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Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 229, 25 July 1873, Page 4

A mistake,occurred in our- telegrams last' week. £20,000, the estimated revenue from sale of Crown, lands, should have been £200,000. Mr Sumpter was anxious to have the acoustic properties of the Provincial Council Hall improved. Mr Bastings said he would suggest that a rostrum be erected with a platform six feet long, on which honorable members could pace and declaim. Mr Wilson, a Southland member, suggested that three or four, iron bars being stretched across the building would improve the sound. - Mr. Oliver confirmed this, saying that in Melbourne lately a large building had been very much improved by simply having wires stretched under the ceiling. Dr Menzies said the idea of a rostrum was purely a national one, it being the principle adopted by Maori chiefs in, addressing their warriors. He explained that the, experiment of the wires was, '' he believed, an evil when it arose from reverberation, of sound. .The discussion dropped. '"7"" On the question of the reduction of. the gold duty, Mr Fish got up to oppose the mo- " tion, stating that he had heard no argument to induce him to vote for the reduction. Mr Fish was asked if he had heard of a wooltax, a corn tax, or a tax on any other produce except gold. Mr -Pish also said that the Goldfields were so expensive, costing so much for • "Wardens and police. . He raised a hornet's nest about his ears, the members for the Arrow and Mount Ida at once dropping on to him—showing the Goldfields expenditure amounted to only £IO,OOO, while the estimated revenue for the current year was ' £36,000.

Mr Oliver, M.P.C., brought.forward" two resolutions with regard to the, Suezr.iaail bes- - Melbourne,. 'via Bluffj to Dunedin, and vice versa. It will be known that the General Government scheme proposes to dance our mails, as previously/, round the Coast via Hokitika, at the same' time making us pay a very large share of the expense. The resolutions went so far as to urge the Provincial Executive, at an expense of not more than £3,000, to enter into an independent contract, should the General Government not modify their plan to.suit the. .Southern- Provinces.

The appropriations for_the Lunatic Asylums

and the Hospital for the current year are £2,950 and £2,825 respectively. _lt is pro-. posed, if anything like public spirit can be ! infused into the Dunedin residents', to place ■■ the Hospital on a system of subsidy similar '. to the plan existing in the up-country Hos- \ pitals at present, only making the subsidy more liberal because of the number of chronic cases that are sent down from the country Hospitals. Tt is also suggested that one surgeon—paid better than the present local officer—shall have charge of the Hospital, , - which is proposed to be open to honorary ■ surgeons appointed as in English Hospitals. The Gold-fields Secretary has intimated that it is the intention of the Government to revert, as early as possible, to the old system of Government Surveyors—finding, that the present plan is not half as efficient, and that the Government is. liable to extortionate charges. An instance was mentioned in which, because'a surveyor was sent to one locality, to survey three or four claims in that locality, he charged the whole travelling expenses oh each claim---the total charge amounting to some £64. The sum on the Estimates for Gold Receivers' salaries could hot be altered while passing through Committee, as no item can Be raised on the Estimates when before the House except by message from the : Superintendent; but the Government promised they would bring clown a sum" on the Supplementary Estimates to cover a rise of salary to these most deserving officers. ■ Our local Receiver has', we believe, an office for each of his ten fingers, not even escaping the examination of babies, • being Inspector, among , other things, of Vaccination. We are very glad, that these deserving claims have been recognised. , The Government announced the other day that they had agreed to place £3OO on the Estimates'for "the purpose of adding to a sum of £SOO promised to be contributed by the General Government, to introduce a further shipment of salmon ova. The fees of the Waste Lands Board Commissioners are fixed at. £2 2s. per sitting diem, country members .having their coaching expenses in and out paid. A brisk discussion took place over the item in Committee of Supply, Mr Stout suggesting that the Board, as beyond the control of the Province,' should be paid by the Government that does exercise control, and moving that the item . be struck out, in order to starve the Board into reconstruction. The member for Caversham, however, in criticising the members of the Board, asserted that Mr John Reid was a representative of the pastoral interest because he bought wool— and, Mr Haggitt suggested, sheep-shears also. Another member suggested that Mr Butterworth was a pastoral representative, because he sold flannel shirts and woollen socks.—(Great laughter. } The Mayoral election in Dunedin on Mon- * day last was not favored by the elements, a heavy downpour being'the rule all day—- . making the placards on the cabs plying in the different interests melancholy and undecipherable objects.' Considerable ,excitement was, however, maintained all day, which increased about five p m., when the Returning Officer was expected. About 500 people gathered round the Provincial Government terrace and under the University buildings, one or two venturing to mount the platform and discourse to the crowd, perhaps with the intent of testing their feelings if in reality they should ever be called upon to address the ratepayers as bona fide candidates. Jokes and hootings were the means- by which the wet voters successfully tried to. keep their tempers. It was nearly six p.m. before the retiring. Mayor (Mr Fish) arrived with the returns, and announced the result amidst tremendous cheering—Mercer ; 970; Thoneman, 630; Barnes, 500. The greater part of Monday was taken up with the debate on the railway question. The amendments of the members for the Taieri and Milton (Messrs. Reid and Gillies) were lost, and the Government resolutions carried - some of both sides refusing to vote, as the Government chose, somewhat absurdly, to make it a Government question. As it is, resolutions have passed which are practically unworkable, and which certainly could have been put on a more satisfactory footing by amendments. Probably the General Government will undertake the construction of the mainlines. . : ~ .; At the weekly meeting of the Waste lands Board on Thursday last, Mr R. E. Field's application, to '.purchase res'dence area, at transmitted and approved by - tKe District Land Officer, was granted. 'Applicant to make survey and to be sold :.by auction with improvements. Upset price, £2O per acre. The protest of the Mount Ida iliners'Association against the sale of auriferous land was read. , .

The mid-weekly TJuriedin mail, via Hyde and Macraes, closes at the Naseby Post Office in future on Thursdays at 10 a.m. The four Corporation lamps were lit for the first , time on the evening of Monday last. ' : ■'■;' '

We. are requested to draw 'attention to the sale by auction, on Mouday Hext, the 28th in'st., by Messrs luder and George, of Mr Keehan's farm and implements &c./ at the Kyeburn Diggings. . Also several valuable horses, book debts, &c, to-morrow, in the bankrupt estate of Mr Joseph Packman. No business has been transacted in neither the .Resident Magistrate's or Warden's Courts this week in consequence of the absence of the "Warden oh his usual fortnightly, visit, to Hamilton, Hyde, and Macraes. We understand that a petition, .praying for the extension of the jurisdiction of the District Court on the Goldfields, has been extensively signed both in the Mount Ida and other; .district?, and will be presented to the .House in support of the District Courts Act

Amendment Bill, which has been introduced by the Government and passed its first reading. As the increased jurisdiction sought for cannot fail to be a benefit to the district, in many ways, we shall be glad to hear that the Bill has become la./. It is rumored that the ex-M.P.O. for the Lakes, A. Innes, Esq., intends coming forward to contest the representation of the district in the General Assembly—vacant through the resignation of Mr Hallenstein. A special meeting of the Mount Ida District School Committee was held in the schoolhouse on Friday afternoon last. The schoolmaster and mistiess were in attendance. The clerk read a copy of letter from the • tie v. Father Coleman to the Education Board, alleging that religious instruction was given in the school. It was resolved that the schoolmaster and mistress, and Mr Wilson, ftuv nish statements in reference to this matter to the Committee, to be forwarded to the Education Board. We understand that it is the intention 6' the members of the Naseby Brass Band to give a concert and dance, in the Masonic Hall, in aid of the funds of the Mount Ida District Hospital, on Monday evening, 4th prox. , A beise debate took place in the Council on the item in the Estimates for Wai dens' salaries. Mr Reid at once asked for information relative to tne late retirement of Mr Pyke, asking what was that gentleman's real position with the Groverument at the present lime. Mr Bastings said Mr Pyke, on two medical certificates, had asked for leave of ab sence —the certificates alleged that Mr Pyke was suffering from rheumatic gout, and was not fit to do the out districts. Consequently the Government agreed to give the leaveasked for, and allow the salary of £450, considering Mr Pyke's arduous services during 12 years. Mir Pyke shortly after asked what lie .would get if he resigned altogether. The Government, being desirous to reduce the s«-aff of W ar dens, thought it better to give the usual retiring allowance, given in cases of removal, which w. uld differ very slightly from the sum already agreed to of £4so—viz., one month's salary for every year served. This was agreed to, and Mr ke was entirely severed from'his connection with the Government during the elections, nor was there any agreement of any'kind that under certain circumstances he-should'be re-appointed. Mr Reid also asked whether, at a former period, this gentlemen had .not received a retiring allowance, and shortly after been reinstated. IMr Bastings said that it was the ease. That Mr Pyke had formerly retired on an allow- ( ance, but on his again being appointed, he reI funded the allowance in question to the Got vernment. Mr Bastings also stated the Gover.'iment were nnxious to do without the \ services of one other Warden, giving all those , remaining in the service more pay, and plenty . to do.

Last week the members- for the Dunstan aud -Monnt Ida Districts waited on the Superintendent to present a petition, signed by over 300 residents in their respective districts, praying that the General Government will at once extend the telegraph from Naseby through the important districts of Hills i'reek, St. Bathans, Blacks, Tinkers, and Drybread to the wire at present in operation by the south line to Alexandra and Clyde. His Honor consented to take charge of the petition, and to use his interest to endeavor to get the line effected. He thought there would be no difficulty in the early carrying out of the prayer of the petition. "''■'"'",