MARLBOROUGH.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1245, 4 June 1864, Page 5

MARLBOROUGH.

, , • By the Gothenburg we have received papers to the Ist June. They contain no news from the gold fields of any interest. We make a few extracts from the Press of the Ist instant:—

Tiie Unemployed.—On Monday morning the Government had so far made arrangements as to be in a position to place, if necessary, about one hundred and fifty, of the unemployed at work. The locality about eighty men were sent to is at Ngakata Bay, which is half-way between Picton and the Grove. The men will be employed in small gangs, under contract, to complete the bridle track which was some time back abandoned by the parties who tendered for the whole work. The men appeared generally to be satisfied with the nature of the employment offered them. ,

Buildings.—ln almost every quarter of Picton numerous buildings are in various stages of progress. Small general stores and shops are every day being opened, and others approaching completion will soon follow, while cottages and small residences (in great demand) are being erected in both the upper and lower portions of the township with great rapidity. Land Sales.—A Government sale of Crown lands was held on Monday last, at the Government buildings. There was a very fair attendance, and, in a few instances, the biddings were carried on with great spirit. One town allotment, No. 960, the upset price of which was £30, sold for £51. Another at the same reserve, for £46. Section 32, of the Hillersden Run, reserved at £70 6s, was knocked down for £120. The most of the country sections were disposed of at the upset price, with the exception of the Starborough Run, which was withdrawn by order of the Government. Private Stills. — Newspaper correspondents, travellers, miners, and those whose occupations lie on the gold field, are all agreed that, at many of the shanties along the line of road are sold the most poisonous liquors going under the names of whiskey and gin. Men will drink a glass or perhaps two of the fiery liquid, and suddenly find themselves seized with giddiness, nausea, and a feeling of having been poisoned. It is now pretty generally understood that the spirits sold, producing such dangerous consequences, have not passed through any bond- or been subject to duty. There can be no doubt that one or more private stills are at work in the neighbourhood of the gold fields; in fact, we believe the localities of them are well known to the shanty owners, who purchase the spirits from the still keepers without much attempt at concealment. We know that our gold fields correspondent nearly a month since fell in with a packer who had something so very much like a stillhead and worm strapped on his horse that it would have been very difficult indeed to have taken them for anything else. Now we have a small but very efficient constabulary staff it is to be hoped the owners of private stills will be discovered and brought to justice. Not only is the revenue defrauded of about 10s for every gallon of illicit spirits disposed of, but ;tliose who partake of it suffer from its poisonous effects. The Digger and the Boatman.—The following is related to us as having occurred last Thursday in the waters of the Pelorus. There is a dash of Lynch law about it, but whether the principal actor will be brought to account is somewhat problematical. We are disposed to think that the affair will be fallowed to blow over. On the day here mentioned, two men agreed with the owners of a boat to be taken from Havelock to the jetty at Mahakipawa. The boat' had reached as far as the Maori pah when the steersman turned the head of it for the shore. " This is not the jetty," exclaimed oftte of the diggers. " This is where we stop," said the boatman surlily. "My mate and me want to go to the saw mills at the jetty," returned the digger determinedly. " Then you don't go in my boat," was the response. The man made no reply but coolly commenced to unstrap his swag. In a short time lie produced a revolver. "Mate," said the digger to the boatman, " can you swim ?" " No, and I don't want to," was the reply. " Pity that now, mate," was the answer, " because I can. You see as your boat can't go where you agreed that it should go, I don't see that its much use, and so I'll sink it." With this brief and emphatic notice the man discharged the contents of one of the barrels through the planks. The water began to pour in, and the two boatmen showed the most abject fear. " I have five more charges," said our rather desperate digger, " and I think then I will take a swim with my mate." The insolent, overbearing demeanour of the boatmen instantly collapsed. The boat was turned towards the jetty, and the men landed with dry feet. " And now," said the gentleman of the revolver, "your fare is five shillings; if you can take it out of me do; if not, I shall give it to the first poor fellow I meet. My mate can do as he likes. My name is Davidson, and I'm at your service any time you like to name—day or night." Davidson, we believe, is noted among the diggers as a man of great daring and courage, and it is quite evident the dishonest boatman must have altogether mistaken his customer.

A Slight Mistake. —The Warden of the Wakatip, in reporting the state of the district over which the wardenship extends, says:—"l scarcely know if I should be correct in including the rush to the Pelorus under the head of a new rush. A considerable number of the miners are, however, leaving for it. I do not anticipate a lengthened stay for them in that portion of New Zealand during the winter months, as from my own present knowledge of the district, I should say that its rain fall must be at least five times as great as that of this portion of the province." In the meteorological report of the Wakatip district it is stated that the number of days on which rain falls is 146 in the 365. If this be the case—and why should we doubt it?—we have to arrive at the somewhat startling conclusion that in the Wakamamarina district it rains 715 days in the year. There must be a slight inaccuracy somewhere.