THE Otago Daily Times. DUNEDIN, TUESDAY, NOV. 10.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 2111, 10 November 1868, Page 2

THE Otago Daily Times. DUNEDIN, TUESDAY, NOV. 10.

Gun at anxiety lias been expressed for some months paßt with regard to the B.ilmon - breeding experiment at the Waiwera Ponds. Statements havo appeared from time to time on tho subject, apparently emanating from persons acquainted with tho subject of fish culture, and who had visited tho Government breeding establishment before communicating their views to the public. The moat favorable account with respect to the prospects of this experiment, came from a correspondent who gave it as the opinion of Mr Dawbin, tho pisciculturist in charge at tho Waiwera, that the number of young fish did not probably exceed four or five hundred. From tho number of experiments in_ artificial salmon - breeding which have been conducted at home, tho habits of tho fish during the earlier stages of its existence arc now perfectly known to all who. choose to interest themselves in tho

subject. When tho young fish reach the ago of twelvo months, about one half of tho number in tho breeding pond migrate to the salt water, tho other half remaining for another year, at the expiration of which period they proceod to tho Bea a 8 smolts. By this time, tho fißh which migrated in tho previous year and bucceeded in escaping the numerous enemies waiting for them, will have become grilse, weighing from 3lba. to 121b5., and will have returned to tho parent river. Wo mention these facts in connection with the natural history of tho salmon, as we have lately ascertained from a semioflicial source that the young fish at tho Waiwera, which are barely six months old, have been turned into the Clutha Itiver. Wo learn from Hansard that during a debate which took place in tho House of Itepresentatives on the 14th of last month, upon a resolution moved by Air A. J. Burns, tho present Secretary of Public Works, asking tho House to appoint an unpaid Commission to 'inquire into and report upon the fisheries of New Zealand/ that gentleman made tho following statement with regard to tho salmon experiment in Otago :

—' Tho contents of tho salmon breeding ponds had been turned out into tho Ciuthn river, and ho was not certain whether, from the mining operations, tho water was not ao impregnated with iron pyrites and other minerals aa to kill the fish, or at all events do great damage to them. His reason for saying ao was that, ever since tho commencement of the diggings there, no live fish were found outside tho bar within a quarter of a mile radius of the rush of the river, and if it did that to old fish, it must necessarily act much more on the young fry. It would surely be a great pity, after all the expense, trouble, and labour —as ho had known to his own cost—in gotting these salmon-breeding places established, that thoy shpuld lose tho whole of the young fish, when just on the point of success, from the want of a little investigation.'

Wo were not previously awaro of tho fact that tho Provincial Government, befaro selecting a tributary of the Clutha River as a suitable stream in wlmh to form a fish-breeding establishment, did not take tho necessary steps to obtain information regarding the effect which tho waters of tho Clutha, disturbed by mining operations, would probably have upon young fish. It will bo seen that Mr Burnh, although now a member of tho Government in office at the time when preparations were made for the reception of tho ova from England, censures tho Executive for their neglect in not having ascertained whether the water of the Clutha was impregnated with minerals which might bo fatal to the young

salmon.

Tho Provincial Government has Bont homo for another supply of salmon ova, and it is just possible that, in face of the opinion expressed by one of its members, no change will be made in the site selected for tho hatching ponds. The people whoße money ia being spent on this important experiment ought to receive some explanation from the Government regarding its future proceedings in salmon-breeding. Should such an explanation bo vouchsafed to the public, we trust tho Government will not decline to assign some substantial reason for having removed tho young salmon at the tender ago of six months from tho sweet waters of the Waiwera to tho turbid Clutha. If tho statement made by Mr Bokns be correct, we have no hesitation in saying that

these valuable fish have been wantonly destroyed.

The South Australian Parliament has for some ti.no past been engaged in augry and unsatisfactory discussions on tho subject of tho Land Laws. Tho legislators of that colony have been forced into action by the alarming fact that tho settlers are migrating in largo numbers to Victoria and Now South Wales. Tho reason of this migration is, that tho prospects held out to the settler by tho Land Laws of tho last mentioned colonies are infinitely brighter than those held out to him in South Australia. For South Australia, which ought to have provided itself years ago with a liberal Land Law, haa overlooked tho question almost entirely up to tho present time ; and now that it is placed under tho necessity of legislating on the matter, it seems unable to overcome tho difficulties of tho task. Ono ministerial crisis has followed another, the shades of unfortunate Land 13111s chasing each other across the political stage in quick succession. Mr Hart succeeded Mr Ay au& as tho Prime Ministry of tho colony a few months ago, and now wo find Mr Aykk.s succeeding Mr. Hakt in the samo capacity. Neither of theso gentlemen seems prepared to meet tho emergency of the case. The old land system of South Australia was baaed on the principle of sale by auction, at an upset price of £1 per acre. Tho result of this system has been tho rapid depopulation of the country within the last five years or ao—the German settlers in particular having flocked away to Albury in droves. The system introduced by Mr Haht did not provide for the abolition of sale by auction ; it simply proposed that all land which had been otiered, but not sold, at auction, should be open for selection and lease in allotments, tho largest area allowed being 040 acres. For the land thus leased, a rental of two shillings per aero per annum was to bo paid in advance; the purchasing prico was to bo £L per acre ; and tho purchase waa to extend over a term of ten years. Tho very obvious objection to this system was, that the land offered but not sold at auction would be, aa a matter of course, tho land which was not wor',h buying. The proposed measure mot with no favour, and its author gave way to Mr Ayeiis. That gentleman has propounded a scheme which appears to meet with as little favour as its predecessor. According to its provisions, tho land is to bo marked out in agricultural areas, and sub-divided into allotments of 80, IGO, 320, and G4O acres each. These allotments are to be open to selection at £1. per acre, of which four shillings must be paid at the time of selection, and the' balance within a twelvemonth—the principle of sale by auction being retained. Such a system seems by no means adapted to attract population. Unless a satisfactory measure is introduced without delay, the prosperity of South Australia will be undermined. Tho Agricultural interest has hitherto been a leading feature in its social economy, and the ruin of that interest will probably involve the ruin of all.

Henry Garrctt, alias House, is agaia in trouble. It will bo remembered that shortly after his discharge from gaol, after undot - going a sentence of eight years* penal servitude, for robbery under arms, tho action taken by tho Commissioner of Police, in endeavouring to remove such a social pcs i from tho province, was much commented upon. Garrctt was elevated into a hero ; much sympathy was cxpreased for him ; tho Commissioner of Police and tho police were charged with cruelty, with hunting a man willing to be honest to death, and with preventing him from redeeming his character. Garrett came back from Melbourne, frequented a place of worship, and managed to ingratiate himself into tho good graces of a number of the members of that congregation. Aid was given him in every possible way ; work was secured for him in his trade of cooper, and as hu was a good^ tradesman, he has been inconstant employment, and has earned good wages. But tho Police did not believe in tho sincerity of his protestations, and accordingly kept him under close surveillance, and yesterday proof was given that he had been playing a hypocritical game. Mr Allan, the seedsman of Princes street, was passing his own premises, with a friend, about four o'clock in tho afternoon, and had occasion to go into the shop by the back way. To his surprise he fjuud the door unlocked, and upon reaching a second door, also unlocked, ho found Garrett in tha shop. Tho latter attempted to escape, but was secured and kept until the aid of Consta'le Naglo—who was passing at the time—was obtained. Mr Allan had taken the precaution to conceal his cash-box, and the property stolon by tho prisoner was of trifling value. When his house wai searched, a revolver and ammunition, and a most formidable knife were found. That the opinion formed by the police as to Garrett's reform was correct, is cloary proved by the fact that he ia caught red-handed committing a robbery, hiving no possible motive for being dishonest. Frequenting, as he did, Mr Brunton's Church, ho had ample opportunity of observing how accessible Mr Allan's premises were; end he was evidently well prepared, for on his person no less than seventeen skeleton keys were found.

Tho monthly meeting of Hiram Lodge, No. 1127, E.C., will bo held this evening at 7.30.

A stone school-house, to be used also as a church, ia about to be erected on the western bank of the Molvneux, at Teviofc

According to tb.3 Mount Benger correspondent of tho Tuapeka Times, the Provincial Government is under treaty with Mr Clarke "to lend it some hundreds of thousands of pounds at a good round rate of interest."

The Governor, by the instructions of tho Sccreta-y of State fur the Colonies, has recognised the appointment of E. B. Cargill, Esq., as Vice-Consul in the Province of Otago for the kingdom of the Netherlands.

The jurisdiction of the Resident Magistrates' Courts for the Clutha and Southland districts has been extended to • hundred pounds.

From a comparative return, just issued of the gold exported from New Zealand for the quarter ending on the 30th September last, we find that the total amount exported was 152,2210z., representing a money value of L 597.355, being a decrease of upwards of 15

per cent, upon tho amount exported during ' tho corresponding period of la>t year. Of this amount Otago contributed 37,6620z., of the value of L150.G48, showing an increase of about 14.88 per cent over the corresponding quarter of 1867. Bho is, however, only the third on tho list, being distanced by Nelson, with 50,2970z., equal to L 201.188, and Westland with 49,4600z, equal to L 197.840, notwithstanding the fact that tho two latter exhibit a considerable decrease. The most remarkable feature of the return is tho sudden increase in tho amount exported from Auckland, which, from L 2933 in 1867, ha* rißen to 1/12,723 in 1868 : this result being owing to the rush to tho Thames diggings. The only other facts worthy of notice in connection with the return are, that while Marlborough exported gold to the amount of LI 132 during tho same period last year, this year her exports under this head "are absolutely nil ; and Southland also exhibits a falling off to the amount of nearly L 6' 00, or about 60 per cent Tho total value of the gold exported from New Zealand since the date of ita first discovery in tho colony, is L1G,404,C73.

Itobcrt Finlay, Esq., Mayor of Alexandra, haa been appointed a Justice of tho Peace for the Colony;

As many of oar readers may doubtless wonder what Now Zealand mean time, recently adopted at the Government offices throughout the Colony, means, we may inform them that it in the time corresponding to tho longituao of 17030 East, being exactly eleven hoars and a half in advance of Greenwich time.

The Government have received-of Hcial intimation that an Act was passed in the Imperial Parliament on tho 31st July last, declaring the General Assembly of New Zealand '' to have, and to bo deemed to have had, power to abolish any Province, to withdraw therefrom any territory, and to make laws for such territory."

Tho Government expenditure in tho Patea district, according to tho Lyttelton Times, is at the rate of LSOOO a month. This is exclusive of the largo sums of money spent in tho disturbed districts on. tho East Coast

Referring to tho fatal accident at the Port Chalmers Dry Dock, a correspondent states that tho accident was owing to tho manner in which the operations at the Dock are conducted. Tho ground, which consists of clay, may bo expected to fall at any time, ■ an,} should therefore b« undermined in the first instance, tho chambers being cnt afterwards. At present, this process is reversed, and consequently, in our correspondent's opinion, similar accidents may bo expected to occur.

The construction of a lino of telegraph from Wellington to Wanganui—a want long felt—is under contemplation by the Government, and Mr Rccb, the Inspector of Telegraphs, is about to proceed to Wanganui for the purpose of surveying the proposed lino.

The complement of officers for the Front is now complete, and no further appointments will bo mode at present. One or two desirable applicants, it is said, have already been refused on this score.

The Chrißtchurch Gas, Coal, and Coke Company has declared an interim dividend of 5 per cent, for tho half year on paid-up shares, and 2i per cent for the first three months on tho amount culled up by the new shares. Considerable additions and alterations are being made in tho Government House at .Auckland, preparatory .to tho reception of Lady Bowen, who i 3 expected to arrive there on tho 2nd proximo. Now stables have been built in place of those that were bnrncd down, the communications between the servants' quarters and Lady Bowen's suite of rooms have been improved, and tho ballroom erected ju anticipation of the vuit of the Duke of Edinburgh, ia to bo ro-roofed and decorated.

A terrestial paradise for teetotallers is said to exist in the Mount Gambier District, in South Australia, where there is not a single licensed public-house to bo found.

Captain Francis, late of the Toranaki, has been appointed manager of a claim at the Thames diggings.

Suggestions are made in the Auckland press about the introduction of salmon into the Province. Tho Waikato river i.nd tho streams to the north of Auckland are recommended as being buitable for the purposo,—their waters in a great measure con siating of melted snow, being sufficiently cold for the purpose, while thuir currents are rapid. The salmon trout and the common trout are highly recommended, but the perch and pike are said to be undesirable for acclimatisation purposes, on account of their cannibal propensities.

The total amount of Customs revenue collected at Christchurch and Lyttelton during the month of October was HJOSI 7s 7d. The amount collected, at Dunedin during the same period was JL17.637 Oa 4d.

The Joint Stock Planters' Association (limited) ia the title of a Company in courso of formation in Melbourne, for the purpose of encouraging tho growth and manufacture of sugar in the Polynesian Islands. The experiment ia to be made at Sava Harbour in the Fijis. The proposed capital is LIO,OOO, subdivided into 2000 subscribers' shares of L 2 lOs each, and 100 cultivators' shares of LSO each. The latter share* are reserved for those who intend to settle in the Fiji's, and who Mill proceed thither, under tho superintendence of a manager, on the following terms:— Lsto bo paid on application, L2O to be paid on allotment, and the applicant at once secures an appointment, at L 52 per annum, with rations, for a period of 12 months, at. the end of ■which period ho becomes entitled to a free grant of 40 acres of land, if ho then, prefers leaving the service of the association.

The Westland Naturalists' Society has been incorporated under the New Zealand Institute Act, 1867, and has thus taken its place among the scientific associations of the colony.

The Fiji fever appears to liavc extended to the West Coast, the ketch Alert being announced to sail from Weetport for "tho South Sea Goldfields and Fijis."

At the recent general meeting of the shareholders of tho. Bank of New Zealand at Auckland, the chairman of the Board of Directors, speaking of the successful conduct of the Bank, stated that in spite of the commercial panic of 1866, and a long period of depression, the Bank was still doing the large-it and. most extended business of any similar institution in the colony, and that not so much as a shilling of the capital had been lost. After mentioning that notwithstanding the difficulties it had had to contend with, tho Bank had paid a dividend of 15 por cent., the chairman continued: We could make a dividend of 17 or perhaps 20 per cent, by pressing or pushing the bank's basinets, bat we prefer a policy of

caution, doing on'y a legitimate business to risking for the sake of profit your capital. Though wo might pay yoa 20 per cent., yot the timo might come, when in consoquenco wo should bo compelled to write off a largo sum from your reserve fund.

Tho Insurance Companies in Molbourno have reduced tho rates of insurance on vessels trading to Greymouth one per cent below those charged on vesce's trading to Hokitika. The praaent ratea are, Greymouth, 4 per cent ; and Hokitika, 5 per cent

Colonel Whitmore's assumption of tho chief command forms the subject of acongratulatory article in the Wanganui Chronicle. Tho constant stato of alarm in which tho inhabitants of Wanganui have lived for some timo past, seems to bo relieved, and people breathe more freely. This result, say* tho Chronicle, is not owing to tho fact that Colonel Whitmore has greater means at his disposal than his predecessor in office, but to tho fact that ho has a bettor knowledge of how to apply his resources to their proper nuo, and specially ho appears to possess tho governing faculty, wheroby ho can bo rule as to insure obedience. Tho consequence is that when as it was ixnpossi bio a month ago to pass through the camp at Patca without encountering half a dozen drunken brawls, such a thing is now unknown ; every man has got something to do and ho is doing it.

In an article on the Thimcs Goldfield, and the new mining regulations recently brought into force there, tho New Zealand Herald remarks :—lt must bo remembered that the Thames is no alluvial field, and therefore tho rules and regulations of alluvial goldfields aro utterly out of place there. Nothing can bo moro illusory than tho belief that these claims can be worked by mere labour only. Timo haa proved this. Tho day for selling half and quarter shares in tho goocrality of claims has passed, but a more legitimate market is at hand, namely, tho amalgamation of claims into largo companies, tho leasing of tho ground so amalgamated, and tho sale of shares in tho newly-formed companies. Now that security can be had for mining proporty, capital will flow towards the Thames. Nor will the capitalist alone bo benefited. The working miner, holding now under his mining right, will feel tho benefit in tho opportunity which tho system of leasing gives him to bring his property under such conditions as to have a real value in the market