The Oamaru Times, AND WAITAKI REPORTER. THURSDAY, AUGUST 24, 1865.

North Otago Times, Volume IV, Issue 79, 24 August 1865, Page 2

The Oamaru Times, AND WAITAKI REPORTER. THURSDAY, AUGUST 24, 1865.

The practicability of opening up communication from this Province with the West Coast and the recently developed goldfields there, is at present a question which excites considerable interest in the public mind. The reasonable probability of a " rush" to the neighborhood of Lake Wanaka, in a short time, from recently reported heavy finds of gold there, also lends additional importance to a scheme, which has for its objects the opening up for settlement of a large extent of country, and the providing a new channel for trade on an extensive scale with the Otago markets. The value of overland communication with the West Coast was never more apparent than it is at the present moment ; and our Provincial Executive deserve credit for the alacrity with which they have embraced the scheme. As usual, however, they make their startingpoint Dunedin, to all places attempted to be reached, and irrespective of the difficulties to be encountered, or the waste of treasure to the Province which must be the inevitable result. Dunedin by them is considered the veritable centre of Otago — they acknowledge no force save the centripetal. Knowing the inaccessible nature of the country, one would naturally suppose that they should look out for a better route ; but a referenca to the maps offers no inducements in their eyes. Nothing can benefit Otago, say they, save that which benefits Dunedin. The fallacy of this is too apparent to require refutation at our hands. To tell them that Otago, to retain its prosperity, must have more mouths than Dunedin, is poohpoohed as absurd; and to aflirm that that favored city is not the apple of the eye of the entire Province, equally so. 4l very cursory glance at aay map will convince them of their egregious blunder, however ; and we will only instance the Wanaka and West Coast Expedition as an example. From Oarnaru, the route to the locale of the reported rush, is as level as a plain almost the entire distance, and. the natural highway so favorable that loaded drays may be taken right through to the Lakes. Here, then, would at once be an immense saving. The object of our present remarks is prin-

cipally to recommend our merchants, and the people of Oamaru generally, to be alive to their interests should a rush of any magnitude take place to that district. Oamaru is the natural outlet, and despite all other agencies should render herself mistress of the situation. The distance is considerably less than from Dunedin via the Dunstan ; the nature of the country to be traversed still more in her favor ; and the ability of mercantile houses here to compete in prices, to the shutting out of Dunedin or anj where else, undoubted. The importance of opening up through communication with the West Coast appears to be regarded in a proper light by the Timaru people. The route they advocate is by way of the Mackenzie Country, and they argue that an Expedition, at the joint expense of Oamaru and their own district, should be organised, having in view the accomplishment of this desirable object. A feeling of jealousy, however, is springing up, because Oamaru, it is surmised, would be the greatest gainer in the affair. The " Timaru Herald," of Saturday last, has the following remarks : — It has been urged upon the writer the great probability of all trade being diverted to Oamai u if a pass was found through the Oho, as it is in a direct lino to Oamaru, down the Waitaki. But the couutry is quite impassable on th« south of the streams which feed the Oho ; and the crossing of the Waitaki would have to bo done at some distance from the gorgo. We do not think, even admitting the truth of snch a statement, that Oamaru would benefit more than Timaru. There can be no doubt of the benefit to both places. If the pass was found further to the north than the Oho it would greatly benefit Oamaru ; and it is to the interests of both places to endeavor to find such a pass if one really does exist. We have the statement of Mr Leslie Thomson that he has frequently spoken with the Maories about a pass iD that direction. Mr Hodgkinson, whose run is situate at the head of the Oho, is doubtful of a practicable pass in that direction ; and believes that a glacier would have to be crossed before reaching the sea ; but we may remind our readers of the statements which were made, for many years, by squatters residing iu the ranges, of the impossibility of reaching the West Coast of Canterbury without first proceeding to Nelson. The subject referred to is undoubtedly a most important one, and we entreat the attention of all interested in the prosperity of Oamaru to an earnest consideration of it in all its beariugs.

Our readers will doubtless regret to learn the fate of the " New Provinces Act Limitation Act, 1865," recently introduced into the General Assembly. After a lung debate, in which no fewer than twenty-two speeches were made, it has been thrown out by a majority of 31 votes to 20. Perceiving the strong current of opinion against the measure, the Hon. the Premier yielded so far to it as to leave it an open instead of a Ministerial question ; and the majority by which it was rejected was regarded as decisive. Thus the '•New Provinces Act, 1858," retains its old vitalitj', session after session, and defies for the time being every attempt to repeal, suspend, or limit it. It is said that many opponents of the old Act voted for, and many of its staunch supporters voted against, the Government Bill, it being considered hard to distinguish betweeu it and a Bill for the total repeal of the Act of 1858. It is also said that Mr Macandbew, the member for Bruce, will have strong support in his proposed Bill for the total suspension of the new Provinces Act ; but, after the fate of the Government measure, we will not be sanguine as to his success^ Supposing the Bill to pass the Lower House, it will be a hard matter to push it through the Council, should the Government choose to oppose it. It was on Mr Macandrew's amendment on the second reading " that the Limitation Act be read this day six months," that the Bill was ousted, and the feeling of the majority was decidedly that it would have placed most arbitrary powers in the hands of the Government of the day, and given it almost entire control over the expenditure of Provincial funds. A section of the members desired a simple repeal of the old Act, accompanied by a proviso that outlying districts should be entitled to a vested share in the expenditure of Provincial revenues. In the division list, we observe that our member, Mr Wayne, paired off with Mr Thomson, the member for Avon.

Many, who are already aware of the circumstances, may deem it rather a trivial matter for us to complain of the manner in which the Telegraphic news by the June Mail were supplied to us last week ; but we are not disposed to agree with them. The facts of the case are these. Intelligence of the arrival of the English Mail steamer at Bluff Haibor, was received at this station on Friday last, at noon, and in consequence of its being generally known that we had made arrangements to have the news telegraphed direct, the public were soon buoyed up with the hope of our issuing an "Extraordinary" in a very short time. But no such good fortune attended either them or us. On sending repeatedly to the Telegraph Office, we were much chagrined to discover that the operator, Mr Lemon, could not decipher the writing of the telegraphist at Bluff Harbor — only a few words here and there being at all legible to him. Of course, W3 enquired the cause, and he explained to us that his batteries were only hnlf as powerful as those in use at the other station, which had the effect of rendering the hieroglyphics very indistinct. We do not pretend, to be versed in the mysteries of the working of the telegraph, but we do think that, if Mr Lemon be right in his conclusions, it is time that the attention of the authorities were directed to the matter without delay. He further informed us that, until the batteries be equalised in power, he will be unable either to receive or send messages to Bluff Harbor — rightly considered the most important station on the whole line. Finding we could not get the news direct from the Bluff, therefore, we consoled ourselves with the hope*that we should be able to procure a Telegram from Dunedin or elsewhere, immediately after the transmission of the Bluff message. Here again we were doomed to disappointment; the Dunedin office was closed at an early hour, and Friday passed away leaving us without the news. We believe that if we could have managed to get a Telegram from Dunedin that evening, that Mr Lemon could not, on account of other pressing duties, have attended to it. Such at present are the arrangements made for the convenience of the public, that not even once a month can the red-tape routine of 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. be set aside, although an extraordinary occasion such as the arrival of the Mail from Europe arises. Mr Lemon, as Postmaster, had a sufficiency of work ( which

could not be neg'ected) on hand on Fridayevening, to enable him, with a good show of reason, to say he could not attend to anything else. He, however, did the next best thing — he promised that the news should be transmitted the first thing the following (Saturday) morning from Dunedin. Fresh disappointment only awaited us. Possession of the wires could nut be got, on account of a pressure of private messages, which took precedence, after a new Janhion, of Press messages. Things were greatly aggravated, too, through only one wii e being in working order between here aud Dunedin, the other having been broken on the previous Sunday by the falling of a tree across the line. Oar message was commenced at last about two p.m., and, after numerous stoppages, was only finished shortly before five o'clock, at which time it was in the hands of our readers. Believing that we, on behalf of the public, have strong grounds for complaint respecting the neglect of the Telegraph authorities, Ave may state that we have taken steps to have the whole matter properly investigated, after which we trust that such a reprehensible delay may not again occur. As matters now stand, the telegraph will not be such an inestimable boon — at least to Oamaru — as was at first conceived, if, after a lapse of thirty hours, we only receive a message which ought to have been transmitted in as many minutes.

John Hardy, Esq., the Commissioner of Roads and their Deviations, arrived in Oamaru yesterday, and held a meeting, as previously announced, in Bakei's Northern Hotel, for the purpose of consulting the landowners and settlers in this and the neighboring districts as to the boundary lines of the proposed Road Districts. Only a few persons wei e present, hut Mr Hardy expressed himself satisfied with the suggestions and information elicited, and he is in hopes of accomplishing his present scheme to the general satisfaction of all. Mr Hardy recommended the foimation of small, rather than of large, districts, and is anxious, before laying his plans before the General Road Board, to consult personally with the various propiietors of land as to the usefulness or otherwise of indicated roads on maps ; and how they, along with these presently used, can be definitely and permanently settled. Mr Haidy, in his tour through the Piovince, has had man3 r instances of hardship to settlers brought under his notice. For example, on the Government map might have been shown a road, on the faith of which being a road bona fide, a person may hive purchased his land. This road as indicated by the Government, it very frequently transpires, however, is not in the power of the Government to grant ; and thus a serious injury is done to many who have been led blindly to accept the Survey Maps as correct. The chief object Mr Haidy has in view, however, is for the purpose of, as we have already stated, making arrangements for the formation of Road Districts and District Road Boards. These Boaids, acting under the General Road Board, sdall have the management of the rYwds in their respective districts, and also, it has been suggested, the maintenance of the Main Road Liues, for which the Piovincial Government would supply the necessary funds. The New Roads Ordinance recently assented to by tho Governor will enable the Road Districts to levy rates and borrow money for local purposes, and give outlying districts generally a medium of communication with the Government, through the Geneial Road Board, which they do not at present possess. Mr Hardy likewise volunteered a most important piece of information, to the effect that by a resolution of tho Council, the Provincial Government is bound to expend, od districts where land has been sold, from time to time a sum equal to one-fifth of the revenue so derived, provided that an equal amount is supplemented by the district itself. This resolution has been, acted upon in the case of the Caversham, Kaikoiai, and other Road Districts in the vicinity of Dunediu ; and L1600 was put upon the Estimates at last session for the purpose of supplying this " refund," but it has as yet only been partially applied for. It is expected that the proposed New Road Districts will be published in a week or ten days, and the New Roads Ordinance lef erred to will as soon as practicable thereafter be brought into operation. The gentlemen with whom Mr Hardy consulted yesterday were Messrs Hassell, M'AIaster, Ashcroft, Gibbs, Aitcheson, Derritt, Sumpter, &c. ; and we understand he will, ere leaving the district, take an opportunity of meeting any persons whose opinions he may consider it necessary to have, or whose suggestions might be in any way valuable to him. Mr Hardy has been holding similar meetings from Blueskin northwards, and he reports generally a feeling amongst settlers very favorable to the formation of these District Road Boards. The Secretary to the Mechanics' Institute notifies that the Library is now open for circulation, and members may now take books out for perusal in terms of the rules. An effort is being made to obtain a further accession of volumes, and it is to be hoped that the public will strengthen the hands of the Committee for the promotion of this object. We would remind witnesses resident in this district that the Supreme Court at Dunedin will commence its Sittings on the 1st September, when they will be lequired to be in attendance. On account of the late celebrated, but now almost forgotten bushranging exploits of Davis and Eveieste, a goodly number of the Waitaki lesidents will be affected by this intimation. We direct general attention, to an ad vet tisement convening a meeting of all persons interested in the Oamaru Races, for Friday (to-nionow) evening at 7 o'clock, iu the Star and Gaiter Hotel. As the business is important, we trust there will be a good attendance. A meeting of tho Committee of the Oamaru Land and Building Investment Society was held in the Secretary's office, on Tuesday evening. There were present, Messrs J. Lemon (in the chah), Gibbs, Payne, Pmkertou, Fiance, Ingram, members of Committee ; Locke, Treasurer; and Sumpter, Secretary. The business was principally financial. This Society is now nearly a year old, dating its commencement from the beginning of October last. Its progress hitherto has been highly successful, and its piospects are excellent. We regret to learn that there has been an unaccountable delay in the sending of the Oamaru Petition to the Houses of Legislature at Wellington, or rather, we believe, in the delivery of them on their reaching that port. We find, on making enquiries, that Mr Wayne had not up to the 14th [instant received the copy intended for him, although it had been despatched from Duuedin in the s s. Wellington, on the 5th. It is evident there is some grievous neglect somewhere, but we infer that it is most probable that the parcel containing the document will have been deposited at the office of the agents of th« vessel there, and taken no more notice of. The "General Government Gazette," of 9th instant, announces the appointment of Mr Geraid G. Fitzgerald as a Justice of the Peace at Hokitika. Mr Fitzgerald is a brother of the new Native Minister, and was till recently editor of the " Southland Times" newspaper. It is to his energy, also, that we are indebted for the establishment of the New Zealand Telegraphic Agency at Bluff Harbor, an institution which gives promise of great usefulness, and which is still carried on under the name of Fitzgerald and Co, The nomination of candidates for the vacancies in the Council, caused by the resignation of Mr Dick, and Mr Bastings, will take place on 6th October next. The Hon. J. Prendergast, M.L.A., has been appointed Grown Prosecutor for Otago.

"We have much pleasure in directing the attention of farmers, runholders, butchers, and the public generally to an announcement in our advertising columns of the projected establishment of monthly markets in Oamaru. Our fellow-townsman, Mr W. L. Lees, auctioneer, is' the enterprising individual ; and he has been solicited by numerous friends to supply a want which has long been felt here. The proposed monthly lalei will be for tho disposal of every description of stock, produce, and farm implements, kc, and the opening sale is fixed for the 20th October next, being the day immediately following the Pastoral and Agricultural Association's Show. ** There can be but one opinion as to the advantages to be deriv ed from these periodical sales. Stockowners and farmers are exceedingly awkwardly situated where necessity compels them to send their stock to a distant market for sale, and it frequently results in large pecuniary loss, as well as loss of time, from the falling off in condition before they pass the hammer. District markets, too, offer many facilities to settlers and others for the transaction of business, by assembling on a given day at a given spot. Wherever they have been established they have been found to be eminently successful, when undertaken by men of energy, perseverance, and experience ; and we earnestly hope that the settleis and others in this large and important distiict will do all in their power to support Mr Lees in his enterprise, because they can scarcely fail to perceive that it is greatly to their own interest that these peiiodical sales should become one of our permanent aud popular institutions. We wish Mr Lee» every success, and entei tain a strong hope that his efforts will be well apreciated by the public generally. The " Gazette" of last week publishes the startling announcement that the sales of Town Lands in the Province for the month of July amounted to— nil. The " Gazette" of 19th July stated that the sales in. the month of June amounted to an equal sum. "We do not profess to know the sums actually realised fiom the sales referred to in other townships, but the Government ought to be set right with regard to Oamaru. The amount realised from the sale of sections here on the 29th July was L253, and we should fancy that at least a small amount was raised in the other townships of the Province. It would be edifying, theiefore, if the Government would really tell us "how the money goes.'' According to their own shewing, no Town Lands have been sold in the Province for the past two months, which we know to be a gross misstatement. The usual monthly meeting of the Oamaru Land and Building Society will be held on the evening of Tuesday, the 5th proximo, at seven o'clock. A sale of shares will take place the same eveniug, at eight o'clock precisely. Intelligence has been received by the June mail of the disposal of the whole of the debentures representing the Otago Provincial Loan for L500,000. The prices realised have ranged between 80 and 90 ; but tho former figure is the one at which most of the Debentures have been sold. There yet remains about LIOO.OUO worth of Debentures, out of different authorised loans, to be disposed of. "We observe that there will, after liquidating the debt to the Bank, be a balance of something like L20.000 available for public works. We will keep in view the direct promise which Mr Dick made on his visit to Oamaru, that the first available funds at the disposal of the Government, should be applied to the construction of our Jetty. An important meeting of the Southern Members has been held in Wellington, for the purpose of consulting together on matteis of finance affecting the Middle Island. Almost all the members were present. The first resolution come to was that the Three Million Loan charges should be finally apportioned between the Colony and the Provinces this Session ; so that members should not be under the necessity of leturning to their constituencies leaving this important subject still " in statu quo." The second resolution was to the effect that further schemes of taxation should not be listened to until the question of the apportionment of the debt shall have previously been finally concluded. The position of the Provincial Loans was not brought on for consideration, but will doubtless form the subject for fuither combined action. It is gratifying to find Southern members thus uniting in endeavoring to countei balance the preponderating strength of the Northern Provinces through their undue share of the representation. It is a notorious fact that Northprn interests have always been the first cared for in the Assembly, and frequently to the total exclubion of questions affecting the Middle Island Provinces. The New Militia Bill has been introduced into the General Assembly. Its principal feature is the piovision that all the first-class militia must be called out all over the Colony for training and exercise so many days in the year. This should have the effect of swelling the ranks of the Volunteer Corps throughout the Provinces. What of the Oamaru movement ? According to yesterday's "Waikouaiti Herald," Mr W. F. Hull, agent of the Bank of New Zealand there, has been promoted to the agency at the Dunstan. In the division on the debate on the " New Provinces Act Limitation Act," in the General Assembly, Mr F. Wayne paired off with Mr Thomson, the member for Avon. The bodies of two men were recently found in the River Molyneux, below the Teviot. One of the bodies was too much decomposed to permit of its being recognised. The other was found to be that of a Frenchman who was drowned some time since, ■whilo about to cross in the punt at the Teviot. The following persons have lately filed their schedules in Dunedin : — B. H. Leary, mei chant : debts, LG851 13s. 5d. : assets, L4395 4s. 3d. Hyam Hart, storekeeper : debts, L287 6s. 5d. ; assets, L227 10s. Id. Jabez Job Ham, printer, kc. : debts, L822 13s. lid ; assets, L875. T. Rosenberg, hotel keeper : debts, L2475 16 lOd. ; assets, L1600. Alfred John Talbot, accountant : debts, L571 ; assets, L175. "We extiact the following useful information, respecting this province, from the " Dunedin Monthly Price Current and Trade Report " : — Emigration, 1st Jan. to 31st July 1865, 8117. Immigration, 5299 ; balance against the province for the period, 2818. For the same period of 1864, the balance against the province was 5424. The quantity of gold exported during the past seven months amounts to lG5,90o ozs., which at the London value of L4 per ounce, represents a total of L663,620. The gold revenue has amounted to L20.731 19s Id. His Honor the Superintendent has established a public pound on the river section, numbered 35 on the record map of the district of "West Taieri, and appointed Mr Michael Tynan, of Outram, to be keeper of the said pound. Mr Jas. Henderson, of Lake Waipori, has been appointed keeper of two newly-established pounds at the Waipori Township Reserve, and Maunga Atua district. We are in receipt of files of English papers by the June Mails, amongst which we observe the " John O'Groat Journal," a regular visitor to us fiom the "far North" of Scotland, This newspaper is printed on a very large sheet, and takes a high rank amongst provincial journals in the old^country. Its news are very varied, and exceedingly well-selected. Indian advices report that 108 persons have been killed by an avalanche in Pangi, on the Upper Cheenab. There are still severe fights in Cabool, between contending tribes. The Governor-General has abolished tho duties on sugar, coffee, teas, jute, wool, hides, and silk, and reduced to two annas per xnaund the duties on rice and other grain. The rebellion is still raging in North China, the insurgents being now within 100 miles of the metropolis. Famine prevails in Arabia, and cholera rages in Aden,. Cairo, and in the Indian Provinces. Northern advices state that the loss of the enemy at Pipiriki has been underestimated. Opotiki on the East Coast is to be occupied, and a quantity of land confiscated.

The following piece of iaformation should bo of importance, as respecting the preparation of Petitions intended for the House of Repiesentatives. The people of Timaru some time since got up a petition, praying for the repeal or alteration of the " New Provinces Act," but, owing to an informality, it was declared inadmissable. A correspondent of the " Herald," writing from Wellington, says: — "A petition was received from Timaru by your member, Mr Jollie, and presented to the House. This petition, however, was, through an informality, declared inadmissable. Standing orders require that a petition shall be signed on any sheet of it by at least one of the petitioners. Tho petition was written on some three or four sheets, on the last of which only were any signatures." We are not aware how the Oamaru Petition was framed, but trust it may not, by a "fluke" of the above-mentioned nature, be thrown overboard. We understand that H. Clapcott, Esq., has resigned his seat in the Provincial Council. Mr Lord, the assistant teacher in the Dunedin High School, who got severely reprimanded for unmercifully caning some of the pupils, has resigned his situation. The " Provincial Government Gazette" of last week contains a return of the sale of rural lands in tho Province for the month of July. The total amount realised was L2590 17s. 6d., and the average price LI per acre. The following are the acreages sold in the various districts :— Awamoka, 1421 a. 1 r. 37 p. j Waikouaiti, 76 a. 3 r. 3 p. j Dunedin, 63 a. 2 r. 16 p. ; West Taieri, 32 a. 1 r. 24 p. ; Noith Tokomairiro, 573 a. 2 r. 32 p. ; Catlins', 130 a. ; Waitahuna west, 51 a. 0 r. 14 p. j Shotover, 42 a. 3 r. 1 p. ; Pastoral 200 a.