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Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 275, 16 December 1865, Page 2

The memorial against the closing of the Government Post-office at Queenstown is being numerously signed, and will go down by Monday's post. The greatest indignation is expressed I and remonstrances from all sources will be made | if this ill-timed measure is attempted to be carried out. It is said that Major Richardson is the cause of the threatened reduction. However, the Government on their contracts for the mail service connected with Queenstown during the ensuing year, will save a large amount, and this further squeeze of Mr Eliott Eliott is quite unjustifiable. The General Government have issued a circular to the Superintendents of Provinces, to the following effect—"Sir, —I have the honor to enclose a copy of the Sessions Act, 1865,' and I shall feel obliged if your Honor would favor me with such suggestions as you may think necessary, with a view to giving practical effect to it in the Province of , and thus obviating the constantly recurring necessity of appointing Resident Magistrates. I have, &c., —E. W. Stafford." A very good suggestion on the part of their Honors, we think, would be an increase in the number of municipal councils, district councils, and the creation of shire councils; following throughout the Victorian plan, and making the chairman of each of these a magistrate for the time being. The Court of Petty Sessions Act would then work [Since the above was in type we find that Mr Burns, oh the lltli instant, carried a resolution in the Provincial Council, to the effect that the Government shall take steps to at once reduce the number of Resident Magistrates.] A meeting of the contributors to the Maloney Aid Fund was held at Powell's Family Hotel, on Thursday ; Mr Dulgleish in the chair. A final report of the Committee, showing funds in hand to the amount of £l4B 7s 6d, was brought up. A resolution, proposed by Mr M'Redmond and seconded by Mr Burns, was carried, to the effect that the amount be placed to Mrs Maloney's credit at the Bank of Otago. An amendment, that the money be invested with trustees for the purpose of educating the children, fell to the ground. Other particulars appear in our advertising columns. The road to Frankton is fast approaching completion. One place in it is quite impassable, and is carefully avoided by every pedestrian and horseman. We trust the Government will take steps to carry out the views of the Town Committee, and that a good road will be delivered over to the public. The Provincial Council have passed a vote granting retail licenses to storekeepers on the goldfields, upon payment of the usual publicans license fee. The Council has voted for Hospital purposes the following sums:—Lawrence, 1,000/; Clyde, 1,200/; and Wakatip, 1,600/. Our advertising columns announce sports at several places, including Skipper's, Arrow, Arthur's Point, and Queenstown, so that there is no lack of amusements. The Queenstown proceedings will be wound up by dance parties at two of the leading hotels under efficient management ; and those at the Arrow by a ball at Richmond's New Orleans Hotel, Dr Douglas informs us that the number of cases in the Hospital has lately increased, and much exceeds the usual average. We are given to understand that Mr Dugard, the bailiff of the R.M. Court, Queenstown, has been appointed Sub-Warden or officer in charge, and a Justice of the Peace for the Upper Shotover, in the room of Mr Simpson removed to the Teviot. Mr Dugard will have under him a very valuable charge, and we trust though young in years the public will not have to pay for any experimentalising in carrying out the Mining Regulations. The Extended Jurisdiction of the R.M. Court is appointed for the 22nd January, and those who desire to avail themselves of this sitting should be prepared, as several cases were left out last time through delay. We hear that what is to be called a " grand reunion pic-nic" is proposed to take place shortly. The intention is, it is said, for the Arrow and Queenstown sections of the community to meet and fraternise Frankton, and, as saa stated by an official "to bury the hatchet of discord." As we have never seen anything approaching to ill-feelinsj between the residents of the two places it is difficult to understand what is meant by " burying the hatchet." However, we believe a pic-nic properly carried out by a committee from both towns would be a really pleasant affair. We have been informed upon good authority that Mr Haughton will contest the election for the county of Hampden—thirty-seven out of the fitty electors on the Roll being residents in the Arrow district. It is not generally known by the public that a fourpenny postage-stamp has been issued by the Post Office authorities. This is a convenient addition, and only needs to be known to be extensively availed of.