MOUNT BENGER.

Evening Star, Issue 3509, 22 May 1874, Page 3

MOUNT BENGER.

{From our own Correspondent. ) I think I should he called your intermittent correspondent, as my contributions drop in with admired irregularity. The truth is I have been to clear of bilious attacks for along time, that I did not feel competent to handle my distinguished fellow Mount Bengeritea as their merits required; so I wisely preserved a golden silence. You will be glad to learn that a course of Welsh rarebits, pork chops, and mulled porter—enclosed from the Bill for.these commodities—has had a most beneficial effect, apd “ Richard is WmseJJ agaji|.’’ . Our grand excitement, our albengrpssing topic,is Mr Warden Simpson, That gentleman hi 3 appointment as visiting magistrate has been wicked enough to decide all cases on their merits, without consulting those distinguished citizens whose interests should be the special care of any official visiting . Mount Ben--B e . - Worse, still, he has not divided his custom with due impartiality among the various hotels, and has thus excited the enmity of all the pubs, whom he does not patronize. , Hence public meetings and general indignation. Mr Simpson may consider himself conclusively eat- upon, although I presume he will have to Wdaih ' his seat • on thf bench Until' soipa Colonial Frankenstein' manufactures a Mpunt Benger Magistrate- to order.- •’ Impartial justice don’t do for us ; like the Tipperary men in ‘•Punch/ we want a judge who will “lane a little.” ! Among the numerous changes so absurdly brought about by the ! miserable little clique Who have made Mount Benger a laughingstock arid reproach against an upright and able public' iervant; -,is apetltion supposed to emanate from’wihfln'oailed Bign’ey. 1 This precious .effusion’ is published in-the local paper, and I ihirit it Jagrbssly libeUbus;’ and Jchow' it to be grossly untnie.' It is only an ket of justice to make public the real facts "of the case, whush are both simple gns straightforward, woodhouse, a man .capital, hpught a wit interest in ah extended clg,im at the Horse oboe Bend, the nther haff being held equally by Stevenson and Bigney, mm wftji po' .capital, At the time of the purchase the weekly eamBka six or seven shillings, but Mr Woodhouse introduced new machinery, and rawed the average to from forty to fifty shillings per week.. After laying out a cons derable amonnt of money, he found his operatri>ns clogged by the obstructiveness and want of enterprise of his mates, while the amount of wagea he had to pay to representatives of his W9 shares made him a continual loser. He accordingly offered to sell at a price that would about pay him, and was met by a similar offer from men who were known to owe evervthincr to his rapital.' The resnlt w#s an appea7tothl Wwden, and the dissolution common justice

demanded was granted, after a careful and impartial consideration of the case. I was present in the Court during a considerable part of the _ proceedings, and can bear witness to MrSimpson’simpartiality and candor, under great provocation. Constant attempts were made to occupy the time of the Court by; the introduction of matters foreign to the case, and to waste the limited time at the Warden’s disposal by private squabbles, and of course these attempts were very properly suppressed. As an instance of how evidence in support of the petition has been got up, I may state that I received a letter from the petitioner deasking me to manufacture a report of the proceedings. I have preserved that letter, and if the Government are fools enough to waste the waste the public money by granting an ; r MJ ( l u * r y» ft w ill be duly forthcoming. I have heard these letters of mine objected to, as containing no practical information. I hare accordingly compiled and append the local prices current: —Oats (wholesale), 4s per bushel; oats (retail), 5s per bushel. Single females—market dull, owing to recent large importations.' Holders firm at ss, delivered at mill. Whisky and oil of vitriol in brisk demand, owing to recent political excitement. Local holders have been compelled to augment their stocks largely from the Molyneux. Beef, 4d per lb; mutton, 3M per lb; potatoes, L 8 per ton. Other .articles at an advance of 50 per cent, on Dunedin prices, thanks to the combination of storekeepers. There, now, is practical information to you, and much good may it do you.