AND WAITAKI REPORTER. THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 1864.

North Otago Times, Volume 1, Issue 6, 31 March 1864, Page 4

AND WAITAKI REPORTER. THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 1864.

No matter what be the condition of an Englishman, or however bright his prospects, he does not abandon his prescriptive right to grumble at everything and everybody, even when he settles down as a colonist in some fresh and fertile region of the globe. Cathim non animam mutant — and so-forth : the proverb is somewhat musty. Surrounded with all the luxuries of life, and everything man could wish for, still he will be oppressed with a heavy sense of daily cares and responsibilities. And there are times when this feeling becomes a sort of epidemic, taking possession of the entire community : when men's hearts seem to be failing them for fear, as if some mighty disaster were hanging over the land — as if plague, pestilence, or famine were looming palpably in the distant horizon. The present is just such a period. The complaints are loud and universal. Everybody you meet will entertain you to any length with dismal accounts of the depression of trade, the unsettled state of politics, abortive legislation, and consequent ruin impending over every separate interest in the Province Such complaints, however, are not at all times without cause. In the present instance, the cause is potential, and demands the attention of all interested in the prosperity of the Province. What, then, are the effective causes of commercial depression, general adversity, political .and those general oscillations which sometimes shake a country to its foundation ? If they generally arose from outward circumstances — as foreign aggression, visitations of Providence, or the like, there would be no need to put such a question. But in our case they never do so originate. Clearly, therefore, the cause must lie "in ourselves," as lago philosophically puts it, " that we are thus or thus." According to the teaching of John Stuart Mill and Bentkam, there are two principles on which the stability of all commerce rests, namely, general confidence and mutual trust between man and man. Wherever these are not, trade stagnates, politics languish, and society falls to pieces. The absence of these, moreover, keeps men apart from each other, and make them distrustful of each other. In public affairs, when they are not acted upon, trifling and teinpoiary difficulties are magnified into serious calamities and the existence of the fairest elements of success are denied. If, then, the bad times so much complained of are to be changed into good times, there must be a general diffusion of trust, confidence, and hopefulness, throughout the entire community. In one word, the people must be bound together by these three" great principles before we can expect comuiei cial prosperity or political advancement. These remarks apply with equal force to small or lai ge communities.

And with, and as the result of these, there must be an increased spirit of political activity among the people. Wherever there is political deadness and stagnation, there declining prosperity and universal discontent are sure to be found. Freemen, worthy of the name, instead of whining over the dull state of things, engage resolutely in making- the times better than they are. If trade is dull at present, it is just as ■well clearly to understand that we have only ourselves to blame for it. We are not suffering from the effect of any national calamity, adverse visitation of Providence, or even failure of any of our ordinary resources, but simply from the effects of our indifference to those principles upon which the very existence of society depends. There is no evil existing but what may easily be remedied. We have within us resources that only require judicious development in order to make us one of the wealthiest communities in the world. Let, therefore, this grumbling cease, and let us be up and doing. u Unity is strength," and by "a long pull, a strong pull, and a pull altogether" in the right direction, all pretext for the now universal complaint of dull times will cease to be.

The capabilities and requirements of Oamaru and the surrounding district of which it is the Port, are, or ought to be, at the present time subjects of much interest and very deep importance to every one whose interests are allied with its prosperity or decay, and the more so since it is very probable that upon the legislation of the approaching 1 session of Council will depend in a great measure the future position of Oamaru among the Ports of the Colony. On all hands it is agreed that the resources of this district, if properly opened up, would soon establish it as the wealthiest in New Zealand. It is now the wealthiest and most permanent pastoral district, and is admirably adapted for agricultural purposes. Over a thousand aci es in the neighborhood of the town is now under cultivation : and next year it is expected there will be much more. Hithei to farming has been tried simply as an experiment, but experience has shown it to be a most profitable enterprise. Moreover, from no other district has the Provincial Government drawn so much revenue for the sale of land as this; and it is now contributing its quota to the revenue of the Province. But what has been done for the district by way of return ? By what tenure do the settlers hold their runs ? What encouragement has been given them to improve their pre-emptive rights ? What means of transit, excepting fair-weather roads, has been provided for the farmer to bring his produce to market? What conveniences, moreover, have been provided for the merchant or shopkeeper to land or ship his merchandise at the Port ? How much of the fifty-odd thousand pounds realized by the sale of land in the district, has been spent in it ? These are questions much easier asked than answered. They point, however, very clearly to many just grounds of complaint of neglect on the part of the Government. Still, we cannot altogether exonerate the people themselves from blame in the matter, for we are fully persuaded that if they had spoken out plainly, and in a manner sufficiently demonstrative to convince the Government of their sincerity, and of what the district absolutely required, something would have been done lono- before this. No honest Government would repudiate the claims of this district when fairly put before them. The pre-eminent want of the district is the improving of the Port to a degree that would enable vessels to ride safely at anchor in all weathers, and discharge cargo at less expense than now. All classes of the community would benefit by the completion of such a work, inasmuch as merchants would be encouraged to make direct shipments to the Port, and shopkeepers would be enabled thereby to sell their goods at a much lower rate. As a preliminary, then, to the bringing of this measure before the Council, it is essential that the Government should first be memorialized to appoint a Commission to enquire into and decide upon what is most necessary to be done. On Monday evenimr next a public meeting will be held at the Northern Hotel, when an opportunity will be afforded to fhe people to take action in the matter; and it is to be hoped that every resident in the town will avail himself of the opportunity. Mr. Miller and Mr. Walker, the members for Oamaru and Lindiss districts respectively, will be present. It is to be | hop.'d, therefore, that the meeting will be larp;e and influential. "Want of space prevenTs our continuing the sub^JCULJLkis issue, and shall follow it" up'" -

We learn by latest advices from the seat of war that military operations are now almost at a stand Btill. General Cameron is proposing to make a farther advance up the Waikato River to take Mangatautare. The Government will then begin to distribute the conquered country among the military settlers. The natives at Taranaki are growing more numerous and insolent than ever. The Taranaki Herald of the 12th rust., gives an account of a severe encounter between our troopsand about 200 natives, Kaitaki, in which we had one man killed and six wounded. A detachment of Artillery with three Armstrong guns, were taken from Auckland to Taranaki by the Storm Bird, steamer. Prom the Wellington press we learn that a skirmish took place between two tribea of the east coast natives. It seems that while the Ngatiporon natives were on their way up to join the Waikatos, the Arawa natives offered to stop them from passing through their country, which was their only route, if the Government lent them their assistance. The Government acquiesced, and sent 200 troops to Jlaketu, the head-quarters of the Ann\ as, to protect thenlands and families during their absence in the pursuit of the rebels, who meanwhile had turned inland. The two native forces met at the Roitoiti, and fighting ensued. The result, however, is not given. The Government has supplied the Arawas with ammunition, and such countenance as would tend to strengthen theu 1 position. We remind the electors of Oamaru that the election of a member to serve in the Town Board in the room of Mr. Greni'ell- resigned, will be held this-day at the Court House, at 11 o'clock. The absence of a Waste Lands Commissioner's office at Oamaru is a matter of great inconvenience to the residents m the district. The sale of Crown lands in the district at Dunedin is also a source of great annoyance to many, inasmuch as purchasers are obliged to leave theu* busmess and homes for daj s at a tune on such occasions. Surely there is nothing to prevent the Chief Commissioner from making some other arrange ment that will obviate the difficulty in future. We observe that our enterprising townsman, Mr James Hassell, has imported a fateam Hour null and thrashing machine, constructed alter the latest improvements. They are the first introduced into tins district, and will no doubt be of great service to the community. We wish him a hearty success. Messrs Traill, Eosby and Co. shipped at Onniaru during tlus season wool from the various btations m the district as follows : — Hassell, 47 bales ; Ferens, 105 ; Walker, 190 j Fen wick, 52 ; Mdler and Gorch, -10 ; Burke, 38 ; Teschemaker, 120 ; Lookhart, 150 ; Parker, 293 ; Wilkin and Thompson, 459 ; Dansey, 128 ; Campbell, 215 ; — making a total of 1819 bales. They have yet about 100 bales to ship. The attention of purchasers is directed to our advertising columns to a notice of a sale of leasehold property in Thames-street, to be held b} J. Y. Ward at his new sale rooms, on Tuesday next, at 12 o'clock. An accident, the result of carelessness, that might hare proved of a Aery serious character ' happened on Saturday last. A man named Win. Britten took the winkers off a horse belonging to Mr Gibbs, while m harness, to feed it. The animal took fright at something, and bolted, with a child in the cart ; and while Britten was trjing to stop it, the shaft of the cart caught him in the back and turned hun over. The wheel passed over hun, causing fracture of the arm and a lew slight bruises. Fortunately, the horse was stopped without further damage. Dr Waite waB sent ior, and sot the arm at once. Captain Sewell has for some time past been engaged in working out a plan for the successful carrj ing out of a Breakwater for the .Roadstead of Oamaru. We have not heard the particulars of the Captain's scheme, but from his long experience in such matters and means of obsen ation, we may say with confidence that no one in the colony is better qualified to form a correct opinion on such a subject than he is. A fortnight ago we drew the attention of the Towu Board to the filthy state of the Oamaru Creek, but no action has yet been taken in the matter. Every member of the Board must be fully aware that most of the people obtain then- supplies of fresh water from the creek, there being no other place ; it, therefore, ought not to be made the recepticle of the filth of the town. If the Board is not in a position to spend a few pounds in having that part below the bridge cleaned out, it certainly has power to prevent those in tho habit of pouring the refuse of theu- yards into it from doing so m future. And since the health of the people bo much depend upon a supply of pure water, it is to be hoped, therefore, that the Board will exercise its power in this case without delay. Sir John Young, the Governor of New South Wales, is said to have signified his willingness to appoint a Commissioner to inquire and decide on where the Seat of Government should be removed to. I It is reported that gold has been discovered at the Thames, and that the claims for compensation under the Confiscation Act are likely to be nume--ins and extensive.

The adjourned meeting of the Town Board will bo held at 3 o'clock this afternoon nt the Courthouse. The thistle nuisance is rapidly spreading drer the district extending from this place to Ilampden, and promises before long to become as great an annoyance to the settlers as it was in Victoria some time sinee — that is unless something is done at once to destroy the weed. Acres may now be seen in the neighborhood of the Kakanui River, and thence to Otepopo, covered with thistles ripening and shedding their seeds to the wind. The nuisance, however, iB said to be curable by a solution of arsenic. Wo are informed that a solution of two and a-half ounces of arsenic in one gallon of water sprinkled on the stubble after •cutting the thistles, has been used in Victoria ■with perfect success. The arsenic is dissolved in liot water, and the solution applied either hot or cold. The experiment is inexpensive, and worth trying, and this is about the best time of the year to do so. There is a Thistle Ordinance in existence, but it has scarcely yet been enforced. The Government have failed to observe its provisions, and tho people have not been compelled to do so. Mr Chapman, Barri6ter-at-Law, formerly of Tamaki, and lately Attorney-General and .Acting Judge in Victoria, has been appointed second Judge on the Otago and Southland Circuit. A pleasure party visiting Worser'B Bay, near Wellington, a few days ago, found two coffins, one of them containing a complete skeleton, with the exception of the skull, and the other empty. The empty one was made of New Zealand white pine, and tho other of dark red wood very strong, and of European make. One of them had evidently been washed ashore, as it was found amongst drift wood ; but the other being behind a sandstone rock, had tho appearance of having been buried there. As it was away from the action of the tide, the Band which it was buried in must have been washed away by heavy rains, thereby exposing it to view. Charles Heapy, Esq., who has rendered valuable assistance during the present -war in the North as Surveyor and Engineer, has been gazetted as Chief Surveyor to tbe General Government. The following interesting item we take from the New Zealander of the 14th rast. :—": — " The ship Scimitar, which came into harbor on Saturday morning, brings — from the Zoological Society of London — a number of birds for Sir George Grey, — pheasants, rabbits, and a raven. There were shipped 48 English 'birds, which comprised 10 English and J.O French partridges — all of which died on the passage, as most others have done before them — and 28 pheasants. Out of their number 12 lien and 8 cock pheasants have arrived safe, with one raven, in charge of Mr. B. Gee, together ■« ith six silver-grey rabbits, w lth a litter of eight, in charge of the Captain."