THE Mount Ida Chronicle FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 1874.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 277, 26 June 1874, Page 2

THE Mount Ida Chronicle FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 1874.

The Harbor Improvement mania, that has now advanced to such a height as to make itself felt as a power in Provincial legislation, is worth a little inquiry. What is the cause ? We are not now in dog-days. On the contrary, everything is of cold most chilly. Yet the same characteristics attending rabies are prevalent in the seaport towns —in these cases, a hatred, or, rather, oblivion, of land carriage, and the support of all sorts of vague schemes for the improvement of water communication, do much does this resemble an epidemic, that we find all ordinary precautions usual to business men are disregarded, and a reckless committal to an apparently interminable expense is entered into.without inquiry. If a citizen of Dunedin, more than usually cautious, ventures to doubt whether the improvement of that harbor is not a little premature, he is soon quieted and rendered as excited as Tris neighbors by a comparison, hastily conjured up,' between what Canterbury is doing for Lyttelton and Otago for Dunedin. The supremacy of Dunedin must be maintained at all hazards. What has the Provincial Council, led by the Coalition Government, agreed to do in passing the otago Harbor Board Bill ? Simply given unlimited power to _ a mongrel Board chosen by Dunedin Municipal Councillors, by Port Chalmers ditto (may they improve !), elect of the Chamber of Commerce, and two, also elect, of the Provincial Council. This extraordinarily composed Board is to have Executive functions without responsibility—is, with all the defects so large a proportion of

honorary annual membership is sure to bring in its train, to have arbitrary control not only over inauguration and expense of .improvements, but the regulating of the harbor trade. The Provincial Executive resident in Dunedin, with all officers at its command, is presumed incompetent, and Chaos is called into being to supersede men who, elected by the people, yet shirk their responsibility by throwing the works they have not spirit enough' to refuse to popular local clamor upon an irresponsible body. Very shortly we shall have an old tale repeated. When complaints pour in—as they will do, of the Dunedin Board's inattention to business and gross mismanagement, what will our responsible Government say?— The power was given away from us by the Council ; we regret, but wo cannot help it. Nothing will then be said of the fact that the_ Beid-Turnbull Government used cheir servile majority to escape from their due responsibility iu this matter of Harbor .Improvement. Everywhere these Harbor Boards have failed: Only the other day the Port Chalmers Trust had to give up its power, and the Province had to take over the mistakes and—worse still—the liabilities; yet this Trust was started on the assumption that it would be self-supporting, and, if not, the Provincial revenues were not to, and could not, be held as security.- So will if be with this newly-created Harbor Board —empowered to borrow £250,000 as a first instalment, by special Ordinance incorporating the Board. Thanks to a vigilant and active Opposition, the Government did not dare to saddle directly the Provincial revenues as security for this loan; but that, the Board once constituted under the Act, can obtain after, without any aid from the Council ,• and, if not—if the dues and revenues from the reclaimed areas are insufficient, and the Board gets insolvent with liabilities—then, in that case (and a very likely one), the Provincial revenues will be the security; for, as at Port Chalmers, the Province will have to take over all works, abortive schemes, and debts. The Government thought fit to push this Bill through, to satisfy the pressure brought on them in Dunedin, with indecent haste, in spite of the report of the Provincial Engineer that it was most important to get, in the first instance, the most complete information. To get this would cost about £1,500, and a most close and somewhat protracted scrutiny of the tidal action at the. bar, and also the velocities, directions, and forces of currents in the inner harbor would be absolutely a necessity: so that no time could possibly be' lost by the Board not being constituted until the next session of Council. No, this, would not satisfy Dunedin. Delays are dangerous. Has not, too, our impartial Committee of Dunedin citizens reported ? 'Tis true two engineers differ in materials from the other two, and all four from. Mr. Balfour; yet, nevertheless, the information is sufficient, our plans are-matured, and we must be in possession of our Board. We find, however, that this Harbor Board Bill was a nub of no small difficulty to even the talents of the Coalition, aided, as they were, by the SelfElect outside, for the Bill was in circulation several days before the schedule, which was 'to embrace the reserves given to the Trust, was attached. This schedule was to contain the cream of the whole thing. It might simply mean certain defined reclaimed lands, or the Bill was so worded that it might cour tain, as reserve, a lar*e landed estate. It was, we presume, thought prudent not to run too great a risk—it would be wiser to accept what could be got, with the hopes of more hereafter. Suggestively enough, we notice the 'Otago ' Guardian,' reviewing the session, writes:—" Of course we have the " Harbor Trust Ordinance, tohich, as a " tentative ineasiwe, is well enough, but " it will require amending at no distant " period." Amended by granting to the Board some good substantial landed endowment, no doubt, if it can be got. Harbor Improvement, carried out even on loans, if the interest is paid out of legitimate harbor dues or land reclamation, is legitimate enough, but it is thoroughly unjust when the revenues of the unlocked interior are takeu for the purpose. In Canterbury we find they are more cautious, though proposing to make free use of the land revenues. The Council of that Province has agreed to expend £50,000 in initiatory works in Lytfcelton, provided the engineer expected shortly from England reports upon their practicability, and that his estimates are in any way within such limits as may be reasonable when compared with the advantages to be gained. The question, the Canterbury Provincial Secretary said, is—- " Can the work be done ? and what " will be the cost ? These two points " satisfactorily determined, the finan- " cial part of the business is a matter "of arrangement." We here see the statesmanlike way to deal with a difficult subject—very different from the Otago plan. The two cases are not, however, analogous, for Lyttelton is the Port Chalmers of Christchurcb.

Although in some particulars the district has come off better during the late session of the Provincial Council than we expected, for Coalition generally means' a combination of the stronger for the purpose of sacrificing the weaker —the Mount Ida district being a part of the weaker, in this case, the Goldfietds interest. Yet, putting aside small particulars—such as a little better share of road money, bridges, and the like —the main aim we have always had in view—viz., the settlement of the population upon the. soil —has not, wo are sorry to say, been much acwlcnited. On ihccitht-r'haud,

we note the feeling of the Superintendent, his extreme anxiety to conserve the small moiety of ground disturbed by the miners—ground mostly 1,700 feet or upwards above the sea—disregarding entirely the enormous realised value such small areas have produced. This extreme jealousy we fear, bodes little good to the mining population. Mr. M'Lean's bold attack, in pursuance of the idea thrown out by his Honor, also shows'how weak out.' position, is supposed to be at the present time. Mr. Eeid then follows this up by, on all occasions, sneering at the presumed importance of the Miniug Interest " we are always hearing such " great things about." He, for his part, thought " too much, attention-had "been paid to the G-oldfields, at-the " expense of other interests." Then, to crown all, in the attempt made to secure a small area of land for settlement, how is the district met ? By the most frivolous opposition. Land .is given readily to small, isolated districts—for instance, some 6,000 acres additional to what they had before being given to Drybread, Tinkers, and Blacks, making an area in that district open for settlement of probably over 10,000 acres; yet for Naseby, the largest populated sluicing township in the Province, the 'Chief Surveyor intimates to the Provincial Secretary that he has often thought the experiment of opeuing 1,000 acres on the Kyeburn run might be tried, and intimates that such a liberal provision of land might not be a reproach to the Government. It is surely time we had done with these official recocts. A. surveyor may be a very first-class draughtsman, and may be a thorough, proficient in his profession, yet wc do not know that anything in the course of his training qualifies him to give an opinion as to what land will grow crops/that will pay, or what weight of potatoes to • the j acre will pay in certain districts under ! special circumstances. The system is rotten that places the people at the mercy of these official reports. If people desire land, and are willing to put their money into,it,.why should they not have it ? 'J hat is a puzzle which is only solved by a possible convenience attaching to these official reports under circumstances where special pressure is brought to bear against the desire of those who would, if'they were allowed,, settle permanently on the interior lands' of the Province. We do not know that land has been definitely refused as yet; The decision is held over to see whether the district will tolerate an injustice so glaring as the refusal of one acre of land to the township of Naseby, which, for over ten years has had to depend for the maintenance of its residents on the gold extracted by the honajide mining population. To drag along, in depressed times, the population collected in the town who are not miners, is more than the mining interest, however buoyant, can do.

A public meeting is called, by advertisement in another column, for Monday evening, the 6tV of July.

The English mails, via San Francisco, will close at the Naseby post office this day (Friday), at the usual hours. We notice, by advertisement, that Mr. J. Gason invites his friends to meet him at his residence on the 29th instant, before opening in a new business. , . By advertisement in another column it will be seen that Friday next, July 3rd, is the last day on which claims to be placed on the Burgesses Roll will be received.

• Mr. Charles Anderson, late manager of one of the N. Z. and A. L. Co.'s stations in Southland, has been appointed Sheep Inspector in the room of the late Mr. Fielder. Lv consequence of the bad state of the roads between Lawrence and Clyde, Messrs. Yeend, Pope, and Co.'s recently started line of coaches have been withdrawn for the present. • .

It is said to be currently rumored in Nelson that his Honor Mr. 0. Curtis will shortly relinquish the Superintendency of that Province, and take office under the General Government.

The Canterbury Jockey Club have removed the disqualification from Win. M'Kav, ■ imposed upon him at the Club's last annual meeting, for throwing away some lead while srjdiag Medora in the Hurdle Race. Mr Oliver, M.P.C., has forwarded £24, being the half of his honorarium, to the funds of the Mount Ida District Hospital. We understand that he has presented the balance to the Sailors' Home at Port Chalmers.

The Melbourne 'Argus,' in Miss Rosini Carandini's farewell entertainment, says that that lady uow -retires into private life in New Zealand, where she has a large connection already waiting her coram" as a teacher. "

Intending shareholders in the Colonial Bank are reminded by advertisement in tor day's issue that the share list will close at the offices of the several agents throughout the Provinces on Monday first, the 29th inst. The agents for the district are Mr. J. Bremner, of this town, and Mr. W. Pyle, St. Bathans.

At the usual half-yearly meeting of the Loyal Mount Ida Lodge, 1.0.0. F., held in the Lodge room, Empire Hotel, on Tuesday evening last, the following Brothers were elected to fill the chaira for the ensuing term:—Bro. J. M'Donald, N.G.; Bro. L. Hore, V.G.; Bro. N. Currie, Secretary; Bro. J. Leys, Secretary.

We: hear that a man named M'Hugh tried to drown himself on Saturday at the Spit, and after being rescued from death by water, attempted to kill himself by stabbing himself, in the neck with a table fork, but did not inflict a dangerous wound. He is said to have been suffering from the effect of drink at the time.—'Hawke's Bay Herald.'

The child of Mr. Martin, of Tinker's, who had be.en missing for some time, was found at Devonshire's—a distance, of four miles from his home. The little fellow, who is only four,, arid a half years old, had travelled in a straight line to Devonbhire's .ahd wal out, exposed to very inclement weather, all the night of' the 9th instant.—' Tuapeka T'fiies.' There is no truth in the rumor circulated in the Dunedin 'Star," and other papers, that Mr. Warden Cafew intended to take twelve months' leave 6f absence, and was to be relieved by Mr. H.j W. Robinson. It is probable that, at thrfexpiration of his leave, the latter gentleman will again resume his official duties in the Mount Ida district.

A gekial matron residing near G-oulburn, IY.S.W, lias rocenUy taken a somewhat peculiar step to assort'her powers in the saddle. The following .i'dvwt-isereient appears in the

' G-oulbum Chronicle':—"lf Misa S-—-f, who sent the insulting letter to me about horse-riding, pleaae, I trill ride with, her one hundred (100) miles in sis hours.—Mrs. E. Carter."

Me; Beetham, E.M., and Warden of the. Wakatip district, has been called upon by the General Government to proceed to Greymouth or Cobden to assess matters connected with the Waimea Water Eace Company, and the claims of landowners and others. Tne Company is one of those supplemented by the Water. Subsidy Loan. Mr. Beetham will be absent two months, or thereabouts, in all probability.—'Star.' .

The sitting of the Waste Lands Board last week presents no features of local interest. The ' Star' reports that tenders for the conduct of sales in the districts round Clyde and Naseby were opened, and, after discussion, referred to the Government. The tender of of Mr. G. Fache, for the former district, was at two per cent, all round, while tenders from two other auctioneers for the districts round Naseby were very much higher.

The installation of officers of the Mount Ida Lodge, E.C., for the ensuing year took place on the afternoon of Wednesday last. The following Brethren were installed in office:—P.M. Bro. W. Newman, W.M.; Bro. H. Wilson, S.W.; Bro. G. F. ISiewmareh, J.W.; Bro. A. J. M'Cluskey, Treasurer; Bro. E. E. Field, Secretary; Bro. William Baass, S.D.; Bro. E. Hore, J.D.; Bro. J. Green, Steward. The ceremony was well conducted by P.M. Bro. W. Grumitt as Installing Master,, and Bro. G. F. Newmarch as Master of Ceremonies.

The following are unpublished cablegrams: —"lt is rumored that Mr. Disraeli will be 'married to the Countess" of Chesterfield.—The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh will soon visit Ireland.-—A boiler explosion near Glasgow smashed in a school; three children were killed and thirty wounded.— Mr. J. W. Huddlestone, Q.C., who was elected M.P. for Norwich at the last elections, has declined the Solicitor-Generalship. —Obituary: The Marquis of Downshire and the Marquis of Clanriearde.—Great distress exists among the laborers in America."

An extract from a private letter received by a gentleman in Greymouth from his brother in Cayenne, the- capital of French Guiana, is published in the .'Grey River Argus,' from which it appears that a new Goldfield of extraordinary richness has been discovered in that-locality. The writer says: —" There is great excitement about the discoveries in French Guiana, South America. The seaport is Cayenne. Fabulous accounts have been received; and it is stated that three men, in twenty-seven days, made $150,000. The diggings are'seventy miles up-country, amongst the mountains, and the climate is temperate, but it is very hot on the coast."

The Waipori correspondent to the ' Guardian ' writes as follows:—" The recent severe frosts- have interfered greatly with mining operations. The ground-sluicers, who form the bulk of the permanent diggers, are beginning to complain of lightness of water, and not unfrequently have to go* along the race breaking the ice before commencing the la.bors of the day.—There was a meeting of the almost defunct Mining Association on Saturday, when Mi\ Roberts, President of the: Central Association, pointed to matters affecting the mining interest, and urged the members to take** a much greater interest in what affected not only their good, but that of miners generally." The usual yearly soiree of the Mount Ida Lodge, E.C., was held in the Masonic Hall (as advertised) on Wednesday evening last. The hall was neatly, though not gaudily, decorated with flags, stars, ferns, &c. The walls bore the mottoes and inscriptions pertaining to the Masonic body, .set off with prettily-devised surroundings. A numerous party met, each and all being exceedingly pleased with the programme offered. At a little past midnight supper was served up, which tended to impart new life and vigor into the somewhat exhausted dancers. The assemblage dispersed at a reasonable hour after , a most enjoyable evening. The soiree was undoubtedly a very. great success, reflecting great credit upon the management in every particular. Referring to the proposed . Provincial Public Works, the ' Southland Times ' says: —"To provide for the works comprised in the Government scheme, a loan of £500,000 is to be asked from the Assembly.' Should this application,prove unsuccessful, the land; revenue has been unequivocally pointed out as the only other resource to which recourse can be had. At the same time the Provincial Council, however anxiotis many of its members may professedly be to conserve the land for honafide settlement, has not seen fit to impose the slightest check on the power of the Executive to deal with the waste lands during the recess, just as they choose, for financial or other purposes, in accordance with the practice that has hitherto prevailed, especially under the management of Mr. Donald Reid."

On Sunday night last, while evening service was being conducted in the Churches, the fire-bell rang out an alarm of tire, which speedily emptied the buildings of worship-■ pers. The flames were seen issuing from Mr. Busch's back premises. Mr. Langmaak was the first to discover the fire, and at once ran. for the Fire Brigade reel, shouting fire. Before, however the water could be made available, owing to the frozen state of the plugs and hose, several good volunteers were hard atwork checking the flames. Buckets were being passed, and their contents thrown with great precision at the portions of roof in flames. Conspicuous in their efforts were noticeable Mr. Brenmer, Mr. Joseph Wilson, Mr. P. Daisey, and Mr. John Cogan of Serpentine. As soon as the hose did get play on, the flames were at once put out. Fortunately there was no wind, and the heavy frost on the iron checked the flames. Mr. Busch estimates his loss at £640, which is fully covered by insurance.