Untitled

Otago Daily Times, Issue 852, 14 September 1864, Page 4

Wo understand that Mr liVanlc Fulton has consented, at the instance of several of the electors, to come forward as a candidate for the vacant seat in the Council in the Lindis District. Wo are told Mr Fulton has tbo promised support of a majority of the avail' able electors. .

The* building to be appropriated to the use of members of the AthenKtim or Mechanics' Institute at Port Chalmers is now nearly completed. It is conveniently situated, having a front to Karat street, which is near the present centre of population, and is a building of sufficient dimensions to serve the purposes of the institution for some time to come. Latterly the members have not had any place of meeting, or any supply of publications, but as soon as the new buildiag is fit for occupation, a regular supply of magazines and newspapers will be secured, with the nucleus of a circulating library.

Eor the convenience of inhabitants of Port Chalmers desirous of attending the Opera, the steamer Bruce is appointed to make another extra trip on Thursday next, leaving Port Chalmers at an hour which, will also suit those attending the shooting match oa that day.

This evening, a lecture will be given at the Baptist Chapel, Great King street, by the Rev. J. L. Parsons, "Oa Macaulay's Lays of Ancient Rome." No charge will be made for admission, but a collection will be made in aid of the building fund. In consequence of this lecture, we understand the Dunedin Abstainer's Union has postponed a meeting that it was purposed to hold, to next week.

Mr Warden Worthington, under date of the 3rd September, estimates the population of the Waltahuna district at 1150, of whom 700 are miners. He states that the company at work on the Worthington reef are still engaged in prospecting, aod find sufficient to induce them to carry oti their search. They are endeavoring to increase the number of shares, and so raise a larger capital.

An entertainment will be given to-morrow evening in the Caversham School House, in aid ot the Ministerial Fund at that place. By j special request of a deputation appointed to | wait upon. Mr B. L.. Far)eon, that gentleman j lias consented to give a selection of readings j from popular authors in aid of the fund. ; Mons. Fleury, violinist, Mr White, p: anist, ; and a few gentlemen, amateur glea singers, have also consented to assist at the entertainment, which will doubtless be sufficiently attractive to bring together a crowded audience. By the Phoebe we have Southland papers to the 12 th inst. The Daihj News of that date says:—"The General Government has so far come to the farther relief of the province, as to extend over at least another month the arrangement entered into with His Honor during his late visit to Auckland. This has placed an additional sum of £15,000 at the service of the local Executive, which will, we believe, be applied partly to tlie liquidation of outstanding arrears, and partly to the further prosecution of the railway works. It is understood that reasonable grounds are afforded for the expectation of additional and enlarged assistance, but threat reserve is maintained as to the tenor of the communications that have been received on this subject from Auckland. All that the public are at present permitted to know is, that a favorable disposition exists with reference to a province that has shown such a spirit of enterprise, and such faith in its own future, and of whose abundant resources and capabilities none who are at all conversant with the circumstances of Southland can doubt. Probably the nature and extent of the assistance to be given to us by / the General Government, in the prosecution of public works that are of ftiUy as much colonial as provincial importance, will in some measure depend upon the success with which the New Zealand loan is negotiated at Home. At all events, the continuance of the present financial arrangement will operate as a practical relief, and help to carry the Province through its temporary di:7iculfcy. We have everything to hope for from the opening of the railway as far as Wiuton."'

Three civil cases were disposed- of before the Supreme Court yesterday. The first of these—Heaps v. Bowclea —was au undefended action against the captain of the ship Lady Raglan, lately in this port, to recover damages for false imprisonment and malicious prosecution. The Jury awarded £100 damages. Forsyth v. M'Leod was an action to recover £45 on a guarantee for rent of a cottage in Scotland street, Dunedin. The Jury gave a verdict for the plaintiff in the sum of £43 15s. Dicksoa v. Warren was an action to recover £500 damages, for false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, and the wrongful detention of a letter while in the possession of the plaintiff, who is Postmaster at Blueskin. After a long and very careful trial, which lasted till nearly eight o'clock at night, the Jury found a verdicb for the plaintiff' on the three counts, giving him £50 for the false imprisonment, £20 for the malicious prosecution, and Is for the wrongful detention of the letter.

A number of workmen are now eruplo} ed in clearing the Recreation Ground at Port Chalmers, and in farming a pathway, which intersects a portion of it, so as to make the, more level ground accessible to-the public. The grant given for the purpose being a smaller one than the original, which was by carelessness allowed to lapse, the work cannot necessarily bo so eomplote as might ho wished; but, evon as it is, a very great improvement wUl.bo«t\l>okHl, nndau addition made to the extent of ju'iseswihlo suburban, ground* which oniiuoi f»»U to ho nw>recuU«* both by inhabitants of «u> 'Vwt and by visitors. The gieater part of Uui Jteeveation' Ground is an elevated platoati. of the existence of which law even of tlio inhabitants aye aware, though it is in close proximity to the township ; but when cleared »nd improved It will no doubt form one of the favorite resorts of the public, being suitable tor cricket and other games, while it command!* some of the finest glimpses of sccnory in Tort Otago. We learn from the Southland Daily Times that the cutter Nuggott has been purchased by a party of "mining venturers" —to adopt a good old English commercial expression— to°proceea to the West Coast to follow up the recent discoveries, and that the party are to he accompanied or headed by Mr Barrington.

la a recent case of land purchasing from the natives in Wellington, an ingenious attempt had been made to impose upon thet Commissioner, Wi Waka of Te Ore Ore had sold a block of iand, part of the seventy mile bush, and adjoining an old purchas?, for £300. Whan the surveyor went to mark out the boundaries, Wi Waka cunningly sent another native, who pointed out another block of land included in a previous purchase. The ruse was discovered in time, and by a reference to deeds and map?, the Commissioner publicly exposed the trick,- to Wi Waka's great indignation.

We republish in another colsmn from the General Government Gazelle, copies of correspondence between the New Zealand Government Agent in London and the Lords of the Admiralty and the Secretary of the "Orpheus Relief Fund," Royal Naval College, Portsmouth, with reference to the vote of .£2OOO granted by the General Assembly in aid of the widows and orphans of the wrecked crew of the Orpheus.

The total number of sheep in the Province of Canterbury is stated by Mr Boulton, the Inspector of Sheep, to be 1,300,000. During the past year 61,420 sheep were imported into; the Province, viz., by sea, 12,520 ; from Nelson, 38,050 ; from Otago, 17,850.

Mr TJoidton, the inspector of sheep for the province of Canterbury, in his annual report, makes the following statements and comments with, respect to scab amongst the Caitterbury flocks:—The number of scabby sheep cleaned within the last twelve months has been 180.250-114,550 in the Northern District; 48,700 in the Central District, and 23,000 in the Southern District. It is now nearly twelve months since the department has been placed under my charge upon its present footing, and the result of ths steps taken in dividing the province into three Districts, each -under its respective Inspector, and with controlling power given to the principal Inspector, (who also takes charge of the central district), has been most satisfactory. At this time last year scab was increasing, and it was generally supposed the disease would, spread from one end of the province to the other. The disease reached i':s highest point in December 1863, at which date, the province contained 192,000 scabby aheap, since that time every month has seen a steady decrease in the list of the infected stations. And afe the present time, the number of diseased sheep in the province does not exceed 16,500, which are confined to the Northern, and Central Districts; this number could have been less, but unfortunately scab apI peared in two small lots of imported sheep and infected several small flocks of clean, sheep. When it is remembered some of the stations have been unclean for a length, of time, and on others the country to be mustered is scrubby and very broken, the successful result now accomplished will, I hope* be as satisfactory to the Government as it is gratifying to the inspectors. This fortunate result could not have been attained if the settlers who unfortunately had diseased sheep had not heartily and willingly exerted themselves to eradicate the disease,, which, joined to the expense attendant upon their exertions^ must have caused to some of them a very heavy pecuniary sacrifice. So far as my experience goes, if the scab is once fairly rooted out of the Province it will continue healthy until the disease is re - introduced, and to guard against the spread of the disease I would strongly recommend the necessity for a- dipping appavatus to be erected on each stationy and so the sheepowner would always be in a state of preparation to meet the disease in its incipient state if it should break out, and by this means the risk of scab spreading from station to station would be lessened. The large amount of wire fencing now being erected in some parts of the province will also in some degreeact as a preventive to the spread of scab, and greatly facilitate the labor of making a clean m uster. The past year has been one of almost unprecedented fineness, and from the abundance of grass the flocks generally are in fine condition. The average lambiug this year I should consider to be about 55 per cent, and this small increase arises in great part from,,a. number of the settlers persisting in lambing: in the depth of winter, a cause of much loss not only in lambs but in wool, as well as a great injury to the sheep. Greater pains-are now being taken by some of the settlers with, their flocks, for the aged and inferior sheepare culled out and disposed of, and fresh-blood has been introduced into the Province;, both, rams and ewes. There should now be no difficulty in obtaining an abundant 3upply of fat wethers, as the demand for the Otaga market has ceased, and several stations that have been debarred from selling sheep for some time have now obtained certificate?,, and arc enabled to bring large numbers ofr fet stock into the market. To complete the i efficiency of the department, I would recommend to the Government that an. inspector should be appointed for Lyttelton* whose duty it would ba to inspect all sheep arriving; by sea, and aftes \vards,p3rsonaSy superintend their proper dipping. In-my opinion, the introduction of disease is mainly, if not entirely, ts be dreaded from sea-borne sheep." The New Zealand Herald makes the following remarks with reference to the proposal that the Homo Government should allow the colony oae regiment of troops, on condition that .£50,000 be devoted to native purposes : —" But what do we want with this British regiment in New Zealand ? £50,000 a-year is far too gveat a pries to pay for such a luxury. 3?Lfty thousand pounds would bring out and place upou farms a thousand trained men from home, and the £50,000 of the second year, U* expended in their district on. public works, would ensure their successful settlement. A thousand drilled men as settlers, liable to two or three years' military service, if required, would be of far more profit to the colony than a regiment of soldiers, because they would not only form a. corps of defence to the country, but would. colonise it too. The proposal is altogether one to which the Assembly is pot likely hurriedly to commit itself."

We are given to understand that Mr JohnstOD, Melbourne Hotel, has purchased "the wreck of the ill-fated Scotia, and has entered into the necessary arrangements to secure the remainder of that vessel's hulk, •toilers, &c.

Ou Monday evening a congregational meeting was held in Knox Church. The Eev. Mi- Stuart in the Chair. The Deacon's Court reminded the congregation that, at two several meetings of the congregation, held upwards of a year ago, the Court was instructed to take steps in order to the erection of another Church near to the Water of Leith ; and they now reported that Edward M'Glashan, Esq., has agreed to present the congregation with a quarter acre section of land for a Church site in King street, near to Howe street, and he, Mr M'Glashan, has also agreed to give towards the building a kiln of bricks, equal to from 50 to 55,000 bricks, both gratis ; besides, he will give the stones necessary to build the foundation of the Church, the Church paying for the cartage, but that his offer was accompanied with a condition, namely, that the building be proceeded with within a reasonable time, say six or twelve months fioni the time of making the offer, holding himself at full liberty to ■withdraw the offer if the building is not commenced, and to make it to some other Christian body. The meeting unanimously resolved to accept of Mr M'Ghishan's offer, and to present to him the hearty thanks of the meeting. A committee was then appointed to take immediate action in the matter, and to report to a future meeting. £153 was subscribed by the meeting towards this object.

We understand that Mr Gray's appoint ment as Kgsident Magistrate has been made •wifcb. a view to obviate some of the inconveniences likely to arise from the delay which must necessarily take place in bringing the District "Court Acb into full operation on the ■Gold Fields. Among other causes necessarily delaying the operation of that Act is the want of jury lists. A jury list is required for each place where the Court is to hold its •sittings, and these lists canuot, under the existing jury law, be made up before the month of February next. The extension of the jurisdiction or the Eesident Magistrates' •Courts at Queenstown and the Dunstan, to the limit of .£IOO, proclaimed in the last Gazette, will temporarily supply in another form some of the powers that will ultimately be exercised by the District Court. It is intecdedthatMr Gray shall preside at the trial of Cases in this extended jurisdiction.

A lecture on Phonography was delivered last evening in the class room of the Athenauini, by Mr. G. Diaek. The attendance was small in consequence of the admission having been limited to members of the Athenaeum only. At the conclusion of the lecture a class was formed for instruction in the phonographic art, and" it was intimated, that all who intend to join the class must do «o before Friday, or, at the latest, Tuesday next.

The police of Canterbury appear to possess •an extraordinary aptitude for apprehending persons on suspicion. The recent case of the man "Wilson has been followed by the capture of another suspect in the person of a man named Thomas Barrow, alias David Jones, who was brought up charged with haying effected his escape from the gaal at Dunedin. Constable Wheam stated that about a twelvemonth, ago, he was a miner and knew the prisoner, who was working in his company." He was arrested on a charge of horse stealing, and was sent into Dunedin. (The Otago Police Gazette was put in, and the witness swore positively to the identity of the prisoner.) By the Prisoner : I never told you that I had any doubfc as to your identity. I apprehended you oa the charge as soon as I had communicated with the- Inspector. By the 'Court: lam positive that the prisoner is the man described in the Gazette. Prisoner stated that he had witnesses in Otago who could prove where he had been for the last twelve months. The Resident Magistrate observed that in that case there could be no hardship in his being remanded to Dunedin. Remanded there accordingly.

Mr Warden Beethain, in his official report of the 3rd inst, estimates the population of theWakatipu district at 2200, of whom 1210 •are miners. He further, reports : —"The weather during the past week has been remarkably fine, affording the miners a good opportunity of repairing the damage done by ■the late flood. Wheels and plant that were carried away are now replaced, and most of the claims are. again in full working order. The claims from Sutherland's Beach up to Deep Creek, are turning out extremely rich ; some 30 or 40lbs weight having been taken out of one paddock. The Big Beach, below Arthur's Point, which has so long baffled all attempts to thoroughly work it, has at length fallen into the hands of parties who have for a time successfully overcome the •difficulties to be contended with, and from report, I have every reason to believe will very richly repay the labor and perseverance bestowed on it. The Lake is lower now than any resident here can remember, being about six feet below its ordinary level; in fact the weather has been so dry, that some of the diggers would like a flood to carry away the accumulations of tailings, which, in some places aTe very extensive."

The Southland Daily Times says :—" Probably few of our readers are aware of the fact, that the work of connecting Invercargill with Dnne'din by means of the electric telegraph, is so far advanced that messages may be ex •pected to be transmitted in the course of another month. Nearly the whole of the posts are fixed, and the chief work now to be done is to suspend the wires. What the effect of this interprovincial telegraph will be upon the future of Southland, is a very tempting subject for speculation. It will certainly lend vast additional importance to the Bluff Har>bor, which must, under any circumstances, be the tele graphic terminus of New Zealand."

Erom our Mount Benger Correspondent we learn that the river was very low, but the weather having set in very warm the natural consequences of the melting of the snow are likely to be soon seen in a rise of the river. Our correspondent states also that the opinion is rapidly gaining ground that the gold in the Molyneux came originally from its banks, as the further the miners got into the bod of the stream the poorer the ground becomes. A more thorough prospecting of the numerous flats and gullies skirting the river would be desirable. We arc,also informed thai; tiro men had arrived at the Teviot Camp from the Pomahaka, bringing with them 8 ozs. of spleudid gold, the produce of some newly discovered ground. A prospecting claim was applied for, and the Wai-den was to visit the ground on Monday next. Further particulars will then be furnished by our Correspondent. Our Correspondent mentions that consirderaole activity is taking place in agricultural operations, and that gardening is being prosecuted with great vigor.