BLACK'S

Dunstan Times, Issue 474, 19 May 1871, Page 3

BLACK'S

(from our ’correspondent.)

This T think must! be about tlie dullest place in existence, and to attempt to keep up a regular correspondence from it is a task too severe to impose upon an ordinary mortal. It is now three weeks since you heard anything from me, and still I cannot furnish you with] startling intelligence. We have not even elected a new Progress Committee. What the intelligent inhabitants of Black’s are thinking about I cannot make out. The Library Committee seems to have fallen'asleop, for we have 'heard nothing from it since its members were elected. I think it is about time they began to move in the’’matter as there are some very anxious to know what they are doing. Altogether in reviewing the state of affairs, calmly and dispassionately I think Black’s is nearly wound up. 1 think it should be abandoned to the large numbers of wealthy and influential race proprietors, who have done' so much and fought hard to do so much more for its advancement. I am really sorry they have not quite succeded. I notice in your local news of last issue that a great rush has set in to our township. I have not the slightest idea who your informant is hut I think he has made a slight mistake, I got down everything of any importance that occurs in my neighborhood and I do not think a new rush could escape me as they are not very numerous nowa-days. 1 do not think I am mistaken when I say that nothing of the kind has occurred. In fact instead of Bolderston and party striking payable gold in the township, after spending about two months in cutting up a drainage channel to prospect the ground they have abandoned it for ten days and have gone to seek their fortune in some’ more favorable spot, fairly And I believe thoroughly disgusted with Black’s in general. With regard to the memorial sent to Mr. Shepherd, I believe is perfectly correct and I hear that it was pretty well fdled with signatures. But the Government should bear in mind that not one-tenth of those that signed it have any interest in the place at all or care one farthing whether it is sold or not. The majority of the names were got on Tinker’s and Dryhread, and the others who signed merely did so to get rid of or oblige. Those who went to the trouble and expense of getting up the memorial, ’which trouble and expense they incurred fairly for their own interests fori have no doubt it would be an advantage to them to have the township removed from its present site. The removal of the township would enable them to sluice one or two spurs and in two or three months completely cover the present site with tailings and sludge thus rendering it useless to the miner and everyone else. It has been proved at half a dozen public meetings that the residents of Black's wish the township to remain where it is. If the majority of the people on the spot are satisfied I do not see how people living Wn or twelve miles away who know nothing of the auriferous hature of the groundcan have any right to interfere in the matter. I hope some of our public men will take the matter up and see it represented in its proper light.

The only rush of any importance which has come under my notice lately is a rush of water which if not soon looked after will make our road utterly impassable for pedestrians. I allude to the overflowing of Murphy and party’s tail race-which already has made the road in such a state that it is impassable for ladles and childrem Oilr police officers used to look after these matters once, and I hope this affair will be looked after in time.

There is no mining intelligence of any particular importance. The weather still continues fine and if we do not have a fall of rain shortly all sluicing operations will be put a stop to, for between the long drought and the frost water has been very scarce and its supply is diminishing daily. At Black’s No, 3. things are looking about the same as when last reported. The Ida Valley Company are still getting out good dirtv I have not been able to ascertain what the last washing yielded. No new shafts have started yet but there seems to be a rush of business people setting in unless something fresh is soon started it is over done.

jßavoll and party ha VC completed there race -with the exception of a small flume they have to erect across a gnlly. They ox-* pect to be finished in the early part of next Week, ''