is getting on as well as can be expected. Mr Burres is one of the very earliest residents in the Dunstan district, and is a carpenter by trade ; but for the past few years ha nas held the license of tho Clutha Hotel, Cromwell.

One of the most extraordinary inventions, perhaps, of the age is that for which Prolessor John Carngee.of London, now resi ling at Washington, his obtained a patent for his thermodynamic engine. The future Arctic investigator will have no trouble in keeping warm, nor will darkness trou do him, for the harder everything freezes the faster the engine will run. What is to become of the coal industry if this engino really he what it professes ? Fuel will no longer he require I to pro luce either rnotivo power, heat or light. These great factors in human welfare will in future he enjoyed by mankind without labor or cost; all the industries of the worl I will be revolutionised, and a majority of them discarded for lack of further use. It appears that a person named Kelly claims to he tho prior inventor of this wonder, for it is nothing else.

We would remind our readers that the time within which electors* names may ha placed on the Electoral Nolls will soon expere. The qualification necessary is either a freehold of L2o in value,or resilience in the colony for a year, six months of which must have been passed in th electoral district on the nil of which th a applicant wishes to have his name placed. In all cases the person applying must he a male over 21 years of age. Any person who states in the printo 1 claim to vote that ho has hem in New Zealand for 12 months, or in the electoral district for six months, will if such statement he proved to he untrue, bo liable to a penalty of L2O. In the present active canvas this must not bo overlooked,as many persons may perhaps sign the claim for enrolment without reading the printed declaration.

We are given to understand by the County Clerk that the Vincent County elections, by Order-in Council dated 21st October is postponed till Tuesday, the 22ud of November.

A special meeting of the Vincent County Council, for the purpose of confirming {or otherwise) the resolution passed at the last special meeting, to amalgamate the Nevis and Kawarau Ridings, will be held to-morrow in the County Offices, Clyde.

The price of titles is supposed to be high in the market, and there is no lack of bidrii On excellent antho-ity I am t Id that during the Beaoonsfield Administration a rich and ambitious colonist offered L4O 000 as a contribution to the election fund of the Eng ish Conservative party, in consideration of receiving a baronetcy. It was intimated to him, though I cannot say by whom, that if he felt enthusiastic he might make the presentation, that a reference might be made to the colonial Governor, etc. But the hopes he'd out were too vague for a shrewd business man, who bad once before bailedbis hook heavily and only caught a very small fish indeed. (“iEgles” in Australian.)

The audacity of the Nihilists almost surpasses belief. Their Executive Committee’s latest missive was sent to theCzir through the medium of bis son ! How it was managed nobody can imagine. The child was accompanied by his nurse, an Englishwoman of tried fidelity, guarded by a detachment of Teherkess«s. He was approached by no one during his promenade, no one even spoke to him from the moment be left his mother’s room till he returned to it, and yet the Nihilist document was found fastened to his belt.

Tub “ Hawera Star” says Sir W Pox is on the war-path. Speaking at Woodville the other night, he said between 2000 and 3000 die every year in New Zealand through drink, and every drinking-shop in New Zealand kills one inhabitant per annum. He advocated the total extinction of all publichouses, and hopes shortly that no publican would dare to put up a sign over his door ; in fact, he might as well write “Murderer,” which he really was, at once He looked upon a publican as worse than a highwayman who poin e 1 a pistol at your head.

The end of the world has been postponed from time to time, but papers have been found which disclose the unpleasant fact that our globe is sure of distinction in November, 1881. Leonardo Arotino, an Italian prophet of the fourteenth century, is authority for this amazing statement : The dissolution is to begin on the 15th and last fifteen days. According to Areiino, the programme will be arranged as follows : Ist day, the sea will overflow; 2nd day, the water will penetrate into the soil ; 3id day, death of all fresh-water fbh ; 4th day, death of sea animals ; slh day, death of the birds ; 6 b day, fall ot all houses and buildings; 7th day, fa lof the rocks ; Bth day, earthquake ; 9th day, fall of the mountains ; 10th dry, men will become dumb ; llih day, the graves will open ; 12th, rain of the stars ; 13th day, death of all mankind ; 14th day, destruction of heaven and earth by fire ; 15th day. resurrection ami general judgment.