THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam out Faciam." DUNEDIN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 220, 3 September 1862, Page 4

THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam out Faciam." DUNEDIN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3.

Tjin news brought by the Airedale, although not startling in its nature, is exceedingly important. The copious demands it has made on our apace in another part of the paper, oniv permit us to briefly allude to the more salient features. The session h now drawing to a close, the dcbatcable matter lias been pretty well got through, but a large amount of useful bmincss remains to be. done.

To Otajro the Session lias been fraught with the utmost importance, and thanks to the ability of two of its members, Mr. Gillies and Major Hiclnrdsou, the Province \\a% on the whole, done mu.'h better than mi^ht have been expected. The Ministry which has replaced that of Mr. Fox although numbering some; of the members of his Cabinet, is far more favorable to Otago, or rather less inclined to do it injustice, than its predecessor. Xot that it should be supposed that Otago's claims have been duly satisfied. Such a result is simply impossible whilst the two islands remain joined. All that the province can hope for h the absence oi' active host! lity.

Although the house refused to leave the charge of the mail service between Melbourne and Otago in the hands of the Province, the necessity for the service was recognised ami the required expense: authorised. The liiil i»y which Southland sought to deprive Otigo of 8,000,000 acres of land was defeated, but the result appears to be at least as much due to the fear of how tiie precedent might injuriously affect other Provinces, as toanv tle^ire to do justice to Otago. The Light on Dog Island is promised to be constructed with a-s little delay as possible. Pour additional members have been given to Otago, two to the Miners, and two to Dunedin which is to be dhided into two districts. The more important public questions, such as the Native resolutions, the Financial statement, the reply to the Duke of Newcastle's despatches, the establishment of a Panama route, the rejection of Mr. Fitzgerald's Superintendents' Nomination Bill, and the filling up the vacant seats in the Ministry are alluded to elsewhere, and our present limits do not permit our commenting on them. One more matter that concerns Otago deserves special mention. Mr. Richmond has been offered the judgeship. It foils to the lot of few public men to retire from active political life as Mr. Richmond has done, commanding the enthusiastic admiration' of both opponents and supporters. Hi., splendid abilities and powerful mind have been 'missed throughout the session, and on all sides there has been no attempt to conceal the consciousness of a great gap. Mr. Richmond has worked hard iv public life, and there is little probability that he would be a-am attracted into the turmoil of a political" career. Bat there is a wide distinction between political and public usefulness. Though dead to the first, Mr. Richmond may exercise a widely spread and beneficial effect with the other. As a judge, he will supply a great want, and he will at once command the confidence of those amongst whom he is to act Otago will not only acquire a judge the want of whom it has so keenly felt, but will obtain one who in point of character, of ability and general fitness, is second to none that the Australasian Colonies can boast of.

We understand that towards the end of next month Sir George Grey intends to pay his long deferred visit to Otago. S

The attendance at the Princess' Theatre last night was tolerably good. The programme was the same as on. the previous evening. The .'• Pirates of the Pacific" went off rather heavily, but the concluding extravaganza—"The Pacha of Pitnlico"—was played with great spirit, and did not fail to keep the house in roars of laughter. |We cannot avoid payiug a compliment to the members of the orchestra, for the admirable fidelity with which they depart from the programme. For*, several night's we have noticed that an overture, from one or other of the opera?, Ims been pat down in the bill, but, somenow or other, they never corns off. The Auc/clander of August 22nd, says . — " Preparations have been made for the march of 1,000 men—soo from Auckland and 900 from the camp at Otahuhu—to the stockade at the Wuikato. It has not transpired whether this movement arises from the close of the winter being at hand; or from any recent movements ot the natives. Some uneasiness has baen excited amongst the latter by the survey of the river, during which ii was necessary to place flags along the bank on native laud." A pressure of matter compels us to hold over the letters from our Auckland and Nelson correspondents until next issue. From the same cause we are only able to publish a portion of our Wellington eorrespoiidcuee*to-day. Our Nelson correspondent informs us that the city of Nelson has had a narrow escape from destruction by lire. On the morning of the 12th iast., :i fire broke out in a house occupied by :i Mr. Scaife, in Trafalgar-square, and '.'lose to the i business portion of the city. Fortunately there v.as scarcely a breath of air at the time, and by ' diiit of a plentiful supply of water, sind the hearty and prompt eilbrts of thu inhabitants, the fire was coniiiieJ to the house in which it origiuatedThe Nelson people are starting a co-operative society for the purpose of supplying the shareholders and members with provisions mid stores at cost price. About 300 shares are already taken

A licensing meeting, for the consiileration of! the applications in the eleventh list, was held in \ the Provincial Secretary's office yesterday afternoon. There were present: His Honor the De-|)uty-Suptrintea<le;ic (in the Ciiair), anil Messrs. I'atersou. HcyuuUh, and M'Glashan. The followiug wa» the Hot:—C. A. Chavaanes, FreemaJon'sTavern, Octagon; J. 11. Nodiag, Albion • fold, Gre^it Kiug-strtet. Bush Licenses :J. H. No -iing (renewal), W'aipori.accamuiotlaiion house; John I*ru3:er, ilampden, Moerdkl. Wiiie autl Isetr Licf.iscs : li. liendersun, Octagon House* I'rinces-sireet; J. 11. Ileier, Stafford-street; A. F. l-itzpatrick, Buwling-aiiey, Mucluggan-street; S. Jon&i, Priaccbj Tii&ttre ; Felix de Lh-cvlzj.-:. iJottJe Licenses .- Joan Ktnnedy (of the firm of Kennedy and M'.itland), Port Chalniers. His Honor explained to the several applicants, that It" a license was now granted, it would expire in about a month, but the fall yean,' charge would have to be paid ; but, that if it was wished, the itpplieiio.is would bo post[»oned, and considered as made for the general meeting on the first Tuesday in October. Mr. Chevannes elected to take his license at once—paying the L3O for the month ; and the proposed name of the hotel v:.s altered from the Freemisoas' to "The Victorian.' Mr. Kennedy said that he would gladly pay the fitir proportion of the charge for a licence (L2O aycar) for an immediate license; but His Honor said there was no power to make such an arrangement. Mr. Fitzpatriek was not present, or represented, and his application was taken as aoandoned -, all the others were postponed.

With reference to the reported breaking down of the steamer Betsy Douglas, referral to in our paper of yesterday, we hive been informed tins. the only injury sustained was the breaking of the revemng-jrear handle. It seems that wiien this acciiieut occurred, t!ie engineer went to find a blacksmith to repair it, but thnt having some distance to go he was not back by the time th-v coach arrive*!, and the mail had therefore to be taken on in a boat. The Dimedin Debating Club and Mutual Improvement Society, held their weekly meeting jit the Temperance Hotel, George-street, on Monday evening last, Mr. Mueasscy, presiding. After the confirmation of the minutes, the meeting proceeded to the election of two committee-men, to serve in the place of Messrs. Mucassey and Halliwell, who had resigned on accepting" office. Mr. L.-gnrd proposed Mr. Counibe, and Mr. llalliweli nominated Mr. Cunningham. As no other gentlemen were proposud. Messrs. Counibe and Cunningham were declared daly elected. Mr. I-iCfrnrd initiated a discussion unm the Abolition of Slavery and its results, and quoted from Admiral C'ockburn's wo.ks, iv support of the system, as it exists at present in'the Unite.': States. Messrs. Vine, Clark, ILiiiiwell and CuiininglLiin followed, and argued in favor of the unconditional emancipation of the slaves, which was affirmed by the meeting when put' to the vote. Several gentlemen enrolled themselves as members of the Society, after which the proceedings terminated. The subject for discussion at the meeting on Monday next, is <> The Moral Tendencies of the Stage." The Committee of the Lancashire Relief Fund held ti mating yesterday afternoon, Mr. Brani-an m the chair. Several new members were added to the committee. The gentlemen who had undertaken the town collection gave in their lists amounting to between L2OO and LiOO. It was' mentioned that the lessees of the Princess Theatre would give a benefit for the Fund, oil Thursday evening. The Wellington Advert her of August 2Gth in an article on the Dunstan diggings su*' \\ ellington has also the opportunity—if it will only avail itself of it, of reaping in another mode a large share of the golden harvest/ which is now waxung for the sickle, I* t it cu , bark fa in that cattle trade, which in spite of every ot stade has grown up between this port ami the bouh. But to do this, it must own and man stcainers hading f rom the port of WcIK The steamers must, however, be adapted for the purpose, and should be obtained at once. The Velhngton Steam Navigation Company could be r^onsutj.ted for this O b jcctf or another oomponr take us place. Such a com^ny could not fail to be highly remunerative to the shareholders, rtn l! would prove in other respects of immense advantage 10 this port and province. It could properly claim a bonus, from either the General or Provmcial Governments, tor every settler it would be the means, lf a low rate of passage moner was charged, of introducing into the province These could come cither ori the plan about being introduced by the Government, or for the pnrposeTf forming agricultural settlements, under some such regulations .. those recommended by the Kelso Provincial Council. But as the primxrv ol 5 of these steamers would be to c^rry s To c v to tT BooJ,. they should be purchased^ I sions and power, as wonld enable thi- t T effected with a profit. We trust th»f be chant, wHI not allow such i^^Xh may neyeroccur again, to escapeVhem!"

We publish elsewhere a condensed report of the proceedings in the General Assemby, since the last report that appeared in our columns. This summary is prepared by oar own correspondent on the spot. We shall publish the debuted in full in future issues. At the Theatre Royal last evening, '• Camille" and "The Happy Man" were repeated successfully, the house being moderately well attened. "The Fool's Revenge" is to be produced this evening. j The able report of Dr. Hector upon the geology of the Maunherikia Valley which we publish to-day from the Government Gazette, will doubtless be read with interest by many of our readers. It will be observed that Dr. Hector has not visited the actual locality of the new .Dun&tan Diggings, but his opinions scieutificaliy deduced from a general observation of the country cannot fail to be of value, especially as indicating to the prosj>ector2S where to search for the precious metal. The police boat stationed at Port Chalmers proceeded down to the Heads yesterday to the Oraeo, to obtain witnesses for the inquest to be held on the boJy of the young man, Milburu, late third engineer of the vessel. In consequence of the strong gale Woiving, and the ebb tide, the boat only returaed at a late hoar, and the inquest was consequently adjourned. There is no doubt as to the idsntity of the body, several letters and other papers in the pockets of iheclothiag, clearly provlcg it to be that of Miiburn. An offer has come down by this mail to Mr. Richmond to accent the offics of Judge of the Supreme Court" for Otago. The Southland and Otago Arbitration Commitlce Jiave concluded their labors, and decided that the claim of Southland, on the Otago Province is A" 18,000, which amount the latter will therefore have to pay. Southland claimed a very much larger amount.

A letter was received in town yesterday from the new diggings from a party who stated that tiiey were sinking in a flat by tue river, and had got down 22 feet. They had not bottomed, but luulfuuud gold all the way down, although not in paying quantity. They state that food is excessively scarce, that twelve shillings were offered for eight potatoes, and that five shillings were oil'ered for a .single biscuit. Meat was to be had, and men. j were at work day and night killing, and cutting up meat for the supply of the diggers. It will be seen by a telegram that appears elsewhere, that groat numbers of men are returning from the Dunstan, being driven back by the waut of provisions. A report has been received from Major Croker from Tuapeka' to the effect " that the rush to the Daastan, or Ciuthii has contiaueJ, until every person in a position to leave the district has done so." II- also says—" It is reported that persons on their way hence to lbs Danstan-Diggings having funnd good prospects on Miller's Musgrave's, and Bdl-iwin/s runs, have settled down to york ; also bread and fluur are not procurable in a-ivisnee. This temporary pressure might be relieved if flour were forwarded from Tokomairiro to the farthest point accessible by drays towards Baldwin's run, thence to the Duustan, a distance of not more than 25 miles, a sufficient supply might be packeu or humped without much difficulty."

With reference to the Coromandel diggings, the Daily Southern Cross ot August 19th, says :— " Yesterday intelligence reached town of the finding of 60 lbs. weight, Jess or more, of auriferous quartz specimens in the Driving Greek, Ring's Diggings, by thy party headed by Mr, Daniel Leahy. Some put the weight at 70 lbs., but which version is the correct one we cannot say. Of the lact of a large and very valuable find being made there can be no doubt, ami we also know that they refused a cheque fur £350, which was offered tstbem on the spot by Sir, Stanaus Jones, who saw and lifted the find. These i-pecimeas were taken out of a pocket in the creek. The men are contented, although the weather is sl» very unfavorable. Nothiug but mud and wet; and from the appearance ot things this state of trie weatLer is likely to continue for

sonic weeks.''