THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam out faciam." DUNEDIN, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 295, 29 November 1862, Page 4

THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam out faciam." DUNEDIN, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29.

In the Provincial Council yesterday, Mr Rey-nolds gave notion that he would, on Monday, move for a select committee to enquire into the whole subject of immigration.

The Turnpike Ordinance was read a first time, and the second reading fixed for Tuesday. The Electric Telegraph Bill, the Hospital Regulation Bill, and the Theatre Bill, were fixed fior their second reading on Monday.

Mr Reynolds moved for a select committee to enquire into the whole question of Government printing. Agreed to.

Mr Reynolds moved that an address be presented representing the inconvenience of members of the Executive, and members of Council during the session, having to serve as jurors.

Mr Kilgour seconded the motion. Mr Taylor moved an amendment to exempt members of Council altogether.

At the request of Mr Reynolds Mr Taylor withdrew his amendment, and the motion was carried.

The following were read from his Honor the Superintendent:—

_ Message No. 4, enclosing resolution of the Executive on the subject of the survey of roads and grants to Road Boards.

Message No. 5, concerning proposals for alterations of the land regulations.

On the motion of Mr Paterson and the Provincial Solicitor, Messages Kos. 4 and 5 were referred to select committees.

Mr Hardy moved the appointment of a select committee to prepare a, bill to amend the Dog Nuisance Act. Agreed to.

On the motion of Mr Paterson, leave of absence •was given to Mr Steel.

On the motion of the Provincial Secretary, leave of absence until the arrival of the Geelong steamer was granted to Messrs Fenwick and M'Masters.

On the motion of the Provincial Solicitor the Criminals' Bill was read a third time and passed. Shortly afterwards a message was received from the Superintendent, assenting to the Bill on behalf of the Governor.

The Provincial Solicitor moved the second reading of the Town and Country Police Ordinance, and the Bill having been read a second time the House went into Commiitee. Several clauses were passed without discussion, but others were, strenuously opposed, as being needlessly stringent, and in several cases the penalties were reduced, and other modifications made. Before all the-clauses were disposed of the House had dwindled to eight members, and pro-. gress having been reported, the House rose at a quarter past ten, and adjourned to Monday.

The contract is at last decided upon, and at the date of the late advices from Melbourne was about being ratified for the mail service between Melbourne and Otago. Mr Crosbie Ward has succeeded in effecting an arrangement with the owners of the Aldinga for the engagement of that vessel to bring down and take back the English mails. The terms and conditions are as follows:—The steamer is to be ready to leave Melbourne on the ninth, and to wait there, if necessary, until 10 a.m. on the eleventh, to bring down the English mails. She is to leave Otago with the return mails on the 18th. For this service £13,000 per annum is to be paid, but there is to be a penalty of £100 for each day's detention, and of £300 for losing the homeward mail. Although not a portion of the -contract, the tenderers undertake to put all their boats on to the Otago service, and consequently to run weekly between that place and Melbourne. Should the English mails, therefore, not reacli Melbourne by the morning of the 11th, they would not be \ delayed many days before another steamer would be ready to take them on. As the Aldinga's days of sailing would be the 9th, the next steamer would leave on the 16th«

In case the Aldinga was laid up the Alhambra, a vessel nearly as fast, would be employed in her stead.

Such is the outline of the arrangement, and, all tilings considered, we think it will give universal satisfaction. The captain of the Aldinga has secured for himself and vessel a character for punctuality and dispatch that cannot fail to excite the confidence that whatever he undertakes he will perform. Although the times are short, they are much in excess of the average passages of the Aldinga. In fact, they leave as iarge a margin for this vessel as several days extra would leave for other steamers. The penalties to which the owners submit show both their confidence in their ability to carry out the contract, and their determination to do so. Of the advantages to the merchants of Dunedin to be able to return answers to their English letters by the same mail it is scarcely necessary to" speak, lnvercargill will also have the same advantage, as the mails will be left at and called for at the Bluff. Mr. Ward's other arrangements comprise the Auckland and Sydney service, the Auckland and Dunedin service by the Queen, and Manukauand theßlnffby the Airedale, the same as at present. The Prince Alfred is retained in addition to run from Sydnej' to Nelson, Wellington, and Lyttleton and back—leaving Sydney on the 2oth, and returning by the 20th. Thus it will be seen this boat will not come on to Otago, a very serious omission. Supposing it be- impossible to help it, we conceive that Mr Ward is bound in justice to Otago, to arrange for one of the coasting steamers to leave Lyttleton on arrival of the Sydney mail and come on to Otago. He must, remember that the plan was specially objected to in the House of Eepresentatives, of making the steamers stop short at Lyttlefon. We have ouly to add that these new arrangements are to commence in January. We may now say a word on Mr. Ward's doings in regard to the Panama service. The communication which by telegram to Melbourne it was stated that Mr. Ward had made to the Sydney Chamber of Commerce,-did not refer to the details of any scheme, and was not therefore a breach of the understanding arrived at with the Government of Otago, but it contained rather an energetic protest against the acceptance of the offer of the Peninsular and Oriental Company to run a second steamer a month to Australia, and an eloquent appeal in favour of a preference being given to the Panama route. The letter, which we shall take an early opportunity of printing, was forcibly written, and to the purpose. Indeed far from involving Mr. Ward in any pledge to Sydney, we believe that he con fidently counts on the guarantee from Otago promised him by the Provincial Government We hope that during the ensuing week an Ordinance for the purpose will be introduced and passed. If the members of the Council are alive to the interests of the Province, they will spare no pains to secure for Otago the port of arrival and departure of the English mail.

So rapid are the proceedings of the Provincial Council, and so many important matters do they deal witl\, that we make no apologies for having, instead of devoting an article to each subject, to review a number at one time. Mr. Dick's Ministerial statement on Thursdaynight, gave a more extended idea of the intentions of the Executive than was to be gathered from the generalities of the opening address. It is satisfactory to know that it is intended to propose a loan for public works, and we must commend the prudence of the prior communication with the General.Government on the subject^ instead of, as at Canterbury, passing the loan first, and asking permission afterwards. Equally gratifying is it to know that the Executive proposes to deal with the subjects of a patent slip, a dredge to deepen the harbor, and a subsidy for a mail service to Panama. We conceive that Mr. Dick's remarks on these heads, leave no doubt of the intention of the Government. A measure for the re-distribution of the electoral districts, and the increase of the number of repsentatives is much wantel ;-and supposing it to involve no dela3 r, it will be a commendable precursor to a dissolution. The proposal concerning an amendment of the Land Regulations is too important to be dealt with in a bi'ief manner. The plan suggested is positively startling, and we shall take an early occasion of placing it in its true light. How the Executive could venture to suggest it, we cannot understand. > .

Having run .through Mr. Dick's statement, we may turn to the actual proceedings in the House. The Council veiy properly resented the attempted dictation in regard to the Taranaki proposal. Mr Dick in effect sought to foroe a plan on the Council, without thinking it necessary to give more than the merest outline of it. Now this is precisely a case in which the House should be allowed the credit of devising for itself the measure of relief it desired to offer to a neighbor in. -distress, and very properly, as we have said, the Members resented the attempt ot the Government to cram apian down their throats. We do not doubt that they will be found as alive to the claims of the Taranaki settlers as the Executive, and we hope to see a comprehensive and generous measure of assistance. What Mr Dick meant by stimulating the Council, on the grounds of the immediate departure of the mail, we cannot comprehend, seeing that there is no steamer leaving for the North until the £th of next month.

Under the same false impression, we presume, a similar course was adopted in regard to the Criminals Influx Ordinance, which was passed through its various stages with ill-judged, not to say indecent haste. The Council, in this measure, has been made somewhat of a tool to bear the-responsibility which properly should devolve on the Government. It is intended, before acting on the ordinance, to send it up to Auckland to ask for suggestions and amendments, and we cannot but think it would have been better to have sent it first and brought it before the Council afterwards. There can scarcely be a doubt of the verdict it will receive, Its provisions are utterly illegal, and the General Government can neither assent to it, nor can Magistrates act? under it, Seeing that the-

Governor could not legally assent to such an act even if passed by the central legislatn-re, he certainly cannot indorse it as a Provincial measure. A similar act in Victoria had to be sent home three times before it received the Royal assent, and then it was only granted with great hesitation. Victoria never has been, and Tasmania has long ceased to be a convict colony, and the home Government would not consent to an interdict being placed on the free passage of the inhabitants of those or other of the Australian colonies. The fining captains for bringing over objectionable passengers, is a monstrous attempt at an excess of authority. Quite conscious as we are of the scandalous practice of the colonies alluded to, especially Tasmania, of giving their convicts free pardons, on condition of their leaving the country, it is yet impossible to make their coming here a criminal offence. Had the Ordinance confined itself to providing that convicts, proved not to have served out their sentences, should be sent back to the Colonies whence they came, these could not, for very shames-sake, refuse to accept them. Indeed, the Home Government would, at once, prohibit the practice of banishment—for such is in effect the course they pursue. Under any circumstances it would have been better to have consulted the General Government than to stultify the Council, by making it pass an Ordinance on which no Magistrate will act until it has been referred to Auckland. Why compromise .the dignity of the Council by a reference, which might have been made by the Executive itself ?

Our space forbids us, at present, from further reviewing the proceedings of the Council, but we will take an early opportunity of returning to the subject.

Ox Monday the election takes place of members for the newly constituted Town Board. The ordinance under which they are to be elected is now being amended by the Council, but singularly enough, of the two ' most important features requiring revision no notice is taken. The election on Monday is likely to be somewhat of a farce owing to that invariable adjunct to elections, the previous nomination of candidates, not having been provided for. Any one can vote for any one he pleases whether a candidate or not, consequently, instead of the selection being made between a given number of persons willing to stand, the votes may range over a number of persons who are not even candidates. Thus the concentration of a few votes inadequately representing the body of voters may return a member. The procedure for nomination is so simple that it really is difficult to understand why is was neglected. The second amendment requiring attention is the appointment of a permanent chairman. Dunedin is the only large city we know of without a municipal chairman or a Mayor, and certainly, there is no recommendation to be urged in favour of its being made an exception to the general rule. A city without a chief cannot be said to enjoy the advantages of municipal government, and to the want of a Chairman or Mayor we attribute many of the evils from which Otago has suffered. It is not our intention to allude by name to the various gentlemen whose friends are endeavouring to secure their return to the Town Board. But we may be excused for referring to the fact that a large number of the old members are seeking re-election. That some of these members may be returned with advantage, we do not deny, their experience and technical knowledge will make them useful members of the new Board. But we cannot conceive that it would be an advantage to the town to elect a majority of the old members, even although we admit that during the last few months the Board exerted itself to some purpose. No doubt the town has much improved lately, but do we not believe in spasmodic exertion close to an election, and at any rate some new blood will make a useful addition to the old. It would be well that those gentlemen who are really prepared to take office, should signify the same, so that votes may not be wasted on presumed candidates. Meanwhile the Council should provide for a nomination in future elections, and should introduce a provision for the election of a Municipal Chairman or Mayor. In a few months Prince Alfred will probably visit the town, who wiil there be to do its honors ?

How often must we refer to the total ignorance displayed in respectable British journals of the A.B.C. of the geography of Australia and New Zealand^ We.take the following from the Daily Review, of September", .15,. a. Scottish paper of considerable standing:— " In the month of July the iriernbei's of the Australian Legislature, the •whole of the Ministry, and the Chief-Justice, had a narrow escape from drowning, through the total wreck of the steamer White Swan, on her way from Auckland to Wellington. Australia, as well as ourselves, is endeavoring to relieve our distressed operatives. A large and influential meeting has been held in Sydney, at which much sympathy with, our suffering workmen \ras expressed, and a handsome sum of money raised for their relief" It is evident that the writer is under the complicated delusion of supposing, that Auckland and Wellington are in Australia, and that Australia is one colony, having only one legislature!!

It will be scan in our. telegraphic news from Port Chalmers, that all hopes of floating the steamer Victory are an: end. This unfortunate result of the enterprise of the shareholders, and the skill of their engineer will be a subject of general regret, the more bo, that only a short time ago, the success of the operations was considered all but certain. It will be remembered that the Victory was actually afloat, and would in all probability, have been steaming out to sea in a few hours, when the chain cable to which she was secured snapped, and the unlucky vessel drifted again ashore, into a worse position than she was before. We now learn that she lias broken in two near the main gangway, is full of water, and is rapidly filling with sand.

The news from Coromandel, brought by the Mary Ann from Auckland, is of the same character. Sanguine expectations continue to be indulged in as to the richness of the various reefs that have been struck, but beyond indefinite and vague opinions, there does not appear any indication of the realization of high flown hopes of the Aucklanders. The quar.tz crushing machinery will, however, soon be in operation, and we heartily second the hopes of our Northern fellow colonists, that Coromandel may yet turn out a good gold field.

A meeting of the ratepayers of Leith Ward was held last evening at the Albion Hotel Great King-street, for the purpose of considering who were the most fit and proper persons to represent the interest of the Ward at the new Town Board. There were about seventy ratepayers present Mr George Duncan was called to the cbair, and in a few brief remarks, explained that the ratepayers wanted men as representatives who had both leisure and ability for the fulfilment of tho important duties which must necessarily devolve upon them. The names of Messrs Duucan, Kedmayne, Murray, Turner and Street were then severally submitted to the meeting. The result of the show of hands was as follows :—Duncan, 40 ; Murray, 26 ; Eedmayne, 22 ; Turner, 21 ; Street, 8. The several gentlemen above named (excepting Mr Street who was absent) were questioned as to asphaite footpaths, water works the town belt, drainage, and the propriety of borrowing £100,000 for public use on debentures payable in a term of years, so that posterity might bear a portion of the burden. The answers given expressed very liberal ideas, and no doubt there will be a hot contest. Great was expressed at the old Board haviug agreed to sign the gas contract.

A meeting of the electors of for No. 2 Ward, ,will be held this evening at half-past seven o'clock at the Shamrock Hotel. Messrs Switzer, M'Leod, and Sibbald, three of the proposed candidates] will address the meeting.

The "Lily ot Killarncy" was repeated last night at the Priucess' Theatre, with the same success as on the previous evening-. It was followed by the farce of "Nan the Good for Notli-

ing."

Mr C. T. Ick is a candidate for the representation of No 2 .Ward. His address appears elsewhere.

The Invercargill people are determined to do what they can to divert the traffic to and from the Dunstan and adjacent diggings through Southland. In addition to the improvement of the roads, a number of boats suitable for cargo and passengers, and to be placed on Lake Wakatip.

Monday, being St. Andrew's Day, will be observed as a holiday by the Banks, who have notified their intention of closing on that day.

Tenders are called for in our advertising columns for the conveyance of a weekly mail betwten the Mataura Perry and the Nokomai gold field. Tenders must be Bent in on or before the 19th December.

A man only known by the name of "Pred" was drowned in the river Clutha, on the 23rd instant. It appears that deceased and two mates, wero engaged bringing a boat up the river from the Dunstan township to the Kawarau; and when about three miles from the former place they encountered a rapid current, which upset the boat* Deceased, who was steering at the time, was seen carried away by the force of the current for a short distance and then sank. Deceased was a native of Denmark, and had no friends in the country. The body has not yet been discovered.

Two cases were got over yesterday in the Supreme Court, The first, Waiver v. Dale, involved a claim ot L6l 7 s 6d on the value of a number of sheep lost by the alleged carelessness of the defendant, who drove them above 100 miles to Wetherstones Gully. The Jury found a verdict for defendant. The other case, Harris v. Henderson, was rather peculiar. Plaintiff sought to recover L9O 15s on a Bill of Exchange 'for that amount, which had been accepted by a Mr Hayes, and endorsed by defendant Hayes had left the colony, and the holder of the bill fell back on the endorser, who did not deny his signature, but maintained that the bill he endorsed was only for L 9 15s. No imputation was thrown on the character of cither plaintiff or defendant during the trial, but the jury considered that the bill had not been falsified after signature, and believing that plaintiff had the weightest evidence they gave a verdict for him. The Court stands adjourned till Monday, at 11 o'clock, when the first case called will be Coxhead v. Feger.

We arc informed by Mr McGregor that on his way to Dunedin he and his party had a narrow escape of being drowned at the Molyneux Ferry*. It appears that the river was very hi/h, an"d tKe current strong and swift, and owing to the unskilful management of the ferrymen the main cable parted, and the punt at OHce drifted down the stream. The ferrymen immediately sprung into their boat which was towing alongside, leaving the passengers and horses in the punt to care for themselves. The position of the persons in the punt was a'most crilicaljone, as it drifted down the river for over a mile, and appeared certain to strike on a reef which was in the stream. Providentially the punt did not strike, but so close was it to the rock that M'Gregor sprang on to it as the punt dashed past. The punt with its living freight was afterwards with some difficulty secured. Ifrom other particulars given us, the conduct of the men in charge of the ferry was most reprehensible, and ought to be made the subject of further inquiry.

As every one expected, Miss Ada Hart's benefit at the Theatre Boyai last night was fully up to the mark. The attendance was good ; the company in the best possible spirits ; and everything went off successfully. The programme commenced with " Civilisation." At the conclusion of the piece Miss Hare and Mrs and Mr Holt were honored by a vociferous call before the curtain. Afterwards Miss Hart gave her skipping rope hornpipe, which was heartily encored, and on this being complied with more than one bouquet was thrown on the stage. Little May contributed her share to the evening's entertainment by singing an Irish ballad in her very best style. The laughable" farce, "An Object of Interest," concluded the excellent programme. The leading character, Fanny Gribbles, was sustained by Miss Hart, the other ladies and gentlemen of the company ably supporting her.

A committee meeting was held last evening at Mr Grey's Rattray-street, to consider the most eligible candidates to represent No. 2 Ward, Mr M. Cutten in the chair, and the following gentlemen: Messrs. Hyman, Wallack, Murphy, Grey, M'Cubbin, M'Kay, Moir,M'Lisky, agreed to act as committee to secure the return of Messrs. Switzer, M'Leod, and Sibbald. as the representatives of No. 2 Ward in the Town, Board. It was unanimously agreed that a public meeting should be held at Murphy's, Shamrock Hotel this evening, (Saturday) at half-past seven o'clock, to afford the above named candidates an opportunity of explaining their views, | The Masonic Lodge, towards the formation of which, the Brethren in Port Chalmers have for some time past devoted their energies, was inaugurated on Thursday night, and the occasion was seized for a display of hospitality towards their iDunedin Brethren. Precisely at 6 o'clock the Pride of the Yarra, which had been placed at the disposal of the deputation of the Dunedin Lodges, hoisted the Masonic ensign, (the " salmon and compasses,") and steamed down to the Port, and soon aftec-her arrival the Brethren assembled at the' School £ouse, which had been

tastefully decorated with flags, ferns, and Masonic emblems for the occasion. The ceremony of inauguration was at once proceeded with by the Installing Officer, P. M Brother Nathan, P. P. G. J. W., under the English constitution, assisted by P. M. Brother James, The W. M. (Brother Leers) having appointed his officers for the ensuing year ; and the usual business of the Lodge having been gone through, the Brethren adjourned to the Royal Hotel, where a table replete with most of the good things of this life awaited them, to which hearty justice was done. The usual amount of Masonic and loyal songs interspersed with songs brought the evening to a close ; and the steamer, with most of the Dunedin brothers, returned to Dunedin at the early hour of three a.m.

The Evening News, evidently misled by a statement which appeared in an extra issued by the Southland Neivs, caused considerable excitement last night by the extraordinary statement that Mr M'Grcgor had disposed of 300 lbs weight of gold in lave cargill. This gentleman called on us last evening, and authorises us to contradict the statement. He tool; down with him to Invercargill 210 ozs. of gold, gnot 300 lbs. The South!md News had" an extraordinary jumbled story about the 300 lbs weight. It appears to have been hoaxed. The Jnvercargill Times, on the other hand, gives a correct account of Mr M'Gregor's proceedings, of which the following is a condensed extract. We should add that Mr M'Grcgor left the gully at the same time as Dr Hector, so that the news supplied us by our own special correspondent is of a later date : "We .started on the 6th to the eastward and entered the gorge of the Arrow River and prospected. One of the party picked up a piece weighing 17 dwts., and after trying several prospects, going over about a quarter of mile along the river (pretty good prospects all the way), we marked a claim. On that day two of us, in six hours, obtained 10 ozs 10 dwts. On the second day, same two got 19 ozs 13 dwts. On the third clay four of us got 32 ozs 5 dwts. The whole of the party, five in number, worked on for about a month, obtaining 350 ozs (there or thereabouts), including- the result of the first three days. During our stay on the Arrow River, sometimes one and sometimes two of us prospected a considerable portion of the surrounding country, obtaining fair prospects. In the Shotover River, a tributary of the Kawarau, we got about a pennyweight to the dish."

As a two-horse team] belonging to Mr R. W. Wilson, was proceeding yesterday on the road to the Dunstau via West Taieri—going up Stewart.street, a little past the Hospital where the road is carried over an embankment, only 14 feet wide, the metal gave way, on the left or nearside, the whole team was precipitated down the declivity, a depth of between twenty and forty feet; damaging the wagon to the amount of about L2O, and laming one of the horses. Fortunately, the man who was on the dray, although he fell to the bottom of the incline, escaped without injury. The accident was owing to no fault on the part of the drayman, as the horses were thoroughly staunch, and well trained ; had they been young, or at all wild, the consequences would have been most serious. This is, we believe, the fifth accident which has occurred at the same place. In the last, about a fortnight ago, a man broke his thigh. TheJ road is in a dangerous state, and attention should be at once directed to it.

The Argus is constantly in the habit of quoting articles from this journal, as from the Otago Daily News. We beg our contemporary to understand that there is no such journal published in the province.