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Evening Star, Issue 3561, 22 July 1874, Page 2

VVk are not surprised at the refusal of the Governor to sanction the reduction of the Gold Duty Ordinance, which would have worked so well for the interests of Otago. Our morning contemporary, as usual purblind to its working, threw cold water upon it; and, not choosing to point out the manner*it which it would work, lest jealousy in other Provinces should ensue, we refrained from comment on our contemporary’s affliction, lest the very ground of the arrangement being advantageous to this Province being published, should have led to its disallowance. We believe too that the Provincial Executive shared in the blunder —a failing by no means uncommon with th el present Head of it where comm< rcial po’icy is concerned. But the fact that Otago would have reaped the benefit of the gold duty of the Colony, as it would have been the part of export on account of the saving of nearly sixpence per ounce export duty, did not escape the keen scrutiny ®f the General Government—and on the ground of securing the gold revenues of Auckland, Nelson, and Westland to these Provinces, the Ordinance is disallowed. We have no right to grumble at this, for, strictly speaking, they are entitled to their own gold revenues ; but it is strange how keen the Government is in finding out on one side for protecting those Provinces against Otago, and, on the other, for spending its revenues on bolstering up their stagnant industries.

We thank Mr Session, clerk to the Provincial Council, for Council papers to baud this morning.

“ Behind the Curtain” will be played again this evening at the Princess’s, to be followed by a new farce, entitled “ The Absent Man.”

We understand that the Middle District School building is condemned as unsafe, owing to the cutting now being made in the proximity of ihe school. The children have for the present been dismissed.

We are happy to state that the report Which reached us last evening, shortly before we went to press, and to which we gave pub lication, that Mr Brook’s body had been found was incorrect. Mr Brook returned to his home at seven o’clock this morning.

At the Resident Magistrate’s Court today, William Williams was committed for trial for stealing a watch of the value of LB. This is the first prisoner committed to take his trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court. Sub-Inspector Mallard conducted the prosecution. From the Cardrona we learn that a number of claims on the flat are yielding well. The aluicers at Branch Creek realised such good returns during the summer that many of ihem are spending the winter in Dunedin. Alien’s party averaged L 9 per week. The workings have extended nearly to the head of Cardrona Creek.

At the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Port Chalmers, this morning, before D. Rolfe Esq., and Dr Drysdale, J.P.’s, William Welsey and Thomas Lee, seamen, of the sliip Hindustan, were charged with being absent without leave, Mr Mansford appeared for the prosecufc:*o. After hearing evidence, they were each sent to gaol for seven days with hard labor.

In the Premier’s Handbook for New Zealand, the number of newspapers published m the different Provinces of the Colony are stated to be as follows ; -Otago, 19 ; Auckland, 11 ; Nelson, 10 ; Wellington, 10 : Canterbury, 8 ; Westland, 8 ; Hawkes cay, 5 • Marlborough, 3 ; Taranaki, 2 ; and 1 Ala ,ri paper—m all 77. Of these 28 are daily papers. J

There will be a busy time next week in connection with the election of City Councillors, a number ot gentlemen having intimated their intention of bring placid in nomination on Friday next, while others are spoken of as likely to come forward. Air Barron announces that he is a candidate for High Ward ; and Messrs Walter and Fish that they will staud for South Ward.

The Daily ‘ Southern Cross ’ is of opinion that the removal of the seat of Government from Wellington is not probable, but it is not at all unlikely that efforts will be made to constitute Welling tou into a federal city excising it from the Province, and making Wanganui the seat of the Provincial Government. Ihe question once raise.i mav extend, and may even take the shape of an attempt to abolish Provincialism in the -s orth Island.

As an instance of the pleasures of travelling m up-country districts at this season we are told that Mr VVm. (Jolville a “ sheepist,” was going from Matatupu to Cardrona, over the mountains, when his horse rolled over into twenty feet of snow. Colville got out, but had to leave his horse

until the next day, when he returned with assistance, and found the horse still alive, as it had roLed further down into a ravine where the snow was not so deep. A recent number of the Wellington ‘ Tribune said they had an opportunity afforded tliem of sampling some tine oysters, which they strongly recommended. The Wairarapa standard, referring to the paragraph, says: “* .}* well to be an editor in the Kmpire tnty, if sampling oysters and writ'ng locals thereon be a part of his ordinary routine. No wonder the literary department of this paper flourishes when it resorts t« each admirable expedients for maintaining the editorial stamina.”

The Provincial Council of Taranaki has determined to do aw ay with the publication or a Provincial Government ‘Gazutt*,’ using the ordinary Press as the medium for making its official announcements. The Hokitika ‘Evening Star,’ coramening .hereon, saja:—“This is about the most sensible thing we have heard of for some tins*, as Gazettes have little or no circulation, and in nine cases out of ten the notices contained therein are not seen by those they most concern.”

We understand (says the ‘ Thames Advertiser ) that shares in the Manukau Goldmining Company, which have so long lain dormant, are now offered at Ll2 each, and as there are 6,000 shares ia the mine, this price represents the market value of the mine at L 72.000. Some months ago, when the Manukau battery was disposed of, we believe the reserve price on the entire mine, which might have gone with the battery, was only LSOO. The mine is held by three shareholders, and until recently they were pledged not to dispose of their interest without the knowledge of the other two shareholders ; but this is no longer the case, and one of contemplates disposing of a portion of his interest.

The locomotive, at the trial of which we were present at the engine-work of Messrs eraser, Wishart, and Buchanan, Railway roundry, Great King street, is very corapi<ct, and works with great ease and preci--B'o * 8 m ade to the order of Messrs Macallura and Co., of Southland, and is to be used for drawing timber from the hush to their sawmills. The object has been therefore to construct a powerful traction engine, rather than one of high speed. In Messrs Fraser and Co. have succeeded. As in all modern locomotives, the boiler is multi-tubular, so that the heating surface may he as large as is safe, consistently with the evolution of steam. The engines are what is termed angular, with a link motion the pistons working at an acute angle to the hormonal diameter of the driving wheels; but as speed is not so much an object as power, the latter is increased by a judicious arrangement of driving gear, and by the boiler being very large compared with ohe diameter ot the cylinders. The expenditure of steam and consumption of fuel are in consequence small compared with the power of the engine. The power is estimated at from eight to ten horse. The ease with which the locomotive was controlled and the manner in which the machinery worked, proved the accuracy and excellency of the workmanship. Messrs Fraser' Wishart, and Co. have gradually extended their works, and are at present engaged on a Government contract for the supply of railway plant.

The arms and accoutrements of the Dunedin .Naval Brigade will be inspected in the Drillshed to-morrow, Thursday evening, at 7.30. • e / is a candidate for the third seat m the City Council for High Ward. Mr Woodland announces his intention of seeking re-elec-tion for Bell Ward. *

The entertainment to be given at the Masonic Mall on i nday evening, promises to be the most successful amateur performance which has been held here for some time. The senior pupils of the Dunedin Collegiate School take part in the concert, and they will have the valuable assistance of Miss Webb, who has not a,*/ 1 ia pubHo for a lon S time. Mr Alfred Anderson, and Mr M. Anderson, a good comic singer, will also appear. The programme will appear in to-morrow’s issue.