THE Otago Daily Times.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 1121, 25 July 1865, Page 4

THE Otago Daily Times.

" Invcniam viam uut fuciam. "

i-TJNEDIv, TUKSDAY, JULY 25.

Mr. Justice Richmond is not the only colonist who may confess to having departed from the shores of the old country with a sort of comfortable impression on his mind that all forms of poverty and pauperism were being left behind. At the time when the attractions of the Southern Colonies began first to operate upon the mobile population { of Great Britain, a good many extravagant things were promised in the name of emigration. There was not only the prospect held out of a climate free from all drawbacks, of lands to be obtained for the ask- j ing, and of almost fabulous wages to be commanded; but such a iree and happy state of society was pictured, that men were taught to fancy that the colonists j knew oi no such things as taxes to be paid, bills to be met, civil processes to he resisted, or any other difficulties of an old and struggling civilisation. Probably, the Arcadian visions of many a hopeful and ardent immigrant were*for the first time dispelled by the sight on a conspicuous hill ofa Benevolent Asylum— one of the first objects that met the eye of the stranger as he neared the cap'.tal of the great gold colony in the days of its palmiest prosperity—bearing testimony, the more striking because altogether unexpected under the circumstances, to the great practical truth proclaimed centuries back— " The poor we have always with us." From the operations of a law designed to have universal force, the Colonies are not permitted to be an exception. JSTor, indeed, is any other land. Pauperism appears to be an incident of all forms and stages of civilisation. We can point to no age in which the helpless poverty of a certain class has not been one of the social diseases with which wisdom and piety have had to contend. As the world has grown richer, the increase of its wealth has failed to eradicate this seeming anomaly from the economy of society. No picture of. national wealth and proasperity has ever been exhibited saMriking and complete as that afforded by the last Budget speech of Mr Gladstone. Every branch of manufacturing enterprise was SALE BY AUCTION OF

flourishing in an unprecedented degree Taxes were pouring with a rapid ant swelling flood into the treasury. Pas I remissions of taxation Lad failed tc keep the income of the country down it the level of its necessities. The expenditare of the year had been exceptionally large for a time of peace, owing to the lavish outlay in preparing munitions ol war. But, notwithstanding alii 4 new surplus had to be disposed of. The four millions in hand, which were afterwards appropriated in reducing the duty on let from 6d to 4d, and the income tax from 6d to 4d in the pouuJ, were the expressive sign of a national prosperity, an activity of trade, a general diffusion of wealth, of which no other country in the present age and no period in the history of any other country, presented the parallel. They who listened to " ""''tone's flowing periods and indisputaoie figures, may well have left the scene proud of the great country of which they were citizens, and of its exhaustless and ever multiplying resources. But even to this majestic and richly toned picture, there was a reverse. And there were hands sacreligious enough even lin the Plouse of Commons to turn the canvass about and look for what was at the back of it; and a pitiable spectacle, after all, it was. In this proud and prosperous nation, teeming with wealth, with its countless mints and mills and manufactories, its cro »vded dockes arid busy marts, and its prodigal contributions to the Exchequer—millions in excess even of its most pressing requirements—there are estimated to be not less than a million of paupers unable to pluck for themselves the food of life from the fields where it grows in such profusion, helpless and dependent iv the very midst of the processes by which wealth is never ceasingly created. In the aggregate, England is the richest country on the face-of the earth ; and it is by grouping aggregate results that Mr Gladstone produces his charming, and indeed we may add most truthful, picture. But the results themselves arc arrived at by processes that deal but hardly,iti innumerable instances, with individual man, and underneath the fair surface exhibited there is undoubtedly a large amount of personal suffering. Pauperism in the Colonies, however, must be the result of cause.? widely different from those that have begotten it in the old country. It may be accepted as, in some shape or other, and with more or less mitigation, an un?eparable associate of all societies. But in any attempt to deal with it practically, regard may very properly be paid to the special circumstances to which its presence in the Colonies is due. Here, there is none of the fierce competition of labour that is at home ever hustling hundreds out of the field. The lands are wide, and they wait to be possessed. The average rates of wages are high. The able-bodied "unemployed" are a class that only, under rare circumttanccs, and at distant intervals, put iv an appearance. Y<*t there is the indisputable fact that wants exist and have to be ministei c 1 f >; and that public charity has to deal with the cases of many, for whom otherwise no man would care. It seems that the Benevolent Institution has, since it was practically brought into working distributed at the rate of seventeen hundred pounds a-year in charitable relief—a large mm, considering the population and the jenerally prosperous condition of the city, indofthe classes especially to which the jbjects of relief belong. When Mr Justice Richmond speak 9of " the great mass of " poverty amongst us," he uses an expression, however, that is scarcely descriptive of the real fact. It in not a permanent poverty. It is not one induced by the of the wages to be earned by ible-bodied men for the support of themidves and their families. It is not the iemi-pauperiam of the thousands of hard.vorking men at home, who, earning from >even to nine shillings a-week, are glad to ipply for the charity loaf, or the extra ■veekly shilling from the poor fund, to eke out ;he family's scanty board. Although the, iream of Mr Justice Richmond in quitting the shores of the old country, that he was leaving pauperism behind him, may have been a fallacious one, he will, we are sure, not be reluctant to admit that the pauperism he has found in the Colonies is very different in its phases from the pauperism of the old society. Indeed, as applied here, the term is an utter misnomer. Distress induced by special causes, and calling for special r lljf, is the very mitijated form of the social disease that we have to treat. In this shape it is probable that claims will long continue to be made ipon the sympathies and purses of the people. This is a necessary condition of Dur society. As His Honor very well put it, the absence of a regular settled social system, connecting every individual nan with a whole series of ramifications, iffords a hundred occasions for the interference of public benevolence, to perform the offices that should properly belong to relatives and friends. But whilst these occasional inUances of distress my be of frequent occurrence, and whilst the expediency must be admitted of making suitable provision to meet all cases appealing necessarily to public charity, it cannot for a moment be conceded that the circumstances out of which these necessities • FREEHOLD PROPEETY,

arise are, in any degree, analagous to the pauperism of the old country. They ' indicate, indeed, a social disease, bnt one infinitely milder in degree, if not radically dissimilar in character—a disease which, a3 His Honor hinted, might be dealt with better by preventive than by curative measures. The Benevolent Institution is well deserving the cordial support of the public, as a most useful, and indeed most necessary, institution. But as the maintenance of Hospitals is not designed to discourage the efforts of sanitary reformers, the object of whose, science it is to prevent the development of disease, so the establishment of a Benevolent Institution or Home ought not to render us unmindful of the fact, that there are few cases of permanent distress which such an establishment may be called on to relieve, which might not be provided for without any appeal to public charity, by a judicious employment of the principle of Assurance. A very important telegram appears in our other columns from our Queenstown corres pondent. It comes by way of Invereargil^ the electric wire making that route now the reidiest means of news-communication between the Lake and Dunedin. It will be seen that a very rich reef of great extent has been discovered, of which the vein'formerly worked was only a large leader. If the stone be really well impregnated with gold, the extent of it promises the most satisfactory r suits. We hop? in a day or two to have detailed account.-) of this discovery. The candidates for the Supr.rintendency are continuing their addresses to the electorsLast evening, Mr Dick was at Cavershnm, and Mr M'Glashiin at the North-East Valley School-house; and this evening, Mr M'Giashan is to meet the electors of Caversham ; while Mr Dick will address a meeting in the Theatre Royal. The declaration of the names of the nominated Candidates for the office of City Councillor will be made by Mr E. B. Cargill at noon, on Friday, in front of the Fire Brigade premises. Nominations, whether of Councillors or of Auditors, will be received by Mr Lazar, until the time named ; and the polling will take place on Tuesday, the Ist August. Last evening, Mr H. Driver addressed a numerously attended meeting of the electors of Lrith Ward, at the Albion Hotel ; and Mr John Crate also addres-sed a good meeting of those of South Ward, at the Imperial Hotel. A grand morning promenade concert is announced to take place in the Exhibition Building on Saturday next, in aid of the buil ing fund of AH Saints' Church. Mrs Mumford is to appear, together with several amateurs, and Mr West's band has been engaged for the occasion. The concert, which is to be vocal and instrumental, is to be conducted by Mr West, and all the arrangements as announced promise a very excellent enterta'nment. Mr J. B. Bortcn, officer in charge at the Arrow, reports under date July 15th, " Applications for head races "and other mining privileges at the Kawarau have been numerous thi3 week. The prevailing opinion of the miners there seems to be, that most of the terraces in that neighborhood vjU pay well for sluicing." The following "Volunteer notices arc advertised : -City Guards—Dress Parade at the Drill Shed, at half-past seven o'clock; meeting of the Company at Bennett's Hotel, at half-past eight. Artillery Regiment—Uniform Parade at Drill Shed, at eight ; quarterly meeting afterwards. ,?' A notice appears in our advertising columns, requesting applicants for sittings in All Saints' Church to apply before Thursday next, to Mr James Turner, Great King . street. , Mr Warden Stratford, in his official report from Cromwell, of July 15th, observes : — " The hard frosts during the last few days have once more reduced the river to its win- ; ter level. The beach claims are being worked , in many places." ] The " New Zealand Advertiser" of tbe 18;h j instant says:—" By the s.s. Wanganui j which arrived in this harbor enrly on Saturday morning, we have later intelligence from' < Wanganui, and from a most authentic source ( wo learn that the fricn-lly natives are en- ; camped within a stone's throw of the gate of the Wereroa pah, but it is not given up to i them, although it is reported that Kemp jre- i ccived from its occupants a King flag, and a ( ' Hau-hau' flag. Hori Kingi has gone up the ] coast as far as Waingongoro to make peace i with the rebels—whether on the authority of I the Government, or not is not known. ' Twenty of the Ngaterangi (East Co.ist) tribe, < have come to the neighbourhood of Pipiriki, i and Tahana has given notice that he intends d to attack that post." j Mr Warden Robinson, in his official re- ) port from the Dunstan of the 15th instant, ] says :— il The weather this week has con- '< tinued clear and cold, but not so severe as to i interrupt mining operations in the low-lying i country. Some of the races have been a 1 little short of water in consequence of the i frost. The Ovens Water-race Company, who f are turning in a large race from the Clutha 1 Creek, have completed their work for about i 22 miles. This race will, when finished, be < the largest work of the kind in the district. It will be 30 miles in length, and is calculated ] to carry 15 heads of water. At Butcher's i Point there is a considerable mining popula- i tion, and it is expected that, if the river keeps j down for a week, there will be a large yield of l gold. All the paddocks are now cleaned i out, and hired labor will most probably be in. requisition there on Monday. One party got i out one small paddock with very favorable 1 returns. The town of Clyde has this week i been greatly improved in appearance by the ] formation of the roadway and side-walks of 1 the main street (Sunderland street). This t work has been done under the auspices of the i IN THE UPP£B

Improvement Committee, On Thursday I made a journey to the Nevis. I found there a population of about 500 people. Mining operations are to a considerable extent suspended by the severe frosts, the ground being as hard as rock, and the water-race choked withice. Some of the miners, however, were able to keep at work, although under some disadvantage. The people there appear to have great confidence in the permanence of the field, and are looking forward to a rush in the spring. It seems by no means improbable that the expectation may be realised. There appears to be plenty of room on the flat between the new township and the camp for a mining population of many hundreds The ground is wet, but that would be but a slight drawback in the case of a rush, as, if many claims were in work together, the water cou!d easily be kept under. The formation of the road to Nevis irona Clyde (now in progress) will, no doubt, tend to develop the resources of tho district by diminishing the excessive cost of living. At present it costs about 2d a pound to pack goods to Nevis from Clyde, and the retail prices are fully 3d per pound higher." The " Lyttelton Times" of the 18th gives the following account of the casting of the statue of the late Mr Godley: " The late mail brings intelligence of the progress of this work, which, it will be remembered, has been designed *iy Mr Thomas Woolner, the eminent sculptor. The first design, or statuette, was completed about two years ago, and the finished clay model has loft tho sculptor's hands for some time, the remainder of the work being the process of en*ling in bronze, which U being performed jir. the celebrated ironworks in Coalbronfcdale Shropshire. A private letter gives the following information :—' You will bo glad to hear that the Gotiley statue has been very successfully cast about three weeks ago. The operation was personally superintended by Henry Woolner, the brother of thesculptor.who seems to have taken great interest in the process. It was a delicate and anxious operation, as they had been working hard at it for nearly five months, and failure would have been a loss of all their labour, for which the workmen are paid by piecework—not daywages. The men say it is tho most difficult pitce of casting they were ever engaged on. The metal was ' terribly hard ;' according to Mr 11. Woolner 'a account, it consisted of guns taken at Sebnstopol—a very superior species of metal, which will last through all time, and stand my wear and tear of weather. It will fake some time still ior the chasers to remove the jeams from the joints of the mould, and it ms to be stained by rubbing it with the ingers—the only efficient process yet dis:overed for that operation—so it is not likely ;o be in London before the Ist of June. But 'or their own sakes, the men will lose no time. [ hope arrangements may be made for exhi)iting it in London during June and July, md though I don't like/to hold out hopes too iinly, I trust it may be in Canterbury by the :nd of the year. Possibly, if the pedestal be eady, its inauguration, as they call it, might ake place on the anniversary day." From a case that came before the Resident Hiigistrate's Court yesterday, it would seem hat a rather curious compound is sometimes n the market under the designation of ■ Brandy." The defendant pleaded that the iquor supplied was " a mixture of whisky, ;eneva and sherry, flavored with kerosene iil." The Magistrate allowed nothing to >c recovered on tho article of " Brand}." Mr H. F. Hardy has been appointed Secretary to the Church of England Cemetery, .nd also Collector of all rents, pew-rents, and ontributions towards the Clergy Maintenance "und, for the Parish of St. Paul's, in place if Mr G. Broslrick, resigned. At the llesident Magistrate's Court yesterday morning, Charles Smith was sent to J--i.il or a week, for breaking down and carrying way part of a fence in Moray Place ; Alexnder Fawcett was fined 30s, and Awn Nolan Os and costs, for fighting in- public placC9 ; umes Burncs was sentenced to two months' mprisonment, with hard labor, for indecent xposure in Cumberland street, on Sunday ist ; and James O'Neil got three months' uprisonment, with hard labor, for stealing a old chain, a locket, and a bunch of seals, rom the house of Isabella Johnston, on Hturday night. There were a number of ivil cases heard, a report of which will be jund elsewhere. A correspondent of the " W&katip Ma il," 'riting from Arthur's Point, furnishes the illowiugintelligence : —"Tuesday.—Theconjauod fine weather is producing favorable Bsnits. All are busy at work. The Mornlg Star Company are being rewarded for leir perseveranca by getting payable gold, 'he Red Flag Company, taking every advanige, are not washing at present, preferring ) stack their washdirt, which prospects fair. l serious accident occurred here on Saturday ight. Mr Thompson, returning from the leetiDg held at the Fountain Head, in comany with several friends, suddenly fell over steep face of terrace workings running cross the track (if it merits that name), and ow lies in a precarious state. Fortunately, c was not alone, and received immediate ssistance. Something ought to be done to 2cure a safe and passable track from the ridge to the township, so that the lone traeller should not run the risk, as at present, f being suddenly hurried into eternity." We are informed that the Clutha Ferry 'unt sank on Saturday morning last, owing j want of repair and mismanagement in •orking. Great inconvenience has been exerienced in consequence. Yesterday, Cobb's orses with the mails, had to swim across the iver. The " Lyttelton Times" of the 18th gives le following account of an accident at the lakaia Pass:—" An express messenger arived yesterday in town from the Rakaia 'ass, where Mr Browning's camp is etaoned, and which he had left about noon on ie previous day. The object of the message 'as to report a serious accident which had KAIKORAI DISTRICT,

occurred on the morning of Sunday to one of the party, named Trowhens. Another man, leaving camp with a loaded gun, to look for ducks, had caught his foot in a teat-rope, tripped, and fallen. In so doing, the gun went off, and the whole charge lodged in Trowhens's hip, who was but a foot or two from him. The poor man's thigh bone was most probably broken, and he was at once removed to Major Scott's station, and the messenger came on with all speed to town. As scon as the Government received the report, arrangements were made for dispatching Dr. Prins, Surgeon to the Hospital, or some other competent medical man, to the spot, and, if possible, after treatment, the sufferer will be brought to town. Therejis no general news from the expedition.' The Government acted with the greatest promptitude and attention in the matter, re- | questing Dr Prins either to repair himself to the spot or to procure the assistance of somo other competent medical practietioner. Dr j Prins immediately communicated with Dr Leech, offering to go himself if that gentleman was unable to do so. But Dr Leech at once undertook tlio office, and starts this day. The party were camped about ninety miles from Christchurch under Mr Park, the surveyor in charge. There was no snow- on the ground below the pass -, but lower down the river a good deal was lying." Mr Warden Simpson, writing from Mount Benger under date July 15th, saya : —"The steady fall of the river during the week has enabled some parties at Roxburgh to get at the lower and richer strata in the banks; and hail it not been that in the beginning of the week an accident happened to two of the water-races, causing a suspension of work for two or three days, I would have had to note some very good yields for the week in these claims. However, notwithstanding the stoppage, very good wages were made in most of the claims. On the Island, one party of seven got 17 ounces for their week's work ; and others I believe are doing equally well. In Horse-shoe Bend 150 ounces were sold, sis the yield for the week, representing the labor of j from thirty to thirty-five men. On the Benger Creek, Kitts, Sinclair and party have now, after some months' wo*k, got their ground in good working order, and their prospects sire such as would indicate that the whole of the flat at the mouth of the creek is auriferous and payable." (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.)