CLYDE

Otago Witness, Issue 2299, 24 March 1898, Page 28

CLYDE

1 March 14. — A fclfc want has been supplit'l ' by the erection of a new wiu'lmi!) at the 'oiml ' hospital. For some year-? back ths old mill has been unworkable, consequently the supply of water at the hospital and doctor's residence has been very intermittent. A supply of pure wateris now assured, as the new mill works splendidly.

County Matters — Tue Vincent County Council meets on Wednesday next, and I see that the order paper notifies that Cr N.ivlor is to move — " That a sum of £120 be expended ou the Alexan-dra-Springvle road in improving the grade near Biuce's corner." The portion of the road referred to in the motion has been out of lepiir for some _ timy, and is very heavy and slushy in winter time, consequently it is hoped the couucil will see its wav to give effect to Cr Naylor's motion. Ther.the* item appearing upon tbe order paver is Cr Kao? to move—" That the sum of £25 be s^pent in fe-crs at tfce Luggate and Albertown punts." If ray memory serves me "right, i 6 is but a bhort time since a coroner's jury added a rider to a verdict oc "Found drowned" to the effect that those pnnts should be properly sruaided by handrails and the several approaches fenced so as to guard aeainst accidents occurring — which not tmfrequently happens when cattle are being driven upon the punts. Warden M'Carthy Speaks Oct.— A. case *>f considerable importance to miners and dredgpowners came before Warden M'Carthy. S.M., at a recent sitticgof the Warden's Court, Alex^n^-M. Laurence Ryan applied for a special claim of 3i> acres upon the Manorbura Flit, portion of which.

is held by Messrs Howden and Moacrieff, pursuant - to" " The Mining Districts Land Occupation Act IS9<." The application was objected to by Messrs Howden and Jttonerieft". In reusing the application the warden gave valid reasons for so doing, and concluded by saying:— "l must, however, remark it is a thousand pities the objectors did nnt permit the warden to arrive at thi* conclusion without invoking the aid of the extraneous official pressure to wliicb he has been subjected at their instance. That pressure has had no influence on the present decision, the reasons for which lie quite upon the turface ; but the fact that it has been brought to bear is to be regretted, because if ■wardens are to be subjected to influences of this sort their judicial independence will b8 at an end. It cannot be too widely known that when the bolder of a miner's right complies with the formalities laid down by the Mining Act, and makes application to the warden with respect to Crown lands within a milling district, the applicant is entitled at the bands of that official to a fair and unfettered hearing, and if the applicant or acy objector is dissatisfied he may appeal to a biaher court (see section £8(3 of "The Miniug Act 1891"). This latter provision, I think, indicates that it is contemplated by the act that the discretion which the warden is called on to exercise ja deciding any mining application is a judicial discretion, and the objectors have sought to interfere with the fair exercise of that discretion. On that ground, even assuming this is a proper case in which to allow costs, I will make no order ia that direction." The foregoing explains itself \ fully, aad people have been quite amazed that such extrao'dinary remarks Were at all necessary, as it is plainly evident they have been. To attempt to bias the discretion of our warden is nothing short of ainiiaga foul and dastardly blow at the head of justice, and the thousand pities of .it is that Warden IVL'Carthy did not take it upon himself to inflict ju&t punishment for such an un- , justifiable offence,' Had a less independent warden occupied Warden McCarthy's seat at the hearing of tbe case we might well imagine the' iravesfcy t>f 'justice that would in all probability have ensued. Forf.un&tely the "dark 'uns " had xhe vi'ong man to deal ■with. Urgent — it appears that while his Excellency Lord i'Kiifurly was at Clyde he received a telegram desiring his return to Wellington immediately Pc as much as told the people of Clyde thstt his immediate return to Wellington would mean the abandonment of the remaining portiou of his official programme in this island. It ie hoped that this urgency if not significant of any i:tw and threatening complications between the Gieal Powers now so busy gathering in their re£.pejtive harvests in China. March 21. — W« were the recipients of a tpleadid shower of rain on Wednesday last, other showers following at intervals curing Wednesday aight and Thursday, and we had a downpour all Fiidoy forenoon However, as the ground ivas so much hardened and baked by the continuous d«y weather, much of the rain merely Tan off the surface as venter off a duck's back a-jd nought the water courses all too soon. Snow has failen 'low down uj>o» t!ie m^untaine : therefore, it is probable the miners viil hay« thfcir s appTj of water increased. JSubeknatoriai.— Ibe Governor came and is, pure away again, ano yse ate sow quietly settling oown to cur appreciation -if the mementoes of his visit. Some little time af fer his arrival at Alexandra his .Kxcellency sought a short respite from the acclamations of the crowd, and took an unofficial stroll to the bank of the Mqlyneux River, r.f ar which the residence of the vice-regal party v/a-; situated. On approaching the river his jiscsllency beheld a Chinaman engaged in the pioesss of washing up his cradle blankets. Going up to the Mongolian his Excellency asked the man if it was not too early in the day for washing up, to which John replied, "Just now dledgenian buyum too muchee gold. He watitum alasameputum matting. By-um-by big fellow Eng. 7issyman come long; diedgeman show am gold tuid tellum dledge cat chum ; <iledgejus.a lib»-e EogJiasynjan buyum d.edge. 3le selluui g"ld dledwTdman ; him se'lurn dledso to Englishman, all the same. Savee?" Even in the face of John's simple acknowledgment, it would be safe to say that the Governor took up more than one parcel of scrip in !oc*l dredging ventures. County Matters. —A good deal of business of a routine chtiacter wss transacted at WednesdayV. sitting of the Vincent Cminty Council. Tenders weit? accepttd for centra cts upon which r,h.e expenditure will exceed £!000, and accounts arnouuticg to £813 ISs Sd were passed for payment. A vote of £7 3s to cover expenses incidental to the vice-regal reception was agreed to. The Secretary of the Mines deparinieut wrote notifying the council that the sum of £COO was available for expenditure uno.i the ClydaQueenstowh road. Mr Ktewart, Wanaka, wrote asking the council to expend the balance of the Makarora-Haast vote in opening up roads to the new sawmills being now erected in the neighbourhood. It was res.lved that the engineer be instructed to report on the works suggested by Mr Stewart. The county treasurer's statement' showed a credit balance of £43 at bank. Beyoisd all question of doubt our council is both alive, active, and energetic, and while carrying out the business of the county with praiseworthy astuteness they manage to st^er clear alike of debt an' 2 parsimony. The council holds an enviable position amongst the county councils of the Soixth Island for its shrewd and energeiic administrative abilities and the amicable and decidedly exemplary manner in which, the business ot the council is conducted.