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Dunstan Times, Issue 1209, 1 May 1885, Page 2

In consequence of the death of the late Mr M. J. Macginnis, and the departure from the distrist of Mr Thos. Miles, two vacancies occur in the committee of management of the Dunstan District Hospital, and a special general meetingjof contributors is convened for Saturday (to-morrow) May 2, at 7 p.m., in the Clyde Library, to fill the vacancies. In the appointment of managers of such an institution.as a hospital that is supported by voluntary contributions and Gevernment subsidy, and, moreover, upon whose shoulders devolves the responsibility of nominating the resident surgeon, who perforce, is the resident surgeon of the whole district, we think more than ordinary care should be observed. As a rule the contributors. we know, take hut little interest, resting quite content so long as the doors of the institution are kept open. It is ag» : nat that apathy and don’t-care-a-fig-system that we now write, and in the hope that suffix cleat interest in the institution rosy be aroused as to get together a good meeting. If the experience of the past few days is any criterion of what is to follow .during the next few months, we may look for a truly Arct'c winter. Snow on the Dunstan Flat in the month of April was a thing hitherto unheard of, and scarcely to bo believed, yet on Tuesday last it tell to the depth of some inches, while on the surrounding ranges it fell to a considerable depth. On Monday night it commenced raining, and continued with but few intermissions (except when it was snowing) till Wednesday night, when fortunately it ceased, or far greater damage would have been done to the roads that is reported. On the way to Cromwe'l from Clyde the road close to the Cromwell brewery was carried away bodily, and traffic suspended till Thursday morning, when a track for light traffic was formed but it will be some days before heavy traffic will be resume 1. The Conroy’s Gully road is rendered imp ssable for the time ; and the Blacks road in ma y places is frightfully cut up. The rain, though not heavy, was continuous and steady, and while it has injured the roads, and to a certain extent will drain the County Exchequer, yet the general good it will do is incalculable, l i consequence of the lengthened drought the h;rbago was getting very scarce, telling much against all hinds Of live stocn, while the miners were experiencing an enforced idleness for the want of water. Now all is changed, and though loss and inconvenience will be felt by some, the many will be benefited ; accordingly the rainfall has been for the general good. The Evening Herald makes the following reference to the hon. member for Dunstan : The name of Vincent Pyke has, during the past thirty years, been a household word in colonial literary and political circles. The clever author of “ Wild Will Euderby” is as well known as the genial member for Dunstan, But though Mr Pyke’s abilities as a novelist and legislator have earned for him a wide reputation, few people beyond his most intimate acquaintances are aware of the fact that he has also distinguished himself as a Volunteer on many a festive occasion. It is gratifying to find that, notwithstanding the present cares of political life and the congenial labors of literary employment, the martial fire of his youth still burns in the veins of the popular veteran. We have the best authority for stating that Mr Pyke has joined the Trained Band which is now being formed in Dunedin The member for Dunstaa can sniff blood like an ancient war-horse, and if the Muscovites should dare to show their noses here they will find to their cost that “ there’s life in the old boyyet.”—[ln our last week’s issue we printed a copy of Mr Pyke’s Martial Song, but by a gross blunder, we will not say whether on tho part of the reader, or the compositor, or the P. D., at all events by a gross blonder “English" was twice repeated for “ British.” The most obtuse can see at a glance the mistake. We, however, deem it just as well to draw attention to T.]

We have been asked on several occasions, not exactly whai has become of the trustees of the Clyde Cemetery, but who are that body. We bave beeu unable to answer the question, possibly those who are in the sec* ret will enlighten us I The work of rabbit poisoning is now general throughout the district. Owners of small stock ia the shape of pigs, geese, turkeys, and the like, unless they wish to get them poisoned should therefore keep them now within their own enclosures. Children should also be cautioned against picking up any of the poisoned grain. Wo have heard of one instance where a child was mate very ill through eating some of the * and but for the precaution of the parents in" a ministering a mustard emetic, the effects in all probability would have been more serious.

We learn that Mr James Simmonds’ tender for the erection of lock«np, police quarters, and the fencing iu of the camp reserve at Alexandra South, has been accepted ; the amount, however, has not transpired. When completed this work will not alone add materially to the appearance of the town, but will add one more to the many existing features that go towards making it one of the movt permanent and stable towns on the goldfields. The new Bank of New Zealand is rapidly drawing towards completion, and the beauties iu its design and architecture are now becoming apparent. When completed It will bo without donbt one of the handsomest structures the Back has up-country.

We do not hear of any very great finds by either of the dredges that are at work between Clyde and Alexandra, they are, however, kept steadily at work with results satisfactory to the shareholders.

The new Cromwefl Gold-Mining Co. at Bendigo are about to open out their mine. The manager is advertising for experienced miners.

A five occurred on Mr Mackellar’s Grandview Farm, Upper Clutha, on Friday night last, by which 100 bags of newly threshed wheat were destroyed. The property was uninsured, and no idea can be formed as to how the fire started, as no one had been near it for two days previous. The manager and men about the farm, by dint of great exertions prevented the stack of threshed straw and three other piles of grain which, were a.l close to the one destroyed from sharing the same fate, otherwise the loss would have bean a serious one indeed.

There is a break in the telegraph between Roxburgh and Lawrence, between Blacks and St. Bathans, also between Cromwell and Queenstown.

The April number of “Once a Month.’* just to hand is fully up to previous numbers, and holdsTts own amongst its compeer periodicals. The frontispage is a likeness of Adam Lindsay Gordon, the Australian, poet, followed by a short biographical sketch of his life. A special feature in "Once a Mouth’’ is the article on chess with illustrated games.