THE Inangahua Times. PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7, 1882.

Inangahua Times, Volume VII, Issue 1097, 7 June 1882, Page 2

THE Inangahua Times. PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7, 1882.

It is satisfactory to find that the goldfields members of the whole colony are • united in their determination to have justice done to their various constituencies, and we learn that a caucus at which Messrs Weston, (Inangaliua), De Latour (Mount Ida), Pyke (Dunstan), J. C. Brown (one of the Otago constituencies), Seddon (Kumara), Fitzgerald (Hokitika), and J. Sheehan (Thames), waited on the Government yesterday, for the double purpose of stating what their wants are, and ascertaining how far they were likely to be satisfied. This is as it should be, for it will be seen that the most northern and southern goldfields have members on the deputation, and at the preceding caucus they must have unanimously resolved on what they would ask, and with what they will be satisfied. Their promptitude in thus taking action at the oarly part of the session is most commendable, and will no doubt be most beneficial to those that they represent. There is no doubt whatever that a new loan will be proposed, and there is every prospect of it being carried, but before it is the Government will be hardly set to satisfy all the claimants for large and small slices of the five million cake. We are told that the Government propose to stop the mouths of the Otago people with a job railway called the Otago Central, at a cost of £300,000. It would be supposed in all equity that, the Canterbury- and Otago members ought to give other districts a chance, instead of indecently scrambling for mor« when there are so many routes, the East and West Coast railway especially, that would not only open up a vast extent of mineral and agricultural country, but would be reproductive from its very outset. However, that, we fear, will not result, though the Governor's speech expressed the intention of Ministers to do all in their power to promote the development of the goldnelds. It is satisfactory to find that goldfields members will hold them to their promise so implied, and have most promptly taken action to that effect No doubt our member in his catalogue of wants will urge that work, but as to any success, that is hardly even problematical we fear. But at the same time it is pretty certain that holding office as they do by such a very narrow majority, that Ministers will seek to conciliate, the irreconciliables, such as Sir George Grey and his following, and that a promise of a reasonable sum being allotted to the Inangahua district, from the loan, v^i be extracted. Should such prov«Pbo be the case, it will not bt ."a word of promise to the ear to be broken to the hope," but will necessarily be kept, for the country, through its representatives, has had enough of borrowing for stated purposes, and being divested from its legitimate objects by reckless Ministers. Attached to any Loan Bill that the House will sanction must be a stringent schedule, showing exactly how it is to be apportioned, and in such a form as will allow no escape from, under any pretence. But irrespective of money that may come from the loan the action of the goldfields members, before the Estimates are introduced, has been most timely. Whether the loan be raised or not, there are numberless works in the various goldfields districts that can be executed out of ordinary revenue, especially as we aretold this year to expect a handsome surplus on the estimated revenue, and before they are laid before the House alterations can easily be made for the supply of the most important. The Government will be likely to be most favorable, for though Sir George Grey's tail may be a standing menance to them, the united support of the whole of the goldfields members would effectually checkmate any hostile movement on their part. It may be said that there are two small parties holding 'the balance of power. If the goldfields joined Sit George Grey, the fate of the Ministry is sealed. If, on the other hand, they staunchly support the Government, the latter can afford to laugh to scorn any [ attack that the Knight of Kawau may make on them. Under these circumstances, it is evidently highly probable that all reasonable demands will b« complied with, and we have little doubt that the goldfields during the present session, at the hands of the present Government, will meet with that amount of justice and consideration to which they have long been strangers.

The first sitting of the Licensing Bun'^f for the Iteofton district, to consider the applications lodged for publican's licenses was held at the Court-house, at noon on Monday last. The Bench consisted of Mr D. 0. Preahaw (chairman), and Messrs Thorburn, Masters, Budge, and Collings. The whole of the applications Bent in were granted, in most cases unconditionally, and in one or two instances subject to the carrying out of some slight improvements rendered imperative under the Act. At the adjourned half-yearly meeting of the Gorge Company, held at Mr, IJindmarsh's office, on Saturday evening last, the following gentlemen were appointed directors for the ensuing six months. Messrs C. B. King, J. Kilgour, C. Clifford, A. Nottman, and J. Lawn. The regular monthly meeting of the members of the Hospital Committee will be held at Campbell's Southern Cross Hotel, this evening, at 9 o'clock. Fresh applications for mining leases are still the order of the day. We publish this morning two new applications by Mr W. Hindmarsh, sharebroker. No tidings have yet been obtained as to the fate of the missing man, James Paul. It was represented some time ago that Paul's liat had been found in the Inangahua river, below the [town, but there appears to be some doubt as to its indentity, many beliving that the hat was not that worn by the missing man on the evening of his disappearance. Some surprise is expressed by Paul's friends that the police do not take the matter in hand, and endeavor to clear up the mystery which at present enshrouds the affair. That the man met with some violent end is beyond all question. As he had constant work .at one of the mines, and has a considerable csedit for wages in the Company, no efforts should be spared to clear up the matter. Miss Morrison, a certificated teacher with high credentials from the London School Board, has been temporarily appointed to the position of assistantteacher in the Reefton State School, vice Mrs Parry, resigned. There has, for some days past, been active inquiry for Inglewood and North Star scrip, and the price of the company's stock has advanced considerably in value. This circumstance is attributable to the great improvement shown in the mine during the last week. There was a sitting of the Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Mr G. Wise and Mr W. J. Potts, J.P.s, when Mr Hugh Duggan, for permitting his chimney to catch fire, was lined ss. and costs. Alexander M'Dowal, for being drunk and disorderly, was fined 10s. or in default 24 hours imprisonment. The same defendant was further charged, under the vagrant act, with using disgusting and filthy language in the public street. Constable Bamford proved the offence, and the defendant offering no defence was fined 40s. or, in default of payment, seven days imprisonment; the Bench administering a strong caution to the offender. We yesterday inspected at the National Bank, Reefton, a parcel of stone from the Keep-it-Dark mine, which experienced persons here unhesitatingly pronounced to be the richest collection of auiferous quartz ever produced in New Zealand, barring, probably, the small lot obtained from the Caledonian at the Thames. The j parcel weighs some four or five pounds, and cannot contain less than three pounds weight of pure gold. The stone was this morning dispatched to the National Bank, Greymouth, en route for the Christchurch Exhibition, where it will no doubt open the eyes of the Christchurch people, am 1 , the Colony at large, as to value of the quartz mining industry of the Inangahua. We can confidently say that no richer specimens of goldbearing stone was shown at the Melbourne Exhibition, and, in forwarding this parcel for the inspection of the Exhibition visitors, the directors of the Keep-it-Dark Company are doing more to awaken outside interest in our resources than could be accomplished by volumes of written reports. Care will be taken to place the Exhibit in a conspicuous position in the West Coast section of the Exhibition, and the effect which it will have upon the monied beholders cannot fail to be benefical to this district in many ways. The next English and European mail, via San Francisco, will close at the Postoffice, Reefton, on Wednesday, the 14th day of June, at 7 a.m. A correspondent of the Dunedin Star, writing from Akaroa, says : — An Akaroa belle has captivated a wealthy beau, reputed to have £15,000 per annum. The approaching nuptials are to be quite aia mode. The beau is a Victorian squatter and visited Christchurch to see the Exhibition, which also brought the fair one to the same city. They met, he saw, he conquered, and takes his bride with him. The dresses are altogether "too, too," and the wedding dress is a "study," or, better still, a "poem" It is of pure white satin, and is trimmed with countless yards of the article so dear to every lady's heart — "real lace." The Post says that if any doubt as to the new Parliament proving itself quite equal to its predecessors in capacity for talk were ever entertained they must have been fairly dispelled by the litttle preliminary canter on Tuesday night. " The Opposition " (says our contemporary) "should take a lesson in this respect from their leader, Mr Montgomery, who set them an excellent example of brevity and moderation. It will be a vast improvement on our experience of the last few sessions, if all public questions, instead of being made the subjects of endless declamation and blindly factious voting — on both sides — are accorded fair consideration, temperate discussion, and intelligent criticism." Coroners and medical men in New Zealand have to do a considerable amount of

lw^!SllS^ii lnes - Laqt Thursday (says tine Wainiate~¥j«tqs) the Cormier, Mr J. Beswick, came from mam, a distance of about 28 miles, and, iu\conipany with Dr Chilton, left here on Fiiday morning for Upper Waitaki, 42 mileaSSy vdiore a post mortem and inquest was held, r&turning to Waimato on Saturday morning, file Coroner thus had %.-, traverse 140 miles and Dr Chilton 84 n^iles simply to certify that a man died froln excessive drinking. Both gentleman speak very ruefully of the state of the roads. \ The Queen shows herself with less reserve in Scotland ajid on the Continent than she does to jthe English people. This is the complaint made at Home during the Queen's/ recent visit to Mentone, where she dtfove about with much more freedom thaii is her Majesty's habit in England. Thbre is this difference. The Queen does <jirive about pretty often at Windsor and Jin London during the "season," but is rarely seen in the English provincial towns. Such reserve' is a mistake. * ; There was the usual rush lately, says the New ZealandJ Times, for seats in the galleries by persons anxious to witness the ceremony of the opening of Parliament by his Excellency the Governor, and misadventtires th^a| befell those who are not familiar with fjU labyrinthine passage of the Parliamentary ' Building. Two young gentlemen of distinguished appearance rushed hither and thither, until at last they entered a door leading into a gallery, where they sat pr.tiently until the ceremony was over. But they were in the Lower House instead of the Council Chamber, and, what is more, had esconced themselves in the gallery set apart for the Lords. There are great' complaints from some of the Wairarapa stations respecting wild dogs worrying the sheep. '-The dog difliculty (says the Standard) is likely to ba worse than the rabbit difliculty. A few years ago there may have been 400 dogs in the Valley, now there are 4000. When these brutes (stray ones) once get hold of the bush, as they must do, they will make havoc among the sheep. At Matarawa, sheep, it is said, could hardly be kept for them." The Wairarapa people are never satisfied. A short time since, they imported cats to worry the rabbits, and then complained that pussy worried themselves.' Now the doga are a trouble. Truly these folk are hard to please. Why do they not try weasels or stoats, or other sweet-smelling animals for a change ? ' The Westport Times has the following : —Ross and another, Managers of "Burton's " Royal Australian Circus, appeared in the Resident Magistrate's Court, on Tuesday, under the following circumstances : — ln Christchurch they engaged a carrier named James Fletcher to bring the circus to the West Coast, but did not pay him upon completion of the work. Fletcher got judgment in the Hokitikn Court for the amount of the debt and costs, amounting altogether to £44. A distress warrant was issued, and that document and the debtor arrived in Westport by the Kennedy, on Tuesday. The i Bailiff immediately took possession of the "superb stud of Arabian, American, and Australian thoroughbred horses," for the release of which the money claimed was paid to the Bailiff, and by him handed to the Clerk of the Court. The gentleman of the " prof esh." did not, however, intend to pay their debts so handsomely. They sought out a lawyer and issued an interpleader summons against Fletcher. The case came on before Mr Baker, when the plaintiffs pleaded that they did not own stick or stake of the circus, the whole concern being the property of a Mr Wilson, of Melbourne, who owns two or three more shows of the kind now travelling the Colonies. The decision of the Magistrate was that the £44 should be returned to Ross, and that Fletcher should bear the Court costs. In addition to this outlay he has to pay his passage money. In the course of a recent trial, at Home a Judge remarked that English laws were ' the essence of justice ; " the people in Court laughed, and well they might.