BLACK’S.

Dunstan Times, Issue 606, 28 November 1873, Page 2

BLACK’S.

(FROM A CORRESPONDENT.) The principal topic ot co nversation with us just now is the land, and many are on the alert to obtain the first inkPng of a block being thrown/open, so that they can bathe first on tne' ground- to brake their selection. Dr. Webster, one of the Executive, I understand is shortly expected in the neighborhood, when he will select a, block of 2,50 i acres intbelda Valleyto be thrown open under the Agricultural Lease Regulation- there are some first class patches of land in Ida Valley, and if but some ot these ale included in the block, no great time will elapse before it is taken up The agitation for a further lilock to bo thrown open on Mr. Glassford’s run and adjoining the present Tiger Hill block does - not meet with unanimous support. T can scarcely say the opponents, but at all events, those who are holding aloof say there is no aufficient area of good land to form a settlement or to give two good farms on Mr. Giassford a run. Rumor is already busy with her thousand tongues, and has it that the player of the petition will not he granted, as various concessions made by the holders of this run some years hence were supposed to keep the run free from interlopers, the miners excepted ;it is likewise said that the impounding of the few horses by Air. Glassford’s non a few weeks ago has more to do with the petition, than the actual demand for the land—So saith rumor. Another move is to he made at Black’s Xo. 3, towa.ds the developing the Deep Lead—Peter Revell and party havingtaken up a claim- 1c is their intent! m to pi ice it in the market under the protection of the Mining Company’s Act As a rile, mining is healthy, caused no doubt by the bountiful supply of water. So favorabo la season has never before been experienced, and all are taking advantage of the opportunity afforded The same remarks are equally applicable to agriculturists as to the miners The crops, whether of wheat, oats, barley, or potatoes, look splendid, and there is but little doubt the harvest wil 1 bear out prerent appearances, and prove a most abundant one. The roads arc the next subject for consideration, and really, from their execrable condition, they are deserving of notice. To Say they are bad does iiofc convey a ti bo of what I mean- They are superlatively worse than bad roads are in general. The only pity is that some half-a - dozen M.P.O.’s, together with a sprinkling of ; road engineers, topped up with a few surface men, were not immersed in one of the sloughs of despond. Then, perhaps, so'no attention might be paid to tneir abominahla state, and some effort made to render them | reasonably passable.