MOUNT BENGER

Dunstan Times, Issue 503, 8 December 1871, Page 2

MOUNT BENGER

(FROM OCR CORRESPONDENT,) That unfailing theme, the changeable climate of this benighted country again calls fur some notice. During the past fortnight we have had the thermometer as high as 98 degrees fabr., and as low as twenty deg. To‘day (30th November) is 'as cold as though it were-raidwinter, while yesterday and the day before were strongly suggestive of blast furnaces and the infem.d regions. The river is considerably higher than its usual summer level, and appears likely to continue so for some time to come. Almost as stereotyped an excuse for grumbling as the weather, the state of our roads, supplies me with an item for this letter. Between Roxburgh and the Dumbarton Rock there is a very bad pinch generally known as the Devil’s Elbow, which appears to have been especially contrived for the endangering of the lives of the Queen's lieges. The slightest deviation from the track, which is there the reeky bed of a creek ; entails a descent of some hundred eet, and a possible path in the Molyneux. Down this incline Mr. Walter Millers buggy was precipitated a few days ago, but wonierful to say, neither horses, buggy, nor human beings suffered the slightest injury. The escape was in fact, almost miraculous, and it is not likely to be repeated. Perhaps after a few fatal accidents Lave occurred, the Government will alter the road, a work not likely to require any very great outlay. Shearing has commenced on all the adjacent stations. Shearers appear far from plentiful, and even untried hands are by no means so numerous as they were last season, I If the men wonld only stick together they might easily compel a return to the old r ate of If. per hundred, which, considering the enhanced value of wool appears noways excessive. It is want of union among working men, thatenablcs employers to reduce wages to starvation rates, and I fear the evil is too deeply rooted to be easily cured. Our wrrtby doctor whorecently succeeded to a handsome property, intends returning to England in a month or two. His departure will open up an excellent field for a duly qualified medical man. The remaining sections in the township of Roxburgh were sold on the 27th inst., mostly at the upset price. At the same time seventeen sections in the newly surveyed township at the Bengerburn were disposed of. A ease of rape from over tbs ranges occu pied the local Court for some time last week. The charge broke down. The evidence for the defence revealed a state of mora’s worthy of Sodom and Gomorrah, and certainly unworthy of any quasi Christian community.