THE Otago Daily Times "Invenium viam aut Jacian."

Otago Daily Times, Issue 208, 8 August 1862, Page 4

THE Otago Daily Times " Invenium viam aut Jacian."

DUNEDIN, FRIDAY, AUGUST 8, 1362.

In yesterday's issue we published the fearful ; particulars of the inquest on the bodies of the | two unfortunate females who were killed at Saddle Hill by the overturning of the waggon in which they were riding. It is not our intention at present to express an opinion on the j finding of the jury, as we presume the proceedings will not be allowed to rest where j they are. The evidence concerning the state the | driver was in, certainly preponderated against | him, and the jury seem to have taken on themi selves a larger share of responsibility than is usually the case in Coroners' inquests. The ; sacrifice of two human lives is a serious consideration, and full and searching enquiry should not be lightly prevented. Coroners' juries generally attach strong weight to a prima fatic case. ,

But apart from the question as to the sobriety of the driver, sufficient was disclosed at the Inquest to supply serious food for reflection. Probably, the jury were much guided in their decision (we do not say rightly so) by the consideration that under any circumstances the road was an exceedingly dangerous one to traverse, and that even an experienced driver would always be liable to an accident on it. We cannot describe its fearfully dangerous nature more graphically or tersely than in the words of one of the witnesses, Mr. Edward Musgrave, the Resident Magistrate of Tokomairiro. This gentleman was passing at the time, and hastened to render assistance. He thus describes the scene of the occurrence :— v The road where the accident took place was 11 only 21 feet wide, 15 feet of which was "metalled, with a bank on one side, a preci- " pice on the other, and the edge composed of •' rotten earth. The road was an exceedingly "difficult one, particularly on a dark night. " The witness had examined the bank since " the accident, and saw that it had given way '• a little. Witness thought it probable if the " bank had not given way that the wagon " might have passed on in safety." Whoever else may be to blame, the authorities cannot be wholly acquitted in allowing a road, along which there is so much traffic, torcmaininsuchaconditkm. Norb isthisnn isolated I instance, the greater part of the public road* of the Province have been constructed without the slightest view to safety or permanence. ! N"ot only arc they made too narrow, but no protection has been placed at the sides where they skirt dangerous precipices, and the edges are uniformly insecure, and unsound. That there are not more accidents is truly surprising. Danger seems expressly to be courted. In the newly metalled roads all round the town, large masses of metal are left every here and there, which would upset any vehicle that went over them. .It must certainly

be more by good luck than management, that persons who drive after dark are enabled to avoid them. When repairs are being executed the commonest provisions for safety are neglected. An instance came to our knowledge last night. A portion of the Saddle Hilt Road has fallen in, leaving a large hole in the centre of the track. No erection or scaffolding was placed round this, and a gentleman riding along last night was almost thrown from his horse by the animal shying at the sudden apparition of the head and shoulders of the man who was repairing the gap, appearing above the ground. The carelessness with which the excavations in the Cutting have been carried on, has frequently been commented on. If the Government do not desire to be burdened with the responsibility of many fatal accidents, they will cause immediate steps to be taken towards constructing and maintaining the public roads with a greater regard to human safety.

In an economical point of view, there appears to be great fault in the way in which the roads are being made. We hope that at its next sitting the Provincial Council will appoint a committee to examine into the subject. Thousands of pounds have, been lavished on utterly worthless roads. Indeed, it is commonly said that the unmade country roads are far preferable to those that have been made. Contracts are entered into in a most slovenly manner, and the demand for tenders published in such a way as only to meet the notice of a few favored individuals. These also are allowed whenever they find their contracts unremunerative, to throw them up, or take their own time in carrying them out. Can anything, for instance, be more disgraceful than the way in which the work at the cutting is being carried on—or rather, not being carried on. The whole cutting might have been completed weeks ago, but day after day nothing is done to it. Private enterprise has in the meanwhile excavated large blocks of land out of the solid rock, but the comparatively easy work the Government undertook to have done is left uncompleted. Meanwhile, every now and again, there are large falls of earth, from which, by extraordinary good fortune only, have fatal consequences been avoided.

The unsuitability of some of the roads is another matter for serious consideration. Take, for instance, the roads toWaikouaitiand to Port. Chalmers. Is it not a miserably cheese-paring, penny wise and pound foolish plan, to construct them so fiarrow as to make it a matter of imperative necessity to immediately widen theniv Some advantage might be taken of the ex-

'perien.ee of Victoria. After the lapscriji several years, it has Jjeen found that thousand on thousands of pounds have been uselessly squandered on the public roads of that colony. Not only did mismanagement conduce to it, but there was positive unmistakable fraud. "We published, a short while back, a resume of the report of a Parliamentary Committee appointed to inquire into the subject. The details there set down should be a warning to Otago. We fancy a committee in that Province would bring to light some curious, and interesting particulars, and we strongly recommend the Provincial Council to appoint one. About half the money that has been I expended, if we are told correctly is pure waste, whilst the rest has been extravagantly spent on roads that immediately require widening. The loss of these two poor women in the prime of life, suddenly destroyed, will, it is to be hoped, direct public attention to the matter. We write in no hostile spirit, the subject is one of far too much importance to be dealt with on anything but the broadest grounds.

TiißßK.ia too much reason to fear that the little steamer Comet, which left Melbourne on the 15th June, is lost. No news or tidings have been heard of her, and the length of time which has elapsed, naturally gives countenance to the worst fears. If however any thing has occurred to the vessel, it is quite as likely that it is wrecked on the West Coast of New Zealand, as that it has foundered at sea. But supposing it to have been so wrecked, the unfortunate persons on board of her would have no means of forcing their way into the settled districts. There are no known tracks from the West Coast, and at this season of the year, it would be almost impossible to find one. The poor men would thus be reduced to stay where they they were, dependent for a scanty subsistence oi\ fish and wild fowl. It would only be common humanity for the Government to send a steamer round to .see if any traces could be found of the missing vessel. If shipwrecked, the men would be sure to have placed signal* on the prominent points, and a vessel coming up could not fail to see them. Even supposing no trace of the missing vessel were discovered, the steamer would still lie of use in establishing a depot on tht west coast in which to place provisions for vessels that might be driven ashore on the coast. The expense would not be great, and with the extensive trade between this and Australia, it is too much feared that the service will not be without use. The stores could be buried, and indications of their whereabouts could be made. No one not actually requiring them would think of using them, at least whoever did so would be sinning against humanity. Whether the suggestion for a depot be entertained or not, we hope that the aendinir a steamer in search of the Comet will not be neglected. The probabilities are, that it has been driven on the west coatt, and if so those of the crew who arc saved will be eking out a miserable existence. Day by day they will be looking out for and expecting relief. We sincerely trust the Government will not neglect the suggestion, even although it comes from so (to them) di>tasteful a source as the columns of this journal.

The DunedinTownßoarddonotin any way contrast very favorably with other colonial municipal bodies. As an instance, we may mention tUat the Hobart Town Municipality hive resolved on the erection of fifteen drinking fountains, one of the members of the Council agreeing to furnish one lit his own expense. Compare the fifteen drinking fountains of Hobart Town with the (Solitary High-street pump of Duncdiu!

It is couimunly understood that the " PostSaving*' Hank," at present working with so much success in England, was instituted, not alone to provide increased accommodation for the working class, but also, as a means of establishing Savings' Hanks on a footing that would ol!*er less inability of loss to the depositors, by defalcations on the part of officials. The Post-office Savings' Hunk b so constituted that the responsibility of dealing with the fnnds Is so extensively divided that it is almost impossible for fraud to take place undetected. We observe that a movement has been commenced in Tasmania, with a view to the establishment of Post-office Savings' Hanks in that colony. A similar iustitntion in New Zealaud would be very desirable, and we have no doubt that, if proper representations were made to the Postmaster General, tke system might be extended to this colony, i n connection with the Money Order department about to be biought into active operation.

Colonel Gore Browns must find his present official life much more comfortable than the one 'he led in New Zealand. His peace of mind is no longer disturbed by rebellious natiTes, interfering Bishops, or objectionable ministers. His path is now couleurde rose. His first speech, opening the Legislature of Tasmania, was delivered to a House prepared to give him a respectful and friendly reception. Possessing, as he does, the best wishes of all classes of the Tasmanian community, Governor Browne may find, in the tlolce Jar niente of his present office, a very agreeable ' change from tho very responsible and onerous | duties of the Governorship of New Zealand. i We have to acknowledge the receipt of £l, being a donation from F. J. M. to the Hughes' I fund. The interior decorations of the Princess's Theatre are being pushed on day and night, and Jit is fully expected that the whole will bo com- [ pleted in time for the grand opening which is I fixed for Monday evening. The house will when completed, present a really elegant appearance, and it is expected that on the opening night it will bo made still more cheerful by the crowds of pleased and happy faces with which it will most probably % be filled. The programme of performances is not yet issued, but it is safe to presume I that it will be something attractive in itself to say' i nothiug of tho attraction of the new house, and I the debut of Mr. Charles Young, Miss Taburney, and Mr. Kohler. We read in the Malta Times, of April 17th :—- ---" Considerable excitement has been created during the past sreek, by the statement that a picture of the Madonna, belonging to a person in this city, was in the habit of moving its eyes. The house was daily besieged by people of all classes, desirous of witnessing the luiracle. Many persons affirmed that the eyes could be distinctly seen to move ; others protested they could perceive nothing extraordinary. At length the police interfered, and with the assistance of the ecclesiastical authorities the picture was removed."

1 .The^Soutfcf ihtnedin, School Committee have, we undcnstanS, elected Mr. HatLm-ll to the: post of head master of their district school. Mr. Halliwell, we are informed, was for several years in j charge of a good school at Gcelong, in the neighboring colony of Victoria. He was temporarily appointed by the Education Board to take charge of 3fr. Livingston's classes when that gentleman resigned, and he discharged the duties of the position so satisfactorily, that it was decided to confer upon him the permanent appointment of the head mastership. The North Dunedin School Committee held a meeting on the sth Ai'gust for j the purpose of appointing a schoolmaster. There were eight applications, but the following were considered the three most eligible applicants :— J. P. Park, Bothwell, Tasmania; A. J. Scott, Sandhurst, Victoria ; A. Stewart, King-street, Dunedin. The choice of the committee fell upon Mr. Stewart This gentleman has, it appears, taught a private school in the neighborhood, very much to the satisfaction of the parents of children attending, it for the last twelve months. He is to enter upon his duties about the beginning of October, by which time it is expected that the stone school-house, now in course of erection in Kingstreet, will be ready for occupation. The school committees of both North and South Dunedin have, as will be observed by our report of the proceedings of the Town Board, applied for and obtained permission to avail themselves of the town ssessment roll, for the purpose of levying school rates, so that the districts have now all the legal means of supplying their wants as regards provision for education. We may add that in both districts the educational committees are elected annually, and that they have the power to appoint and maintain a proper staff of teachers, the Educa- . tional Board furnishing a portion of the money for the salaries of the teachers, and also provi- , ding suitable buildings. The school fees are fixed by the Board at a moderate rate, and provision is made for a still lower charge in case three or four of the same family should be attending school at the same time.

The ITobart Town Mercury of a late date says : —" The severity of the weather for the last day or two surpasses anything of the kind within the memory of the ' oldest inhabitant.' In the neighborhood of the Cascades the snow yesterday morning lay on ttie ground from four to six inches deep. The hon. J. M. Wilson, M.L.C., finding his lawns and paddocks covered with such an unusual deposit, set his men to work making snowballs, and nueeeedetl in moulding two immense masses of snow, weighing several hundredweight each. One oi these Mr. Wilson caused to be transj>orted in one of his drays to town, and set it up in front of the Duchess of Kent hotel in Murray-street. This is no doubt the largest enowb:ill ever seen in Hobart Town. It is about four feet in diameter, and weighs upwards of half-a-ton. Hundreds of people stopped to see the unusual exhibition, winch the facetious landlord had described in a large placard as a ' Polar Hear caught on Mount Wellington.' Few inhabitants of Hobart Town probably have ever seen so large a mass of hfiow, and if this weather continues, it is likely to remain an addition to the footpath in Collins-street fur several days to come. We certainly never remember to hare seen a snowball in Australia of such extraordinary dimensions.'' The Yass Courier (N.S.W.) says :—" In a late issue vrc noticed that Mr. Amos Swift, of Cave Flat, Murrumbidgoe, liad discovered in a cave the petrified head and paw of a native dog. Unfortunately the fossil has been much mutilated, and only n small portion separated from the surround, ing stone. It appears that Sir. Swift, on entering the cave, found it to be about 9 feet high, and in . the roof the fossil was discovered, the ribs and head of the animal being distinctly visible. A j j>ortion of the skull and jaw are now in our pos- ! session. Mr. Swift informs us that the roof of | the cave is about 5u ft'd below the surface of the j overlying ground." I The Mount Alexander Mail gives the following | account of a Hindoo snake charmer who has | lately been exhibiting in Castlemaine.—An In-" I dian snake charmer has lately been exhibiting j his skill in taming these reptiles, much to the ; gratification of the curious. The exhibitor car- > ries in a flat basket on his head, four or five j snakes; which he has succeeded in completely taming. On putting them on the ground and blowing into a small instrument like the bagpipes in miniature, the creatures rear their heads, and sway them to and fro, as if-they really enjoyed tho wheezing sounds produced by the dusky musician. Occasionally the performer will irritate his proteges till they draw bloud from his finger, but there is not much doubt that the cunning Hindoo has already extracted the poison I glands. Like the English gipsies, the juggler I will not allow his palm to be crossed by anything ! less than " white money."

A. Scotchman's estimate of the Australian colonista is thus expressed in the columns of the Scotsman :—" In almost all Australians, barring shepherds, Wackft-Uows, and lazy loafers who get up want •f employment muttings, there is a fiery energy which contrasts comically with the drawling • used up ' mode of speecli they are pleased to affect. They throw their whole souls iuto the business or pleasure which happens to engage them. If they ride they must gal. lop like the wild huntsman ; if they pull, they are constantly calling upon one another tor a 'spurt;' they serenade popular singers, and assemble in vast throngs to give them a valedictory cheer when they embark; the telegraph wires wax warm through the unintermittiug flash of news when an intercolonial horse race or cricket match is pending between New South Wales and Victoria; it is no wonder, therefore, that the arrival of the All-Kngland-Eleven sent the two colonies cricket-mad. According to the last accounts, they had not recovered from their willow-fever. Greeted by deputations, and -with bell-ringing, thundering hurrahs, brass band, flaunting bunting, feasted at banquets, at which honey - tongued Governors assisted and speechified to do them honour, their no doubt splendid play made the almost monopolising topic of the daily and weekly f press, it is wonderful that tlie honest Eleven, who certniuly to themse'ves never seemed such marvellous heroes before, did not become as light-headed as their hospitable entertainers and gallant opponents. Probably they owe one defeat to ihe profuse kindness showered upon them. They conquered an eighteen of Victoria in one innings, a twenty-two of New South Wales in two innings, by a majority of 48 runs, some less celebrated twenty-twos with ludicrous ease, but by a united twenty-two of New South Wales aud Victoria, the previously invincible Eleven, after an indulgence in • Sydney hospitalities, were—consWerinc their celebrity—almost shamefully beaten. Apropos of those cricket contests between the mother country and her colonies, we may remark that Richard (Jreen, " the champion oarsman of Australia," who has defeated all the colonial and British rowers (some of the latter of note nt home) who have ventured to pull against him, will probably visit England soon to contest the championship of the Thames. English professors of one kind of athletic sporta having been made dyspeptic demigods in Australia, it is to be hoped that tho plucky " cornstalk" will at least meet with faii-play iv Londou. His "native" acuteness may be trusted to prevent .lover-kindness from interering with his training."

We learn that there"are^ about 30 miners working on the Shag River, near Lowe's station, damming and setting sluices. They were making about L 3 per man per week; there is not room for any great number of miners at this place. The gold is found in the " Bars," and in the pockets of the river bed. Ten men are reported to be sluicing the river bed, opposite the Highlay Police Station, and four in another part of the river, but they were only making wages. We have learned that a party of five men have been for a considerable time digging at the foot of ' the Dunstan Ranges^ with tolerable success. A mounted con-' stable who, on the 26th ult, left the Highlay Police Station, came upon the party in question at Dunstan Creek, four miles from its junction with the Manuherikia at the base of the Dunstan Ranges. The party had been located there about nine months, <.nd built themselves a comfortable mud hut. They had not been working since the middle of June, the extreme severity of the weather having put a stop to their operations. During the time they had been working in that locality, their wages had averaged 8s per day, per man. They procured rations from the neighboring stations, and the settlers of the district had behaved very kindly to them. The men referred to were originally fitted out as a prospecting party by Messrs. Jones and Co., of Dunedin, and were consequently well supplied with tools and mining appliances. They stated that, but for these circumstances, they would not have remained on the spot. The gold is found in the bed of the creek, three or four feet deep, with a seven-inch stripping of wash dirt off a false bottom. The gold is described as being so very fine as to necessitate the use of quicksilver. One shaft had been sunk 50 feet j deep, without rinding any bottom, and the " color " was not obtained any lower than the red clay and gravel bottom in the lour feet sinkings. There is plenty of timber in a gully about one and a half miles up the ranges, and coal exists in the neighborhood. It is stated that there is room on the Dunstan Creek for about 100 diggers, who would be satisfied with the rate of wages mentioned above. Other appliances, besides the cradle and tin dish, are stated to be necessary. The miners should have sluices and plenty of tools, as drays cannot proceed to the place in the winter, it being a perfectly Alpine region.

The King of Conargo sends the following autograph letter to the Pastoral Times :—" When Mr. Kelly give the blankets to blackfellows ? Winter soon all gone. You ask Mm, and oblige Bobbyj King of Conargo.—Conargo, 2nd July, 1862."

We understand that Sergeant-ilajor Bracken* is to be publicly presented with a valuable good conduct badge on parade to-day, by his Honor the Depnty-Superintendent, as a reward for big distinguished services and deserts, and especially for his gallantry in the capture of bushranger* some months back.

Another accident occurred yesterday afternoon at Saddle Hill. While a man named Chalmers, was mounting his horse, the animal suddenly shied, and the nder was thrown on hi* back and dragged some distance by the stirrup. He was found be some workmen and carried to the Burridge Hotel. On Dr. Nelson's arrival, the hip was found to be dislocated. In a few minutes, however, as the man graphically described it, he was "in HeaTen ;" the dislocation having been reduced.