BLACKS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 565, 14 February 1873, Page 3

BLACKS.

(FROM A CORRESPONDENT, • February 11; " 1 hardly know how to apologise for my long silence, I cannot say there has not been matter to write about, or that 1 have been absent or or the sick list —the fact of the matter is, I have been expecting to see a communication from ‘ your own ” from week to week ami have put my letter oil accordingly, but as he does not seem in c i-iod to let the public hear of him, I have determined at last to venture a few lines ; with this brief and lame excuse, I will at once proceed. The matter of the most importance since I last wrote is the visit ol his Honor the Superintendent, and the Hold-fields’ Secretary, on the 29 th ultimo. Snortly after their arrival, the Secretary of the Progress Committee waited upon them to know at what time it would be moat convenient to receive a deputation el the Committee, and seven o’ clock was the hour appointed. At the time appointed ail the member's of the Committee assembled at the Shamrock hotel, and were introduced by Air. Carew. Air. Chcescman, the Chairman of the Committee, was chosen to do the talking part of the business, and I believe acquitted himself very cieditab'y. The first subject discussed was the sale of the township of Ophir, and after looking into the matter in various ways, it was det rmined to send for the “ horrible” Mr. Fraser, as the Supei intendent said, he should dke to hear both sides of tho -question, the subject was consequently postponed till the following morning to allow of them visiting the ground, 1 hear that our very e* clientMember, the gentle Shepherd, came in for a shewing up during the -nisi-ussion. Tho following were the other subjects- brought forward that evening—The graining a sum of money for repairing roads on this side of | the river ; an extension of Commonage for the district of 13,000 acres from Messrs. Campbell and Low’s inn ; 5,000 acres of land for agricultural purposes on Messrs. Stafford and Bell’s, Ida Valley Station ; a cemeteiy on Mr. J. G Glassford’s run; water supply for B'aoks’ district from the Manuberikia river; reservation of two sections of land in the township of’Ophif for public buildings ; a Registrar of Births, &c. fir the Blacks’ district, and the compl tion of tile telegraph from Nascby to Clyde, altogether a pretty fair budget for the Progress Committie to bring forward, all of which were fully discuss d, the speaker pointing out in a clear and common sense mai ner, the advantages that would accrue to the district, and a’ao, in many instances to the Government by carrying out the various schemes proposed. To the first, his Honor agreed to give IOOf. to the roads, providing 50f. was raised in the district ; with reference to the commonage and agricultural lauds, the Government would open tip a correspondence with the run-holders, and endeavor to arrive at some satisfactory arrangement with them. Mr. Bastings raid he bad no doubt the land would be opened shortly, as by the now Act they were empowered to take land from the squatter it 2s fid per acre, they w<uld also order the cemetery to be surveyed, and would grant a sum of money towards fencing and improving it; tho two sections of land in tho township shou’d he reserved f.-r public buildings, tiny would also give bonks at the rate of 31. for every 1/. sent down for a pu'-lic Library ; with reference to the relegraph from Naschy to Clyde, his Honor said, if a petition was forwarded to the General Government upon tho subject, he would be very happy to recommend tho work. This concluded the business iff the Committee Mr. Cbcesoman returned thanks on behalf of himself and the Committee for tho kind attention shewn t ■ them in all the subjects brought forward, and withdrew At seven o’clock next morning, his Honor and Mr. Bastings proceeded to inspect the disputed ground of tho township, they were waited upon by Mr. R. Fras»r, Mr. J.Graham, do. Mr. Graham very kindly shew d them a nice little prepared prospect, that was provided for the occasion. Mr. Fraser dwo't at great length upon the folly of the Bovemmcntsolling land in ornear the goldfields—he maintained that if Ophir was sold, all the miners might clear out as soon as possible, as he could assure Lis Hon r, that the township constituted the whole of Blacks’ diggings. After carefully looking over the ground, however his Honor failed to see that the sale would interfere or invenience any person, and merely remarked that only persons residing in the place ha t a right to interfere with reference to the sale- it was decided that the sale be proceeded with, subject to a few re etvatiohs They then proceeded to inspect the agricultural leases on tho flat, said to he required for mining. A number of miners accompanied tht-m to the spot, Mr. Ghees • man pointed out whete gold hadb entr eed i ito‘-no of the sections, and prop-sed to allow Ids section to be thrown open on certain conditions, if tho other fanners would agree to the same tonus Mr. Basting said the terms offered, were very fair, and as the leases had not been executed the lands would he declared open for raining, the miners to pay no compensation. This visit will be prolific of much go ,d to the district, and great credit is due to tho Pr - gress Committee, and especially to their Chairman for the manner in which they hj ought forward tho d fferent mil jects and explained the good that would arise by carrying the recommendations into effect. The farmers are busy getting in th- ir crops, which are pretty good, considering the dry season we have experienced. Most of the mining community are idle for the want of water. ■ A public meeting has been recently held for the pun oso of electing a new School Committee, end it is to bo hoped that the attendance at school for the future will bo considerably increased.