THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam aut faciam." DUNEDIN,MONDAY, MARCH 23.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 1943, 23 March 1868, Page 4

THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam aut faciam." DUNEDIN,MONDAY, MARCH 23.

To-day wo enter upon the celebration of another Anniversary of the Settlement of the Province. Twenty years have just passed to-day since the John WicklilFe arrived with her load of pioneer settlers. There were earnest, ardent men amongst those Immigrants, but it is to be doubted if any of them were enthusiastic enough to even hope for the results which twenty years have developed. A population of 48,480 souk, a chief city such as Dunedin has become, other towns and townleta scattered over the country, and the whole Province occupied for agricultural, mining, or pastoral purposes ; these are the results which have sprung up during the twenty years which have elapsed isince the John Wicklifl'e landed her living freight. From a comparative point of view, much may bo said. Ofcago, in its young years, was often subjected to slights from the older Provinces. The youngster, it waß alleged, was too forward and presuming, did not sufficiently recognise the exalted position and paramount claims of the elder settlements. It is now some years since the tables have been turned, but even yet the recognition that such is the case is only partial. Far a-head of the other Provinces as Otago has reached, its position is still but grudgingly admitted, if not altogether denied. There has been no hesitation in accepting the hundreds of thousands of pounds of x-evenue Otago has yielded to the Colonial chest; there has been no sort of delicacy displayed in spending the money on objects wholly indifferent to Otago ; but there has been hesitation and delicacy in giving the Province credit for what it has done —in recog- j niaing the position to which it has attained —in according to it the weight and the influence to which it is entitled.

But though looking back the whole twenty years, we may admit the great advancement of the Province, it does not follow that the position of late years has been altogether satisfactory. It would be wrong to assuino that there has been one continuous uninterrupted prosperity, and that the Province is still marching on, in the samo even course. The last three years have not been prosperous to the Province — the late Census disclosed that such was the case, even if other evidence were wanting. One of the great Colonising works has been suspended* taking into consideration the natural increase by births, the figures show that the tide of emigration has exceeded that of immigration. Again, there has not been that increase of material wealth during the time indicated, which in a new country there is the right to expect. The agricultural, the pastoral, and the mining interests to some extent languish. There are many causes to which the depression may be referred ; but it is not cur intention to analyse them now. The fearfully heavy taxation is*, to begin with, a patent one. Industry is taxed more than, with all the advantages the country offers, it is well able to endure. The -want of Assisted Immigration on a sufficiently large scale is severely felt, as also the absence of that large expenditure

on public works which 'xa an ordinary j feature of the settlement of a ) r°tjng : Colony. Wo hope, before anther year , comes round, there will he xnucb upon j which to hang more congratulatory re- ; flections : a decrease in taxation, an ex- j tension of assisted immigration, and tho ! commencement <${ the construction of the j Clutlia Railway, would contribute Jarge^ j to placing tho Province iv a much more prosperous condition.

Oun readers will x*eceive the intelligence of the das bird Iy attempt made upon E"*rinco Alfred's life with mingled feelings of horror and indignation. When the rumor from Nelson was first telegraphed to us by our Wellington Correspondent on Saturday evening, we hesitated to publish it, especially as subsequently he telegraphed that, after prolonged communication with Nelson, the Government had come to the conclusion that the rumor vmb unfounded. Yesterday morning, we received from the Bluff the -particulars brought by tho Itangitoto, and so great was tho anxiety and excitement which prevailed, that, contrary to custom on Sunday, wos published an Ex km. So exaggerated were the prevailing rumours that the truth, when it was published, was felt to be a relief. At any rate, the Prince was declared to be out of danger, and " getting on " famously." When tho Itangitoto arrives here from the Bluff, we slmll be in possession of more ample particulars. Meanwhile, we abstain from further comments.

To-day in the Anniversary of the settlement of the Province ; and wo presume that, as usual, there will be a tolerab'y general holiday —Tho members of the Volunteer ••'ire Brigade have their fourth annual feCeat Vauxhall Gardens. A precision is to be formed, at the Royal George Hotel, at noon, the members of various Friendly Societies joining ; and v. baud will no doubt head, tho procession in its march to the jcttv. The fete is to be in aid of the Brigade's Sick and Accident Fund. Various menus of amusement, are to bo provided in the Gardens.—There is to be a»i excursion to Portobello, the Peninsula steamer leaving the old jetty at ten o'clock.—la the evening, there will be a specially attractive programme at the Princess Theatre ; and a concert will lie given at St. George's Hall.—Mr Mtluish's exhibition at the new Post Office, is to be open at noon, but hot to the public—the display being specially intended for brtys attending the High School, and the children from the M.ddle and North District Schools.

The Directors of the Monday Popuhr Concerts are determined to maintain their reputation. They put forward a program me for this evening, which cannot fail to be attractive. We aro requested to again re fer to the encore nuisance. Even with professionals, it is not customary or in good tasto to press for encores, when the performers evince disinclination to comply with the demand. A larger indulgence st.ll is commonly accorded to Amateurs, who, it i« to bo supposed, are not so able to multiply their efforts, nor so ready to do bo. . At the last concert there appeared an indisposition to show any indulgence whatsoever, and we arc requested to ask that in future more o -nsideration be shown.

The total population of tho Province of Nelson is showa, by the recent Census, to be 23 814. Mr Justice Chapman proceeds to Melbourne by the Tararna. His Honor purposes returning in time to sit in Banco onMonday, May 4th. Mr E. P. Kenyon, solicitor, was, on Saturday, sworn before Mr Justice Chapman, as a Revising Officer under the provisions of the Registration of Electors Act, 18GG. No. 1 Company of City Gua»'da will pa-adc for Light Infantry drill in front of theCust-m House, on Tuesday morning. By the barque Empress, a valuable collection, comprising 20) birds, consisting of partridges, chaffinches, greenfinches, grey linnets, starlings, skyLarltß, blackbirds, j thrushes, hedge sparrows, and yt-Uowham-mere, has arrived in Auckland. The Provincial Council of Auckland has been prorogued. Amongst the measures passed was an act empowering the Superintendent to sell.or mortgage tho railway works and laud to any Company willing to complete it to Onelmnga, or of oth^r terminus to be determined upon by the Superintendent. The Southland JVeuw gays that Mr Thorn, son—who haa been, during some weeks past, engaged in prospecting for coal—states that the lignite so frequently mt-t with in various parts of tho Province is likely to prove of value as tanning material, being for this purpose quite equal to bark. A company of Volunteer T'ifles has been formed at Hokitika, ceneistizia of twelve commissioned and non-commissioned officers and eighty-three rank and file. The formation of another company is contemplated. The performances at tho Princess Theatre, on Saturday evening, consisted of the drama M Robert Macaire," the farce "Box and Cox,'' and the burlesque "111-treated II Trovatore." During one of the intervals between the pieces, the rider ef the winning horse for the Dunedin Cup went upon the stage and received a handsome gold-mounted whip from the hands of Mr Hydes, in tho name of Mr Court and Mr HalL This evening a immerous attendance may be anticipated. Many will bo in holiday humour, and a very attractive programme has been issued- '' Oar A mericsn Cousin" is to be played, Mr Hall, of course, taking the part ol Asa Trenchard ; and tho comedy is to b& followed by the burlesque, | " MaaanieUo," in which Mr Hall is also to appear, ,

The news of an impending Native dis- j turbance at Opofciki seeuus to have been pre« mature. The expedition which had started to traoo the hostile nAtives having returned to Opotiki without encountering resistance. All danger of an outbreak is for the present over, and Colonel Hauliaia has goo* to

| Aucktaud. Major St. John, with all the : men at iiis disposal, has been out so/eral t times ia search of the enemy, but bad not ! encountered any of them tip ta the time of ; the laiest advices, and it is supposed the Hanbau« have gone further inland. The following particulars are given by tbe C'nntcrbnry papers as the reaultof the Census in tb.it Province :—The population of Christchurch in GG47, made np as fallows ? males, 3335 ; females, 3312. Of the" male portion, U:'G arc married, aad of the females, 1162. There are unmarried, 2152 males and 2022 females. The number of widowers is 57, and of widows 423. The numbers in the Heatbcote district are — males, 3507; females, 3157. Of these, 1167 of the males are married, and 1217 of the females ; 2303 males are "unmarried, and 1864 females. There are 37 widowers, and 76 widows. In Lyttelton there are 135S males, and 1130 females. Of these thfro are 429 married males, and 421 married females. The unmarried arc—males, 904: females, 070. There are 21 widowers and 40 widows. At Kaiapoi, the numbers arc—males, 2093; females, 1862. The number married is, males, 645; and females, 078. There are 1421 males and 1147 females unmarried : widowers, 27 ; widows, 37. In the Cheviot district the population amounts to 411, viz., 310 males and 101 fetrialca. Of the former, 01 are married ami 241 unmarried. Of the latter, 38 are married, G2 unmarried; of the remaining nine, 8 are widowers and 1 a widow. The amount of land held in the various districts m as foUow» :—Christchurch—freehold, 4131 acros ; leasehold, 2G72 acres; undvr crop, 1802J acres Lyttelton — freehold, 1031 \ acres; leasehold, 458 acres; under crnp, 133| acres. Kaiapoi—freehold, 26,032 acrea ; leasehold, 23,836 acres ; under crop, 21,589 acrea. Cheviot — freehold, 77,771 acres ; leasehold, 255 acres ; under crop, 903 acrea.

A Provincial Government Gazette was published on Satur-lay, containing an Order in Council procliiimingthe area bounded, towards the north and east from the Awarua river to the month of the Waitaki river by the Province of Canterbury; thence by the Ocean to Catlin's river; thence by Catlin's river and the northern boundaries of rnns numbered respectively 129, 255, 254, and 88, to the Mataura river, and by tho Mataura river and tho northern boundary line of the Province of Southland to the Manipori Lake ; thence by the Waiau river to tho Ocean ; and thence towards the south and west by tho Ocean to the Awarua river, tho starting point—an infected district, under the provisions of the Diseased Cattle Act. In tb e same GazeMe, a proclamation appears, opening, for purpotcs of sa'r 1, the sections numbered respectively 14, 18, 22, 24, 27, 30, and' 31, block 5, Waitahuna east.

In noticing tho death of Mr George Marshall, the well known cricketer, the Melbourne Argm says :—" Some years ago, while engaged in a match on the Melbourne Club's ground, he sustained a sunstroke, which was not thought at tho time to bo serious. Since then, however, hia health has continued to decline, and for a long time past ho has been able to talec only the smallest amount of interest in his favorite game, or in matters of business. Latterly* tho progress of bis disease had become painfully marked. ' George,' aa he was familiarly called" by every cricketer, was a native of Nottingham, and born in 1819. He was much respected both within and without the cricketing circle." The following account of a disastrous fatal accident appears in ihe Grey River Arywi of the 12th inst :— '* It is our painful duty to chronicle another fatal accident by drowning. Yesterday afternoon, Mr Butler, a storekeeper at the Ahaura, with his wife and child, a little girl about ten years of age, left (Jreymouth to return home. On arriving at the Arnold Fall, Mr Butler took his daughter on the saddle before him in fording the slream, but before g(:tt;ng across the horse lost its footing and stumbled, causing the child to fall from the saddle. The father at once plunged in to rescue his daughter, but the stream swept both away to destruction. The horse was recovered, but tho bodies of the father and daughter were not found. This awful accident has caused great pl-om amongst the inhabitants of the Ahaura, by whom Mr Butler was greatly res ected."

The following meetings are advertised to take place this morning, in consequence of' arrangements, to forma procession :-—The members of A.O.F. United Otago District Court, at the District Chambers, at noon ; the members of M.U.1.0.0.F. Order at the Odd Fel'ows' Hal, at noon ; and the members of the Dunedin Fire Brigade, at 11.30 a.m. The Dunedin Savings Bank will be closed this evening, on account of the Holiday. Mr Mduisb's Exhibition, at the Post Office* Hall, will be open this evening, for the last time, A new selection of scenes of Home and Foreign Lands aad in the Colonies is announced. At noon to-day the pupil* of the High School and the Middle and North District Schools will be admitted, and tomorrow all other Schools at two o'clock.

Mr C. B. Fisher, who. it will be remembered, purchased the major portion of his brother's fine stud, ha* made tip his mind toretire from the turf, and the famous Martbyrnong stud is again in the market Acting on a suggestion m*<le in a Melbourne paper> Mr Fisher has decided on disposing of his-horses by means of aa "Art Union." The mode of distribution seems to be this:—Two thousand tickets at I^o each, whkhwillin fact be far boiow the racing valoe of the stud. It » arranged that the drawing shall be conducted tinder the superintendence of a committee of gentlemen in no way interested, and otherwise of good standing; that the drawing shall actually be performed by several boys from an institution (the Hind Asylum), to which Mr Fisher will make a handsome donation. ; for their services, the boys to be changea whenever the committee think proper. 9tno drawing wiE take place positively on th»o 6th April, at the old Exhibition BuOding, whether all the tickets are or are not disposed, of; but Mr Fisher h*» announced that he does not wish to regain a tingle

share, if any one a&ould come forward at the last moment to ♦claim to take t; lus intention w to clear <™t for tbe present. The scheme {sayn the Argun) certainly offers on opportunity to tbe sporting public, breeders, and others, to obtain some of the best, most fashionable, and stoutest running blood to be found now in England, and at a measure of value far below the figure which would bo required for such blood for exportation from .England to Australia, China, or elsewhere.