THE Thames Advertiser. FRIDAY, MAY 1, 1874.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 1802, 1 May 1874, Page 2

THE Thames Advertiser. FRIDAY, MAY 1, 1874.

* — During the last few weeks there has beeu a good deal of talk as to the Quartz Crushing Machine Regulations Act, aud as to specimen stealing at the Thames, and the mysterious find of retorted gold at the Hape Creek opens up further room for speculation. The opportunity thus afforded to the people of the righteous city of Auckland, of having a slap at the inhabitants of the Thames generally, is too good to be lost, and we are therefore treated to serious lectures on our scandalous thieving propensities as a community, Our Auckland contemporaries appear to think that the actions of half-a-dozen persons, or perhaps a still smaller number, are the actions of a large section of the people at the Thames; but if this principle is to be applied to communities generally, wo should be justified in

condemning the great bulk of the people .vof the city of Auckland as iucendiaries, because there are a few people there who occasionally burn down their premises. Of course such a statement would be ridiculed by the Auckland press, but it would not be a whit more absurd than those exaggerated statements made time after time by the Aucklaud papers regarding specimen stealing at the Thames. When the Caledonian' met with the famous deposit of gold, lasting with such unparalleled richness for so many months, there was no doubt a considerable amount of specimen stealing. At that time organised means had not been taken to prevent such dishonesty, and with gold in piles about them, and with facilities for crushing abundant, it was not to be wondered at that an immense amount of stealing should have taken place. We all saw the evidences of dishonesty, and lamented that detection was so difficult. Hut the impossibility of getting at the dimensions of the crime which was being carried on, has, we have no doubt, caused these to be much exaggerated, till every man in Auckland who holds shares in a gold mine seems to think that the only reason why he does not receive dividends is because the men employed in the mine steal all the quartz that is worth anything. These wild statements about specimeu stealing are not attempted to be proved, and cannot be proved. We also feel a difficulty in attempting to prove a negative, but it is evident to us from many indications that specimen stealing, which was never so bad as report made it, has greatly decreased, and is probably carried on to a less extent at the Thames than on any goldfield in the world. This is to be accounted for in various ways. There, is no claim now produciug gold in such: marvellous quantities, as the Caledonian used to do; companies now make much better provision than before against the possibility of men.leaving the claim with auriferous stone in their possession; and above all, the Quartz Crushing Machine Regulations Act make's it next to impossible to couvert stolen specimens into money. That Act has been most zealously worked on this goldh'eld—the smallest departure from the most stringent regulations has beeu rigorously punished. Of course, in such a matter, positive knowledge cannot be attained, but we have no hesitation in saying, from all we can gather, from conversations with mine managers and with men working in mines, and from other sources of information and inference, that the stealing of auriferous quartz has been reduced to a minimum, 'here ought not, we contend, to be the slightest relaxation iu the strictness with which the rules under the Quartz Mining Regulations Act are enforced, nor in any means of prevention or detection/ but while there is no proof that specimen stealing is prevalent, we must protest against the continual assertion that it is, aud above all we must protest against the whole community being branded as thieves or as being in league withthieves. In the case of George Smith v. Queen of Beauty shareholders, there has beeu some dissatisfaction because the evideuce for the defendants was not printed at the same length as a portion of the evidence for the plaintiff. We feel there is some justice in the complaint, especially as the case was one of veracity; but the truth is, that after a case has been before the Court for a few days, the public.cease to read long reports, and wait patiently for the judgment. Independently of the importance of the evidence, the claims of other news have to be looked to. We may say that the evidence of the defendants was to the effect that they had never consented to give the three reefs, while Mr O'lirien denied that he had evor written out any agreement thm tho one Smith had signed; that he had never added anything to it, or made any interlineation. A meeting of the friends of Captain Fraser, R.M., was held last evening at the Governor Bowen, in connection with the libels published by the Auckland Star upon him and upon the community' of the Thames. The meeting was hurriedly called together, but the Mayor and nearly all the Councillors were present, and a number of the most influential men in the community. The Mayor was called upon to preside. Captain Fraser stated that he bad thought it right to call those present together to advise with him in reference to the libels published against, him in the Auckland Star, and which also reflected upon the whole community. As they were aware, he had taken procei dings against the publishers of the Star, but as the Chief Justice would have t> 30 South, some delay would take place. ■ His solicitors were Messrs Hcsketk and Richmond, and the former of these gentlemen, wbeu at the Thames that day, had received a letter from his partner containing the following in reference to the case:—"l'liere is little doubt but that an apology with payment of costs will be offered in this case, and I have as little doubt but that the Court will leave us to say whether we will accept it. As at present informed, I believe Fraser is adverse to receiving an apology, but I think you should talk to him in the matter. I don't think it would be judicious to press the matter too strongly, and on the other hand I don't think they should be let off too easily. The apology should be ample, if not abject, aud in addition to costs they might be required to give a substantial subscription to the Thames Hospital.' 1 Captain Fraser said that this letter had only been received that evening, and in the circumstances he had determined tocatl together <a<i many of his friends as he could conveniently get together, and he would be prepared to abide by tlieir decision if they were unauinious, or nearly so.—After some discussion, the following, motion was proposed by Councillor Brown:— "That this meeting advises Captain Fraser that if the proprietors of the Evening Star will make an ample apology, satisfactory to Captain Fraser, and will also pay solicitor's costs, aud the sum of £50 as a donation to the Thames Hospital, and will give full publication to such apology, that Captain Fraser might forego all legal proceedings; otherwise, that he' proceed with the action."—Mr J. H. Salmon proposed as an amendment that an apology, if made, be not accepted.—A good deal of discussion then took place, in which Mr Howe, Councillor itenshaw, Mr A J. Allom, Mr Tyler, Mr Macdonakl, Councillor Butt, and others took pait, all of whom expressed the greatest indig-nation-at the foul libels on the Resident Mag : strate and on the community. The resolution was put and carried almost uuauimously. Several of the speakers offered to subscribo libendly to carry on the caso, if necessary.— The proceedings terminated with a vote of thanks to the chairman. A tolegnmfrom Port Chalmers states that Mr McKenzie, formerly a tributer in Tookeys, and now contractor of the Deborah Bay tunnel at that .place, struck a large percussion cap with tho hammer and exploded, a piece of which cut through the corner of his eye. It is expected he will lose tho Bight of an oye,

We understand that the lists of objections to names on the Thames electoral roll number about 700, half of which are from Coroniamlel and the remainder from this district, We are requested to state that tho meeting of Catholic residents on the Thame?, announced to be h.'ld this evening, on business of importance, has been put off, the object for which it was conveued having been already arranged. The Stephenson Dramatic Company last night performed in the Academy of Music to a very good audience. The programme was a repetition of that played at the Theatre Royal on Tuesday namely, "Lady Audley's Secret,'' and the burlesque of " Aladdin" as an after-piece, both beiug played with very great success. A splendid programme, comprising the drama of "The Lady of Lyons," in which .vliss Stephenson sustains the character of Pauline, will be provided for this evening's entertainment. The occasion is a complimentary benefit to Miss Clara Stephenson, and she richly deserves a bumper house. It appears from a Dunedin telegram in today's issue that the importation by L)r. Featherstonto Auckliud of French ballet-dancers at the expense of the colony has been- outdone entirely, by the arrival there, under the free emigration system, of no less than thirty-three females, believed to have been taken on board ship direct from the Queenstowh Reformatory! If such is the case, the sooner the services of Dr, Featherston are dispensed with the better it will be for the morals of the colonists. We learn by telegram, referring to the hank in course of establishment in Ofcago, that already 30,000 shares have been applied for. We understand that Mr Erriugton, engineer of the Pumping Association, is engaged in preparing working plans and specifications for a water supply scheme for Auckland in connection with the Western Springs, The work is being, performed by order of the City Council. Mr E. Honiss, Secretary to tho Thames Hospital, begs to acknowledge the receipt of the following subscriptions and donations:—Workmen Moanataiari 6.M.C., £4 9s; workmen Queen of Beauty G.M.0., £1 18s; J. Heron, £2 2i; workmen Shorthand saw mill, £2 9s 6d; Pioneer Lodge 1.0. G.T., £3 12s3d; fl. fl. Wright, ss; German Society, £2; J. Browning, £1; At. H. Airey,,£l; Rev. W. Jones, Baptist minister, £2; J. Aliaway, £1; workmen United Pumping Association, per M. Box, £1 6s Gd; J. Kernick, £1; workmen City of London G.M.C., £2 16s; workmen Bright Smile 'Gf.M.O., £i 9s 6d; W.G.,£5. "Citizen," writing on the Education Act, says:—"To the Editor.—Sir,—As one of those who have taken interest in the working of the present Education Act, I beg to offer a remirk or two on the coufereice held between the several education committees and our Provincial Council members. The sub-committee who drew up that concise and forcible memorial deserve the greatest commendation, L most heartily endorse every word of it. The position takea by the Roman Catholics, through their representative, Mr Mcllhone, is a new one, and shows that their policy is a shifting oue. At one time they desire Government assistance according to results shown; now they would have us to believe they are of opiuion that Government should only have to do with pauper As well might law-abiding citizens object to maintain the advantages'aud the protection good government affords, because they personally do not require the aid of police, as objection be made to a national system of education. I he educition, or instruction— that teem being preferred by some—of every child iu the colony in v the rudiments of knowledge is what would be of immense advantage to the future of this country; and not only in the rudiments, but the opportunities of a sound education should be placed within the reach of all. Those who object to aid to the successful accomplishment of this object prefer something else before the advancement of their adopted country. Only those who send their children to the schools working uu ler the Act are called upon t) pay the capitation tax; so that others are not paying for the education of their chi'dren, but pay a small tax to enable the Government to place the means of education within the reach of all,—in other words, to provide a cheap national system of education. It is a matter of congratulation that the chairman of the Waiotahi Education Committee has seeu occasion to modify his views, and has so thoroughly identified himself with the present system of education, I am of opinion that £1 per year should be the minimum tax, to bo increased on property value to say not exceeding £5, and that the Government should collect the tax as speedily as possible." His Excellency the Governor returned to Auckland on Wednesday night from his tour in the Waikato. .. His Excellency and party journeyed overland to Tauranga on Tuesday night, and embarked on board his Excellency's yaoht the 'Blanche,' which was awaitiug his arrival in Taur mga harbour. The vice-regal party consisted of his Excellency Sir James Fergusson, Governor Du Cane, Captain ■Pergusson, A.D.C., Captain the Hon. Seymour Egerton, and Mr Chichester, A man received a sentence of two months' imprisonment with hard labour, at the Police Court yesterday, for one of the most barefaced impostures that has wine under our notice for some time past. The prisoner had represented himself to two of the immigrants by the ' Dorette' as an old pilot, a master of three vessels, and a person carrying on an extensive timber yard. He also led them to believe that he was about to draw the sum of £200, and could give them good and constant employment. These statements the new arrivals were sufficiently, gullible to believe, and one of them advanced the sun of five shillings to the impostor, in the belief that it would be refunded. The falsehoods which had been used to further his ends were discovered before he could- give his intended dupes the sdp, and he was given into the custody of the police. The witness, in desorihing'the conduct of the prisoner, said "The prisoner told him that he was master of a cutter, aud pointed out a steamer as his vessel, I'tumbled.'" His Worship: "Did you fall ?'' Witness;. '.' No, I mean that I saw what the man was." It would he well if the immigrants would practice the art of tumbling, in the sense in which the word was used by the witness/ and cause those .who would impose upon them to fall into the hinds of the police, where they would meet with their deserts.— Herald. We [Bay of Plenty Tirm) have very great pleasure in recording the fact that Mr George Vesey Stewart, Emigration Agent, has selected and secured from Government the Katikati block fur the location of special emigrants from the North of Ireland. Mr Stewart will leave Auckland on the 9th proximo by the mail steamer, via California for Europe, to carry out, with as little delay as possible, the great aud responsible undertaking committed to his charge. Mr Warbrick has received instructions from Mr Stewart to act as his agent in the negotiations for all the native reserves within tho block.—We are indebted to Major Roberts, District Census Enumerator, for the following returns in the several sub-districts of Taurauga, Makctu, and Opotiki :—Males, 836 ;' females, 601-1,437. ..-.■.■■■'.? Mr ffirton, late manager of the Bank of Mew Zealand at Poverty Bay, who was fined £50 for contempt of Court by Judge Johnston, having failed in an appeal a few days ago, paid the money at Auckland.. \ _. : Mr John Donnelly is the successful tenderer for the maintenance of the Tauranga and Katikati road from Judea to Ongitete. The whole of the evidence iu the Horohoro native dispute I land boundary case has been tiken by Mr Halso, Assistant Native Secretary, Judgment is reserved, and it is probable that' tho decision will not be made public for some time to come. Each hapuis sauguino of victory. -J5. V. Thm. ■ Now opened up, ex 'Hylton Castle,' fourteen cases containing new diets goods, millinory, straw goods, ribbons, feathers, flowers, novel- 5 ties in fancy wool goods, shawls, rufllos, collars, I &c,,iu).portQd direct by J, Marshal,—[AuVl.]

' The Hon. Mr Sttfford, in a speech made by him' to the electors of Heathcote, spoke Btrongly respecting the relationship ; which should subsist between a representative and a constituency. He said:—" although this is the first time I have ever stood for a seat in any Provincial Council in New Zealand, yet for some eighteen years I have ha.l a seat in the House of Representatives, and I have always considered it a proper thing that the member for the district should'meet the electors—not in their private houses, but in public, where he could answer any questions, so that the public generally could be made aware of his opinions. l '

Noticing the report in a'Boston paper that in 1873 not less than 80,000 tons-of lobsters were taken on the coast of Maine, a Southern contemporary remarks: — "The crawfish of New Zealand is quite as good to eat as'the Maine lobster, and is very abundant. When, howover, shall we have to report that eighty thousand tons of them have been taken on the coast of the North Island in ono year?"

"Can a reason be ascribed for the depressed state of our mining industry ?" is the title of the following letter by Mr William Benson in the Ballarat Miner:— What a pity it is that, when, reflecting upon operations wh.ch ought to have tended to the fruitful advancement of our mining industry, that our recollections and experience bear sad testimony to a contrary result; and becomes evident that selfinterest in thjfindividual or in the few, has proved but too often inimical to the interest of the many and to the welfare of the community at large. "Enlightened selfishness," as this all-absorbing spirit of self-aggrandisement has been aptly denominated—when believed in the abstract or as it affects individual rights—is to a certain extent admissible; nay, it may bo accouuted praiseworthy. But when, from an intolerable spirit of a grasping ascendancy, or from a greed of gain, to the exclusion of all consideration for the common weal, the whole community is made to'suffer; in that case such a narrow-minded and selfish policy becomes odious, highly reprehensible, and partakes somewhat of a criminal aspect. This pernicious principle his sometimes a lesser sphere of action, none the less blameable, when it manifests itself by the obdurate retention of knowledge concerning the continuttionof alluvial deposits, or the strike and underlay of quartz lodes; which knowledge, fortuitously acquired, has been the means of enriching the possessors, and which, if imparted, might prove equally beneficial to- others striving to reach one and the same gaol with themselves. The withholding of such information, or, what 13 worse, doubtful or erroneous information imparted-be it. in a spirit of a dogmatic selfishness, or with the Jesuitical purpose of deterring other wayfarers in the pursuit of fortune from the further prosecution of their labours; and this to the end that " enlightened selfishness" may reap a greater profit—must partake somewhat,of a fraudulent spirit, if it cannot be classed as criminal in itself. It is my intention—per favour of the Star— to point out the evil inseparably attendant upon such short-sighted aims and modes of action as had obtained amongst us, and to question, if not to condemn, the continuation—even though it be in a lesser degree—of that selfish policy the evils and suicidal effects of which, though not at first apparent,'have nevertheless in a remarkable degree been a chief cause of the present depressed state of our mining industry within the Ballarat district! With this view I shall, in the first place, confine my remarks to the disastrous effects of the sordid policy of the late Great North-West Company, a policy which, in due course, brought utter ruin not only upon that once influential corporation, but, in its after consequences, entailed upon the mining interests of Ballarat a burden of doubt, despondency, and inaction, from which, even up.to this very hour, it has be« unable to divest itself; and, in the second place, I shall offer some practical suggestions, by the adoption of which we may possibly be enabled to recover somewhat of our former conhMence and activity, without which is is in vain to expect a renewed prosperity. (