BLACK’S.

Dunstan Times, Issue 547, 11 October 1872, Page 2

BLACK’S.

(from a correspondent.) Oct. 8.

I am sorry to have to record a very' serious calamity thei large building occupied by Mr Peter Nicholson (formerly the Criterion Hotel), situate at the upper crossing of the Manuherikia liivcr, was totally destroyed by tire on the 18th ult., between one and two o’clock in the day. 11 appears that Mrs. Nicholson had lit a fire in the stove, having put on a quantity of scrub, when she had occasion to go out of the house for a few minutes. Upon her return she found the lining near the stove pipe on tire, it is supposed owing to the dry scrub blazing up. She rushed out and gave the alarm ; but, before assistance could arrive, the whole building was one sheet of flame, and in less than twenty minutes was totally destroyed, not a single article of furniture or clothing, being saved. The building, I believe, belonged to Mr. G. Sinclair, and was worth from 86/. to 10!)/. Mr. Niohol. son lost all he possessed, not even a pair o? blankets or a change of clothing having been saved. The total loss is estimated at nearly 25(1/. Much sympathy is felt for Mr. Nicholson, who is a very steadv man and well respected by all who know him. A subsciiption list was set on foot before the day was out, and about 30/. was collected by Mr. S. Cotliugham by the following evening, at Black’s and Dry-bread. At the Serpentine, on the 21st ult., a miner named Martin Noone made a very determined attempt at suicide, by cutting bis throat with a razor. He wa. first dis* covered by Mr. Edmondson, storekeeper, who had occasion to go to Noone’s hut, between 11 and 12 o'cloek, and upon opening the door beheld Noon lying on the floor, covered with blood. Mr. Edmondson immediately gave the alarm, and was joined by Mr. A. Murray and several others. A messenger was promptly dispatched to Black’s (a distance of thirty miles) for Dr. Niven and the police, ami the wound was bound up in the best manner pos-ible by those remaining. Dr Niven and Coastal) e M ‘Gann made all possible haste, and upon arrival found Noone in a very weak condition from tic gif.at loss of blood he had sustained. The wouild was immediately dressed, and Noon subsequently taken into custody by the police. As soon he was reported fit to be removed he was brought into Black’s, and forwarded next day to the Deinstall District Hospital. A large number of Chinamen have taken possession of Black’s a; last, and a good few of them have set in to work in good earnest. There are thiee parties winking on the flat, in old ground. They have erected wheels and pumps, but 1 do not think tiny will do ] much good in it. They have great difliculj ties to contend against, and in ground that ! has for the most part been pretty thoroughly worked out, so their returns are like'y to |be very small. There are about fifty of them woikiug in one of the gu'lics, and | some arc doing very well. The Celestials ■ have given quite an impetus to trade, and | our storekeepers are doing better than they I have done for many a long month past. All j seem to vie with one another as to*’wbic T < j shall give John the most information ieI garding the best plac ■ for him to set in or where the best gold was got in times gone by, &c. Since 1 last wrote, another memorial has been forwarded to the Waste Lands Board in favor of the sale of the township of Ophir. This seems to bo rather a bitter pill to some of our neighbors, especially a certain “cockatoo,” who resides within ten miles of Black’s, somewhere near the main road to Clyde. This full-fledged bird appeals to have formed a very decided affection for our public torment, and seems to have entered into partnership with him, so I may say- \vc now have two, or even more humbugs to contend against in this matter. Well, let them roll up ! “ Birds of a feather flock together” and “a man is generally known by- the company he keeps,’ are both very old proverbs, and I must say our respectable “ cockatoo” has opened the eyes of a few of our townspeople during the last week, and shown himself in his true colors at last. But what business it can bo of his where the township is situate I am at a loss to conceive, unless it is because ho purchased a section on the new township, and thinks if Ophir is sold ho has made a bad bargain, for sclf-irrter-'st is a very prominent feature in bis composition; or, perhaps, if he succeeds in assisting Mr, Eraser to ruin all the business people on Black's, that gentleman may have promised him his influence and support at the next Provincial Election. Be that as it may, I wish him much joy of his new- friend, and, on behalf of the inhabitants of Black's, request that he will leave us and our township to look after ourselves--a very modest request, when it is considered ho lias no stake or interest in common with ns. He might as well ask for the removal of Clyde, W hethor Ophir is to be sold or not time will show. The matter will probably be referred to the Warden, and all parties may rely upon obtaining justice.

If, rs is commonly supposed, to cat coal is symptomotic of a morbid condition of consumption, we are in a bad way, for just now that article is in everybody’s mouth.— Punch.

The following is from the Raylesford Mercury :—“Jim Crow must be a veritable ‘ Tom Tidler’s ground,’ when the precious metal is picked up by the foot of those who walk over our soil. That such is the fact, the following incident will show. Lately, an alluvial miner in indifferent circumstances, came into Daylcsford to replace his : well-worn hoots by now ones. He could j barely spare enough money for the purpose, 1 but necessity compelled him 'o do so. Imagine his gratification, on pulling off hi ß | old watertighfs prior to trying on a better pair, to find a 3dwt. nugeet embedded in the clay on the soles. The man paid for his purchase, and went on his way ic- | joicing.”