The Thames Advertiser TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1874.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 1885, 3 November 1874, Page 2

The Thames Advertiser TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1874.

In March last, the Provincial Government of Westlaiid remonstrated withthe General Government on the fact that the salaries of the Eestdent Magistrates on the goldfietds, who also act as Wardens, were charged ou the province, aud not paid by the General Government as they are in districts which have not the misfortuue to be gohlfields. Mr Bonar, the Superintendent of Westlaiid, wrote as follows to the General Government: —

I think it is hardly necessary for me to draw your attention to tha fa;t that, although the officers who act as Resident Magistrates act

also as Wardens, by far the greater amount of revenue is derived from the former Court, and is wholly paid into the public account, while the salary of these officers has to be paid by the province, with the exception of Mr FitzGerald, at Hokittka, In looking over the returns for the past six months, I find that in the Resident Magistrate's Court in the Grey district, 720 cases were heard, as against 20 in the Warden's Court. I trust therefore that at - the approaching session of the General Assembly the salaries of these officers may be placed on the General Government estimates, To this very reasonable request, Dr. Pollen makes the following reply :— Sir,—l hive the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 173, •of the 30th of • March, in which you enclose a resolution of the Provincial Council to the effect, that greit injustice is done to "Westland in consequence of the salaries of the Resident Magistrates iu that province being paid by the Provincial Government. 2. I must point out to your Honor that the Resident Magistrates in Westland, with the exception of Mr Fitz <erald, at Hokitika, who ■ is paid by the General Government, are essentially goldfields officers, for'whose services there would be no necessity if there were no goldfields, and who therefore ought to be paid, in Westland as in other aurifooits provinces, out of goldfields revenues. 3. I shall, however, have no objection to bring the matter before the .Cabinet when the estimates are under consideration,—l have, .'frJ&DANiEi! POLLEN. This letter cannot be styled any thing else than impudent and even insulting A. duty is levied on gold, to which no other product of the country is subject, and this one injustice is made the- excuse for another. If all those people on the West Coast were engaged in the production of wool instead of gold, they would not have to raise any special revenue for roads -or bridges in the locality, and the Government would besides gladly pay a Resident Magistrate for them. The excuse for the gold duty is, that a large expenditure, for works is required on agoldfield, but it is altogether absurd to charge the administration of justice on that, besides forcing those engaged in the gold mining industry to pay a larger propor-' tion of the expenses of Magistrates elsewhere than those people who have the benefit of those Magistrates. For instance, by the manner-in which taxa-. tion is imposed in the colony, the residents on the West Coast have to' pay for the administration of justice out of their local taxation, and towards the payment of the Magistrate at Christchurch have to pay a larger proportion than the people of Ohristchurch themselves. It is the same at the Thames. The salary of the Warden is charged' : against the province, and the province \ charges it against the goldfields revenue. Dr. Pollen's' Argument that if there were no goldfields at; the JWesfc. Coast there would be no need for Resident Magistrates is quite puerile, and if he really attaches any weight to that argument he must consider goldfields, and the population they bring, as nuisances, to be abated as soon as possible, by putting burdens upon them. "Why. does not the Ministry put a : special tax on wool, charge the salaries ' of the Magistrates in the pastoral dis- ' tricts on that, take all the fees and , fines arising from the Courts into the Exchequer, and tell the people that if , there were no wool-growing there would be no need for a Eesident Magistrate there at all ? The equity of the matter is very clearly pointed out by the Superintendent of West- . land iu answer, and to the arguments used Dr. Pollen does not attempt any reply. He simply says that "the subject having been considered by the - Cabinet, the Government have come to the conclusion that it is not desirable, for the present at least, to : propose to"' the Legislature an. alteration in the mode of providing for the salaries of officers on the goldfields of the colony." The truth is, that no interest has been so shamefully neglected as the interest .' of the goldfidlds. Of course,'in a Legia-... lature composed of representatives 0f.,, different sections no. interest will bo looked after if those who are sent there for the special purpose neglect the duty. And that the goldfields mem- '''■. bers have done systematically. ' Other . members find personal advantage in getting something for their .constituents. A member who is a large landowner benefits his constituents and also himself personally by getting a railway made through the district. Except in respect to the goldfields, it may be said that the interest of every ' member is identical with those of his . constituents. But the goldfields members are generally of the class who can get no benefit by anything done their constituents. They are in the , position of having to choose, between benefitting their constituents or bene-. • fitting themselves, and in such a case there is not generally any hesitation." : When one or two of them do make a ..,- motion for some measure of justice to the goldfields, it is known and under- ; . •. stood to be a farce all over the House. The manner in • which the goldfields" members may be insulted with impunity is shown by the fact-that when a motion was made, in the session before last, for the abolition of the ! gold . duty, Mr Yogel said that ho doubt' honorable members for - the goldfields > would have to vote for the motion, but he had no doubt; also that these very geutlemen would be much obliged to Other hon membersifthey would stay and Vote against it. Such is the estimation- ' in which the goldfields members is held. Everybody knows they are all ; playiug a farce, and that each is waiting for some personal advantage to him- .; self. We hope that when the Thames has next a chance, it will send' to ; Parliament one who will do something.'' to retrieve the character of the gold-..-;• fields representatives.

An accident occurred yesterday on Block 27, which ought to be a warning against leaving wells in an imperfectly ; protected state. : A child, belonging to a family which had just' :j removed into a house, ran across the top of an /. old well in the yard which had been boarded' ■:' over, but the wood having rotted,' the little fellow fell through, The father was at home,- ': and being aroused by the screams of the other;'; children, ran out aiid jumped down the well. . ■ Fortunately, there were nor'morethantwo.or■••'.•■ three feet of water in the well, which was about" ■■ '• twenty feet deep, and when some of the neigh-: hours arrived, both father aud child wererpulled out, not much the worse. All old, wells,.' ought to be securely covered^.' : ' '■; :

A fancy bazaar in aid of the fund for wiping off the remainder of th» debt on St. George's Church will be opened in the Academy of Music on Thursday next. We understand that the ladies have been most diligent in accumulating fancy articles for exhibition and sale on this occasion, aud the display is expected to excel anything of the kind attempted on the Thames. Unfortunately for the object, dividends have heen so few, and money consequently so scarce, at this season, that we fear the result will not exceed former attempts, however good the display may be,

A- meetiog of the Thames Miners' Accident Pelief Fund- Committee was held last night at the Governor Boweu Hotel. There were present—Messrs Lowe (in the chair), Day, Watson, and Goldsworthy. The business tiansacted was of a routine character, ' It was resolved to hold the half-yearly meeting of subscribers on Friday evening.

1 Mr Meek and party have brought up a sample of coal from the seam which they have discovered in the neighbourhood of Tapu Creek; and one large block is now on exhibition at this office, The coal has, we understand, heen taken from an outcrop on the bed of a creek, but.although it is evident that it has not been subjected to any heavy pressure, it seems to be a good sample of anthracite coal, simi'ar in m'st respects, in appearance at least, to Newcastle coal. The quantity brought to town jvsterday was about 16cwt, and arrangements vri'J', wo understand, be made for testing its quality at some of the batteries.

In addition to the notices respecting the use of the different kinds of timber on the Thames goldfield which we printed yesterday, we observe that Mr Kirk states that the timber of the maire tree, of which there are three kinds, has been occasionally utilised for machine beds at the Thames goldfkld, but deserves to be much better known.

The Tsratu Gardens are to be fairly opened for the season on Alonday next, the Prince of Wales' Birthday, and should the weather prove favourable there will no doubt be a large number of visitors present. The "araru Tramway, will convey excursionists to the gardens at the low rate of Is, including admission to the gardns and return to Grahamstown. At the gardens there will be an abuudance of fresh strawberries and cream, and the young people of the Thames will have an opportunity of tripping on "the light fantastic" to'the strains of sweetest music,' or enjoy the sea breeze and the fine view from the Flagstaff Hill while the sports are going on below.

The following is Mr Benney's report on the parcel of Maramarua coal given to him for testing at the Bright Smile battery. It will be seen that the opinion founded upon the result of the test is a highly favourable one:— " Grahamstown, November 2, 1874. The directors of the .Miranda Coal Company, Gentlemen,—l have the honor to report, for your information, on a trial which I have made at our battery of two tons of coal received from yon for that purpose. Full steam was kepi up for the space of 20 hours, with the abovenamed quantity. It was impossible to give your coal what I would consider a fair test,' as, owing to the fire-bars not being adapted for burning such coals, a great quantity fell through and was lost. 1 consider that if proper furnaces were used the relative steam generating powers of your sample and that of the Bay of Islands coal would bi as 1 to I£. or in other words that 1£ tons of similar coal to that you sent me wouid equal 1 ton of Hay of Islands coal. Should you be enabled to procure coal similar to the same in sufficient quantity to enable you to deliver it here at a reasonable price, you may rest perfectly assured of its capabilities for steam purpose?.—l have, &c, John Behbey, Mine Manager, Bright Smile Miue.''

The following is the state of the Thames Goldfield Hospital for the week ending Oct. 31 :— Bemained fr.im. last week, 24; admitted, 4; discharged, 6; died, 1; remaining, 21, The diseases are as follows:—Fracture, 3; spinal injury 1; debility, 2; wounds and injuries, '6 ; eczema, 'I; asthma, 1; lumbago, 1 ; bronchitis, 2; ascetis, 1; hip joint disease, 1; rheumatism, 2; del, tremens, I; spinal disease, 1; disease of foot (amputation), I,—Eemaining—Males, 15; females, 6; total, 24. Outpatients, 26.

The Wesleyans of Christchurcb have just he'd a fancy bazaar, the proceeds of which amounted to upwards of £600, without the aid of raffles, the latter being discountenanced by the liev J. Buller.

The following immigrants are expected to arrive by the ship ' flydaspes,' due in a few days:—Married men with families—ls farm labourers, 14 kbouiers, 2 painters, 2 sawyers, 1 ships' fender maker, Harm bailiff, 1 bricklayer, 1 tailor, 2 carpenters, 1 hoilcrinaker, 2 mechanics Married men without families— 4 farm labourers, 4 labourers, 1 plumber, 1 painter, 1 blacksmith, \ carpenter. Single men—ls farm labourers, 26 labourer*, 2 sawyers, 1 gardener, 1 vine grower, 1 timberturner, 1 box-maker, 2 surgical instrument makers, 3 cowmen, 5 farmers, 2 butchers, 1 porter, 1 printer, 1 joiner, 1 miner, 1 hatter. Single vtomen-21 general servants, 5 cooks, 6 housemaids, 1 dressmaker, 2 laundresses, 1 tailor(ss, 1 nurse, 1 laundrymaid.

The following letter from the Premier w published in the Lyttelton Times ;—" I observe in your paper, as well as in some rther papers published in Kew Zealand, strictures upon my approaching visit to England. A very laive number of persons in New Zealand wil', I am glad to think, receive, without question any personal assurance I give them. 1 shall feel indebted to you if you wi'l allow me, through your columns, togiveto them the assurance that I am proceeding to England because I entirely believe lhat by doing so I can best serve the colony. I may be permitted to observe that there can be little of personal pleasure in the very short visit lam making. Ishll be back before the commencement of the next session, It will, I presume, be conceded that the Government are best able to judge of the necessities of the case. Not only are the cable negotiations of the largest moment to New Zealand, but it is imperatively requisite that I should confer with the Agent-General upon the Bubjjct of immigration, and upon other subjects.

A correspondent sends to the Bullarut Star the following:—" A gentleman well known c-n Ballarat wrote to the Imperial Government as soon a3 the wonderful richness of Ashantee was made known, to ascertain what inducements and facilities would be offered to miners proceeding to tho Gold Coast, who would introduce powerful machinery for mining purposes, ■and otherwise open up the country; and by the last mail he rec ived a reply, of which the following is the principal portion:—' Downingstreet, 25th July, 1874. Sir,—l am directed by the Earl of Carnarvon to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 18th Afoy, on the subject of mining enterprise in the Gold Coast Protectorate. In reply to your inquiries, lam to acquaint you that the Crown is not the owner of the soil in any part of the Gold Protectirate, except on the immediate s aboard, and is not, therefore, in a pesitiou to make grants of land, or concessions for working it. I am.further to observe that her Majesty's Government would be disposed .to look favourably upon any well-considered plans for the introduction.of capital and commercial enterprise into the Gold Coast Protectorate, and would withhold no proper or reasonable facilities to that end which it might he in their power to afford. But it is only right that persons contemplating any investment or undertaking within the Protectorate should be aware that, in the opinion of her Majesty's Government, there may be, independently of the risks of climate, many obstacles to the success of such enterprises, as regards the supply of labour and native right in land and minerals, Nor is it to be forgoiton thit, in consequence of the recent war, the country is, and for some time to come must remain, unsettled and disturbed. In view of these considerations, Lord Carnarvon caunot take upon himself the responsibility of advising or encouraging, at the present time, an enterprise of tho nature contemplated., ,('ig ne d) jKobbri GeokqbHer-

It is stated that there ace 1,000 miners out ol empliiyinenfc at Sandhurst, 1,200 at Ballarat, and many at other places in Victoria.

The Otago Daily Times says :—"V!t hear from Aw-kland that a new evening paper is to be started, under the control of Mr Jones, the proprietor of the Waibato Times, and formerly of Jones and Tombs, of Christchurch, The funds are provided by subscriptions among what is known as the Macfarlane party in that city, and the object is less to supply a public want than to put down the Evening Star, which however rash occasionally, has secured a strong hold of the public by its outspoken vigour. _ Of course it has made mauy enemies,, and ss it does not appear to have acted in its strictures with any regard to the wealth or position of thrse whom it has attacked, they resent the impertinence, and propose to crush it by opposition. Newspapers started on such a principle have not often been successful, and we shall watch the experiment in Auckland with some interest"

A most extraordinary rumour is afloat (says the South Ganterhmj Timesi on a subject which has lately exercised the opinions of feme of our antediluvian contemporaries. The rumour is that owing to Dr. Waast's jealousy of his pet theory of the extinction of ihe'moa being capsized by the capture of the real bird, he had sent a man up to cut the rope by which the captured moas were made fast. The painter was cut, and thence the esc-pe. This is really too bad, if true. We understand, however, that Dr. Haast has himself started for the back ranges to try to re-capture the birds, and we heartily wish him success. What a lot he will have to* write about, an-1 how the Christchurch savants will lionise him, and how they will all'' blow," as Anthony Trollope calls it— and Christchurch big .wigs cau blow.

Some amusing proposals are made by a correspondent of the South Australian Register as to the tests which should be applied to prove the eligibility of persons who offer themselves at home as working men desirous of emigrating. Holding that it is genuine working men 'ho are wanted, and not pretenders, or shams, " A Northern Farmer" submits three tests, to which all candidates should be subjected. One of these is the hand, wi;h regard to which " the fingers shou'd he short and square at the ends; if over 30 years of age a little knobby on the knuckles, The palm should be hard and dry, aud when the owner is asked to. put his hand flat on the table it should be found resting on the wrist and the tips of the fingers." The next is the hand-writing, and although the writer looks back with regret to the days whpn the best immigrants were unable to sign otherwise than by a cr. ss, yet this is a declaration of faith that he would no'- now insist ou. " A man should not be condemned because he is able to write his name, but to a good farm labourer it will be always an effort requiring a sigh after it is finished. Any attempt at a flourish should cmse a man's rejection," Ilia I third test is "speaking capibilities," and with reference to this he says:—" Make the applicant stand on a chair and ask him a few questions ; if he speaks as readily as w! en on the ground be doubtful of him, but if he shows the least tendency to wave his arms condemn him at once—he is a born orator, and if brought out he will never work hiin-clf, and will try to prevent others from working, but will possibly get into Parliament, or come to so ue bad end." —We' would commend these tests to the. attention of the Agent-General for New Zealand

The Australasian, of October 15, has the following:—" A competitive practice, to determine the respective efficiency of the two brigades, took place ou Saturday afternoon, between the Prahran- and Kichmond fire brigades. The competition took place io Osborne-street, South Yorra. The first event was a trial in which the two brigades had to try which'could get the water on first, after running 200 yds to the plug with a reel and 100 ft of hose. In the first trial the Prahran brigade got the water on-in 49 seconds, but the Richmond, on essaying, failed to get the water on by that time. In the second attempt the Richmond brigade occupied G3 seconds in getting the water on. It was agreed that the Iticbmond men should be given another chance, but they failed to get the water on, the couplings not being properly connected with the hydrant. This completed the competition and the winners, the Prahran brigade, entertained the visitors, at a luncheon in the Duke of Edinburgh Hotel."

The 'iSpriugbok",' during .her voyage to Melbourne from Newcastle, had a' curious companion for a short while in the shape of a large sperm whale, which struck up an acquaintance with the barque off the Dromedary. The barque went clean over the sportive mammal, which did not seem at all put about by this style of '■leap-frog," but kept playing around and ahead of the vessel for two hours afterwards.

From time to time we (Shoalhavcn News) have received startling intelligence from Bamerang anent a ghost, or rather ghosts, that have been seen by many persons, some of whom are persons not likely to be carried away by idle fancies. Mr Robert Williams, who has but recently gone to reside at Bamerang, has been terrified, his faithful watch-dog driven mad, and his whole household routed and thrown into the greatest consternation by the appearance of an appariiion. Vh Tuesday night Williams's family was startled by what seemed to be a man walking up and down the verandah wiih heavy-nailed boots The dog, who appears to have heard the noise, and it would seem also saw the cuise of it, was rushing about in a most frantic manner, and would every now and then make a desperate spring at the intruder, but flnaUy gave up the contest in sullen silence, The ghost, in defiance of all "locks, bolts, and bars" entered the house, and Williams then saw the figure of a man, dressed apparently in the garb of a bushmun. It went to the bed where Mr and Mrs Williams were lying, and pulled the bed clothes off the bed, aud lay down beside Williams, who, however, could feel nothing when he put his hand out to touch it. After a while the apparition went to where there was a crosscut taw standing, which it sounded several times as if beating time to music. After keeping Williams and his family in a terrified. state for some time his ghostship departed, Williams avers that he has heard and seen this strange visitor several times since his location at Bamerang,- aud challenges all unbelievers to go and stop at his house and judge for themselves. Other persons, as we have before stated, have reported to have seen I similar apparitions in the locality, and ona gentleman, well known in this district, who res.idad at one time at Bamerang, saw, or will swear that he saw, a low-set man, with a "•anilla hat on, "dressed in moleskin trousers, and a blue guernsey shirt, carrying an axe over Uu shoulder, enter his bidrooui, and when the parly-referred to attempted to ascertain who ho wasandwhathewauted, fouud that the supposed man was on'y a shadow. It is sorted by the very od hands of the district that one or wo sawyers bd been f o „ u d murdered in the locality many years ago.

walks abroad m Keusmgtcn, I meet th(! Prp r - (1 * y g Loui,e,always attended.by her hu.band, the Maqu.s Lome. I met them the other d y justasteyweregoingi.toa.hopoullighstreet. Hie Pnncess was hornbly dresil. bbe woro an old gown that was w tually dirty aud a bonnet lhat had apparently seen several summers. She affects this kind I( thing, abehas £8,000 a year for herself t d by her grateful count.y; but she certainly does not spend it on dress. Her husband was decently dressed, but he wore no gloves, and this was a pity, for his hands were large and rod' The Princess never was handsome, but ,he would look belter if she paid »little more attention to her apparel.

Au editor a brother quill-driver this Grit-rate notice:-"The volcanic, pimpleheaded, blister-brained, owl-faced, pike-nosed weasel-eyed, web-footed, peg-legged, lilliputian' peggy-pettifogger does not like our personal appearance. Until this foul-mouthed, brazen debaser has been run through a sieve, filtered, scoured, scrubbed, swabbed, sponged, and disinfected ; until the snarling hteUiyeiit Kcw/rani is a fit object to enter decent society, we will forbear having anything to Bay about him." "One man is silent, another talks all the time, and twelve wise men condemn the man who has not said a word." [A. Oltinaman'a description of. an American Court; J