The Dunstan Times. FRIDAY, AUGUST 1, 1873.

Dunstan Times, Issue 589, 1 August 1873, Page 2

The Dunstan Times. FRIDAY, AUGUST 1, 1873.

Beneaththeßuleot Men entirely just thejpEN is mightier than thes word.

Although the elections for the Mayoralty in the 1 various Gold-fields’ Municipalities have passed off tamely ( or been uncontested, the competition for seats at the Council tables points out pretty clearly that the people take considerable interest in municipal affairs. That there should have been so many cases where candidates for the office of Mayor had a clear walk over creates no surprise, and is easily accounted for, when we take into consideration'the fact that we form but very small communities, consequently there are’but few "men able and willing to devote the time required to fill the Mayoral chair with becoming dignity, while at the same time there gonerally’exists’a sort of tacit understanding that distinguished citizens should each in their turn occupy, as an undisputed right, this honorable office. Insignificant perhaps in numerical strength when compared withthe more populous centres of population on the seaboard, the application of the Municipal Act on the gold-fields has been productive of the best results. Towns which previous to being incorporated [held no position, have become influential centres, population has increased, and where mud or dust, according to'tbe seasons, reigned supreme in the streets, we now find them well paved, watered, and in some in stances, lighted. The advantages gained are obvious ; in the first place an influential body has been created, which is listened to by the Govern-| ment, and its demands, as fur as prac-

ticable, complied with, not only as regards matters strictly local and within Municipal boundaries,!' but for a very considerable area outside, and it is due to the representatives of these incorporated bodies, that roads and tracks have been formed in places which other vise would scarcely ever have succeeded in successfully urging tlu'if claims, to become entitled to a portion of the public expenditure. Clyde may congratulate itself upon the e'ection of Mr. Benjamin Naylor to the office of Mayor—Mr. Naylor is one of the oldest residents in the town, and in all the various little plans and schemes for its advancement, has always taken a prominent part. In the furtherance of the interests of our domestic and charitable institutions, Mr Naylor has always displayed the same alacrity, and we may conclude by saying that whenever called upon, he was never found wanting. The citizens of Clyde have done wisely in returning this gentleman without a contest to the honorable office he now occupies. Alexandra in the selection of a Mayor has emulated Clyde, our neighbors there having elected Mr. William Beresford, who tills the'office'unopposed. Mr Beresford’s zeal in public matters is well known, and we {feel fully assured that the Municipality over which he'presides'willjnokbc wanting a most strenuous advocate of its interests. For Lawrence, Mr. Edward Herbert has been re-elected Mayor, in him that Municipality secures a thorough man of business, and one who holds a considerable stake in the town and district, Tuapeka may ensure itself that its interests',will not be neglected. At Queenstown, Mr, M. J. Mallaghanjias been re-elcetcdi beating his opponent by a very large majority of votes, taking this fact as an expression of public opinion, Mr. Mallaghan must feel much gratification that he stands so high in the estimation of his fellow citizens; no gold-fields’ Municipality has made such progress within the last three or four years as our Queenstown neighbors, and we may very safely infer

that a very great deal of this prosperity is due to Messrs. Mallaghau and Hallenstein, botlrof which gent’emcn have within this period divided the Municipal honors. Arrowtown, the slowest and most sleepy of our goldfields’ towns, we perceive by the local newspaper is desirous of being incorporated, and'we can’only wonder that so important a place, and possessing so many natural advantages, has so long neglected taking the necessary step to assert itself It is better to be late than never, and we wish our Arrowtown friends success in their

new enterprise. At Cromwell the election for the’’Mayorally resulted in a tie, the voting being even between Messrs. Finer and Marsh j we are not prepared to advance the claims of either of these gentlemen, deeming such a course useless, Croinwe l ! citizens fully understanding the merits of

cither. Municipal institutions since their establishment on the gohl-Sehls have prospered, and judging by the aetion'taken by the Government in constituting the Clyde Municipal Council, by virtue of their office, a Board of Wardens for the depasturing district of Dunstan—there appears an evident desire to extend their usefulness, which with considerable advantage might be accomplished, and an extended career entered upon beneficial alike to whole districts, instead of small circumscribed towns.

At a late meeting of the Alexandra Town Council a motion was tabled by Councillor Rivers to the effect that the Government be asked to invest the Town Council with the supervision of the construction and maintenance of the main road from Butcher’s Gully to Alexandra, and to place in their hands the sum of money allocated for that purpose; also that adjoining municipalities be communicated with, informing them of the request, and suggesting that they apply for similar privileges. The substance of the motion we cannot but think is in the extreme sensible, and, for many reasons, we hope a grand bond of unity between the municipalities will be formed for the purpose of obtaining a favorable reply from the Government. It is a fact patent to all that the existing system of maintains and constructing the roads, in the Gunstan district especially, is not the right one ; repairs are not effected wdiere necessary, nor is value obtained for the money expended. We have times out of number written against the system of day labor by surface men, and advocated the contract system, with local supervision. Our arguments hitherto have been of no avail ; but, now that wo are supported by one of our local bodies, we with fresh courage refer to the subject. Local contractors, with local supervision, is the only and true system of expending the moneys upon the | roads. Every one is interested in the work, and being so interested, would see

that justice was done. By the a ’.option rf this system, good roads will soon be the rule, instead of the exception ; whereas, if the present system is perpetuated, in the winter season the inhabitants of the upcountry districts will he like those of a beleaguered city, completely cut off from all communication. We hope that all the municipalities will join issue with Alexandra, and, if they do, we have hut little fear of the result. The Corporation of Cromwell, have by the advice of their Solicitor determined upon new nominations for the office of Mayor, and have fixed Wednesday, August 6, for the Poll The Pneumatic Dredge,'together with all its appliances (subject to a claim of Mr. James Manning, of Dunedin, of 123/. on the Steam engine), was on Wednesday last sold by the Bailiff oijthc Resident Magistrate’s Court, Clyde, under Warrants of Distress, and realized the insignificant sum of 125/., Mr. F. J. Wilson, Solicitor, being the purchaser for a Dunedin firm. We learn'; by telegram that the' Provincial Council was prorogued on Wednesday. There was a fight over the honorarium; and after several divisions, the sum of 20s. per day was voted for the whole of the members. We would draw the attention of owners of cattle to the advertisement in another column, respecting cattle running on the Mouterie Station. A meeting of of the Dunstan Miners’ Association is advertised for tomorrow evening’the 2nd inst. The chair will bo taken at half-past seven. We acknowledge the receipt of a number of Parliamentary papers from the Government printer, Wellington, including reports of the proceedings of the Inter-Colonial Conference, correspondence to and from the Agent-General relating to immigration to New Zealand, returns of contracts fur the construction of railways, &c. ; also the import, export, and shipping returns for the yaar 1872, from which we take the following figures: Total value of imports, 5,142,951/., of exports 5,130,065/, the principal itenisjof this amount being; woo',

2,537,919/. ; gold, 1,730,092/. ; wheat, 111,219/.; oats, 1[ 04,015?. ; flax, 99,405/.; preserved meats, 101,890/.; tallow, 08,738/ ; sheep-skins, 18,243/. The number of ships entered inwards was '775, of an aggregate tonnage of 390,302 tons, and total crews of 13,800. . The Reliance Quartz Mining 'Company, Limited, is the namej'of a new Company shortly to he laid before the public. The , Company are applying for a ten acre Cease ! on the same line and adjoining the cole- | brated claims of Messrs. Logan, Coodgcr ! and Co., Bendigo. By a late issue under the heading of “ mining news,” wo referred to Mr. Coleman’s claim at Butcher’s Point, Molyneux, in which he has been at 'work off and on for the past eight years, and expressed the hopejthat this season he may make up for lost time. We are informed, (to speak figuratively), just as he’was in [the act of quenching his thirst from the cup he had 1 succeeded in raising to his lips by the dint ■ of unequalled perseverance, energy and ! pluck, that it has been ruthlessly and with- ' out notice, hurled to the ground by the men whom ho had employe 1, who at the last hour strike for an increase of wages, and demand the modest smu of 4/. per week, the consequence is, Mr. Coleman being unable to comply with these terms,

the claim is idle ami the memare out of employment. Wo cannot speak too strongly against these men, and designate their conduct as heartless and cruel in the extreme, and such as to cancel all right they may claim to he The case is one of peculiar hardship, were Mr. Coleman making a heap of riches out of the labor of his fel. lows, or had ho boon, or were the wages below the market rates, and he had turned a deaf ear to'an appeal from his employees to bo placed on a fooling of equality with their fellows, then some excuse might bo offered for their conduct, hut as it is, it bears on its face a direct attempt at extortion, and wo express the hope that Mr. Coleman has been enabled to punish the men by discharging them, and putting on a fresh crowd in theirstead. Every laborer is worthy of his hire, and at the same time is perfectly at liberty to’ do as may seem fit with his labor—they should however bear iiqndnd that the storekeeper and the butcher being somewhat in the bargain are not to he ignored ; they have a power, and in eases of this nature, we think they will be shirking their duty ft they do not fall into the ranks of the employers, and offer battle against the oppressors and tyrants, the employed. The Select Committee on the Railway from Tuapeka or Tapanni to Roxburgh, Alexandra, Clpdo and Cromwell reported the estimated annual revenue of the Line to ho 73,080'. —from traffic, 45,000?., 15,000 tone at 3?. per ton, and from passengers, 28,080 —thirty per day at one

pound ton shillins each. We acknowledge the receipt of the July number of the “Illustrated Bow Zealand Herald”—among the illustrations is, New Zealand Canoe, shooting the rapid ; the new Public Offices, Victoria, and some mining scenes. A Mr. Vincent in Auckland, lately discovered that some wretch had deliberately gone round every plant and shrub in his garden and sprinkled them with vitriol, deluging also the verandah. But worse still, his little daughter, in coming from school 1 and when near home, was sprinkled with vitriol, though the child did not observe by whom it was thrown. Her clot hing was burned into holes, and it was a mercy she did not lose her eyesight. The offence h- s been prompted, it is thought, by a suspicion that Mr. Vincent was the writer of a letter in the papers which caused the routing out of some objectionable neighbors— a suspicion which was quite unfounded.

Mr. J. L. Gillies was returned Member for Waikouaiti by a majority of twentyeight over his opponent, Mr. Pratt. 1 In Committee of Supply the item 1,500/. for a bridge across the Molyneux at Roxburgh, was lost on the voices. In reply to a question by Mr. MTCellar, Mr. Bastings said, if if were possible,the Government will entertain the reclamation of Blocks 8, 13, 14, C2, 03, and 64, Town of Cromwell, from their present waste condition. We are requested to notify that in future tho Services at St. John’s (Roman Catholic) Church, Alexandra, will he held at 11 a.m., instead of 11.30, as previously advertised. In the Legislative Assemo'y, the District Courts Act Amendment Bill, which extends the jurisdiction of these Courts to 300/., has boon read a second time. Mr. T. L. Shepherd supports the Bill. lie said he regretted thcUovnrmnent, instead of amending the old Ac 1 , had not introduced a new one. In Otago, ton contracts on account of railways have been accepted, amounting in all to 474,628/., of which Messrs. Brogden obtained to tho amount of 371,616/. In the Colony, for the year, contracts to the amount of 1,136,45b/., have been entered into, ftlesrs. Brogden and Sons obtaining 789.259/. Mr. Siedeberg Las at length got tho whole of his new machinery fixed. Having first warped out into the river, and proved that everything was in good working order, on Tuesday ho dropped down stream on to a well-known golden claim. Wo have not heard as yet if he has dropped upon anything payable. The nomination of Councillor to fill the vacancies created by the retiring members of the Clyde Town Council took place, at the Town Hall, on, Monday last, tho 28th inst,, J. U. Cambridge, Esq., Mayor, presiding. Mr. G. Clark was elected, unopposed, for the East Ward ; Mr. J. Hazletß M.P.C., quietly walked over for the South Ward. For the East Ward, Mr. J. Cox and Mr. C. Huestou wore nominated; and there being but one vacancy, a poll was fixed for Friday (this day), the 2nd of August. Messrs. Cambridge and Stanbrook were elected Auditors. The Provincial Council have decid d to sot apart tho following blocks of land for settlement on deferred payments, as provided by tho Otago Waste Lands Act, 1372; acres, Runs 167 a and 78; 2,500 acres, Runs 168 and 175 a ; 2,500 acres, Run 122 ; 2,500 acres, Runs 244 and 261; 3,000 acres, Run 316 ; 2,501 acres, Run 109 ; 2,000 acres, j Run 205 ; 5,000 acres, Runs 123 and 127. I The Daily/Times says:— A proposal, ! although seriously made by the Chairman, j last evening, that honorable members ! should adopt Gentle Annie, gave a rather lively turn to the proceedings in the Provincial Council, when in Committee of Supply'. But what tickled still more tho risible faculty of those gathered round Mr. M'Dennid was his anxiety to learn what had become of Roaring Meg ; and how members had scarce regained their senatorial gravity w hen it was again upset by ' Mr. Davie protesting that an allowance of ' 501. was by no means sufficient for the | maintenance of Gentle Annie. Fearing, [ apparently, that honorable members would become uproarious, Mr. Gillies suggested that they should again proceed to business, and give their voices for or against the item. On Saturday morning last, Mr. Warden Simpson proceeded to Dunedin, having been summoned there by the Government. In consequence of his absence no Warden’s Court business has been transacted during tbe week. In the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Alexandra, on Monday last, the

28; li instant, W. A. Low and W. Beresford, Esqs., J.P.’s, presided. There were only three debt cases on tho cause list, two o' which Duley and M‘Kersey v. Campbell, claim 155., and Rivers v. O’Brien, claim 7/. ISs, were withdrawn. In tho third ease, Hasted v. Taydor, claim 51. 125., judgment was given for 51. 4s. and 13s. costs. This claim was for a chain supplied to a mining party, The defendant averred that plaintiff was a partner at the time the o'lain was supplied. Tho plaintiff, however, swore that he. had disposed of his interest before the chain was supplied, and the rebutting evidence not being sufficiently clear to disprove it, judgment was given as above. The St. Bathan’s township is to be sold by auction at the next quarterly laud sales, which take place in about two months.