THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam out faciam."

Otago Daily Times, Issue 269, 30 October 1862, Page 4

THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam out faciam."

DUNEDIN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30,

It Is to be hoped that the Executive besides ! presenting to the Provincial Council an esti- ! mate of Revenue and Expenditure will deliver itself of something like a financial policy. Last Session, the passing the estimates, consisted in voting away sundry sums without reference to the supposed revenue, and in reality the result of the appropriations showed a much larger sum put down for expenditure than the estimated Itevenue. The deficiency was vaguely supposed to he covered by the sale of small parcels of debentures, and by leaving it to the discretion of the Executive to permit certain votes to lapse. Such a course is calculated to impair the credit of the Province, inasmuch as it leaves it in a state of no funds at its bankers, and a condition of hard-upness, that bears the appearance if it does not represent poverty. We believe there is no colony that has attained to a position of prosperity that has not involved itself deeply in debt. Paradoxical as it may seem, the amount of debt up to a certain limit almost represents the amount of prosperity. A slight examination will, however, explain the seeming anomaly. The ordinary revenues of a colony ought to well maintain the current expenditure. But there is a class of expenditure which may be termed an investment in reproductive works —on works the uses and purposes of which will outlast the season of their cost, the defrayal of which legitimably enough should be spread over a term of years, lioads and jetties, waterworks, telegraph and tramway lines, are reproductive works, because, if not directly reproductive, they are collaterally so. They are not only reproductive because they enhance the value of property, or because^ in the shapes of dues and charges, they bring in revenues, but because their uses to the body of the people, save money. Thus good roads into the intei'ior will save immense sums for cartage; good jetties and deepened harbors will save charges on imports and exports; waterworks will supply a ne-. cessary want at a smaller cost than individual effort—and so on, the same line of argument can be applied to every work of public utility. . Of course the line is to be urawn between local, and what, when we say national, means, in the present instance, Provincial works. Thus water-works may be purely a local charge; jetties, a local or a national charge ; roads, according to whether they are branch or main, the same ; —but in every case the same argsment prevails ; the state should avail itself of the credit at its command to procure the funds necessary to construct the works, which serving purposes of economy over a term of years, should be defrayed by extended pa}-mcnts. Supposing that the cost of a road could be covered by the ten years' savings of its use, surely it is a wise policy to expend the savings in procuring it, and at the end of the time have the road as it were for nothing. As we have said the main argument is not disturbed by the question of whether the works required are local or national. If local, local bodies should be able to procure the funds on the same principle of deferred payments as if national. But local bodies should as little as possible enter into'relations with foreign capitalists, it is far better for them to deal with their Government, and the Government to be the negotiating party. It will-now-be seen why we ask the Executive to enunciate a Provincial policy. We want to know how it is proposed to carry out the Provincial public works, how it is proposed to extend assistance to the construction of public works that should be charged locally ? It first should be shown to what extent the Province is hitherto indebted, not only in debentures already issued, but for liabilities for outstanding contracts. Then it should |be determined what sum the Province requires for the construction of public works, the payment of which may be legitimately extended over a term of years. Then the consideration should be taken into account of what assistance may be required by local bodies for local works. Having arrived at the conclusion of the total amount it would be wise to take the power of borrowing, the means of repayment by sinking fund or by gra.dual redemption should be determined. The details of these points, the principles of which we only refer to, should properly be elaborated by the Government.

That Otago is in a positibiT to Borrow, no j one who-knows-its'condition can question. Its population has much increased, and promises still to increase, and although that population ca"tmot afford to. be taxed to the] extent of the outlay required for public works, it can well afford to pay interest on the cost, and year by year reduce a portion of it. To pnt the matter hypothetical!/, although they might not be able to expend £400,000 (£lO a man),.-in reproductive works, they might well afford to pay £40,000 a year, or £1 per | man, for interest and redemption. But \ borrowers ask security, and this Otago is in a position to show. It can point to its gold fields, the revenue from which there can be no doubt will permanently increase. It can point to its lands, not only those suited for agricultural purposes, but those fitted for sheep fanning, and for grazing. In a few years it can say the latter will be free, and it can add that the revenue then to be derived for them whether by sale, or further leasing will much depend on the facilities of communication with the interior effected in the meanwhile. In short, Utago not only requires and is justified in borrowing money, but those who have it are justified in lending it. The borrower can make good use of it, the lender will be amply secure of repayment.

We concluded our first notice of the proposed Building Ordinance with the enumeration of the various classes in which new buildings are to ba arranged, and the regulations respecting the thickness of the walls ot the buildings in each class. In continuance of the subject we find that in respect to buildings of the second or warehouse class, all such buildings whether bnilt or rebuilt, after the passing- of the Ordinance, must have their dividing walls in- every respect of the same dimensions as the party walls, and there must not be in any one part of such buildings more than 20,000 cubic feet without party walls. There is another important regulation in respect to the openings in party walls, which in buildings of the warehouse class must not be wider than six feet nor higher than eight feet unless specially authorised by the surveyor and official referees. Tiie floor, jambs, and head of every such opening must be composed of brick, stone, or ironwork ; and the doors, which must be placed on eaoh side of the party wall, must be ot strong wrought iron not less than a quarter of an inch in thickness, and without woodwork of any kind about them. The roofs of buiiuings in the warehouse class must not incline at a greater an^le than 40 degrees.

Every external and party wall of building of each class must be built upon' a constructed footing, based upon solid ground, or other sufficient foundation. The footings must be built of brick or stone, with mortar or cement, and wider by several inches than the walls to be erected upon them, and must be from five to eleven inches high above the foundation, according to the kind of building. The external walls of all buildings must be built of bricks or stone, and the ends of all joistr, girders, lintels, &c, of wood, must be fixed at a distance of at least four inches from the external face of the wall. Ceiling joists may, however, go through the wall, provided a sufficient corbel be formed to separate one building from another at the line of the party and external walls. No timber must be laid in such a manner that the part of the wall above it is dependant for support on the timber only, or so that such wood might not be withdrawn without endangering the safety of the superincumbent structure, except in the case of brestsummers, for the construction of which special directions are giver.

In respect to the repairing of buildings or old external walls already built, it is provided that if they have not originally been constructed of the materials required by the Ordinance, they may be repaired of the same materials of which they originally consisted, except ing such repairs necessitate the taking down or demolishing of any external or party wall equal to one-fourth of its whole extent, in which case the whole wall must be taken down and rebuilt of the materials required b} r the ' Ordinance. Buildings which may at any time be converted into two or more separate buildings, each having distinct entrances or staircases, will he deemed, to he separate houses and will require to be divided from each other by party walls, of the same dimensions as in the case of. new buildings. In the erection of party walls between buildings of equal class, ; the wall must be built one-half on the ground jof each owner. If the buildings be of dif- | ferent " rates," then the extra thickness of party wall required by the owner of the higher " rate" must be built upon his ground; but iif the adjoining building should hereafter be enlarged into a building of a higher "rate," then the owner of the first-mentioned building will be entitled to receive a fair compensation for the extra cost he had incurred. Openings may be made in the party walls of dwelling-houses at the discretion of the Surveyor. By this Ordinance,* balconies, verandahs, and architectural projections beyond the line of fronts of-any street, may be permitted under certain restrictions. In the case of verandahs and collonades, they must be at least 10 feet above the level of the footpath and must project the whole width of the footpath. Balconies in streets of 86 feet in width may project three feet over the footpath, provided, in every case, that they cause no obstruction of light or air to the owners of other property. Buildings that are thirty feet distant from other buildings or streets are cxc mpt from these rules. In the case of wooden shop fronts, they must riot be higher than fifteen feet, nor must any part project from the wall more than two inches- Regulations are given for the construction of flues and chimneys, but as they contain nothing that any careful builder could object to, we need not detail them. The roofs of all new buildings, or of such buildings as may hereafter require repairs in the roof, must be constructed of an incombustible material. It is also required that before the walls of any new building have reached a height often feet, the' drains nlust be properly built and made good, and conducted to the common sewer, if there

be one within one hundred feet from the building.

Allndwelling houses must have an enclosed back yard of at leact 200 superficial feet. The lowermost rooms of houses, if more than three feet below the surface of the street, may be lighted by ati aperture in the footway, which must be properly enclosed by solid masonry, and covered with au iron grating. Attic rooms in the roof of any dwelling house must in no part be of less height than 3ft. 6in., and the other rooms in the building must not be less than 7ft. from the floor to the ceiling.

All new streets must be at least GGft. in width.

The Town Board possesses the power of passing bye-laws, and to alter and amend the regulations, but such bye-laws and amendments require to be approved by the Superintendent, and duly published in the Gazette. The Board's Surveyor will he required to make monthly leturns to the Board of all notices and complaints received by him, and particulars of all matters connected Avith his office. Occupiers of premises who may have paid any expenses under the Ordinance, are entitled to deduct the amount from rent. Occupiers are liable to pay expenses, but in no case for a sum exceeding the amount due j from them for. rent to the owner. Special provision is made for defining the rights of different owners, and fixing the manner in which the cost of party structures shall be divided. Buildings, or portions of buildings, which, may be certified to be dangerous by the surveyor, may be shored up or pulled down at the expense of the owner, if he neglect to effect the necessary repairs.

At the Princess' Theatre last evening, the musical drama of " Guy Manneri.ig" preceded the burlesque of the " Nymph of the Lurleyburg." There were changes in the cast since the drama was last played ; but Madame Carauclini was still Julia Mannering, and Mr. Shenvin, Henry Bertram. j)£iss E. Wiseman took the part of Lucy Bertram, and sang the plaintive air, " Slumber my dariing," very nicely. Mr John Dunn was the representative of Dominie Sampson, and Mr Hall made an energetic Dirk liatterick. The '■ Echo Duet," by Madame Carandini and Mr Sherwin, was capitally sung ; and Madame Carandini introduced the favorite songs, " Annie Laurie," and " Why do I weep for thee?" with good effect. The eoneerte.l pieces went fairly ; and the applause throughout was hearty. The burlesque passed oft" more smoothly and tellingly than on previous evenings; and was very s uo-cussful.—To-morrow evening is fixed for the performance in aid of the funds of the Volunteer Fire Brigade. The special attractions arc to be the appearance of the members of the brigade on the stage, in uniform ; and Miss Emma Neville singing a song written for the occasion, the air being by Mr Loder. This evening, the opera of "La Sonnamlmla" is to be produced, with Madame Carandini as Amina, and Mr. Sherwin as Elviuo.

The comedy of " A Bird in the Hand Worth Two in the Bush" was repeated last evening at the Theatre Royal, with the same cast as on Friday, when it was produced for the bonefit of Mr Ryan ; am], as upon that occasion, it went merrily, amidst the laughter and applause of the audience. " Our Village " was the afterpiece, and was again greatly successful. The same programme will be repeated this evening. There was a capital house. We are glad, to notice that the company at this Theatre has been strengthened by the engagement of Miss Harriet Gordon and Mr. J. P. Hyde. Miss Gordon was a great favorite with the Dunedin public on her former visit, and we are sure will be welcomed here heartily. She makes her first appearance on Monday next.

The ordinary weekly meeting of the Dunedin Debating Club was h<>ld in Clark's Temperance Hotel, George-street, on Monday evening ; Mr W. Ferris in the chair. After the formal business of the evening had been transacted, Mr Clark opened a discussion on the question, " Are scripture lives, in general, examples of total abstinence from fermented beverages ?" Maintaining the affirmative, Mr Clark adduced the examples of Samson, Samuel, and Daniel, in support of his view, and was followed on the same side by Mr Jaques. Several members then spoke in f.tvour of the view that the lives of eminent scripture characters were examples of the moderate use of the beverages in questiou. On the question being put to the meeting, the majority was in support of the negative. The debate was animated, many more members than usual taking part in the proceedings. It was intimated that Mr Ferris would, on Monday next, open a discussion on the question, " Would universal free-trade be beneficial to the world ?"'

A correspondent whose letter appears "elsewhere, writes in a very indignant tone respecting the evidence given by detective Howard in the (rial of the rape cases, on the 20th inst., before the Supreme Court. His complaint is that Detective Howard stated " that all females on the diggings were of loose character." In justice to Detective Howard it is right that we should say that his evidence as reported was. that "females on the diggings were generally suspected of being loose, but Mrs Smith was not more talked of than others." This also was stated in cross examination, and in reply to a leading question, not in' his examination in chief. Still we cannot but concede that it was in ill taste and unduly unjust both to"the females on the diggings and those who may be tempted in future to make them their home. We are glad it was not even allowed to pass without contradiction. The comparing the majority of women on the gold fields to Mrs Smith was in itself an insult.

Gold in Bell Hill. —Such is the newest fact in connection with the wide-spread aurifcrousness of Otago. We saw yesterday afternoon, two pieces of hardened clay from the hill side, one bearing on its surface five or six specks of waterworn gold, and the other three or four specks. The clay came from a point immediately adjoining, and on the Ratt ray-street side of the office erected for the superintendent of the works. It was part of a seam, four feet thick, of heavy blue clay, mixed with a slaty formation, the bottom of which is about 10 feet from the present level of the foot of the hill, and the top some four or five feet from the sloping surface. The j ■ pieces of-hardened clay have not been broken, so that whether there is gold in their midst is not known; but two of the specks are of a tolerable sizo, and the gold is light coloured. It is pretty certain that the men employed at the spot indicated, will watch closely the soil that is started by their picks and shovels; and that anything like real " wash dirt," or gold-bearing clay will not readily be tipped on the face of the embankment which is steadily being pushed into the har« bor. There were yesterday about 470 men employed on the Hill. .

We have received Wellington papers to Oct. 18. The news is quite unimportant.

Yesterday, the special j»ry cn<?e, Fanjie and Another v. Little and Another, occupied the Supreme Court -from ten o'clock to five. 'The suit arose out of a disputed sale of bottled beer and porter, and the jury gave a verdict for the plaintiff, damages, Lioi 16s. There is a cross action against Fargie and PatersonYor not giving an acceptance in the same transaction, but it is entered for trial before a common jury. This morniug, Tesv.hemaker and Another v. M'Lean and Another is to be taken. It has been twice tried, the jury having in each case given a verdict iv accordance with the direction of the judge, the second being in direct opposition to the first; and this third hearing is upon an order for a new trial on the ground of misdirection.— Richardson (Superintendent) v. Patersun, which.was named as for Friday, lias now been placed as last of the special jury cases.

By an advertisement which appears elsewhere, it will be seeu that the Dunedin Cricket Club is fairly aroused from its winter sleep, and that a field day, the first of the present season, will be held on Wednesday, the sth November. The club would seem to be already strong, if we may judge by the list of officers which is now published. Nevertheless the committee will be glad to receive accessions of uew members.

Our goldfields'correspondent informs us that the amount of gold deposited at Tuapcka, for transmission by escort, is 4.358 ounces, bein-r 923 ounces 10 dwts. in excess of the quantity brought down by the last escort. Our correspondent attributes this increase to the fact that large parcels of gold were being brought in from the Beaumont, at its junction with the Molyneux. The escort from the Dunstan had not arrived at ten o'clock p.m. on tne 28th, and its non-arrival had created an uneasy feeling at Tuapeka ; the delay, however, must have arisen from'an alteration of the day of starting, instructions to which eilcct,had been forwarded. We have no inform--tion from the-other fields.

The provincial Goocrnmcmt Gazette of yesterday contains a Proclamation by the Sn|.<?rintenteudenr, revoking the proclamation of Wetherstone's and Gabriel's Gullies and the lands adjacent thereto, as a Mining Board District. The reason ascribed for this step is stated in the proclamation as being " the failure of the members of the said Mining Board to rorm a quorum for the despatch of business." The powers and authorities of the Board are declared "to have ceased and terminated-"

The meeting of the Provincial Council Is officially fixed for Wednesday, the 2Gth November, at 12 o'clock at noon, and the members of the council are warned to give their attendance accordingly.

The following is a list of accepted tenders for the public service of tho Province from the 7th to 28th October :—Formation of road from Kaitangita township towards Main South-road— levelling, L 5 10s; ditching and fencing, L 5 per chain, Andrew Chapman; layer of fascines, LG 10s per chain, D. Proudfoot. Stables at Police Station, Oamaru, L 203, John Beck. Stables at Police Station, West Taieri, Ll5B, John Gray. Wheelbanows for public works (40 in number), L46 11s Sd, M'Loan and U )yd. Picks and handles (12 doz.)> L 32 B*, Jt." Henry and Co. None of the tenders, for the landing stage at the Jetty street pier, or for fencing the ground at the. Geological Survey Office, or for the police stables at Popotuuoa, were accepted.

Tenders are called for in the Prouinci.nl Government Gazette for a '.steamer for the West Coast Exploration Service. The specifications may be seun at the Siiperimient's officw, D.medin, at Messrs Uohnas, White and Co., Melbourne, and at Messrs Learmouth, Dickonson and Co., Sydney. Tiic steamer will be retire I for about four months.

A serious charge is made by a correspondent of the New Z aland A'loerti-icr at Wairarapa, Wellington, against the sluppsre of c ittlu and horses to Otago. The writer says :-" I I n po you will be so kind as to expose the system of cattle and horse stealing now carried on throughout the province, by persons shipping cattle and horses to Otago, or by persons in their employ; there are numerous instances up tha West Cjast, where both cattle and horses have been taken off the runs, from the road-si.le. Mrs Collins, Afongaroa, had two valuable horses stolen from the North Road, and Mr 11. Jackson, on his way from town (Wcllingto;i), met a lier.i of cattle in which he identified one of his. Oi coarse whun caught it is accidental, but, if not, all are fish that com2 to the net. I could po:nt out a number of other cases, but have no wish to mention nainas further, hoping through your columns to give publicit}' to th's nefarious system."

We translate from Le Monde Illnstrc the following excellent account of the works for turning the river Mississippi at Vieksburg:-." Vicksburg is a small town-of eight thousand inhabitants situate on the left bank of the Mississippi, 400 miles above New Orleans. It had, before the commencement of the war, an important trade, and served as the mlrep'oi for almost all the cotton produced on the banks of the river Yazoo. Gen. Batter had- in less than a month made himself master of Fort Jackson and of Fort St. Phillip, at New Orleans; of Baton Rouge, and ot Natchez. He did not believe that Vicksburg could for any length of time stay the caunouneers of the North in their victorious march. Commodore Foote received orders to go up the river as far as Memphis, and on his way to demand the surrender of tiie little Mississippiaii city. The inhabitants, however, replied with cannon shot. Vicksburg is built upon an eminence, at an eleva (ion of three hundred feet above the level of the stream,.-and is thus an easy point to titl'tnd. The river at this point makes a reach, and forms a peninsula of rather more than six miles in length and about five-eights of a mile in width. Genera ' Butler wished to turn this position to profit, by causing a canal to be cut so as to change the course of the Mississippi, and thus to punish the rebellious city, as the new course of the river would leave the city six miles-inland. This is a bold project, but not altogether novel. The Mississippi often abandons of its own accord its ancient bed, and the fresh passages which it thus cuts for itself are even known by a distinctive name. It is sometimes sufficient to cause the formation of such a fresh channel, merely to cut a ditch a couple of feet deep, and, when the floods take place in the month of May or October, the river quickly completes the work begun by man. The canal cut by the orders of General Butler was fifteen feet wide and four feet deep; but when the ends of it were opened, the Mississippi had fallen considerably, and the water did not enter. In vain was the" canal made five tect deeper. The river will not be high enough to enter before October. In fact, the point chosen was one of the most difficult for turning the river, for it would be necessary to induce the stream to abandon before ,Vieksburg, a channel three hundred feet deep.' r_

His' Honor the Superintendent has issued a proclamation extending to the gold-fields included within Gabriel's district, the whole of the gold fields' rules and reg'ihrtor>3 which have been and are in force throughout the other gold fields* of the Province. This is in consequence of the revocation of the powers of the Tuapeka Mining Board, In the Provincial Government Gazette i 3 published certain correspondence from the Duke of Newcastle and the Memorial Committee on the subject of a National Memorial to the Prince j Consort, says he tlieSuperintendent " cordially res- \ ponds to the call ot H. M.'s Government, that! opportunities should be afforded to every class in the British Empire of joining in thi* tribute of the nation's gratitude, and cordially accepts on the part of the Province of Otago the opportunity thus afforded of unt ing with. Her Gra-

cious Majesty in rearing a monument to the late Prince, which will evince the love of a gratef-i; country to the memory of its benefactor. L order that every class in every District of : Province may have an opportunity of joining this national tribute, the Superintendent \vi! range for the formation of district comm't; to receive subscriptions from 1«. to 55., similar arrangements will be made with the b:»!. in order that those who so desire may incr-v, . their subscriptions; and thus the original oh'y.i maybe carried out, of forming a fund ' wh. ..'.l may include the pence of the artizan and s« labourer, as well as the shillings and pound; -a the middle and wealthy classes.' "

It appears that not only in Australia is ]>?T7 Zealand regarded as a choice retreat for the reception of convicts, but that the idea is being acted on at home. The subjoined paragraph is from the London Times of the 21st May. It requires no comment, except the recommendation thut it be brought under the notice of" the Imperial authorities, with the query—whether the course indicated by it is legal, as, if so, New Zealand, and Otago especially, will find ib an easy manner of disposing of its criminal population. Arrangements might be made with shipowners to clear the gaol periodically. Per-' haps to put as long a timo as possible between their departure and return it would be well to send prisoners direct honi'.s at once to England. " Albert.Miles was Coniricted, on his own confession, of stealing seven gold and turquoise buttons, the property of Messrs Denham and Storr, the auctioneers. The prisoner was detected by Aekrill, an officer of the F division, who was on duty in plain clothes, in the auction-rooms, and detected him cutting the buttons off a lady's dress. In his possession were found 20 pearl buttons and seven gold, ones set with turquoise. He ivas rcvui/ulc I for judgment, as h s friends were prepared to send him to Nctv Zealand.''

We publish from the Times the first day's proceedings in the case of Mr Koupell, the late member for Lambeth, whose extraordinary forgeries have created so great a sensation in London. We shall give the conclusion of the trial in our next.

It will be seen in our advertising columns that the Chief Postmaster at Dunedin invites tenders for the conveyance oc mails between various parts of the Province fro.n Ist Jaauxry to 31 st December, ISG'i. The tenders must be given in on or before the 20th November.

Ten gentlemen, including the Duke of Sutherland and the Earl of Caithness, have formed a committee for the purpose of raising a fund f r the oiler of prizes for the most efficient steam fire-engines, hoping that by thus inducing competition a great improvement upon anything yet invented will be obtained. They ask for the cooperation of insurance companies and parochial authoritiee.

A meeting of gentlemen favourable to the establishment of a church on Congregational principles was held at Clark's -Temperance Hotel, George-street, on Friday evening, when, after" some discussion, a committee was apppointed to take the necessary preliminary steps. The committee have determined, instead of waiting until a numerous body of friends has been brought together so as to form the church, at once to commence a scries of services according to Congregational principles. They have engaged the Oddfellows Hall, George-street, and there two scrvic will be held next Sunday, one at eleven and i other at half-past six o'clock. It is confide:! hoped that a minister will soon be seen without even the necessity of sending to V torin.