Ida Valley.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 448, 17 November 1904, Page 5

Ida Valley.

(From Our Own Corresponoent.) WEATHER. The weather is simply indescribable this last month, and farming operations were very much delayed owing to so much wet weather. They are likely to be delayed still further on account of the ground being so hard, as it dries up very quickly here. LAMBING. October was a very severe month on the lambs, it being the general lambing time round the quarter, and a great many lambs succumbed to the cold and wet. Those lambing a month earlier fared much better. Still, according to all accounts, there have been some large percentages on the farms, and a most remarkable number ot twins. All stock are in good condition, there being plenty ot grass. IMPROVEMENTS. Ida Valley has a healthy, thriving appearance, a great many large substantial homesteads having been erected this last year or two. The latest 1 see is a large stone residence of seven rooms, with bay windows, verandah, and everything up-to-date, just finished for Mr John Sloan. I MINING, There is nothing doing on this side of the flat whatever, but a few old hands and some Chinamen are still eking out a living at German Hill and Maori Gully. The Cairntrodlie dredge and claim has been asquired by a syndicate of one, and all hands are busy getting it in order for work again, I trust the one-horse syndicate will be well rewarded. All the employees come from about Gore. Another claim has been taken up, and there is talk of a dredge going on shortly. There is no doubt there is plenty of payable ground along the foot of the Rough Ridge. SOCIAL. There is nothing social about here now-a-days. One never hears of a dance, concert, or anything else. I dont believe they could raise a valedictory, (of which Alexandra is so prolific) if it was wanted. MAIL ARRANGEMENTS.

There has been great disatisfaction as to our mails and railway conveniences here and much need to. Ida Valley station, that cost some twenty or thirty thousand pounds, is left without even a man in charge or to take charge of goods, coming or going. Goods coming there are left at the consigner's risk. Now, a large quantity of goods would come there, if there was anyone responsible in charge as no Ida Valley people will go dragging over that hill to " 0 My Blessed Cow," if they could get their goods at Ida Valley station. The distance Js only about three miles longer, and a good level road all the way. As regards our mails we are worse off than we were 15 years ago. If you post a letter here on the Saturday or Sunday it does not get to Dunedin till Wednesday night. A post and telephone office is required at Ida Valley station, and we should have our mails landed here by the time the train gets to " 0 My Cow." A meeting was held in the Poolburn schoolhouseon Saturday, November sth, to discuss the best means of obtaining redress in this matter. There was fully 20 in attendance, and Mr Rutherford was voted to the chair. After considerable discussion, a deputation of seven was appointed to interview Sir J. G. Ward on his visit to tbe official opening of the present terminus. Mr Spain was appointed to communicate with our member to arrange for introductions, 4c. It came out in discussion that a settler being a mile away from Ida Valley station had to drive ten miles to Poolburn to get his mail; of another who had arranged for trucks to take his stock to Burnside, and ; when he got to Ida Valley with his sheep there were no trucks nor any means of communicating with the railway authorities —a fine position to be caught in. A telegraph follows the line all the way, but, bless you, the railway department doesn't allow anyone to play in its back yard.