OTAGO.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 255, 30 March 1860, Page 3

OTAGO.

[From the fitness.) Fatal Accidents.—On Tuesday, the 24th ult. another fatal accident occurred on the harbor, by which Mr. Young, the engineer of the steamer Pride of the Ytvrra, lost his life.. It appears that about five o'clock iv the afternoon of the day in question, the steamer was leaving the Dunedin jetty for the purpose of proceeding down the harbor, laden with cargo. When a few hundred yards from the jetty, a heavy squall struck the bout.. The deceased was on deck arranging a sail placed over some bales of wool, when the wind, catching the cloth, threw -him overboard. It was some time before the engine could be stopped, which was at last done, and the anchor let go. The steam was then turned on to the whistle, which attracted the attention of tha persons on the jetty, who wen uuconcioiis of what have oc-*--cui'ed The steamer had no passengers on board at the time, and no boat attached. The deceased being the engineer, the boy and man remaing on the steamer was unable to manage her. or to render any nssitance. The unfornate man sunk before it could be possible to mike an effort to save him. The deceased had left a wife and three children to mourn liis loss who, with the assistance of tho public, have been sent back to their friends in Melbourne, from .whence they came. This is the second instance of a person being drowned from falling out of that unfortunate craft, the Pride of the Yarra ; and on both occasions the want of a boat has precluded the possibility of giving assistance in time; when, on the first occasion to which we allude, that ofthe death of Captain Petrie, there caii be no little doubt bad there been a boat at hand he would have been saved We know of no process of law by which the owners of these small steamers can be compelled to carry a bout, but we trust that these repeated accidents will have some effect in causing something to be done. Ifc is not long since the same steamer touched upon a bank, drew out the screw and shaft, and immediately sank; the water being shallow no other inconvenience occurred than keeping the passengers on deck till morning, through an inclement night, thereby giving them violent colds; but had the screw come in contact with a beacon post, in all probability the steamer would have gone down in deep water, and every soul on board been drowned.

We have to regret another fatal accident which occurred at the barracks in Dunedin on Tuesday evening last, by whiclra.child, 18 months old, the son of William Orr, who lately arrived by the " G-ala," lost its life. We understand that the Barracks have an uncommonly steep stair leading to the upper story, which was originally not intended to be used as a Barrack ; but the pressure for room which occurred about twelve months since from the rapid ai rival of immigrants, caused it to be fitted up* and used for immigrants. The stair leading to this upper story deserves the title of a ladder rather than a stair. The child, in attempting to descend to the lower story, fell to the bottom of the stair, and in a few minutes expired—-This inconvenient stair ought at once to be altered, and if that be impossible from the construction of the building, the arrangement of the Barracks should be so far made to suit the circumstances that married people with families should be.accommodated on the lower floor.

{From the Colonist.)

An Election for the Muiituku District ended in the return of Mr. McNab. We subjoin Mr. Tarlton's speech on the occasion:—

Gentlemen, I thank you for inviting me to become a candidates for the representation of this district in [the Provincial Council; I will therefore briefly state my views on one or two questions which are prominently before the public mind. A few weeks ago, in reply to the requisition which was sent to him, the Superintendent stated that this district should receive an " equitable" amount of the public revenue. This expression would have been satisfactory had it been more explicit and definite—had he told us that he sympathized with us in our regret, that we had contributed so much, and received so little; that the main lines into the interior of the New River district are beautifully laid off, but on paper only; that the whole of the country through which the rivers which form the New River flow has never had one shilling of public money expended upon it. I presume, if we were to ask the late administration the question, they would tells us it was c equitable' to spend only two hundred pounds in all the Jacob's River district, while at Riverton, and above the junction of the New River, it was ' equitable' to spend nothing whatever. I doubt not they consider it equitable to sell all the land they can, and expend' the money as near home as possible. But if by equitable be meant that we shall receive a just portion of the revenue, according to the amount of land sold in this district, and the payment of that portion we are entitled to for past neglect and omission, this is that which we ask, nay, demand as our right. How comes it to pass that of late there has been a growing spirit ot discontent and complaint ? Not, certainly, because we have been fairly treated. . Had this been the case, our oneness had been cemented, and our adherents increased. Instead of this, we have been treated as a dependency, and our rights ignored. Some, therefore, demand separation, because from past neglect, they argue future indifference. The dismemberment of this colony would be a positive evil—a thing only to be done as a grievous necessity, to avoid a still greater calamity. But I believe the adage is still true that 'unity is strength' In my estimation it would be an event too deeply to be deplored, to see this Province, now so hopeful and prosperous, torn asunder by discord, and rent into small communities. But justice we must have. Our difficulties are sufficiently great, without being deprived of our wealth to enrich another part ofthe Province. We have no more desire to prosper on that which is another's right, than we have to suffer from another's injustice. Only give to us fair play, our proper and rightful share of the public money, and of immigrants from our native land, and discontent will give way to cordiality and fidelity—and separation to unity and strength. Neglect and injustice may compel us to do for ourselves that which they have refused honestly to do for us. Gentlemen, Ido hot despair, our cause is not hopeless. Our hew Superintendent will inaugurate a new and happier state of things. I believe him to be a straightforward, right-hearted, honest man; a man of large commercial knowledge, public spirit and enterprise; a man who merits our attachment, aud has a right to our support. If, therefore, gentlemen, you send me as your representative I will do my best, ta

strengthen aud support hi* Government, It may possibly happen that in.some things, I may differ from him, but I am not the, person who would retard ov embarrass any administration that was straightforward and honest in its purposes, but, to the extent of my influence, would rather consolidate its power. Another subject demanding .notice"is,, the 'Land, question. The present Land Ordinances contain, in' my opinion, a number of impracticable conditions, which some have lauded as beneficial: but it is "only so in proportion as theseclauses are.inoperative. Its good, is, cheap ment clauses, the constitution of the Waste Land Board, ahd its withblding from a "man a legal title to the land he has purchased. Is it wise in a Government to compel a'man to employ his capital in the cultivation of land, when the price of labor is^ such that his own judgment tells him it will be his ruin? To make a prosperous colony, you must have both labor and capital as free as the air we'breathe. Every attempt at coercion will end in failure. Had the conditions been enforced, there would have been but little land sold, with ruin to the cultivator, and a revenue so insignificant as to be totally inadequate to supply the ordinary wants of the Province. The 2000 acre block system is a violation of one ofthe principles of "all. just Government—the same law for the rich as for tho poor. Nothing but an exhausted Treasury could have led to their establishment, and injustice to the community to. their, perpetuation. If it be right to withhold a crpwn title from the purchaser ot 200 acres, what right have you to give it to the owner of 2000 acres ? If it be right to embarrass • the poor man with conditional clauses, and £2 expenditure per acre, what right have you to let the man of wealth and lordly inheritance go scot free? The schemes put forward by the Superintendent on this question seem rash andjmmature. His position gives them importance in tjthe eyes of the world, while their merits are^questionable. The evils of Ihe auction system-*are so-great, that the augmentation of the revenue by'"this means would not counterbalance them. To put a tax^as a permanent charge, on land, is so" injudicious, that, it would greatly militate against the wellbeing of the colony, and would do anything but. induce settlers to come amongst us. Give land at a uniform and low price to the firsfc applicant, and with a crown title on the payment of the money. The present price is below, market value, and induces undue speculation. Let the price be -£1 per acre. Give to the poor man an opportunity of buying, say 80 acres, by instalments extending over five years, to encourage economy and reward industry. In tho disbursement of the public revenue, alienation and ill-feeling would be prevented by the recognition of this principle. To every district the amount disbursed shall be in proportion to the revenne received, either from the sale or lease of lands ih such district. I need not tell you, gentlemen, how unjust it is that a vessel with emigrants from England has never been permitted to visit our ports, so that, while on the one hand we are deprived of capital by a disproportionate expenditure on public works, on the other we are thus destitute of labor for the common business of life. But the times are now hopeful. Wiser heads and warmer hearts will guide our affairs. Everything about us is encouraging. We have no huge barren hills to affright us, but the most lovely and fertile plains to cheer and encourage us. Oh that these glorious solitudes, so rich and promising, were tenanted by thousands from the densely-crowded cities of our native land! Let them know that here their industry will be rewarded by a fruitful soil, and their homes made happy by independence and peace.

Fire at Onehunga.—On Saturday evening, between tbe hours of nine and ten o'clock, p.m., a fire broke out in the back premises of Mr. Samuel Jury Williams, storekeeper at Onehunga, which resulted in the total destruction of the dwellinghouse and store. Owing to the dry state of the timber forming the building, the conflagration proceeded with great rapidity; and, although strenuous efforts were made to save the account books of the proprietor, they were not attended with success. Mr. Hallamove's Hotel, which stood in close contiguity, was placed in imminent danger, and was with difficulty prevented from becoming a prey to the devouring element. We are glad to learn that Mr. .Williams was partially insured in the London and Liverpool Insurance Company, but, nevertheless, he will be a serious loser by the catastrophe.— Southern Cross,