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Dunstan Times, Issue 920, 5 December 1879, Page 2

The heavy rains that have fallen within the past week have had the effect of wonderfully renovating the crops that in some instances were commencing to turn yellow for the want of moisture. The prospects now of a bountiful harvest are good. The miners also are equally benefited, their water supplies, which were running short, being greatly increased. We are informed that our Alexandra correspondent was wrong in saying that the proceeds of the Gift Auction and Bazaar to be held at Alexandra on the 2Gfh and 27th inst., are to be devoted to fencing in the church ; the ol.j ct being to clear off the debt on the church, and should there be a surplus it will probably go to the purpose mentioned. Whether it is to pay off the existing debt or to fence, we can on’y repeat our wish that the whole affair will he a success, anil that the total realised will cover both purposes. On Saturday morning last the well known Clydesdale Surprise, the property of Mr Jeremiah Drummy, was found dead in his loose hox. The cause of death is unknown. The loss to Mr Drummy will be considerable as the season is only half finished, and the services of the horse were engaged for a number of mares. The return cricket match between the hoys of Cromwell and Clyde, to have been played on Saturday but postponed on recount of the weather, which was anything but favourable for outdoor games, was played yesterday on the Clyde ground. We append the scores in another column. The return match between the Cromwell and Clyde men takes place to morrow on the ground of the former, The first match, it will be remembered, resulted in an easy victory f,.r the Cromwcllices, but whether they will he ub o to place a second win to their ere lit remains to be seen ; though we should not be in the least surprise*!, .as the •Clyde learn has been somewhat disorganised of late, and practice in full force seldom or ever takes place.

I In; usual monthly meeting of the Committee of the Dunstan District Hospital will he lulu iu the small Committee Hoorn on Monday evening n"xt, the Sr.h inst. We are requested to remind members that as the last meeting of the Committee was adjourned for want of a quorum, it will bo necessary to have a full attendance at the coming meeting to overtake the arrears of work, and further, that the hour of meeting is S p. m.

M e are requested to draw attention to the sale by auction on Wednesday week, the 17th inst., of the Hartley Arms Hotel, billiard table, horses, double and single seated buggies, waggonette, first class buggy and sad.lie horses. See advertisement.

On Saturday afternoon last, at Alexandra, an accident that most providentially was not attended with fatal circumstances, happened to a little girl about six years of age, a daughter of Mr I. Peters, bootmaker. It appears she was riding on one ot the lon ics used by the contractor for the Alexandra bridge for conveying stone from the quarries to the works, and fell immediately in front, the whole machine with its load pissing over her resulting most fortunately in only a few scratches and a bruised or dislocated ankle. Dr Leahy was as soon as possible in attendance on the little sufferer, an 1 under his care no serious results will ensue. It is sickening to think what would have been the result had she fallen in front of one of the wheels instead of between them. In reference to this oe.se we wish to state that though wc have no desire the contractors in the carrying out of their contract should he hampered with any unnecessary restrictions, yet in the public interest we think it should he seen to by some of the authorities that these trollies should at all times be attended by a separate driver, We d-> not know whether this one in fact had a separate driver ; if so, then in that case he should he punished for his criminal culpability in allowing the child to ho upon it when in motion. Wo urge a principle, and feel sure of being support.d by all parent-.

From the notices in another column it will be inferred that the larrikin element is rather strong amongst us, or it would not he deemed necessary to go to the expense of publishing the fact of gardens being rob cd. \\ e would strongly advise the select few, whose individually is guessed at, to coniine their nightly walks to r,i:e footpaths, or I>y chance they may tin i themselves before tlies Hod lent Magistrate, and awarded a good birching.

3he following is tlic division list on the Hill to reduce the price of minors rights to 10s on the second rc.i ling in the Legislat ive Cornell : F.,r Henderson, L-ilimann, Scotland, Whitaker, Whitmore, Wilson, Woo l. Against—Bell, Lett, Buckley, Chamberlin, Edwards, Fraser, Cray, Holmes, Johnson, Marin, Mcii/.ios, Miller, Ngatata. Nurse, I’oacock, Peter, Pollen, Reynolds, Robb.son, Kiclimond, Waterhouse, Williamson, Acland, Paterson.

In some parts of the Matanra district the rabbit pest is increasing at an alarming rate. Crops are being eaten down right on a face, and the farmers, to have any crops, will have to resow their paddocks.

At a meeting of the Education Board held on the 27th ultimo, the following business of local interest was transacted : That the Architect be instructed to report on the application of the committee at the

Dry bread school for a new school-room.— The correspondence relating to a dispute between Mr Chappie and the Blacks School

Committee was referred to the Inspector.— A letter from Mr Elliot, chairman of the School Committee at the Nevis, reyarding the conduct of a teacher, and requesting enquiry, was received, and it was resolved to ask the teacher for an explanation.' The following items will be of interest to members of the Order “ The Rev. John Lothian has been elected to the office of District Deputy for the Cromwell district, and Representative to the Grand Lodge 1. 0.0. T., which will meet at Christchurch on the Bth December. The Cromwell district includes the Bannockburn. Cromwell, Clyde, Ophir, Ida Valley, Matakanui, and Alexandra Lodges. On Saturday the 22nd ultimo, a juvenile Temple 1.0. G.T. was instituted at Matakanui by the District Deputy Bro. J. Beatty, when thirty-nine were initiated. The Temple was named the “ Alpine,” and Bro. R. Holland was appointed Superintendent. The affair was a thorough success.

We have to acknowledge from the Government printer the receipt of a large batch of Parliamentary papers amongst which we notice —Public accounts 187S-9 ; Speeches of Colonial Treasurer and Native Minister ; also, a copy of a Petition presented to the House by Mr Pyke, signed by William Trewiok and 234 others, praying for a reduction in the price of deferred payment lands ; .also, a bundle of Bills passed by the House of Representatives, and transmitted to the Legislative Council for its concurrence. The Qualification of Electors’ Act Amendment provides that the Miners’ Right franchise shall continue during 1880 only. The Registration of Electors’ Act Amendment Act provides that every Freeholder, ami every person who has been resident in a district 0 months shall ho entitled to have his name placed on the Roll, and also, on removal from one district to another, and after resole ice therein one month, application can Ire made to transfer the name from one roll to another. The Mines’ Act Amendment Act deals only with powers of the Governor to grant protection to holders of Mining Leases, ami to those mining outside tf mining dist.icts. The Rabbit Nuisance Act repeals all former Acts, and appears to be a very workable measure. The Hospital an l Charitable Institutions’ Act repea's ali former Acts and Ordinances, ami provides for giving subsidy of L. for L. on all receipts up to one half of the not cost of management and maintenance, and for all Boroughs and Counties to contiibu’e towards tho maintenance of the same according to population. With these Bills and papers our limited space will not admit of our dealing further; they are however to be fouu I on the table of all Public Libraries.

The fixed sittings of the District Court of the Otago Gold-Fields, are as follows. — Naseby : 2Sth January, 31 st March, 2nd June, 28th July, 29th September, Ist December, in each year. Clyde : 2nd February, oth April, 7th June, 2nd August, 4th (letober, 6th December, in each year. Alexandra : 4th February, 7the April, 9th June, 4th August, G'h October. Bth December, in each year. Cromwell : Oth Februray, 9th April, 2lst June, Gtfi August, Bth October, pith December, in each year. Queenstown : 9th February, 12ih April, 14lh June, 9th August, 2lst October, loth

December, in each year. Arrow : 12th February, 15th April, 17th June, 12th August, 13th October, 10th December, in each year. We (Morning Merabi) learn that tie question of obtaining a residence for the Governor iiV-Dunedin is under the consideration of the Ministry. The Premier Promised Mr J. T. Fisher an answer at a later date.

‘ Hansard ’ will be a less bulky volume in future, as, after this session, the speeches of hon. members are to be submitted to the condensing process. The County Council of Mauiototo unanimously carried a resolution yesterday, urging on the Government the desirability of c uicelling 30,000 acres in the County as Hundreds for Depasturing purposes. The resolution recommended 15,000 acres in Mount Ida Hiding, 0,000 St. Bathans Pud mg, 5,000 Puketoi Riding, and 5,000 Hyde Riding. Tliis no doubt is the outcome of tne impounding in the neighborhood. The Arrow Observer says :—Two handsome cakes, the produce of 036 tons of stone, came down from the Tipperary claim to-day, and were lodged in the Bank of New Zealand. They weigh about 805 ounces ; and should prove a strong argument in favour of immediate construction of the Macetown tramway. The mine is now looking as well as ever ; and similar, if not a larger return, is expected by Christmas. Mr J. Gore is the successful tenderer for dm erection of the Bank of New Zealand’s New building, the contract price being 1.26 016. The papers are printing a receipt, “to make apple tart.” But we don’t think it improves an apple to make it tart. At the late meeting of the lake County Council Mr F. H. Daniel was elected Chairman.

The annual election of the County Chairman for V\ estland took place to-day, with no result. Eight members were present, and all were candi latcs. No one was elected, and the meeting adjourned sine die. It is pro’ably that the Ooveruor-in Council will be asked to proclaim another day for the election of a County chairman, otherwise the present chairman (Mr Grimmond) will retain office.

The latest news of the Kelly gang was recently published by the Sydney Evening News, to the following effect A gentleman well known in the north-eastern district of Victoria, states that while travelling between Benalla and Wangaratta a month since he met four armed men, whom he recognised as the Kelly gang. Seeing that they wore recognised, the outlaws stopped the gentleman and threatened ven-

geance if he said a word of the rencontre for a month, and being afraid of the consequences, he refrained from mentioning the matter until the expiration of the allotted time, a day or two since. At the end of the month he received two 1,5 notes of tho Bunk of New South Wales, Jerilderie, as a present for his silence.

The Chief Commissioner of Police in South Australia, in reporting to the Government on the use of the totalisator, says —ln my opinion the use of the totalisator on racecourses would have a beneficial effect, inasmuch as it would tend to preclude to a great extent the system of betting which has hitherto prevailed at races, and has been practised by professional bookmakers. To guard against improper use being made of the instrument, the person using it should be under the control of the stewards of the races, or to the owner or leaseholder of the racecourse, who would doubtless prevent any chicanery being practised. It micht also have the effect of abolishing or reducing considerably tho temptation which long credit given by the bookmakers offers to young persons excited by the prospe. t of winning heavy bets. Hitherto the totalisator has not interfere I with the peace and general order of visitors who attend races, and, if properly conducted, it wou'd without doubt be highly appreciated by the public.

Education in the British Burmah would seem not in a very flourishing condition, to judge from the report of a Deputy Commissioner who, according to the Times of India, recently visited a school in the District of Promo. The institution consisted of two masters and one pupil, the former were absent and the latter was asleep. Adolphe Bosenhurg, editor and publisher of “Town Talk,” a cheap society Journal published in London, has, in default of £20,000 bail, been locked up in Guildhall cells on a charge of libel, preferred by Mrs Langtry and Mrs Cornwallis West. The paper stated that Mrs Langtry’s husband had brought a suit for divorce, and that the Prince of Wales, Lords Lonsdale and Loughborough were made co-respondents, and accused Mrs West of calling in photographers and asking for a commission on the sale of her phi tograph. Bosenhurg made some abject apology when arraigned, and pleaded “ Guilty.” Sentence was deferred.

Newspaper subscriptions.—lt is only through such an exceptionally unfortunate position as that occupied by the writer of the following paragraph that subscribers to newspapers are plainly hut forcibly and truthfully reminded of their duty towards their local paper. In informing his clients that he has been compelled to file hits “ shovel,” the proprietor of the Poverty Bay Standard says “We cannot forego this opportunity of referring to the causes which have so largely couributed to our present necessity, one and the chief of which is the indifference and apathy dinplayed by newspaper subscribers, as a rule with regard to the payment of their accounts. And it is not only from the nonpunctual payments in which we suffer, but in the most iiuconsciaMe amount of credit that has to bo given. Fow, it is a well understood fiction that all subscriptions to newspapers should be a first charge on a man’s income—that, in short, he slum! 1 pay in advance. But what are the facts ? e have (from A down to Z) names on our list whose owners would blush to see them opposite to figures, varying from 15s to GOs representing from two to eight quarters subscription. These are not men in business, but most of them are in decent po-

sitiona in society, earning wood wages, or in receipt of an annual salary or other income ; and vet they say they can’t (or won’t) pay the printer.”