"Saturday, august 15,1868. "Measures, not Men."

Tuapeka Times, Volume I, Issue 27, 15 August 1868, Page 2

"Saturday, august 15, 1868. "Measures, not Men."

It is probable that the statistical, and population Returns now being issued by the Registrar-General, though compiled and made up in the separate Provinces, have not I received that public attention and j consideration which they so well deserve. From one of these Returns, issued from the Census Office, Dunedin, we learn that population j in the Province of Otago has decreased during the three last years, j in spite of continuous emigration I thither, and of yearly increasing i Government attempts to induce the I intending emigrant ; that in the city of Dunedin alone, the diminution since the last census taken three years ago, is over 3,000 souls ; and that over the Province, as a whole, the diminution is at least 5,000 souls. These results are not j satisfactory. Either there must be j a falling off in the resources of the | Province to give employment, or ! the system on which emigration and J its arrangements are now based, are ! erroneous, and tend to no beneficial | result, so far as the object of cmi- j gration is concerned. , In fact, if we consider the subject of population ! in Otago, we must be surprised that j after a lapse of twenty years, in a j Province such as this, and the constant care and patronage, it may be said, of the powerftjl,,Free Church of Scotland, and aided by the Provincial Government funds, in the form of assisted passages, population should have grown up so very slowly, not even at this time, 1868, up to 50,000, and not equal in numbers to a fourth-rate city or town in the old country. During this long period of twenty years, land has been moderate in price., The natural resources of the Province have in; many publications been ! prominently brought before the notice of the, world, and a close con-. I nection nas existed with the leading j mercantile emporiums of Great Britain. Still, the cry is for an increase in population, an 4 its accompanying capital Without doubt, Scotland, j-from .which we should most readily expect a flow "of' Jjopulation/' looks now with distrust and hesitation on the Colony of New" Zealand,' ' and especially at this Province of Otago. lit may be affirmed that first account^ and representations- of the Province were so flattering, and did not stand tKe test of ' experience ; that in climate, soil, and in whai are termed Tiatural resources, the descriptions were overdrawn, and friends at home consequently advised^ to hesitkte before embarking I £or Oitago 5 that above all,' employment by those compelled' to sdek such was most difficult to be obtained, except in special cases ; that life in this Province, at all times, add. in most cases, was a hard struggling existence ; that no resident here could conscientiously advise friends, in any degree of comfort in Scotland, to leave for Otago Otago is in great want of population, and with population, it would obtain capital — as every new arrival may be calculated to bring with him a certain fixed sum, and which, however moderate individually, may in the aggregate, and during the year, make up a considerable amount ; and so, "if the so-desired increase of. population could be honestly obtained, the so-wanted additional thousands sterling would also be added to the fixed capital of the

Province, and with must HCiieiloial results to its general ira-ie and enterprise. The lato agVicuituril returns,- as published, might be made very effective in procuring these so desirable results, and of beneficially influencing opinion in the old country, if transmitted thither. ; They would bear upon their face the necessary truthfulness and reliability, and not be considered as the opinion of one individual, written chiefly from experiences in a different portion of the Island, or from experiences and hurried travel beyond the middle Island altogether. Three years have elapsed since previous and similar Returns were issued from the census office, and j the increase during that period, both in pastoral and agricultural | stock, has been great and most encouraging, especially in the increase of sheep and other stock ; in the quantity of land broken-up for agri- \ culture and now under crop. In the former case, the increase is 150 per cent. ; in the latter, 50 per cent, on previous numbers. That, though the squatting interest naturally in- : creases the fester, still, agriculture is making great and rapid strides — inftict, out-growing in 'profitableproduction the consumptive capabilities of our limited provincial population ; and yet these results have been achieved with diminishing numbers, showing, as has been lately well said by our, new Governor, the natural and unflagging energy of the Anglo-Saxon race and j mind. It would certainly be good policy to bring these returns prominently and persistently before home observation, and by an agent specially deputed, who might know the Province by actual travel and personal observation, who could speak truthfully and with effect of its revenue, pastorally and agriculturally, and if capable of replying honestly to all queries put to him, could influence to a decision hitherward many now doubting, timid, and hesitating minds — and so addlargely to our present numbers. An agent bearing with him all j necessary information, capable of giving costs of agricultural production, and from such data enabling ! the intending emigrant and purchaser to decide whether or not, possessing land here in his own right, he might not be able, with greater confidence and certainty to realise for himself and children fcßat ! independence we all so strive for, j than by remaining in the old coun- j try and continuing to pay a high j and burdensome rent to his British j landlord. At present the home ! agents for Otago know nothing or or little of this Province from personal observation and travel, and cannot be expected to influence fearful and hesitating individuals. A home agent should be enabled to do this, and on all points of possible enquiry give satisfactory information, and being in constant communication with the Provincial Executive, effectually perform the very responsible duties incumbent upon him. To aid in such duties it would be most advantageous that these Agricultural Returns be compiled and published yearly, and be transmitted regularly to the appointed agents. With the great mail servioes.now in operation, there could be' no difficulty in carrying out this proposition, and in keeping up V mutual stream of communication, and especially in keeping up, in Scotland, a salutary influence in causing emigration to tend thither. It is of l\ttle u^e to talk about the erection of woollen factories and o\frfei new industries, -or for the Pitvincial Government to announce their willingness to pay certain pro- | miums 1 from the public revenue," to parties desiroua to engage in such" new industries, without an increase |of population: At present we have | not numbers to spare .for such new . i industries^ nor can the present population, in its consumptive capar bilities, afford a sufficient and remunerative market, Any attempts .of this kind would still meet home competition, from the well-arranged and thoroughly organised factories there, of great extent and involving large capitals, It is forgotten here by parties -who propose such attempts, that to give the necessary results of trade, besides, the spinning mill to be erected, 1 there must also be the weaving factory, the scouring, falling, and dyeing establishments, &c, an<J in which £10,000 would go but a very [ little way here, as the woollen maI chinery of itself is very expensive, even in the old country ; and that any factory, to pay, must be of a certain extent, and capable of a fixed, large, and regular production. Such attempts at manufacturing might be kept up and fostered 'fprthe advantage of individual firms, i by the creation of Protective duties 1 on foreign and similar manufactures,

completely prohibiting their admission into the provincial market, and so compelling the public to make up ! individual and certain loss; but it j is not probable that public opinion, at present, to carry out a losing enterprise, would yield to the in- j fliction of protective, or rather prohibitive duties. llt would be discovered, that in making and fostering such atte~mpts as proposed, at manufacturing; out of d/ue season? that the Province would be " paying too dear for its whistle." The progress of Otago, as has been said, for the last twenty years; has been very slow, but by the next ten j^ears, it may be f.nticipated il the face of affairs* will be changed, and a large and .numerous population, counting by hundreds of thousands, be located; but., to achieve this, something more must be done than for Messrs. Patrick Henderson - and ' Co., of Glasgow, simply to advertise in Glasgow newspapers — "First Ship for the 'Goldfields of Otago," inc., or for the agent in Dunedin to be only able to place " Janet Brown, assisted female emigrant," to be house cook to Mrs. Black, Bell Hill, or from want of some little kindly enquiry, 'advise slim and unaccustomed youths, from previously behind home counters, to meet t,lij hardships and the roughnesses of the Tuapeka gold diggings ; of inform poor and anxious John f Smith, ploughman, that because he has brought with him a wife and two children, they being incumbmnces, he (the agent)cannot obtain employment for him. That, in short, besides the home agencies being based on some definite knowledge and enquiry, that in , the Dunedin agency likewise, , some degree of intelligence and feeling of responsibility are also required.

Ok the evening of Wednesday l&at, a soiree was held at Waitahuna, in celebration of the opening of the new school buildings. . The assemblage, we are informed, was one of the largest of the kind held there. , The. proceedings weremost agreeable and appropriate, and tha whole was in every way a most decided, success. The Bey. Jfessrs. Jtfartin and Copland, and JfaTessrs. Stevens and Stenhduse, and several other gentlemen addressed the meeting.

The usual fortnightly Reading* under the auspices of the Wetherstonea School Committae will take place on Wednesday evening n«xt, the 19th iust.

Thb Bey. Mr. Telford has been presented with a magnificent bible by the ladies of the

Teviot. The following is the .inscription written upon it t— " Presented .to the B?v. Bobt. Telford by the ladies of the Teviot, on the occasion of his ordination to the t pastoral charge of the Mount Becgsr Presbyterian congregation, as a memento of their respect and esteem, with the Hope that he may long be spared to administer the truth of the gospel in their midst."

Our Tapanui correspondent, writing on Thursday, the 13th inst., says, a sad and melancholy accident occurred here .in the shooting of a gentleman named Mischel by the accidental discharge of his gun. The wound was -a terribly fatal one, and the poor fellow died instanta- , neously. A coroner's inquest was held, and a verdict of " Accidental Death while shooting " was returned. Dr. Niven stattd the shot had entered' behind the/right ear,' and fractured all the bones of tho skull,* producing a terrible wound at.its exit, carrying away a portion of the brains. From the character and prospects of Mr. Mischel— who. was only twenty-two years of age - -the case is a peculiarly sad and painful one. The body, accompanied by Mr* Bawling, the compunion of the deceased, has been taken to Tuapeka, and fel likely, W^ believej to it» interred in Dunedin. Deceased was a son of General Sir T. Mischel, ex-Commander of the forces-in Canada,- £?c. ( We are informed that Mr. Hay, having made arrangements in Dunedin-for a constant supply of furniture of every description, will be able to supply pnrchasers with e'-good article 0& cheap rate. Ho has received his first consignment, which i 3 nfmr oS S:e t a*-; his 2*le rooms, Boss Far.*.

I" OHTuesdriy evening -last, 1 a meeting was held I in* tbte Commercial Hotel for the purpose of forming a committee to carry oufrarrangements for the firsjb 'ploughing -match in the^Taapelra district. Mr. James Hopkins occupied the chair. ' On the motion of Mr. D. Evans, seconded by Mr. James Dochertj, the .following gentlemen were' appointed' a committee :— Messrs. P. Rohertaon, -Alex.' Robertson, Brooks, Gascoigne, M'Coll, Hutchison,' Campbell; and J. H. Pressly» Secretary. It'^wi resolved that the match take place on Friday, the 28th inst. ; id a paddock of Mr. David Evans/ Evans' Flat , , that all entries he made with Mr. Evans or the Secretary not later than Tuesday, the 25th inst ; that the entrance fee be five shillings for subsoribers; and' ten shillings for non-Bubscribera. It was arranged that the committee meet on Tuesday evening ne^t, for.the.purpoae^of frjuning rules, &c. A vote of thanks to t the chair closed the business df the meeting. The nomination of candidates for Councillor : for West Ward, to supply the place of Mr. John Donovan, resigned, took place at the Council Chambers on Wednesday,, the 12th instant, at twelve o'clock. The only candidate proposed was Mr. Arthur Henderson, who was at once declared elected. Mr. Henderson said -that, not being a speaker, 1 a speech would nobbtt expected of him ; but he would Ray this much : he would net fai 1 . to do his best for the interest* of tho ratepayers who bad to unanimously eleoted him. „ :

, tak Ttetal Abstinence Society will hol.l ;*„ 3econd meeting in the Schoolroom, Latvr«,, w on Friday evening, the 21st instant, at seV-

i\£clock, when we trust a success similar to that whxeli attended its first meeting* will be the result.

The first meeting of the Board of Wardens for the depasturing district of Tuapeka \t»» held in the Commercial Hotel," X*w*ence, oa Monday, at one o'clock p.m. Present : Messrs. M'Curregh, Robertson, Michael Browne, Edio, Grundy, Poison, andMee. Chairman, J. Mackay, Esq. Mr. Poison was Secretary pro tern. Mr. Robertson proposed, and Mr. Edie seconded, "That the Chairman be requested -to ask tht .Government for a correct map of the district* showing the area of ground, the principal creek* %nd roads ; also the agricultural areas surveyed.*, —Carried. Proposed, and carried, "That the next meeting be held at Chalmers' Half Way House. " Proposed by Mr. Poison, and seconded by Mr. Robertson, " That it is desirable that there should be two separate Boards, vis., oat for Tuapeka and one for Waitahuna."— Carriad, Proposed by Mr. Eadie, and seconded by Mr. Robertson, "That five members foim a quorum*" —Carried. Proposed by Mr. Michael, and »t* conded by Mr. Mcc, " That the meeting adjgurn till Tuesday, lit September, at four o'elotk p.m." _

W* have to call the attention of the mining community to the sale by Mr. Matthew Hay, at his rooms, on Wednesday next, of important mining property. Partieukri may U found In our advertising columns.

Wm were pleased to set an address to Jfc. Warden Hiekson, of the Tevwt, which, is to bft presented at a farewell supper to be given to that gentleman on Wednesday, the 19th fast, on his retiring from the office of Warden forth* Teviot district. The address, although a short on», is very neatly engrossed on vellum, bearing; upwards of sixty signatures, expressing a high appreciation of Mr. Hickion's services as Watden, and of his character as a gentleman.

A metixo of the Lawrence Athenamm Braw Band ws/s held in* their practice-room on Tuesday, August 11th. Minutes of previous meeting: were read and confirmed. Proposed by. Mr. Francis, and seconded by Mr. Wilson, " Thai Mr. J. y. Gamtt's resignation ss member of Committee be accepted." Proposed by Mr. Morrison, and seconded by Mr. Francis, " That Mn Bo.uTton's resignation as Secretary be accepted.* Proposed by Mr. Tatteraall, and" seconded by Mr. Wilson; " That the Secretary receive a voi» of thanks for past services as Swretary." Propoked by Mr. Garrett, and seconded by Mr. Fletcheav " That the Secretary be. instructed to. write to Mr. Harrep, telling him that the Baud Committee will not require the room any longer for practice, at tho same time to give up the k«y of the building." Proposed by Blr. Francis,*mi seconded by Mr. Tattersaß, "That Mr. Hackney's (the contractor) kind offer for the Band te^ hay* use of ths Atheoatua building for pvM* - tic* b* accepted."

A BFiciAi matting of the Lawr**c« Towa Council took place to consider what steps sho«ld be taken respecting Air. Murray's claim of £60,. on account of water contract. The Mayor read a loiter from Mr. Maddock, Solicitor, Duntdin,. in which he stated that Mr. Murray would aot make any reduction in his claim. He was willing to have the matter submitted to arbitration at once ; but, in toe event of any delay, h« intended 'to institute proceedings against tha Council, and abandon the idea of referent*. A discussion then ensued as to what would be th» best course to adopt. Cr. Keen proposed, and Cr. Myar seconded, " That the amount claimed should be at once' paid."' Cr. Hay moved an amendment — '* That the claim should b« aettltd by arbitration," seconded byCr. Walker, and carried. This closed tha business, of .the meeting." ' '

1 TVs are glad to state that the deep shaft at Wetherstones has been bottomed. The contractor has delivered up the shaft to the Fro* greis Committee. Jfessrs. M 'dusky and Cranley, members of the Committee, went down the 'shaft, to examine the work, and they 1 express themselves highly satisfied^ with the contract. We have seen a piece of the bed rock, which is of a slate formation, intersected with quarts leaden. The reef dips at an angle of 45 de-

grees, and there are strong indications of a gutter being close at hand, as there is a. very heavy v/ashof wateKwom^bourders lyings close -~ on the bed rock. The shift is now quite dry, and in . first-rate working ortlerJHHie leakage only being about six inehe* in twenty-four hours: There is but one drawback which the Committee : experience— the amount voted for- ' testing the shaft has been; expended— *c. must say satisfactorily expended, so we sincerely tntflt the Government will not be lax in granting .such a sum at will enable the. Progr^u. ' Committee to complete the work of testing th* shaft, which has been so far and ' successfully carried out. -

The necessity for the appointment of •

coroner at Tapanui was very forcibly demonstrated this week in the ease of the fatal aetfi* dent to -Misoiel, . in the Tapanui Bush. r A . messenger had to he sent to Swi&erj, a .distant* ' . of between tbirty-aa-i-foi'ty milca, to Mr. "Warrv — den Stratford, as the nearest coroner, _, A delay thus occurred of two or thr»«UjßS;. before the requisite! inquest on the body -^btii-f be held. \We shall jbe glad, to learn,that the Government, has a coroner for that' important district. Am there is a medicabgeatleman *reti. dent in the township, the Government can have no excuse for delay in appointing an ably quali. fied gentleman to act in the capacity of coroner. _We might ask, why do the J. P.'s of the di*. trict not hold a Court now and again, for the convenience of business people residing in th« township.' Every paltry disputed claim must be settled in' Tuapeka, thus' entailing a larger sum in miny cases for -fxpti&iw* than the amount claimed. Surely Captain Jfcfaokenxie could sparo an hour or two for magisterial business, to iht [(^Msjjlsjs* of tto WiMHWtwutt #r tt# djitoleh

TTOW %a$ the Board Of Warden* foVthe' De> ©istrietof Taapeka it instituted, we jflfxpect some of the grievances under which iftle owners suffer to be redressed. The time

it rery writable for alTthote wKo art! depMturing cattle on the commonage to furnish the Inspector with a correct list of the atme. Complainti hare, been frequenllj made of ihr w»M «f graat in'ihe Taapekjt district,' ana ifiaijy bitter things hare been laid of the Government for keeping two of the neighboring run* locked B p. If cattle owners were to send in a -correct. w tum of the cattle claimed aa their property, we are certain it would be powerfully shown that the gracing capability of the district is far 'too limited for the demands upon it, and the would then.be.oWigtd to throw open! sufficient. jjtnd to meet th« requirements of stock owners ; bat we have reason to believe that the returns ijftherto-furnishea jia«e been considerably decent of the exact number running on the aommonage. The Government, calculating on the returns sent in, naturally say there is abunjMieeoilatid'open'in'the district for grating parposes. Cattle owners are, therefore, stand* Ing in their own fight by Withholding the correct lilt of the number of their stock jjabd we trust ♦hey will see the advantage likely to accrue by furnishing the Inspector with a faithful return. From a pressure- of advertisements' we are impelled to hold over our reports of the Resident Jfagistrate's Court and the District Court for this week, -till our- next <issue. , We may, however, heicstate that Donald and Hugh Clark, who were brought upchargedwithatealingacow, wsre both acquitted. Jtfr. " Warden Simpson nid that after carefully considering the whole »f the evidence, they had come to the conclu■ion thai t^e police had failed in their case. The Bench had no doubt that the prisoners had killed a cow not their property, but that of Garden, but there was not sufficient evidence to prova f •lonious intent, therefore the order of th« Court ia, that they be discharged.