The Dunstan Times. CLYDE, FRIDAY. MARCH 10, 1882.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1038, 10 March 1882, Page 2

The Dunstan Times.

CLYDE, FRIDAY. MARCH 10, 1882.

Beneath the rule of men entirely just The pen is mightier than the sword.

The Deep Lead Company at Blacks, No. 3, have bottom another shaft in their claim at about 70ft. They are evidently on the side of the reef, as on one side of the shaft there was only six inches of wash-dirt, while on the other there was over two fret, and prospects taken promiscuously from the heap yielded fully half a pennyw. ight to tho dish. With two feet of dirt, and half a pennyweight to the dish the claim should pay handsomely, but as in all probability the depth of wash will increase, and tho gold be more plentiful distributed in tho deep ground, tho shareholders may rely on a good rise, if not, a fortune.

Friday next, the anniversary of St. Patrick’s Day, promises to bo a jolly one in the Dunstan district, and if the weather proves lino tho most deserving institution in tho whole district—viz., the Dnnstan District Hospital should bo a considerable gainer, as the surplus of proceeds of the entertainments and pastimes to be given are to be devoted to that institution. At Blacks during tho day Corinthian athletic g ones will ho held, to be followed in tho evening bv a ball, and at Clyde a pic nic to lie followed by a concert and dance. At Alexandra and other places we learn that it was intended to have sport of some sort, but they kindly gave way to Blacks and Clyde as tlie Hospital was to bo henetittod, It is now definately understood that the Alexandra Bridge will ho opened on May 24, the Queen’s Birthday.

It is said on pood authority that on the Waipahi Railway platform gold quartz is used for gravel

Tenders are being received by the Clutba River Board for the construction of a steel stern-wheel river steamer.

GARROXiNoisbeoomingof frequent occurrence in the larger cities of New Zealand. There were six cases in Christchurch last week, and on Friday last two men were attacked and robbed in Dunedin.

The To Aroha reefs, Hamilton, are said to extend for miles 20ft thick and 150 ft high. There are numerous auriferous leaders 4ft thick and only one mile from the Thames River, buried in almost impenetrable bush.

The Acclimatisation Society have decided to protect the game in Southland till the Ist April—a month later than has been customary there. Tbe shooting season henceforth will open all over Otago and Southland on that date.

Some disquietude was occasioned at Home by a rumour that Mr Gladstone intended granting Homo Ru'e concessions to Ireland, but it was stated in the House that no scheme would be entertained which had for its object the formation of an Irish Parliament.

Great distress prevails throughout Victoria owing to the scarcity of water. Inland townships have been deserted, mining camps with good paying quartz neglected, crops burned up, and large district left desolate for want of sufficient water to keep the inhabitants alive.

From the latest London telegrams we learn that there is every likelihood of another European war. The Russian Government forbids all discussion through the Press as to its actions ; Rouraania is increasing her armaments, and Turkey has mobilised 150,000 men on the Balkan Eauges.

A female residing in the Waipawa Bush, Hawke’s Bay, lately sold her child for L 4, ihe transaction being carried out with due formality—a stamped and witnessed receipt being given to the purchaser. The man who bought the child did so with L 4 out of L 5 he received on the same day from, a man to whom he sold a dog for the latter sum.

Active preparations are being made for a start at the Woodlands Meat Preserving Works ne ir Gore. It is expected that a far larger number of rabbits will be forthcoming this year, as the large landowners in the vicinity have agreed not to use poison, but allow the animals to be snared. The capacity of the works is 10,001) rabbits a day.

Some grotesque incidents occurred during the trial of Guiteau, the murderer of President Garfield. Among the witnesses called to speak as to the sanity or insanity of Guiteau there was a l)r Spitzkn, who held that Guiteau must have been insane, as one side of his head was larger than the other. Another doctor, presumably an Irish one, explained his ideas of a badly-formed skull by saying that “if you divide it into two equal halves, one is larger than the other.”

M R Kitciiixc, whose woolshel was himit down n shon, time ago at Moa Flat Station, has again suffered by fire, having on Wednesday, March 1, had his ham ami stable on Beaumont farm destroyed. There were three valuable horses in the stable, hut fortunately with good management tln-y were got out in safety. '1 he barn contained several bales of wool, a threshing-mill, a collection of f„rm implements, besides a buggy and a large cpiantity of hay and oats, all of which w ere reduced to a heap of ashes.

It will he seen on reference to our advertising columns that a picnic will be held hy the St Dnnstan bodge, 1.0. G.T., on St. Patrick’s Day, Friday, March 17, at Mr. Williams’ paddock next the Vincent County Found. Tiro committee are making every effort to ensure its success, and have made arrangements with Mr. G. Murray for a plentiful supply of refreshments. Spoils of various kinds to suit all ages will take place during the day. Fveiy preparation having been made for the enjoyment of the picnicers a large gathering is expected.

A concert will he held at the Town Hall, Clyde, next Friday evening under the auspices of the St. Dnnstan Lodge, 1.0.GT., in aid of the funds of the Dnnstan District Hospital. An excellent programme has been provided, particulars of which will be found in another column. As will he seen some of the best amateur talent in the district have kindly offered their services, the Alexandra Brass Band will also render assistance. As the concert promises to be the best held in the district for some years a crowded house may bo safely looked forward to.

It is stated by a writer in Truth that a lady named Mrs Mary Catherine Knight Biuco has been recently inserting advertisements in the London papers in which Mr George Hamilton Ban-able, an artist, was represented as requiring a secretary, a governess, a lady-honsckecpcr, and so on, in consequence of which he was visited by relays of importunate applicants. Not content with this, the ingenious Mary warned him that 100 sandwich-men had been hired to parade the street with bills to tho effect that his studio would be opene 1 free from 10 to 4. It is ten to one that tho gentleman in question would have borne this annoyance, rather than court publicity, if it had ended here ; but the worst was ' ct to come. He was warned that an advertisement would be put in the daily papers for 200 pretty giils for a pantomime, It was too much. He turned and fled—to a magistrate ; and there he got little comfort, for ho could not swear that ho went in *• bodily fear ”of his perseoutrix, although 1 can believe that he could tinthfully have asseverated that ho did go in daily and hourly dread of the 200 pretty girls. The whole affair is merely a very vnl. cr practical joke, hut it seems to me that tho would-hc secretaries, governesses, lady-housekeepers, and pretty girls have most cause to complain.

On Saturday evening last one Samuel Marsh, sixty years, of ago, was found dead in a room at tho back of Mr Bussell’s house in Castle Street, where he had resided for the last three months. The descasnd, who was a widower, and a mining engineer by occupation, was in delicate health, and was in the habit of using laudanum and chloral in large quantities. He was accustomed to leave letters about his room, and on Saturday evening a memo, to the following effect was found on the table: —“ Dear Mr Russell,—l wish that my body may not have a Christian burial service read over it. I wish my body to he cast into the ocean and not covered with “ thick calico. ” The above is my wish.—Samuel Marsh. ” Mr Bussell states that he saw this letter a week ago, so that it must have been written some time. We understand that the medical opinion is that death was caused by congestion of the brain, increased, if not caused, by the habit of taking narcotics. Diseased has no relatives in this Colony, hut is believed to have a sou iu Sydney. An inquest has not been deemed necessary, Mr Eivers, merchant, of Alexandra, is about to build extensive premises, his present place being too small for his largely i uci casing business. Wo do not know the exact size of the building; tho walls, however, are to be of stone with a corrugated iron roof. Separate tenders for the stone work and carpenter’s work are let, and it is thought it will be finished in about eight weeks. At present Mr Eivers is carrying on h’s business in the Town Fall. A number of Messrs G. T. Stevens and

Cos. “ Alpha” gas making machines have been imported and are now on view at Mr Wiers office Octagon, Danedin. ■ Theobject of this invention is to enable those people who cannot obtain coal gas to manufacture a substitute. The machine is very simple, and requires but little attention. There is no fire connected with the making of the gas, which is equal in illumnating power to that produced from coal, without its disadvantages, being free from sulpher and ammonia--cal products Several hotels use the air gas made by this machine, which is said to give complete satisfaction, and as a proof that there is no danger in using it we may men-

tion that the insurance companies in Eng.

land have shown their appreciation of the “Alpha” machine by reducing the premiums on those booses where it is employed. It is in nan at Elbow, Queenstown, and some other towns up-country where it gives every satisfaction. We would recommend it to the consideration of hotelkeepers and others in the Dnnstan district who wish to keep pace with the tiroes. We understand that in consequence of only four candidates having been nominated for the Licensing district of Matakanui no •election took place, and consequently in terms of sub-section 7 of section id of “The

Licensing Act 1881, the duty of nominating the committee devolves upon the \ <1 ivertnr. This fact should lie borne in ' mind by the four gentlemen who were nominated on the Occasion, as any action taken by them on the assumption of being elected must be held to be illegal.

Members of the Dunstan District Hospital Committee are reminded that the monthly meeting to have been held on Monday evening last was postponed till next Monday evening, the 13th hist., at 8 p.m.

The work of prospecting is leing energetically pushed forward at tlie Serpentine quartz reefs. Darlington and party are siuking on their line of reef (the Golden Belt), and at 25ft struck the lode, about Bft 6 inches thick and shows good gold throughout the stone A parcel of stone from Deep Valley West Company’s Claim, of between 2 and 3 tons crushed in Dunedin, gave a return of lez. ICdwts. to the ton. The prospects of this field look well aud promises well in the future,

Many friends and acquaintances wil regret to learn of the death of Mr William Henry Munford, formally years a resident in the Dunstan Valley, but of late of the Serpentine. Deceased had been ailing for some time and eventually was removed to the Naseby Hospital where ho succumbed to the complaint—“ Ulcerated Stomach, ” ho was labouring under, on Friday. February 17. Through the kindly offices of Mr Darlington, a neighbour of deceased received a Christian burial in the Naseby Cemetery.

It is not yet decided, but it is thought that the Blacks Fanner’s Club annual show /will fall through this year. It must be Vmderstood it is not for the want of funds that is the cause, as more money was promised than would possibly have been required, but to the dilatoriness in setting about the affair. It is very much to he regretted, hut it will avail nothing to cry over spilt milk. We, however, hope that next year time will he taken by the forelock.

It is understood, that Mr Fache, auctioneer, purposes holding a scries of cattle and produce sales in Blacks. The first sale, in all probability, will be some time in April.