MOUNT BENGER

Dunstan Times, Issue 485, 4 August 1871, Page 3

MOUNT BENGER

► (from OUR CORRESPONDENT.) PYou must attribute my longsilence rather to lack of news than to any dread of Messrs, Constantia and Justitia. It really is to be lamented that you so cruelly nipped the hope < f these aspirants in the bud. lam an excellent subject to practfcejabuse ‘upon, my hide being an elephantine thickness. I'cannot say that we are very lively just at present. The river 5s up, and likely to continue so. and, as a consequence, the claimhulders and working men are looking rueful. Nor are the Cockatoos much more cheerful, as there has been for some time a steady importation of low-price 1 down country oats into the district, to the great detriment of their monopoly. Still, in spite of all these drawbacks, there is enough go left in ns to gft up a celebration of S'r Walter Scott’s centenary. The Quadrille Club are at the bottom of the movement, so that dancing is bound to be a prominent feature of the entertainment. The newly formed Harmonic Society are to make their first bow to a discerning public on the same occasion. The only politicalexcitement is the threat, cned sale of fifty thousand acres on Moa Plat run. The sale of any land on the goldtie Ids is both injurious and unnecessary, and should be strenuously opposed by every miner on principle. Except as a bad example, I do not,how-ever, seemucb harm the present sale can do. It has certainly opened the eyes of the Mount Bengsritcs to the complicity of Donald Reid in the Island Block Sale. It has also effectually cooked Mr. Bradshaw’s popularity in the district. TheTeviot at present contains no less a person than the great Mr. John M'Leau, champion of the Dunedin unemployed, and moborator iu ordinary to the roughs of the colony. Tne honourable member for the Kennelbas not made a deep impression on the Tevio'iles, who are rather too douce to mistake flashy fluency and the most brazen power of assertion for striking ability and honesty of purpose Still in the lack of all other amusements, a considerable number are always willing to set “ the red a going.’’ So much so, that I understand the spirited proprietor of the orator intends in future charging an admission fee to see the “Little Wonder.” Lambing seems pretty well a Ivaneel on some of the runs about here, in fact, everything prom’ses an early season. School affairs at Moa Flat are, I believe, in rather, a disorganised condition, owing to the Committee’s sudden dismissal of the teacher. Legal proceedings are threatened o« ail sides. Horse whippings have already eventuated. are beingmadeto get up a Church of England and a dramatic club. The latter is likely to be successful.