BLACK’S.

Dunstan Times, Issue 445, 28 October 1870, Page 3

BLACK’S.

(FROM A CORRESPONDENT.) A. tremendous gale of Mind visited the district on Friday night last, and, in its mad career, committed great havoc. Among iti victims are to be numbered miners, traders, and farmers. ‘ In the township, the shop of Mr. Wetherspoon, baker, was -entirely unroofed, an 1 the roof carried a distance of twenty yar> s. Sundry and invers sheets of iron were taken possession ■of by the wind, and carried away. 1 would mpress upon the minds of your readers that the night was very dark, and leave them to form the (ferocity) veracity of my nfonnaut who, with all the sincerity maginable, informed me that he saw, with his own eyes, a signboard carried heavenwards until it disappeared entirely, and, from the length of time it took ere it vanished, he feels assured it must have gone miles high, and, says he, looking nervously about him, “ as no one has seen or heard of it since, I don’t believe it has ever come down. ” But the loss of a few sheets of iron is nothing to that sustained by the Golden Gate and Suspension Waterracc Companies, whose elaborate and substantial Burning* across the Manuhcrikia were levelled with the ground. The utmost sympathy is expressed for the shareholders, as, before damages can be repaired, a large amount of money will have to he expended. Tae district also will suffer, as sliiicing operations are at a complete stand-still, throwing a great body of men out of employment. Both Companies are busily engaged using every exertion to repair the damage, hut it is expected a few weeks at Last will elapse before the water is again running. At Black’s No. 3 ncreaaed activity is ■observable. The Deep Lead Company are getting the plant on the ground, the whim, as also the greater part of the timber for slav ing the shaft, having arrived. The first sod of the new shaft, it is anticipated, will he turned in the course of the next week. Revel and party, who have, for some time, been engaged cutting a race on to some well-known auriferous ground at the foot of the hill, near the roa 1 from here to German-hill, have nearly completed their task. Immediately they have the water in they will commence sluicing operations, ■with, I am happy to say, as good prospects as any party in the district. At Gorraan-hill, Messrs. Flannery and Csflfda mld ©arwra pssty (Bofiwmfi'dk

and Company) have had some very good | washings-up, and are well satisfied with I the handsome returns received for their labor. The late wet winter has been of great service to them, as they have had a liberal supply of water, which they have used to the fullest advantage. The agriculturists, with few exceptions, have their crops in, and the large flat at Blacks No. 1., as also the large tract of land at Tiger Hill, begins to assume a most verdant appearance. The past two seasons, for the prolific crops and for the high, prices that have ruled for farm produce of all kinds, have been everything the farmers could desire, and it is to be hoped the coming one will be as satisfactory. The head race for flushing the sludge channel is still in observance, no settlement having been come to as yet. There has been no answer to the memorial sent to the Government, hut one is anxiously expected A few parties are working on the flat, hut I cannot say with what return. The- Rev. Fathers Maloney, Royer, and Norris are to give lectures in the Catholic Church this week and Mass will also be celebrateted, The mysterious ease at Drybread has caused great excitement here, and the trial is looked forward to with much interest. A fall of rain would be of great service just now, as ground is very dry, owing to the late strong winds and hot sun. The Manuherikia rose about two feet last Sunday, and rendered the lower ford at Black’s impassable. Had it not been for no one (Would have been able to croas. Tqe Government ought to give a small sum as a subsidy to retain a boat at this crossing, as, in the event of a rise in the river, all communication is stopped, unless parties procee to the upper ford, which necessitates a detour of about four miles. Mr. Spain crosses all the children on the West bank of the Manuherikia who attend the school at Black’s free of charge. In times of floods when the coach cannot cross, the mails could be conveyed by the boat. The want of a boat is greatly felt by all. A small sum would make a boat a permanent nstitutinn, and a large number whose avocations call them to and fro, would find that instead of having to wait for a chance, they would be always enabled to cross saving both time and money.