THE Otago Daily Times. DUNEDIN, TUESDAY, SEPT. 8.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 2057, 8 September 1868, Page 2

THE Otago Daily Times. DUNEDIN, TUESDAY, SEPT. 8.

It is sometimes amusing to notice the complacent and self-satisfied tone which generally forms a characteristic of official reports. The writers of these, documents are evidently impressed with the idea that it is their business, not so much to speak plain truth, as to put a smooth face upon unpleasant matters. One of these documents, speaking about the then recent, deportation of the Hauhaus to the Chatham Islands, concluded by saying : 1 I may here remark that my latest information leaves them so satisfied with their new abode that it seems unlikely they will desire to return.' Recent events throw a slight'shade of suspicion over this information. The Hauhaus do not seem to have been so satisfied with their new abode as to have : lost all relish for their old one. It is quite true that they had not much to complain of. The document we quote from remarked : clt will be seen that nothing has been omitted to divest the measure of unnecessary severity—that the prisoners' wives and children have been; allowed to accompany them—that ample rations have been provided—that land has been allotted for their cultivation and the hope of return held out to them as soon as the suppression of the rebellion and their own good conduct shall justify the Government in restoring them to their own homes.' Not bad treatment, certainly, for prisoners taken, in actual rebellion, and therefore liable to all the pains and penalties of overt treason. The instructions'given by the Government in this matter seem to have been faithfully carried out. The measure was so entirely divested of unnecessary severity that we look in vain for any appearance of necessary severity ; while the hope of return has been held out to such an extent: that they are no sooner got rid of, than we .find them back upon our hands already.

The public is now in possession of as much information as it is likely to get with .respect to the extraordinary affair at the Chatham Islands. In addition to correspondence published in the Northern newspapers, we have now the Parliamentary Papers on the matter. These Papers contain the official report of the Resident Magistrate, Captain Thomas, and also the report of the Commissioner, Mr Cooper, who w.as despatched to make inquiries. In addition, the Papers contain a collection of statements made by residents on the Island, with certain returns as to the arms and ammunition seized by the prisoners, and the losses sustained by the settlers. We doubt ; whether these documents can be read with any sense of satisfaction. There is not even the satisfaction of feeling that the calamity was an unavoidable one. A strong conviction will probably force itself upon the mind of impartial readers to the effect that gross and unpardonable negligence characterises the whole of the proceedings. Let us imagine that these prisoners, instead of being Maoris taken in rebellion, had been European prisoners convicted of crime. What opinion would in such a case, have been formed of such an event as that v?hich happened at the Chatham Islands on the 4th July ? There could haye been no difference of opinion. The public voice would have pronounced an unanimous verdict. The Government would have been called to account for a neglect of duty which all men would have considered criminal. And there could have been no defence to such a charge. It could not have been shown tha,t even ordinary precautions had been taken to prevent an outbreak, the possibility of which must have presented itself to every one acquainted with the state of matters on the Island. It could not have been shown that any sufficient measures had been taken, either to detain the prisoners in custody, or to secure the settlers from murder in the event of an outbreak. As matters have turned out, but one man has been murdered. It might have been otherwise. We might have expected that every member of the little force stationed there-—if not every member of the community, would have been barbarously murdered. Indeed, if there is one gratifying feature in this wretched specimen of mismanagement, it is to be found in the : forbearance of the Maoris. Nothing could have been easier for them than to have tomahawked every. European within reach, to have burned building to the ground, to have carried off everything that was not ' too hot or too heavy,' as Fbqissart used to say. Had such atrocities been committed, the Government would have been morally responsible for them; and if the practical working of Parliamentary Government reduces Ministerial responsibility to a name, conscience at least would have exacted retribution.

To keep in awe one hundred and sixtythree fighting men, there was stationed on the Island a force amounting to ten. or twelve men, belonging to the Armed Constabulary. This arrangement appears to have been made at- the instance of the present Government; since we have a statement in the Council from Gtil. Russell, Defence Minister in the previous Administration, to the etfect that a force of not less than two officers and twenty-five men occupied the Islands at the time the Hauhaus were landed there. The unhappy Resident Magistrate made some representation on the subject, but was apparently snubbed. He makes a nervous allusion to this neglected representation in his report on the subject: i I cannot help most respectfully expressing my feeling that I have been left too 1 unprotected in the event.of any serious

difficulties, such as have now occurred, arising with the prisoners; and that I should have applied for one officer and a larger force of constabulary than that appointed, had my suggestion and request

v •;; • • • met with the approval of the Government.' This suggestion and request, lie says, were made at the time when the prisoners were sent to the Islands, as well as afterwards. This amounts to a contradiction of Col. Russell's statement in the^Council, mentioned above. Captain Thomas says he would have applied for one officer and a larger force of constabulary; while Col. Russell says that there were two officers and twenty-five or thirty men on guard in the first instance. It does not appear from his own statements in the matter that Captain Thomas was under any apprehension of an outbreak; nor is it by any means clear that he is entitled to an acquittal from a charge of negligence. From his own account as well as the accounts of others "on the Island, we gather that the outbreak took every one by surprise, and that no means of resistance were at hand when it happened. The event occurred on Saturday the 4th July. The Rifleman had arrived at noon the day before from Wellington, with Government and other stores. The prisoners were • • engaged in landing these stores on the Friday afternoon ; and on the following morning, a very wet one, they showed more than usual alacrity in getting in firewood for the barracks. They were thus engaged up to half-pasfc 2 on Saturday; a few1 minutes after the signal was given, the guard overpowered,.-, and the Rifleman boarded. Now from the statements made by the Resident Magistrate and the members of the Armed Constabulary, it seems as if the duty of mounting guard had become a mere matter of form, as well as every other point of'military discipline. The Hauhaus were apparently allowed to pass in and out of tho redoubt, the guardroom, and the barracks, as if they were so many trusted servants. One eyewitness of the scene—a carpenter who happened to be in the redoubt—says that the Hauhaus began to come into theredoubt at about two o'clock, and to the best of his belief 'there were about fifty of them in the guardroom and twenty in the square.' What sort of discipline could have prevailed to lender possible such a state of things as that? We are not surprised to learn next that ' them that was in the square made a rush for the magazine and burst open the door; I saw a key in one of their hands, and I saw them, rush on four of the guard; they were standing among the prisoners at the time.' This is a pretty picture. The men on guard not only allow the Hauhaus to pass into the redoubt, but they allow themselves to be surrounded by them. We should like to know what the phrase ' on guard' is understood to mean at the Chatham Islands. One of the men 'on guard' tells us : 'I was in the guardroom at the time along with some of the guard, when they made the rush upon us.' Is it • possible that the men (on guard' were having a pipe ? , f -

We congratulate Mr Alves on thejiighly satisfactory result of the trial of the battery, for sheep washing designed by him. The battery was erected at the Bone Mill, Water of Leith, a supply of water being obtained from thelniU flume, under which the battery was. set up. The pressure ought to have been ten feet in. the boxes ; but on account of the quantity of grass and leaves which were being brought down by the fresh in; the. stream, it was found, when strainers were put across the race, that they got so choked up that little more than: two-tnirds of. the requisite quantity of water could be obtained. This occasioned a loss of pressure, the boxes being filled only to' a depth of seven feet. There was another drawback to a fair trial. Some of the grass and chips got into the jets of the batt ry, so that, instead of their being opened I-14th or l-16th . oi an inch, they were kept open, about one-eighth^ to permit the rubbish to get through. Mr W. A. Low, Galloway Station, and Mr W. Mackenzie, Manager for the: Hon. DMon Bell, Shag Valley Station, superintended the washing of the sheep. Some of the sheep were soaked 2, 2£, 3, 3|, and 4 minutes respectively in a solution of soft soap and soda, the water being at HOdeg. Fahr. They were variously treated in the battery, some sheep having been tried at 10,15, 20, 25, and 30 seconds respectively. It was found that three minutes in soak and 20 seconds in the battery made a first-rate job. The water in the iatteiy was 4ideg. Fahr., or only 12deg. above freezing point. With our cold water in Near Zealand, it seemed generally to ba acknowledged that a speedy process like tha battery was more highly demanded here than in Victoria. In half a minute, water atsodeg Fahr.would probably curdle and set the grease, &0., in the wool, so that it would never look so bright as it should do. Whichever battery may be used by our flockowners, they seem generally to agree in opinion that it will be necessary to use : a battery iv washing sheep in Otago. In 20 seconds the dirty stained fleeces' were turned out, on Saturday, almost' saw white. With proper soaking tanks the battery could be kept supplied, so that three sheep a minute could be passed through. This is equal ,to washing 1500 sheep .in a day of about eight hours,! a number we should fancy sufficient for most runs in the Province. We do not know the cost of erecting the wash, but understand Mr A lyes has, since the trial yesterday, determined on ; some modifications in his plans, and in the weights and material employed in* the construction of the dip and battery, which will reduce the cost very considerably, on his original estimates. We understand that plans and descriptions of the whole can be seen at the Wool Stores of-Messrs Driver, Maclean, aad Co., High street.

A correspondent informs us tliat on a recent Sunday.evening the ears of persons passing down George street north, were offended "with'the sound of coopers' hammers proceeding .from a.brewery. The police should look to it.

Startling details connected with, the escape from the Chatham Islands crop up from time to time. One of the most exciting is recorded by a correspondent of the Hawke's Bay Herald. He cays :—Duricg the late Hauhau panic, an old whaler who Has resided onthis island for many yeara was, to Ms unutterable disgust, metamorphosed into a soldier pro tern,, and, as such, was one night josted as sentry on an enclosed track of land

overlooking the western side of Waitangi Harbour. Pacing >to and fro in the dim religious light, he beard a strange and mysterious rustling amongst the adjacent bushes, and perceived, or fancied he perceived, the indistinct outline of a figure advancing towards him. . We will venture to say hia heart began to throb and beat like his old ship in a gale of wind; nevertheless, he called but boldly and in a stentorian voice, 1 Who goes them?' To this interrogatory, however, he received no reply, and still the mysterious . figure continued its advance; whereupon, with musket presented and" finger in deadly proximity with the trigger, he was about to let fly, when a most euphonious ' Baa' saluted his ears. •By the holy poker,' said he,: ' that pass-word has saved your mutton this time ; pass on, old woolley head.' ,

The Common Jury Cause, Jones v. Orbell, occupied the Supreme Court from ten o'clock in the morning until five in the evening, yesterday. It was an action in ejectment to recover possession of the farm or estate of Puketapu, near Palmerston; and the jury found for the plaintiff, with LSO as damages, in the nature of mesne profits. —Menahan v. Watt (Sheriff) is the first in order for to-day.

Mr J. G-. S. Grant will give a series of readings from the Queen's Journal, at the times and places specified in the advertisement in another column. ' : ■

At a meeting of the Committee of the Otago Museum, hold yesterday, Dr Purdie was appointed Superintendent, and it was resolved that the Museum should be opened to the public on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, beginning on Saturday next, the 12th inst. : ■

At the Princess Theatre last evening, Eoucicault's excellent comedy of "Old Heads and Yoxxng Hearts" was repeated, there being a numerous attendance. The comedy was beautifully played, each character seemed to. fit the. person who represented it; and the mannW in which the piece was placed upon the stage was very creditable. Mr Joyce's acting; was again much admired, and it is to be hoped that he will again have the opportunity of showing his powers of delineation. At the fall of tho curtain there was a general call, which was responded to. Mr Taylor's song of,the " Ham Pat Man" again elicited loud applause; and in the farce, the "Rival Actors^' Mr Taylor and Mr Russell succeeded in keeping the audience, not only amused, but delighted. To-night, another good piece is to be produced, the drama of the " Chimney Corner." In it Mr Wilmot sustains the principal' part, a part made famous by Robsori ; and we feel assured' that, full justice will be done to it. Mr Taylor appears in a new entertainment, and the "Rival Actors " concludes the performance; .

With reference to the supposed^wreck on the Wellington Coast recently mentioned by us, we learn from the Independent that a Custom House officer, Mr Hill, was de. spatched to make enquiries on the subject The result is thus stated -.—About half a mile from Happy Valley on the beach he picked up the lid of a kerosene case marked A 80,.; three miles further on he save a portion of a boat, three planks, copper fastened, teak wood, painted white on both sides ; so^ne hundred yards the other side of Black Rock found a hencoop, between 9 and 10 feet long, made of teak, painted oak color, the railings in front being round ; at Karori Stream found an empty case marked ABO, side out, yet in good.order, and did not appoaj to bo long exposed ; met Mr Hunter's sfrepheM;- w^ tins con? tainrag oil which were found-lying alongside the case just mentioned on Monday last; they appeared to be full, in very good order, and not at all rusted; then went to Mrs Macmanaman's, at Cape Terawiti, when that lady said she had picked up a chest containing tea, about two -thirds full, at Orangoronga, which appeared to have been broken open by the action of the sea; the only marks on it were JNO on the matting, which were brought into town, together with a piece of the hencoop.

Two new 'rushes' have taken place in Victoria—one at' the Gibbo Creek, Omeo, and the other near the township of Bealiba, in the Dunolly district. One hundred and fifty men had reached the former, and fifteen hundred the latter, at the time the resident officials reported the discoveries to the Minister of Mines in Melbourne. The reports are not suggestive of very extensive goldfields.

The Postmaster-General has authorised the publication of a Postal Guide for New Zealand, cpntaining a list of the various Post Offices, Tariff of Telegraph Charges, Rates of Postage on letters and newspapers, regulations for transmission of letters, books, and patterns, and usual details.

We have to draw attention to the meeting of intending shareholders in the new society, the Otago Freehold Land, Building, and Investment Society, which takes place this evening, in Mr Evans's Office, between 6 and 9. ~

Referring to the complaint of a correspondent, regarding the closing of the Money Order Office, we have been informed that the Suez mail at Melbourne is shut for all letters at 10 am: on the day it leaves ; and that the Money Order Office is closed on the previous eveaing at six p.m. Repeated attempts have been, made in Dunedin to extend the tiineyibr 'issuing money orders, but it is found to be impracticable. There are schedules to be filled up, and entries made in the books, duplicates of which, must all be sent off by the same mail. .

The Tuapeka Pres3 gives the following description of a model of a drilling machine, to be used for boring holes in rock and cement for blasting purposes, recently invented by Mr William Ward, late of Teviot, and now of Wetheratones. The machine is driven or worked by an overshot wheel, five feet in diameter, which is keyed to the. centre of the horizontal shaft, ten feet long and two inches in diameter, each end of the shaft resting on bearings :bolted to an upright frame. Near each end of the shaft are Keyed two cams, with two, lifts to each, for working two seta of jumpers. The cams are similar to those used in lifting the revolving stamper, and give a rotatory motion to the jumpers. The jumpers are made in lengths of four feet six inches each, and. arc screwed together wiihflueh joiats ; the working, or upper length, which carries the disc whereby the cams lift the jumper,, is six feet long, and works in the guides, the shorter lengths being screwed, to it as required, or every four feet six inches, as the jumper penetrates the material operated upon. Tae disc is so adjusted by a simple contrivance, that as the jumper sinks, the disc rises or slides up the shaft, thereby rendering it self-feeding. The bits are what are termed diamond bits, and can be made to jump holes of any size up to six inches in diameter, and to thirty feet or iaorein depth. The machine can "be worked at any angle

from perpendicular to half-horizontal, and is portable. The .principal object is the working of cement with greater economy by the use of nitro-glycerine, and "for greater speed in boring holes for its reception. Even with the use of powder a very '■ great saving would be effected by the use of such or similar machines. We understand that the inventor and his partners have taken up a cement claim at Wetherstones, and speak with considerable confidence of its payable nature. In about a month the drilling machine, which Mr Ward is about to proceed to Dunedin to get made in accordance with his model, will be at work, and we sincerely trust that the speculation "will prove-a remunerative one.

The opening meeting of the Dunedin Social Improvement Association took place last evening, in the hall below the Congregational Church, Moray Place. There was an excellent attendance, and the chair was occupied by Mr John Bathgate as President of the Association. The Chairman, in a few introdactory remarks, indicated the subjects which might appropriately be handled in the essays read from time to time, and alluded to the four great divisions of social improvement which command the attention of the annual Social Science Congress in. Britain. He was followed by Mr Pope, who read an excellent and quaintly hujaorous essay, on our predilection to discuss other people's faults and failings.. The. proceedings were varied by effective recitations by Mr Lakeman, Mr Park, and Mr Norman, a readings by Mr Tait, and pianoforte music by Mr Brown. Intimation was given that the next meeting of the Association would take place that day fortnight, and the proceedings were terminated by the customary vote of thanks and the finale of ' God Save the Queen.'

During the month ending August 31st, seventy-three apprehensions were made by the Otago Police, the prisoners being charged with the following crimes :—Larceny, 14 ; obtaining money by false pretences,, 1 • wilfully destroying property, 1; disorderly conduct, 6 ; breach of the peace, 9; vagrancy,: 10 ; assault, 4; embezzling cargo, 8 ; breach of Merchant Shipping Act, 1 j neglected children, 2; stealing auriferous earth, 13; cattle stealing, 2; house breaking, 1; stabbing with intent, 1; eight lunatics were apprehended, of whom seven were sent to the Asylum. During the month, 18 prisoners were discharged from the goals at Dunedin, Cromwell, Naseby, Lawrence, and Queenstown. ' ; '','..,

■ John Murray, a seaman belonging to the^ barque Bengal, was brought up at the Resident Magistrate's Court,; Port Chalmers, yesterday, before Thomas Tayler, Esq.J.P; charged with unlawfully and maliciously, stabbing Daniel M'Carthy, a seaman belonging to the same vessel, on Saturday last. Sergeant Mallard prosecuted, and said he did not intend calling any witnesses at present, but would apply for a remand. In the meantime, he would call on Dr Drysdale for a statement of M'Carthy's condition. Dr Drysdale, on being sworn, said that M'Carthy was in a fit state to be removed from the vessel to the Hospital. He had attended M'Carthy, and was of opinion, from the symptoms displayed, that the knife had penetrated the right pleura, ani possibly the right lung. The wound was about one inch and a-half wide, and five or six inches deep. The knife had entered over the right scapula. He thought that in eight days the patient might be able to appear and give evidence, providing inflammation did not set in. In reply to the Bench,' Sergeant Mallard said he : had ; n.ot got the^nife.-as it was hove overboard. The prisoner, ; after having been duly cautioned as to what he might say,, said he had no statement to make. Serjeant Mallard then applied, for a; remand until \yednesday, the 16th instant, which was granted. The patient, who was able to walk, was conveyed to Dunedin by the Golden Age at mid-day. The prisoner went in the same boat in custody.

It was stated yesterday, erroneously, that an inquest was held on.the body of Neil Murray ; it should have been Neil Kennedy, who was found dead in his bed on Thursday morning last, at Port Chalmers. - ":■'-.