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Dunstan Times, Issue 900, 18 July 1879, Page 2

In another'cokimn will be found the latest Parliamentary intelligence, from our own correspondent at Wellington. Onr late B.M. and Warden W. L. Simpson, we see by the daily papers, is kept busy at it in his new position of R. M. Dunedin, as many aslthirty civil cases on some days having to be adjudicated upon. Mr E. de B. Campbell, the Agent of the Bank of N.S. Wales, visited Clyde on Wednesday last, and informed us that he will in future visit Clyde on every alternate Wednesday on banking business. The next meeting of the Vincent County Council will be held in the County Offices, Clyde on Wednesday next-the Cord instant. The notices of motion to be considered are in another column. The contractors for the construction of the Alexandra Bridge ate pushing ahead most energetically. A slight, accident, we regret to hear, happened during the week to the pump employed in draining the foundation for the pier on the east side. The pump barrel was too weak and succumbed to tlie pressure. A new pump of a far stronger character is being made, and when fixed in position it is expected will master all the work it may bo called upon to do. Wo notice that the cancellation of the gold-mining lease held by Thomas Rowe and others, ( The Standard Company) St Bathaus, is gazetted. Four hundred and forty acres of land in Leaning Bock district is proclaimed in the Gazette as a reserve for the Borough of Alexandra. The boundaries of the land are as follows :—Bounded towards the South-east by the Borough of Alexandra ; towards the South-west by the Clutha river ; towards the North-west by a right line parallel to and forty chains distant from the Forthwestern boundary of the Borough of Alexandra aforesaid ; and towards the Northeast by a line at right angles to the last mentioned boundary. Mr Fache-requests us to draw attention to the sale by auction of the current-wheel dredge at Alexandra on Wednesday next the 2.'lrd instant, and as there are several winches, a lot of chain, and other material the sale is worthy the attention of contractors. We have to acknowledge the receipt from the Government printer of a third volume of statistics in reference to the census taken in IS7S. The whole mass now covers 53S pages, with still more to come. We are sorry to learn that George Murray, our local carter, through an accident that happened him a few da> s ago, is compelled to give up his calling, and consequently has placed his team in the market for sale. Wo understand that as Murray was returning homo from St. Bathans, where he had been with a load, and when within a few hundred yards of home was jumping off the dray his feet got entangled in the reins, and falling, the one wheel passed over his body and groin severely internally injuring him. To a steady man, with a small capital, the investment will be a good one. We understand that a match between the boys of the lower and upper ends of the Duns tan district, for a valuable tronliy, will open the ensuing cricket season at Cromwell. The trophy, a silver cup, valued at five guineas, is to be given to the highest scorer. The licavirst snow-storm that has visited the district for many years past occurred on Thursday night nr Friday morning last. In the streets of Clyde, and all over the Uunstau Flat the snow lay nearly a foot deep. On the mountain ranges, from their almost spotless garb, the fall must have been very heavy. We have not heard of any losses of sheep, they all having been driven down off the mountains at the commencement of the season. The occasion was taken advantage of by the youngsters, who heartily went into the time-honored game of snowballing, not only themselves, but anyone and everyone they could take the liberty with, our Celestial neighbors coming in for rather more than a fair share, if one unfortunately for himself, or fortunately for the youngsters showed himself. Saving a few windows nothing was broken, but what the result may bo when “ Father ” is called upon tor the damage done, we will leave those acquainted with such things to guess for themselves.

Mr W. I). Stewart was on Monday elected M. H. R. for Dunedin vice Mr Stout resigned. Mr Stewart polled 72G votes, Mr C. S. Reeves 563, and ,f. G. F. Grant 31. The numbs s polled in July of last year were. -Mr R Oliver, 760 ; Mr C. S Reeves, 053.

From the reports laid before the last half yearly meeting of shareholders of the Cromwell Quartz Mining Company and published in the Dunedin Daily Times, we extract the following interesting facts “ Amount of gold obtained during the six months, 4CBBoz. from 2893 tons of quartz, shewing a yield of a little over loz. B'iwt. to the ton and a value of L14,C01 15s Od. The total amount of dividends declared, LG4OO, equal to 10s. per share. Amount set aside as a reserve fund, L6OO. Assets of the Company, including original purchase of the mine LC8.170 12s 3d. Liabilities, 12,800 shares at L 5 each, paid up LG4,000. During the meeting a telegram was read to the effect that the result of the last month’s crushing of 480 tons of quartz was 6240z. of gold. The stamping battery consists of 15 heads of Gcwt. revolving stands, to be increased to 20 heads, driven by a Leffel’s lOin. double wheel turbine, with a fall of 120, and which is shortly to be'increased to 250 feet; also, a 12-horse power enuine, the engine also supplies hot water for the'.'quicksilver tables. The mine is worked by shafts at the respective depths of 211, 330, and 337 feet, and that it is proposedjto sink the deepest shaft 400 feet, when all the mine will be worked from it. The mine is opened up for a distance of 1050 feet, and the lode of stone underfoot is solid’and well defined, with a thickness of from 1 foot to 3 feet 6 inches ; at the bottom of the 837 feet shaft the lode is 2 feet thick.

The Cromwell Jockey Club have decided not to hold a Spring Meeting this year, reserving all their strength for the Summer meeting. The classification of teachers in the State Schools of the Colony has been gazetted We notice that Mr J. E Stevens, Clyde, holds a certificate in D I rank, Mrs Stevens Clyde, in E 3 rank ;Mr Aldred, Alexandra, in D 4 rank ; Miss A. Gouldmg, Alexandra, in E 4 rank.

At a late meeting of tlie Lake County Council the Chairman said, before dealing with matters involving expenditure of money it might he advisable to ascertain their probable financial position for the current year. Making the estimate he found that the Council would require some L 7258 for the next year, including L3OOO for Kawarau bridge, and LIOOO engineering expenses of same, but not allowing for L2OOO which would be due Government as refund on flood advance. The probable income was set down at L 9,520, made up of the following sums : -—To balance at bank, LI,020; fixed deposit L 3,000 ; ordinary revenue, L 5,501). The Council had little to hope for from the land fund this year, and it was a question whether they would be justified in incurring great expenditure. The appointment of Josiah Compton Jones, Esq., of Blacks, as a Justice of the Peace, is notified in the Gazette of the 10th mst.

In an article on the forthcoming Chess tournament, and on the various players that are spoken of as being likely to play the Daily Times says : —“ Clyde will in all probability he represented by the Eev.T. E. Ash, who is known to heatirst-class player. He took part oujhe Dunedin sidein the Telegraphic match with Auckland, and po’ished off his man in the most artistic manner possible. He is a flue match-player, possessing great patience and infinite resource. He has a very fine memory, and can play without sight of board. He is very fond of the game, but of late has not had many opportunities of practice with players of his own strength. Ho took a leading part in chess circles while attending the Cambridge University. We sincerely hope he will he one of the Otago representatives.”

The Committee of the Cromwell Hospital notify through the local paper that “ subscribers of LI and upwards are reminded that while good on the books they are entitled to enter the Institution as paying patients for 255. per week, while nonsubscribers are charged 40s. weekly. Those of the residents of the lower portion of the Dunstan district, who have of late been heard to complain of the charge of 30s. per week to be admitted to the Dunstan District Hospital, will do well, perhaps, to place the two pictures sole by side, and see whether they have really anything to complain of. A private letter has, wo understand, been received from Bishop Nevill by last mail, announcing that ho had been asked by the Bishop of London to undertake some episcopal work in Sweden, and that he had consented. This will involve a further postponement of his return to his diocese. He had intended to leave in June by one of the Orient steamers.

Mr J. W. Thomson has handed in his resignation as a member of the Waste Lands Board to the Chief Commissioner, who will forward it to Wellington.

The following business of local interest was transacted by the Waste Lands Board at the meeting held on Wednesday the 9th instant A. letter from settlors at Clyde stating that the land under survey at Earnscleugh, is not the same as that selected by Messrs Clark ank Croon was simply read, as was also one from the Chairman of the Vincent County Council drawing attention to the delay taking place in opening for settlement blocks of land at Idaburn ami Moutere recently surveyed, and urging prompt action in the matter.—Plans of blocks 2, 4, 5, and C, Leaning Rock ; blocks 10, and 11, Poolburn ; and block 2, Lower Wanaka, were laid on the table for approval. The Chief Surveyor transmitted lists of valuations for improvements effected on these blocks.—The plans were approved of so far as they embraced the area of 5,000 acres formerly recommended by the Board, and it was resolved that the same he set apart for agricultural leasing without delay. It was also decided to recommend that the portions of sections 8 and 9, block 4, Lean ing Rock, lying to the north of the road line and betweeeu tlie same and pre-eniptivt right area, he reserved from sale, in order to give access to the mountain. Plans oi blocks 10 and 11, Ponlbnrn, were approved of, the Government to he recommended to

set aside the same for sale on deferred payments as soon as possible. The plan of Lower Wanaka was also approved of, the Government to bo recommended to set apart the land in the same for agricultural leasing.

The returns of the Otago Education Board for the quarter ended June 30th, which have just been compiled, show that there were 145 schools open, employing 207 male ami 141 female teachers, besides eight teachers of sewing. The number of children on the roll at the beginning of the quarter was 16,095, and at the end of the quarter 1C 979, composed of 8789 boys and 8190 girls. The average attendance for the quarter was 7132 boys and 6507 girls, making a total of 13.639. Five new schools were opened during the quarter.

A fire destroying over L3OOO worth of property occurred at Mr James Shard’s farm at Outram, West Taieri, on the evening of Thursday the 10th distant. Amongst the property destroyed were thirty head of cattle, which according to the account were literally roasted alive. The fire started in tli^* 1 roof of the cattle shed, which, together with the stables, byre, woolshed, engine-house, and portion of the nu ns’ quarters were destroyed. At the time of the fire there were seventy cattle in the sheds, and 14 horses, including two valuable entires.

The following extracts from a private letter, received by an Invercargill gentleman and published by the Southland News, give a good idea of the state of Hobart Town during the visit of Father Chiniquy. The writer says :~“By perusing carefully the weekly and other papers this time you will ascertain the trial we Hobartonians have passed through during the past week. I need say no more than that feelings of horror, disgust, uneasiness, and bitter animosity pervade the minds of all Protestants here. The Mercury has sold ’about ten thousand extra copies during the week. For does the capital alone heave and throb—the whole island is convulsed, and peace has ended. The Homan Catholics have lost a deal, are being discharged from employment, and stripped of custom in all directions. The whole place is up in a-ms. The Mutiny Act is still in force in the city, and everything is in a very unsettled condition indeed.”

It may not be generally known here that hitherto the i'-nglish Government have declined to allow Volunteer corps to be formed in Ireland. We learn by the last mail that the Government have agreed to accept the principle ihat the Volunteer system (with certain safeguards not yet announced) be extended to Ireland, and a Bill on the subject introduced by the Chevalier O’Clery was read a second time.

In the Kaiapoi Magistrate’s Court recently the following agreement was produced, during the hearing of a civil case, and read amid roars of laughter “ Twelve months afterdate I, , undertake to pay to

the sura of eleven pounds if I should have an increase iu my family, and the said agreement is in respect of a set of harness, and the said is prepaid to do vice vena, to find a set of harness without price if the said increase should not happen. Signed, , and .” As it happened, the i’ erease came during the week after the expiry of the agreement and.instead of the baby transaction being for cash only, the interested party received a suit of harness, value, 1.11. The judgment of the Court was in his favor.

A calamity of a terribly striking nature (says the Straits Times) happened at Kudas recently. Eight men who were endeavoring to shelter themselves in a watchhouse, weie struck by lightning so that they all fell dead on the spot.