Uqius of the caal'cclL

Otago Witness, Issue 567, 11 October 1862, Page 5

Uqius of the c aal'cclL

(from the daily times.)

We understand that the Town Board have chosen Mr Sydney Smith t.> be the city engineer; a special meeting of the !>o:ird having been held yesterday to determine upon the applications, it being thought necessary that a decision should be come to prior to the sailing of the Aldinga for Melbourne to-day. The salary is to be LGOO a year. Mr Smith at present holds oflice as the corporation engineer in There were nine applicants.

The late genial rains have had a most beneficial effect upon the gardens and pastures ;— in both kitchen mil flower gardens .-i great impetus lias been given to vegetation, and this market should soon be well supplied with garden producn.

The sheep imported by tho Storm Bird were .allowed to be Landed and slaughtered, and the mutton was at once offered for sale at 9d per Ib, in an impromptu shed erected in Princes-street, opposite the office of this paper.

The annual meeting of the Dunedin Building and Land Society was held on Monday, at Moir's hotel. Manse-street. There was a nume rous attendance, and Mr Sibb.ild was called to the chair. 1 lie read the statement of the committee, and the accounts as certified by Messrs A. Begg and Wm. Darling, the auditors. We learn from it that the number of shares at present open is 1,119 ; and the total sum of mortcnge on the 1-J-tli July was L'J.l2s advanced on 3 1). 1 ) shares. The following are some of the principal items in the accounts: — B dance on hand from last year, L 21.5 18s 51; subscriptions, L2,(5. r )9 17s 4d : fines, L 45 1.5s lid; interest ]>293 15s lid; premium on 164 shares, L 932 Ss Gd ; cash bought, but not paid, on the 14th July, 1862, LS44 5s ; repayment of mortgages, 13 shares ntL2.5 L 325 ; total, L 5,354 18s 4d. "On the other side, we find — 164 shares sold, L 4,100; 33 shares withdrawn, L 129 15s ; tush sold during 18G0-1, not paid until 1801-2, L' 233 ; balance in bank, 1 4th July, L 823 12s 9d. The profit and loss account contained the following among other items :— Profit credited, 1,182 shares, at L 2 2s, 1/2482 4s ; expenses, L 65 Os 3d ; balance at credit. L 1,233 6s 4 ; total, L 3.780 10s 7d. On the opposite side were — Balance at credit 10th July, 1861, L' 2,447 12s 9d ; proportion of profit on 33 shares withdrawn, L 37 3s ; premium 0 , L 932 8s 6d. On the motion for adopting the statement, Mr Kaye argued that there- must be some error with regard to the amount of interest ; and Mr Wilson took a similar position with regard to the proportion of pro it on shares withdrawn. Each gentleman ur^cd that the auditors and committee, in whom they had the fullest c nfidence, should go into the matter, and report to the next quarterly meeting. Mr Begg said that the auditor's statement was before the meeting, and they intended to abide by it until error was proved. After some discussion Messrs Kay and Wilson were appointed to examine the books and report at the next fortnightly meeting, it being understood that, subject to correction as to the two items, the statement w.as approved of. The election of three members of the committee was then made, and other business transacted. Previous to the annual meeting there was a sale of shares. There were 38 shares, representing sold at premiums amounting 0 £307 ss.

There is some prospect now ef the Princesstreet cutting being completed in a reasonable time. Mr 11. Farley, the owner of a good portion of the frontage on tho westerly side, has made a proposal to tho Tows Board, which it will be seen from the report of Tuesday's meeting has been accepted. It was stated that Mr Reynolds the other owner of land on that side, will be ready to join iv the agreement by which Mr Farley nn-, dertakes to get the work done in 60 days ; and it is to be hoped that steps may be taken to push forward the work on the easterly side.

The work of cutting away a portion of Bell Hill is being proceeded with, and some progress has been made, notwithstanding a very decided tendency among some of the men employed to indulge in what is known to Victorians as " the Government stroke," which, for the benefit of the " old Identity," we may explain, means a very leisurely way of handling tools.

It will be seen by an advertisement which appenrs elsewhere, that the time for receiving tcu, ders for carrying the Waiwera and Nokomai mails has been extended to October 13th.

A foot race for £25 a side is announced to come off on Monday next, 13th inst, on the cricket ground between Steve Foster, and Win. Spring. Distance, 200 yards. It will be seen by an official notification which appears elsewhere, that during the sitting of the Supreme Court at the Court House, the Resident Magistrate will sit in the Odd Fellows' Hall George-street. Tho routine business of the issuing of summonses, &c, will still be conducted at the office in the Court House as usual.

The Dunedin Gas Light and Coke Company (limited) has been dnly registered by Michael Creag'i, Esq., the registrar of joint-Btock companies for Otago. The specific objects of the company are stated to be — " The supply of gas within the town and suburbs of Dunedin, and the sale of coal, and of coke, tar, and other residual products of the distillation of coal or other material used for the manufacture of gas."

Some idea of the value of property insured in the various fire offices in the United Kingdom may be gathered from tho fact that in 1861, L 1,6 11,677 was received for duty alone.

According to the " Provincial Government Gazette," the undermentioned persons were successful tenderers for public works and supplies since the 15th September :— For horse shed at the Government Offices, John Beck, L 44; fencing along road from Cattle-yard, at Port Chalmers, Thomas Jones, L 2 per chain; Police furnishings and saddlery, Eraser and Grainger, saddles L 7 10s each, bridles LI ss, breastplates 12s; Hospital furnishings, 40 iron bedsteads, James Muirhead, L 2 15s, wrought iron.

The following additions have been made to the list of Justices of the Peace, in the Province of Otago :— John R. Jones, Esq., Muitanaika, near Dunedin ; Campbell Thompson, Esq, St. Paul's, WestTaieri; William Henry Valpy, Esq., West Taicri ; John Barker Cockerill, Esq., West Taieri.

We understand that a proposal has been made to the Provincial Government by the Hon. Mr Ward, the Postmaster-General, in reference to the establishment of Telegraphic communication through the Middle Island. We are informed that His Honor the Superintendent has agreed to recommend the Provincial Council to place a sum of money on the estimates for the formation of a line of telegraph through this province. His Honor is of opinion that the construction of this line should be thrown open to tenders.

We understand that reinforcements were already on the way up to the Dunstan, and would probably reach that pi ice on the day our correspondent's letter was dated. The Government ought before this to have secured the temporary services of a magistrate on the field. Until Mr. Keddell's commission arrives ho id almost powerless.

The return of immigration and emigration for the quarter ending the 30th nit., which we publish elsewlure, shows that during that period there was an addition of 7,220 to the population of Otago ; 8,557 persons having arrived and 1,337 having departed from the Port of Dunedin 7,506 of the former, and 1,197 of the latter, number being men. From Australia we received 0,466, including 5,736 men ; and 802 returned to those colonies, including 729 men.

The members of the Dunedin Volunteer Fire Brigadehad a practice meeting on Wednesday, An improvement in the appliances at the disposal of the Brigade was afforded by a quantity of new hose just received from Melbourne. The members evidently improve in efficiency, and there is no doubt that the value of their services will be made strikingly manifest at the next fire which may occur in Duned : n .

Dunedin was very thronged on Wednesday, the streets being filled with the numerous arrivals by the vessels from Glasgow, Sydney and Victoria, which arrived the previous day. " The new chums" from the " Land 0' Cukes, seemed considerably surprised to find Dunedin so full of life nnd business.

The returns of the revenue and expenditure of the department of Croivn Lands for tho quarter ending 30th Septemher, appears in the Proo.ncial Government Gazette of yesterday's date. The total amount of revenue for the quarter was £39,602 14s. lid., made up as follows -. — Deposits on application for rural lands, £32,418 ss. 9d. ; interest on deferred payments for rural lands, £36 10s. 9d.; auction sales (town lands), £4,007 11s.; depasturing licenses, £600 3s. Id.; assessment on stock, £997 lls. lOd. ; timber licenses, £205 •, fees on transfer of rural certificates, £44 ; Tuupeka gold fields, miners' rights, aud business licenses, £5440 ss. ; Waitahuna gold fields, ditto ditto, £366 165.; Waipori gold fields, ditto, ditto, £43 lls. 6d.; Dunedin gold office (miners-r ights) £350.

It is officially notified in the Provincial Government Gazette that the next treasure escort from the Dunstan Goldfield will leave pn the 13th of October, and every alternate Monday, arriving in Dunedin on Thursday by the main branch escort from Tuapeka.

On Wednesday a horse, -which was drawing a cart containing about a ton of flour, fell in Princes-street South, and slipped completely under the cart. The animal was, however, soon extricated — neither it nor the cart being apparently injured.

The following appointments are- gazetted: — Francis Howden, Esq., to be bead of the Road Department of the Province of Otago; ■Richmond Bcetham, Esq., to be Receiver of Fees, Mining Registrar and Gold Receiver for the Dunstan Gold-field.

We learn that the Provincial Government has decided on constructing a road from the Tuapeka township to Gabriel's and Monroe's. There will be two brid ges, one ov -r the creek at Wetherston's, the other over Monroe's Gully.

A telegram from Sydney in the Argus of September 26, says that it is reported in well-informed circles that the ministry intend to place a sum on the estimates for the purpose of receiving Prince Alfred with becoming pomp and ceremony.

Dr. Hector has received from Mr Hill, the Manager of the Bank of New South Wales, Nelson, a small sample of platina, picked out from a parcel of Wangapeka gold. There are only a few scales. Amongst them is one of IridOsmim. The latter has previously heo.n detected in New Zealand gold by Mr Ford, of Melbourne. Platina is rather abundant in British Columbian gold, but less so in Californian Although often spoken of in Victoria, it 3 existence there is, we believe, noc authenticated Platina is heavier than gold, and more valuable than silver. It is chiefly found in Russia aud South America.

Considerable excitement was caused in the town on Saturday, owing to a most welcome innovation upon the butchering monopoly. The s.s. Storm Bird brought down a quantity of carcases from Wellington, but, owing to the steamer having been detained slightly on the passage, the meat, although perfectly wholesome, was not considered by the consignees to be in sufficiently good condition. Accordingly, the lot was sold by auction, the purchaser being Mr Charley Williams, of the Gridiron Ilotel, Princes-street, who afterwards retailed the meat to the public at 6d per pound. Publicity was given to the fact by tho bellman, and a great crowd of persons clustered round the impromptu shops, and eagerly bought up the food thus easily placed within their reach. We understand that under the expectation of being able to land them for slaughter without impediment or restriction. Mr Williams has purchased some sheep from the same vessel, and only waits the sanction of the authorities to land them, when it is Mr Williams' intention to retail the meat at 9d per pound. From all we can learn it is probable that animal food will soon be cheaper in Dunedin.

The admirable results which have attended the Post Office Savings Bank in England, have induced the postal authorities to recommend the application of the organisation of the Post Office to another branch of public business. Ik is contemplated by the Government to buy up all the telegraph lines in Great Britain, and connect the telegraphic service with the Post Office, making each post office a telegraph oflice. It is also intended to charge a uniform rate for messages between all parts of the United Kingdom.

The workmen engaged in the levelling of Bell Hill have struck " payable ground." The geological indications are not however auriferous, but a deposit of very valuable building sand has been opened out. For this, we understand, two shillings a load is freely given by the builders.

As illustrating the working of the new land law in Victoria, the Creswick Advertiser says :—": — " Wo hear that a wealthy landed proprietor is anxious to secure still more land by selection than the Land Law of 1862 will allow him. To secure his ends he has, as we are informed, promised advances of money to farmers in the neighborhood of Mount Blowhard, Mount Hollowback, and Ascot, and requested them to take up land under their name, with the view of ulterior arrangements with himself. "

At a. special meeting of the Victorian Council of Agriculture, the judges'of tobacco expressed an unfavourable) opinion of the colonial-grown to bacco. The report states : — " Ist. That the leaf is coarse and rank, and very far from being suitable for the manufacture of smoking or chewing tobacco. 2nd.Thatitis very imperfectly cured,being wot, gritty, and most miserably bundled together This bale of tobacco, if kept a short time, would rot ; and if manufactured, would also soon perish and would, from its quality, be unfit for consump tion. On the motion of Mr Mackenzie, it was resolved that, in accordance with the report of the judges as to the inferiority of the leaf tobacco, no premium should be awarded, as the sample shown was worthless for both the purposes of manufacture and consumption. The premium offered by the board for the best manufactured tobacco was ordered to be awarded, in accordance with the report of the judges to the sample with the number 156.20, exhibited by Messrs Loghnan aud Co., of Melbourne.

The Mining Board offiallarat hare peticio ledthe Victorian Legislature relative to the ncce^Uy of a Bill to regulate miuing on private property. Tlio petition states : — '"That while there wcio sufii cient Crown lands available to supply the demand of the miners, there was no urgent necessity fop Legislative interference in the matter of mmiii; 1 ; on private property ; but now that the whole of the shallow workings are nearly exhausted, au # l the richest deep leads are trending into aliciiablo lands iv all directions; it becomes matter of thy most urgent and paramount importance that a law should be speedily enacted to adjust the relations subsisting between the miners claiming their lawful right to the gold on the one ba.nl, and the owners of lands in which the gold is deposited on the other. Some curious statistics iiro quoted to substantiate the importance of t is si.lijeet: — " Length of leads already ascertained to traverse private property, 99 miles ; numbor of men now employed on such leads, 422 ; nu.ubir of men that could be employed on such leaj.lt. is equivalent to (for the space of one year), 21. "5, 12., : value of gold locked up in these lead^, a* ;ise--r-tained by various data of a most reliable n-itiutj, £36,106,568 ; number of shafts that would bo uquired to work these leads, 1699 ; qTi'it'ty of land that would be required for shaft; nu 1 'approaches to such shafts, 16,517 acies ; v.ikr ~<t such land for one year at the rate of XL j vc ;.uv, £16,517 ; five per cent, on the gross value el iiu: gold, being the minimum charge of the owi^r; o." private property for the permission to u>\:i:, £1,805,328 ; value of machinery that wo .1.1 \si required if the work could be carr-fl oi, £4*953,170 ; value of the gold lying ilk- after paying the highest rate of impost, L 34, 8 ). .2 U\ ' - At the date of the Airedale leaving ih.- JJ'iir the Guiding Star was still ashore at V.12 Kq.y River, with her hull covered at high w.:tiv.

A meeting of the Port Chalmers Town Rai:\l was held on Wednesday evening, wh.n it \vzs proposed by Mr. Maxwell, seconded by Mr .\Lii,.«, that George-street should be lowered fnu- k^s along its present highest level. Mr. Mona.'n proposed that before proceeding to alter rhj lev--!, the Board should adhere to a previous resolution, by which it was agreed to expedite the openixjup of the Peninsula. The original moti :a vm carried. It was agreed also, th t Mr Po^ppel, the surveyor, should be requested to inform 1 tho Board of all the permanent levels, for tli3|upose of having them duly considered. The <.iF;jo of clerk to the Board, hitherto hold by Mr \V. M. Burke, having been vacated by that gentleni:-", on account of the increasing duties in connection with his office as chief clerk to the Bench at J^:t Chalmers, the Board received four application 3 for the clerkship, and out of the four applicants appointed Mr O. C. Van, of the Harbjr ''-ul- -. Some accounts and other matters of routine kivng been disposed of, the meeting adjournod.

It is intimated in the P ovincial Gazelle, by T. A. Mansford, Esq., R. M., that Robert Urquhim, Port Chalmers, has according to tlie Ordinance, submitted for his examination, his diploma, from the Royal College of Surgeons, London. At the Port Chalmers Court, on Tuesday, Thomas North, Portobello, was fined L.l ail costs, for slaughtering cattle in an uulioeiit'j-l slaughter house, contrary to Ordinance. Messrs. Mains, Port Chalmers, who hvl a handsome new store demolished by the ivcnf, gale, are proceeding with the erection of ii'ioti.cr and more substantial building on the same site. The Bullaarat Tribune of a late datj f-fi'es that the " boots " aud assistant waiter at lk'jhir's Rainbow Hotel has been claimed by a solicitor from Melbourne as the heir to £10,000 aal a handsome annual income. The youiur tn.m, whose name is Francis O'Neal, has been residing with_ Mr Bellair for some few months, and was previously in the employ of a greengrocer iv th« Main Road for neatly three years. He is said to be a well conducted steady young man, and to have received the confidence of all his employers.

me Dunedin Debating Club held tlvAr weekly meeting at the Temps ranee Hall, Gcor e-stvaet, on Monday evening last. After the forn al business had been disposed of, Mr White ( pened a discussion upon the Policy of England in „ nu.on to the contest in America. The speaker iv ,a clear and succinct manner reviewed thecorncction between the two countries from th? cirli^t dawn of American history, and after exjilakiiti:? the origin of the civil contest, adduced nunirr .us arguments in justification of the neutral po;i:bn maintained by Great Britain. A number of the members having addressed the meeting up m the subject, Mr White replied, and upon a 'division it was almost unanimously affirmed thtit the. conduct of England was the most consistent with her honor that could be pursued. The subj >ct for discussion for next Monday, is " Whether the materials of future prosperity are more abundant; iv New Zealand than in the Australian colo.iies."

Mr Ileale, the chief surveyor of Southland, h.r, reported to the Superintendent of Southland iris having discovered hard Limcsfone tufa in the Province. The following copy of the report, is from the Southland News :: — '■ Sir, — It may be interesting to you to be informed, that at a, fewchains to the eastward of the North Road now being laid off by Mr M' Arthur, about three miles north of the Win ton Bush cuttirg, and twentythree miles from Invercargill, there rises abruptly from the fine dry plains, a low range of hilh densely cove ed with wood. One of those lulls, to which my attention was drawn by Mr 11" A^hur consists of a hard limestone tufa, which I an of opinion will furnibh a very fair building material as well as excellent lime for all purposes. . I luve little doubt the whole range is of the same form ition. The liuiestone is full of shells, and precisely resembles the Travertin of the Roman States."

Shipmasters frequenting Port Chalmers, as well as residents of the place, complain much of the want of a bank agency there. The commercial importance of the Port is every day incre.isia~, and while it certainly would be an advantage Fo the inhabitants and to the shipping interest, the establishment of an agency iv the town should bo not less advantageous to any banking company which might take the initiative in affording such a facility.

The Southland people are anxious to see a line of Coaches established between Dunedin and Invercargill. The Southland Neivs publishes Hie following account of a recent 'journey of au American wagon from Tokomairiro to Itivercargil!, to prove the easy practicability of tha route. *' From Tokomairiro to the Molyneux, about 22 miles— one day ; the Molyneux to Otaraia (Triunbell's station), about 35 miles — one day ; fi om Otaraia to the Halfway Bush (M'lntosh's), about 40 miles— one day ; from the Halfway Bush to Invercargill, two or three hours."