The Oamaru Times, AND WAITAKI REPORTER. THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 1865.

North Otago Times, Volume IV, Issue 71, 29 June 1865, Page 2

The Oamaru Times, AND WAITAKI REPORTER. THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 1865.

The great want of Oamaru has been felt to an oppressive extent for so long, that there seems some danger of the public gradually becoming accustomed to look upon the prospect of its supply only as a dream of the future. It has formed the text of many an article ; has b'een discussed and mourned over at many meetings, public and private ; has been urged by Deputations that have "waited on successive Governments, and yet, to all appearance, we are as far from any satisfactory result as we were twelve months ago. It is a matter that affects us all too intimately ever to lack interest. If we again take up the subject, it is not because we hope to throw additional light on that which is already too well known, or to add much to what has been so often said before, but simply with the desire of keeping before the public mind the important question which so deeply concerns the welfare of our town and district. Let us ask, then, how much nearer are we to the attainment of a Jetty than we were this time last year ? It is true we have the promise of the Government that the matter will receive their earliest attention, and the knowledge that a sum has been placed on the Estimates for the purpose ; but we cannot forget that a similar vote and similar promises were made the previous session ; nor can we close our e3'es to the fact that the actual result hitherto has been absolutely nothing. Some time since we were gratified by the pi-esence of an officer of the Marine Engineer's Department, who was engaged in making experiments with respect to the relative advantages of screwed and driven piles ; it really seemed as though something were being done at last towards the great object that every resident in the district has so much at heart ; — but that soothing manifestation of official earnestness appears to have exhausted the energies of the Government, as far as we are concerned, and the satisfaction then felt has given place to disappointment and chagrin. It cannot be that the preparation of the requisite plans and specifications occupy so long a period. There was a. time when the construction of a Jetty was looked upon as a matter of almost insuperable difficulty, involving the formation of an extensive breakwater, and the expenditure of an enormous sum of money. Then there may have been good ground for shelving the question ; but that day is now past, and the notions then entertained have been corrected by the judgment of the Marine Engineer, who says that a serviceable wooden Jetty may be erected at a cost of about £7000. Such a work as this might long ere now have been submitted to public tender, if the Government have the funds at their disposal and are actuated by the desire to carry out their promises. But, if not — if they cannot, or will not, do anything for us — surely it is not asking too much to be allowed to do it for ourselves, or that private capitalists should be permitted to aid us in carrying into effect at once what the Government have failed to accomplish in so long a time. If a reasonable guaran.ee were given, and privileges granted, making the undertaking remunerative as an investment, we do not hesitate to assert that the ensuing month would see the matter in progress, and there would then no longer be any fear for the result. It is hard indeed that a district possessing all the natural advantages that this does, should be left without the means of conveying its productions to a profitable market; when all that is required to supply them is the expenditure of the comparatively unimportant sum of £7000. With an extensive sheep-carrying country — with rich and fertile soil, admirably adapted for the growth of grain and other produce — with the best building stone and lime in the Province, and every element of material prosperity, we are yet debarred from reaping the full benefit of those endowments, so long as we remain without an easy means of shipment; and great part of the wealth with which the district abounds is altogether lost to the country. It is not too much to hope that with a ready mode of communication by sea, the district would rapidly become rich and prosperous ; but without it there seems small prospect of extrication from the depression and difficulties under which it is at present laboring. The interview that the last Deputation had with the Government, showed how little was known by those at the head of affairs in Dunedin with respect to the nature and extent of the exports and imports of this place. The Oamaru district appears to be almost a terra incognita io them ; and yet, considering the amount of money drawn from the sale of land in this place, it might not unreasonably have been expected to have excited a little more interest. If we proceed to consider what tb.3 Government have already done for us, it is only to discover how small

and imperfect are the benefits we have received, and how little ground of hope they afford for the future. We have, it is true, a Resident Magistrate, but the gentleman who performs the duties of that office is left without a clerk, bailiff, or other officer, and, in addition to his magisterial functions here, has also to attend weekly at Hampden, besides acting in the capacity of Sub-Collector of Customs. At Tokomairiro, and on all the goldfields, at Timaru, &c, clerks and bailiffs are attached to the Courts ; it is only at Oamaru that, for some inexplicable reason, they are deemed unnecessary. It is no uncommon thing for the plaintiff in a cause to have to wait the return of a police officer from Dunedin before the judgment given in his favor can be enforced, and it is needless for us to point out the risk thereby occasioned of losing his money altogether. We have, besides, a District School, which is, however, chiefly supported by voluntary contributions. The Government at one time granted a small sum of money for the purposes of the town, but perhaps there is little reason to regret it was no larger, seeing that great part of it was expended by the Town Board in the construction of a portion of a sewer, which, if completed, would have discharged all the sewage of the town into the Creek, near the landing-place, thereby converting it into an extensive open cesspool- This is all that the Government have done for us, unless we include the Northern Trunk Road, which is really of no benefit for the transit of goods or produce, in consequence of the distance from any market and the great expense of land -carriage. We would urge, then, upon the public not to let the great object on which the prosperity of the district depends be neglected or overlooked — not to rely on the uncertain promises of the Government, but to take the matter in hand themselves, and ask only for Government aid in the shape of a guarantee and grant of privileges sufficient to render the undertaking a remunerative one. By this means our great want may possibly be supplied ; but, if we wait for the tardy movements of the Government, we may discover too late that we have hoped in vain, and another session of the Provincial Council may arrive to find us still expectant, and to bring forth nothing more than fresh promises, another vote, and renewed disappointment.

The letter which appears in another column, is quite pertinent to the subject of our previous remarks. In the comments which we have inade from time to time on the subject of Representation, we have advocated the importance of the registration of all electors who possess the requisite qualifications, and the necessity for the simplification of the law to enable them to enrol themselves. The impending election of a Superintendent fully confirms our views. An event is approaching which will fully show the value of a vote, and the occasion must be improved. When the candidates for the office of Superintendent come, a few weeks hence, to canvass for the support of the electors, it will be for them to ask distinct pledges that justice shall be done to the claims of the district, before they make up their minds to give their votes for this or that man. These claims are founded on justice and sound policy, and have been recognised already. The principle is, that the revenue derived from the lands in any district ought to be devoted to necessary public works in that district, and to promote immigration. In saying this, we repeat the opinions of the present Provincial Secretary, Mr Moss, as expressed in his financial statement ; and of Mr Dillon Bell, in a debate in the last session of Council, in committee of supply. And these views are not confined to them, although we consider it unnecessary to cite the names of other prominent men who hold them. It will only be fair and right, therefore, for the electors to watch their opportunity, and demand a clear exposition of the opinions of candidates on this subject before they give them their support ; and in doing so they will not be advocating or promoting any selfish ends of their own, but furthering the development of sound principles. Let the electors, then, take due advantage of the crisis, and we venture to say that their reasonable demands can no longer be neulected. Let them exaci a distinct pledge from the candidate whom they mean to support, to advocate and enforce the just claims of this district to a fair share of the Provincial expenditure.

There is no appearance of the English Mail, and it is probable that now it will arrive by the Albion, which cannot be here for some days yet. On account of the length to which our Police report extends, we are compelled to hold over the proceedings of the Presbytery of Otago ; Meeting of Paiishoneis, Church of England ; and one or two other articles. The collection in St. Paul's on sabbath first, in the morning and evening, will be on behalf of the fund for the relief of the widows, 01 phans, and others left destitute through the loss of the City of Dunedin steamer. 1 ilr Connor will preach a discourse suited to the occasion in the morning, and in the evening give a lecture on the " best method of studying the Bible." It is hoped that the collection for such an object will be liberal. "We are requested to intimate that on Sunday next, the Rev Mr (Jannell, "Wesleyan Minister, will preach at Hampden, at 11 a.m. ; and at Otepopo, in the afternoon, at half-past 2. The usual monthly meeting of the Building Society, for the payment of money and sale of cash, takes place next Tuesday, 4th inst., at 7 p.m., in the usual place. We are always gratified to notice the increasing enterprise of the people of Oamam, and the enhanced facilities for the transmission of goods enjoyed by residents in the outlying districts. For example, the New Postal Kegulations admit of patterns of goods being sent free through that medium ; and taking advantage of the circumstance, we observe that one of our fellow townsmen, Mr Poole, Draper, Tyne-street, announces his willingness to forward patterns of Silks, &c, per post to those who cannot conveniently make a personal inspection of his stock— which, by the way, has just been augmented by a large assortment of goods of every description. We would refer to his advertisement elsewhere in this issue. We have been requested to announce that the stores of Messis Traill, lloxby and Co. will be closed on Friday and Satuiday first, the 30th June and 1st July, for the purpose of stock -taking. The Gazette announces sales of a number of town allotments, as follows :— For Hawkesbury and Palmerston, at nawkesbury, on 25th July ; at Hampden, on 27th July ; and for Oamaru and Herbert, at Oamam, on Saturday, 29lh July, at noon. The "New Zealand Advertiser" says: — "We are glad to learn that the Government contemplate immediately sending home for between twenty and forty miles of electric cable, to stretch across Cook's Strait, joining the two islands, so that immediately the Panama route is opened, which we believe will be in January next, the English news will be sent down to the South, while alternately the telegraph will communicate the news via Sydney. Government are resolved that, as far as they are concerned, there shall be no failure, and they design submitting the whole question to the highest professional advice, and have a. thorough scientific examination of the best line across the Strait. The sum required, is about £20,000.

At the English Church, on Sunday last, the Bishop of Christchurch preached two admirable sermons. In the morning on the words, "But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord," — Rom. vi., part of verso 23. After speaking of the deep mysteries ■which must of necessity attach to and envelope our faith, his Lordship enforced the great doctrine of the atonement, and improved his subject by insisting, therefore, upon " what manner of persons we all ought to be, in all holy conversation and godliness," In the evening, the Bishop's text was taken from St. Luke, chap, xvii., vor. 5 — " And the Apostles said unto the Lord, increase our faith." The Bishop dwelt much and forcibly in this discourse upon the use of talents already bestowed ; and pointed out the melancholy and dangerous consequences of neglecting the earliest and smallest measuies of faith and trust in God, instead of clinging fast to these, and praying and striving for their constant increase. He showed how, practically, men who know something of God -who believe in His goodness and grace — who know that He has died for them and ever maketh intercession — yet, by waiting for more constraining influences, "continue in sin that grace may abound." His Lordship made an excellent application of the subject by exhorting the congregation to a practical, d<iily, living faith — a f.iith. showing itself in every good word and work ; and concluded by telling them that now they had an opportunity of exhibiting their faith in the giver of all gifts, by extending their liberal and cheerful aid and sympathy to those who had been made widows and orphans by the loss of the steamship City of Dunedin. There was a good collection made after the sermon, the amount of which will be added to the subscription lists still in circulation. The Electric Telegraph office was opened here on Thursday last, on which day messages were freely passed between this and the other stations. We congratulate the public on the acquisition of this accommodation, and hope that the lino will be found a paying one. The terms for the transmission of messages are moderate, as will be seen fioni the scale of charges advertised in our present issue. The lino is now open from the Bluff via Iuvercargill, Dunedin, Oamaru, and Timaru, to Christchurch. Mr E. B. Cargill has resigned his seat as a member of Assembly for the County of Bruce, and his brother, Mr John Caigill, has come forward as a candidate. Mr Fox, late Colonial Secretary (and formerly Piime Slinister), has lesigned his seat in the Assembly for Kangitiki district, and proceeded to England with his family, by the May mail steamer. Mr Fox, in his address to his constituents, resigning his seat, says that it is his opinion that so long as Governor Grey remains in the Colony, there is no prospect of the native difficulty being settled. "We think it probable that Mr Fox's presence in England may be pioductive of good effects ; no man knows beitor the state of New Zealand affairs. The " Southern Cross," of the 15bh instant, says : — " Very important intelligence from Poverty Bay was received by the Egmonb yesterday, from which it is learned that there is almost certain to be a combat between the King natives and the loyal natives, the former led by Patara, and the latter by Mokeno and Henare Potai. At the Eesident Magistrate's Court, Dunedin, on 23rd inst., Allan and John Boyd, of Hindon, West Taieri, were chaiged by George Thomson, Sheep Inspector, with having in their possession, or under their control, at the Fortifications, West Taieri, 5,000 sheep infected with scab. They pleaded guilty, and. as the complainant did not press for a fiue, they were bound over, under a penalty of L250, to get their sheep cured within four months. The Provincial Government of Otago is inclined to give encouragement to those ■willing to expenment on the properties of the indigenous flax plant, as well as the Govei'nraent of Canterbury. In the last session of Council a resolution was passed to offer a reward to successful experimenters, and in the last Gazette a notice will be found by the Otago authorities offering " a bonus of £500 to the person or company who shall first withiu twelvo calendar months from this date (10Ui June 1865), establish within the said Province a manufactory for making paper fiom the fl.ix indigenous to the soil " The bonus will be paid on the Government being satisfied that one thousand pounds' worth of paper has been manufactured at a sufficiently low rate to compete with imported paper. The calendar of the Criminal Session at Melbourne, which commenced on 15lh inst., comprises 30 persons, including six charges of murder. Mr Macdonald, Commissioner of Insolvency at Adelaide, was tin own fioui his horse on 12th inst., and having had his skull fractured, was in a precarious state.