OTAGO.

Southland Times, Issue 1317, 4 October 1870, Page 2

OTAGO.

Dating from Dunedin on 27th Sept., our correspondent writes : — The first post-sessional utterance of the season was delivered last night by Mr Eeynolds, in the Princess Theatre. His speech could scarcely be called a review of the session, still it dealt with a majority of its mor9 important features. The financial scheme was discussed at great length. The main objections to it were grounded on the proposed appropriation. Upwards of one million, the speaker explained, was to be expended in the North, and only £700,000 in the" Middle Island. The injustice of this allocation lay in the fact that the expenditure would amount to £10 14s per head for the North, while the proportion would not exceed £4 17s for the Middle Island. These remarks led Mr Eeynolds to revert to the memorable sefc of separation resolutions brought forward by him in the Assembly. The second branch of his remarks referred to the San Francisco mail service. He scouted the idea of Port Chalmers becoming a terminus. It was not at all likely, he said, that the United States Government would subsidise steamers to the extent of eighty or even a hundred thousand per annum for the sole purpose of securing the New Zealand trade. Their object would be to take in the whole of the Australian group, consequently they would go on to Sydney or Melbourne calling at Fiji en route. To suit that arrangement, New Zealand wxmlcl Kayo to ongago £ branch service, and then of course the question of deciding upon a terminus would be different. The next subject referred to was the New Zealand University Bill, after which the Lands Registration Act, the Disqualification, and Ballot Acts were mentioned as a few of the more useful measures of the session. Before concluding, Mr Reynolds con. trasted the past with the present Ministry, professing himself a staunch supporter of the latter, despite the opposition he had shown to its financial p^liey. The remarks were listened to by an auditory of some 700 persons, and at the cose a vote of thanks was unanimously accorded. In acknowledging the rote, Mr Eeynolds announced bis intention of aeain seeking the suffrages of the electors. Speeaking of Reynolds generally, he really is a good useful member. "With the most honest of purposes, he is ever and anon landing himself into the most awkward positions, consequently he takes along time to establish himself in the good graces of the public. Still, Dunedin is now beginning to understand him, and ' take him for what he is, and not for what at all times he may appear to be. At Wellington, for a long time, he was a kind of newspaper scape-goat, and when, ever they had a few blank cartridges to fire, they were always sure to let one off at Eeynolds. Under the fire, he was a perfect pattern of Christian resignation. To use an inspired simile, after they had riddled his right cheek, he turned round quite contentedly and let them have a drive at the left. He does keep his temper remarkably well, hence his deserved popularity as Speaker of the Provincial Council. Martin's Bat. — Late reports state the population to be six families, besides a few single men. The weather during the past six months was finer than that generally experienced at Dunedin. The rainfall was less, and Bnow never rested upon the ground. The land around the township, although heavily timbered, is good. Several huts are in course of being built on town sections, and the lake and river are navigated by canoes and boats. Small prospects of gold have been obtained in the ranges round about Big Bay, and practical miners are of opinion that something will turn up by-and-bye. As regards food, there seems to be no danger of starving/but regular supplies of flour, tea, sugar, &c, are required. Various kinds of fish are plentiful, and wild duck* and pigeons are shot in large quantities. In reference to the track from tfie head of Lake Wakatipu, we extract the following from a contemporary :— A party of five—consisting of three miners and two of the Esther Ann sailors— left Martin's Bay on Saturday, the 10th nit.,, and reached Queenstown on the Friday; following. When they crossed the Saddle on Monday, they had to travel through; snow waist deep. Some of the miners; had left Big Bay, in cohiequence of pene-j -trating the back country,. r and_the . highprice of provisions, as, for instance, floutf was 36s per lOOlbs, and sugar Is per lbj The road party on this- side are still?

working away, but only 12 men are employed. The track is now cut within a short distance of Lake Harris^(tbe -Sad- „ die), but a bluff of rocks remain to be - cut away at the rapids, about half-way up the Bouteburn. ,^ Dunstaw.— On "Wednesday* the 2lst ult., 22 town sections of Clyde were exposed for sale, and realised a total of £110. The Moiyrieux still ..j continues low, but dredges are doing very, little ,in consequence ofthe heavy rush of tailings. The spring race meeting took place on the 16th and 17th ult. The local paper makes the following: comments upon the different events : — For the Maiden Plate, the first race on tho programme, seven horses came to the scratch, and resulted 1 in the favorite (Cmsidur) winning easily. The Hurdle Bace followed; for which only three started. Opinion wan divided | as to which should rank ar favorite, but the leaning was to the side of T)r Black, who succeeded in maintaining his reputation as the surest hurdle racer in the district, and adding another victory to his Ion? list. The Handicap Bace next; followed, for which seven showed to the fore. "With but one exception the handicapping gave satisfaction, and as a proof there was nothing to kick about, a middle weight (Tonic) walked through his horses and won easily ; the Sip sadly deceived his supporters, he was looked upon as being a winner, but signally failed. The last race on the programme was the hack race (heats), which brought eight to the scales, amongst whom were Doodlembuck, Harkaway, Stanley, Venus, Odd Stockings, Roderick, Jenny, and Kate. The honor fell to Kate, who in fine style won both heats. Wakatipit. — The land in Messrs Boyes' Bros. Tun is being surveyed in 50---acre blocks. The Corporation of Queenstown has spent from £60 to £70 in planting forest trees; At Arrowtown, on the sth nit., an inquest was held on the body of a man known as Billy the Fiddler. He was found dead the previous day near the crown range. The medical evidence showed death to hare been the result of serous apoplexy, and a verdict was returned accordingly. Heports of heavy finds of gold in the direction of Martin's Biy were current, but they had not been traced to any reliable source. Throughout the district a rheumatic fever was prevalent. Oats were scarce and dear — 6s per. bushel. The local paper hears of parties on the Kawarau bringing them up from the Taieri and landing them below that rate. A considerable quantity from that district had been - brought into the Clyde ' and Cromwell markets, but the local demand being large, prices were not at present affected by these importations.