News of the Week.

Otago Witness, Issue 585, 14 February 1863, Page 5

News of the Week.

[I'ROZI THE DAILY TIMES.)

We observe that the Town Board is advertising its desire to purchase about two acres of land near the southern extremity of the town, for a Manure Depot.

Speaking of Major Richardson, the Dutistan JVews has the following-. It is seldom so much truth is coined in such few lines :—": — " While acknowledging his administrative capibiiities, we must confess that bis present conduce in becoming the stalking-horse for Messrs Dick and Co. is calculated to tarnish his reputation. The issue which is put to the country is not Major Richardson, with a defined land policy, as against the lion J. 11. Harris, with undefined opinions on this subject, but rather that Messrs. Dick and Co. may remain in office under cover of the popularity of the present Superintendent."

It has, we learn, been decided by the Executive Council to extend the boundaries of the Wakatipu gold field, so as to embrace the more recently diseoveicd diggings in the Lake Country.

We lately published an account of an extraordinary case, of a man stating tint he had kilied his mate, and when brought to the Police denying tho charge. On this subject the Dunstan News, of February 1, says:— "Wo are informed that Phillip, the man supposed to have been murdered by his mate, has since been seen by some persons resident at the Teviot, who state he is at work there. It is hoped that this may be the case. Afc all events a, trooper has been sent in that direction by Sergeant deary, when most likely this mysterious occurrence will be chared up. It is now supposed that the man was out of his mind when he stated that he had killed his mate."

The Bendirjo Advertiser, in a leading article under the ominous he id ing of " To Let— The Colony,"' thus pathetically bemoans the departure of so many of the best of the Victorian miners for Otago:—" The exodus to New Zealand is now beginning to attract the attention of the bankers, merchants, and others. The rapid and continued decline in the value of property, pinches John Ball in the sensitive place— the pocket. The dullness of the times— the falling off in business —the scarcity ot money— the general want of confidence— the application of the " screw" by the banks are telling upon the merchants in Melbourne. They now ask one another what is to be done. The digger, so much despised hitherto, an object of aversion, because he asked for what ho considoied he was entitled to— is :n>w regarded in a different light. His leaving for " fresh fields and pastures new," is absolutely a subject of conversation, and, may we say, regret. The falling off iti the yield of gold, at iast, is a subject of im° pii'tincc enough to claim their attention. Not all the warnings which the sold fields' journals so frequently gave, so heedlessly and contemptuously disregarded by those wIiosl; duty, as well £S ours, it was to encourage the mining "interests would do good, until their pockets were pinch' d by the departure from our shores of the stalwart and enterprising miners, who have to so large a degree contributed to our national wealth." * * i. * " Enterprise is checked. Tlm people are disheartened, and they arc glad to go elsewhere. Anywhere but remain here. Tho squatter docs not care. His market for his wool is London, and not affected by the population of tht colony. Tho merchant's interest is the reverse of this. His market is hero, and now he begins to feel it. The film is falling from his eyes, and he begins to see the necessity of keeping the consumers within the colony. The landed proprietor feels it. Houses to let too plainly tell the tale. In fact, the colony is to let. The goose that layed the golden eggs is nearly strangled."

The South Australian Register, of January 24, says:—" Mr John Baker has on board the Thomas Campbell, just arrived, a steam-plough of 14hoise power, with all the appliances necessaiy for subsoil and deep ploughing. It will plough ten acres a day, at any depth ; and it has been found that neither hard soil nor stones interfere with its progress. Mr Baker hope 3to be able to show it at the approaching exhibition of the Agricultural Society."

The Dun itan News of 6th February says: " We are glad to observe, from the advertisement in another column, that the enterprising firm of Cole, Hoyt and Co, are establishing such an arrangement as will render the communication between this town and the metropolis of Otago a matter of ease and rapidity hitherto unattempted. They have announced their intention of running a coach from each place four times a week, an intention which, from all our old exparience of Cobb and Co., we are pretty certain will be fully carried out. The coaches are appointed to leave here every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday morning, reaching town the same day, and to return from Dunedin every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, arriving here the following mornings. It is with the greatest pleasure that we observe this change, as we have reason to believe that this firm has not experienced that liberality from the Government which is generally met with in all new, and especially gold bearing countries. In Victoria, for instanca the subsidies paid by Government were very large, while the amounts were never begrudged, as the opening up of the country was so much facilitated; and New South Wales proved scarcely less liberal. This Province offers almost insurmountable obstacles to coaching, and under such circumstances we hope to see the Telegraph Line well patronised and supported. We see that Captain M. W. Anderson lias just arrived in our town, where he will remain as agent of the firm, the office being opened at Messrs. Cameron and Truman's Dunstan Hotel, Hartley-street."

The following, from the Alia California, will prove interesting to the members of the Volunteer Fire Brigade:— "An old New York fireViimp, named George W. B.iekus, has lately received a patent for an apparatus, which would seem to be an excellent thing, not only for the use of firemen, but for citizens in general. The attempts which have long been made to protect firemen and others from the injurious effects of smoke and hen ted air upon the lungs, by causing the air which they breathe to pass through moist spong ■, for the purpose of filtering and cooling it, have been but partially successful. This improvement represented for its object the accomplishment of tho same end, and is based upon the ikct that in apartments filled with smoke to an extent that wouM render it impossible to breath' at the height of a man's head above the floor, there is in ncasly every instance a draft of coolo pure air near the floor. To take advantage of this circumstance,' a tight-fiiting mask has been adapted by Mr Backus to fit the f.ice of the person, from which depend air tubes, through which he breathes; the extremities of tha tubes reach within an inch or two of the floor We find in the Leader a fui ther description of tho apparatus. The mask is contracted at its edge by au elastic band, by means of which it is caused to cling to the head, and all entrance of air or smoke at this point is prevented. Tho tubes are united to the mask immediately beneath the nose, and at this point there is an opening between the tubes and the interior of the masks, through which air is admitted for respiration. Immediateiy in front of the mouth there is an opening which is covered with the flexible valve. This opening is placed directly in front, of the mouth so that expiration may readily take place through it, while jjo air can be admitted at this point from the outside, as the valve is of flexible India-rubber and effectually closes the opening when the air is exhausted upon the inside of the mask. The tubes reach to very near the floor, and are passed over the shoulders, and secured to the body and legf by straps. It will be seen that a person thus equipped for entering an apartment filled with smoke, may inspire through the tubes, taking the air from the lowest stratum in the room, and expire through the opening at the mouth."

A notice to architects which appears in Wednesday's Gazelle is to the effect that in the event of the mail for Otago which leaves Tasmania on or about the 23rd February not being delivered in Dunedin by the 2nd March, the time for receiving designs for the Gaol, Hospital, aud Lunatic Asylum, proposed to be erected in Dunedin, will be held as extended until the delivery of the said mail.

A notice from the Harbor Master appears in the Gazette of Wednesday's date, requiring all vessels carrying ballast for shipping to be marked on the stern-post so as to show the tonnage of ballast carried. Arrangements it is stated have been maie for the proper weighing in and marking of vessels. It is mentioned also that all vessels carrying ballast be decked. There is a penalty of ten ponnds for vessels not being properly marked or not bearing the tonnage and corresponding draught regularly endorsed upon their licenses,

The Cornwall Chronicle of 28th January, announces that "after a lengthened correspondence, extending over several months, with the New z-eaiand i Government through the local Government, Mr _W. M. Dean has succeeded in getting the prohibition against importing Tasmanian cattle iato New Zealand taken off. The dread of importing pleuro-pneumonia with cattle it will bo remembered, led to the New Zealand Government passing a law prohibiting the importation Ali 6 5° m ?U? U colonial P° lts «*»pt Port Albert. Yesterday Mr Dean received a communication from the Colonial Secretary, announcing that the restriction with reference to the importation of cattle from this colony was abrogated If this act of grace had been performed a few months ago, large shipments of cattle would have been exported hence to Dunedin, but prices here and at Otago have been so far equalised since Mr Dean first applied for permission to land cattle there, and the freight and charges are so hMi, that the trade would not be a profitable one° at present."

The Hobart Town Mercury of 14th January says :—": — " We understand that despatches have been received from the Imperial Government, intimating that leases of certain guano islands in the Pacific sens, have been granted to several colonists in New Zealand, Sydney, &c. We are glad to learn that our spirited townsman, ])r Crowther, has, with his usual energy, taken the necessary steps to vindicate the claim of the colonists of Tasmania to a share of the joint privileges thus conferred. Dr. Crowther's name appears in the list of the lessees of these guano islands. We trust his share in the venture will result in a reward proportioned to the indomitaloe energy which he lias displayed, in the tusk of developing a commerce of "which Tasmania should be the capital and centre." Upon this Dr. Crowther writes the next day as follows :—: — ■' Sir,— Observing in your isMie of this morniu^ sub-leadei headed ' Lease of Guano Islands.' and fearing that it is calculated to mislead the public, will you kindly correct the error which you have inadvettently fallen into, by stating that the only despatch and lease received here are those < f my own, the government having nothing- whatever to do with the matter, other than being made the medium of communication betwren myself and the Secretary of State. The lease in question has been the result of a negotiation that has been going on for the last eighteen months. Believe me, yours very truly, Wni. L. Ciwther. 1 Albert-terrace, 14th January, ISC3."

On Monday afternoon, an accident occurred in Moray Place, near the corner of Stuart-street, which was fortunately unattended with serious consequences. A portionof thelineofMoray Place, is carried over an embankment, which is now in course of being metalled, and a large henp of road metal was left in the centre of the road, at the top of Moray Place. As an empty dray was proceeding along, the driver was obliged to drive close to the edge of the embankment in order to avoid the heap of stones. In doing so, his horse slippad, and with the dray rolled over the embankment to the bottom, the dray falling upon the horse. They were extricated with some difficulty, and we understood that but slight injury had been sustained. Had the dray been loaded, the death of the horse would have been inevitable. We would caution contractors and road workmen against leaving heaps of metal in dangerous places, as they are not only liable to cause accidents to vehicles during the day, but might seriously injure pedestrians at night.

The hot dry weather which has been experienced in Dunedin, appears to have prevailed throughout the colony. In the neighboring Province of Canterbury the heat is stated to have been almost insupportable, the thermometer having ranged over 90 ° in the shade for several days. We noticed the other day the fact of a large bush fire having occurred at Moeiaki, and we now learn that similar fires of a vcrv extensive and serious character hava occurred in various parts of the Canterbury Province. The town of Lyttelton is stated to have been in imminent danger, the services of the fire brigade, and the constant application of wet blankets, havins? been found necessary to save tha suburban parts of the town. At Akaroa, the forest surrounding the settlement, is burning fiercely, and the whole peninsula is said to be on fire. The loss to the runholders and proprietors of timbered lands must be very considerable. In almost every case these bush fires are the result of culpable carelessness or downright mischievous intention, and it is urgently required that means should be taken to guard against the one, and punish the other. The Lyttelton limes, of the 4th instant, makes the following remarks respecting these bush fires, but at the time they were published, the fires had not reached the serious stage they have since assumed :—": — " Cannot anything be done to prevent the wholesale destruction of property which continually takes place during the summer season through the carelessness of persons setting fite to the grass ? During the past few months many acres of valuable bush have been destroyed in this manner in different parts of the country, and in some cases the damage has not been confined to the timber. Only last week five diSerent fires were raging at one time iv the neighborhood of Akaroa, and at the present time fires are surrounding the shores of this harbor. On Monday last, the 26th, some idle or malicious person set fire to the houses in Island Bay belonging to Mr Wright, and destroyed two boats and gear, besides a quantity of valuable material. The run was also fired and the grass entirely destroyed. The damage is estimated at not less than L3OO In the present dry state of tho herbage, the ashes from a pipe carelessly thrown aside are sufficient to set the conntry on fire and do an indefinite amount of damage. The public cannot be too strongly cautioned on this head."

An outrage which might have been attended with very serious results was committed by the sentry on duty at the Gold Office on Tuesday ni^lit, iipo-i Mr W. P. Street, a gentleman on the staff of the Daily Telegraph. As tins gentleman was proceeding down Princes-street at about 1 1 o'clock in the evening, he heard a disturbance in the direction of the Gold Office, and crossed over the street to ascertain its cause. lie had no sooner reached the pavement thui the sentry, without the slightest warning or provocation, mshed savagely upon him and struck him severely on the abdomen with his musket, the bayonet on which penetrated his trowsers and inflicted several serious cuts on his hands. The soldier was very drunk and abusive, and it is alleged he had a man and woman in his box, whom he loudly exclaimed were h.'s prisoners. We hear that the soldier is to be tried by a court-martial to-day.

The funeral of old Tairoa, Chief of the tribe of the Maories at Otago Heads, took place on Saturday last, and great has been the mourning, and equally great the feasting, among the members of the tribe. Tairoa did not afford a high moral example to his quondam subjects, but, notwithstanding, the elder members of the tribe gave great expression to grief, after the fashion peculiar to themselves, and the majority shared in the feast with which it is usual to celebrate such an occasion. Otherwise the obsequies were conducted in European fashion, Mr Eemenschneider, the resident missionary, and a number of the Maories having interested themselves in giving the old man's remains such burial as fitted a chief of his degree. Uy Mr .Richardson, Port Chalmers, the coffin and necessary outfit were well furnished, and orders have since been given for a rail and headstone to mark the grave, the stone to bear an inscription in the Maori language, detailing the particulars relating to the deceased.

An adjourned general meeting of the members of the Dunedin Garrick Club took place on Wednesday, at the Provincial Hotel. A large attendance was present, and a proposal from the lessees of the Princess Theatre was fully discussed. The members, however, were of opinion that the proposal was excessive, and a deputation was appointed to wait upon Messrs Holt and Wolf with the following proposition :-»'• That the Dunedin Gar.-ick Club propose to lease the Theatre for one night, on the following terms— That after the deduction of the rent, agvecd to be taken by Mr Jones, three fifths of the proceeds should be handed to Messrs Holt and Wolf, the remaining two-fifths to be devoted to the charity for which the members of the Club shall play." Messrs Holfc and Wolfe refused to accede to these terms. The Club considering it injudicious to give liigher terms, the meeting adjourned — it being reaolved to ascertain if any arrangement could be made with the proprietors of the Shamrock Assembly Booms for a performance on an early date.

The appointment of Thomas Morland Hocken, Esq., to be coroner, vice Henry Howorth, Esq., resigned, which had previously appeared in the General Government Gazette was yegterdajr published in the Provincial Qaxettt,

The Pastoral Times in Victoria says j — •• Some of our sheep farmers are about to let their flocks run loose, after having enclosed their runs by wire fences. This will dispense with the necessity of luring shepherds, excepting in lambing-down time, and the cost of siieep-fnrming will thus bo greatly reduced. There is another advantage, which is this — that it is found by allowing sheep to run loose and roam about that the runs will curry 25 per cent more shepp. The margin for profit on sheep has now become so narrow that; flockmasters must curtail their expenses to expect a fair return for their capital. Strychine appears to have settled the dreaded dingo, as although an occasional native dog makes his appearance, ho is speedily hunted down and destroyed." The Melbourne Herald, under the head of " The truth about New Zealand" publishes an extract from a letter in the Sydney Morninp Herald purporting to -'.ome from a digger at the Avrow Eiver, to the effect that none of themiuera were making more than bare " tucker" [ "We were informed last night by a gentleman who had just returned from Wakatipu, that the escort from thence is not likely to reach Dunedin until Thursday or Friday. Our informant states that owing to the prevalence of a high contrary wind the boats could not leave Queenstown. It appears that the gold has to be sent a portion of the distance by boat. As an instance of the boisterous character of the Lake (luring squally weather, it is stated that a number of bo<its, which started with passengers on Monday- for the opposite side of the Lake, returned on Wednesday for provisions, having been unable to beat across in the teeth of the high wind. The latest, and we think the raciest, instance of "new chnmism," is that of a recent arrival setting off to the diggings with a swag consisting of. pickaxe, shovel, hatbox containing a genuine " bell-topper," and a Dundreary umbrella ! Oar informant could not ascertain whether the traveller was a newly-appointed gold-fields' official, or a digger in his noviciate. On (lit that an application is about being made to the Government for granting to a company the right to turn the Kawarau river, for about nine miles of its length. It is proposed to cut through an eibjw of land formed by the bend of the river, about three miles in length, and it is said the engineering difficulties are inconsiderable. The Southland News of Feb. 4 says:— " Reese's Pioneer Express started hist week on its second trip with a full load from Invercargill for Wakatip ; and Mr Bray ton, of the fu-sn of Cobb and Co., has arrived per Alhambra. The coaehes,and a stud of GO horses, are expected daily by the Ocean Bride." We hear that several merchants of Dunedin, who recently went to Invercargill with a view of puichasing sites and erecting" branch establishments there, returned by the Airedale, on Saturday, no one of them having carried out the main object of his trip to the capital of the " border gold fields." The ridiculous prices asked foranything like moderate business sites, is described as being the sole cause of this result. For a really good stand, 66 ft by 116 ft, the lucky but bewildered owner would not hear of " a farthing less than L 5.000 j" informing the wonld-be purchaser that " it would be cheap at Ll o,ooo before a twelvemonth was over." According to our informant's account, the allabsording idea of the Invercargillites is that in " next to no time" poor Dunedin is to be "pliyin? second fiddle to Invercargill." The Provincial Council is about to meet -there is the iailway to the Bluff to be made, and a pier run out, and then— something may happen, perhaps. Mr Rees, who arrived in town on Tuesday evening, after a rapid ride of thirty-six hours from Queenstown, called upon us ; esterday and gave us a few items of intelligence from the Wakatipu diggings. It appears the escort has had a perfect chapter of accidents; first the horses strayed away at the Mataura, then the waggon broke down, and last the gold has narrowly escaped being sunk in the waters of Lake Wakatipu. Mr Rees's schooner, with the treasure on board, left Queenstown on Thursday, the wind blowing a gale from the N.W. She had a fair run down to the foot of the Lake ; but owing to the heavy surf was not able to go close in shore, and a whaleboat was sent to bring the treasure and prisoners ashore. Sergeant Bailey was handing in one of the iron boxes containing gold, whenhia footwent through the bottom of the boat. The gold was however all saved, and another j boat coming up the passengers and treasure were safely conveyed ashore. The escort may be expected to arrive in town at any hour now. The next escort is likely to be larger than the one on the way, above 6,000 ozs being already waiting for transmission. A gang of desperadoes committed a savage assault and robbery a few days ago upon a miner who had been selling his gold. Fortunately, however, the man had placed his money in a more secure place than on his person, and the robbers got nothing for their pains. The particulars of this case are to the following effect. A miner sold to Mr Bracken, on Eriday, about L7OO worth of gold. Finding the banks were closed, he very wisely placed his cash in Mr Bracken's keeping, and then set off for his camp. On the way, he was waylaid by a number of men, who stripped him stark naked, and searched his clothing, expecting to find the proceeds of his goldsale, the miner having no doubt been closely watched and followed. On Sunday the miner caught sight of two of the men who had been concerned in the outrage, and he immediately informed ?Mr Bracken . That gentleman then went and secured the two men, until the police arrived, when the prisoners were taken to the Camp. A gentleman resi lent in Dunedin has favored' us with a sight of a private letter received from a friend at the Arrow. The writer mentions that the Government are about calling for tenders on the spot, for the erection at the new township- ot Frankton, of a Court House, Warden's office, Gold office, Warden's quarters, and Bailiffs' quarters. Wo have been permitted to make a few extracts from the letter. The writer, we should mention, is an experienced practical miner as well as being a man of no mean scientific attainment. He says :—": — " All things looking well here, plenty of gold, and new rushes s 'reading everywhere. Last week we divided 160oz amongst four from about eight loads ot wnshdirt. Concerning my sluicing company, the works will be completed in about three weeks. Shares fetch a high price in fiat company, and LIOO was refused lately for one share. Parties attempting to go to the West Coast via Mount Aspiring, have come back, the snow being too heavy. In about two months from now I shall ! start that way and see if I will be more successful. A new Lake, head of Matukkuki^River has been discovered." We have been given to understand that the sailing of the ship Chile has, in consequence of the delay in the arrival of the Lake Escort, been postponed to Saturday morning. It is intended for the Chile to take about 30,000 ounces of gold for London direct. We had on Monday the opportunity of inspecting at the office of the Gold Fields Department a quartz boulder lately found in the Woolshed River by Baird's party, which is specked all over with gold on the outsi le. and on being broken exhibited gold in the fracture. We understand that the Provincial Government has sanctioned the expenditure of a sum of LSOO for the purpose of making passable the road between the Arrow Township and the new Government Township of Frankton. As an instance of the absurdity of the Government advertising only in the Government Gazette, we may point to the case of the District ' Road Board at Tokomai nro, which, according to our own correspondent, has only just lately held ite first meeting, although it has been established some nine months. The members of the Board were not in the way of seeing the Gazette to know for what days the meetings were fixed; and in one case the Gazette with the advertisement of the meeting did not, it seems, reach Tokomairiro until two days after the day fised. The loss to the district by the nine months' delay, may well be imagined. The roofing in of the new Episcopal Church i 3 now commenced, and it is expected that the whole will be completed in abont six weeks from the present time. The Bishop of Christchurch is at present in Dunedin, en route for Invercargill, and it is not impossible that on his return he mayconsecrate the church. Much depends upon the length of his detention in Southland. Another ot the smart little harbor steamers is about to be despatched to the Wakatipu.' The., iron steamer Expert has been bjaf] ih ,£wo, and mounted on two waggons, and was ;ye9terday afternoon all. ready for being convey&r to Us dcs« tiuatiau. ' '