THE Mount Ida Chronicle AND St. Bathans Weekly News. THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 1879.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume IX, Issue 495, 9 January 1879, Page 2

THE Mount Ida Chronicle AND St. Bathans Weekly News. THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 1879.

The elections of members *of the Mount Ida Water Eace Trust, have now been completed, and as it is understood that the Warden will be the Government nominee, it will be composed of the following gentlemen: —Messrs. JL W. Eobinson, J. Ewing S. M'Cullough, '&. Glenn, and W.' Inder. The Trust have a heavy and important undertaking committed to their care, and we have no doubt but that the members will individually and collectively put their shoulders to the wheel. Their first act should be to make an effort to secure funds. The respectable sum of £50,000 was last session put on the Estimates for waterworks on Goldfields, and the Trust should make early application for a good share of this, and insist that a liberal grant for extension of new works. We. understand: that the Government have issued instructions for the payment of all moneys "owing to the 31st December into the Public Account. A«i there is a considerable sum outstanding, the matter would be worth looking into. It is not very clear what has made the Government take this course, in the face of Bection 21 of the Trust A.ct :- "All moneys accruing from the said water race shall be paid to the Trust, and form part of the Trust funds • and the Trust is hereby empowered to sue for and recover all moneys due in respect of any matters connected with the said water race and unpaid at the time of commencement of this Act, and thereafter. . . ." ~\y£ wish the Trust success, and- look forward to the works becoming very successful before long. ". : '

Thk Australian Eleven won the match at Melbourne with the Engli-.h team by 10 wickets. ' The A.'S.N". sailors have "resumed work, the Company having yielded, as stated in our telegrams of last Saturday. A telegram from Melbourne states. " The seamen here. have struck for £7 per month for the voyage to London, or for £6 all.round - ISO men are now out, and the number is increasing. - Several of the ships are idle." Messrs. Shanksjand Kinross have been nominated for the vacent - seat in the House of Representatives for Mataura. There is a nice state of things in Japan. The last information to the "Press Agency states:—The editor of a native paper has been sentenced to one year's imprisonment because he gave publicity to a rumor in the capital that four Ministers had resigned, or were about to do.- so, though he added that believed the rumor to be unfounded Criminals condemned to imprisonment are not allowed to read newspapers, though formerly allowed to do so. 1 * Messrs. H. C Brewer and John Morrison have been gazetted as valuers under the Xand Tax Act, the former for the Borough and the latter for the County. We have received from the Rev. J. Hobbi of St. George's ,Church, Naseby, a small religious periodical entitled the "Dawn_oj Day," which is about to be circulated inconnection with St. George's Parish. It emanates from the Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge, and although mainly got up in England there is a page devoted to general-parochial and diocesan news, under the editorship of Mr. Hobbs. This little magazine is intended chiefly for children and we think it may be fairly recommended to parents as a publication having substantial claims upon their encouragement and support. The present number contains a collection of short interesting and very pleasantly: written articles and sketches upon church history, bible natural history, and general knowledge ; and it is illustrated with woodcuts, fairly executed, which add very"much to the attractiveness of the paper. On the local page are a few short editorial notices one of which- gracefully and modestly introduces the magazine to the public—and other statistical information in connection with the parish. Although chiefly intended for children as we have already said, some of the articles" may be read with great advantage by grown up people, as for instance a short astronomical sketch from the text--". The Heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament sheweth his handiwork," which is written in a very easy and popular style, and accompanied by a drawing of the courses of the planets which is admirably adapted to impress upon the mind of either adult or child the true position and movements of the bodies composing the solar system. But there is a special reason why. this little periodical, coming into the district at the present time, should be considered as coming opportunely. We cannot but think that it will at any rate help to impart that religious education to the young which is now no longer imparted in the schools. Such a consideration is a very serious one to parents and if they can regard St. George's Parish Magazine in the light of a religious educational agency, as we have little doubt they will, it behoves them to give it in its infancy a hearty and generous support. This is only another instance of the zeal and energy which has characterized Mr. Hobbs since the first day of his coming among us. . Mb. Wakefield, M.H.E., during his address to the electors of Temuka on the 3rd. remarked .—" With regard to the future, he believed people'had lost confidence in the Grey Government, although Sir George Grey had had the best chances of any man of introducing reforms. He believed that next year a strong stand ,would be made against them. During the last recess, and at the present time, the Government were wandering about the country and riding their own hobbies. He was convinced-a-frSsll Ministry would be placed in power, ' honestly, steadily, and impartially attend to the public business."

The Hon. J. Sheehan thus referred to,the Chinese question, while addressing the Working. Men's Club at Auckland on the 3rd instant:—" He personally had no affection for Chinamen. This country was too good for any part of it, upon which Englishmen, Irishmen, Scotchmen, or other Europeans could settle, to be delivered up to the Chinese invasion, and was not too large for all our own people who were likely to come to it. Chinamen did not come to settle, but to make money by self-sacrifice, which some people would do well to imitate, but what they made they saved, _ and only thought of taking it with them to spend in their own country. The case was not the same as if the colonists had no other people whom they could bring here, or if labor could not be got elsewhere than from China. There were millions of our own people who could flock tothese shores, and fill the country with labor if required. He (the Hon. Mr. Sheehan) would object to an alien race coming to New Zealand and taking up land. He would not deprive Chinamen of a living. There were large tracts of country and other fields of enterprise suited to Chinamen where Englishmen did not thrive. There was Queensland for instance, but New Zealand was bo peculiarly suited to the British people and should be colonised by those who had the best right to come." Tenders are called in another column for the erection o£ a residence for the teacher at Kyeburn Diggings School. Tenders are to be lodged, with the Secretary of the Education Board, Dunedin, on Saturday, 25th curt.

The Home mails via Susz, close on Tuesday next, 15th insfc., in time to catch the steamer leaving Port Chalmers on the 17th. The Good Templars at Hamilton intend celebrating their anniversary on Friday, 17th inst., by a teameeting and concert. It is expected that there will be a large attendance from the sister lodges in the district.

The three members of ..the Education Board who retire, but are eligible for reelection, are Messrs. Reid, Fraer, and Green. The contractor (Mr. Henderson), for the Oamaru Water Works, having thrown up his contract, the Council has agreed to complete the work, partly by tender and partly by day labor. The large number of men thrown out of employment by the stoppage will probably again be employed. _Tbeeible as is the disaster of the Scotch Bank failure (remarks a contemporary) there was one characteristic incident with a gleam of humor in it. An old maiden lady, who w MJ»pst-Siißtres3„„and .telegraph . agent at Wick, had all her. savings in the local branch of the City of Glasgow Bank. A message came through early addressed,to the manager, instructing him not to open the doors, as the bank had suspended payment The eld lady presented herself at the branch at the opening hour, and drew out all her cash. - She thea proceeded to the bank parlor and informed the manager that as an important telegraphic message had' arrived for him she had just brought it along herself!

The Wellington correspondent of the 'Evening Star' sends the following :—The harque Courier has returned from New Guinea with the New Zealand, expedition. The affair was a dead failure. The vessel, purchased from an Amercian named Stanwood for £4,000 by Wellington and Dun 1 - edin capitalists, left on October in charge of CapUin Moore (who represent ed the, Wellington interest).-with thirteen haudg. Sir.

Allen ~-repreeeri'led the Dt nrcin '. inteifst Two-poet traders ha'd been induced to buy by Stan wood reptesenting that he had been trading inJNgw Guinea fo>- fourteen years, and bad three trading- post* established at Astrolabe Gulf, and that a large business had been done by. the Natives, He also promised to meet the expedition, and having secured the cash went to Sydney. He never turned up again, and the expedition found no trading posts ; =,thcNatives,. had no idea of trade and powessed nothing they could exchange except bows and arrows. All the produce that could be obtained was one piece of green ginger weighing half ah ounce, and sugar cane 9in. long. Intercourse was only carried on .by signs, the natives not understanding the English language. The climate is intensely hot, and a number of the crew, including the captain, are suffering from lowfever. Mr. Allen prospected and found that there was not the slightest trace of gold or other valuable mineral. The hills are apparently impassible, being 6,000 feet or 7,000 feet high. Traces of the Dove, schooner, fitted out at Sydney, were found, the name being discovered carved on trees. The men could not understand from the Natives whether they hadsven the vessel or" not. The Natives were very friendly and of fair intelligence,.and made no attempt to steal anything. The anchorage was very bad. The expedition, after remaining a fortnight, finding nothing to be done, left. The land in the neighborood of the Wanaka -anctOECarvrca. Xialccs is fast* being taken up and settled on. To keep pace with the progress made by the'diatrict it is contemplated "to start a flour mill near the Luggate, the prospectus for which has been issued. Capital, -£2,500 in 1,000 shares of £2 10s. each. "

Licenses issued under the Slaughterhouses Act lust year expired on 31st December. Those persons folio tfing the avocation of Slaughtermen are reminded that a breach of the-Act is committed i£ not in possession of a license for the current year.

Foe public libraries maintained wholly or in parb by' public subscriptions, the sum of £l,lOO is available for distribution. As the money will be divided in proportion'to" the amount contributed by subscription, committees desirous of participating in the grant are requested to furnish the Education Board with the amount of the voluntary subscriptions for the year ending December last. The report about the good fortima recently fallen to a Napier pakeha-Maori named Chase seems to have some truth in it. Later particulars say he is a brother of the lafe Secretary Chase of America. He came to New Zealand on a whaling cruise, and bolted from the ship owing to ill-treatment. Eventually he took up his residence in Hawke's Bay, and married a Maori woman by whom he has had several children. He sank to the position of a Maori-Pakeha, and ha 3 on several occasions when visiting.the town made his bow to the Resident Magistrate. Nevertheless he was known to possess great influence among the Natives, and on many occasions the late Native Minister, who recognised his position, consulted him on various matters during the American war. His only brother in America amassed a very large fortune and died a millionaire. He died recently, and has left the whole of his property, over a million sterling, to this brother in New Zealand.

Thb following may not be of any use to our readers, as regards aiding justice, but as a curious commentary upon the reputed good deeds and general excellence of a certain body of men it will be read with interest. It is the notice issued by the City of Glasgow Police :—" City of Glasgow Bank Frauds.— Wanted, on warrant, in connection with the City of Glasgow Bank frauds, James Nicol Fleming, merchant, of 115, St. Vincent street, Glasgow, and Kiel, near Campbelltown,-and lately director of said bank. Description— About 48 years of age; about 5 feet 11 inches in height; black straight hair, very slight black whiskers and moustache, aquiline nose, sallow complexion, full face, well built, portly appearance; dressed generally in dark fashionable clothing, satin hat. Police officers and others are requested to make immediate search and inquiry for the above-named, and those stationed at seaport towns are particularly requested to search outward-bound vessels, and, should he be arrested, or the slightest trace obtained, to communicatp-with W. A. Brown, Esq., advocate, Procurator-Fis-cal of Lanakshire, at Glasgow, or with the subscriber, A. M'Cail, Chief Constable."

We understand that Mr. de Lautour, intends coming south in a week or ten days£and purposes addressing his constituents at Naseby and St Bathans on the 23rd and 25th insfcaiit, respectively, if it is possible for him to reach the district by those iates. We understand thst action, bj the advice of the Attorney-General, will be immediately taken by tlie Naseby Corporation against the Extended Company, for injury done .to Broom Street. The learned counsel also considers the Company is liable for damages sustained hy property holders.

We understand that Mr. H. C. Brewer, Mining Registrar of, Mount Ida, has been promoted to the Deputy Begistrarship of the Supreme Court, Dunedin, in place of Mr. Gordon, who has been appointed ActingRegistrar, Mr. Ward having resigned. While Mr. Brewer's many friends in this district can do no other than congratulate him on his promotion, they will regret that it will compels him to leave the district. His uniform kindness and general disposition to oblige, combined with unremitting attention the duties of his office, have made him very popular with those who have bad anything to do with the Warden's Court. During the short time Mr. Brewer has been amongst us ho has made many friends, who will join with us in wishing him every prosperity. We believe that Mr T. L. Shepherd, late M.H.R. for the Dunstan, has been appointed to the vacant office.

A late cablegram states that the City of Glasgow Bank will pay a dividend of ss. on February 3rd. Under the same date it is stated that advances are still being made successfully "by the British troops in Afghanistan, and that four of the Ameer's regiments have deserted.

Tke ' Times ' states •■ —"For sometime past there has been ajikelibood of a public debate on a theological question being arranged between the Eev, M. W. Green, minister of the Ring street Chapel, and Mr. Charles Bright, and last night a committee meeting was held, pt which a subject was decided upon. Mr. Green and Mr. Hislop, on the one side, met Mr. Bright and Mr. Stout on the other, and after some discussion the following proposition wa:, agreed on :- "The Divine origin of Christianity," accepting the following definition of terms ; 1 By " Divine Origin," it is understood to be of Divine origin in the sense in which no other religion is. 2. In the term "Christianity," it is understood that- there are included -the Deity of Jesus and His death, as an atonement for man's sin. Mr. Green affirms; Mr. Bright denies. A working committee is to be appointed to make'the' necessary "arrangements, and the debate will probably take place the week after next."