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Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 82, 4 September 1869, Page 2

A glance at our supplement will show the extraordinary activity and energy displayed in neiglibouriag provinces for ihe development of mineral resources. Siugularly enough, Otago, where such efforts would most probably be highly successful, is backward in encouraging prospectors. Even in this district, the mining resources are veiy little known, for except on a few of the most promising gullies and spurs, no systematic working has been attempted. "Valuable deposits of cement are known to exist, yet no attempt is made to develope them. There is every reason to predicate the existence of quartz reefs, yet no effort is made for their discovery. Such apathy is both injnrious and disgraceful, and is in no small degree the cause of that dulness of trade we hear so frequently complained of. The ninety OLlnamen whose advent we announced in our last issue arrived in Waipori on the 27 th ult. That place appears in high favour with John, whose good opinion of a diggings is one of the best certificates that can be obtained. The new importation intend going to the Lammerlaw—a locality much fancied by practical miners, but which has as yet been very imperfectly prospected. For some time, over sixty Chinamen have been at work on the Deep Stream, and have been very successful. One old man, over fifty-seven, years of age, left for China recently, carrying with Mm a considerable sum, earned during a two years' residence on the Waipori. This man was one of the party who bought Wylie's old claim. Some of the tradespeople have profited considerably by the recent influx,- -one having done a great stroke by Hiring oni to the Chinese a newly-erected stable as a sleeping-room, at the rate of 6&. a head each night. Some weeks ago, Messrs Connell and Moodie were gazetted as the successful tenderers for the survey of the 4300-acre block on Mr Smith's run, adjoining the township of Lawrence, but there is no appearance whatever of their fulfilling their contract. This block was declared open for agricultural leasing purposes about twelve months ago, and several Tqapeka residents took up sections upon it. The result is that, pending tho survey, they are completely at a standstill. As the boundaries of their sections cannot be defined till after the survey, the lessees cannot plough their land, or build a dwelling-house, or, in fact, take any steps whatever in the improvement of their land. We know of two or three settlers who have been waiting anxiously for several months to commence fencing and ploughing, and it is only known to the Government or the Government contractors how long they may yet have to wait. One thing is evident, there is culpable neglect somewhere.

We beg to remind our readers of the Oddfel* | lows' anniversary dinner on Monday next. A Chinaman who died in the Hospital this week was interred by his compatriots on Wednesday, with the usual ceremonies. We are pleased to learn that a public library is now an accomplished fact in Koxburgh, funds having been raised for the. purchase of at least 400 volumes. The dredge Kearsage, whiqh has been working for some time near the junction of the Benger Burn and Molyneux, struck payable gold on "Wednesday last. The Clyde and Cromwell spring Tace meetings were announced for this week, but no particui lars have as yet reached us. It is strange that the smaller townships should appear so much more energetic than Lawrence. At the sale of stock belonging to Mr. Murray, Glenore, which oame off this week, Mr. Elliot, Blue Spur, purchased a very fine pure-bred, short-horn bull. It is a subject of congratulation to all stock raisers that so fine a.n animal has been secured for the district. It will be seen from a letter in another column that Mr. Nicholson declines to oppose Mr. J. C. Brown in the contest for the representation of the Wallace District. This deprives the squatters of their last chance— a split in the Liberal Camp— and renders Mr, Brown's return almost a certainty. The price of sheep is steadily rising, and a consequent rise in mutton may be expected. It is difficult to tell what the cause of this may be, unless the inoreased consumption since the reduction in price has caused a local scarcity. Many of the runholders have, however, suffered severe losses of stock during ihe winter, and few of the earlier dropped lambs have survived. The singular indifference to out-door sports displayed by our oommunity has often been commented on. Individual jealousies appear to paralyze all efforts to establish cricket, bowling, or gymnastic clubs. Perhaps were some one to. follow the Doinbeyan precept and "make an effort," something might be done before summer sets in ; at all events, whatever is to be done should be done immediately. On the 12th nit,, in Committee of Supply of the House of Representatives, the item £3,483 Qs Bd, " Electoral Department," was moved, ilfr ilfervyn objected to the removal of the Goldfields towns Returning Officer to a place not within these towns. The returns were published in the Naseby paper, whioh few of the electors saw. Mr Stafford defended the policy of the removal, and after some conversation the \ item was passed. In the Assembly, on the 11th ult., Mr Mervyn's Goldfields Amendment Act, which; pro- ' vides for the enlargement of the area heldjunderan agricultural lease to 250 acres, and offers j increasedfacilitieH for bringing in water races, &c, waa referred to a select committee^ con- [ sisting of Messrs Hall,. Collins, KolleSiton, Brad.shaw, Stevens, Creighton, Barff, O'Neill, and Mervyn. Messrs Macandrew and Bell objected to the constitution of the committee, because it did not contain names of a larger number of Otagan members. Fossicking is often a very profitable pursuit, as is shown by the fact that two men lately realised thirty-one ounces of gold for a fortnight's work on the top of a range adjacent to the track from Waipori to Mr Lomas's. A more unlikely-looking spot than the scene of their lucky find could hardly be imagined, as it is right on the summit of the range. Circumstances of this kind go to prove that the industrious prospector is sure of finding something worth his trouble, and at all events has a much belter chance of a rise than the steady worker in a mere tucker claim. On Thursday evening the Athenaeum Headings came off very successfully. The brass band was in attendance, .and gave a warmth and cheerfulness to the entertainment. The great hit of the evening, however, was the duet on the tin whistles, which, from the skill of the musicians, and the novelty of the thing, elicited the applause of the largest audienca which has yet patronised -these pleasant amusements- The popular song, " Some lady's lost her chignon," sung so well by Master Bastings, caused great laughter. The readings selected combined the comic and sentimental, and appeared to give satisfaction.

"We regret to learn that the General Government have resolved to dispense with the services of the Chinese Inteipreter stationed here. This is a matter in ■which the Goldfields members should have been consulted, jas it is impossible to deal with our constantly increasing Chinese population by mean 3 of only one interpreter. The Provincial Interpreter is stationed at such a distance from here that his travelling expenses will amount to a very large sum, not to mention the annoyance and delay necessitated by having to await his arrival. Further, there is a deep-rooted — well grounded or not we cannot say— distrust common to our European | population, in the good faith and efficiency of native interpreters, which it would be advisable to respect, if the Government desire to preserve the existing entente cordiale. It is surprising the new life a man of energy can infuse into a cause which many would give up as for ever hopeless. From week to week we have been reporting progress in the prospecting of the Deep Shaft. We have been in daily expectation of the gutter being reached, bw.t we have been daily disappointed. The £200 so liberally given by Government has been expended without any practical result ; what, then, is to be done ? Mr J. C. Brown starts a subscription list— we should say three subscription lists : one at £2 2s, one at £1 Is, and another at 10s 6d, and in the course of two or three days raises upwards of £80 .by his personal and persevering efforts. Let us hope, that this amount, together with the subsidy which will be addedj will be sufficient to reveal the hidden treasure. "We beg to draw the attention of our readers to a letter on the Laub.jec.fc in another column.

A recent number of the " Gardner's Chroniole" contains the following letter, from a gentleman residing at Torquay :—" Allow me to call attention to the New Zealand toi-toi grass, or arunda cmspicua. I believe this will prove a valuable plant for cultivation in this country for ropes and strong hempen fabrics. The fibre is nearly as strong as that of the New Zealand flax (phormium tenax), while the plant is much more^ prolific, and seems as if it would grow anywhere in this country, and yield a heavy orop. The blades are stronger than our Pampa grass (generium argentum). of a darker green colour rather broader, and not quite bo erect, and from two to four feet in length,"

Tm "Daily Tunes" publishes the following TPlellington telegrams of date Ist insfc. I:—The1 :— The Otago Loan Bill was thrown oat on its second reading in the Legislative Council by 15 votes to 5. The following is the division list :— •• Ayes : Messrs Grisborne, Miller, fit ' Lean, Stokes, and Dr Buchanan. Noes : Messrs Baillie, Fen* ton, Gray, Johnston, Lee, Levin, Mantell, Nurse, Paterson v Pharazyn, Renwick, Seymour, Dr Menzies, Major Richmond, and Colonel Whitmore. — The Government stated to-day that they intended to bring the Otago Hundreds Ao6 into immediate operation, ao far as the proclamation of the Hundreds recommended by the Provincial Council during its last session wa» concerned. The " Wakatip MailJ" of the 26th ult. contains the report of a case there before the H.M., where a man named Nisbett, whom the police chose tQ suspect of stealing a pig, had his room searched by the police without a warrant. In addition to this, insulting offers were made to him, until he was excited into using violent language, when., as a matter of course, he wag pounced upon, brutally maltreated, and hauled before the Magistrate and fined, ft; is- i» be re« gretted that similar cases of Jvindictiveness are not so unfrequent as might be supposed, although it mqst be acknowledged they proceed from a small minority of the force. The B.M. appears, to have acted— if the report in our con« temporary is at all correct— in a partial and feeble manner in dealing with the case. ; At the usual monthly meeting of Hospital Committee, held on Tuesday evening, it waa determined to. appeaL to tha public for f urines* j donations, of books, as the former appeal had nat been very liberally responded to. General regret was expressed for the unfortunate illness of the warder, Mr Lindsay, and it was resolved to obtain temporary assistance until his recovery. On the motion of Mr Mears, it was resolved that ; tho Doctor should bring up a monthly instead of a quarterly report of the number of patients, diseases, dietary, proportion of paying and nonpaying, &c., &c. Temporary repairs to the kitchen range were ordeared, until tho new one be in working' order ; and it was agreed to provide two more earth closets. Mr Smith,. Wetherstones, incidentally mentioned that he had already fifteen guineas on his subscription list, — an. amount creditable to his industry and io the district for which he- is collector. Ths numeroui open holes, and shafts within the township have often been complained of, but no remedy has as yet been attempted. The danger to life and limb is by no means trifling ; indeel we believe the value of the horses and cattle injured and killed by these pitfalls during the last few years would have amply sufficed for filling u,p every one. of them. The mischief has, however, to some extent be^n done, and if it is to be lessened,, immediate steps must be tak^a,. by subscription or otherwise, to have the danger removed. As an instance of the losa incurred owing to this cause, we may mention that a valuable horse belonging; to Mr Tuckey was killed; on Sunday from falling into a hole, and later on the same day we observed efforts being made to extricate another animal ftom. a similar predicament.. The usual weekly meeting of the Waste Land; Board took place on Wednesday, at the Govern-, ment Building. Present— T. T. Thomson, Esq., Chief Commissioner (in the chair), and Messrs Keid and Hughes. G. JTKay's letter in reference to sale of- section 2; block TL Roxburgh, was read ; als.o, Mr Fache's explanation. Re. solved, that the letter and Mr Livingstone's statement with reference thereto, be forwarded; to the Government, with the view of obtaining the Provincial Solicitor's opinion as to. the validity of the sale of section 2, block VI, and section 5, block 111, Roxburgh, MatthewThomas's application for protection to prospect for copper in Goodwood Bush, and for a title to. land in the event of striking payable ground, was granted for a term of three years ; should the result turn out satisfactorily, the applicant to be dealt with 1 as liberally as possible under clause 52 of the Waste Lands Aot. Mr Douehiy applied on behalf of James Hopkins to purohass section 52, block 111, Tuapeka East, held under agricultural lease. Granted ; to be paid within one month. Paget and Milne's application for a lease of a lignite area, Alexandra, was granted on the usual terms. Bent, £10 per- annum : 14 years' term from Ist September, 1869. A plan of block XV. Glenkenich, was approved of ; the, same to be notified to the Government—" Daily Times."