DUNSTAN.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 275, 8 May 1873, Page 6

DUNSTAN.

(From a Correspondent.) The district seems to be growing in importance of late days, when we find strangers and outsiders rivaling each other in drawing public attention to it. There was lately in your own journal a correspondent — " Blunderbuss "—" — diluting on our dredging schemes. It is not hard to discern that, though a stranger, he is interested in the success of the submarine boat; but how he should attempt to cry down the people and all the other dredges, is not easily perceived. Surely the people have a right to speculate their money in the schemes they have the most faith in, without being blackballed for it. Perhaps, when the submarine proves itself a success, the minds of the people may change. It is not to be wondered at if Tom, Dick, and Harry should require to fee it practically demonstrated that it is the scientific wonder it is represented to be, before they risk their combined small funds, as the untimely fate of its predecessor in Victoria may be hanging over the one in Dunedin, even though it be almost ready to leave its constructors. There has been a sort of a mongrel Yankee writing in another goldfields journal on "Tall Talk," to which I do not wish to refer much, only that it is a splendid sample of unmitigated rot. Should any of your readers desire to see Delia's letters eclipsed on that score, let them turn ] to that famous epistle, which I would i l'ecommend the writer to have engrossed on vellum ; and as it treats on bridges and bush reserves, he should cut from some of the extensive reserves I in the Cromwell district a piece of board whereon to post it side by side with the notices already on the Cromwell bridge, which caution travellers from proceeding rapidly. The long-looked for news has come at last, and a rehearing of Fernud's application is fixed by the Waste Lands Board. Since the former hearing and sale, His Honor the Superintendent and the Goldfields Secretary have seen the land aud the position it holds, and as all the circumstances connected with the case will be brought to light, it is confidently expected the sale will be cancelled. Mr. T. L. Shepherd is or a visit to the district for the double purpose of addressing his constituents and acting as arbitrator for the Government as to the amouut of compensation to be paid to Mr. Feraud through the cancelling of the lease of the remainder of the land held by him under agricultural lease, in the Wai Krh Keri Valley, irrespective of the disputed sections. On Saturday last, he addressed the electors at Tinkers, and a vote of confidence was passed. He is also some day this week, going to address the Cromwell electors ; other portions of the districts, I believe, are to be loft, over for this time. An award of £220 compensation was arrived at to-day. The arbitrators were Mr. J. C. ChappJe for Mr. "Fcraud, and -Mr. John Beighton Umpire ; Mr. Stanhrbok, Mr. M'Arfchur, and Mr. Wilson were also employed.

Mr. J. P. Armstrong, M.P.C. for Mt. Ida, has been staying at Clyde for the past fortnight, and has been practising on the mouths of the people. He proceeds

to Dunedin to-morrow, to attend to his duties in the Council. The late rains have given a supply of water to the races|without beingjaccompaniedby'anyperceptible risein the Molyneux. The two water-wheels of the Clyde coal-pit, have been at work since Friday, pumping out the mine, after being stopped for a very long time. The municipality have purchased Mr. Hastie's race for the supply of the town, it being the second right from the Wai Keri Keri, they now hold half of the first and the whole of the second rights. Lindsay and party's race from the Leaning Rock creek was almost finished, but a large landslip occurred and broke away over 100 yards of it, which will be a very difficult job to repair. M'Nally and party's race from Chatto Creek is steadily progressing. Neither of the dredges have as yet met with much Biiccess. The promoters of the Alexandra Steam Dredge Co. have had the surveyors at work surveying a claim, which, I hear, extends from the mouth of the Eavnsclough to the Wai Keri Keri, a distance of over three miles. I have heard nothing of any applications as yet, but I think our neighbors have over-reached the mark this time, and are likely to meet with, considerable opposition.