GENERAL NEWS.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 840, 22 July 1871, Page 2

GENERAL NEWS.

It is the intention of the Q-eneral Government to construct a system of main roads under the Public Works Act, 1870, throughout a large portion of the County of Westland. Those acquainted with the financial embarrassment of the County, and the consequent inability of the Council to undertake works of such necessity and magnitude, will readily conceive the satisfaction with which this proposal has been met, and a like proposal would be similarly received on these goldfields. In point of productiveness this portion of kelson Province is quite on a par with Westland, and therefore equally worthy of consideration, and as the Provincial Government are neither willing nor able to undertake the construction of necessary main lines of communication, let us urge the General Government to extend to us a favour similar to that which it is proposed to grant to the County of Westland. A case recently brought before the District Court at Timaru illustrates the necesity of parties dealing with cheques from a third person not to lose any time in presenting the same for payment. The case referred to was an action brought by Martin, a storekeeper; to recover, from one Goodeve the sum of £2B lOd sd. Goodeve it appears, had purchased goods to the amount of £1 12s in Martin's store, and had . tendered a cheque drawn by Major Hornbrook, in payment, receiving the balance in cash. The counsel for the defendant applied for a non-suit on two grounds. First, that there was no evidence to show that the cheque had been presented in Christchurch, and secondly, that there was no evidence to show that it had been presented in proper time. The plaintiff was non-suited with costs.

The General Government are about immediately to put ia hand a tramway from Masterton to the Manawatu Gorge, and eight milesi of tramway from Palmerston towards Eangitikei, through tho bush. Large stacks of sleepers are cut and lying ready for uso at Patea.

A Chinaman was recently found dead in tho snow, on the Waipor: range 8, Otago.

Illicit distillation appears to flourish in Chriatchurch. A still was seized last week in one of the principal

streets of the city, together with a quantity of whiskey. Captain Eeyinond has just imported to Southland, from Australia, ninety pure bred Eambouillot rams. It is said that a rich lode of copper,

thirty to thirty-five feet thick, has been discovered in the Gulf of the Thames, somewhere between Grahamstown and Coromandel.

On Saturday week last, a cake of amalgam, weighing GGo/.s 12dwts, was brought down to Tokoinairiro, being the result of a fortnight's crushing at the Table Hill Quartz Reef. The Otago Provincial Council is alarmed at the prospect of being saddled with the expense of a law suit undertaken by the Dock Trust Agent against the contractors who built the Graving Dock at Port Chalmers for non-performance of contract. The Trustees of the British Museum have presented a complete set of their natural history catalogues, .many of them illustrated, to the Canterbury Museum. The set consists of 175 volumes, and is, of course, a very valuable contribution.

The administration of justice at the Maori Magistrate's Court, Moeraki, Otago, appears to be conducted upon principles somewhat peculiar the only punishment for offences of whatever description, being fine and forfeiture. The other day a European settler named Haberfield had hia pig stolen by a native. He afterwards found the hind-quarters of the animal concealed beneath the roots of a tree near a creek, and having possessed himself of them, took proceedings against the tbief in the Native Court. The award of the Court was that the defendant should forfeit to the use of plaintiff in perpetuity his mare and foal, and also pay into Court the costs of the suit, amounting to £ll. Our correspondent thinks that should the Maori again give way to the weakness of pig-stealing after such a lesson, the only conclusion that can be arrived at is—that he must be very fond of pork. The Wellington "Post" says:—

The Kaiinanawa possible diggings, which at one time created something like a furore in Wanganui, may possibly come on the tapis yet, as some prospectors from the Napier side have been hunting them up. A report published by one of them states that they spent three months in prospecting the western slopes of -the Kaimanawa ranges, more particularly one river, named the Waitikau, ruuriing N.E. and S.W., and flowing into the "Waikato. They traced this river to its source, a distance of thirty or forty miles, finding gold in small quantities tne wiioie distance. Commenting upon the recommendation of the mining commission that a poll tax should be placed on Chinese, the "Duustau Times" remarks : —" In making a tour lately through the Lakes district, where the Chinese miners number two to one of their European confreres, we were astonished by the work undertaken by the former. They were actually taking gold in large quantities from places that had been abandoned for years by the Europeans as impracticable to work or unrernunerative, Parties to the number of fifty were labouring and living together, all directed by one head, and the whole working harmoniously. Success cannot help following such efforts, and it at once occurred to us that, to hold our way, we must do the same. The system adopted, we ought to accomplish wonders. No difficulty could present itself but that could be got over; and instead of being frightened of the Chinese they would be frightened of us, and give us a wide berth. If European miners are only making small earnings they must learn to live with them. It is time enough to eat the cake after it has been earned. Attention to this golden rule has been the architect of many a large fortune, while it is as applicable on a small scale as a large one. The sale of so many mining claims and water rights to the Chinese by the Europeans is greatly to be deplored, but it cannot be prevented, and our miners would not like to be compelled not to do so; and as they generally pay very good prices for their purchases, it is clear that gold mining is to them an exceedingly remunerative speculation. If they can do so well at it, surely, after so many years of practice, and our boasted strength and knowledge, we ought to do infinitely bettor. Any unprejudiced person must see where a party of Chinese is working, everything is done upon a system almost elaborate as the details

of a bee-hive. This is the chief secret

of their success, and to successfully compete, we must adopt a similar plan. No special or class legislation can assist us."

Referring to the repeated postponements of the meeting of the Assembly, the " Examiner" says : As the financial year expired on the 30th of June, all moneys disbursed before an Act cau be passed will be illegal. How the ways-and-means are to be supplied for the next six weeks will be a question Mr Fox will have to settle with the Receiver-General, who is absolutely forbidden to advaucc money unless appropriated by Parliament. The " Otago Daily Times " makes mention of a new kind of gas burner, Morley's patent," just received in Dunedin from Melbourne. It is different in shape from tho ordinary burner, bulging out into a globular form just below the perforations for

the passage of the gasv. The latter are made through a kind of of which the mouth of the burner ia com. posed, and which resists corrosion much longer than metal. We saw one of these burners, consuming one foot of gas per hour, in use, and the light was quite as good as that given by the former burner, which consumed three feet per hour. These figures speak I for themselves.

A telegram in tho " Argus " states that the Sydney Mint has commenced to issue sovereigns similar to the English coin. Major Hamley, late of Auckland, has been appointed Assistant-Control-ler in the new Army Control Depart, ment in England, with tho relative rank of Lieutenant-Colonel.

It is proposed to use diving-bolls in connection with dredging operations in the Otago rivers. It is believed that much labour aud expense might be saved in situations where heavy rocks are met with.

A now penny evening paper was published in Dunedin on July sth, under- the auspices of the Southern League. In evidence before the Supreme Court in Bankruptcy, it has transpired that the Bank of New South Wales rank as creditors in the estate of Joseph M. Hutcheson, late lessee of the Dunedin Gas Works, to the tune of £21,00, and this after realising all the property in the estate. Hia Honour Judge Chapman in suspending the bankrupt's discharge for twelve months, characterised the con. duct of the Bank as not less reckless than that of the bankrupt. The " Press " confirms the statement that there will be no " Hansard"

published this session. It deprecates the change, and hints unmistakably as to the reason. No newspaper can afford to report the debates in full, and some in their own interests will not dure to do so. By the barque Edinhurgh Castle which arrived at Wellington on the 2nd inst. from London, the General Government have received the Ne» Zealand war medals. The mames & those entitled to receive it were published in extenso in the New Zealand " Gazette " of the 31st May. A correspondent informs the "Auckland Herald," that arrangements will shortly be made to transport desirable agriculturists very cheaply from New Zealand to California.