The Inangahua Times PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY. FRIDAY, JULY 10, 1885.

Inangahua Times, Volume X, Issue 1572, 10 July 1885, Page 2

The Inangahua Times PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY. FRIDAY, JULY 10, 1885.

A special meeting of the Onnt.y Council w«w held on Wednesday last, for the purpose of considering the provisions of the " Local Bodies Finance and Powers Act," now before Parliament. The Council passed a resolution against the imposition of a royalty upon gold in lieu of gold duty. We do not km>w whnt reasons the Council urged in support of the decision arrived at, none being given in the resolution. But the Council very probably regarded it that if gold is to be taxed at all, it might just as well be taxed through the customs as in any other way. The idea of patting a royalty upon gold is a mere shallow evasion of the promise of Ministers to abolish the gold duty, and affords another instance of the way in which the present Government seek to " foster the mining industry." We are glad to see that the County Council has grown wise by experience, and at the meeting on Wednesday last the lowest tender was accepted in each instance for the maintenance of northern roads. In connection with the former tendering, it seems that before opening any of the tenders the Executive Committee decided amongst themselves that they would accept the tenders which came nearest to the County Engineer's estimate. Theresult of this determination isapparent by what happened on Wednesday. The number of tenders sent in for the different sections of road was perhaps double that received on any former occasion. Tenderers no doubt thought it probable that the committee would adhere to the course they had previously laid down, consequently there was unusual competition in trying to "tip " theJEngineer's estimate. But tenderers were sold, for yesterday, no doubt owing to the pressure of public feeling, the Committee reverted to the old rule, and accepted the lowest. Tenders are iuvited for leasing Gorge Farm, the propertyof Mr F. Boardman, Boatman's, An advertisement on the subject appears in another column. In the course of the deba J ,e upon the Hon. G. M 'Lean's motion in the Legislative Council, for an Address to the Queen upon the Sydney Contingent, the Hon. Mr Buckley insinuated that the mover of the address had picked the idea from the brains of Sir George Grey. The Hon. Mr M'Lean said that his success in life was mainly due to the fact that he picked where he eonld from the brains of every man he came in contact with. He would pick from his (Hon. Mr Buckley's) brains, but unfortunately he had none. Mr Malcolm delivered his promised lecture at Boatman's on Wednesday evening last. There was a fair attendance, and the lecture was thoroughly enjoyed by all present. T«-nfght Mr Malcolm, by request, will lecture in the Oddfellow's Hall, Reefton, on "General Gordon." The subject is one upon which Mr Malcolm is thoroughly at home, and embracing as it does, a running history of ihe wretched Soudan war, with all its lamentaMe and humiliating consequences, cannot fail to prove in the highest sense interesting and instructive. Very good reports are current as to the probable result of the tribute in the Fiery Cross mine. It is said the stone will return considerably over two ounces per ton. The stone is being taken from that part of the mine situate in the old Alexandra lease. The tributers are Messrs H. Currie and T. Rooney. The United Alpine Company, Lyell, may now be classed as one of the most prductive gold mining enterprises in the Colony. The reef has now been driven on and proved for a distance of something like 360 ft, its thickness being from 6ft. to 10ft. The second crushing from this extensive block was completed on Tuesday last, and returned 7940z of retorted gold, from 828 tons of stone, enabling the directors to declare a dividend of one shilling per share. It has taken some years to open up this valuable property, but the shareholders have now before them a long and prosperous innings. A sale of forfeited shares in the South Hopeful Company will be held at Mr Wise's oflce, at 4 p.m., to-morrow. The adjourned half-yearly meeting of shareholders in the company will be held at 7 o'clock in the evening of the same day. The Golden Fleece United ompany have decided to reduce hands, and a number of men have been paid off. Something approaching to a political crisis has arisen in Wellington, and it is not easy to see what the end of it is to be. The Government have been defeated upon almost every item of their modified tariff proposals. Of course, the Government being unable to carry their measures have substantially lost the confidence of the House, and under ordinary circumstances would have but one course open to them. The feeiing, however, seems to be that the Ministry have got the country into a mess, and they will have to get it out of it. Major Atdinson will evidently have no hand in the muddle, and the situation can hardly be attractive enough for novices. The developments of the next few days will be full of interest. A football match will be played on the Club ground, at 2.30. p.m. to-morrow. Sides will be chosen as follows:— New Zealanders v. the World. It is expected that strong sides can be formed by this division and some really good play brought out. The Nelson Evening liiailmyt :— It is very clear that Mr Booth's recent mission to Nelson was not a complete success, indeed, his late .Committee qnght to consider whether i} is But absolutely necwr

sary that he should return here at once to carry on the work he commencod. The reason for our making the suggestion is as follows : -At the Nelson College there is a debating Society, a meeting of which, we learn from the Nehonian, was held a few weeks ago. One of the masters opened the debate in favor of the motion that •'Total abstinence from alcholic stimulants on the part of a healthy subject is not only a duty he owes to his physical culture, but one which on accr.unt of the great prevalence of intemperance, he owes to society at large." The speech was delivered, and no doubt carried conviction to many minds, but not to all, for immediately the speaker had resumed his neat there arose a sturdy young anti-Blue Ribbonist who, with a vigor equal to that whi«h he dUniays on the fo>t'iall or cricket field, took up tho opposite side of the question. He "opposed the motion on (1) physiological grounds, and (2) as a duty to society, He maintaln«d there Iran less drinking now then formerly. Our great Anglo-Saxon ancestors were great carousers. Compare the sturdy ancient Roman with the pnny modern ItaKan. Look at the Germans, the greatest beer drinkers in the world, do they not. turn out the finest soldiers -and deepest scholars in the world ? T maintain that alcohol improves 'a man's physique. As to henefiting society by banishing alcohol, it waß the greatest mistake in the world. Rfiformers are old women ; prohibition in a barbarous thing, and after all is very ineffectual Man wants strong drink, nnd will ?pt it if he can, at all risks. Only old woman and sills take the " blue ribbon." Tho world, if till refused to take wines and spirit* would bo a« dnll ns a tea-fiffht. Whoever ht»ard of tho Queen's health bein<* drnnk with singer-beer. z<wdone, h©zo»done or orango champagne? It would be an insult to her Majesty. Drunkards are generally weak-minded imbecile sort of characters, and the sooner they drink themselves to death the better for society." We are pleased to find that the report of the debate is "to be continued." Professor Haselmayer, a man well known upon the stage, hns just died at Vienna, aged 47, # at the pecise juncture that he had rotirei with the idea of enjoying the large fortune he had amassed. The New Zealand Time* of Tuesday says : " A meeting of Nelson and West Coast members was held yesterday. It was resolved to request the Govnr ment to take over the road connecting Nelson with the West Coast, via Reef tun, and to maintain it a<» one of the main roads which connect Christchurch with Hokitika. Tt was also decided that n'prwn talons should be mane to the Minster -f Pnl.lic Works as to the necessity for S"h:- altor«ition in*the trains from Nelson and Bel grove. At present the Nelson -Reef ton coach runs close to *h« train, and it was thought that if any alteration was male in the time-table the coach would probably .make Belgrove the terminus. " We are glad to see that our members are taking action in this matter, and trust that the pressure brought to bear by the Nelson and West Coast representatives will have the desired effect. Admitting, as it does, its liability to maintain the Christ-church-Hokitika road, the Government cannot possibly show any good cause why it should leave that throtish the Buller and Inangahua Valleys, which is equally a part of the arteml system of the Colony, to be looked *fter or neglected as the case may be, by impecunious County Councils and half-starved Road Boards. The Oamaru Mail thus discourses on violins :— The following advertisement appears in the Saturday's issue of the Dunedin Herat 1 :- •" To violinists— For sale, violin by Antonius Stnulivarius, Cremonensis (1738). Bargain. For particulars, apply E.D., Hew Id office." If one may rely upon the statements of the advertiser, here is a rare chance for securing an instrument by the greatest master. Ordinarily one would have to pay from £500 to £1000 f-»r a real " Strad.," by reason of the scarcity and excellence of the instruments of the renowned maker. The price is too high fur ordinary mortals, and they have, as a rule to content themselves with a "Copy, " whoe only resemblance to the genuine article is that it contains a ticket similar to lhat pasted inside an original. These base imitations arc a shocking libel on the productions of Stradivarins, who mastered the problem of exactitude in construction, wood, and varnish, in ay ay that placed every other violin maker in the shade. It is evident th.it the instrument advertised in the Herald f«.r s»le hat. a ticket inside, which may be a fjiithful indication of ita maker and quality. Of conse this is a problem which is difficult of solution. But, as the advertiser has invited applications to him for particulars, we would like him to explain how it happens that Stradivarins made the violin ten years after his death. ONE BOX OF CLARKE'S B 41 PILLS is warranted to cunt all discharges from the Urinary Organs, in either sex (acquired or constitutional), Gravel, and Pains in the Back. Guaranteed free from Mercury. Sold in Boxes, 4s. 6d each, by all Chemists and Patent Medicine Vendors : Sole Proprietors, The Lincoln and Midland Coustim Dbuo Co, Lincoln, England. Wholesale of all the Wholesale Houses American Co.'h H»p Bittern strengthens builds up and cutes continually, from the first dose. Be sure and see •