AND QOLDFIELOB REPORTER AND ADVERTISER, SATURDAY, JULY 25, 1891. " MEASURES, NOT MEN," LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1815, 25 July 1891, Page 2

AND QOLDFIELOB REPORTER AND ADVERTISER, SATURDAY, JULY 25, 1891. " MEASURES, NOT MEN," LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

The Melbourne " Argus" strongly condemns Sir George Grey's proposal to tax English bondholders, as it considers it would affect the credit of the colonies. There were nine patients in the Tuapeka Hospit&l last evening— six male and three female. One patient was admitted into the institution during the week and two were discharged. The lawyers, according to Mr Thomas Mackenzie, were the real agitators at the last election — Mr Rees in Auckland, Mr Jellicoo in Wellington, Messrs Reeves and Percivalin Christchurch, and Sir R. Stout in DunediD. The directors of the United Hercules Hydraulic Sluicing Company have declared a dividend of Is per share, payable on the Ist of August next. They hope to be able for the future to declare interim dividends at least every two months. . The County Chairman has accepted the tender of Mr Michael Whelan for contract No. 351 — road formation (49 chains) in blocks viii and xiii., Taapeka West district. The tendeis received for contracts No's. 352 and 353 were considered too high, and in consequence fresb tenders are called for. The bankruptcy returns for the whole pro^ vince of Otago and Southland for the seven years (1884-90) during which the present Act has been in force show a total of 1478 bankruptcies, the proofs of debt amounting to the immense total of £963,170, and the amount distributed to creditors was £198,781 3s 6d, or an average of 4a ljd on the whole of the proofs. Stock Inspector Hassel recently picked up a dead weasel on the main road near Evans Flat, which suggests an enquiry as to where the unimal could possibly come from. Possibly it may have been a survivor or a descendant of a num ber of weasels liberated some years ago by the Beaumont station people. If there are any of those animals still about, they have failed to make any perceptible impression on the rabbits. At the Lmd Board meeting on Wednesday, a k-tter was received from Mr John M'Fcirlano, Tapunui, stating that if section 35 to 44, block IV., Greenvaie, were sold, his water race would be cut off. He asked that the race might be reserved, otherwise his mill would become useless. — To be informed that if he has acquired a legal title to the water race his rights are protected. Amongst the passengers by the Union Company's boats lately bus been alarge number of gold diggers from the West Coast, bound for tho Mount Zeeban diggings. Tas» mania. Several members are expressing alarm at the exodus of population that is still going on, and it is stated that the passenger accommodation of the Union Company's steamers is all engaged for some months to come. The keeper of the toll-gate at Henley is taking further proceedings against Joseph Williams, the carrier. The case came on at Wcduesday's sitting of the R.M. Court, Dunedin, when Mr Fraser applied to re-open his arguments, to which plaintiff's counsel objected. Mr Carew, however, decided that he ' conld not refuse Mr Fraser's application. — The case was adjourned till Monday, on the understanding that only argument of counsel will be heard. Wfc are advised by cablegram that prime milling wheat is bringing 4s lid per bushel in Melbourne, and medium quality 4sßd. Oats : Algerian, 2m 2d ; stout., 2s 7d to 2s Bd. In the Sydney market milling wheat is quoted at 4s l6«l to ss, aud chick from 3s 10d to 4s. Oats* Is 10 1 to 2s. Milling wheat brings 4s 9.1 to 4s 10:1 in Ailelii'ii> ; an- 1 New Zealand prime feeding oats, which arc in pleutiful supply, from 2s 2d to 2s 4J. Tins Rev. Mr Jolly writes to us as follows : — A few weeks ago you mentioned that somehow the name of the ltev. Mr Taylor had been omitted from the gazetted list of ministers who are qualified to celebrate marriage this year, and that the omission had caused some annoyance at the marriage of Mr M'Neilly and Miss Smith. As soon as the mistake was discovered, steps were taken to have it rectified, and Mr Taylor's name has been gazetted again, so that any of the young folks of the West who wish it can now have the nuptial knot tied by their own respected minister. The Waitahuna Rifles have been class-fir-ing during the week, and in several instance i some very good scores have been made. We are sorry to hear that the corpa is falling in strength, and that if something is not soon done to remedy this it eannpfc possibly hold together. We should much regret to see this happen, as there is no greater advantage in a country town and should be no more popular institution among the young men than a vonnv teer corps. It is to be hoped, therefore, that there is sufficient martial spirit as well as sufficient good sense, still lef|; in Waitahuna to prevent such a consummation. Sergeant Major Bezer took advantage of his visit to the district to pat the District High School cadets and the Tuapeka Rifles thjrongh a couple of drills each, and was in every mr stance well pleased with the result, particularly so in the case of the cadets, who showed a good deal of smartness.

Tin: French GovmuuL'ut Li discus-un;.' a sc.hnmn for tlie establishment of workmen's pensions, which will provide an nmmim ringing from 60dol to 100.M annually after those entitled to it have been 39 y«»ars at work. The money to carry on the suheme is to be obtained from a fund to which nnsfcers and men will contribute equally, to which the State would supply a proportionate amount. The cost to the State woujd,be about 20,003,030 francs annually/ \ ''' , - _ _;, THE Molyneux River was novr known to have fallen so low as it is at. the present time* — i circumstance that is snre to be tuken ad vantage of by the miners along the reaches of the river. A Wukatipu correup indent states that thn lakes and rivers up in tlr.il. region are lower than they have been known to beforsoma years. This v the result of the rcucut frosts, which have been exceptionally 3evore in the Wakatipu district, just as they have been among ourselves.. " „ . . THE gift distribution held hy the Tuapeka Poultry Society on Tlmrsd.iy owning was attonded with the greitesfc succors. Eleven j prizes were altogether offered, the three most valuable being a mtirblo timr picco, carried otf by Mr Lawrence ; a brMf's enke (the gift of Mrß. Milla— not Mr E. Ellis, as st-»to.l iv our last issue), won by Mr G.i"den (Wuitahuna); the third being a nair of silver tankards (the gift of Mr R. Montgomery), which became the property of Mr W. Leslie. Data as to the amount of the totalisator receipts have been received by the Government from various racing clubs. Ifitisfound that the £10,000 mentioned in the Financial i Statement, assumed to be raised from the totalizator, can be provided by a less tax than the proposed rate of 2£ per cent, the Government will reduce the impost accordingly. The deputation from the racing clubs which waited upon the Premier week otEered that a fixed sum of £10,000 per year should be guaranteed by the metropolitan dabs in lieu of the imposition of any tax, but the Government declined to entertain the idea. THE grand annual gathering, concert, and ball of the New Zealand Gaelic Society, one of the liveliest and most interesting events of the year in Dunedin, will be held in the Garrison Hall on Friday evening next. The attractions provided by the Society are simply immense, and are certain, as they always do, to bring a large assemblage together. The array of Highland pipers is in itself a treat that any patriotic Celt should go some distance to see ; and if, when the music is turned on from these seventeen national instruments, to say nothing of the Gaelic speeches and songs and reels, he doesn't feel his heart beating a livlier time, and his blood coursing quicker, contact with the world must have effectually rubbed all the sentiment out of him. The Society's announcement will be found in another column. THE extent to which the element of chance enters into the search for minerals, and throws all question of experience and wisd un out of calculation, is strikingly illustrated in the report of the Mount Morgan Company for the past half-year. One paragraph of the report says that a curious fact in the history of Mount Morgan has just come to light. Recent workings have taken in the original prospecting trench sunk by the Morgan Bros., and, strange to say — call it judgment, luck, or fate— had this trench beeu put in 10ft north or south of the actual place, the prospectors would not have found gold without sinking 20ft. The trench is just in the centre of the only payable stone that comes to the surface in this part of the mountain, and had the digging taken 10ft north or south the hole would have proved a duffer, and Mount Morgan, out of which 844,3740z gold have been taken, would possibly still have been undiscovered. MANY a public man in these colonies (says the " Australian Mining Standard ") has owed his first " leg up " to fortunate mining investments, and among the most notable of these is Sir Henry Ayers, the President of the Legislative Council in South Australia. Sir Henry laid the foundation of his fortune when he became secretary to the South Australian Mining Association, which developed the famous Burra copper mine with such marked success. The fortunes of the secretary advanced with those of the company, until within a very short time the erstwhile impecunious lawyer's clerk found himself a comparatively wealthy man. Sir Henry Ayres has proved himself fully worthy of his good f ortune. He has given much of his time and great ability to the servica of the State, and played a prominent part in politics at a time when an exceptionally brilliant group of public men were taking part in the affairs of South Australia. Sir Henry Ayres is a man who by his force of character and higb capabilities would have pushed himself to the front anyway, but his good fortune as a mining man has probably enabled him to devote more time to the service of the public than would otherwise have been the case; and to that extent the part which mining had in shaping his career affords matter for congratulation. The experience at sea of the crew and passengers on board the 14-ton craft Welcome Home is not a common one. The little vessel (states the Sydney " Morning Herald " of the Bth ult.) has been out in all the gales which have raged off this coast for nearly a month fpast. A voyage was started to Lord Howe Island from Sydney on the 13th of last month, with three of a crew and four passengers. Just as th 6 Island was sighted a storm came on, and the centre board was carried away. This injury was a serious one, for as the storm continued the vessel was blown out of sight of land, and there being no chronometer on board her position could not be ascertained. When the storm abated, many anxious days were spent in the hope of again making the island, but without success. After knocking about in the ocean in this manner it was little wonder the passengerscomprising two women— grew sick with tha shaking they had undergone. But yet another furious gale was encountered, during which the 14 tonner was literally thrown on her beam ends. While in this dangerous position the master, Captain J. B. Munns, was washed overboard. The Welcome Home at the time was hove-to, and comparatively stationary, so that the captain was enabled to swim back and regain the vessel. After this experience it was discovered that salt water had found its way into the fresh supply, and the only boat carried was stove in by the sea which washed the master over. In this disabled condition, and with her sick passengers, a start was made to the westward, and on the sth instant land was sighted north of Sydney. Latest cablegrams. — The Russian Press have been warned not to publish alarmist re ports about the state of the harvest.— Russian officers are forbidden to make political speeches or to visit French residents. — General Booth intends to build an international temple in London at a cost of £200,000.— Mr Parnell predicts a victory for Mr Gladstone at the general election, and states that if the Liberal leader provides in the Liberal programme for the gift of legitimate freedom to Ireland he will not stand in the way.— The death is announced of Sir Frederick A. Weld, at the age of 64.— General Booth leaves England in the Tainui in August. He visits the Cape, and after a brief stay goes on to Australia, thence to New Zealand.— Large quantities of Russian gold recently withdrawn are returning to London, and consequently the financial prospect is much higher.— Sir Francis Dillon Bell has booked his passage for New Zealand by the steamer Arawa, leaving in October next. — Two thousand armed miners compelled the convicts working in the Tennessee and Kuoxr villo coal and iron mines to withdraw from the district, notwithstanding that they were guarded by 100 militiamen.— A ukase will shortly be issued compelling foreigners who have been engaged in commerce in Russia for five years to take out letters of naturalisation. — Dora Pedro, the dethroned Emperor of 1 Brazil, is in a critical condition, and fears are entertained for bis recovery. — Mr Spurgeon has (suffered a relapse, and is in a very exhausted state. — In the libel action brought by Mr T. Sexton, M.P., against the " Scotsman," a verdict was returned for the newspaper. — Cholera is prevalent at Mecca, and on Sunday 360 deaths were reported.— lt is reported that the Duke of Cambridge and the Qaeen go to Germany in May nexc.-^The L.ord Mayor of London, in accordance with precedent, has been created a baronet in commemoration of the visit of the Emperor of Germany to the city. — The Cologne " Gazette " says that the Czar intends to pay a visit to Paris shortly, and that in return President Carnot will visit Russia at Christmas.— A Russian exploring expedition, numbering !$Q men in all, is on its way to the Great Pamir, a mountain system i in Independent Tartary.

Bellamy's is once more on its legs, a generous country having come to the rescue and saved the tottering, debt-laden, evilsmelling old fabric from being knocked out of existence. The liabilities amount to £1113 13i 9.1, and this, down to the last copper, it was decided by a large majority of the House should be pai<l by Givernment. In disposiug of the initter in this fashion, members, as tbny always do, were doing themselves a generous turn at the expense of the country ; but the country, we should say, will find it difficult to under-itind why it should be called on to puv for tl\>> indulgences <>f its representatives. This large stun of money is a proof, though, perhaps, a m^Lineholv one, of the -character of many of r.he in mi into whose keeping the affairs of the country <*re entrusted. Among those who voted to push this debt on to the shoulders of the taxpayers must be many who are conscious of their liability for a share of it ; and if those men were not so devoid of honesty and self-respect they would put their hands in their pockets and pay up for their own whisky bills. This they should be very well able to do now, considering that they will this year be successful in squeezing two honorariums out of the country. But a New Zealand politician is a voracious animal ; the more he gets the more he looks for. He ate and drank Bellamy's on to the threshold of the Bankruptcy Court, foisted the debt on the country, has already paid himself an honorarium for services he never even pretends to have performed, has his hands outstretched ready to arasp a second one, and, in addition, contemplates raising it to £240 per annum. Compare this with the ferocity with which he goes for the salary of an unfortunate civil servant, and the patriotic ring of his speech while ho has his victim under the knife. During the course of the Bellamy debate, it was stated that members also were provided with free baths during the session ; but we don't altogether hold with the objections urged against this practice, as, while not believing that the country should be responsible for their drink bills, we consider they should receive every encouragement to keep themselves clean.