BLACK’S.

Dunstan Times, Issue 550, 1 November 1872, Page 2

BLACK’S.

(FROM A CORRESPONDENT.) Oct. 20. The inhabitants of Black’s have at last screwed themselves up to the sticking point, and have actually elected a Progress Committee. I have urge 1 them to do this on several occasions, and am very glad to see we have not lost quite all our energy ; still I cannot help thinking it would have been much better for the place had they acted on my advice before. *' The Committee, I believe, from what I know of the several members, will prove a good one. It consists of Messrs. J. Cheeseman, 11. I’yan, J. Pitches, S. Leask, and M. Fitzgerald, with Mr. IT. Dixon ns Secretary, and if they only succeed in accomplishing one-third of what is expected by the public, they will be kept pretty busy during tbeir term of office—twelve months—a notion I cannot quite agree with, for the reason that they will no sooner have got into working order than they will have to retire, and a Committee elected ‘who will have to gain the experience their predecessors had arrived at. However, if they work well together, they may accomplish a great deal of good during their term of office. They have already made a commencement. A memorial has been drawn up, and is in course of signature, asking extoution of commonage for the district, which is greatly required. There are between two and three thousand head of cattle and horses in the district, belonging principally to settlers, and, I maysay, not an acre of ground to graze them on. The small piece of land that was surveyed as a commonage some time ago is entirely useless for such a large number of cattle, and what is more, although Messrs. Campbell and Low received compensation for it, no effort is made by them to keep their sheep oil', and consequently- enjoy as much benefit from it as ever. 1 have no doubt the memorial will be very numerously signed, and the Government cannot well help granting the prayer of the memorialists, especially as they will receive more revenue from the land as a commonage than they do at present from the run-holders. There is no doubt the run-holdors will be sorry- to part with the land applied for, and will do all in their power to prevent it ; but, if the inhabitants of the district persevere in their endeavor, the squatter must eventually give way. The Province cannot be held by the squatters for ever, and they must give way to the increasing population. The Chinamen in the gully are doing very well. We have about one hundred and and fifty here. There are four companies of them now working on the fiat ; but I do not think any- of them are doing very much, owing to the Government being so dilatory in settling the question of the agricultural leases on the flat. It is now nearly- abandoned by European miners, and I think this is a subject that the Committee might inquire into. At Black’s No. 3, the Homeward Bonnd Company Are still getting out very good ' dirt, and intend putting on wages men tins week. I have been unable to ascertain the result of their last washing op ; but I be- ' lieve it was very satisfactory. I Bciil and party- have washed up, and : rumor says the result has not come up to their anticipations. It has not yet been decided whether or not they will resume operations.