The Evening Star TUESDAY, MAY 3, 1870.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2180, 3 May 1870, Page 2

The Evening Star TUESDAY, MAY 3, 1870.

In the Provincial Council yesterday, the question of setting aside a reserve for the conservation of the Clutha River came under discussion, and was treated with more or less intelligence by the different members who spoke on the subject. The “ conservation of the “ Clutha River” hardly expresses what is meant. It narrows the idea of those who are not aware of the facts to preserving the river only, whereas much more is implied than that. The necessity for some legislative provision arises from the fact that in consequence of the peculiar method of gold-washing adopted on the banks of the Clutha, that of sluicing, the bed of the river is rising so much that in a short time it will cease to act as a drain to the vast tract of country through which it runs. The lower levels of land are thus likely to be reduced to swamps, or it may be they may be continually under water. Perhaps, in strict justice, those who thus inflict so much and such wide-spread damage on the surface of the country, should be required to take means to remedy the evil. But it is now too late to take steps for that purpose, It is a wrong of gradual growth. In all probability, when first the process of sluicing was adopted, there was an idea that so swift running a river as the Clutha would carry away with it all the earthy particles throughout its course. It is now years since the [dan was adopted, and its consequences have only lately begun to excite serious apprehensions. Whether or not in the first instance the deposit of sludge might have been diverted into another course, it is now too late to enquire. Many hundreds who first began the damage have made their piles and gone, and successors only follow in a process that has been sanctioned by mining regulations adopted by the Government. We do not know that the actual extent of the damage done has been ascertained, or that any definite plan is proposed by the Government as a remedy. The reports to hand respecting the raising of the river’s bed are general. And herein is a weak point. Were the Government in a position to say what is required, the Council would be better able to judge as to the advisability of a permanent appropriation for a specific purpose. By the proposition of yesterday, it is purposed to set aside some 50,000 acres of land as an endowment. Row, in regard to the policy of this plan, it must nob he forgotten that when the immediate necessity for attention to the bed of the river ceases, which will be the case when the ground is sluiced out, or when some improved method is adopted of gold extraction, the endowment remains—the revenue derivable from the land must be expended on the “ conservation of the “ Clutha ” and on no other purpose ; the developing of the country will give it increasing value ; and as it is hardly likely in the present state of the art of locomotion that the Clutha will ever be much used as a navigable stream, as time rolls on there will be some difficulty in spending the increasing funds in accordance with the terms of the appropriation. We think before agreeing to so large an endowment, the question should be first settled whether the expenditure required is likely to be temporary or permanent. If it be an expenditure that is not likely to be needed after a term of years, it follows that to set aside a given area of land in perpetuity is doing more than is required by the necessities of the case. It would be much better for the Government to vote annually the amount of money required for the purpose. It may be a little more troublesome, we grant. Nothing is more annoying to an Executive than to have every vote subjected to the ordeal of party scrutiny. Nothing is more troublesome than to have scientific plans commented upon by men whose knowledge of civil engineering does not extend beyond putting up a three-railed fence or a cow-bail; but then, on the other hand, when the object is attained, the revenue can be appropriated to other useful purposes. The endowment of a river trust differs from endowing municipalities, or universities or schools. From the very nature of things those are institutions whose necessities are co-existent with society. Their usefulness will never cease. They may take different form and shape in time to come, but they will need increased revenue in proportion to the increasing demands of future generations. To endow them now is to provide for all time, but wo do not think there is the same need iix the case of rivers. At any rate, until the case is made clear that for centuries to come an increasingrevenue will be needed fox the coxxservation of the Clutha, the Government should hesitate before instituting a new trust.

The Escort. —The south escort had not arrived when we went to press. Out correspondent at Tokomairiro telegraphs that the coach had not arrived there at three p.m., it being feared that the Lawrence coach had been detained. We give the amounts brought down by the north coach. North Dunedin Rifles. —The members of this company will meet at their Drill Sited, for inspection of arms and accoutrements, to-morrow evening at 7.M1); after which the annual meeting will he held. The Volunteers —Most of the representative volunteers took their departure by the Lord Ashley this forenoon. They went down by the Golden Age at eleven o’clock. There were not many persons on tlie wharf to see them off; but those few, as the steam r left, gave throe hearty cheers, which -were acknowledged by the volunteers on the stciimer. The Christy Minstrels. The change from the Princess theatre to the Masonic Hall has not diminished the interest taken hv the public in the performances by the Christy Minstrels. They had a good house last evening, and they cannot fail to draw large audiences, 'to night there is a change of programme, which promises to bo equally attractive as any that has preceded it. Miss Dolly Green. —lt will be seen by the advertisement that Miss Dolly Green will give her monologue entertainment at the Princess Theatre on Saturday evening. Report speaks welt of the performance, and from the estimation in which Miss Green is held by the public, we have uo doubt she will be abundantly patronised. Australian Wines. —At the annual meeting of the Chamber of Commerce lately, the following resolution was carried:— “That a committee be appointed to prepare a petition for consideration and adoption by the Chamber, and for presentation to the General Assembly, praying for a reduction of duties upon Australian wines, and other Australian products, upon the reciprocity principle advocated by Mr Randall when addressing the Chamber on a late occasion. ” For the Ladies. —Half a dozen marriages in a day. No wonder nearly all Auckland turned out to see the sight. The local paper of the 20th ult. does not know if it resulted from any particular state of the moon, a special conjunction of the stars, a peculiar electrical and magnetic state of the globe, or any unusual meteorological condition of the atmosphere, but is certain that Hymen s rites are singularly fitful. His altars are so groaning to-day beneath the burthen _ of human “hearths laid on them in sacrifice. Out of the six “ observed of all observed ” on the day, the following are mentioned “Mr G. P. Pierce, Manager of the New Zealand Insurance Company, who has been united in marriage to Miss Connell ; Mr Francis Lines, Deputy-Assistant Commis-sariat-General, to Miss Lyell; Mr J. B. Bradshaw, member of the General Assembly, to Miss Boulton ; Mr Willoughby, from the Waikato, to a second Miss Boulton ; Mr >S. E. Hughes, solicitor, to M* 33 Ansell.

The Reefs.—A correspondent, writing from the Macrewhenua Reef, informs ns it is expected that the machinery at present being made by Mr Ogilvie at Oamaru will be completed in about three mouths, and that the cutting of the race has been commenced. If the weather keeps anything like favorable, endeavors will be made to complete the race _which is to cost, for cutting, independently of the burning, L3O0 — in about two months. T,ast week an accident occurred to the machinery at the Hough Ridge Quartz Mining Company’s works, Rough Ridge. As the shaft has tg be sent to Dunedin to be repaired, all work in consequence is suspended in the meantime. —A correspondent, writing from Macraes under date 25th inst., informs us that the steam-was got up and the quartz crushing machinery of the Duke of Edinburgh Company was put in motion for the first time on Saturday last. It worked well and smoothly. It is expected that crushing will be commenced at the latter end of the week. The reef is opened up at both ends, and the stone looks well, both for quantity and quality, —Mount Ida Chronicle. A MEETING of the Standard Property Investment Society, for the purpose of receiving subscriptions, &c., is announced to be held to-morrow (Wednesday) evening, between 6 and 8 o’clock. The second meeting of the Third New Zealand Building and Mutual Investment Society, for receiving subscriptions, sale of moneys, &c., will be held this evening at 7 o’clock. It appears that rumors to the effect that the steamship Taranaki would not take passengers have been circulated, which we are authorised to contradict. A reference to our advertising columns will show that she will leave with passengers for Lyttelton, Wellington, Napier, and Auckland, on or about Monday next, the 9th inst.