The Oamaru Times, AND WAITAKI REPORTER. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1864.

North Otago Times, Volume II, Issue 44, 22 December 1864, Page 2

The Oamaru Times, AND WAITAKI REPORTER. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1864.

The intelligence received by the English October Mail is somewhat meagre, except in regard to commercial matters. The incidents of home news are extremely few. It is stated that the harvest had been a good one, and that, notwithstanding the number of failures, the Board of Trade returns were favorable, both as regards commerce and manufactures. It is announced that the commercial failures are exceptional, and not symptomatic of any general disquietude, and the trade returns eviJence a wonderful increase, which shows that there is general prosperity' instead of depression. It is to be regretted that the. wool market showed a downward tendency, but already, when the Mail left, there werp symptoms that the money market was getting healthier, and that a reduction in the rate of discount might be looked for. Extraordinary excitement had been manifested regarding the effects of the powder explosion at Erith, and

all London went to Bee. MtjlijEii, the murderer of Mr Briggs, on the North London railway, has by this been executed ; he was tried at the Old Bailey towards the end of October, the trial lasting several days, and the web of circumstantial evidence against him was so complete that he was condemned, and under sentence of death when the Mail left. The prompt capture, trial, and conviction of this man, are admirable specimens of energy, intelligence, and power. In regard to foreign news, that from Atnei'ica is still indecisive ; there have been further struggles, but no conclusion, and there are even wanting proofs on which side the late successes were, although they appear to have leant to the side of the Federals. It was believed that President Lincoln's re-election would be secured by the Government having the influence of the votes of the military, so that civil rule is at an end in America, and a purely military constitution or tyranny has taken its place. It appears that in the Japan waters the efforts of the large force of war vessels are still employed, but we doubt whether our readers will think this important, or the news either, that Taei>ing, the Chinese rebel, has been defeated, and that Nankin has fallen, Tb.3 Danish question is at length peacefully settled by a treaty signed at Vienna. Although Italy has been disquieted by the differences between the Pope and the King of Sardinia, these aj>pear to aj)proach a solution by the withdraw al of the French troops, and the fixing the seat of Government at Florence ; the Continent is virtually at peace, and no war rumors are afloat. Upon thp whole, the uneventful budget received by this Mail, and the last of the year, perhaps is good news.

As we shortly noticed last week, Messrs Clapcoit and Cargill, when at Queenstown, in the course of their lute tour, assured the Improvement Committee there that various reforms were contemplated in Provincial Government policy, and among these that it had at length been decided to establish branch land offices throughout the Province ; in fact, that a sum had already been placed on the estimates for the purpose of accomplishing this fact. When we consider how very inconvenient it is to a district like Oamaru, where extensive land sales take place, that there is no office where such business can be transacted or information sought, the intimation of this intention is gratifying. It is some time since the subject of obtaining a land office here was mooted, and we think there can be no doubt that Oamaru has an equal, if not a prior claim to Queenstown in this respect. "When one wishes any information regarding the disposal of land, it is almost useless to attempt to obtain it by correspondence ; the party interested must, therefore travel to Dunedin, a distance of nearly a hundred miles, solely to enquire ; he may be detained there for some time, and is certain to incur a considerable expense ; he has probably again to return to attend a sale : all the while he runs the risk of being forestalled by those who are on the spot, and thus the sale of land which adds so materially to the revenue is discouraged instead of being promoted, and the exchequer suffers as well as the purchaser. It appears, however, that the Executive have at length opened their eyes to the evil, and are preparing to grant this tardy measure of justice. It is not easy to see why public affairs should be conducted less economically, or on different principles, from the affairs of ordinary life. How absurd it would appear if a merchant who had numerous customers in a certain district, or throughout a Province, should establish his place of business in a corner, without any branch agencies ; and yet this is precisely what has hitherto been done in regard to land sales. From such a state of things, both parties have suffered alike, and it will be well if now proper district land offices are provided, and a sufficient number of them. This is a subject which the district should not lose sight of. If money is placed on the Estimates for the purpose, they should apply for their share, and see that they are not overlooked.

Hitherto much apathy has been shown here in the matter of the election of members to discharge the somewhat onerous duties falling on, or which should devolve upon the Town Board, in a town which is increasing and waxing important ; and that apathy has in a great measure arisen from the do-little policy which has been forced upon the Board in consequence of want of funds. But this is a state of things that cannot last for ever, and the inertness displayed alike by the electors and the elected only increases the evil. Wo would have the community to interest themsel¥€g more in their own affairs. The town is in a measure in a state of nature — streets not formed, roads throughout the placeal inost impassable in wet weather, and at all times rough and disagreeable ; no footwaj 7 s for passengers anywhere ; swamps, anp the strong indigenous flax prevailing on the thoroughfares and principal approaches to the place; no drainage or sewerage; a filthy stagnant creek, giving forth sickening exhalations, and so forth. The quantity of work which a Town Board here ought to do is great and increasing, and it will be absolutely necessary for the inhabitants to bestir themselves and get funds for improvements : but in the meantime they ought not to let the Board get into a state of inanition. In February next, three vacancies have to be filled up, and three other members go out, who> are of course open for re-election if they will stand. We would, therefore, like to see the constituency alive to this matter, and to see the Board more stirring also. New brooms sweep clean; surely the new Board, when reconstructed, will do something to show that it is a power. Another year will have begun, another session of the Council will be approaching, and there will be every induce-

ment for action. The Board itself ought to keep knocking at the door of the Exchequer for funds to enable it to go on with necessary works, or importune the Government to give over to it the municipal property, to the control of which it is entitled. At all events, the electors should not neglect their duties at elections as they did at the last vacancy in the Town Board, but should at least perform their part and keep the Board full and efficient, for we feel assured that it cannot be long ere it has duties of importance to discharge.

The General Assembly has been prorogued after a very short session, but will again be called together at Wellington, the new seat of the Government, a few months hence, then to go fully into public affairs. The policy of the present Ministry in regard to the imme- < diate removal of British troops from the colony, has been modified, as it required to be, for it was too sweeping. The following is the amended resolution on Colonial responsibility which has been adopted, and is in itself a great step in advance : — That the resources of New Zealand have been already heavily bnrfchened, and their development retarded by the great sacrifices that have been entailed upon the colony by the native insurrection. That nevertheless the colony ia resolved to make every f urfchor I possible effoi't to place itself in a position of self-defence ! against internal nggiession, with a view to accept the alternative indicated by the Home Government, namely, the withdrawal of her Majesty's land forces at the earliest possible period consistent with the maintenance of Imperial interests, and t the safety of the colony ; thereby enabling the Imperial Government to issue such instructions to his Excellency the Governor as may permit him to bo guided entirely by the recommendations of his constitutional advisers in native as well as in ordinary affairs ; excepting upon such matters as may directly concern Imperial interests and the prerogative of the Crown. The financial condition of the colony is very unsatisfactory, and has given rise to a hasty, ill-considered, and oppressive measure — a new tariff, increasing the duties on the chief ( Justom-house articles 25 to 50 per cent. The items will be found in the report of the proceedings of Assembly. Considering that the prices of all commodities in this colony are already far too heavy, wo do not see how the public is able to submit to such an imposition, and shall be very much surprised if it is not reduced at an early part of the next meeting of Assembly. On the Middle Island, this additional taxation falls with double force. This part of the colony is already contributing greatly more than its due proportion of the general revenue; the tariff previously was, in all conscience, sufficiently high ; and this taxation, while it raises prices in many instances higher than those of any other colony, will lay the burden still more heavily on the Middle Island. The resolutions agreed to by the Provincial Council at the end of last session thus assume additional significance, and it is surprising that such a measure as this new tax bill should have been passed at a time when Separation is already agitated and with difficulty repressed. The rejection of the One Million Loan was expected, and probably also necessary ; but it will not mend financial affairs.

At the last meeting of the Town Board— present*: Messrs Willisuns, W. Falconer {in the chair), Baudinet, Shrimeld, and Gibbq— • an application from Messrs. Cargill and Co. for leave to erect three posts opposite their store, at the outside of the footpath, was granted. Permission was also qiven to erect a fence in front of the Bank of New Zealand during its erection. The Tieasurer's rough statement, showing a balance of about £132 9s 6d in favor of the Board, was remitted to Mr Suuipter to be audited. Mr Shumski's resignation as a member of the Board was accepted. Mr Baudinet gave notice for next meeting that the goods on the Esplanade and Tyne street, belonging to Messrs Dalgoty, Rattray and Co., be removed ; also to bring forward the subject of damage done by them to the Esplanade fence. (We understand that Mr Baudinet.. has since tendered his resignation as a member of the Board.) j^ur readers will not be surprised to hear that a gentleman learned in the law is about to settle here. We have often hoard the want complained of, and now it is about to bo supplied. Mr J. O'Meagher, solicitor, from Duncdin, will announce himself immediately. Jr Tho mode of disposing of wool by auction sales, which has been found so advantageous in neighboring colonies, and as recently introduced into this Province has been found to work so woll that it is now becoming general. As Oamaru is a place whore wool is largely raised, and fiom which considerable exports take place direct, it was to have been expected that it would not be long before it also had its wool sales. A feAV of these auctions which have taken placo at Dunedin this season have been highly successful, and of course additional advantages present themselves when the wool is presented in the locality where it is raised, and in a place too whence it can be shipped direct to the home market. We are glad, theiefore, to see by an advertisement in our present issue that Messrs. Dalgety, Rattray and Co. are to hold the first of the Oamaru wool sales at an early date— Tlnusday next, 29th inst., at 2 o'clock. These sales onco begun will no doubt be continuod at intervals throughout the season ; and we see no reason to doubt that at least as great success will attend them as those in Australia and Dunedin. Owners and occupiers of land in the Oamaru hundred are advertised by Mr Filleul, the warden, that they nrast renew their licences to depasture on the same, on or before 1st proximo, otherwise they will not be entitled to vote at the election of waidens for the ensuing year. Our Dunedin correspondent's letter this week hints at the possibility of a postponement of the opening of the Exhibition till somewhat Liter in the month than 3rd January, which probably will be for the convenience of all parties. It would bo well to postpone it for a month in order to give time for goods to arrive, and to have all requisite preliminaries adjusted. Crown grants for the undermentioned land in Oamaru are now leady for issue : - W. C. Baudinet, sees. 13, 14, 20, block IX, sec. 16, block XYI ; Joseph Beattie, sec. 16, block IX ; Thomas Evans, sec. 26, block X ; James Falconer, sec 24, block X ; Edmund Gibson, sees. 8, 10, 11, block XVIII ; David Hutcheson, sec 1, block LIV ; Charles Lemon, sec. 11, block XVI ; Hannah Logan, sec. 19, block XXVI ; Anthony Marshall, sec. 12, block IX ; W. K. M'Culloch, sees. 12, 13, block XX ; Thos. Nicholson, sec. 14, block XVI ; W. B. Scandrett, sec. 2, block LXXIX ; T. and G. Thomson, sec. 18, block IX; James Waid, sec. 22, block X. / Other countries ore not bo rash as this Province in removing restrictions on the importation of cattle from Australia. The"Hobart Town Mercury " of the 29th ult. contains a letter from the Colonial Secretary to the Mayor of Hobart Town, stating that the Government had received information from Victoria which prevented them from rescinding at present the proclamation affecting the importation of cattle. Just at the time that Otago is opening the ports, there is good reason to think that plexiro-pneumonia is extremely prevalent among Australian cattle !

is coming I It will have passed before another publication of this paper, jnd we therefore take this opportunity of wishing oxir readers all the usual compliments. We observe that sports are advertised for Boxing Day — Monday next — at the Northern Hotel here, and at the Morewhenua Hotel. It is understood that the Geelong will arrive on the same day on a plea* sure trip. A Christinas excursion is to be given by the proprietors of the City of Dunedin : for £5 one may visit the Province of Canterbury, have four clear days for inspection of its "lions," and return to Dunodin in sufficient time for the New Year's sports. The William Miskin leaves Dunedin on Saturday firat for Port Molyneux with a pleasure party, and returns on Tuesday. The party will -have an opportunity to proceed up the river in the steamer Tuapeka, sailing up the several branches and performing a complete trip round Inch Clutha ; the passage money is only £2 2s. We presume that, as a matter of course, next Monday (Boxing Day) and the following Monday, 2nd January, will be kept as holidays. We learn that H. J. Miller, Esq., Minister of Public Workp, and representative of this district, intends to pay Oamaru a visit very shortly, but only for a few days. On Monday, the 19fcli inst., an inquest was held by T. W. Parker, Esq., coroner of the district, and a jury of twelve, Mr Rowland foreman, at Totara, four miles from Oamaiii, on the body of a girl named Elizabeth Toolcyi 16 years of age, step-daughter of Robert Amies, tenant of Messrs Holmes and Campbell. Three witnesses were examined— the deceased's stepfather, her uncle Daniel Millward, and Dr Williams, of Oamaru. It appeared that the deceased had for several years been subject to epileptic fits, although these of late had not been of frequent occurrence. "Very early in the morning of the 19th she had risen from her bed in a room where she and three childien slept, and had gone out without being heard. Her stepfather rose at half -past 5, and seeing the bedroom door open, and missing the deceased, went in search of her, when he found her about twenty yards fiom the house, lying prostrate on her face and dead. She had been seized with a fit, and on the spot where she fell there happened to be a hollow from which a stone had been removed ; into this she had fallen, face downwarcls, and was found in that position, life being extinct. There was no external injury excepting a scratch over the left eye, probably caused by a ston6 within the hollow. Information having been given to the police, an inq\iest was hold as above stated. The verdict was — " That the deceased Elizabeth Tooley died by the visitation of God," with a rider " that the jury ia of opinion that there was no want of caution or proper attendance in regard to the deceased on the part of the parents,'' Our readers who are interested in the Building Society will keep in view that the next meeting for paying in subsci iptions is to be held on Tuesday, 3rd proximo, at 7 o'clock ; and the first sale of funds takes place the same evening at 8. An advertisement in to-day's issue by Messrs Driver, Maclean and Co., postpones the sale by auction of the folloYong runs until 11th January proximo : — Messrs Harris & Lees, run No. 185, 30,000 acres, 10,200 sheep, cattle, &c. ; Lees & M'Clyment's, No. 135, 23,000 acres, 300 cattle, horses, &c ; C. D. Teschmaker's, No. 78, 24,000 acres, 2400 sheep and 200 cattle, horses, &c. We learn from the Dunedin papers that a serious robbery occurred at the Chief Post-office, between last Saturday night and Monday morning. The premises had been forcibly entered, the safe opened, the cash-box forced, and £440 abstracted. A notice appears in the "Gazette" of 14th inst. that the Superintendent has abolished the public pound at Oamaru, situated on Section 52, Block IV., and established in lieu theieof a public pound situate on Section 17, Block V. ; and has appointed Fiederick Collis, of Oamaru, settler, to be keeper thereof. The pound now established at White Rock, about three miles from Qamaru. r Wo learn that it is not at all improbable that Oamaru may soon be declared a militia district, and probably also a movement made to raise a volunteer corps. Without at present quoting any particular authority on the subject, we only say that this ia likely to be the case. Defensive measures must be taken, more particularly at coastal places, which will require a militia to be called out and kept in drill, while it will be more to the taste of the young men to enrol themselves as volunteers and handle the rifle. Therefore we expect soon to hear both of a militia and volunteer corps in this quarter. We regret to learn that a exeat deal of sicknpss is commencing to be felt in Dunedin, which is sure to bo aggravated by the hot weather. It is high time that there was some salubrious seaside place of resort selected in the Province and prepared for the accommodation of families ', and we are confident that no more eligible one than Oamarn could bo named, were thero available lodging-houso accommodation. It would pay remarkably well to furnish and let cottages for summer quarters ; and of theso a number of suitable ones have been lately built. This inducement, with i educed steamboat fares, would bring without doubt a number of families from Dunedin every summer ; but without such accomodation, how can the inhabitants of Oamnra expect visitors ? We commend the subject to the attention of our readers. Wo beg to remind our readers that the Intercolonial Live Stock Show will be held on 12th and 13th January next, on the grounds adjoining the Exhibition building, and that Messrs Driver, Maclean and Co. will offer for bale on the last day of the show a number of choice lots of stock, consisting of cattle, sheep and pigs. Theso are specified in an advertisement, which appears in our present issue. The District School Committee meeting, for the purpose of fixing the rate of school fees, kc, takes place in Mr Ward's office this evening at 7 o'clock. With reference to the proceedings of a public meeting reported last week for the formation of a Mechanics' Institute here, wo beg the attention of readers to the lists for subsci iptions which are now lying at the following places :— Bank of New Zealand, Messrs Cargill and Co's, Traill, Roxby and Co's, F. Pinkerton and Co.'s, and the Northern Hotel. Mr Black, the hon. secretary, informs us that the Government are favoiable to granting a section for the use' of the association, and we think it quite possible that if the public come forward with subscriptions, they may be supplemented at the next meeting of Council. It is hoped, therefore, that the subscription list will be quickly filled up' The sale of a number of sections in the town takes place in the Court House to-moiTow at noon ; after which the sale of sections in the township of Heibert. On- lGth inst. a bale was held by Mr J. T. Ward, as previously adveitised, of houses and town sections. Section 8, block I, was knocked down for £21 ; section 13, block XXXVIII, with one-room stone cottage, was sold for £50 ; section 16, block LXXVin, with a quantity of stone on the ground, for £21. The day was wet and unfavorable ; a quantity of other sections, in consequence of the slackness of bidding, was reserved, Advices have been received that the Gazehound has left home for this port, being the third this season, to load here with wool. The Gafcehound will bring a general cargo for this port direct. An important sale of Mr Rich's celebrated stud flock of 100 pure merinos, Spanish, French and German, consisting of 25 rams, 25 ewes, and 50 ewe hoggets, is announced by Messrs Driver, Maclean and Co. to be held on the last day of their stock exhibition. Pedigrees and ages per catalogue, which, with photographs (!) can be obtained at the office of the auctioneers before the sale.