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Southland Times, Issue 667, 8 May 1867, Page 2

Wo ca 11 the attention of members of the Committee of the Acc i; matv ation Society to an advertisement in our other columns, einouncing a meeting for this day at 8 p.m., at which the report of the sub-committee, relating to the cost of ponds for trout ova ia to be taken into consideration. — At the Eesident Magistrate's Court yesterday, Lawrence Brown was brought up charged with embezzlement. From the evidence it appeared that prisoner had received payment from Mr Eussell, a carter, for some oats belonging to his employer, Mr John Eoss, of Eoslyn, and failed to account for the same. Ho was committed, for trial. Our columns this mornings contain a report of the tea meeting recently held in the Wesleyan Chapel. It should have appeared in our last issue, but was inadvertently left out. It is bur intention from, time to time to insert articles from the press of the colony, bearing upon subjects of colonial interest. The salection will embrace both sides of the questions under discussion. It is most important that the public should be made acquainted with the great questions that will be brought forward during the coming session of the Assembly. The column devoted to the selected articles will be known under the heading of " Spirit of the Press on Colonial Po'ftics." In the Resident Magistrate's Court on Monday the complaint of Mr S. Beaven against Mr Vivian was heard. The evidence of the complainant was to the effect that a bull belonging to the defendant had broken certain fences.and caused damage to the amount of £5. This was not disputed by Mr Harvey, (who appeared for the defendant) but he objected to the validity of the claim on the ground of the fences being insufficient, or rather not erected in compliance with the requirements of the " Fencing Ordinance." The fences broken were described as in one part "three wireaand a 3 feet wide and 3 feet deep ditch," and in another part "four wires with iron standards" sufficient the, complainant averred to keep out ordinary cattle. It was also stated that in addition to the wire fences there was an outer "fence," viz., a ditch six feet wide and six feet deep, which the bu l ! had managed to pass. It was not,' however proved that the ditch completely surrounded Mr Beaven's farm although it appeared from the evidence that it ended in a Bwamp [presumed to be impassable.] Complainant was consequently out of Courti because although a " six feet ditch " is a " good and sufficient fence " according to the Ordinance, the others were plainly out of compliance. Mr M'Oulloch read the schedule containing the specifications of the several kinds of fences, and remarked upon the importance of settlers making themselves fully acquainted with the somewhat complex Ordinance. A civil case, Grieve v. J. Townshend, action to recover £5 13s 4d, was dismissed, the defendant producing a receipt in full of all demands, admittedly signed by the plaintiff, whose statement as to the " why and wherefore" of his claim was slightly confused. Grieve v. E. Townshend, action to recover £1, alleged value of a book (Grant's Eomance of War, 1 vol.) was also dismissed, defendant making restitution in Court. Some amusement was caused on the production of the " Eomance," a wellworn and coverless copy of very small intrinsic value. Oapt. Thompson of the Port Chalmers (Otago) Volunteers recently, addressed his Company on the proposed resignation of the Otago Volunteers in consequence of the action taken by the General Government. "In his remarks, he stated that in caae of any civil tumult arising through the" action of the General Government, the Volunteers would have nothing to do with it. They would not be required to take up, arms against their fello^ citizens. Their duty was plainly to bear true allegiance to the Queen, and to repel Foreign -invasion from their own hearths and homes. He was a true Provincialist ; and he thought that the action taken by the Gtenerial G-overnment was a step in the wrong dir ection, and had. no doubt that when the Assembly met, Mr Stafford would be hurled from his office. A copy of the '.'Durham Horald," of February the 16th, had been handed him by Petty Officer Melville, -in which he found a paragraph which had some bearing on the matter. It was in reference to a | contemplated attack by the Foniaiis on Chester, when ifc was stated that the Volunteers could only be embodied qr called upon to serve in the case of a foreign invasion. The paragraph wliich ho read was his own idea on the matter: In a civil tumult they were only civilians, and, like all others, were liable to be sworn in. as specia constables. There was no doubt but that constitutional meons would Bettle all oivil disputes. Gunner Morgan asked how was it, when he was a Volunteer in Glasgow, he waa called out with hie company to quell a-riot, and marched through the street with fixed bayonetß with the soldiers, They, however, took no othw aotfoa, J»iesj, &>bc!?tjQp ( i$ wwe?, ?a}a that ifc hjd bs^ oftlj

for an intimidation to the rioters, who, at that time, did not know the law. The Volunteers had. nothing to do with riots any more than other civilians ; when any commotion or tumult arose, they were plainly civilians, and, like them, liable to be sworn in as special constables by the pr6per authorities. The members present were quite satisfied with the explanations of their officers.— " Ofcago Daily Times." The Engineer of Boads and Works, Otago (Mr J. T. Thomson), under date the Bth ulfc., thus reporte as to that department of the Provincial Semce:— "There are now about lSO^mileß of metalled, roads in the Province. The works in extension of this system of communication hare been principally towards Balolutha, Lawrence, and Pahnerston, otherwise the works have been in the extension of dray tracks, and the maintenance of tracks to the several interior centres of traffic. While it would be needless to recapitulate the minor road works which are placed in the estimates, I may again call the attention of the Q-overnment to the desirability of improving- the two main roads that connect Dunedin with Clyde, viz.— one by Shag Valley and the other by Tuapeka. Both of these roads run through fine districts, and connect the capital with the principal mining centres. The improvements required on the Shag Valley route, are, the cutting of sidings with easy gradients over saddles near Coal and Grassy Creeks, and considerable deviations near Mr Wayne's and Pigroot. The road would also be better to be carried more into the centre of the Maniototo plains, by a valley running west torn the Shag~Biver Sadd'e. By taking kub route, the road would be shortened several miles, and near 500 feet of elevation saved at thebleakest part of the journey. -Between the crossing of the Ida Burn and Lauder, also, considerable saving in distance might be made, by taking the road down the Ida Valley and crossing the south end of Blackstone Hill, thence by a gorge of tne Manuherikia, where that river might be bridged. In the whole distance of 132 miles between Dunedin and Clyde, I consider 20 miles might be Bayed by the above measures, and the journey of two days might be reduced to a day and a half s traveFby coach. ' The improvements required on the Tuapeka route are principally 5n metalling the road as far as Beaumont, in easing the gradients over the Sowburn Saddle, and in diverting the present track over Spylaw, and the Knobby Banges to the immediate banks of the Clutha. By these means the 110 miles distance between Dunedin and Clyde might be shortened to 100. Beyond Clyde, the connection with Queenstown. is now being rapidly completed. A punt has been placed at the Nevis crossing, and another is about ready to be placed at the Arrow. By these means, this very dangerous and difficult route will be rendered comparatively easy and safe. But to the full attainment of this end a bridge over the Shotover at Forster's Ferry is required. Towards the West Coast, via Haast Pass, considerable attention is being drawn, owing to the recent discovery of payable gold diggings. The road is excellent to the south end of the We.naka Lake, from thence to the head of the Lake (i.e.,. the north end) traffic would be best carried by boating. From the head of the Lake to the Goldfields township on the Haast, the journey has been accomplished **i for" days, and the cost of making a horse or cattle track is estimated at between £1,500 and £2,500. On the road on the seaboard from Dunedm to Waitaki, the worst parts have been metalled, but which i operations must be extended as fr ids are available. The most pressing want in this route I conceive to be a bridge over the south Otepopo River ; but bridges over the northern branch , as well as over the Kakanui, would be a great convenience to the public. From Balclutha to Mataura two bridges are. now under construction. As the climate of this part of the country is wet and the soil retentive, much improvement to traffic cannot take place without metallel roads. At present the road throughout is available for carriage traffic during the summer months. Of buildings — the Government Offices are now nearly ready for occupation, and what has been effected to other works will be 6een by reference to Mr Howlison's report. The Electric Telegraph is now nearly completed as far as Queenstown, and only awaits the arrival of certain material to be put in operation."