The Dunstan Times CLYDE FRIDAY, FEB. 29, 1884.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1139, 29 February 1884, Page 2

The Dunstan Times

CLYDE FRIDAY, FEB. 29, 1884.

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

In another column we publish fhe report of Mr Inspector Gordon re the road to the Waikaia Bush. Its contents are of a nature to astonish those wqo think they know anything about the country. In 1875 the then District Engineer visited and surveyed the track and reported thereon to the Provincial Govern ment. His estimate of cost was as follows: Probable cost of track 12ft. wide, suitable for bullock teams— Prom Crossan’s to top of Old Man Range. 6 miles at £IOO per mile £6OO On top of range (swamp), 4 miles at £2OO per mils ~ 800 From top of Range down White Combe Spar, 5 miles at £IOO per mile 500 Side drains and enlverta ... 100 Total £2OOO Mr Gordon visited the locality when “ there was about one foot deep of snow ” on the ground—of course the most suitable time to find reasons for not doing anything—and he estimates the cost at L9IOO. His figures are made up thus:— 6 miles of swamp formation at LBOO per mile, ; 5 miles of side cutting at LSOO, L 2500 ; and 6 miles of easy formation at L3OO—LIBOO. Mr Fkrqus states, from actual inspection, that the soft swampy ground only covered four miles, and that its depth averaged 2ft, Mr Gorhon, having the advantage of a foot of snow on the ground, reports six miles of swamp of such a formidable character that it would cost LBOO per mile to make a bullock track through it Mr Fergus knowing the country well, says the road would probably be snowed up during four months in the year Mr Gordon, after casudly visiting the locality once, reports that eight miles of the route would be covered with snow “ for at least six months in the year.” Mr Gordon admits that there is a largo extent of good timber in the bush. “ I estimate,” he writes, “ there is about eight square miles covered with serviceable timber.” We leave our readers to estimate the value of this forest so clos“ at hand, and yet so unapproachable. And generally we invite the study of the unfavourable conclusions drawn by Mr Gordon. Having this precious document we now know what to fight. It is time our County officials made a move in this bus.ness. The end of the financial year is only a few weeks distant. Tuapeka will not assist in the work, that Council has said so in reply to Mr Fyke’s letter, but they will entertain any recommendation for the L2OOO voted to be expended. There is not a day to be lost unless the Vincent Council is content that the road shall also be lost. Mrs Partington says comparisons is oderous. We quite agree with the venerable old lady, there is no comparison between the two reports ; nor is there between the two gentlemen who report on this question. Mr Fergus, by training and education, is a Civil Engineer and Surveyor, and in the capacity of Road Engineer, a position he held for some years under the old Provincial Government of Otago, gained much experience in road engineering. Mr Gordon, by education and training, is a mechanical blacksmith. This phase of the question we think should he considered in the general review of it, Another point, however, is contained in the lasi paragraph but one of this precious report. Iu that Mr Gordon bhjs : “The only benefit tbai could be derived by having this road construe ed is that it would give greater facilities to encourage prospecting for quartz reefs in the Old Man Range ; but there has not been a great deal of prospecting vet done to asondain whether the quartz reefs are payable or not” Now this was written in May 1883, and for sake of argument we will admit tint no great amount of prospecting had up to then been done, but since then what has been done? Why, over 20 leases have been applied for, shafts have been sunk, tunnels driven, large areas of ground have been sluiced out to lay bare the reefs, and a dozen or more waggon loads of timber, every foot of which cost fully fid per foot, have been brought on to the ground from either I Tapanui or Lake Wanaka. The | result of all this labour and capital I has been to prove the existence of 1 payable lodes. The evil accordingly that existed then has bom swept away, and tie necessity of the road is now clear

Since the publication of orr last Isaac the weather haa been much mixed. On Friday, throughout the day and night, the heat was something terrible, during the afternoon the thermometer registering 93 degrees in the shade. On Saturday morning it commenced raining, and without intermission continued until Sunday night, the cold throughout, after the proceeding days heat, being piercing- As can well be imagined, the surrounding ranges right down to the flats, being covered with a thick coating of' snow. Monday was a calm pleasant day. Tuesday, however, was again the reverse, a perfectly hurricane, from the north west, blowing all' day long, until about nearly midnight, when rain again fell, lasting to well into the morning. Wednesday was gusty and showery and bitterly cold. The effect of the wind and rain was to cause a very considerable flood in the Molyneux, Mannhenkia, and all the smaller streams, and to do no end of damage to the farmers. On the high ground all the crops are much shaken, while the flats were inundated. Wo have not heard of any accidents, bnt the worst is feared, as dnring Wednesday what looked much like the body of a dray bottom upwards was seen to float down the Molyneux, also was observed a riding saddle, and the carcass of ahorse some short distance above it. The roads in many places have been washed away, but the labor of a few men for a few days will soon put them right. A terrible accident happened yesterday morning to Mr John Butler, farmer, of Bald Hill Flat, resulting in a comminuted compound fracture of the left leg below the knee. From what we can learn of the accident, Mr Butler was engaged reaping, and the knives of the machine becoming clogged, he got down from his seat to clean them, and whilst so engaged the horses moved ahead, this time he escaped, the horses being stopped and a lad placed at the head of them. Butler again essayed |to clear the knives, when the horses again started off and before they could be stopped the injury above described was inflicted. As soon as possible a stretcher was procured and he was conveyed boms. Dr Lewie, who was sent for, arrived some four hours after the accident, and attended to the injured limb. Dr Lewis, on his return to Clyde, informs us that the leg is terribly smashed, but has hopes from the fact of Mr Butler being a strong and good constitutioued man of being able to set him up again; but that it will necessarily be a long and tedious case, Mr Butler is well known and universally respected throughout the district, and the greatest sympathy was expressed for him upon the accident becoming known. Mr Goyen. a School Inspector, has been very busy flying from school to school in this district during the past week. He has been on what is called a surprise tour. If the Education Boa v d has no more profitable employment for its Inspectors than travelling through the country making surprise visits, we shall feel inclined to agree to Mr McKenzie that one .or more of the Inspecting staff can iwell be {dispensed with, and the money thus saved be better expended in school buildings. The sale of household furniture which takes place to-day at Cromwell on account of Ur Stackpoole, who is giving up keeping house, will be worth attending, as everything is of the lieat description, and has to be sold. Mr George Fache will officiate as auctioneer. "~- The first, second, and third prizes in Adamasters Cup consult itiuu goes to Dunedin, Queenstown, and West Coast respectively whilst the three prizes in Ada Mantua went to Balclutba, Christchurch, and Kelson. That indigestion of st-'maoh gas at night, • preventing rest and sleep, will disappear by using Hop Bitters. Bead. The Waitaki County Council have passed a Bye Law regulating the width of the tires of wheels of vehicles drawn by horses in the county roads, that is—of vehicles drawn by 5 horses or not exceeding 6 horses, not less than 44 inches ; and of vehicles drawn by 7 horses or more than seven horses, the width shall not be leas than six inches A line not exceeding L 5 for every breach of the Bye Law, The directors of the Equitable Insurance Association recommend the payment of a dividend at the rate of 8 per cent, per annum as the result of the operations for 12 months ending 31st December 1883 The total receipts for the term were L13,433,15s lid, and.the credit balance after payment of all expenditure L 3390 13s 2d, We have received from the publishers No. 3, Vol. 1. of The Little Pink Un," ao* eight-page demy folio newspaper devoted mainly to sporting. It is published in Auckland, and its chief peculiarity is that it is printed on pink paper. At the Dunedin Autumn race meeting held on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday last, there was L 10.831 on the first day, L 0565 on the second day, and LB6BI on the third day, making a total of L 29.067 passed through the totalisator machines. And yet the general cry of hard times is heard from all sides both in season and out of season, The Waste Lands Board at its sitting on the 2Uth inst., decided to withdraw’ sections 24, 25, 26 27, and 42, Cairn Hill district from sale. Mr Joseph Maokay, the insurance agent, against whom the Government Insurance Department is preferring a charge of embezzlement, was brought up at the City Police Court on Monday last, and remanded to appear at Geraldine on Thursday next. I The accused was previously remanded to that place from Timaru, but it seems that he has since been re-arreated by the police, who state that they had reason to believe he did not intend to fulfil the conditions of his bail bond. Mr Stout, who appears for the accused, expressed himself in strong . terms of surprise at the action of the Department. , “ Buchu-Paiba."— Quick, complete cures all annoying Kidney, Bladder and Urinary 1 Disease;. Druggists. Moses, Moss and Oe , Sydney, General Agents.

B*y« the Morning Herald of February S3“ An incident of a aomewbat exciting character occurred on Friday afternoon near the entrance of the City Hotel. A country M. H R., wheae name haa been unpleasantly associated with certain recent land transactions in connection with dummyism, was passing along the street, and observing a fellow representative coming in the oppsite direction he rushed forward to greet his legislative brother. Strange to relate, the proffered hand was rudely thrust aside by' the gentleman to whom it was extended. The face of patriot Number One flushed crimson with astonishment and indignation as he asked in angry accents, “What do you mean, sir, by rejecting my hand?” Thereupon patriot Number Two - who is a dapper and peppery little man—drew himself up to an abnormal height, and replied—‘‘Sir, 1 do not shake bands with advocates of dummyism. Yon have taken the part of those who are stealing the people’s patrimony, and from this day forth we are utter strangers.” So saying, patriot Number Two ■strode past Number One with a melodramatic swagger worthy of Dave Clinton, the actor’s, palmy days. By this time a small crowd had assembled round the spot, an 1 ■one herculean son of toil, hailing from the Green Isle, whose sympathies had been excited by the plucky action of the peppery politican, exclaimed at the top of his voice: 4 ‘Bravo Shrimmy 1 that’s the way to thrait the likes o’ him. Oeh bedad I if we had more numbers of your soort, the counthry would soon be settled. August Flower.— The most miserable Beings in the world are those suffering from Dyspepsia and liver complaint. More than seventy-five per cent, of the people are of iflicted with these two diseases and their effects : such as Sour Stomach, Sick Headache, Habitual Costiveness, Palpitation of the heart, Heart burn, Waterwash, gnawng and burning pain* at the pit of the stomach, Yellow Skin, Coated Tongue, and disagreeable taste .in the month, coming up of food after eating,low spirits, etc , Gotoyonr Druggeat and get a bottle of August Flower This valuable medicine has cured thousand and thousands of sufferers and is known in all civilized countries; >T wo doses will relieve ypu. It costs only 35.. fid. a bottle Sample Bottles fid. That Husband ov Mink is three tiems the man he was before he began using “Wells’ Health Renewer.” Druggists” Moses, Moss & Co, Sydney, General Agents. At the Timaru.Poliee Court, on Wednesday, Joseph Mackay -wag •charged with embezzling LI Is fid. the property of the Government Insurance department, at Geraldine. Accused said he had never embezzled a penny in his life—public or private money. Inspector Broham said accused had been arrested it&at morning ' Geraldine by Detective Kerby, on receipt of a telegram from the office of the department in Dunedin. There were five warrants out against him, and he would suggest toat as the warrants Bad not yet come to hand that he should be given his choice either to be remanded forthwith to Dunedin or to await the arrival of the warrants. His Worship (to ■cased) ; Which would you prefer ? Accused: 1 should pnfer going to Dunedin, your Worship. I may state that the charge is entirely false ; it is a mare political affair, I have opposed the Department continually, aid this is the result. Of course I have my remedy against Government, and if it costs me thousands ot pounds I will have my rights. I have telegraphed to Mr Stout and and Mr Lyell, the insurance officer, and I. should like to be in Dunedin early. His Worship: Very well, you shall be remanded to Dunedin at once, as you desire, so that your case can be heard alt once. Accused : I thank your Worship. Your Worship will understand that as a public man for many years the position is a painful one. At a later hour Inspector Broham received a telegram from the prosecutor requesting that the accused should be remanned to Geraldine, where the offence was committed, instead of to Dunedin. The alteration was made accordingly. It is stated that Mr Mackay has commenced two actions for false imprisonment, claiming L 5,000 -damages from both the Government and Mr Thome, of the Inanrance Department. Liver coughs often taken for consumption aie cured almost instantly with Hop Bitters. Find, On the evening ot the 23rd February, a Barmaid at the Union Hotel, Wellington, named Olga Henesee, U Dane, aged about 124, died under very suspicious circumstances She was well known here some time ago. But only recently returned from a visit to Auckland, and was accompanied by a man named Miller, who represented himself as ■ her husband. She was engaged at the Union as barmaid, having been there formerly, and Miller lived in the house. It appears that yesterday about I o’clock, through some cause unascertained, but ■supposed to be jealousy, she took about half * box ot “ Rough on Rats,” anS soon began to suffer greatly. Miller went to a chemist and got something for her, but it was not till late in the evening that Dr Gillon was sent for. He was out at the time, but re turned in about half an hour, and then foand her Buffering from the effects of irritant poison, and in great agony. She was at times delirious, but in intervals stated she bad taken the “ Rough on Rats,” not thinking that it was really poison. She died in about an hour and a-half afterwards. A post mortem will be made, and an inquest held. “ Rough on Rats.”— Clears out rats mice, roaches, flies, ants, bed-bugs, beetles, insects, skunks, jack-rabbits, gophers. Druggists. Moses, Moss and Co., Sydney, General Agents. Yielding to the demand of public opinion as expressed by the Press and otherwise throughout Great Britain, the Government has appointed a Royal Commission to report upon the state of the poor in London and suburbs, and to devise means for the amelioration of their condition, if such should be found necessary.

The following ere Irlah/acts. A nun in Cork, being brought before the Court for non-payment of rent, swore that he was too poor, and the land was the same, as it would not feed his cow, and that he had to keep her alive “by hand,” To prove hie testimony he produced a grocer’s account, tha first item on which was a quart of paraffin oil. “Did you give that to the cowl' l asked the presiding rnler. “Yes, your worship.” answered Paddy, “for physio and .nourishment!” The next item was a box of firelights, and this being likewise acutely disposed of, he was asked to account for the third and fourth : four pounds of dipt candle and a bar of snap. “Oh, begorrah I" exclaimed the dumbfoundered pauper, “that divil of a grocer has sould me up ” —Another poverty-stricken land-tiller in the same vicinity underwent cross-examination tha following week. “You are well able to pay” .says the stem magistrate. “Your father made his fortune out of that very land, and ho died a rich man.” “ Yes, but your worship,” remonstrated the oppressed farmer, • maybe yon don’t know that he had to borrow the money to pay far his own coffin, and sorraa penny of it’s paid yit 1"