The Dunstan Times. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1879.

Dunstan Times, Issue 918, 21 November 1879, Page 2

The Dunstan Times. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1879.

Beneath the rule of men entirely just th pen is mightier than the stvord.

Ottr Blacks correspondent says in that district a difference of opinion exists as to the reading of the Homestead Clause of “The Mines Act, 1877,” and asks us for our version. At the time of the clause coming into operation in Vincent County, we published the clause in full, giving at the same time our opinion that the holder of any homestead within the meaning of the clause in any portion of the County cou'd purchase an area to the extent of fifty acres, or lease to the extent of three hundred and twenty acres, and we see no reason to alter our then opinion ; in fact, having been supported in such opinion by successful applications, we can but say that such is the correct interpretation. It will be remembered that the question as to whether the right to both purchase and lease, the entire area not to exceed 320 acres, did arise. It has, however, been decided that the right is an alternative one —either to purchase or lease —consequently the application to purchase debars the right to lease, and vice versa. The privilege conferred by the Homestead Clause is a valuable one, and the wonder to us has been that it has not been to a greater extent operated on ; and now that the question is settled, the only inference will be be that if greater advantages are not now taken the rights are not worth taking up. We again publish the clause for general information : “ Wherever, in any mining district one mile or more from any town boundary, which raining district has been proclaimed by the Governor to be a special mining district for the purposes contemplated in this section, there have been homesteads made by miners or others prior to the coming into operation of this Act, which homesteads, have been improved and used for dairies, gardens, orchards, or agricul ■ tural purposes, and upon which no valuable mines of gold or other mineral are known to exist, the said settlers or occupiers of such homesteads shall have a right of preemption thereto, and shall, after adveitise mant'for four consecutive weeks in a newspaper circulating in the district in which the land is situate, and subject to the approval of the Governor, be entitled to purchase the same at the upset price which, at the date of such purchase,* shall have been fixed by law for Crown land of the same class in the district wherein such homesteads shall be situated, and in quantity not to exceed fifty acres; or said

parties may avail themselves of the provisions herein provided for the acquirement of Crown lands upon deferred payments, or by agricultural lease, the area of the homestead to be included in the same, whether or no such homesteads are included in any block or parcel of lands hereinafter to be set aside or proclaimed as provided herein : Provided that no person shall he entitled to occupy, either under agricultural lease, or on deferred payments, or both, more land than would, with the land comprised in his homestead, amount to three hundred and twenty acres : Provided also that it shall be lawful for the Governor, when proclaiming any mining district for the pre-emption of homesteads, to fix the maximum acreage which may he in any one case pre-empted, at any such less acreage than fifty acres, as to him shall seem tit.

The first load of this season’s wool from Moutere station we noticed on the road during the week. The weather, so far, is favorable for the operation of shearing, and the clip we understand will be good. A few weeks ago we noticed that on some of the exposed runs the mortality amongst the lambs was great; we are now informed that generally the lambing was good, the percentage being highly satisfactory. Labor is plentiful, in fact, D>e supply being beyond the demand, more especially of offhands and rouseahouts.

In the Gazette of November 13, Vincent County is proclaimed a lahbit district, and Major Jackson Keddell is appointed Returning Officer under the Regulation of Local Elections’ Act to conduct the first elections of Trustees for the said district.

We are informed by the Secretary of the Dunstan District Hospital that the gross proceeds of the Entertainments given at Alexandra and Clyde during the past week by the Ophir Variety Company in aid of the tunds of that valuable Institution was L 24 Is which sum, together with a £ to £ subsidy will give the very handsome total of L4B 3s.

Mr Charles Colclough has been returned unapposed to the Office of Mayor of. Cromwell.

The first ripe fruit (cherries) of the season is now in. It is not plentiful at present, but, with a continuance of the present warm weather, in a few days they will be abundant. The crop of this delicious fruit is nothing like up to former years, the late frosts having considerably thinned them. Mr Paohe requests us to draw attention to the sale by auction, at Bald Hill Flat, on Wednesday next, the 26th inst., of valuable improved farm lands, horses, cattle, agricultural implements, and other properties, on account of Mr John Crossan. This doubtless is one of the few opportunities that present themselves for a man to step into a ready made home, where, with the exorcise of oidinary energy and tact, a fortune is to he made.

The injury done to the potatoe crops by ‘ the late frosts is likely to materially affect ( the price of that article during the ensuing 1 year. From nearly every district, right ' from the head oftheClutha to Port Molyneux, do we hear of the crops being cut * down, In some instances do we hear of the < plough being put into the ground and turn- . them up. . I A sitting of the District Court will in future be hel l atTopanui, and Henry John Abel is appointed Clerk of the said Court. At the sitting of the Waste Lands Board held on the 12th instant the following applications for agricultural leases were approved of James Parks, section 4, block IV, and James M'Arthur, section 1, block VI, Leaning Rock. At the same sitting, the report was brought before the Board of the District Land Officer at Clyde on section 7, hloeklll, Lauder district, stating that the licensee had neglected to take up the license of said section and occupy the same ; and he recommended the cancellation of the license. —Decided that the license should be cancelled and the section re-opened for sale. We are requested by the Auctioneer to draw attention to the sale by auction (this day) at his rooms. Clyde, of drapery, clothing, &c. We have to acknowledge the receipt of parcel of Parliamentary papers and Bills now before P irliarnent from the Government printer ; also, Nos. of Hansard At the nomination of candidates for the office of Mayor of Alexandra on the 19th instant, Mr James Rivers was the only person nominated. Mr William Theyers had consented to stand, but owing to some misunderstanding on the part of his supporters the nomination paper was not lodged with the Returning Officer in time, consequently Mr Rivers was declared duly elected. The forthcoming Bazaar and Auction in aid of the Presbyterian Chnreh, Alexandra, we hear promises to be successful, both on account of the number of donations already contributed, and also their quality. They are ornamental, useful, anil substantial. We believe it is proposed to have a very handsome Christmas tree, on which will be exposed for sale a large variety of useful and pretty articles. The acting Committee hope that when the canvassers go round the district, which will be in a week or eo, the list of donations already received, will be largely augmented, and that in collecting they will meat with a favorable response from members of all denominations. The election of Mayor for Roxburgh took place on Monday last when James Beighton Esq., was re-elected without opposition. ■ Mr Jabez Burton, Auctioneer, will sell ' this day, (Friday) at 1 o clock, at the Commercial Sale Yards, Roxburgh, a lirst-class lot of horses, cattle, &o. (See advertise- ■ ment.) The Oamaru Mail learns that Messrs Royse, Stead, and Co. have obtained the champion cup at the Sydney Intercational Exhibition for .wheat grown by Messrs Fleming and Hedley, on the Seadown ' Estate, near Oamaru. New Zealand has, therefore, beaten the world with wheat, and we congratulate Oamaru on her proud 1 position. j

By advertisement in another column, tenders are called for painting the schools at Clyde and Alexandra.

The Oamaru Mail learns on good authority that Ned Devine—the well known whip—has been left a large fortune through the death of a rich relative in Queensland. We only hope the report may prove to be correct.

The usual half-yearly communion services id Connection with the Presbyterian Church were held in the various parts of the district—at Matakauni and Blacks on the 9th November, and at Alexandra on the 16th. The communion service will be held at Clyde on Sunday, November 30th. The Bank of New South Wales, dividend and bonus is equal to 174 P er centum, with LIO.OOO added to the reserve, and L 3,372 carried forward. LIOOO was voted as a tesiimonial to Mr Thomas Dockland for his services.

On Tuesday two Mormon Missionaries arrived in Dunedin from Tiroaru. They purpose holding meetings here, and will of course endeavour to make as many converts as they can. There is an Apostolic ring about the gentlemen. They are apparently enthusiustic men belonging to the woiking class ; and they left their homes without purse or scrip, and trust to an overruling Providence to provide for their necessities. That they have had a good time of it, they claim to prove God’s faithfulness to them, their faithfulness to him, and in addition to this, the world is also proved thereby.

The once famous mine in the Thames Gold-field, the “ Caledonian,” was closed on the 3rd instant, and all hands Were discharged. The shares in this mine stood once at L2lO, and the tailings from the battery, during the richest of the crushings, used to bring from L2 to LG per ton at auction ; one parcel of several hundred tons reached to somewhere about L 7. The fabulous amount of gold which came from this mine in its most flourishing days, could never be correctly ascertained on account of the wholesale plunder which was carried on almost indiscriminately by the workmen.

The Daily Times says the annual meeting of the shareholders of the Mosgiel Woollen Factory Company was held on Tuesday last, when the directors’ report and balance sheet were adopted without dissent. No dividend was recommended, but the balance-sheet showed a profit of nearly Lsot)o, or equal to 10 per cent, on the capital--which amount was, on the recommendation of the directors, carried to the new profit and loss cacount- A number of questions were asked and satisfactorily answered, and the retiring directors aud auditors were unanimously re-elected. At the sate of shorthorns on Saturday, at the Agricultural Show grounds, Christchurch, the sum realised was 5097 guineas. Mr J. F. Kitching’s bull Ruby Knight brought 800 guineas, purchased by Mr J. W. Williams, Napier. Master Ruby was sold for 200 guineas to Mr Carswell, Invercargill. The highest price obtained for Mr R. Dougall’s bulls, sent from Victoria, was 260 guineas. Nearly all the Bridgewater, Victoria, stock was withdrawn. A shorthorn cow, Duchess of Bridgewater, was withdrawn at 650 guineas. The Englishwoman’s Domestic Magazine says that “ the dearth of food is thought to have been brought about to some extent by the teetotallers, who make up in temperance in drink by intemperance in diet. To watch these gentlemen at work on bread, fruit, vegetables, and meat is certainly the sure way to be astonished. They are proud, too, of their powers, not having yet recognised the principle of temperance in all things, or that by stowing away a pound of beef at a meal they are simply taking their own share and some one else'a all at once.” At the ordinary meeting of the Tuapeka County Council held on Friday last. Mr J, C. Brown, (Chairmen) moved—“ That, as the finances of the County necessitate the strictest economy in its management, this Council resolves that no salary or honorarium be paid to the Chairman and members of the County Council ; also, that the salaiios of the County officials he reduced as follows : County Clerk and Treasurer LSO, Engineer LSO, Valuer and Collector Ll5O ; and that this resolution take effect after one month’s notice of such reductions has been given to the respective officers.” After a lengthy discussion it was thrown out in favor of the following : The honorarium to members of LI for each sitting, and travelling expenses, to remain as at present ; Chairman’s salary to be reduced by LIOO, to 1.100 a year ; Engineer’s salary, by LSO, to L4OO a year ; Clerk and Treasurer’s, by LSO, to L 250 a year ; Rate Collector and Valuer, from L3OO to Ll5O a year (including travelling expenses) and all outside work, appearing at Court, but having no stated hours at the office. The present depth of the Prince Alfred shaft. Pleasant Creek, Victoria, is now nearly 1,500 feet. It is stated on good authority that one maker of monster sweeps got off ten of L 2,000 each in Melbourne on the Cup. A correspondent of the New York Herald, writing from Birmingham, says that recently a leading manufacturer in Sheffield showed his workmen an assortment of American-made goods, and, taking up a pair of tailor’s shears, offered to give the Union LSO if any one of his men, in a month, would produce one pair of shears as good as the American sample. The London Times of September 24th, in its money article, says: There seems to be among many of the principal people interested in Colonial securities a fear that the Australian Colonies are seeking to raise too much money. At present the different Legislatures have sanctioned in all the raising of over L 20,000,00, in addition to the exiting indebtedness, which in some casoi is quite large enough. The market lor

Australian honds has hitherto been a good one, and it would be a great pity if distrust were created by an indiscriminate launching of new loans. The works for which most of the authorised borrowing is required would undoubtedly help forward materially the different Colonies, but the readiness with which previous appeals have been answered here should not lead our antipodean brethren into the mistake of supposing that all future applications will be as readily responded to if judgment is not shown in selecting the opportunity.” has the following :—“ Gum-tree .Tack, having pawned his swag, and finished his bout, thought a week in the hospital would be a good restorative, and obtained without much difficulty an admission order from a local Committee man. Presenting himself at the hospital in a somewhat demoralised condition, the official in charge said, “ You are drunk,” and refused him admission. The disappointed candidate for medical comforts found his way to the gentleman who had signed the order, and made his complaint. “Von have been drinking,” said the committeeman; “I smell liquor.” “You make a mistake ;l’ve only been smoking.” “Absurd ; smoko and drink smell very differently.” “Of course,” said the applicant, “ but in my case it’s the molasses iu the tobacco which misleads you.”

The Mount Alexander Mail of the 28th ultimo states that a most singular discovery was made by a ploughman of .Mr George Godfree, of Yapeen, while ploughing some ground that was not cultivated this year. The plough turned up a whole colony of bees with their nests and honey. Furrow after farrow opened them out by the’million, and the bushel, and the cart load. They were not the usual honey or hive bee, but smaller, and their combs in soma instances a foot under ground. The story circulated a short time ago, to the effect that the husband of Mrs l.angtry, the “Jersey Lily,’ was about to institute a divorce suit, and that the Prince of Wales would be a co-respondent, although no authoritative contradiction has been given to the statement, is not believed in home circles, more especially as Mr and Mrs Langtry have quite recently been yachting together at Cowes.

The London correspondent of the Auckland Star, writing by the last mail, says ; “ With'Ti this last month no less than two thousand souls have left the United Kingdom for New Zealand, aud the rush still continues. The N.Z S. Co’s fine vessel W anganui, which sails for Otauo in a day or two, will take out over two hundred second cabin passengers, almost all of whom are middle class farmers. The majority have capital to start with.”

The Coroner, in summing up at the inquest on the fatal fire in Dunedin recently, made some remarks on the dangers attending the use of kerosene which deserve to bo mure widely known. Ho said It cannot be too widely known that the most frequent cause of the bursting of kerosene lamps is due to the fact of their being improperly trimmed. In kerosene lamps the snuff is often allowed to accumulate round the brass work of the lamp, and it cannot be too widely known that it is frequently the cause of explosions. The brass work does not allow a free draught of air, and the consequence is that the kerosene is sucked up by the wick, is not properly burned, and forms a sort of vapour, and coming into contact with the air, an explosive compound is created. It is therefore highly important that poor people, whoa e often careless in this respect through not knowing anything about it. should he very cautious indeed in cleaning the wick and lamp thoroughly.” The following is by the well known “ zEules ” : —Even to this day when the blind lead the blind there is a fall into the ditch. Borne person of inquiring mind wrote to the editor of the Glasgow Weekly Mail, apparently to solve a geographical question In answers to correspondents (August 2nd), the following interesting information is supplied P S.—Adelaide is in Victoria (Australia), not in New Zealand.”

Oddfellows (says an exchange) will take some interest in a curious law-snit recently tried in England. One of the members of a Brighton lodge, summoned to attend a meeting, arrived when the business was over, and, losing his temper, used language more forcible than polite, For this offence he was fined and expelled. He brought an action for reinstatement and damages in the County Court on the ground that the meeting having been dissolved, the fine and expulsion were ultra vires. His Elouour held the contention to be a good one, observing that the lodge being over, he could have kicked all the brethren round without being affected by the lodge rules for disorderly conduct. He directed the society to reinstate plaintiff, ami advised the latter to name damages, which he did. An Oddfellow, it appears, never knows his full privileges till ho attempts their exercise.