DUNSTAN.

Otago Witness, Issue 652, 28 May 1864, Page 11

DUNSTAN.

(from the daily times correspondent.)

Dcnstan, 25th May.

The birthday of our Illustrious Sovereign was duly celebrated on the Dunstan. All the Government offices and the Banks were closed, as were also several of the establishments of our leading tradesmen. The weather being fine a number of parties availed themselves of the opportunity of visiting the Manuherikia and other places in the near vicinity. In the evening there was a general rejoicing, bonfires of tar barrels illuminated the sky and surrounding hills ; feus de joie were fired from guns, pistols, and anvils ; an individual with big drum and Pandean pipes, accompanied with sundry tin kettles and kerosene tins, kept up an incessant clamor during the whole time of the burning of the bonfires. After the concert had terminated at the Victoria Theatre, there was a masquerade ball, but the unfortunate occurrence I have now to relate, cast a saddening gloom over the affair, and considerably marred its success. Shortly after ten o'clock, when the majority of the out door sports were ended, as Mr Samuel Miller, accompanied by his brother, was proceeding home, after amusing themselves with firing off pistols around the principal bonfire, one of the most frightful accidents took place which it is possible for humanity to realise, occurring at the very door of that gentleman's residence. It appears that the two had arrived in the right-of-way between hi?, Mr Milltr's, and Mr Grindley's premises. Mr Miller's brother had a loaded pistol in his hand (but containing only the cartridge, though unfortunately heavily charged), and was on the point of letfing it off when Mr Miller ran into Mr Grindley's house for the purpose of telling them to look out for its being fired. He had scarcely reached the right-of-way again when his brother accidentally fired off the pistol, the contents of which completely blew in a large piece of the skull over Mr Miller's right temple, and he fell immediately bleeding profusely. He was at once carried into his residence, and Drs. Morice and Xesbitt were quickly in attendance, but the unfortunate man expired forty minutes after the accident. The melancholy occurrence has created a most painful sensation, Mr Miller being so well known and universally respected by all classes ot the community. He leaves a wife and two young children to deplore his untimely end. A meeting of the Local Exhibition Commiuee was held on the afternoon of

Saturday last, at the private residence of our Resident Magistrate, Mr H. W. Robinson. There were present — Messrs Wra. Lowe, Stratford, Robinson, Coates and Sherman. Mr William Lowe occupied the chair, and after explaining the objects of the meeting, called upon Mr Henry Stratford to propose the first resolution. " That this Committee communicate with the General Committee, with the view of obtaining the amount of space requisite to represent this district in the forthcoming Exhibition." Seconded by Mr Coates, and carried. He said he should be extremely cautious, in the making cf promises, but that he would exert himself to the best of his ability in go laudable a cause. This district abounded in mineral productions, of which he intended forming a collection. He (Mr Coates) had proposed miking a modei of the district, but on account of tne pipeclay obtainable in this neighborhood being quite unfit for such a purpose, he found it would be impossible to carry out his intentions, and was reluctantly compelled to abandon the idea. He thought it desirable that space should be applied for for the exhibition of gold. Mr. Wm. Lowe replied that the committee having had no communication from intending exhibitors of gold, it would be useless to demand space for that which the committee were not prepared to exhibit. Mr. H. W. Robinson next moved — "That the chairman communicate with the Dunedin Committee for the purpose of obtaining a ground space of 20 feet by 20, and 10 feet in height, also a wall space of 20 feet by 10. The communication to be accompanied with a letter requesting that should such be found necessary, a further allowance of space might be granted." Seconded by Mr. H. Stratford, and carried. Mr. Shennan moved the third resolu* tion — " That the Chairman be empowered to call a meeting of the Committee once a month, or oftener, should such be deemed advisable." Seconded by Mr, Coates, and carried. Mr. Robinson then proposed a vote of thanks to the Chairman, which was seconded by Mr. Coates, and carried. The meeting then adjourned. About thirty men returned to the Dunstan yesterday, some of which were from Picton itself, while the others were from Dunedin. Many of the latter had paid their passage money by the steamers, but preferred forfeiting rather than proceed, and consequent upon the receipt of such unfavorable intelligence from the new Eldorado. A butcher in this township succeeded in killing no less than sixty rats, which he unearthed in one warren, on Saturday last. There were abmit a dozen more, but they managed to make good their escape. Prospectuses of a mining company, calling themselves the "Pioneer Mining and Sluicing Company," have within the last few days been issued to the public of the Dunstan. Of the directors, we have no knowledge up here, they being apparently, resident in Dunedin. The scheme •et forth is undoubtedly a very fea«able one, and with proper management, cannot tail to pay. The advantages the company possess are certainly many ; they having a complete monopoly through their " water rights," of a distance of no less than seven miles of the east bank of the Molyneux, and from the well known auriferous worth of a large portion of the ground in that distance, there can be no question about the shareholders being handsomely remunerated. As this is the first time that the Dunedin people have shown any disposition to develope the resources of this district, we Dunstanites are particularly interested, and the company have our best wishes for the success of the undertaking, which cannot fail to be an incentive to others in town to invest freely on the gold fields. 8 A new rush took place on Saturday last near Black's, the prospects obtained are of a very promising nature, and important results are fully expected to follow.'