The Dunstan Times. CLYDE, FRIDAY. MAY 119, 1882.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1048, 19 May 1882, Page 2

The Dunstan Times.

CLYDE, FRIDAY. MAY 119, 1882.

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

The County Chairmanship difficulty appears to be as far from solution as ever—if even it is not a great dial farther—in face of the action that we authoratively are informed has been taken by a ratepayer to oust Mr Colclough from the seat. We do not pretend to judge of the wisdom of the step, we can only say that it is a very great pity some compromise could not have beenfeffeeted, so as to put a stop to the existing dead-lock. The mere closing of the talking shop would have been as nothing, in fact in that direction it has been quite a relief to many besides ourselves ; but stopping supplies is a far different matter, and the chief wonder to

us ia that we have not heard a great deal more from those whom the shoe has pinched than we have. ISo possible good can acme from the continuance of litigation, and before any more good money has been thrown into the laj>s of the lawyers, we would recommend, ifjthere is no possibility of the Council as constituted coming to an understanding, that an outsider be called in to arbitrate or that they resign in a body and allow fresh blood to take charge of affairs. It ever has been admitted that the election of chairman should be vested in the public instead of the Council, and we trust that action will be taken to—if possible—get the Counties Act amended. A monster petiiionjshould have the effect if taken in hand in time for the present, session.

Fourth Page.—For balance of reading matterjsee fourth page. Sale at Cromwell.—Mr Fache will hold a sale-J of horses to-morrow, Saturday, at Stuart’s yards, Cromwell. Persons requiring a good hack would do well to attend.

New Goods. —lt will be seen on reference to our advertising columns that Mr J. Rivers has got into his new store, and baa opened out a large and beautilully assorted stock which should command attention. Spottis Lakrikinism. —We have received another letter from “Veracity”

anent the “.Spottis Larrikins,” hut as we are informed that legal proceedings have been commenced in the matter our columns are necessarily closed against the subject.

Police Changes.—Mounted Constable J. M. Gilchrist is transferred from Wellington to take charge of Blacks sub-district, vice Mounted Constable H. Kennedy resigned. Mounted Constable Nestor who was temporarily in charge of Blacks station has returned to Clyde.

The Alexandra Bridge • We have authority tor saying the Alexandraßßrideg e will not be opened on the 24th inst, but in all probability it will be on the Ist of June ; that will be a day or two after the meeting of the Vincent County Council, which will not take place this month till the 30th 0 r 31st inst.

Conroy’s Beef.—The proprietors of Conroy’s reef, Messrs Bennett and Dewar, are very busy both in the mine and with the erection of their battery. These parties have exhibited wonderful and indomitable pluck in the way they have stuck to this reef through good and bad repute, and it is sincerely to bo hoped they will be rewarded by handsome returns when they commence crushing, which should be noav in the course of a few weeks.

Deferred Payment Selections.—We understand that Mr J. Aitken Connell has received a requisition from a large number of deferred payment selectors, requesting him to convene a meeting of the deferred payment selectors throughout the provincial district to concert measures for bringing their grievances before Parliament We understand that Mr Connell has acceded to the request of the settlers, and that the meeting will be held in Dunediu on Saturday the 27th inst,

A Humored Years Hence.— On the fourth page of this issue will be found a ■column and a half of reading matter extracted from a nowsoaper Boston Oluba printed for the year 19S1. The idea is a novel one of anticipating to-day what will be said and done a hundred years lienee, and if but future issues keep up to the standard of orignal excellence of the first number, it should command an extensive circulation. Mr Bradbury of 58 Margaret Street, Sydney, is the colonial agent.

Inquest on a Chinaman I — An inquest was held on Monday last at the Dunstan District Hospital, before W. Masters, Esq., J.P.,onthe body of a chinaman who had died in the institution on the Saturday previous. From the evidence adduced it appears that the deceased was over 60 years of age and that ho had been unwell for a long time past and that when hi ought into the hospital he was in a very weak and debilitated state. The evidence of Dr Foot, the medical officer, went to prove that death was from natural causes, and in accordance therewith the verdict was returned.

If.—The Timaru Herald writes “If there had only been a couple of well-man. Ned whale-boats here, the Benvcnue might possibly have been saved. If there had been a steam tug here it is a moral certainty that not a single casualty would have occurred this year, and that losses amounting to £40,000 or £50,000 would have been averted. If proper appliances had been provided, and if reasonable despatch and judgment had been exercised in the work of the port, the whole of the season’s fleet might have been got away in safety, even without a steam tug.” Good Templars.— The installation of the following officers of the St. Dunstan Lodge, 1.0. G.T., took place in the Town Hall, Clyde, on the 6th inst.W.C.T., Bro, Hogan ; W.V.T., Bro. Munro ; W.S., Bro. McConnochie; W.F.S., Bro T. Williams ; W.T.,BroDnnn ; W.C., Bro Walker ; W.M, Bro. Treseder ; W.D.M., Sis. C. Williams ; W.1.G., Bro. Wilson, Sen. ; W.O G., Bro. Watson ; W.A S., Sis. Hastie; W.R.H.S., Sis. L. Williams; W.LH.S., Sis. Humphrey; Bro. Davidson passes to the P. W.C.T. chair. There was a good attendance of members present at the ceremony. After several songs and recitations had been given the lodge closed at 10 p.m.

Ascent (of Mount Cook.— Dr Hector writes to a Wellington paper “ The Kev. Mr Green, who made the ascent of Mount Cook in March last, informs me that the reading of his barometer in the highest elevation he attained was 19.05 in. This, corrected for temperature, and compared with the barometer reduced to the sea level for the same date and position, indicates the altitude to have been 11,926 ft. According to a recent measurement by Mr G J. Roberts of the Trigonometrical Survey Staff, the Altitude of Mount Cook is 12,349 ft, so that Mr Green’s highest point was within 387 ft of the summit, assuming that both measurements refer to the same peak.”

Temperate with a Vengeance. —“The Freethought Association in Christchurch wished to invite Mr Denton, the American lecturer, to a dinner, but that gentlemen beinga total abstainer, could not consistently accept the invitation. It was then suggested to invite him to what is commonly called a tea-fight, but it is found that he does not drink either tea or coffee ; he could not even accept challenge to a smoking match, for he does not smoke. It is now thought that he is an ‘ animated fossil of the glacial period,’ cast up by an earthquake, and entrusted with the records of the ‘growth of the planet,’ and to whom the unnatural habits of the present age, in devouring alcohol and tobacco are exceedingly repulsive.” - Telegraph.

A Second Benjamin.—A Kaitangata correspondent writing to the Daily Times says : —“ Two years ago Mr H. Clemens, of Kaitangata, lost a gold albert chain when forking in the field, on Mr B ackie’s farm. He gave it up as lost for ever. Recently Clemens’ father purchased a bag of fowl feed from Mr Blackie, and on opening the bag, to his utter astonishment, there was his son’s chain, with only one link displaced. The chain had passed throuch the stacking and threshing processes with only slight damage. But what, is most extraordinary is, that of many hundred bags sold by Mrßlackie, the chain was discovered in the last one sold. Tills extraordinary find is very much spoken of by' the people in the district,”

A Whopper.—An Eastern tourist in Nevada had been spinning some incredible fish yarns, when one of the party, turning to an old mountaineer, said. “ Bill, that gets away with fishing in this country, don’t it?” “Wal, I don’t know about that,” “Do you mean to say that you have caught more and larger fish?” “No ; hut I have caught some purty big fellers.” “ Come, now, tell us the weight of the largest trout you ever caught.” “Wal, I can’t exactly tell as to the w eight, but yon folks can ligger on it. Now, yon know it is over 200 miles around this ycr lake. Put that down. As [1 said ■before, I don’t know the weight of the biggest fish I ever yanked nut, but I dH haul one up on the beach, and after [ landed him the lake fell throe feet, and you can see by the water mark over yonder it hasn’t riz since. Detroit Free Press.

To the Ladies. —The eccentric King of Bavaria has lately disappeared and left no trace of his whereabouts The direction, duration, and purpose of this journey are, yvo are told, equally unknown ; oven the highest circles are left in the dark. Hero is a matter for speculation, remarks : n English contemporary. A young man of 30, unmarried, highly cultured, and a sovereign ruler to boot, is on his wanderings. Is ho like Prince Charles, when he made his romantic journey in Spain, in search of a bride ? Or he is travelling merely to inform himself of the ways of men as they present themselves to ordinary eyes ; Perhaps, after all, Louis has not left Barvaria, and is now living in some hut among the mountains. But then, again, perhaps ho is in Paris, or here in London. The sudden disappearance of a King without leaving a clue with anybody as to where he is to be found, ia not a daily or yearly occurrence. For some time to come eligible young ladies w. should pay close attention to any strange ' gentleman of romantic appearance who may be introduced to them.

Manufacture of Diamonds —Mr E. W. Emerson M‘lvor, P.1.C., informs the Argus that he received by last mail the following definite information concerning "Hannay’s Methol of Manufacturing Carbon Diamonds;—“lt was found that when the alkali metals, preferably lithium, were heated with parratin hydrocarbons, carbon is deposited in very hard scales. It has been ascertained by experiment, in which lithium was heated with a mixture of 90 per cent, rectified bone oil, and 10 percent, parrafin spirits in a coil iron tube to a visible red heat for fourteen hours, a hard smooth mass was formed at the bottom of the tube, containing clear and perfectly transparent crystals imbedded in it. Tin * crystals were octabedial in form, had a

specific gravity of 3.5, scratched all other crystals, contained 97.85 per cent, of carbon, and had no action on polarized light.’ The properties hero described are in every respect identica. with those of natural diamond crystals. Mr Hannay wi'l shortly make known the true economic value oj this important discovery.— Star. Tim Moon and Earth.— The London correspondent of the New Zealand Times. says: —“I must he excused for referring again to Mr Proctor. He has recently ondeavored to popularise science by establishing a paper called Knowledge. It is intended for old and young, and being only 2d per week, is within reach of all. A most interesting theory has been unfolded by Dr Ball is one of the recent numbers as to the probable causes of the moon’s formation. He attributes its origin to the time when the earth itself was a molten mass subject to violent tides of matter under the influence of the sun’s attraction ; he shows how it is possible that under repeated vibrations of the molten mass such a condition of oscillation was set up that at length the centrifugal force overcame cohesion, and a vast fragment was hurled intoispace, and it became the moon. Dr Ball then enters upon a very interesting problem—viz., the fact that undoubtedly the length of the day is increasing, owing to the retardation of the tides, though in so infinitesimal a degree that even in centuries the time ia but a fraction of a second. Nevertheless, at the time when the moon was thrown off as already' mentioned the length of the day was probably only three hours, and the month was .-the same length ; in other worik, the moon revolved round the earth in that time. Ho ■then goes on to prove that the moon is going further and further from the earth, ■and that with elongation of its orbit the length of the month is increasing in the same way as the day is increasing, until he ■shows that in long «ges yet to come the day and the month will be again equal, or each -1.400 hoars long. I Slave only stated the •main conclusions, but the subject seems to have been well thought out, and the papers are very lucidly written. I should add that IDr Ball is Astronomer-Royal for Ireland.”

Another Lost Taras of Israel.- A ■mysterous European arrived at WhatiwhatiSioeon Monday (says the correspondent of ■the Auckland Star) with a large musical horn slung across his shoulder, and though Tawhiao had invited all the butchers and bakers of Auckland, he had some difficulty in providing accommodation for this single individual who responded to his summons. He was placed in the big runanga-hnnse •with the Kaipara Natives, where, being ■without a blanket, he had te lie all night .shiveringon thecoldground. Heannounoed To Paid and his people that he was come to ••rev al to them that they bel nged to the •hj st tribes of Israel, arid he expounded to them the tenth ichspter of Isaiah, quoting .■also the Pod ms in proof t hat they were the Morians spoken of by the mapped Psalmist. ’He said that this meeting was not, the work of Tawhiao, but of Cod. and that in' throe ■days, he (the apostle) would blow the horn he had with him. and all the Natives would gohnmordj icing Meanwhile, he produced M -ody and Sankey’e hymn book and proicceded to sing with a Jew’s harp accompaniment. Proceeding through the settlement, he announced the glad tidings to all the Natives, but being unable to speak a word ■of Maori, they regarded his movements with some amusement and amusement. Last night he succumbed to the wet, the cold, ■and the eels and potatoes, which form the •only fare in the valley, and cameiiito Finch’s hotel ier a good square meal, declaring that he would recommence his mission when the •conditions proved mo e favourable.

This Kidf. Ob the Other.— ■“ Say, mister, are we on this side of the bridge or the •other?” asked a placid old lady of a gentleman in a Waterloo’bus lately. “We •are on this side,” responded the gentleman gravely. “ Laws me ! Then we ain’t anywhere near Somerset House !’’ “ Vos, unadame, we are within a few yards of it.’ ■“Kalkes a massy.! I thought Somerse House was on the other side of the bridge !’ “No, madame, it is on this side/” “Well* that poiky conductor told me it was the •other side when we started.” “It was, madame, on the other side then, but wo have crossed the bridge ” “ Then we are on the ■other side ” “ No, madame, we are •on this side of the bridge ” We’ve passed it.” “ And is Somerset Houseon the other side ?” she asked, starting in some alarm. 44 No. it is on this side.” 14 Don’t try to tool me with your nonsense 1” exclaimed the old lady, indignantly- “ Don’t try to make me think that Somerset House is on this side of the bridge when I know better, and don’t try to make me believe I’m on this side of the bridge when I know I’m on the other. The idea,” *ho continued, turning to the other passengers, “of trying to muddle an old woman that might he Ids mother ! Conductor 1 just as soon as I get on this side of the bridge yon let mo out, or this will he your tombstone trip to Somcr. set House.” And the dame straightened back and glared defiance, while her wellmeaning informant concluded that it wasn’t too warm to walk to his destination.— America,i Traveller.