The Dunstan Times FRIDAY, 5th OCTOBER, 1866.

Dunstan Times, Issue 232, 5 October 1866, Page 2

The Dunstan Times

FRIDAY, sth OCTOBER, 1866.

‘Beneath the rule of men entirely just, tht pen is mightier than the sword!”

We extract the following from the Otago Punch.—"Perhaps the best effect of the creation of up-country municipalities, is that it has evoked a manifestation of such varied spirit and feelings, as to give vitality to communities previously dead, as a pint of 'KenoliaP that has been standing all night—a door nail, a red herring, or the amor patriae and esprit de corps of Otago's members. We find that Clyde is particularly vivacious, to which, no doubt, its worthy Mayor contributes, by being imbued with the mercurial temperament, which is supposed to be an essential constituent of the French character. Recently, however, the excitement reached boiling point, or molten lava heat, a telegram had been received from Dunedin, from the member for Clyde, announcing that the Government had granted £3OO for the municipality, excited councillors rnshecl frantically first to the various bars, and then to the Council Chambers, not to deliberate, for the excitement was to intense to calmly reason; but to resolve what was to be done with this awful sum. The Mayor proposed to appropi-iate it for his salary. Cr. Ryan that a moiety should go towards paying their debts, and the remaining half should be liquidated among the ' Pubs.' The Town-Clerk wanted it for his screw. Cr Cope, thought it should be spent in advertising in his 'horsran.' Another, in making a road to his door; another, that it should'nt be taken all; another, that a loan of £SOO be asked from the superintendent, and that a telegram to this effect be sent; this was agreed upon. But the Town-Clerk had no funds to pay for the transmission, and refused to advance the amount, the Mayor said he'd be (stopped) if he'd pay. f one of the Councillors had any money, or else they were

afraid to trust the Town-Clerk with it. So the Mayor with much gesticulations dissolved the meeting, the Councillors performed a war dancs, and adjourned to the Bar." The ' Oamaru Times' intimates, that the Rev. Mr Tickers, Wesleyan Minister of Oamaru, is on a visit to the various goldfields. A few evenings since, Winstanley's National Hotel at Clyde, was nigh becoming a prey to the flames, through the wanton carelessness, or more properly speaking, mischievousness of a guest throwing a gla s of whisky into the fire, which was burning in the parlour grate. The flames, as a natural consequence, burst out in a most alarming manner, and had not the front part of the fire-place, up to the mantle-piece, been of metal, the woodwork must have become ignited. There exists now some visible signs of that much needed work the main line of road between Kawarau and Queenstown being completd. The Nevis Bluff will, in a few days, be no impediment to the passage of vehicles. With respect to the ferry itself, that is also progressing satisfactorily, the boats, and material for the punt are on the ground, and from the well-known energy of the lesee, MiEdwards of Clyde, his portion of the business will be promptly executed. A dredging machine is now at work on the Molyneux, abreast of the camp at Clyde. The dredge is owned by the Messrs Sideberg of Cromwell, who successfully navigated the cumbrous machine from Hartley's Beach to where it is now working. We learn from the ' Wakatip Mail' that the farmers and agricultural leaseholders in the Arrow and Frankton Districts, have formed a combination to watch over their especial interests. A similar body in this district would doubtless be productive of much benefit, there is plenty of room for such. The ' Wakatip Mail' says : —As very much anxiety is felt down country about the height of the Lake, we may state that it still remains low. The rains that have fallen have not yet caused any perceptible rise. Any increase of the volume of water in the Molyneux must ai'ise from the watersheds of other places, as the Shotover and Arrow fall as soon as they rise. We trust the lucky miners of Frenchman's Beach and Bengerburn have the river low, and are continuing to obtain good results. A case was heard at the ResidentMagistrate's Court, Queenstown, on the 28th ult., before Mr Wilson Grey, R.M., under the Resident-Magistrate's ExtendedJurisdiction, wherein the plaintiff, named Hayward, claimed off one Beale and others, £6O Bs. for goods destroyed during a drunken spree. A verdict was recovered in favor of the plaintiff for £3O damages and £9 costs. With the return of Spring, mining matters in the Lakes District appear to be improving. The 'Wakatip Mail' of the 29th lilt, says:—For the first time for some weeks past, we are enabled to chronie'e a perceptible improvement in mining matters. The mild spring weather may be said to be the chief auxiliary in bringing about this change. At Skippers the crushing machines of Perry and Co. and Southberg and party are fully employed. Neither company is crushing very good stone just now—that is, it will not turn out more than, perhaps, an ounce to the ton. There are two reasons for this : one is, that the machines being new, it is prudent to commence crushing poor stone, as many open joints and cracks have to be filled up by gold or rubble before a new machine can be said to be in good working order: and the other reason is, that both companies have the metal lying at the machine-mouth. Southberg and party, however, are said to have on hand some very rich stone, and are still bringing to grass some equally as good. They state their intention not to retort until they can produce a cake weighing several hundreds of ounces. We are informed this party have ordered twelve more stampers—which will make, in all, twenty heads—as they feel confident plenty of stone is available in their claim to keep that number going. The stone being raised by Perry and Co. also looks well. The Scandinavian Company are using every exertion to get their machinery erected, and Mr Bullen, who is on the spot is, we hear, pushing work vigorously forward. It has been suggested that the several companies at the Sandhills should join together to erect machinery on a suitable site for all. We hear that the Mountain Race Company have had very satisfactory returns of late. They however merit all their success for the energy displayed, and

the large investment of capital and labor made by the shareholders. At the Arrow I things are going on quietly, and it is probable that, in the course of a few weeks, they will much improve—that is, as soon as the Criterion have repaired their works and again commenced crushing. Mining prospects, however, are somewhat more cheering. The Who'd-Have-Thought-It Company, we hear, have struck a lode about five feet wide, in which there is gold, but we are unable to report the quality of the stone- The Cornish Company are energetically testing their ground and the lode still looks well. The Columbian, Plutus and other quartz mining companies are, we Understand, about to i*esume operations. It is to be regretted that some of these companies have remained dormant the past two or three months. They have had the necessary funds in hand, and cannot plead the excuse of leaseholders at Skippers—that the season was too severe. At the Twelve-mile, Arrow, the various sluicing companies are progressing satisfactorily: but Beale and party are said to be doing the best. They do not intend to wash-up till Christmas. Very little is said in this direction, at present about reefs, the alluvial workers seem too contented with their success to trouble themselves about them. From a Parliament iiy notice paper we extract the following question, which was to have been put by the member for Manuherikia in his place in the Assembly: —" Capt. Baldwin to ask the Honorable the Colonial Secretary, What course the Government intends to pursue respecting the placing of the Mayors of the several Municipalities of Otago on the Roll of Magistrates]" Owing to the absence of Capt. Baldwin, the question was not asked, but we learn on undoubted authority that none of the Mayors of the country Municipalities will be placed in the Commission of the Peace. The present Mayor of Dunedin was a Justice of the Peace before he was elected to the Office of Mayor and, of course, will still continue to hold the appointment; but as he has not been reappointed a Resident Magistrate, he cannot now hold a Court in that capacity. ' Evening Star.' A Bazaar and Ball in aid of the funds of the Dunstan District Hospital, is to be held at Clyde, during the race week, in December next. The Ball will in all probability take place on Friday the 28th, the sale of gifts on the following day. The Bazaar Ball at Alexandra, in aid of the Funds of the Dunstan Hospital was a most decided success; the total sum rea liscd will be about £155,