The Tuapeka Times. SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, 1869. "Measures, not Men."

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 78, 7 August 1869, Page 2

The Tuapeka Times. SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, 1869. " Measures, not Men."

A few numbers back we commented on the small support accorded the Benevolent Asylum by the upcountry districts. But the question of how most profitably to direct the course of charity deserves some further consideration. The most popular institutions we have to do with are probably the various hospitals. These are liberally supported, both by the Government and by private benefaction, and, from their excellent constitution, are well worthy of such assistance. Yot we find an injurious element embodied in their government — we mean the almost absolute power of local committees. Heterogeneous assemblage's such as these are manifestly unlit for the unanimous and unselfish action the nature of the institutions demands. We daily see the position abused by those who either follow the dictates of private malice or the desire of exercising an unworthy power. It is useless to deny the patent fact that our own Hospital has its usefulness seriously impaired, its supporters disgusted, and its officials brought under unmerited and dangerous contempt by the squabbles which disgrace the Committee of Management, and by the petty malice which would conj vert the assemblage into the office of an upholsterer. Yet this same Committee represent but one-third of the funds Toy* which the Hospital is sustained, the remainder being public money, contributed by the whole mass of the community. It \ seems strange that while in England every effort is being made to make charities which receive no aid from the public revenue amenable to a general board of supervision, ! our Government deliberately refuse to exercise the authority their large contributions render both legitimate and requisite. They trust to Providence with a confidence worthy of the Micawber family, and in consequence the institutions which are most calculated to call forth the finest feelings of our nature — which should prove neutral meeting places where all private annimosities might be forgotten, have become tools in the hands of spiteful and noisy demagogues. Such a state of things is unbearable, and must prove injurious to all concerned. If we are to have a local Committee, let it be in conjunction with a central board of control, formed of 'men whose reputation is of wider extent than the boundaries of any Little Pedlington. While our attention is directed to the Hospital, we submit the following tabular statement to our readers. The first column contains the name of each district ; the second the amount of its contributions ' during the past year; the third the number of patients treated from each place ; the fourth the average duration of patients' ; stay from each district. I Place. Contribution. Number. Days. Lawrence&TuapekaFlat £174 19 25 ■Wetherstones 40 10 245 Waipori 87 12 42 5 Gabrielß and Munroes 60 19 49 Tuapeka Month 26 10 49 Waitahuna 61 24 50 Beaumont, Teviot, &o. 43 43 3975 It will be seen that Lawrence and the surrounding places occupy a very favourable position, but it must be remembered that nearly all the out-door patients — 128 in num-

tier — belonged to those' places, and that many of the sums credited to them were contributed by visitors. Still the position occupied by Beaumont, Teviot, and the other upcountry places forms a disgraceful contrast to the rest. We shall simply call attention to it, having so much faith in the liberality of our up-country friends as to believe this a sufficient remedy. - Jrom the list above given it is evident that considerable sums are yearly contributed in this district for charitable purposes, and when we add the moneys paid to the collectors for special cases, the amount becomes very considerable indeed. The latter are not, however, likely to be so largely patronised in future, as the present irresponsible system daily grows in disfavour. This feeling is no doubt just, and only the offspring of rational prudence, yet it is unwise to let it altogether dry up the springs of benevolence. A remedy may easily be found which, while giving the fullest security that contributions will be properly applied, will prove as efficacious in extracting funds from our unwilling pockets. This remedy is, we believe, a standing committee who would pay all contributions into a common fund, from which relief might be administered to all cases fonnd worthy after proper enquiry. In very distressing cases a special levy might be made, always under the supervision and ! direct control of the committee. A I body of this kind, properly constij tuted, would command the respect and confidence of all, and the painful necessity of blazoning to the world the necessities of everyone whom misfortune had driven to I depend on the beneficence of others ;be obviated. We simply throw this out as a suggestion, and shall be glad to support it or any other rational mode of improving the present system. Whatever is to be I done should, however, be done quickly, for distress may come upon worthy objects at any moment, i whom tho present state of things may deprive of the assistance which is only the due of man from his brother man.

The ingenious Henry Baggifcfc of Waipori boatbuilding celebrity, is constructing two velocipedes which he expects to have on the road in about a week's time. He is constructing them on the bicycle principle. We are informed that the vats for the boilingdown establishment at Tapanui have arrived at the Bluff from Melbourne. In the Provincial Government Gazette, some weeks ago, tenders v/ere called for the survey of 4,300 acre 3on Smith's run, bounding the Tuapeka Creek, Evan's Flat &c. ; the land which Mr. Gillies arranged with Mr. Smith and the Government to have thrown open fcr settlement. We should like to be informed how it is that the Government have not accepted tenders that the survey might be gone on with at once. Some little time ago the Acclimatization Society sent to the care of Mr. M'Kolkr a lierJ oS twelve deer which they recently imported from Tasmania. Three of the number died shortly after reaching Tapanui, butthe remaining nine, which are secured in a hundred acre paddock^ well wooded and in every way adapted for them are thriving well, and when we saw them last, were as frisky as if on their native hills. As s oon as summer comes round they are to be set at liberty on the Blue Mountaius.

TniDeep Shaft Committee held a meeting on Tuesday afternoon, in Mr. Cranley's hotel. W. L. Simpson Esq. occupied the chair ; the other members of committee present were Messrs. Brown, M'Swiney, M'Clusky, and Secretary. Mr. Felpe's resignation on account of his being about to leave the district, was accepted, and Mr. William Cox was elected in his place. A letter from the Secretary of Land and TFbrks intimating that the additional grant of £100, was now at the disposal of the committee for prospecting purposes, was read and received ; the letter also requested that information be orwarded to the Government of the progress made by the committee. The contractor's report of work done since the committee's previous meeting was laid before the committee, by which it appeared that he had reached the bed rock at a depth of 18 feet, where it was found the reef continued to dip at an anglo of 35 degrees. The bottom wash was considerably looser and the water was making more freely. The blind shaft is slabbed all the way down, and the total depth of the shaft is now 443 feet. The contractor was instructed by the committee to sink a well in the blind shaft and then com. mence driving on the bed rock ; each foot of wash dirt as taken out of the drive to be brought to the surface and kept separate for examination. The funds at disposal for this purpose are £90, which provides for a diive of 30 feet, this, when is accomplished, the committee sincerely hope ike auriferous or non-auriferous nature of the claim will be fully proved. It would be madness, however, on the part of the public to allow this momentous undertaking to fall through, even supposing , the gutter is not reached, or the ground tested at the end of the 30 feet drive. If they do, the Deep Shaft will be pointed to with derision, for many yeais to come, as Tuapeka's folly.

The recent fire at Hokitika destroyed over £30,000 worth of property, and but for the exertion of the fire brigade, the whole township would have perished. We wonder what has become of the Lawrence fire brigade ?

The election for Board of Wardens for the , Tuapeka and Waitahuna Depasturing Districts was appointed to take place on ' Monday last. For the Tuapeka Division there were five candidates nominated, but one of these, Mr. O'Leary of Wetherstones, declined to stand* and .election wa3 therefore unnecessary ; the members for this Division are now as follows. : — Messrs. John Michael, Peter Robertson, James R. Gascoigne", * David Evans, and David Hunter. There was ft contest in this Division ; the numbers polled' being ; J. F. C. Browne, 35 ; D. G. Poison, 35 » John Edie, 24 ; Joseph Dewes, 29 ; James Chalmers, 19; " The firsff our 'were declared elected: It is whispered that this new Board will have the power of electing a chairman from its own number; this arrangement we Relieve would be pleasing to Mr. Mackay, and we are certain it would not only be judicious on the part of the Government but also highly satisfactory to the members of the Board.

In the report of the meeting of the trustees of the Lawrence Cemetery which appeared in our last week's Issue, we made an error in stating that the trustees decided to retain their position until such time as the Government arranged the transfer of the management to the Town Council, The fact, it seems, was the reverse, the trustees decided not to agree to transfer the management upon any consideration, but to re" tain their present position. [ "We are informed that a change has just been effected in the office of Postmaster at Eoxburgh by the appointment of Mr. W. Wilkie the Telegraphist to that office. We understand that it is intended to combine the two offices of Telegraphist and Postmaster in all up-country townships, and we think the change a very judicious one. Owing to the Post-office at Eoxturgh being hitherto held in a store, the Government have not been able to establish a money order office or savings bank, both of which it is now intended to immediately open. Owing to an error in the two last issues of the Government " Gazette," which set forth that only three of the previously advertised allotments in the township of "Wetherstones, would be disposed of on the day of sale ; those persons only who had business licenses, appeared at the SuTvey Office yesterday, when Mr. Nicolson sold four sections, realising the total amount of £27 ISs. The purchasers were Messrs. Mackenzie, Thomson, Kemp, and Ledgerwood. Through the mistake in the advertisement which it now appears, had reference to "Waipori ; several intending purchasers who had observed it, did not put ia an appearance. "We beg to remind our readers of the Wetherstones readings, which come off on Wednesday evening next. The Municipal elections came off on Monday, and resulted in the election of Mr. Coverlid for East JFard; Mr. Henry for the Middle Ward; and Mr. Harrop for the West TFard. The first meeting of the new Council .took place on Wednesday evening. Fromapressure on our space we are forced to omit our detailed report. The following tenders were accepted. Town Clerk, Mr. Hayes, £60 a year ; Rate collector, Mr. Lange, at 4J per oent. Two canine meins. have reached us ; one from Wetherstones is to the effect that a slut belonging to a miner there littered two pups on the 27th ult., and added another to her family on the 3rd inst. ; mother and pupsdoing well. This is a very singular case, and deserves enquiry. The other mem. has reference to the sudden and mysterious death of a large dog belonging to Messrs. Herbert and Co., which, perished after a few hours' illness, in spite of all the efforts of ifcs scientific attendant. About half past four o'clock yesterday evening a severe accident happened- to a miner . named Niddrie while he was engaged in driving a tunnel into the spur above the Deep Shaft. As he was thus engaged a fall of earth took place, fracturing one of his leg 3. Dr. Halley was promptly in attendance but we havo not learned the result of his attention.

Mrs. Brunton who for some years conducted the psalmody in the Presbyterian Church; Lawrence, in a most able and efficient manner, has resigned her post. The cause of this resignation was, we believe, the interference of the Kirk Session with her selection of psalm tunes.

"We have inspected some Irish . whiskey imported direct by Mr. .M'Swiney, 'Wetherstories, and can bear testimony to its high excellence^ It has a delicate aroma very rarely, we might say never, met with in the liquor supplied in our hotels, and front its great purity must be valuable for medicinal purposes. OUB reporter complains strongly of the want of a fire in the Council Chambers. He de-

Clares that at last meeting, the cold • was so intense, that his numbed fingers -were unable to take down the eloquent addresses of the various Councillors.

At & meeting of Mr. Arthur's creditors, a compositioa of six shillings ia the pound was accepted. Messrs. Herbert and Co. withdrawing all claim to the disputed twenty head of cattle. The alleged libel case, Maclean v. Henningham, ensuing out of the famous Treweek letter, has resulted in the defendant being committed to take his trial. Mr. Maccassey, plaintiff's Council, admitted the right of journalists to criticise the actions of public men y but baaed his cure on the plea of private animus, t "Messrs Fulton, Tumbull, and Davie (of il'tandres and Hepburn) -were examined and proved that Driver had treated Henningham hardly in the matter of the "Sun" and ''Evening Star." On the other hand, the evidence' of Mr. Ham, the author of the, obnoxious leader completely answered the charge of it having been written from .private and personal motives. The Magistrate (Mr. Strode) who, judging by the " Daily -Times" report, appears to have shown I a strong bias in favour of the plaintiff,, committed Henningham, accepting hi» own recognizances in £100 for his appearance.

Ouß Blue Spar Correspondent reports as fol. lows :- July 30th, Mining operations have been rather dull for the last week owing to the Waipori water races being snowed up. The Waipori Co. have commenced to run S0B& from their dam since the thaw set in, buw^ their usual quantity, as the main line of race is not opened from the head source. The Tuapeka Co. have a branch, race heading from the same place as the Waipori Co. ; this race also has beensnowed up, although the Company have been running water all the time from the Tua. peka district, sufficient to defray something over i expenses. The Great Extended fired a success, ful blast on Tuesday evening, or rather early on Wednesday morning. The charge consisted of 30 cwt. of powder. This Company were rather unfortunate in exploding this blast ; the fuse, which was lit at four o'clock on Tuesday afternoon, only ran about midway, when it was agreed to let it stand for a few hours and then draw the tamping j this was afterwards done and it was found the fuse had run as far as the joining and stopped : there must Lave been some flaw in the fuse, or some mismanagement m joining the two lengths together ; however, I i»'iappy to say they succeeded without any accident. The Otago Co. in No.l claim are cleaning up their bottom in order to wash down the race ; they have been idle in both their claims these last few days for the want of water* Hales &Co.|are cleaning up their bottom in order to wash down the race. Livingston & Co. were idle a few days owing to the scarcity of water but have commenced again. Morrison & Co. are making preparations for washing down their race from the upper face, and are "expecting a large yield of gold ; they have a tunnel already constructed for a heavy blast in the lower face, something aver two tons of powder, which will be fired off in the latter end of this week or in the beginning of next. The British American Co. are idle for the want of water ; their tail race has been a great drawback to them ; now they have the race completed, the want of water is greatly felt by them, but their 'patience is inexhaustible.- Mills & Co.' are preparing for a blast. Hall & Co. are lifting their" bottom in order to get the metal near the' boxes. The Municipal valuator has completed his task. We learn that the approximate^ annual rental of property within the municipality of Lawrence, amounts to £7,000. The Athenseum fortnightly Readings came off on Thursday evening, when a crowded audience thoroughly enjoyed a varied and wellselected programme. Ws, regret to bo informed that the Ploughing match advertised to come off on the 20th inst. will not take place as sufficient funds could not be got to -warrant the committee in taking furfchur proceedings. .