THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam aut faciam." DUNEDIN, MONDAY, JUNE 20.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 782, 20 June 1864, Page 4

THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam aut faciam." DUNEDIN, MONDAY, JUNE 20.

As mentioned in our last, there have for some time, been rumours of a division of opinion between His Excellency Sir George Grey and his Executive advisers. These have at length assumed a consistency sufficient to induce our Canterbury contemporaries to positively announce a resignation of the Executive, to be deferred only until the Assembly can be called together. As we have already stated, the information at our command does not lead us to suppose that a crisis of the kind is more imminent now, than it has been for some time past. A moment's consideration of the position of Sir Geprge Grey will be sufficient to show that the contingency alluded to, was one ■which, on pure theoretical gronnds, might always have been looked for. Sir George Grey left a superior command at the Cape to come to New Zealand to deal with what was regarded by the Home authorities as a startling emergency —one with which his experience and ability rendered him most suitable to cope. The invitation was couched in flattering terms, and Sir George accepted it. His commission was an ordinary one, but it was generally asserted that he held private instructions giving him little less than plenary powers. The action taken by Sir George need not here be referred to here; we may pass on to the handing aver to the Colony by the Secretary of State the responsibility of dealing with Native affairs. It is not perhaps too much to say that Sir George Grey would scarcely have accepted the Governorship had he known that he was to meet the Native difficulty, fettered by the restrictions with which responsible government would have surrounded it. At the same time he does not appear to have interposed any "obstacle in the way of responsible government; on the contrary, seeing how beneficial it was to the Home Government to evade a troublesome^esponsibility he seems indirectly to nave pressed it on the Colony. Probably, he either contemplated an early retirement, —an intention which the breaking out shortly afterwards of active hostilities would have frustrated—or else thought that the Colony would be responsible only in name; but that the real control would still rest with him. Sir George Grey must have been aware that the Constitutional management of Native Affairs would never harmonise with his ideas. That, in short, he would either have to endure a miserable position, or that all his efforts must be directed towards making responsible government a sham instead of a reality. We refer not only to his peculiar order of mind, and to his quick and ictive sympathies, but to the immense personal interest he had taken in Native Affairs, as reasons why it was impossible for him to remain contented with the modicum of control which would be left to him, simply in the capacity of giving effect to the opinions of his advisers. Everyone, knowing Sir George Grey, would know that he could not endure the control that the constitutional management of native affairs would involve, and moreover every one knew that in the short experience of constitutional relations which he held with the late (Domett) Ministry, there was a per-

petual disageement going on between them. It was thought he would pull better with the new Ministry, because it was supposed from Mr Fox's antecedents that he and the Governor would work well together, and that the

Native Secretary would be as it were a bridge between His Excellency and the Executive. But Mr Fox has identified himself thoroughly with his colleagues and Sir George is left in a condition of as thorough isolation as he was previously. Meanwhile, he finds that an influential party at Home, apt to regard him as their apostle, credit him with absolute instead of nominal powers, and ask him to suspend the operation of the confiscation policy. Whilst that policy was under consideration, His Excellency did not meet it with that opposition which probably was in his mind. Or what is more likely, he thought it would be a convenient power to obtain, to hold in terrorem over the natives, but not to be used without it was thought desirable—himself to be judge of its expediency. But his ministers unflinchingly demand that effect be given to it—and Sir George Grey finds himself reduced to the necessity of either opposing his advisers, or of leaving his admirers at Home to suppose he is lending himself to a policy which they hate. But what is he to do ? He has the power of shaping an independent course of action, but in doing so he undertakes a tremendous responsibility; and what probably he fears most, lays himself open to a very conclusive snubbing, similar to that he has received in relation to the Waitara affair. There are three ways in which Sir George has had the discretion given to him of departing from the wishes of his constitutional advisers, as will be seen by the following extract from the Despatch of the Duke of Newcastle, in which he handed over the responsible control of Native affairs to the Colony.

You would be bound to exercise the negative powers which you possess, by preventing any step which invaded Imperial rights, or was at variance with the pledges on the faith of which Her Majesty's Government'acquired the sovereignty of New Zealand, or in any other way marked by evident injustice towards Her Majesty's subjects of the native race.

In the interests of the colonists themselves you might find yourself bound, under conceivable circumstances, to appeal from your Government to the General Assembly, and from the General Assembly to the constituencies, in case the policy recommended for your acceptance appeared to you clearly disastrous. You will be bound to judge for yourself as to the justice and propriety of employing, and the best mode of employing Her Majesty's forces. In this matter you might of course fortify yourself, by taking the opinions of your Ministers, but the responsibility would rest with yourself and the officer in command.

Bat the time for giving effect to the first has passed. He did not disallow or even oppose the Act, the putting into operation of which is the cause of the division between him and his advisers. In regard to the last, probably, the General Commanding is anxious rather than otherwise that the policy of the Executive should be followed. The appeal to the Assembly still remains, but what could he hope from it ? The dispute is not with the Ministry so much as with the Assembly. The Ministry wish'to fulfil the policy of the Assembly, which would resent more than the Executive Sir George Grey's departure from it. In fact, an appeal to the Assembly of such a nature -would strengthen the Ministry, aud its bitter opponent, the Press, feels this to be the case, in the opposition which it appears inclined to offer te the convening of the Assembly on such a pretext. There is another clause in the Despatch, under the vague terms of which Sir George Grey may possibly think he could take a stand. But if this be his idea, it is a very feeble straw to which to cling, for to it would be replied, the opposition to the policy pursued by the Colony comes too late. The following is the extract alluded to : —

Lastly, the fact that the safety of the colonists depends for the present on a force of the Queen's troops, maintained at the expense of Great Britain. giv> s this country a right to require from the that., their native policy, on which the continuance of peace or renewal of war depends, should bejust, prudent, aud liberal. 11 is plaiu that the willingness of Great Britain to continue this assistance, will be most materially affected by the disposition of the colonists to adopt such measures as in your judgment are calculated to remove-immediate difficulties, and to place the future relations of the races on a sound basis.

Taking all things into consideration, the deduction remains that Sir George Greywill gain little by convening the Assembly and coming into a positive rupture with his advisers; that in his calmer moments he must be convinced such is the case; and that that knowledge has warded off a crisis for some time past. But still there is no say - ing when discretion may not give way to temper, and nothing would be less wonderful than that a crisis of the kind should occur.

An adjourned meeting of the Provincial Freehold Land and Building Society was held last evening in M'Guire's Imperial Hotel, Princes street south, to hear the report of the auditors appointed on Wednesday evening last. Mr Cairns occupied the chair, and there were scarcely twenty shareholders present. It having been resolved to wind up the affairs of the Society, with this view the auditors reported that, having examined the accounts of the Society, they found that there was at " the Bank a sum Of £354 15.", and that £116 18s 6d was due on outstanding accounts. This wouldleave £236 and a few shillings for divisions among the shareholders, being a deduction of the entire entrance fee and one shilling per share upon the amount paid into the Society. The report was adopted, and the meeting then proceeded to distribute the funds in accordance with its recommendations.

The Committee of the Benevolent Institution have thought it advisable on account of the inclement weather to postpone the Auction Bazaar until further notice. At the same time they do not desist from making preparations for it, but solicit that contributions may be forwarded as early as possible, as the bazaar will be held on the earliest opportunity.

The " Southland News" aays :—'

" On Mon-

day, an experiment was tried at Mok^ua, for the purpose of testing the utility^" of Mr O'Brien's process of preparing the flax fibre. The manipulation was conducted in the presence of several persons. Eight pounds and a quarter of the flax, in its raw state, were submitted to the process, and the result, after an hour and three quarters' manipulation, was the production of three and a-half pounds of fibre, having a staple varying from four feet six inches to seven feet in length. We are informed that the prospectus for the formation of a company for the production of flax fibre -for the European markets, will shortly be issued, and from calculations that have been made, it is concluded that a handsome profit will be realised by those who may invest in the company."

In the Provincial Government Gazette* under date June loth, a return is given of the areas of Town Lands sold in/the month's of November and December 1863, and January and Febrnary of this year :—ln November, at Oamaru, f-acre was sold at the rate of £50 13s 4d per acre. At Herbert.. 2 acres 3 roods, at an average of L75 12s lOd. At Hampden, f-acre, at £50 13s 4d. At Palmerston, 2 acres, £52 ; and at Hawksbury, 3 f-quarter acres, at £58 83 per acre. In December, at Outram, £-acre was sold at £50 per acre. At Fairfax, 3 acres 2 roods, at £20. At Balclutha, 1 J-acre at £55 4s Od ; and at Molyneux, 7 f-acres, at £52 11s 7d. In January and February, 1 section was sold at Oamaru for £80. At Clyde, 2 sections for £25. At Cromwell, 4 sections £27 10s. At Queenstown, 29 sections for £470 2s 6d ; and at Kingstown, 10 sections for £95 Os Od. The Gold-field sections were sold at a price per foot for frontage.

The "Southland Times," of the Hth inst, reports a case of drowning on the Makarewa River, at Wallacetovra, on the previous Sunday. As a carrier named David Nicholson was engaged in washing his horse at the fording place, he happened to go too far into the stream, which, being flooded at the time, was running with a strong and swift current. The result was that both horse and rider were carried away by the great iorce of the waters, and after a little distance the unfortunate man lost his hold of the horse and disappeared, to be ssen no more. His horse, however, swam for a considerable distance further down the river, and eventually effected a safs landing. A constable left with the proper appliances for dragging the river, with a view to the recovery of the body, but it is much to be feared that the attempt will be unsuccessful, us in all probability the deceased would bo carried by the current far beyond the spot where he went down.

By the barque Torres, from San Francisco, we have (via Auckland) ten days later news from New York, and thirteen days later from San Francisco. The war news (which, appears in another place) is not of much importance ; the chief item being the disastrous defeat of a Federal expedition in Florida, Tiie commercial advices appear in another column. A very important discovery of coal ha 9 been made in the Nelson Province. The "Examiner" of the 9th inst. says:—"We purposely abstained from giving unusual prominence in our last issue to a rumour, which had obtained currency in town, to the eSect that a seam of coal, five feet six inches thick, had been discovered at Pakawau. Since then, however, news of a reliable character has reached us from the Pakawau, which sets the question at rest. A seam of coal of the thickness indicated has been discovered there, and we heartily congratulate Mr Charles Wiesenhavern upon the felicitous results of his arduous labors during so many months past. We understand there is every reason to believe that the coal just discovered is of a similar description to that fouud at the Grey and the Buller, and that still thicker seams will be found at a greater depth. In fact, Dr Hochstetter's opinion in this regard has been expressed in the most unequivocal "terms. Our readers will learn from our Council report that the Legislature, on Tuesday evening, gave its sanction to the offer of a bonus of £2000 for the discovery of a seam of coal between Cape Farewell and this city, provided that the 5000 tons of coal, which qnantity is deemed requisite to guarantee the permanency of the coal-field, shall be brought into the market for sale within two years from the present date. We would express our sanguine anticipation that the present discovery will enable the proprietors of the Pakawau coal-field to satisfy the lequirements laid down by the Council, and thereby confer a benefit upon the Province ganerally, which it is difficult at this moment to estimate." The Maoris appear to have been amongst the most successful diggers on the Wakauiarina. The "Marlborough "Press" of the 11th says -. —" Yesterday afternoon, the Bank at Blenheim was visited by a party of diggers, principally Maoris, with the object of getting their gold weighed, and ascertaining its value. We hear that they had about thirty pounds' weight, but would not sell more than six pounds' weight."

The Lawrence correspondent of the " Bruce Herald" reports a rush to a spur on the Tuapeka Flat. The prospectors got one and a quarter Awt. to the dish. When the news got abroad, more than 100 men were speedily on the spot, with pick and shovel; but, with the exception of the prospectors' claim, the rest proved nothing of consequence. The same correspondent mentions the finding of a 6£ oz. nugget at Bungtown, four miles from Wetherstone's.

Tiie "New Zealand Herald" of the Bth instant mentions that the soldiers encamped at Whata-whata were under arms in expectation of an attack from the rebels, who, it was reported, from authentic sources, were collected in considerable numbers at a distance of about six miles from the camp. Every precaution had to be taken to repel the attack if made. On the night of the 4th the sentries were doubled, and the detachment of the 18 th Royal Irish, on duty at the post, were ordered inside the redoubt. The night passed over without an 'alarm. The reports of the gathering of th=> natives had, however, been still further confirmed, and every precaution was being taken to be in preparation to meet the expected visitors with becoming warmth.

The "Bruce Herald" states that six or eight miners have been working near the mouth of the Clutha for the last six weeks washing the steel sand found in that locality. They use quicksilver cradles, and although they lefuse to state what their returns have been, they appear very well satisfied. Mr E. L. Begg, of Port Molyneux, has, we believe, forwarded a specimen of the saud to one of the Dunedia B anks for analysis.

We learn from the " Southern Cross," that Capfßn Kennedy, of the schooner Tawera, •which arrived from Poverty Bay, states the natives there are all quiet and peaceable. About sixty of the natives who were fighting at Maketu returned to the Aruanui East Cape, for the purpose of recruiting, but it is believed that they will lose more than they will gain, as several of those who have returned say they have had enough of it, and do not intend to return. A few days ago, before the Tawera sailed from Poverty Bay, two natives from the Wairoa were passing through the district, armed with two double-barrelled guns. One of the principal chiefs, named Sydney, ordered the arms to be taken from them, which was done, and they were afterwards allowed to pass on.

"We have received the first number of the « Timaru Herald," a weekly newspaper just established in that rising port. The paper is in every way a creditable production, and we heartily wish our young contemporary good luck.

Our dates from Marlborough are to the 11th. There is no particular change to report in the aspect of mining affairs in that province. The reported successful deep sinking at Deep Creek turns out a canard. The Wairau district was being partially prospected, but with no definite results.. A difference between the Superintendent and his Executive led to the resignation of the latter, and a deadlock for a short time occurred. This difficulty, however, appears to have been surmounted and a new ministry formed. The mining intelligence will be found in another column.

The correspondent of the "Nelson Examiner," writing from the Wakamarina diggings on the 7th inst., says :—" The river is up again, having risen in a few hours after the rain, which fell heavily the night before last and yesterday. A vgreat many diggers have come down the river, and have gone away, some towards Nelson, and the rest to Havelock. The ford or ferry of the Wakamarina presented a busy scene yesterday, and the dark-skinned Charon had his time well occupied in conveying diggers across the swollen stream. It is amusing to watch the contrast between the experienced Maori, kneeling on the extreme end of the frail canoe, calmly smoking his pipe, and the great bearded passenger, nervously clinging to his precious swag, and looking anxiously on either' side of the fragile craft as she sinks up to the gunwale, and then shoots across the rushing stream, while numerous groups of spectators stand along the bank, • amusing themselves at the emigrant's express. A wet day at Canvas Town is only surpassed in misery by a wet night at the same place, as most of the tents 1 leak very uncomfortably, while in no few the •'floor" would make an agreeable pleasureground for the most amphibious ducks. It is an ordinary mode of salutation, after such a night, to say, " Good morning, were you very wet last night V" And the answer ganeraily contains the word " sopping," or "soaked,"or some agreeable synonym. Business is rematkably dull, and prices are coming down fast. Except in the last particular, Canvas Town almost reminds me of Nelson I A good many diggers have arrived here today ; some of them have walked overland from Otago. I hear that numbers are still leaving Dunedin, and that we may expect large reinforcements from Melbourne. What they will do I cannot see, for supposing that they jump all the claims now held by quiet individuals, in the first place not half of them will be employed, and in the second, the claims in. good hands will be worked out in a few weeks, and then must come another smash. Nelson is sijre to share ia the bad effects of the diggings, indeed, she is already doing so, as is shown by the number of unemployed diggers at present in her streets. Of course the chance of gold being struck in. .the neighboring districts yet remains, and, for my part, I believe such an event to be by no means improbable. Reports of gold having been found in the Wairau kave arrived from time to time lately, and a good many diggers and others have left for the " new rush." One party, who went prospecting, brought back a substance which they fondly imagined was what the Latin Grammar calls the "root of all evil," but it turned out to consist of^small fragments of mica schist.

An extraordinary statement is made in the "Marlborough Press" of the 4th June to the 'effect that " Already over a thousand pounds' worth of provisions and merchandise has been destroyed at Havelock for the want of a proper landing place. The goods, in being lifted from the boats fall into the water, where, of course, they are more or less injured before they can be recovered."

The "Wellington Independent" mentions that during the trial of T ticker on Thursday, a rather curious circumstance took place. On he conclusion of the examination of one of the ■witnesses while in the act of stooping down to procure his cap, the prisoner made a violent start from one side of the dock to the other, apparently in great fright. On the udge inquiring what was the cause of it, the prisoner replied " that he was frightened the ■witness was stooping down to procure a pistol to shoot him."

The " Southern Cross," of the 4th June, states that the chief Paul and his associates are on their way back to Auckland, after visiting the rebels, and that it is reported they are the bearers of important communications

or the Government,

The " New Zealander says :—" The appointment of Mr Murdoch, as Inspector of the Bank of New Zealand will cause general satisfaction through the Provinces. Mr Murdoch is well known as a gentleman of great banking experience and ability, and in the office which he formerly held here of Inspector of the Bank of New South Wales has acquired an extensive knowledge of the Colony of New Zealand. "We must certainly congratulate our local institution on the acnuißition of so valuable an officer to their

•stall."

Some of the tradesmen who have been attracted to Marlborough appear to have got into a difficulty about the sites of their premises, which seem to have been selected with greater regard to adaptability for business purposes than to the rights of the owners. The " Haveloek Mail" say:-" We have been informed that several of the storekeepers who have lately put up stores in Lucknow street have been ordered to remove them, on account of the ground which they had built upon belonging to Government, and which is required for Government offices. There will no doubt, be much inconvenience felt at this unexpected arrangement. Several of those storekeepers who have have to remove forwarded a petition to his Honor the Superin-

tendent, praying that he should build on th Educational Eeserve. A deputation, consisting of Messrs Fitzsimmons and Raphael, proceed to Picton, to lay the memorial before the Superintendent. The storekeepers built upon the ground unaware of the purposes for which it was laid out, and it is very hard to remove substantial buildings that have been erected at considerable expense. Much dissatisfaction is felt at this unusual proceeding, and it is hoped his Honor will make some arrangement by which the necessity of removal will be set aside.

The following items concerning Switzer's diggings are taken from the " Southland Times" of She 14th instant :—" We have received a communication from a gentleman who has the best means of ascertaining what is being done on Switzer's diggings, and we have every confidence in his statements. Switzer's diggings, says he, now comprise,besides the original workings, the winding creek about three miles to the east, and the Dome, about five or six miles to the north-west. There are not more than 300 people altogether at the three places, but notwithstanding this small population, the agent for the Bank of New Zealand at the Wakatip has b;en visiting the place once a fortnight and takes away, to my knowledge, 10, 12, and 14lb weight of gold each time, and he says he does not get all the gold that is being got there. There are about 20 miners now on the old Switzer's diggings, who are: earning, by their own account, L 4 per man per week. These parties state that if men would only stick there,there is plenty of gold to be got. It is a good winter's diggings, there being plsnty of timber, and very little snow. Provisions are moderate in price."

On Monday, the 6th, says the "Bruce Herald" we had an opportunity of visiting the extensive mining operations of Messrs Cowan and party at the Woolshed, They have recently purchased ten acres of land on the spur at the back of the Court House, and have commenced working it on a system which is quite new on this field. The ground has for some time been known to be auriferous, but the depth of sinking prevented its being successfully worked. Messrs Cowan and party eschew stripping, and have commenced tunneling. Although but little more than a fortnight at work, they have already driven upwards of 50 feet into the hill, and the result of their labors has been most satisfactory. The depth of wash-dirt averages about five feet; the bottom is clean and good, and the roof is firm, and requires little or no slabbing. The drive, after penetrating the hill for about 20 feet, diverges into four chambers, and in each of these men are employed pushing on the excavation. Nothing is taken,out but the washdirt, and this is wheeled in barrows to the mouth of the drive, where it is emptied into the sluice, and washed. The gold is fine, but sufficiently plentiful to be frequently seen in the dirt of the walls, roof, and floor. Messrs Cowan aDd party deserve great credit for the enterprise they have displayed in this matter, and as several of the other spurs in the neighborhood; are nodoubt equally rich, their example wiil ] probably be extensively followed. The Messrs Stewart, so well known on the Woolshed as the originators and proprietors of the. water-race, are members of Mr Cowan's party. The race passes close to the scene of their present operations, and affords them a plentiful supply of water for sluicing purposes. We wish Messrs Cowan and party every success. The importance of their work can scarcely be over estimated, and will, probably, be productive of great benefits to the district as well as to themselves.

TheMarlborough " Press" of the 11th inst. states a rumor had reached Picton that gold had been discovered in the Wairau river. A correspondent writing from the Wairau Valley gives the following account of that district: —"I left here last Friday afternoon, accompanied by a friend, with the intention of prospecting Timms's valley. Starting from Mr Timms's house on Saturday morning to go up the valley, when within a short distance of the bush, I found fourteen diggers camped, and about to proceed on the same business, some having left for the necessaries of life, as their tents remained unoccupied. We have here the beginning of a small Can-. vasTown. I began prospecting about four miles up the valley, and cbntinued the search until within a short distance of the forks, viz., the Arm Chair, finding the colour all the way up. I obtained fourteen specks as the day's A'ork, with the exception of three specks which were rather shotty; the remainder was remarkably fine, and not larger than a pin's point. On returning I found the number prospecting had increased to twenty-four, a report it appears having been circulated that half a pound weight of gold had been found in this neighborhood. A party of six principally foreigners, after prospecting the greater part of this valley, pegged out a claim and set to work with a sluice on Saturday, at 11 a.m.,and continued up to dusk; they obtained one pennyweight for their day's work. This party told me that should they succeed in making wages only, they would continue during the winter. , There is nettling at present to induce any one to come here. There are already sufficient here to give it a tair trial, as far as it is practicable at this season of the year. On proceeding up the valley I met an Irishman with his swag on, and in reply to a question I asked him, he said that Eather Peter himself would not induce him

to remain any longer. Those who have been at work in Spring valley, had to leave in consequence of the water."

The following, relative to smut in wheat^ we take from the " Sydney Morning Herald '*: — J&ust or smut will arise from allowing laud to lie too long without working. In dry we ither, after heavy rains, it will rise more rapidly than iv wet weather. To prevent smut or rust soak your seed over night in wine, or soapmaker's leys not too strong; "dry before sowing in slacked lime— twelve hours beinir sufficient. If dibbed in rows nina inches apart you will have a large yield. If planted in drills six inches between each grain, in drill fourteen inches apart, you will have a go^d yield, hillintr up as it prows. This may be tedious, but very eftective, espec'ally in very dry seasons. Jf you roll, do so in dry weather with a very light ro.ler, as wherever tbe horse leaves a deep foouiiark the plant will be scall m.l if wet falls. Sow in March, April, and May. li drought sets in in spring, and your crops look all but destroyed, plough it over, and harrow and roll it and most probably you will, have a crop. Do not turn cattle on it. Plough only in dry weather. To succeed with any crop you ninst plough your land immediately after reaping or mowing. Harrow and r-.=ll again before weeds, &c, gain ground ; plough, harrow, and roll, and this must be done until there are no clods to crush, or weeds or fungus to destroy your grain. Airing your land is manuring it."

Signal-whistles may n>w hi placed on gasburners to aauounce whe.i the gas :s escaping.

The " American Medical review" testifies to the value of logwood as a deodoriser for medical purposes.