The Bruce Herald. "Nemo me impune lacessit." TOKOMAIRIRO, JANUARY 17, 1872.

Bruce Herald, Volume VI, Issue 402, 17 January 1872, Page 5

The Bruce Herald. "Nemo me impune lacessit." TOKOMAIRIRO, JANUARY 17, 1872.

About twelve months ago, when there was every reasonable prospect of the Provincial Government concluding a highly satisfactory arrangement for the construction of the Dunedin and Clutha Railway on the guarantee principle, and which, no doubt, would have been carried out in good .faith, the General Government refused to give its sanction to an extension of the time over which the guarantee was to extend, on the far-fetched plea " that it would be increasing the indebtedness of the Province," although that extension would have had the beneficial effect, of lowering the rate of interest payable on the guarantee. With a great flourish of trumpets and ringing of the " evening bell " it was blazoned forth that the spheres had been moved and that the General Government forthwith had undertaken its construction, and that, instead of the very bungling management displayed by the Provincial Government in the matter of the Port Chalmers Railway, the great magician of the Public Works and Immigration Scheme was to set a pattern which would, to use a colonial phrase, " astonish the natives."' Working- men were to have employment ad libitum ; sach a thing* as *■' out of work " would not be heard of; and as for money, there would be so much to spend every person would get such a 'snafe 'as would render it impossible that any oire could be hard up. Electors went to the poll actually singing "There's a good time coming," and in hundreds of cases; Iwe believe, thoroughly confident that such should be the case. Many* we know, have had their fond hopes blighted, and bitterly repent their short-sightedness, refusing to be comforted by the refrain^ v wait a little longer." We cannot say that we can sympathise much with rhem> j as all men ought to know that it is a mere matter of impassibility that anything clean can come out of what is unclean. The whole action in connection with the starting p'f the Dunedin and Clutha Railway was. simply an electioneering: dodjje, and it was the inevitable result of the adoption of unprincipled means that men of J'ike chara'ctßr should lend, or sell themselves to the 'carrying on of the transaction. Parliamentary papers prove that his Honor the Superintendent was the prime mover in this matter — that tenders were called for and contracts entered into in the most reckless manner, before the plans were approved of by the Engineer- in-chicf — and that to attain an object, viz., " the gulling of the public" for the time being, con-tracts-were tendered for to be completed, which still Remain uncompleted-, although more th&n double thfi advertised time has elapsed. Again-, no sufficitmt "deposit .was obtained upon tenders to ensure til 6 obtaining of .thoroughly Responsible contractors, and no nie<»ns taken to prdtect the working man that he" should obtain the valn6 of his labor when employed ; and what has been the consequence ?— that ijieti of straw cattte forward, and /tendered at prices totally inadHCjuate to the performance of the work, affording grand dppdrtiitiities for blowing ,t he political tfumpetof his 'IJdnttr*, but leaving in. it's trairi losses find hardships to scares of hard f working men. j But. what matters that to Vogelj MacaridlfeW) &ncl Co. ; it hds served their' pdlitical purposes although the working man has beeia sacrificed, and now tb,«Sfailure, of Messrs, M*tieod Co. will afford a fine excuse^ and opportunity, which we will. be, surprised if, noi;; taken advantage of) to shift the scenes and introduce upon- the stage Messrs., Brogden and do.; to. complete the Clutha Ijhe, but not limited to L9OOO -pe"r mile.; We put it to ev«ry i candid thinking ■ man-Mias riot the action in.connecition with this great public wdrk been anything but satisfadtdry ?— Aias it realised the promises made^ the &xpdcta K tions iormed? We have been shocked l by the ; revelations made. in. New, York in Connection „ with Jthe" ;, Jibw, delebrated Tammany Ringi but ; w.e jjiave i nd.liesita-

tion in saying that the same want of principle is at work in ' our iiigh places, and the same mode of working, although on a staaller scale, Has been, and still is 'in operation, and will continue to be so uhtil dishonesty be dethroned and men 's ; truthfulness and probity he esteemed more, than their ability to flatter and deceive. The Ba[le of wooden' bouses, invoices of seeds, &c.,' at 'extravagant prices by hangers-on and boon com^aViiions, has not "^entirely been 'unknown in this Province; and men have been retained in positions' of public trust whose conduct should have placed them in the dock rather than as it has been, protected and screened by the, powers that be. That which was the procuring cause of the success of the Rip a: in New York will i( have the same effect here, and is thus described :-^-" Those wbb fr*re ready to feign ano! flatter arid fawn^ carried everything before :them. The ihob "delightsi to do them honor, while men bf character who scorn to feign, flatter and fawn, and decline tb make professions which they cannot fulfill, prefer to stand aloof frbm public life. They will not soil: their hands with politics in a community where honesiy is nothing, and *' smartness,' in the Yankee sensej everything, and public office is a trade and a means of personal jpro fit to the holder/ We are fast settling into a similar -state, and unless ; the people' arouse the.niselves to a just realisation of the position^ the time is not far distant when no man with any respect for himself can, or will have anything to do with public affairs. Many already stand aloof, and many more would do so if they consulted their own comfort and wishes, and only try; to stem the tide from a strong sense of duty. We regret to think that those who have hitherto shown an uncompromising front to chicanery and deception, begin to show symptoms of being wearied of the battle, and that, because the public show such signs of apathy and total disregard of. consequences. We ask what has been realised by the public of all the specious, promises made twelve months ago regarding the Public Works and rmmigra- | tion Act? Have they not been fooled ?

The news by the last English mail, via San Francisco, must have been productive of two classes of feelings in the breast. of every true British subject. The painful news of the dangerous illness of the Prince of Wales must have created feelings of sorrow and sympathy on the one hand, probably mixed with some degree of anxiety; and, on the other,; the Statement "that deep. sorrow pervades all classes of the community > and all parts of the home country,", must have inspired the breasts of every loyal subject in these, far-off colonies with thankfulness and gratitude that, amidst all the constitutional grumblings and g'rowlings of fhe,Bi % itish -public, the heart of the nation is srill loyal at the core. The following telegrams, taken from the * Aha California,' "of Dec, l'Sthy affbrds additional , information to thac already published by. us ■:—•

Lo"ndo\, December 11 th

5 a.m.^— lt is manifest from the actions df sympathy everywhere, and the prayers for the Prince of Wale 3, that the symptoms of death, are very jmminent, and that all hopes of his recovery have been abandoned. The (^ueen and Princess Alexandra are bearing the fatigue well, and the latter hardly leaves the sick rujm.

SANflßitfGHAai, December ilth

The only special bulletins of the condition of the Prince of Wales issued to-day are the following :—....

8 a.m.— The Prince passed a restless nightj and there has been a further recurrence of graver symptoms in his state, and he continues iii a precarious cbhdifc'ioil, but the Symptoms are uftaltered siiice the last bulletin was received. The telegraph to Sandringham has been closed to the general public, because the wire was burdened "with messages .to the Queen from Charl tans, qrtacks, &nd officious persons tendering -medical Advice. An official telegram, dated 1 p.m., says :— - It is evident fronV the distress which prevails there, that the last hours of the Prince are approaching. The whole household has been thrown into the deepest gloom by the words df the special niessenger who left the sick chamber Shortly after noon with despatches for lidndom He declared, ■ unreservedly, that he ' did not expect lo find His Royal Highness living when he "retunied. It is evident that all hope is abandoned. Players for the recovery of the Prince were yesterdayoffered in the .Anglican and Roman Catholic churches, the Jewish synagogues, aiid dissenting chapels; There are -profound wicl espread f eeliiigs of grief arid uneasiness ; biißiness is dlnidSt' i^liolly suspended thfdughout the 'cotiiitry. The morniiig and eveiiing papers issue edition^ every hour, and tlie official bulletins &re surrounded by great ■"crowds of anxious, silent people. It is reported that, with 6iie exception, the Prince. haS been unconscidus since the first of tlie month. 5 p.ni.— The Prince waa very restless diiririg the afternbon, but his exhaustion is lidt increasing. ! " ' ,

; ./ r -■• '- - LdNDdN, D.ecernbef 12th.. 5 a-m.-^^he^firiceof Wales, according to an official despatch just received from Sandfcingham, passed a very restles&riiglifc. .There are nd sighs of iinpfdvenient in hisnoiiditiciri, and death •is imminent at any time td-day iErom axifftJcatiori. His strength is not so good, and what sleep 1 lie iias t Is folio Weld by rpsttesSiifes and unquiet; Thei bliest symptoms Aite bad. The Princess Alexandra is greatly exhausted. .The Princess Rdyal, Victoria; : wife of the i Crown Prince .df Gerhiany ia jhourly' ex^6cted ai Sandfingham: The E*riiice is threatened with, inflarrimation of the lutigs. The exciteniorit in Loridbii and the provinces is'gTe'ater than during the Crimean war". a

By these last i'elp|rams it Id appear that but little I 'uofi'es we're ebte'rtHirie'd of the Prince's recovery, and we feel cprtain that not only in Brifaih, bift iiT^every dne of her colonies arid dependencies; ihariy arid earne*strjrayer^ have been offered ujp frdftj tbdusands df\flresrdesj that the Great Ruler and Disposer df .all things will arFdrd bur gracidus (^ iieeri tha t strdilgtli; and grace: needed td sustain her iiflder her present afflictions and trials. As A parent— a mother-— 'we ban' sympathise with %'er in her parental dncl ''adat^r^aiTe^lidgd.'cß^fi^dsher' eldest bdrflV in ' buV ; individual $$$$.

ties, but we think it 'ivbhld.be but becoming on the part pf' those in "authority in oiir Province to mnke some public recognition of our, attachment and sympathy to her as our beloved Queen, under this heavy blow which has fallen, upon her through the serious and dangerous il ln pss of the heirapparent to the Crown. We believe that [any request'of the authorities to set apart a day fbr'prayeiv 'in .connection with this; matter would, be most heartily responded I to by the entire, community, and though we are aware that there are those that scoff at such services, we ourselves believe in the'duty and ; efficacy of public as well as private, prayer. Large meetings of all 'classes have been held at home to express sympathy and condolence, and nothing can be more gratifying than the mahifestatidh'thafc has been made of 'the true spirit; of the nation. If one member suffers, all;! the members ""suffer 1 with ir in all right cohslifu ted 'society and relafibn's, and we' trust that this will prove {P be. the case., withregard tb this portion of Her Majesty's dominion. Tn the 'midst 'bf the glbbm J caused by such pa'infiil 'intelligence regarding the 'Prince bf Wale's, 'it is gratifying' to learn of the greatly imprbved health of? the Qtieen herseif. On the very best'bf; testimbny we are assured that "many of the! reports issued "reg-ardinn her state of health; were entirely; without foundation, and it is, : to be hoped that she may be 'lohg-spared; yet to reign over a true faithful and loyal; people. .

The English mail, via San Francisco, clbses ; here to-morrow. . . ] GiIKYTowN School Committee . elected— Messrs James Allen, . James ; Guillen, .Joseph Johnston, George Ford, Thos. Holland, Tbbs. Christie, and George Macandrew. Attendance oh the increase.' Mos&iel Schb6l "Committee elected— Messm Robert Dickie, Peter t)ay, Wm. Ma.ish.all, Wih. : M'Leod, Jas. Ross, Jas. Davidson, and Thomas Aitken. Examination of school fixed for 3 lit January.

Oue Taieri correspondent writes, that the ; harvest has begun in a few places near to the ; foot of the hillai, where, the crop is light both in' "straw and ear. All ; , the grain ; is coloring . m patches, but harvest Will hot .be very .general for three weeks yet; 'A cbnsiderable breadth .of bdth: wheat and. oats is being cut fbr hay, as owing to the late high wiiifls and want of moisture it would, ribb pay for harvesting ah& thrashing.! Never has the want df water been so seVerely 1 felt, and it is putting people to their wits end' how to obtain sufficient Supplies ! fbr 'their, stock/ A fire has been 'burning for sotne 'time in the large bush oh the plain, an immensequantity df'fiim'oe'r, 'principally 'firewood. T havej been informed that 'it has also destroyed a bouse! and a'qdatititydf dats.'bufl'haVe hotyet obtained! particulars. It is 'still burning oh the north 1 side. „!•.... i•■• , , ' A LA'tiGE extent of timber has been destroyed during this last week 'by bush fires in this district. Besides'thdt raging in the bush above Fairfax, a very extensive fire has almost entirely destroyed; the bush lying between the Table Hfill Reef and Manuka Creeik. This will prove a serious calamity 1 to that district, knd if it were possible to find out the originator he ought certainly to be punished. We have been shown several, small parcels of golfl obtained in prospecting .in several places^ round this district. " Water '!" i 9 the universal' cry, and when it comes we have no doubt it will = tell a tale on qur escort return?.

. Mb Wk. Mackay, of the Dunrbbin Hotel, Spylaw Range, who has the contract for the conVeyance of the mails for the, ensuing 12 months, between the above hotel and Tapanui, has started "aconVeyarice on tha'b line iri connection with the S»vrfczei-3 and Tuapeka c6acu: This will, no doubt a great acquisition to those who do not feel diapdsed to mount on horseback for a trip to our great metropolis. Another desirable requisite for Tapanui, we would suggest, is that of a second mail to and from it. We think a mail in connection with Popotunoa could be obtained once a week at a trifling expense, and which Tapanui justly merits.

1 Oub EoXbttrglr correspondent writes : — The annual meeting for the election of a new School, Committee was held on the evening authorised, Bt'i instant. The attendance was large and influential. After a statement of the proceedings of the retiring Committee the following gentlemen were chosen, as the School Committee for 1872: — Messrs, Ji Beightbn, K. M'Lennan, G. ]?. Mackayj D. Cormach, F. Macintosh, H. Norton, M. Manuel, P. F. Miller, M.D., and A. Macpherspn. A vote of thanks to the chairman (MrJG-. F. Mackay) terminated the best meeting of the kind eVer held in Roxburgh. This may be taken as ah undoubted evidence of tlie great interest the public here take in the important matter of education".

CoiutECTioJr.— "Siß,— ln justice to the gentlemen interested I wish to correct yoiir report of proceedings at last meeting of Milton Town Council. In niy remarks 'conceriiing riuisancea in ' Siiakspeare and Alfred streets, I 'stated tha > t | Mes3rs Jones and Stewart did not seem quite to ! understand the powers of the Council in the matter, aiid that nothing had been done to abate the nuissmces complained of.— l am,.&c, WK. MABSHAiL. Milton, 12th January, 1872." — [Our report stated— " Councillor Marshall said that Inspector Huglies had told_ him that he had. Bpofceh to Siessra Jones and Stewart about the dne hi Shakespearegscreet, but they declined to do anything." Mr Marshall, oil that occasion, stated " that the Inspector did not seem to under': 'stand the powers 'of the Council in the matter." If it was merely aniisunder3tandLng,of bhe powers . t>f the Council in the matter, llr Marshall's motion— -" That, uriless the nuisance b"e abated within 1,0 days, proceedings be taken to enforce the law "—appears to us to have been ratlier an arbitrary one.-^- Ed. C B.H.'] , , It is customary for us at the present day to look father wi'tli coutempt lipon the wisdom of our ancestoi'3. In some respects, however", oiir ancestors seem . to have been as" wide-a-wake or more so than* we are". .Notably in the adulteration of fo6d and drink. The following is how they dealt witli this rascality ill the city of London, five hundred years igo :—^"The civic officers exercise the strictest control over the quality of fond and liqubrsj and -the .weights and nieasu^es whereby they are sold. It is the diity of tHe alderiiien.bf each ifrard to inspect the latter i periodically, arid certify to their accuracy by afflxirig His seal. No private And unaedled Vessels, such a 9 the condmon drinking clips oSf the taverns; called hanaps arid criiskyris dr criises ate allbwed to be lised as measures'. WinS cannot Be sold until scrutinised And giiagedThe baker^ nave tlieif ovens regularly inspected; and tlie bread cbnipared -v^itli the' assessed stau • dafd. If anyone i^a detected giving false weight he is pilloried hi Cliep'e for the otfence. After two coiitictibris; his dveriiS pulled down, and he is expelled frorri the trade. The pillory is tlie drdiiiary pUriislinjerit for sellhig unsound, irrijierfectdod counterfeit goods of ariy description', the articles themsolveS being riot only forfeited but burnt:" These evils of adulteration of food and .dftnk and giving Short -weiglit and nlbasure wliicn our ancestors were endeavoring to put down in tHe year.l 377 seems as tigbrous as eVer iri tlie year 1872.- ; ' • - - •v. ,-• . '■•..,:>■ A FEW T^eeks ag(} we ilari-owly escaped breaking our Unfortunate, neck oVer the dangerous approach tp the north: fend df jSalcl ilfcbti bridge: We ledrii rios that or4erß havebaeri given bytKfl, Q-6-vernme'nt to liate-a 1 fence erected, orieacli' side" Bf thb embahkraerit. ' ! Cau'ye' " • render a 'similar^ .seiririce toady flth^rlbc'alityi l1 '^ '■■'-• l ; i i -.

The Tuapeka races tak ■ place next Thursday and Friday. An excellent meeting is expectßd. Bishop Mobai? is expected to 'arrive in Milton on Saturday afternoon., . T Haiitkst operations have been begun tetweeft Moa Flat and tlie Horseshoe Bend ,

We are desired to , draw .attention to notice of postponement of Mr Thos. Reid's sale. •■■■• . We observe the old well known firmbEWiWn and Birch stands how; Wilson and Ataddox, brewers, thinerUn. , . , Wb have receiyed a snraple of gooseberries, 'grown Hy Mr Platt, of Otokia, they are the laf'gesfc we have seen. ; . . ■,_. , : . VOdxtntbers Adanis, Scott, . Nutsf jnl, and Murray failed to make the requisite number of points to. entitle them to stand as represehfcativt»'s in the colonial prize firing. • . '„.-.•',. East Taieri School Comniiti'ee elected— Hevd. .Wm. Will, Dr Inglis", Messrs ".Rub't. , Spmerville, Jas. Qullen, Robert Charteris, .James Aitkeia, and. Wm. Cooper. The 1 report, of the old Committee showed a most favorable state of /affairs in connection with this school. , The 'examination wa'B fixed to take place on the 2nd ' February. . . We observe that Messrs A. J. Burns .and Cb. have found it necssafy .to adopt a trade mark for their woollen goods. We 'are. not surprised at this, as we believe they are , meeting with very general favor throughout the Province. s A meeting- was, held on Monday eyenins:, afc tlie White Horss Hotel, 'when the annml Tqkom'airiro races were fixed .to take placi&n 'the 29th of Febiuary and Ist of March. A programme to be arranged at Philp's Hotel, oh Saturdiiy eveh.ing firJ't, at 8 o'clock sharp. All interested ara invited to attend- . .

A (MEETING- of the School Corhthitfcee was held .on Monday evening, when tenders .were bpshed for lining the Grammar School. TenHers-r-Gick-sbn and Son, total, L 32 18s ; Hay and M'Millan, L22 103. The lal.ter agreed to be accepted,, "subject to an 'arrangement being made, that '.lining hot to be put up, till thoroughly seasoned. Mcssr's M'Latcliie and Murray appointed as visiting and inspecting, members for month of January. Meetings of Conrinittee fixed to take place' tlie last Friday of each month. We observe the Hon. Julius Yogel, and Mr Grey, Inspector of 'Post-office?, have, proceeded to Australia on public btisihess. Mr Voxel's wife, family, and Secretary accompany them. How jolly ! DtJKiK& the last week, lots of working men, and sub-contractors have beeh offering their certificates for labor done on the Duhedin and Clutha Railway at even less than 10s in the £. M'Leod and .Co/s contract- This is our ilrafc experience of the behefifs arising from Voxel's administration of. the Public Works and Immigration Scheme in this district.

. It has been stated that the parties accompanying the Tuapeka quartz were of opinion , that some of the gold was lost when crushed at Table HilL We are informed that there was little risk df that, the platform having been carefully swept, a th'ing'th&b never .was done by the partiesab present : at work, The 'probabilities would be iii favor of a gam rathe r than b lb'ss. On Saturday last the .'sixth competition 'took place for Sergt. Adams' Prize. 7 shots at. 500 and 600 yard's. The following were the 'tiire& highest scordrs :.— ... .; , „ ,500 yds. Tl. „ 600 yds. Tl. J. li. 'GHllieS, 3,3,3.2,3,3,4-^-21. "3,3,3,3,3,3,3-^2l Edw. Pettit, 3,2,3,3,3,3.4—20. 3,4,0,3,3,3,3^18 M'Latchie, . 4,2,3,3,3,3,3—21. ,;8, 4,3,0,^,3,0— 17 On Saturday next the Ladies' Prize, will be shot for as usual. <--■„„., l Our Kaitahgata correspondent's "lelte'r should have appeared last week. He filrnishes us with the following this week .— Great commotion, among sooie formers, bushmeh, and others here at the sudden collapse of iVlacleo 1 and Co., who are interested in sums varying from LlO t6 LQ9, by the supply of sawii timber, coals, firewood*, • and butcher meat. — The Government, I aril gliiA to learn, is about to expend LIOO to pufc addi'tioiial binding gravel on the Swamp Road, which can be got here in abundance. This is a most useful work, seeing' that the large tract of district which the Swamp Road forms the outlet, of, is literally an island in the wet season without it.— Besides the increasing farming inrerest; local industry is respectably represented by kw, flax mills, and ooal mining. — IJnless a large subsidy come to her aid, I hear the favorite "steamer Tiiapeka must soon be 'off the rivef. This will ndd greatly to the traffic partly set iii of landing goods here from Dimedm, Balclutha, (tad places up the riVef. — The lieut«n;i»fc of No. 1 Company £!lutha lufles, I hear, is to offer a iield-glass for •Competition at the first shooting rnalch o'ftlio company. — The Committee chosen this -yjar at the school here are— Messrs W. Aitciiison, »T. Darling, 0. Taylor, C. Smail, J. Stevens, "Reff. Mncdonald, and W. Hay. A teacher is to be advertised for shortly, as well .as tenders new school-house. — The Rev. Mr Kirkiknd is to be absent, I hear, for some weeks, on a tour to the North Island, but we have in M> Stercus — at present training for the Chitrch— a yoViug man ot ability and promise, who officiates in his &te-id. It may not be generally known that weh.-irehero no fewer than three \vorthy young men who purpu'se to enter holy orders. I imagisib the spirit of. Aai'on or Elijah's tnantle haiigs somewhere amidst the mists at tin's spot on the banks of the Clatha:

A special ineeting of the Waste Land Board was liild 6n Monday to consider Mr Clarke's application for 45,500 acres at Moa flat. . Present — Chief. Commissioner, Mir J. T. Tlidra3on; ' Messrs Reid, JDuucari, and Hughes. Mr Comiell and Mr James Smith, solicitor, appeared on behalf of Mr Clarke, and Mr Stout appeared oil behalf 6f deputation from the Teviot. • VVe regret we cannot give Ji full report in this issue, but frill do so in next, .vl'r Reid, said, "that no thought the public interest could ba protected, and Air Clarke fairly dealt with, by acting According to the following proposition : — ' That tlie sale 6i the land Be agreed to, excepting that p" art; 6f about 1950 acres, that lies north-east of t'li'6 road line that divides blook 4, and the ten ucros reserved as a school sita.' " Messrs Duncan .and Hughes supported the mdtidri. Mr Smith — VV-itli reference to the decision just come to, 1 have to ihforni the Board that Mr Clarke will riot accept drie acre less than the aiva survey. 'd. Mir Reid— 7 Mr Clarke will be entitled to the area surveyed} but thu Board has the undoubted power to say [ where the land shall Be takeh froni. Under, tho 46th clause he can abanddii his survay or noh ; in 'that case the Act decides how his deposit will tie dealt withi ' .