OPHIR.

Dunstan Times, Issue 487, 18 August 1871, Page 2

OPHIR.

(FROM OUR CORRE-iPOXDEVT.) Will there be a War len here next week ? When are we going to hare a Court ? Such are the questions that are continuously asked of one and another of the inhabitants of this place, and the same questions are continuously answered. By the three simple words. ‘ I don’t know, now as nobody here seems to kaow, I wonder who is the most likely person to give us any information Regarding the above questions, and I wonder again, who is 10 blame for these questions being aske lat all? It surely can’t be the Government—the I’eid Government—that -were to satisfy everybody’s wants. It can’t be for the want of a fit and proper person to undertake the office, as there has been a gentleman here these last two months asßeociver, only waiting for his appointment, to be [conjoined to commence operatiois, and clear up the long accumulated list of cases. Summonses have been issued, applica ions grantel, and objection lodged in the Warden’s office {these last, three mouths, til the - have am muted to a p'le almost incalculable. Parties inteveste I in any of these cases, have appear ed at the Court House at the appointed time, and re-appeared oii two or three different occasions, only to fin 1 they have lost their day’s work, had theirjourney and been put to many other incidental expenses for nothing, and have to appear again and perhaps again for the same purpose, and it seems wry likely with the same result. Now there is one poi *t I think should be looked into, if the Government cannot affoid to pay a Warden specially for this d’stricl, which is a very large one, including Drybread, Tinkers, Devynshire, St Batban’s, B’ack’s No. I and No. 3, and German Hill;) why was our vi iting Warden withdrawn ? It is to say the least of it disgraceful, that a dis riot supporting a population of from four to five bundled miners, should be put to so much expense, to say nothing of the inconvenience, a great many of them having to travel a distance of ten miles to the Court House, when they get there, to be told there is no Warden, that the Court and all the cases are adjourned—adjourned till when ? Till the Go vemment think proper to appoint a Warden for the district, or make some other arrangements to suit themselves. The winter has at|lcngth passed, and the weather for the past few week* has been everything, nay rather more than conld be desired. The water-races about Drybread and Tinkers, owing to the, break in the weathe, are full to overflowing, and the various claimholders axe making up ior lost time. Several parties are preparing to wash up, and good returns «g* expected. A,t Bbqjt'a No- 3 things erf not so liyely report. ' A-noting of the harshqlder* in the Dcop Company

(Registered), to discuss the desirability of increasing the capital, is to be held shortly, The Try Again Company have not as yet commenced operations, the lowest tender for sinking the'.r shaft {'2651.) not having been accepted. The Thompson's Gully quartz reef is held in very high estimation by those interested in it; but up to the present time, for the want o f the nco Iful, not a great deal has been done. There is only one claim besides the prospectors' as|yet taken up on which a shaft is being sunk by contract. Whether anything has been struok I do not kn w, but there is not a second question, if there is any prospect, the owners (among whom is Mr. W. Greenbank, of Drybread) will test it thoroughly. There is a faint rumor of the prospecting claim being purchased by a Duuedin firm. If so, something will hi dons to test its worth.