OPHIR.

Dunstan Times, Issue 480, 30 June 1871, Page 2

OPHIR.

(from'our corrE'POvdevt;) Winter has at last appeared, and in a more severe form than ever before recollected [in this’neighhorhood,'-' The whole of th e water-races being froze'np. mining is at a perfect standstill, the farmers are also lying idle haying had to suspend ploughing operations, in fact every thing is in a state of frost, and sliding and skating are resortto. to fill up the leisure hours. Whilst t Iking of being froze up, 1 think "our Government must beVuffering from the same complaint, thatds, so ; far as we are concerned, as no notice whatever is eing taken of us,.though we,are in anything but a settled state.

Six weeks' ago Mr., Warden Fyke held his last Court h' re, and at the time intimated that another gentleman had been appointed his successor, who would, conduct the business of the Court as heretofore. Applications and summonses were issued returnable on the 18th June, but when that day arrived, [though: all the parties to the suits, some having travelled long distances, were in attendance, no Warden or Magistrate was'there, and as a matter of course, all had to return homeV disappointed. A district such as'Black’s, Drybread, &c., that returns s>. handsomely to the public revenue to be’[trea.ed; in such a cavalier way, as to be left without either AVardeu to administer ihe 'gold-fields, or Resident Magistrate to t dole out justice, is scandalous. In your last appears a letter, signed H. Frazer, wherein he states he has discovered gold within the bounds of the township of Ophir,‘l wish himj’oy of it. I won’t follow his example and brow stones, but a penny a liner’s word is equally as’goo.i as R F’a, and timejwill tell whose version is correct.

At Black’slNo. 3, the "workings are principally underground, consequently they are pushing away uninterrupted by the frost. The Ida Valley Deep I ead Company are juat now raising some good dirt, three ounces to the load is believed out of it. The Try Again Company’s shares are all taken up. A meeting was held on Tuesday last, when p eliminary arrangement for puttingthe Company in full swing was I believe settled. This company has some ground in their claim known to bo exceedingly rich, and tho popular impression is, with ordinary management, it should pay well.