MONTHLY SUMMARY FOR EUROPE AND AUSTRALIA.

North Otago Times, Volume II, Issue 34, 13 October 1864, Page 3

MONTHLY SUMMARY FOR EUROPE AND AUSTRALIA.

i best proof of the prosperity and growing ,ortance of the Oamaru district, is to be n d in the statistics lately published in the ,20 Provincial Gazette, giving the returns ] a nds sold in toyvn and country during the [fpyv months, stated thus :—Rural lands : v ~-Oamaru, £6325; Otepopo, £1070. ie-Oamaru, £2711; Otepopo, £2933. | v -Oamaru, £19,082; Otepopo, £7665. Oamaru, £2668; Otepopo, £1164. i" s yvill give a sufficient idea of the quanr of land being sold monthly in this dis-, c t The amount derived from the sale of n i and country lands for these months only, the Oamaru and Otepopo districts, is no ,than £44,120 ! or three-fifths of the whole • rn ue derived during that period from the f of lands (both toyvn and rural) within , Province. Such facts as these ought e ly to appeal to the Government and uncil in favor of the claims yvhich are now n e urged upon them by the inhabitants of s district for such common necessaries as ipping accommodation and toyvn and road proveraents, which are so liberally be,wed on other portions of the Province. s ee the sale of lands began in the district, out £120,000 have been received by the irernment out of it, and yet the inhabits are obliged to hold meetings and get up titions to the Provincial Council every >sion, to endeavor to obtain a small fraction (heir oyvn contributions to the revenue, for dinaiy improvements in the locality. On c 4th instant such a meeting was held, in iticipation of the commencement of the 5510H of Council on the 11th, yvhen a calm id dispassionate discussion took place of the aims of the district, and a Committee was ipointed —consisting of Messrs Hassell, .bcroft, Gibbs, Captain Sewell, and Mr igram—to prepare a petition, which has leoidingly been done, and is also in calm id respectful terms, stating cogent facts, and iforcing requests yvhich cannot be withstood r any just Government, and which we hope a\ be entirely successful. It is in course Signature by every inhabitant of the town id country, and will be forwarded forthwith irpiosentation. We give its contents, in m.,eftion yyith some remarks, in our leading Jurans. One of the most important rcquireicnts is harbor accommodation, without hich business will not increase or floyv in ip proper channel. While this is yvithheld ledistiict languishes, it cannot develop its reductions because there is no outlet for iera, and it has great difficulty in obtaining le necessary imports. We are glad, howrer, to say that Mr Balfour, the Government lanne Engineer, yvith several assistants, has p?n employed in a careful survey of our arbor. It is admittedly a difficult thing to Hprmine what species of shipping accommdat on yvill &uit the circumstances of this lace, an'l it is as yet impossible to conjecture hat Mr Balfour may advise, but it is to be oped that he may be able to point out some >asible method of giving the public the reunite facilities for shipping and landing; nd that yvhen his report is given in, it may c favorably entertained and acted upon imnediately. Mr Ashcroft, the gentleman who brought i>rwaid the resolution adopted at the public oecting, in a lucid and able statement of the rhole case said, among other things, " That he most advisable course yvas to take advan3»p of the natural features of the port, and iin out a jetty near the reef, within which here was in ordinary yveather comparatively raootb water. This jetty would be at first i\ about 150 feet in length, and would have iT head, alongside which vessels could come ; iiid in order to prevent injury, moorings foulcl be laid doyvn, to enable vessels to haul ft if necessary. Mr Balfour was of opinion hat a jetty could be made cheaper at the reef han at, the landing-place, and Captain Seyvell us of opinion that that yvould be the best tare for it; but the chief item of expense r( >uld be in the construction of a road to it. Tne speaker then adverted at some length o the comparative facilities offering for the instruction of such a road, or the employaent of hydraulic lifts to raise goods to the y of the cliff.) The member for the district, 'ho was now a member of the Government, I'iuld no doubt assist them to the utmost of us power, and he had reason to believe that f a sum not exceeding £6000 were applied or, the Government yvas prepared to place/ jeh a sum on the estimates." The other requirements are drainage and average of the toyvn, making and maintenance i( roads, kc. The subject of seyverage is a I'ghly important one to the inhabitants of the town of Oamaru. There exists a natural ibstacle to it in the shape of a great bank of and, which not only prevents effectual meaiares for sewerage, but dams up the creek and inverts it into a stagnant pool, and this itself in warm weather becomes a serious nuisance. it is very necessary, therefore, that some measures should be taken to drain the creek !ij- a passage opened to the sea. Whatever this may occasion, it is a measure 'hich, when substantially carried out, yvill in toe future remove all difficulties in reference ! o sewerage and drainage. At this dull season of the year we have iittle to say as to business, unless it is that the population is manifestly on the increase, '1(1 that as the town is remarkable for health snd a beautiful situation, while the country tas fine agricultural and pastoral capabilities,

this bids fair to become a very important part of the Province before many years are past, provided enlightened public measures and good government keep pace with private enterprise. We must not omit to mention that the stone of the disti'ict is fully recognised as serviceable for large buildings, as evidenced not only here but in Dunedin. One of the commercial firms who have recently built a noyv store here, partly composed of Oamaru stone, is noyv sending a supply of it to toyvn, to be used in erecting neyv premises there. We also remark that during tho past month a noyv branch of trade has opened up to us, a considerable quantity of lime having been exported to Lyttelton. We could supply all the colony yvith stone and lime, the latter especially unsurpassed in quality, if only there 3 ere facilities for so doiug. ' RELIGIOUS AND EDUCATIONAL,

Th? Presbj terian and English Congregations continue their exertions to obtain funds to build churches, which arc much yvanted hero, the only place of worship being a chapel erected by the Wesleyan Methodists We are happy to gay that in both cases there is every prospect of success. A tender of Messrs Arnott and Co. has been accepted for £1,400, to erect the first portion of tho Presbyterian Church, and out of several competition drayvings for the Episcopalian, one | by Messrs Ramsey and Jackson, of Dunedin, has been awarded the prize of £2'J. The plan is for a plain and elegant stiucture, in the old English style, and the estimated cost of the part first to be built is present being the season for holding educational meetings, there have been seveial in the district of late. On the 4th instant the Oamaru District School Committee had a meeting, and again on the 6th, in prepaiation for the annual meeting, yvhich took place on the evening of the 6th instant, yvhen a ncyv committee yvas elected for the current year— 1864-65. The proceedings are reported in another column. L >'The different schools are moderately well attended, the number at present under tuition at the Oamaru school being 57 Some little difference of opinion may exist as to the rate of school fees, but these yve think yvill noyv be settled for some time, and the charge fixed at the rate recently adopted, viz.:—Elementary class, Bs.; second, 125.; advanced, 16s. per quarter. The funds of the school are raised partly by assessment and partly by school fees. A commodious schoolmaster's house has recently been erected here.^/ The Rev Mr Connor has announced a popular lecture for the 20th instant, in aid of the building fund of the Presbyterian Chinch. AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL. Great activity has prevailed in the district during the last month in agricultural operations, and the soyving season having been a favorable one, a consideiably increased breadth of land has been got under crop in such good condition as gives the first earnest of a good harvest. A great pait of the Province of Otago has been put under quaiantine on account of pleuro-pneumonia, but this district very fortunately has been and remains intact; and from its favorable nafiral boundaries, it is hoped that it may continue so with moderate care. We believe that the boundaries of the infected districts adjoining us are still watched yvith care, and yve hope that that care yvill not be relaxed yvhile there is danger—it yvould be a very poor sort of | economy to do so for the sake of saving a little expense, A large meeting of squatters and others interested met the Superintendent some time ago, on the subject of a tax yvhich has been imposed of two shillings per acre on land, yvhich, if it be not a radically bad measure, is at bast clogged with seveml objectionable conditions This matter will, h<nvever, probably leceive consignation iv the forthcoming meeting of the General Assembly, if not also in the present session of the Provincial Council. *•»» The show of th/ and Pastoral Society takes 'vv 10th proximo, and the last day fc/r ujcciyinjj entries for it is this day (a fact yvhich should not be forgotten). On the occasion of the show there yvill be consideiable stir in the district, and yve obsene some mention of races, &c, in the toyvn We piesume that some of our crack ploughmen yvill also take part in tbe Champion Plough ng Match yvhich takes place to-morrow at Cavci sham, although the difficulty and expense of cony eying men, horses, and ploughs there, offeis great ob*ta cles to those at so considerable a distance We expect that the Northern Society and its rrembers will take some interest also in the great show of stock advertised to be held in connection with the Neyv Zealand Exhibition two and a half months hence, where there is certain to bo a fine assemblage of animals from all quarters. The prizes tobegiyenat this show and other particulars yvill piobably be published soon. The lambing season being well over, and with fair average results, the wool harvest is noyv near at hand, and every preparation being made for it. The weather, too, fortunately is becoming warmer, and promises to be favorable. We observe from the commercial intelligence that several ships are expected here in due time to bring goods and load yvith wool. '4S THE TOWN. The last month has not been particularly eventful among us, but this little place is getting less entitled to be called so day by day and week by week. Houses and stores are being built by the dozen, trade revives on the arrival of summer, the business season is about to commence. There is a good deal of increased bustle in the toyvn and on the roads ; waggons are being loaded up and despatched to the country districts ; woolpacks and other supplies are being sent out to the stations; and we are all rubbing our eyes and awaking as it were from the winter torpor. Since last month we have had a marine surveyor giving us hopes of harbor accommodation, and some gentlemen connected with the telegraph staff giving us assurance that communication by the wires is not far off. It is believed that the wiros have arrived at Dunedin, and that on their arrival here operations will be actively proceeded with, the posts being already erected, and a telegraph office ready for occupation. We are thus in expectation of considerably increased facilities of communication both by land and vrater, an 1 yvo

hope that when the Executive is so busy disposing of our town lands it will not grudge the place a moderate sum for health measures and necessary worksy/It is a remarkable fact that the towns in mis district have contributed to the Provincial exchequer more than a half of the revenue derived from town lands in the Province during the last seven months, yvhich speaks volumes not only for their progress, but for their claims to Government consideration yvhen the estimates are framed and laid before the Provincial Council. Without giving the Exhibition a separate heading, yve may say on that subject that there yvill be five or six exhibitors in this district, and that specimens of our products are in preparation ; and if yve are not particularly conspicuous yve shall not be altogether in the background when the time comes. Not the least important moy r o in this place of late has been that of instituting a Building Society. In this matter Oamaiu has been hitheito very buckyvard, but of late has shown a desire to atone for the en or. The report of a meeting held on Tuesday last, convened in consequence of a requisition by GG persons, yvill be found in another column, and yvill show yvhat progress yve are making iv the project ACCIDENTS AND OFFENCES. Not many incidents occur under this head In reference to the case of a qu.iriyman— William Doak, a native of Kihvinning, Scotland, —who met yvith a very accident in August last, when he yvas crushed by a large block of stone, and had his thigh broken, tbe knee of the other leg severely crushed, two ribs and jawbone fractured, aud his i'uiv much hi vised. — we are hippy thu un ler all these itijui ies he piogres.ed srcad'lv, lovards leeoveiy under the caie of Di Wait, ".ml,gave tlu> best proof ol convalescence by haying himself iomo\vd to Dunedin some yvceks since ! On the Gib instant a man name d Thoai is Wilson, a carpenter and contractor, foimcrly residing in Dunedin, who ha 1 lately been yvorking on Mr Gibson's station at the Waitaki, but had been ill for several died suddenly in the until car, on his na\ to Oamaru to obtain medical uh ice The body yvas taken to Mrs Pricker's accommodation house at Awamoka. On Saturday last an inquest yvas held on tho body by the Coroner of the district, T. W. Paiker, Esq, and a jury (Mr E A Julius, foreman). Dr Wait, of Oamaiu, attended professionally, and on his evidence, that the deceased's lungs weie n m advanced state of disease, a yerdictyvus returned " Died fr >m natural causes " A piisoner named James Duke, arrested by Sergt Bullen, of the Oamaru police fbice, escaped fiom him on Tuesday 27th S"pt , at the Mahikiki Hotel. The Sergeant took one handcuff off to allow the prisoner to eat, and then yvent to the door to speak to ihlandlord about a chain to secure the piisoner for the ; he took immediate advantage of this, and jumped thiough the yviudovv. carrying the sih y\ ith him. He yvu* l in stantly followed, but all search piove.l useless, the night being \ery dark lie has not since been re-captured. A very fine Spanish Merino ram, one of the Glebe flock, yvas killed by a m maiding dog about a week since, causing a serious loss to the owner, the animal having been valued at about £100 sterling. Owners of dogs should take warning and keep them tied up at night as they are responsible for any damage which they may do. The number of dogs here as yvell as eery whci c else in tbe colony is by far too large, and yvere there more sheep it is to be feared that many such incidents yvould occur. In the Resident Magistrate's Court, on 6th instant, David Gray yvas found guilty of furious riding in Thames-street, Oamaru and fined £2 and costs. Mr T. Ferens, Stotfold, yvas cbaiged yvith allowing three scabby sheep to stiay on the lands of M. Noble, Esq , and on admitting the offence yvas fined Is. for each sheep. PROVINCIAL. In commercial arTa/rs there is a faint mdi ration of some change for tbe better. The spring has been fuvoiable, and at this season of the year some impulse is given by the arrival of vessels from Europe, the npptoach of the wool season, and the activity occasioned by agricultural operations. In politics, howeyer, both general and provincial, there is much confusion. There is some prospect, however, of the political horizon cle.ning. as i meeting ol' the General Assembly is expee'ed soon, and the Piovineinl Council of Otago is already in session The latter met two days since, and a number of knotty points are indicated in the Superintendent's sper eh for tin ir consideration. It is not to be expected that the session yvill be a long one, because it commences at the vciy worst season of the year, when most of the members have picssing occasion to attend to their oyvn affairs in town or country. The time of the Supreme Court has been engrossed by insohency business, which is so extensive as to prevent the transaction of more legitimate yvork At the late sittings of the Court the civil business yvas delayed for a yveek or two, and juries and w taosscs put to serious expense and ii c imcnicnce by the sittings of the Insolvency Court in the midst of the jury trials. It is to be hoped, hoyvever, that this ominous sort of yvork will diminish instead of increasing, otheiyvisc we shall soon hear of the estaWishment of an Insolvency Court propeily so called, and doing nothing else. There have been two prosecutions for libel against newspapers of late—one in the North Island for criminal libel agah.st the " Neyv Zealand Advertiser," in yvhich, although a conyiction was obtained, the sentence yvas merely nominal; the other, for damages for libel at the instance of tbe New Zealand Banking Corporation against the " Otago Daily Times," which lasted tyvo days, and ended in a verdict on the sth inst., finding for the plaintiffs—damages £500. There has been a serious fracas arising out of the publication of a paper of a different stamp, called the Dunedin " Saturday Review." This paper, in a late number, contained a very scandalous contributed article reflecting on several ladies and gentlemen of high character and standing. Its authority having been ascertained to be a Mr A. G. M'Coinbe, an accountant, he yvas publicly horse-yvhipped, kicked out of the Opera House, and is noyv

being prosecuted for criminal libel. The •paper referred to, which is simply a caricature of journalism, although by no means a good-natured or innocent one, has had the honor of being criticised, or rather burrowed, by the London " Saturday llcvieyv," yvhosc shape it has assumed, and the great" Re vieyv" has fallen into the absurd error of recognising its shadow as something substantial, and somewhat like the true representative of the tone of the journals of the Australian colonies ! It is a pity that the London " llevieyv " made such a blunder, but if it amuses him, it does not hurt us. As for the Dunedin " Saturday Review," if we remember aiight, the editor of it made a reference in his evidence to the "Midsummer Night's Dream"—not inappropriately, yve think, for he, like Bottom, has essayed to play the lion, although few have said " Let him roar again, let him roar again ;" and he has of late successfully ploy ed Bottom tiansformed, the latter character being perfectly suited to his genius. The calling out of the militia, raising volunteers, forming Highland brigades, &c, have engaged a considerable deal of attention in O'ago of late, and the movement is a good one. The principle is well recognised that the best way of securing peace is to be prepuied for yvar. The exertions yvhich have been made in behalf of the Otai»o Benevolent Institution hay c met with deserved success. The ladies' bazaar and auction sales of goods, the concert given by the opera troupe, and the ball — combining the utile cunt, dttloo —haw realised £1200 or more, yvhich in dull times cannot but be looked on as a highly generous contribution to the excellent institution rcferiedto. Theie have been several interesting meetings for tho furtherance of religion during; the past month. A Bible Society has beeu begun, and the meeting of the Otago Presbytery has lesolvcd to consummate a union with the Presbyterian Chinches of the north, while the Presbytery has been divided into three to obtain greater facilities for financial and yvorking arrangements, Perhaps one of the most important subjects yvhich has received consideration of late relating to Dunedin, has been the greater attention given to sanitary matters. A Sanitary Commission has been sitting, and has prepared a report for the Provincial Council, which it is said contains important information and suggestions, yvhich, if cairied out, combined with the action of the aeyv Water Company, now organised and registered, may restore the city to something of its former healthfulness. As it is at present, tbe lamentable fact remains that its average mortality is frightful—much larger than that of many old and crowded cities in tho home country, and at least double what it should be in a place situated like Dunedin. There ate several recent arrivals of immigrant yessels. One ship, the City of Dunedin, although the crew and passengers vvcie in a lcmarkably healthy condition, yvas placed in quarantine for a few days in consequence of a death which occurred just as she yvas casting anchor. She has however, been since reloaded The first great Champion Ploughing Match instituted in Otago, is to come off to-morroyv. The pii/cs to be given are liberal -the first to be not less than £30 and a gold medal: second, £25; third, £20, &c. The show of the Northern Agricultural and Pastoral Association is to be held at O.unaru on 10th pi ox. A large show of entire horses took place in Dunedin on sth inst. Arrangements are bein» made for holding regular sales for the disposal of wool, yvhich may be expected to be coming into market a few weeks hence ; and as the summer season is now commencing business yvill presently receive a new impulse both in town and country. The Savings Bank recently opened in Dunedin has been very successful, so much so that it is found necessary already to have it open tvyo nights of the week in place of one. Preparations for the New Zealand Exhibition are in a forwaid state. It is proposed to erect annexes to the building, in yvhich machinery yvill be exhibited at woik. As the goldfields will be well represented, it may be expected that all the processes of gold mining yy ill be illustrated, and fine specimens of the precious metal produced ; and although the Kensington Exhibition produced a representation in the shape of an enormous obelisk of all the gold which had been found in California, the New Zealuid Exhibition will for the first time show the progress of gold findin". In this as in other respects it will be full of interest aud instruction.