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Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 260, 25 October 1865, Page 2

We have to apologise to our readers for not giving a full report of the proceedings at the nomination of a candidate for the Qutenstown district. Our reporter states that he proceeded to the Court-house exactly at 12 o'clock—accord* to bank time—hut was considerably annoyed to find the assemblage dispersing, and the meetin" over. It is a pity that Queenstown has no standard time; but, as it is, different sections of the community keep different times. Every vote not recorded is a vote lost, and we should be sorry to see any voter on polling day —Saturday next—displaying apathy when so many voters are absent, and so important a stake is at issue. While on the subject, we may as well state an impression is abroad that the voting in Otago is open. Such is not the case, however. Every clerk, scrutineer and other servant admitted within the polling booth, has to take an oath that he will not disclose how the voting takes place.

We are informed that rich washdirt has been struck at Moke Creek, and that good indications exist of a permanent lead being opened up. The lower end of Moke Creek, in its formation, reminds one of the Ballarat basin, and no doubt its flat is very rich in auriferous deposits; but capital will be required to work it. A correspondent writing from the TwelveMile, Arrow River, says:—"The mining news here is favorable. Those on the creek nnd in other parts of the district seem, one and all, to be doing fairly, and nearly every arrival can get work at good wages, if he requires it. The terrace claims are nearly all paying wages, wi>h the same prospects for years to come. Hitherto parties have only * fossicked' on the outer ledges of the reefs, little thinking that the g< Id ran 400 and 500 feet into the bosoms of the but such is proved to be the fact. Most of the sluicing parties are doirg well, and have any amount of water." We understand the only revised list of Elector?, qualified to vote at the ensuing election, 'is in the hands of Mr Broad, the Returning Officer. The Road works to Frankton, contracted for by Mr Proudfoot, are now under active prosecution, commencing from the Queenstown end* The men are under the control of Mr Illingworthy, who informs us that a mile of the road will he completed hy Saturday. As the townspeople talk of a deviation, we shall notice the subject more fully hereafter. The wages paid are from 12s 6d to 14s per day. Mr Carey, road surveyor, and Mr O'Xti.l, district engineer, arrived here last evening, we understand for the purpose of inspecting the works. The ' Waikouaiti Herald' says :—•• Every steamer that arrives from the North gives rise to curiosity as to Jarvev's fate ; the warrant has not, however, yet come to hand, but there are no reasons whatever to doubt that the extreme penalty of the law will be carried out. Jarvey himself has, I am credibly informed, at last abandoned all hope of a leprieve ; he is said to be very much prostrated and brandy has to be given him frequently. Those who know him best anticipate that he will make a full confession. The Sheriff expects to receive im-tructions from Wellington by the next steamer, and has, I understand, every thing ready for the execution." The 'New Z.aland Advertiser' gives the following account of a Government Land Sale : " Mr Mautell, in the House of Representatives, while in committee on the New Provinces Bill, gave an account of a Government land sale which he had witnessed in a certain Province in New Zealand, which Province he would not name. Ha had been engaged iii business in a room adjoining that iu which a Government 1 »nd sale was appointed to be held. The land tj be put up was a fine block in a certain district. Some time before the sale was appointed to take place (12 o'clock), he had been hearing a great deal of conversational discussion, and, prompted by that curiosity which led our first mother into wrong, and which also had many times led men int? evil, he entered the room about 12 o'clock. He saw a Commissioner of Crown Lands, acting for the time as an auctioneer, ascend his rostrum, expecting to see the commencement of a spirited bidding, but instead, he heard the auctioneer say—«lf you have not made your arrangements we will adjourn the sale till 1 o'clock.' Then fi llowed a general murmur which only the fine i ars of a Crown Lands Commissioner as an auctioneer could interpret. He heard the Commissioner say—• Then we will begin the sale at 1 o'clock.' He (Mr M.) then left somewhat disappointed, returning .to the adjoining room, from whence he had come. While there proceeding with his business, he heard a cautious general conversational discussion, and, about 1 o'clock, wishing to see what would come of this curious business, he entered the office and saw knots of persons scattered about the room engaged in an animated consultation, which became much more vigorous as the auctioneer again ascended his rostrum. The auctioneer said— * Perhaps you have not made your arrangements; shall we adjourn the sale till two o'clock ?' Again there was a general murmur which he now saw was *ne of assent. Not to again detail what had been going on in the interval, he again entered the room, and, their 'little arrangements' having been completed, he supposed, the sale commenced and went off, with a trifling exception, as flat as was possible. He calculated that through these ■little arrangements' the buyers saved a good sum of money." The Government of Canterbury has not (says the • Press') like the Government of a neighboring Province, followed the suicidal policy of screwing from the Goldfields the last farthing, for the purpose of improving a capital town. They have, on the contrary, met and fairly grappled with a difficulty of a gigantic nature, and those of the East have approvingly seen the Government take all the steps which possibly could be taken to arrange matters, so that the permanent benefit of the Province might be the result. During the discussion on the Representation Bill Mr Brodie solemnly declared to the House and the country that the only basis on which the present Bill was raised was that of suiting hon members now in the Hou>e with districts in which they were likely 4o be elected, it being tolerably certain that the old formed districts would rtject them at the next general election.

The 'Evening News,' speaking of the late Ministerial defeat, says:—" What the immediate result of a change of Ministry will be, it is not very easy to predict. The business of the session must, to some extent, perhaps to a great extent, be thrown into confusion. It is always a misfortune when a change of Government occurs late in the session, but in this c ise it will be much less so than if Mr Weld and his col. league s had been able to bear down opposition, as at one time they seemed likely to do. One is alike certain and fortunate, a d ? ssolution i 3 at hand. Frequent dissolutions are by no desirable things, hut we cannot conceive of a juncture in the affairs cf a c immunity when a general election was of more i importance to its best interests, than that of the pie-ent time in New Zealand. The Maori millstone is ro tnd our in cks, and Mr Weld was about to tio it there. The people cannot bear it any longer, and they will not, and it is fortuuate that au opportunity occurs by means of which they can speak thei r minds." The ' Wallaroo Times' says:—" The members of the Northern Runs Commission have returned to town, and give a most deplorable state of the condition of the North. Tne c »u:itry fir scores of miles is as bare as a well beaten road. Sheep have died by tens of thou>arids, and there ia scarcely a sheep, horse, or cattle station that is not utterly ruined." In the passing of Mr Macandrew's Provinces Act through the Legislative Council, a very important additional clause was inserted. It empowers the Governor in Council to divide such parts of the coloby as he shall think fit into counties, within each of which one-fourth of the gross revenue raised therein shall be expended on roads, bridges, and other public works; or in default of such expeudimre by the Provincial Government, that proportion of the revenue shall be handed over to a Board elected in the district, to be expended by them for the above purpose." The 'Dunedin Herald,' after a struggling existence for about three months, has ceased to exist—a fate which may safely be predicted fc* any morning paper commencing without capital, —* Waikouaili Herald.' The 'Nelson Examiner' says:—"The people of Auckland appear to be enthusiastic in tavor of Separation. A " great public meeting," called by the Council of the Northern Association, has been held. Nearly all the places of business in the city were tbsed from one o'clock, to enable persons to attend the meeting. At the conclusion of the meeting, three cheers were given for the Auckland members, and for Mr Stafford." The 'Evening Star* says:—"The House so far consented to the necessity of additional taxation by unwillingly consenting to the introduction of Stamp Duties, reserving any opposition f»r combating the Kill in its most objectionable details. But the disposition which the Ministry did not conceal, to tamper with the finances of the Provinces in other rttj&cts, made it absolutely necessary for the preservation of Provincial rights that another stand should be made against its encroachments."

Some good letter* are appearing in the Dunedin Press from persons of position, denying that they voted for Mr Grant for 44 a lark;" and, though acknowledging that he will have lit fie influence on the Council or the Government, yet think his presence will be a powerful check to jobl-ery. It is rumored that the citizens of Dunedin intend to present Mr Grant with £SOO, and that he is to bring out the • Saturday Keview' in an improved form. The 'Evening Star' of the 18th says:—" With reference to the Ministerial crisw, a private correspondent writes us that Mr Crosbie Ward has positively declined to accept office under Mr Stafford, and that Mr Dillon Bell has also re. fused to join the new Ministry. Mr John WiL liamson of Auckland is uncertain, and Mr Domett is spoken of as the new Postmaster-General, Mr Mantell as Native Minister, and Mr Thomas Russell of Auckland as Attorney-General. There is to be no Defence Minister, but the depart, ment will be administered by Colonel Haultain as Adjutant-General." The * Wallaroo Times,' a journal published near the Mooota mines, South Australia, in its i»sue ot 4th October, says ;— u In a recent issue of the London ' Mining Journal' we observe that an American chemist, Dr J. C. Ayer, has discovered an improved method of extracting gold and silver from their ores. The process is said to be effectual in the disintegration and desulphurisation of rock or ores by the ap- . plication of liquids or liquid solutions while in a heated state. By this means the substances operated on are rendered friable and easily pulverised, while volatile metals are at the same time expelled, and the base metals oxidised. The gold and siver are thus left free for amalgamation. Not to speak more minutely of the process, it is alleged that by its agency mines that could not previously be profitably worked may now afford a munificent return. With such means at command there is surely encouragement to try reefe showing the slightest trace of gold. We believe that reefs will yet be found on the Peninsula yielding gold io at least moderately paying quantities." Cows are now selling at Buenos Ayres for 6§ each, and even at this extraordiuaiy low price few buyers can be obtained.