The Tuapeka Times. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1869. "Measures, not Men."

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 54, 20 February 1869, Page 2

The Tuapeka Times. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1869. " Measures, not Men."

The importance of a country like Otago, where there are neither railways nor navigable rivers, possessing a serviceable breed of horse*, can hardly be over-rated. Nor does this matter appear to be neglected by the inhabitants of the Province, as the numerous and liberally encouraged race meetings will attest. Our readers will observe from our report in another column, that Tuapeka continues to support her well earned reputation, and that the meeting just over, has been quifce as successful as its predecessors. But while we congratulate the Tuapeka Jockey Club on the fortunate issue of their labours, we feel constrained to inquire whether the present system is, after all, the one best adapted to introduce into tne Province, a race of serviceable, and hardy steeds. The general remark of all who saw the runners foi" the various prizes was, that not one of bhern was more * nan a § 00<^ WTc a>* serviceable hunter. The reason of t^' ls not ftir to seek, tor while we have jntodueed, at great expense, several l bred sires > c have been too av'* % trust *° chance for our dams. Nor are &Q& Q sires we have intro.div cea ot ™ c highest quality; King Tom, the best of them being, although P er " feet in blood, faulty in make, . aA< * by no means likely to throw firs.- 1 class foals, Others again are simply ' weeds," whose high sounding pedij gree, is only a delusion and a snare, las many breeders have discovered to their cost. But even although Stockwell, Monarque, or Blair Athol I were stationed in our midst, our j efforts would prove futile unless more attention was paid to our mares. At present we have not a j single horse on the turf which can I be called thorough-bred, and in con- | sequence, we are compelled to continue importing sires at an enormous expense. Were encouragement offered for the importation of first-class mares, we should be able to rear our own foal-getters, and I become, thanks to our natural advantages of climate and soil, exporters instead of importers of thorough-breds. There is no doubt that England owes a great deal to races like the Thousand Guinea Stakes, the Oaks, &a, which offer inducements for breeders and trainers taking particulars pains with their fillies. It is a pity that we have no " lady races " here, for until such are established we must be content with mediocre racers. The misfortunes of Victoria are before us as a caution — not to be entirely led by pedigree, or even brilliant performance, in our choice of sires, for the progeny of the brilliant Fisherman have proved cripples and incapables, while the example of New South Wales points out the direction our reforms should take. Victoria has already taken the alarm, and a joint-stock company is being formed for the importation of tried sires and dams, by means of whom it is hoped to recover the prestige so completely destroyed by Glencoe and the Barb. Although our poI verty forbids any experiment of so i costly a nature, some steps might be taken in a similar direction. Tho various jockey clubs might | unite in offering a yearly prize of considerable value, to be run for by thorough-bred mares and fillies, ; weight for age ; the contest to take place year about on the courses belonging to the subscribing clubs. s A premium might also be offered

for the importation, of any tried sire, and a guarantee of a certain number of subscriptions might be added as a further inducement But it may be objected , this would only lead to the introduction of thorough-bred stock, while good roadsters and hacks are what the Province really stands in need of. But this objection is in reality unfounded, as we can never possess good horses of any kind without the admixture of a really good strain of blood. This is proved by the anxiety shown, by foreign Governments to purchase the more famous English horses ; not with a view to breeding racers, but in ordep to mount their cavalry efficiently. The climate of Otago is peculiarly adapted for horse-farming, and we have little doubt that enterprise in this direction, would prove not only profitable as a mercantile speculation, but also prove a lasting boon to the community. We trust something will be done, and in that hope have directed public attention to the matter. Another feature of modern racing which demands consideration, is the tendency to encourage speed at the expense of endurance. The fourmile races so popular with our grandfathers have been almost entirely abolished, and even three miles have become an exceptional distance. This matter excited considerable controversy in England some years ago, and was the subject of a debate in the House of Commons. While, all the best authorities — General Peel at their head — agreed that ten-mile races were useless inflictions of torture, it was pretty generally believed that the old distance of four miles was about the best possible test of a horse's bottom and speed. Various circumstances, and the great influence of the bookmakers prevent a return to this at home ; but here, where we are not as yet cursed with a ring, there appear to be no obstacles to prevent its adoption. By following such a course we should get rid of the brilliant ineapables, who, like the offspring of Orlando, are good for a five-furlong or mile burst, and useless at any greater distance. We might fall off slightly as regards time, but the gain in endurance would be cheap at so trifling a sacrifice. At present we question whether any two horses on the English turf could emulate the feat of Mina and Sharper in their contest with the Cossack horses some forty years ago ; and yet our horses are said not to have deteriorated. Such may be the case, if our object be to rear hothouse growths instead of animals suited for the wear and tear of every-day work. We trust attention will be directed to this important question, and the opinl ions of those best qualified to judge m^de public, and that if a reform is* fo nrx^ necessar y> no desire to cater for the P UD^ C amusement will prevent its te in 3 stringently carried out. ___ _

be looked upon as t. AWeM? the public f tate, and a ™°S responsible to tne^ people po ii ey jury or deterioration. Their ± T *_ has at all times borne a strong " semblance to that of the unjus* ' steward; and they have certainly succeeded in making not a few friends by aid of the mammon of unrighteousness. Their latest man> eeuvre has been the wholesale disposal of bush reserves — a course well calculated to fill the Treasury, and equally well calculated to materially injure the Province. Timber is already a scarce and expensive commodity; but if the Government are permitted to persevere in their present course, it will shortly become a luxury far beyond the reach of any ordinary purse. Instead of endeavoring by a code of forest laws to preserve and increase the present scanty stock, they are doing all in their power to encourage its destruction. Apres nous le deluge appeal's to be their motto; for so long as they derive a present benefit from their actions they appear indifferent to the future welfare of the Province. The question is simply one between bona fide settlers and those vampires who, after draining the life-blood of the country, fly to other shores to enjoy their ill-gotten gains. To this latter class it matters very little what injury is done to the future of Otago, if "they can only succeed in scraping together a pile. It will be seen from the letter of our Tapanui correspondent that the people in that district are already beginning to grumble, and not without cause. Other countries are suffering from the indiscriminate destruction of their forests in the earlier days of settlement, and the warning afforded by their misfortunes should not be neglected. Prevention is better

than cure, and an adaptation of thtf system followed in Germany might prove of immense advantage to thia country. Let the reserves be kept in the hands of the Government, and be placed under the superintendence of an experienced forester, Who might be authorised to grant licenses for the felling of timber, when such could be safely/Wr'L^ By this means we would ns™Hj " check on the amount desti^Pa/ which could be so graduated as to ensure a constant supply. But the action of Government need not stop here. Thousands upon thousands of acres of land in this Province are unfitted by nature for either pasturage or tillage ; yet all this country* might be rendered as valuable as many barren hills and dreary moorlands in the Highlands of Scotland have been by j udiciotfs plantation; The expenditure of public money on such a scheme would be~ more beneficial to the Colony than all the' sham* universities and exhibitions on which money has been wasted.

AT the meeting of Synod recently held in Dunedin, the subject of missionary aid was remitted to the several congregations to organize such auxiliaries as in their wisdom and means, they can properly institute. In eonsequenee of the request of the Synod, the weekly service at the' Presbyterian Church, Lawrence, under the pastorate of Dr. Copland, partook of a varied character. The Doctor first delirered an eloquent address on the subject of missionary labour, and went over that interesting part of the missionary field, more immediately under the interests of the Synod, and pointed out that while we are labouring for the good oi' the heathen far off, we had not been unmindful of home, for the Presbyterian Church in Otagohad taken charge of the mission to the maories, and had entered into arrangements to have a missionary to labour among the Chines*. At the close of the Doctor's address, a «ongregational meeting was held to organise a branch society for the Tuapeka district; resolution* were proposed and seconded by the following" gentlemen, for the furtherance c 2 thia object, viz. :— By Mr. Jamison, Banktr, " That a branch association be formed in connection with 'this church for the object set forth." Seconded by Mr. Smyth, and carried. Mf Stenhouse proposed that Mr. Jamison bo appointed Treasurer. Seconded by Mr Smith and carried. Mr Stenhouse was proposed »a Secretary bat declined, and proposed Mr. M'Kinlay, who w»i seconded and carried. Dr. Copland was ap« pointed president, and th«n called upon Mr. MV Lellaad to move the next resolution -which r>ferrei to the ways *nd means. Mr. Bl'Lellai'd proposed that the ladies of the ooagrsgation pa instructed to take the important matter of 4Alecting, into their hands. H» though* tiat under the care of the ladies there would noths the slightest difficulty in making this brangt a success. This being the amount of busiiSSSy the meeting waa dismissed by pronouncing the & benediction, - r c The Bey, M. H. Martin will hold divinagft" . vice at the Blue Spur to-morrow (Su,«|iV »t the usual hour, _■%. A bbanch of the Bank of New Zealand has been opened at the Teviot, under the nanr.ge» nient of Mr. BeaL The wan* of an «tablishment of this kind has been long feltt as *he^_^ residents in the Mount Bengor district «ere ' compelled to travel a long distanco when they had to do any banking bnsintsa At a meeting of th» Loyal Blno Spa? Lodge of Oddfellows tho tender ef Mr. Goodscr, Port Chalmers, foT medical attomlane# was accepted. Mr. Goodsir is, w« beliew, a new arrival, »nd is highly MB«mm«nded ; but we question whether there Is room for another medical pnttitioner in thia district. Thj following notiee*has been posted up out* side the Posl-offlcs :— "NoTitm.— "She public • informed tha* on and after tho Ist of March arL %\\ mails will bo closed (and made up) afe ?"** * •» at 5.30 p. 0., instead »f at 8 v.m., as thi* ofßcfc (Signed) Tf. H. Basbok, Postat present. lMmme g t 15ta yy e b»uary, master. Post-on. Mr . Barbor only «m«s oufc 1869." W.bfllitrek. kina 4hi , altemtion> his instfwtiont in «w . . nßoTanw , nd a^ which will entail endless w <he j Mt four comfort to the paWfc. toe .losing- the years, 8 p.m. has been the hour tor v malls, and by that arrangement tinfft noQ^ lowed boiholden to reply te their «meM&^. dents. If the mails are clesei at 5.30> Bi-ffi* this trill b» impessiblo, and private boxes will be made completely useless.' ATe tpust, however, that such strang representation will be* mado to the Postmaater-General as will prevent; th 9 alteration. Johx CHHTAVAir eesasienally sh»W3 some enterprise, *s will be seen by any one visiting the camp. A large new store has been erected on the site of the house formerly eccupied by Mr. Blewitt. Government Interpreter, where, wa believe, stores are sold ai considerably lower rate* than in most European establishments. Messrs. Strode and Domitt, two of the Commissioners appointed to enquire into the workings of ths existing Land Laws have paid an official visit to Toapeka. They arrived yesterday ar.d remain for a short time. It is to bo hoped that every effort will be made by the Land League to lay before them a detailed account of the grievances inflicted by the present system. Evidence should be adduced to chow ' that the country'is becoming depopulated owing to the want of commonage and land for settlement. The. more, objectionable features of the lease system should also be exposed, via., tha great expense of survey, hardship of tho fencing covenant, and tha inadequacy of tha present area under each lease for the support of. a family. We trust some 'good result may spring from their visit, which is all the more likely seeing Mr. Keynolds i» not of thejr number. ' - """^SHP"

Mb. Thomas Bradut, to whose •uergy we fere iud«btei for » Saturday'! coach to th* Teviot, and mho for opening up coach communication with Switiert, ha*, ir% are informed, wld oat to King Cobb. That ctl»br»ted rul«r of the road* fiiited Tuapeka and the Dun»tau a few yrema tine*, and waa ao satisfied with the road ths i h« hat deUrmintd to ran th« Wednesday mening'* coach through 'to the Dunstan, inof tnly to tb* Teviot, at ha> hitherto been H the <*»•• w* look upon as the first step tof rd» opaning up the main line of traffic for th Dunatan via Tuapeka, Which will, whea the Afnmka Cre*k road i» oompleted, be almost as 1/el as a bowling green all the way, and de" the beat road to that important district. i retiring from a district in the opening up of fhich he had staked a considerable capital, Mr. Wdley desires us to oonTeyhia warmest thanks io the who have so warmly supported him ' *nd he feels assured now that the line of road has /alien into the hands of Mr. Chaplin, tootttng will b» lacking for the public interest, botj as regards cemfort of conveyance and reJonableneae of oharge. jun Blue Spur correspondent reports :— ABiing operations aro steadily on the increase, deteibuters of the Blue Spur Sluicing Comity fired a blast of 8 «wt., which was a success. Be and Co. also fired a blast lately of 18 cwt., tich answered admirably. Hall and Co. fierd Isniall blast, which did not prove good owing fo their being too economical in the use of fcowder. Morris and Co. firel a blast of 3 cwt., fend wera rery successful. Morrison and Co. , lore rapidly depositing their tailings due north, I /until that level is exhausted, when it will be I / helm a-lee on the south tack. This Company I/ are extending their tailrace, which, I have no ft doubt, will repay them well for their outlay. 1L The heads of water are more extensive than j | formerly. From 250 to 400 inches per head is ilr «bout theVerage of claims whew sluicing, and M it requires a long tailrtce for these small mounM "tain torrents, which, coming down wnh great I 1 velocity, drive boulders of from lolbs. to 251bs. 1 1 Of course, much fine gold is lost. The PerseJ • v»r»nce Company arc fast depositing their sand P back slip into Gabriel's Gully. The round hill H where Mr. Fulton's house stood, one would w imagin* at a distance to have been diseinf bowelled and sunk into a lower region. The I water races are paying very well ; the demand -; is greater than the supply. The Otago Company I are excavating and enlarging their water dam. vj!t«i«eu«sJi«P-aa_4his renowned claim having his interest in the mark^was^^i^etHnrTTy " one ef our enterprising miners, who offered him the price he wanted, viz., £^00. The seller : afterward* said he would take a day to consider | the matter. He ultimately refused to selL Tha would-be purchaser has gone to try his fortune in the Wetheratones cement. There is a splendid opening for a baker here with a small capital, as some «f our bakers are about retiring from business with an independence. One of -them recently invested between seven and eight hundred pounds for o seventh share in a cement claim ; and yet their conscience permits them to say bakery do»s not pay at Is. a loaf when I jthey have t®. pay from £18 to £19 per ton for . ***"*», which only realises £40.' Figures are } Ac **p*s>£ they may have the sliding scale of the IHH^wocesds when potatoes are a little cheaper. ; -?^H^i°N£E Srst of vhat promises to be a most inJ^^Bre%v(K end entertaining series of readings ■^Pma of! onTSalu'rday evening last in the Ath- » "Tentsum. Mr. Jamison occupied the chaii- ; and isvUhosgh the attendance was not so large as might h&v« been expected, it was, considering 'the inclemency of the weather, far from difc•ouragiag. Dr, HaHey «pened the proceedings by a shcrt bet oxceilent address ; and he was f ollow*A by Messrs. Keen, Tolcher and Downes, whose admirable readings were loudly applauded. Mrs. Hall wound up by a song. The brass ■""■"^jand enlivened the proceedings by the perforjftbee of a selection of popular airs. very •xcitimj 300 yard foot race took place l^ftterdaf morning between "Buntin, Tapanui, WMd Lavertf , Dunedin, on the main road Ross gßace, Lawreneb. JSuntin had a good start and it up well for the first 100 yards, after .JRehic'a. he lost ground till within two or three yards of the winniag post, when by a spurt he got well up, and caught the handkerchief at the 1 very moment that Laverty passed the winning M post. Laverty was therefore winner of what M might justly b» called a neck and neck race. 9 "W* undewtond a meeting of the Lend League l^^will bo held in the -Commercial Hotel this .^amorning ftt ten o'clock to make arrangements Mor the reeeptwa of the Commissioner^- " 9 Two rates will come off to-day (Saturday) : •Erst, & hack hurdle 1 race, for all beaten horses ; —if mile heat» ; for 15 sots. ; entrance, £1 : also, a M hack race, mile heat* ; for all beaten horses ; "" prize, a saddle and bridle ; entrance, 10s. ; no weights for either races under 9st. .We trust iboth races will be well contested.' A kTTG&bt weighing lOozs 19dwts was fbuud * few days since on Maclean's run a ; «hort dist»nce from Evans Flat. We hope, this will be given in evidence before the Commissioners when the Land League meet today or Monday.