THE Mount Ida Chronicle FRIDAY, JULY 2,1875.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 330, 2 July 1875, Page 2

THE Mount Ida Chronicle FRIDAY, JULY 2,1875.

The Superintendent is not usually in the habit of making public utterances, without, consideration. For that reason the very pointed reference in the Prorogation Speech to the vexed question of riparian rights, is worth a very "careful scrutiny. We do not think we shall be doing his Honor any great injustice in stating that he has always appeared to have been opposed to any special legislation for • goldminiug. Special legislation always has' the' appearance of being a sort of false bolstering of what should be allowed to 'find its own level, If there were a ! mistake in this respect it arose when Goldfield Acts were first introduced into Victoria and New Zealand. No ' one will be so bold as to say that no ' special legislation should have been introduced to meet the di£fic7ilties which sprang up when gold was first discovered in the Colonies. Special mining legislation could n.ot fail to interfere more" or less-with the 1 working of .the Colonial Land Acts, and also with the old vested rights, handed down in connection with land through endless generations in England—rights' which also were strangely given to Colonial set- , tiers recipients of ..Crown grants at £1 an acre, at 55., and even for nothing, i • In'proroguing the Council Mr. Macandrew said— *' I may say, however, in' ■'' respect to one of these [resolutions " passed by the Council].that.-there.:.is " little probability of any praeticalre-'i-.sult.- <I allude to.the question of ri- " parian rights 'on*Gb'ldfields'as being' " one which' is surrounded by, many " difficulties, for the solution of which " I am"disposed to, think we shall have " .toJook more to the,judicial than.the " legislative., At the same time-I-shall " solicit the aid'of the Colonial 'Go- " vernment to give effect to your reso; ". lution." * What we may expect from the judicial is fortunately or unfortunately very apparent just at present. Scarcely has the Court of Appeal given judgment in the case of JBorton -and M'Master, ,v. Howe than a more important case still, has -been decided Judge Johnston'inDunedin. Thedis-. puting parties at Clarke's Diggings and Kyeburn hardly thought-r-when they gradually rasped each other- into endless litigation—rthat they were setting the law Courts to solve a problem for which solution could only be 'fbtmtL.. -in one wayj a.nd that way being equally fatal to both litigants. Por many years j the defects in the present mining law of New Zealand have been pointed out, and repeatedly a consolidation and revisal of the law has been promised, but, unfortunately, isolated "members of the Assembly have invariably i hrust in their puny bars in the hope of gaining credit with mining constituencies; and, as a natural consequence, no new Goldfields Act has ever been able to live through its successive stages. ■ Tet, because hitherto there has been a want of tact shown by Goldfields. members ' —and perhaps also because no combination under one legal waistcoat of professional and practical knowledge has been found sufficient- to perfect., such amended legislation as has' been admitted to be necessary, the present 'contradictory law is to be made- tostand for ever ! We are now, indeed, told by one—whom wp have no reason to regard as other than a friend—that the •' judicial" is alone to be the miners' Appeal Court, and that the.legislatiye function is to be suspended when it is simply legislative initiatory defects that are the causes of the 5 confliction of interests on Goldfieldß. """

It has been long suspected that the mere holding of certificates for water races : and sluicing claims conveys Jno" title enabling 'the holder .or sluice away ground, and run off the debris and sludge on Crowni. lands,-, or into tue watershed in which such rghts or claims are held. It has also .been .generally. understood that tail race certificates convey no unlimited, right' for the discharge of tailings. It is new —-w'e'believe for the first, time—positively laid down by one of our soundest judges that certificates and m.ners' rights are mere waste paper aVagiriust a/Miohirrs of fcimliar rights of a prior, date on' rlie same watershed. -,-JN ot only so, bin tho Maerewhenua decision is.

clear that such certificates and rights aye also worthless as against the imaginary and undefimible riparian rights of the landowners on rivers or streams affected in the slightest-degree by mining operations. Under these circum-* stances, to tell the miners that their remedy is a judicial rather than a legislative one is almost to enact the role <.pf.one whp_ mocks. It is incomprehensible language to state that the preseut D,l lSJ a fac*as.i.t is~Javv~ at all is an innovation "upbu'tHe? .fudinot. to be amended, even in its "defects, because such anjimendment, would-be"" an "inT:erference7" Mr" Macandrew is fond of a novelty, and he has arrived.at one this year.,. It is worth while to note where this new idea leads to at only one stage.—Under the first Immigration' and Public Works Act £300,000 was set apart for expenditure on increased water supply on G-oldfields, and in subsidising private efforts in the same direction. According to-the Prorogation Speech the whole of the money is to he lost, be_causej> under the judicial, the whole of it has been expended in illegal diversion of water from streams and rivers, and in construction of tail races, at the mouths of which it is illegal to- discharge debris and' silt, or even dis-: 'colored water.

■* Whatideas actuated' his Honor "when he framed the paragraph in .question we cannot tell. It is charitable to hope that for once the consideration usually given to important questions was neglected. "We are loath to believe that Mr. Macandrew has, deliberately set his face against the mining interest of Otago.

This English mail, via-- Suez, closes this'i day (Friday) at the usual hours. . j We understand the amount raised at the late Church of England bazaar was £IBO. , ' Mr. William Pyle, sen., late of St. Bathans, was a passenger in the Oamaru for the [ old country. - ' • "" * I We are requested to call the attention of | Good Templars to the fact that next Mon- I day evening is the monthly degree night.. Mb. Mackintosh has beeii returned for the i ADarima district in the Provincial Council ' by a majority of 14. ' There was no business at the last sitting of the R.M. and Warden's Court at Hyde j and Hamilton. ... 'I The preliminary announcement of a. concert and readings, under the auspices of the* members of the 1.0. G.T., appears in our advertising columns. Mr. Bradshaw's meeting at the -Teviot was most successful. A strong feeling was shown in favor of the abolition of Provinces. The 'Star's' telegraphist says:—"Mr. Mervyn, as usual, 'made himself ridiculous." A_ meeting of shareholders. of the newly" formed Coal Company is fixed for July sth. ' As the business is of the greatest importance, it is anticipated that there will be a full attendance of members.

The half-yearly summoned meeting of the Loyal Naseby Lodge, M.U.1.0.0.F., for the purpose of electing officers for the ensuing six months took place last week, .with the following- results:—Bro. A. Simpson, KG.; Bro. G. btephens, V.G.; Bro. T. Meager, E.S. , A shipment of salmon is expected at Melbourne "from San Francisco. The Christchurch Acclimatisation Society have also made arrangements to procure ova from. California. Otago still beheves'in Scotch shipments, and another effort is to be made to obi tanvova- direct—£looo;-being' voted r 'for the* purpose.*' • . - ■

The Maei-ewhenua Bridge,_atthe terminus of the .Awomoko Railway," is to be constructed by, the .General Government, and charged to the Provincial Government as ah' advance. .The District Engineer has received instructions to prepare-plans at 'a cost of £sooo.""'' * ' '■_ „ r ■ ■

i On dit that the'conduct of a'prominent member of the Provincial Council, who is an equally prominent member of the 1.0.G1T., is to be made the subject of strict investigation by the latter body. The grave delicfotm with which he is chargecUoccurred while proposing a vote of thanks at a recent lecture, and consists-in the recommendation of, 1 and the highly eulogistic manner in which he dilated "upon, the many excellent qualities of 'Stout.—'Tablet.' . • =

So3iE discussion is taking place as to"the Education'Bill it is thought that the' General Government intend to introduce this--year. "Very little is known of the'measurejbeyorid conjecture. It is, however, pretty generally assumed that the Government do not wish to pass measure of such great importance in" the~*'last hours of the expiring Parliament. If it is introduced at all it will be solely that the opinion of the people may be obtained on the broad principles laid down in the bill, for the guidanceof the new Parliament.

The block of land to. be declared open for settlement under the" agricultural lease system on , the Sowburn swamp t promises/ to be: available to farmers this spring, -j The ■< is to-be proceeded with immediately, tbi surveyors ha/ving to make a commencement. The block was granted by'the, shortlived Bastings Executive, and it was"the intention of the then Secretary ; fbf : :Mr.' Green, to complete-the .500(Kacre> block immediately it was, shewn .thati ; the : half ~ 2000 acres—was likely to be taken up. This course will no doubt be followed by Mr. KeidV Government.. As the greater,part of the. larger area would have been taken up,, it is a.pity the survey of the whole is notnow. to be completed. Asitisj there is. likely to be-some jostling for sections. .':... ; ; : ' :s - It is not yet known what action will he, taken in' Wellington during the ensuing' ses-' sion in the direction of electoral reform. It is said to be certain that Mr. Reynolds will introduce his electoral bill. A leading* feature in such measure will be to do away with the-miners' right qualification," -iAt.the same time riiany are to be found who .advocate the'extension of franchise, so as to include lodgers. • We have no peculiar feeling for the maintenance of the miners' right qua-, lification, as every miner can own what will pass for a household and if he' will not take the trouble to register; his'opinion of the political questions of the day cannot be of great value.. At the same trine,'' if ' the lodgers are to ; to a;special franchise, we'se'e no reason for striking i 'off' 'the miners.'. Manhood suffrage would simplify matters amazingly. ■ ■•- : Afteii all the preliminary discussion and canvassing of School Committees the Perniis? • sive Education Rating Bill—the of .the Education Board—fell very flatly in 1 the i Council. It was/found out early in the session that the Couii2ii would not entertain the measure. In consequence,- from day to day, it was kept baek until finally, after .the work of the session was over, in the small hours of Saturday mbrnirit;. the Acting-Solicitor was allowd to bring it on. It was not likely that 1 he bill would ac such, a time be discussed. The happy despatch was at once-ad-ministered, and the proposal remains hunrf up for another year. There - can be no doubt

that the obnoxious measure will come up again, and at a time when, ordinary revenue is failing. Members having to choose between votinggaoney for school buildings, and voting* it fprljlistrict requirements, will be tempted to'throw school 'maintenance upon ratepayers.

The ordinary meeting of the Municipal Council was held on Wednesday last; present—his Worship the Mayor, Crs. Brookes, Craig, and Greer. The minutes of previous meetings were read and confirmed.—Letter read from Under-Secretary, in reply to Town Clei-k,.stating-that the; gentlemettrnamed'ancP sußmiftea Tor tHeapproval of his rtonor the Superintendent as trustees for sinking fund, in accordance with section 105, " Ota°-o Municipal Corporation-Ordinance, -' 1865^'" had" been approved, and notice of the appointments would appear in the next 'Gazette.' The Town Clerk reported that no' notice -of - appeal had been lodged against .the'.assess-ment-for-the year 1575-6, and that the valuation—based upon the.annual rental of pro'-, perty within the ' borough amounted to £4220. ■- ■

It is again necessary to draw the attention of correspondents to a.rule we do not care to depart from, unless under extremely exceptional circumstances. It is with regard to communications reflecting directly upon Government officers. These gentlemen are not' allowed, by the rules of the service, to reply to the criticism of the newspaper correspondent. It therefore seems fair 'that, where bona fide complaints are made public, the complainant should be prepared to sign his own name, to the charges he advances, or be prepared, if .writing under a nom de plume, to-allow the real name to be furnished, if asked for, in order that the officer complained of may know what he has to answer for to his superiors. Except under these conditions, we cannot undertake to insert anony- j mous attacks'upon public servants.

The third anniversary ball and supper of the Mount Ida Lodge, 1.0.0. F., took nlace in the Town Hall on Friday evening last." Notwithstanding the unpropitious state of the weather the brethren and their friends~assembled in such numbers that the capacity of the commodious hall was fully tested to comfortably accommodate them. The building was nicely and tastefully decorated, and the Comiiiittee of Management evidently spared neither expense uor labor in making their arrange-, ments as complete and attractive as possible. About 930 dancing commenced, which was continued until twelve, when an excellent sup-" per—lurnished in Host Pinder's best stylewas laid, and heartily enjoyed by all present. Several songs, given by Messrs. Jacob,-Hore M'AVally, M'lptosh, and Morrison, were warmly appreciated. After supper the second part of the programme was commenced, and carried out' with spirit. The whole arrangements were of such a nature as to reflect credit on the Committee who suggested them and carried them out so satisfactorily. The music was first-class, and the supervision of the tables by Host Pinder gave.great satisfaction. The reputation attained by this Lodge for celebrating its anniversary "properly" is not yet on the wane. . - . An able article on Provincialism in the I 'Press' concludes thus:—"Canterbury and ■ Otago.are the only Provinces that can claim to be financially independent, and their situation is precarious.- They have both committed themselves to liabilities largely in excess of their present-means in a reliance on future land sales; and should their expectations not be realised, they will' be plunged into serious embarrassment. Thus, of nine Provinces, two are total and irreparable failures by their own confession: they are completely broken'down—are incapable of being made self-supporting. The third has been Tcscued from" the same fate" only ''by a lono-' course-of outside assistance; and pi the rest° I all but two needJto behelped-alongfrom' year to year by donations from the General Government. -The sums distributed among the Provinces during the current year in the shape of subsidies, advances, and grants' in aid, amount to no less than £194,000. It is scarcely .a question then whether theProvin-' ces should.be 'abolished - . Facts ha've'already' de3ide_d,!ito'all intents- that'the business is-done. When we compare .the -Provinces.as they were, and were meant to 1 * be, and as they are, it is evident that, though' a formal, sentence of abolition has yet .to be pronounced; the system is at an end." As'a 1 " of 'Goverument, Provincialism is' extinct. _ It has worked out its own destruc- ' tion.''lt h'as"abolished itself."-' J -• '- -. Ox .the Tuesday'of this'week the day' school Kyeburn, under the teaching of, Mr.. John , Wright, was examined by the School .'Committee, a'ssisted by the Rev." "J. M'CosH Smith. :The examination extended oyer nearly five houre, and was very exhaustive'—the Committee taking great pains to ascertain the sta;e of the school, and the order of merit among the scholars. At the conclu-,, sion the Hon. Secretary,—Mr. J. Christian— ! took the chair, and 1 'briefly addressed the i •children, expressing the-great satisfaction of the Committee with the state of the school; and then called on the Rev. J. M'Cosh bmith to distribute the prizes. .These piizes .were provided by the Committee, and consisted of a number of valuable and useful books. The rev. gentleman, after saying' how pleased he was with, the. state,-o'f the school, and of the, proficiency of the scholars —some of them;showing considerable ledge of arithmetic, geography,.and grammar —and after urging upon the scholars the necessity of regiilar attendance, distributed the prizes, according to the position of the pupils in the estimation 5 of the examiners. The children were in great spirit, and accorded,, when called upon, a hearty cheer to' those -who had furnished the prizes. The Committee felt sure that great credit was due to Mr. Wright for the state in which the school was found, and anticipate much greater progress,, now that Mr.' Wright's healtlris considerably" improved, before another time for examination comes round. It might have been expected that more of the parents would have been present, to hear for themselves the answering of the scholars. A few were present,, seemingly deeply interested; and, let it be' remembered,, one mobher came over a long .and a rough road, so much' was her interest' in the school. We have now in Kyeburn what has been a great desideratum- -a good and efficient day school for the children The members of the School Committee who took especial interest in the examination were Messrs. Christian, Dickinson, and Veal.