The Dunstan Times. CLYDE, FRIDAY, MAY 29, 1885.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1213, 29 May 1885, Page 2

The Dunstan Times.

CLYDE, FRIDAY, MAY 29, 1885.

Beneath the rale of men entirely Just The pen is mightier than the sword.

We beg to remind our readers and the public generally of the concert to bo given in the Town Hall, Alexandra, this evening, the programme of which is in our a 1 vertising columns,and is well worthy of attention, The county authorities seem to be direct ing some attention to the state of the roads which on account of late damages and rains are in some places very much in want of repair. For the last year or two on account of sudden and heavy rains a good deal of damage has been dons to many of the public roads, though not of a very serious character, and the repairs now contemplated will no doubt put these matters straight 1 At the drawing of Rob Roy’s consultation on the Birthday Handicap we are informed that the three first prizes were awarded as follows : —lst, to a carpenter in Dune in,; 2nd, to a lady near Lawrence ; 3rd, to a gentleman in Clyde. While the fourprinci pal cash awards were drawn by residents of Alexandra, Mosgiel, Roxburgh, and Clyde. By advertisement in another column it will be seen that Mr McEachen will close his studio at Tinkers on Thursday, June 4. and further notifies that hewill open at St. Bathana on Saturday, JnneCtb.

The painful duty devolves upon us this I week of recording the death of one o( our j ] oldest residents, Mr John Walker, which j took place oh Saturday afternoon last after but three brief days’ illness. Deceased had been unwell for a few days prior to taking to bis bed, complaining of a cold and soreness of the throat,’but not the remotest idea was entertained for’a'moment, even when he took to his bed on Wednesday afternoon lost, that his illness was of a serious nature; however, from that time complications arose, eventuating in quinsy, under which he succumbed. Deceased, if not occupying a high position in life, was a thoroughly useful man, strictly conscientious in all his dealings, and was respected and trusted by all who had business with him. He leaves a'widow and a stepdaughter and her family, who deeply mourn their loss. Deceased was buried in the Clyde cemetery on Monday afternoon last, the members of the local lodge of Rood Templars, of which he was a member, mustering in force, and heading the funeral procession, which numbered fully 100. The body was first removed to 'the Church of England where the Rev, Mr Clinton ’-read the service, from thence to the Clyde oemetary, when tne impressive Church of Eng land service was concluded. Afterwards the Good Templar service for the dead was impressively read by Mr J. Smart. Ada Mantna is again before the public and soliciting their support towards the Grand National Steeplechase to be ‘run in Melbourne on the 18th of July next. Ada Mantua’s efforts in the past have been highly successful, especially so from a district or local point of view, he having given very handsome bonusses to local investors. Of his Birthday races supporters one lucky , local obtained for bis outlay of ten shillings the substantial sum of L 96, and it will be remembered the first prize in the Christchurch Autumn Handicap fell to a resident of Ida Valley, this was over L3OO. i Ada Mantua has, as is her usual custom, supplied us with names and addresses of her principal winners; also the names and addresses of her committee. From her advent as a consultationist this has been her ; custom, and the regularity with which she | does this at cnee and for ever raises her . above anspici n and attracts the confidence , of the public. We notice that her commits tee as usual consisted of members of the . Press and people on whom the public can

rely. Three principals- Ist, L2BB (nett), to a well known saddler residing at Greyniouth ; 2nd, L 144 (nett), to an employe at the Bull and Mouth Hotel, Dunedin j 3rd, L 96 (uett), to the Pound-keeper, Clyde, Otago.

The first meeting of the present year’s session of the Alexandra Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Society was held in the Public Library, Alexandra, on Tuesday evening last, when there was an excellent attendance, the junior members being well lepresented, and four new members were enrolled. The President opened the meeting with a few practical hints on the methods of preparing for and delivering addresses, speaking in public, and at meetings, and reading up well, after which the debate of the evening was taken up. Mr W. F. Forrest, in afn cible speech and in an able manner illustrated the benefits and effectiveness of the volunt er system wherever it had been tried and relied ou as in America, etc., and maintained that it was much better adapted for a country like New Zealand than a compulsory system like that under the Militia Act, Mr F. S. Aldred followed on the opposite side, and argued that owing to lack of discipline and sufficient training, as well as on account of liability to insubordination, the volunteer system was far inferior to the militia. And that whereasthe former; postered a class spirit amongst our volunteers, who were composed chiefly of those who had leisure for drill—such as clerks, students, commercial men, etc., the militia system, on the other hand, took in all the able-bodied young men accustomed to manual labour, and gave all the young men of the colony without distinction a thorough, regular, and systematic training in arras. A capital de bate followed, in which most of the members present took part. M r Forrest having replied to the various arguments from the negative side, the vote was taken and resulted as follows Ayes, 16 ; Noes, 9 ; majority for the affirmative side of the

question 7. It was agreed that the subject of debate for next Tuesday night be the following question :—“ Has the introduction

of rabbits to New Zealand been a benefit or an evil ?” Mr Edward Terry to take affirmative and Mr G. Aitken the negative side of the question. The meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the President.

The Tasmanians appear to have worked

ttiemselves into a state of funk over the Afghan trouble. Perhaps the most enthusiastic meeting that has ever been held in Hobart took place there on April 28. The meet fsaya the ‘ iNews ’) was representative in every respect, and on the platform there were members of the Legislature, and ministers of religion, lawyers, doctois, literary men, merchants, and tradesman. The various speakers were cheered to the echo, and every reference to the defenceless condition of the colony, and the imperitive necessity for taking proper means to prevent and repel an attack was enthusiastically applauded. Colonel St. Hill and Dr E.L. Crowther mentioned that they regarded the possibility of an invasion as so certain, and the means to repel an attack so lamentably deficient that they have made arrangements to send their wives and families away from

the city immediately that war is declared, desolations were passed calling upon the Government to take immediate steps for the defence of the city and colony; to summon Parliament, and, in the meantime, to estahlish a Council of Defence consisting of the various military and naval officers in the colone.

Don’t use stimulants, but natures brain

and nerve fond—Hop Bitters. Beware of all except made by American Co. Sat

An incident occurred in the neighbourhood of Newtown on the morning of Good Friday last (says the Wellington Times) which will probably res alt in litigation. It appears that during the small hours of the morning mentioned a gentleman who ia well known in Wellington business circles, and who is a commission ag nt, was awakened by his wife, who, amidst great fear and trembling, told her husband sho thought there were burglars in the house. Now the gentleman in question has a sort of quasi-military reputation, and therefore he lost no time in leaving his bed and instia tuting a searen for the intruder, carrying in his hand a loaded revolver. He proceeded cautiously through the house, and perceived no indication of the burglarious presence until he reached the kitchen. Heae ho distinctly heard someone moving about; and opening a small trapdoor which gave him a view of the washhouse, there in the grey light of the morning he observed forms flitting about among the tuba. Not for more than an instant did the gentleman pause, but lifting his revolver, he fired into the washhouse, and immediately closed the trapdoor. Following quick upon the noise of the shot; loud screams filled the washhonse ; and. presently, the screams having subsided,a youthful voice cried tremulously, “ Please, sir, we’re only the baker boys bringing tbe bans. You said you’d leave a kit for for us, and we’re looking for it.” Fortunrtely, the baker boys were not hurt, and, comforted by the reflection that he had maintained himself as an invaded Englishman should do. the master of the house went back to his bed. But the strangest part of the affair is that the moher of the lads exhibits a tendency to resent the shooting of (or at) he.- lads, and probably the matter will shortly be brought before the court of law.

During the hearing of a libel cose in which Sergeant-major Brears, of the Tas, manian military forces, sought to recover damages from Colonel 1-egge, commandant of volunteers in that island, for alleged libel Sir Henry Wrenfordsley, in the course ot his summing-up, delivered himself thusly: If Colonel Lagge had been injured (i.e., by what had previously appeared in the newspapers with respect to him), I think it would have been better if he had not written that letter. My advice is : neve write to a newspaper. I hope I shall never feel that I ought to writs to a newspaper ; I certainly dont belong to any. I never did, and I never shall; at least I don’t think f ever shall. When I first joined the colonial service under a distinguished general in the Indian Army, 1 was very much aunoyed within a few weeks afterwards because the editor of a paper had said that I had do; e something which I ought not to have done. I went to the general and said ; “ Sir, may I answer it ? ” The general looked at me, tapped me on the shoulder and replied : “ When yon have beeu in the colonial service very long you will not pay any attention to such remarks. Yin wi 1 get used So it.” The plaintiff was awarded one farthing damages, the Judge saying “ ic was a great pity that men possessing such undoubtedly high reputations should have stood that day as plaintiff and defendant in such an action is that. If Sergeant-major Brears wanted a testimonial he hid only to forward to the persons to whom he applied for an appoint* ment copies of the newspapers containing the reports of thss case.

The Sydney correspondent of the Argns writes : •* The subject of the race between Beach and Banian for the championship of the world came before the District Court recently in a rather arrange manner,'* An inventor named Snowden claimed that it was by the use of a certain mechanical contrivance which he had constructed that Beach bad been enabled to wrest the championship from the Canadian. Mr Snowden had undoubtedly invented a certain instrument, the right to use which he sold to Mr Deeble for L4OO, the payment' of the money being conditional upon VVm. Beach being satisfied that the invention would enable him to row over the champion course on the Parramatta River in two minutes less time than he had previously covered the same distance in. The invention, however, seemingly did not accomplish all that was claimed for in, and it was therefore returned to the inventor, who tried but unsuccessfully to dispose of it to Hanlan. Mr Snowded now sought in the District Court to recover L2OO from Mr Deeble with respect to the invention, a model of which was exhibited in Court; But as Beach pronounced it to be a useless thing altogether, a nonsuit was entered against the plaintiff.”

The London Times is engaged in a eurious crusade against prohibition. Wearers of the blue ribbon, it says, are in the main pei sons of inferior physical developement: and if we may judge by their expression’ are not remarkable for intellectual power. Our civilisation produces an abundant undergrowth of feeble bodies and lopsided minds, people whose insignificance becomes less oppressive to them when they fancy themselves members of a great organisation Their vanity is flattered by the idea that they can set an example of superiority to others. These are the people who becdmo anti-vaccinators, anti-vivis ctiouists, teetotallers, or all three. As a rule, they are persons who do not require alcohol, sometimes because a strong digestion enables them to take up sufficient nutriment in other forms, and sometimes “ because their capacity for exerting force is so limited that they are compelled to be careful ia consuming the materials by which it is supplied.” r

Holloway’s Pills The great need. The blood is the life, and on its purity our health as well as our existence depends. These Pills thoroughly cleanse the vital fluid from contaminations, and by that means strengthen and invigorate the whole system, healthily stimulate sluggish organs, repress over excited action, establish order of circulation ami secretion throughout every part of the body. The balsamic nature of Holloway’s Pills exercises marvellous power in giving tone to deb litaled and nervous constitutions. These Pills dislodge all obstructions both in the bowels and elsewhere, and are on that account, much sought after for promoting regular! y of action in young females and delicate persons who are naturally weak, or have from some cause become so.