The Dunstan Times. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26,1873.

Dunstan Times, Issue 610, 26 December 1873, Page 2

The Dunstan Times.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26,1873.

Beneath the Ruleof .Men entirely j csi the pen is uioimSß than the word.

The affairs of the Dunstan Flour Mill Company being so far odviuimd as tn permit the management, to rl cide upon the ereetinn of their Mill at Chat l ™ Creek, it. is greatly to he fleshed that at last this long standing want of the means to convert onr firmers grain into flour, will at last he supplied. In the establishment of such a simpl» matter as a Flour-mill the Dunstan district has linen excessively slow, while so long Ins the matter been hinging about that, without exaggeration we might say the district by the delay has lost what would have, built half a dozm mills. However, as the old adage says ( ’tis “ better to 1« late than never ” let ns in charity hope that the mid will prove an accomplished fact and be ready 1o grind (he seasons’ wheat 18'4-187d. Could tbe farmer be tl o!t)nglily assured that such will be the case there is plenty of time for

them to make preparations to supply the market with a quantity sufficient to give the mill a start, while even if that should fall short more might he imported equally as profitable as the manufactured article. Chatto Creek is perhaps aliojtt the best and most suitable site that could have been selected—there is always ample water, power, while the locality |s convenient to producers as Wed as consumers W« nm bv nr, njpiM >. f i . vacates for land manias, or would we advise every hotly that has saved a little money to invest it in farming, as in small up-country communities the consumption of grain is limited, and there being no means of export, the production frequently causes the business to be unnrofitable. This can

scarcely occur iu our case, we import every pound of flour we use as well as bran and pollard—even our supplies <>( horse feed have been iiii-iillieient, farmers have scarcely received less tbau four shillings per bushel for their oats, while everything in the shape of hay or chaff fetches higher prices than in any ofherpavcofOtago. There is also a considerable demand for barley for malting purposes, bub none is available, and brewers have been compelled to send out of the district to make purchases There is plenty of land conveniently situated under (lie Uunstan ranges to produce ail that we may n quire, likewise, there are licit alluvial gullies iu the Knobby ranges, let alone tlie line grassy flits of the Ida Valley—a block cf 3,500 accs of this latter will be open for selection under the deferred payment System somewhat about the l.\t of February next All of these localities are stitron uKI by an industrious population, who find remunerative and permanent occupation iu gold mining- there is a plentiful water supply except during very dry seasons, while the quantity of ground to be operated upon may almost be sai 1 to be inexhaustible. To provide means that the miner after a few years incessant toil at his occupation may settle himself down on a piece of land, or that, when convenient. he may combine the cultivation of the Soil with mining is a da y (hat everyone holding a stake in the district owns With more scrtlement our prosperity won d be more substantial and real the value of property in the towns would be improved, while the thousands of pounds now being expended in importing articles already enumerated might be saved aud pass from one toaiiotherin the usual course of trade. The advantages to be thus g lined’t is impossible to enumerate, but taking the most moderate calculation, there would be at letst double the employment provided for our population us at the pro: eat moment. The facilities for taking up land under the new Act are great, a"y person can occupy an area up to two hundred ■icies, ami eventually purchase on the

most terms, by twenty Vm'fieaidv payments of one shilling ami tim e pence per acre the foe simple is acquired, or tl e occupier may after the payment of three years rent pay seventeen shillings and fix peace per acre and obtain the freehold at once. The provisions of tiieAot. arc all easily complied with, ami there is re illy no excuse for persons desirous of settling down that the facilities for doing so are wanting.