THE PELORUS GUARDIAN FRIDAY, OCTOBER, 3, 1890. A Leader Wanted.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 1, Issue 72, 3 October 1890, Page 2

THE PELORUS GUARDIAN FRIDAY, OCTOBER, 3, 1890. A Leader Wanted.

The Evening Post considers that the only chance of a leader the electors will have is between A. and B.— Atkinson and Ballance —and it is not a very good one at that. We are rather inclined to agree with our contemporary, for the reason that Sir Harry Atkinson, though possessing great ability and force of character, is not in the best of health, and is directed too much by outside influence. Mr Ballance, though also possessing great. ability, has not got force of character sufficient to be a successful leader, and another thing, hia ideas do not exactly fit in with public opinion. It is rather remarkable that in a country which, we undertake to say, has a greater average of intelligent men than any other that so few, if any, can be found who possess the independence, boldness, and ability to claim the confidence of a sufficient following as would enable them to so direct the affairs of the country that prosperity would result therefrom. ’ We read speech after speech in the vain hope of seeing something original—something new and refreshing—but we meet with continued disappointment, as nothing but the same old stock of political ideas are served up time after time. Some of the political cooks make them & little more palatable than others by a judicious use of the English language, but take away the padding and nothing remains but the old stock-in-trade. Mr Bunny, who is standing for the Wairarapa seat, has been a little bolder than most others, and thinks money should be borrowed for making roads and bridges to open up the waste lands, and abolish all Customs duties, except on wines, spirits, and tobacco, to abolish the property-tax and substitute a land and income-tax. Of course there is very little in this except the proposal to borrow money for roads and bridges, and as Mr Bquny has seen the good results of such a policy in the old provincial days he IS 00 doubt m ore confident than he would otherwise be. The election contest has only just begun and we may yet see a shining light come to the front who has sufficient courage not to set his political sails so as to try and catch the wind from all quarters, 'or in other words, trying to please everybody and ending with the same result as the old man and the donkey. To adopt mild remedies at the present time will increase the difficulties under which the country is labouring; a strong remedy must be applied pr it had better be left alone.

As there is a dispute as to who are entitled to the reward voted by Par--1 liament for the discovery of the Mahakipawa goldfield an enquiry will be ’ held before Warden Allen, at Havelock, next Court day, the 15th October. There are six names mentioped pf persons who have a claim on the bonus. Fresh tenders are called by the Pelorus Road Hoard for making track . to Waikakaho. The petition for a divorce by Atkinson at Dunedin was dismissed as there was nothing to show there was any infidelity on the part of Mrs Atkinson. It will be noticed by advertisement that Mr 0. H. Mills’ Committee will meet in future on Tuesday and Friday ((evenings, not Monday as previously

The Reefton gold returns for th e last week arelnkerman, 6500 z amalgam from 120 tons (6d dividend); Globe, 5360 z amalgam from 181' tons (6d dividend); Alpine, 3540 z amalgam from 195 tons (top plates only); Fiery Cross, 3620 z amalgam from 89 tons (top plates only); Golden Treasure, 150 oz from 40 tons (3d dividend); Venus, 1290 z amalgam from 65 tons; Progress, 4550 z amalgam for the week; Inglewood, 85oz amalgam from 80 tons; Keep it Dark, 6780 z amalgam from 550 tons for the month.

It is stated by a Wairarapa paper that one farmer who set seven traps for rabbits one evening found them next morning occupied by stoats. Large numbers are, it is said, being destroyed in this manner, and this too, while they are still being imported at a great cost to the country.

Operations at the Big River mine (says the Reefton Guardian), are steadily proceeding, the various surface works being pretty well completed, and the sinking of the shaft now being down 170 feet. The country being passed through is very likely-looking for a reef— bunches of quartz leaders coming in at every foot. It was anticipated that the underlay of the reef discovered on the surface at the boundary of _ the Big River and the Lord Edward claims, would be crossed in the present main shaft at a depth of about 60 feet, and although several more feet than this have been sunk, present appearances seem to warrant that the body of stone will come in at any moment. The Hon. J. A. Bonar, M.L.C.’ realised the dignity of labour last evening (says the Grey Argus of Wednesday) when he manned a barrow and commenced to wheel produce between the transit shed and his steamer, the Waipara, in the capacity of a non-Unionist labourer.

Many residents in this district will regret to hear of the death at the Blenheim Hospital, of Mr W. Clarke, son of our respected townsman, Mr H. L. N. Clarke. Deceased had been suffering for a long time from a tumor in his inside, and ultimately went to the Blenheim Hospital to have it taken out, and although the operation was successfully performed by three doctors, the strain on the system was too great and he succumbed a few days afterwards.

Some young ladies of Greytown, in the Wairarapa district, have formed themselves into a Christy Minstrel Troupe, and have had several successful entertainments. The Maoris are following suit, and are also going in for the nigger business.

During the last three or four months mining matters in this district have been been very quiet, but now that the summer is coming on we anticipate things: will look up again. The fact that so many claims obtained gold last week at Mahakipawa augurs well for thp coming summer months, , One of our staff took it into his head to do a constitutional as far as Nelson the other day, and did the distance oyer the Maungatapu in eleven and a half hours. The distance from the top of the hill was done much quicker than the first part pf the journey, for the following reason?—He sat down to take a rest, and fell asleep, and, like Richard 111., he was. disturbed by a horrible dream, Burgess, Kelly, and Levy appearing before him with bowie knives, and, thinking his time had come, he awoke with a start, and bounded away down the hillTwo deer tried to keep ahead of him, Hut in vain, and he landed in Nelson a winner. Time, 11£ hours. His friends could not understand why he could nob eat for three days.