The Southland Times. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1870.

Southland Times, Issue 1345, 9 December 1870, Page 2

The Southland Times. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1870.

It is of the utniost importance that some provision should at once be made for maintaining and repairing our main roads. From what we can learn, not a penny has been expended on the line to Kingston for such a length of time that were it not _f bnihe fact that it forms in itself a good natural highway, it would long ago have been closed against the heavier part of . the traffic. As it is, one or two portions ' are in a wretched condition, and from their exposed situation, fears are enter- * tamed that a few days' rain may wash _them away altogether, or at least cut ' them up to such an extent that communiwill be broken off. It was at one of these " places that the accident referred to in last issue occurred. It appears that this particular part of the road passes along the brow of a terrace, which, from its bearings to the ' adjoining range, catches the full pressure of the rainfall for miles around. In addition to the ordinary con* tingenciea arising from that cause, an • extraordinary mishap occurred twelve months ago, which had the effect of diverting the water right down the face . of the road, following the direction of its incline. A heavy landslip dammed up the natural water-course from the hills, until the pressure became strong enough to force its passage, when down it came, in one immense volume, tearing up the surface of the road into a deep ditch; down as far as its junction with the plain: Since then.the damaged road has remained an* ordinary escape for surface water. The channel has. gradually gone on widening - and'deepening until at the present time we are informed that the entire surface* breadth of the roadway has to a great extent been worn into a gully-hole from . four to five feet in depth. At this point the traffic requir.es to diverge through the scrub, and although that may be quite possible for the summer traffic, the absence of everything like a cut track renders it extremely dangerous during the - winter-time. It was in attempting this detour that the dray alluded to above waa - upset, and- although the drayman escaped fatal consequences, the face of an adjoining terrace nas erected npon it a standing monument of the terrible vicissitudes to " which the spot is exposed during the inclemency of the weather. It is the -grave of an unfortunate girl who was - swept out of the Lakes' coach six or seven years ago while on the down-trip to Invercargill. This proves that the place, ; from the nature of its situation, is exposed to. serious casualty, and yet not a \

single effort is made to lessen the danger. Should the neglect continue much longer, it is more than possible that every vestige of this particular part of the road will be swept away, so that Government may be •called upon to treat the matter in the light of a tamely provision against a more serious demand. Although the most urgent, this is not the only part of the road requiring attention. In the vicinity of Fern Hills, the track stands much in need of being formed. Prom the heavy gravel deposits in the neighborhood, a good serviceable road could be made at a. very moderate cost. The unformed part does not exceed three miles, and although in its present state it is a rough passable track during the summer months, in winter it is described as something horrible. Drays bogged up to the axle-tree is a mild way of stating its locomotion after the continuance of heavy rains. The Tenmile ford, on the Upper Mataura, is another point sorely in need of being improved. The current there runa so irregular that the bank is almost invariably washed down. A much better fordingplace could be found a few yards higher up, at a place where the river runs more evenly. In the immediate vicinity of the Dome station, some half-dozen culverts have disappeared. A trifling expenditure would put them in order, and drays would be saved the risk of getting bogged, 88 is pretty often the case at present. Taken in round numbers, the whole of these repairs would not entail a very large sum. At the same time, many cogent reasons can be adduced for taking the work in hand at once. Traffic to and from the "Wakatipu is increasing. Within the last three months it has increased as many fold, and at the rate at which it is presently going on, it will double itself again before long. This shows the actual existence of a pressing requirement for a good serviceable road, and unless it is done during the summer season, it will both cost more and be less efficiently executed. Before dismissing the subject there is just one other point to which it 10-Vuij-rigtitrwe^Bould allude. The continuation oftheDunstan and Nevis track to the Nokomai and Southland is a project upon which some action should be taken. A preliminary survey, ordered during the recess, would euable the next Council to deal with the subject — either by carrying it out or abandoning it altogether. The country in that direction" ought certainly to be opened up. At present ,a large extent of territory is locked up between the Queenstown road on the upper side, and Switzers ; road to the Beaumont on the other. The fact that such places as the Dome Pass, Nokomai, and Upper Nevis are included within the points indicated, affords substantial proof that its present seclusion prevents a deal of auriferous wealth being developed. At present the Nevis track from the Dunstan is of little or no avail,* simply because it opens up no thoroughfare. Its continuation in the direction alluded to would give it a widely different effect. It would induce a through traffic from the junction_of_lwo of the most important routes in the province— viz., the road by Tuapeka, and that by Palmeraton to the Dunstan on to Invercargill and the Bluff by the Nevis and Nokomai. Until a work like this is done the mineral wealth of such places as the Carrick fiange must remain problematical.

A short announcement was received by telegraph that the proposal to enlarge the boundaries of Southland bad been lost in Council. A disarrangement in the mails prevents us from giving further information on the subject than the bare result. Here, the intelligence bas been accepted as a most unkind cut, the unkindest part of all being the statement that no fewer than four district members aided in defeating the proposal. Their object seems inexplicable, and even those who are inclined to suspend judgment until further explanation has been afforded, do not hesitate to admit that it bears all the outward semblance of a deliberate sacrifice of the best interests of the district. The effect of this decision will be to hamper this part of Otago with all the inconveniences arising from irregularities of geographical outline incidental to the late province. The fact that the land laws of Southland have not been assimilated to those of Otago proper, can hardly be made to account for this extraordinary proceeding. As a judicial district, Southland could exercise its* functions without interfering with such subsidiary matters as the original mode of acquiring lands and hereditaments, and yet this is the only point upon which we can imagine the smallest doubt to have arisen. We gave passive publication to certain compli- ! mentary strictures put upon the conduct of our representatives, at the same time we were not blind to the fact that in one , or two instances their votes and . pro. ceedings were not such as the district was called upon to accept with unqualified approval. We allude more pointedly to the Kingston railway. One Southland member at least treated the project i as one which ought to be discountenanced. Coupled with the recent escapade, we are more and more inclined to regard some of their actions with doubt. It may perhaps be useful for them to know that every word, and action with which they are credited is being carefully noted, and that they will be called upon to render a detailed account of the part they have taken. Meantime, we can only assure; Messrs Wood, Wilson, Tosh^gk, and Kineoss that -their reception will be anything but a pleasant one unless they: | give a very different complexion to their | conduct than it bears at present. In furtherance of the question of boundaries, there is one other matter to which it is necessary to allude; The fifth section of the " Land Transfer Act" pro-! vides — "That the Governor may from time to time constitute by proclamation throughout the colony, or any part thereof, Land Districts for the: purposes of the Act, and declare by what i local name such districts s^all be desig-

nated; such proclamation to be issued on or before the Ist March, 1871." These districts, we understand, are to be decided upon early in January, and it is of importance that Southland should be included in the list. Unless. that is done, everything in the shape of a transfer or conveyance will require to pass through Dunedin, so that the ad- t vantages provided by the Act will be defeated so far as -we are concerned. The Chamber' of Commerce has taken the: matter in hand, and a meeting to discuss' the subject . is convened for to-day (Friday). We need hardly add that we trust the question will be dealt with decisively, and that its importance to the district will cauae every member to attend. A little more energy and decision than we have been showing is really requisite. If it has no other effect, it will teach those into whose hands our interests are committed that their public trust is not to be lightly esteemed.

Fob some reason or another that remains to be explained, the traffic question of Southland appears unable to adjust itself upon a scale commensurate with that paid by other districts in Otago. At the present moment we are paying £6 per ton for goods carted to Kingston, while the through rate from Dunedin to Queenstown is somewhere about £7. Estimated by distance, this gives the Southland carrier 16£ d per mile against 7£d allowed to the Dunedin carrier. Even the relative distance does not indicate the full measure of preponderance. The route from Invercargill to Kingston is a dead level, and with, the exception of one or two broken places, a better road could not be desired. The Dunstan route by Waiheomo and Pigroot is a succession of steep mountain pinches, more fit to be scaled by a spread eagle than a loaded team. One mile in Southland represents at least a mile and : a quarter in that part of Otago, so far at least as traffic purposes are concerned, It is out of the question to suppose such a disparity of rates can. be maintained. "We are not looking at the master as a question between employer and. employe. \ Restricted to that view, it is one in which ! we have no right to interfere. It has a general public importance, and on that ground we are called upon to make it! subject-matter for public comment.' On that basis the question resolves itself into this : — Are our railway schemes and commercial connections to be frustrated because a handful of draymen happen to have secured a monopoly of the trade, and refuse to work upon terms equal to those accepted, by their dwn class outside the district ? It looks, very muck like, it. A recent number of the "Wakatipu journal, after remarking that the Dunedin rate was £7, goes on to say: — This beats the Invereargill route. • Present 1 purchasers are taking advantage of the Dunedin market, otherwise these purchases would come Trom Invercargill, or by the Bluff. If the local draymen are determined to remain blind to their interest, the fact only requires to be made known. Dunedin draymen are nQtJLso very foolish as to work for 7id per mile when they can be guaranteed abundance of employment at fifty per cent, over that rate. The question is one for the consignees themselves. They have the remedy in their own hands, and unless they are prepared to sacrifice the trade they will take some decided step in the. matter without delay.

The sum expended on Native wars in New Zealand amounta to £5,915 ,000. It is reported that the hon. the Colonial Treasurer intends to visit Dunedin in a few days. It is understood that the general election of members of the House of Representatives will take place in February next. It is stated on presumedly good authority that the Hon. Major Richardson intends to offer himself as a candidate for the Superintendenoy of j this province. Mr S. M. South, barrister, has placed his services at the disposal of the Hokitika con- 1 stituericy, and will contest the County Council election. The Wellington Independent states that T>r Featherston is expected to arrive by the Suez mail steamer. It contradicts the report of his appointment as Agent-General, and animadverts severely on its Wellington contemporaries for prophesying the same appointment to Mr Yogel. Writing under the title of " A Word for * Poor John,' " the Star puts the following queries to Mr Shepherd: — Do they (the Chinese) not import themselves without cost to the Immigration Fund ? How many loaf about town on arrival, and become chargeable to the police ? How many join the~unemployed rowdy mobs of white-faces to demand work or money ? How many have been upon the funds of the Benevolent Society ? How many have become insolvent ? Is not cash, payment their rule in all trade transactions ? When and where did they embark in a mining or other, speculation upon credit, and leave their bills unpaid? , How often are they taken to the lookup drunk and incapable ? How much hava they paid in the shape of fines for drunkenness and violence?' What master ever complained that hia servant "John" was insolent, insubordinate, or lazy? When was eve* "John" seen making traoks "on the wallaby ? " Does not Mr Shepherd know that a thousand Chinese are governed at far less cost to the Province than the same number o£ other nations? How much less do I they squander' in litigation than other miners? Do they not chiefly take up worked-out claims and poor ground that no one else will look at P And for civility, sobriety, self-reliance, patient application, and untiring perseverance, have they any equals? If they hare, Mr Shepherd would deserve a monument as high as Bt. Pauls and ar lasting as the Pyramids if he would people the Province with a million of them. Oar acquaintance with "John" ip not of yesterday, and we are not going to ae&£so set upon his head without a protest. All that poor " John " asks for himself is just for- Mr Shepherd to leave the sky over his I head, the forsaken ground under his feet, and for | heaven and men to suffer him to work out his own plans in his own way. He will pay all his debts, uncomplainingly submit to all kinds of insolence and imposition, and when he has made his "pile" be will take himself 'off to hu own celtttial regions for the remainder of bis lift. I

A meeting of the oommittee of the Horticultural Society took place on Monday evening laat, Mr T. M. Macdonald in the chair. Arrangements connected with the exhibition on January 2nd were perfected, and a resolution passed — " That as that exhibition was a special one, all exhibitors should be allowed to compete free, and no mem. bera' tickets should be issued." "An adjourned meeting of the Farmers' Association took place at the Prince of Wales Hotel on the evening of Wednesdaj last. The only business transacted was the appointment of a committee, consisting of Messri M ( Arthur, Steuart, Dondas, and M'lvor, to take steps for bringing the Association under the operations of the Joint Stock Limited Liability Act. Mr F. IM'Ewan was appointed secretary in room of Mr Macrorie, resigned. On Wednesday evening, between 9 and 10 o'clock, an alarm of fire was raised. It originated in an untenanted house, at the extreme end of the town, on the East Road. During the time it lasted the fire burned fiercely, and apprehensions of a serious conflagration were entertained by those at a distance, who witnessed the glare it made. The tenement being isolated, the fire was easily confined to the building in which it originated. A man in charge of cattle was seen in the vicinity of the house during the earlier part of the evening, and it is supposed the fire was communicated by him in lighting his pipe. The building was uninsured. Our Campbelltown correspondent, writing yesterday, says:— A meeting of the Bluff Regatta Committee was hold at the Eagle hotel on Tuesday, 6th inst., to arrange the programme for the annual regatta on Boxing Day, when it was decided that previous to so doing the secretary should communicate with some gentlemen in Invercargill, requestiag them to co-operate. Several boats here are being got ready for the " event," and should the weather prove favorable, it will be a success. — The mining case, M'Cormick v. Bell and Co., referred to in a previous issue, was to have been heard to-day, before the Warden and four assessors, but in the absence of the defendants' solicitor (Mr Harvey) it was postponed till Monday next. By in the Otago Gazette the Hokonui road district is formed as follows :— Hokonui district, containing about 702,900 acres, bounded on. the east by the Mataura river from its source to the mouth of Charleton creek ; on fcbe south by the northern boundary of the Waimumu, Forest Hill, Winton, and part of Oreti Hundred; on the west by the east boundaries of Runs Nos. 149, 159, and 181, and by the Oreti river to its junction with the Windley stream ; and on the north-west by the boundary line of the late province of Southland from the mouth of the Windley to Takerahaka Peak. The yield of gold from the Thames for the month of October, as nearly as can be ascertained, was 12,48 10za from 8840 tons quartz, showing an increase of 24520z over that of the previous month. For August the produce was 13,0050zs from 7750 tons ; in September, 10,0290z9 from 7302 tons ; October, 12,4810za from 8340 tons ; giving a return of 35,5150zs from 23,892 tons for the quarter. The following dividends were declared during the past month : — IXL Na f £ona > 4s per share, £1080 ; Dauntless anl Sink to Rise, Is per share, £160; Gfolden Crown, £10 per share, £1920 ; Long Drive, £1, £1200 ; total, £4380. The Kuranui and Shotover companies have declared dividends this month of 3s and 2s 6d per share respectively, amounting together to £4705. The West Coast Times has the following respecting Okarito and the Southern Goldfields .- —lt has been reported that the miners and residents were short of the usual necessary supplies of food, but by the latest advices we learn the Martha and Lavinia had arrived in that harbor with a full general cargo, and no doubt the wants will be for the present supplied. However, it is understood the Waipara will be despatched immediately after the arrival of the Omep for that place with a full cargo of general merchandise' It does seem singular that that locality should have been neglected for such a lengthened period as has been allowed to elapse since the last trip of the Waipara south. In such a thriving goldfield such as exists there, one would think some precautionary measares should be taken by the inhabitants to secure a means for regular supplies of the different artioies of consumption. From Tokomairiro we learn that Mr Cutten has been induced to come forward as a candidate for Bruce in the Assembly. The local paper adds that as his political opinions are in accord with those of the electors, ii may be presumed that some of the other candidates will retire in his favor.— The district harvest reports are spoken of despondingly. Fields are mentioned which are_ not likely under any circmngtanoo* tv be worthy of cutting. The sorrel nuisance is getting possession of the land, and apprehensions are entertained of absolute sterility throughout a large area unless a more rational and thorough system of cultivation is speedily adopted.