NASEBY.

Dunstan Times, Issue 684, 28 May 1875, Page 3

NASEBY.

—o—(FROM cur OWN CORRESPONDENT.) May 25th. Considerable dissatisfaction prevails at the irregular ; nd unreliable manner in which Naseby has been, and is supplied with coal. The town (indeed, the district) is principally supplied with that requisite from the coal-pits at Kyeburn. Cne pit, however, is only regularly worked, and from this the largest quantities are obtained. This mine is owned by M'Credie and Co., but is insufficiently manned, in spite of the Company’s assertion to the contrary, in the Chronicle of last week. Added to this the road leading to the place is a very bad one. The result is that in winter the coals are often not procurable, and it is a serious matter to bo confined to a house in Naseby during the winter without afire. The proprietors, in their explanation in the Chronicle, state that five men are employed, but this is the exception not the rule, as 1 authoritatively know, usually two men only are regularly engaged. To remedy this, and place a never-failing supply of coal at the disposal of carters continually employed, and also to establish a depot in Naseby, a company is to bo started. To this end a number of gentlemen met at Hr rswell’s Royal Hot»l, on Saturday evening last. After the object of the meeting had been stated, and the facilities of the starting made apparent—viz., that coal existed in abundance at the Kyeburn, near the site of the present pits, and that a lease of land could bo obtained in which good coal was known to exist ; or that ground in the poa-

cession of Messrs Morgan mid Co, could bo purchased—those present proceeded to business. It was thought that the number of shares should be left to the future shareholders to determine. The price of shares was fixed, and also the periods of payment. The shares are to be LI each—2s 6d to bo paid on application ; 2s 6d on allotment ; and 2s 6d monthly calls. It is conjectured that the number of shares will not bo more than 1000. Over 100 shares wore subscribed in the room, and a Committee was elected to arrange preliminaries, A canvasser was appointed to go round the district to procure the names of intending shareholders, and the number of shares proposed to be taken, so that the promoters may have some guarantee to work upon. After fixing a meeting of the Committee at an early date, the meeting adjourned. We have now a chance of there being a permanent supply of coal in Naseby at 'all seasons of the year, which will bo quite’ a novelty, such not having been the case since Naseby sprang into existence. Discussion and excitement re the Provincial Council’s doings is universal in this district. The principal topic is, of course, the ousting of the Government. It seems to bo thought here, as elsewhere, that the late Government was not a good one, the fault being found in that Mr Reid was really the Government, and that his other nominal working colleagues were useless, the Province having to suffer through his (Reid) attempting to do jtho work single-handed. Mr Reid is considered to be indispensable, Messrs Turnbull and MacKellar being the black sheep, who, it is said (not untruely) were the cause of the Government’s defeat - Mr Basting’s is well liked, but fears are en tertai ned that lie will not puU through the session. Our district members’ doings are freely commented] upon—Mr De Lautour being all that’s good, in spite of the grave assertion of a Dunedin merchant who visited us last week, that he is the greatest donkey that ever entered the Council Hall. Mr Armstrong is not so fortunate, his action in voting with the Government being] looked upon as thatjof a. traitor. Groat satisfaction is expressed at the probability of j the total abolition of the gold duty. To Mr Pyke and Mr De Lautour we are indebted for this—to the first for devising the scheme, and to the latter for carrying through the motion of the advisability of a partial reduction, last year, thus paving the way for total robation.

Picnics, football matches, concerts, and balls have all been nursed for fulfilment on the Queen’s Birthday, which has arrived and passed away. The first on the board was the picnic. The directors of the Pastoral Company determined, in consideration of the great success with which the Company's efforts for the first year have been attended, to give a qncnic at their station on the Plains, although it was the wrong season for al fresco pleasures. The sky on the morning in question was cloudy, but the weather wise said itwould’nt rain till late in the afternoon, and their prognostications proved correct, for it was between four and five p.m.. before rain fell, giving the party time enough to enjoy themselves. —About 2.30 p.m., the scratch foot-ball match, announced to take place between the members of the Club, commenced under the leadership of Messrs M‘Clown and M’Nicol. There were about 12 or 13 on each side, and play was kept up for two hours, during which time M'Nicol’s side had kicked two goals, the ethers not securing one.—ln the Town Hall, in the evening the M. U. I. OF. ball came off. The attendance was not so good as was anticipated, the night being wet, but this’clid not seem to spoil the enjoyment. Dancing was kept up for several hours, and after refreshment had been partaken of, was resumed and continued to an early hour. A concert and dance was to take place at Blackstono Hill last evening, in aid of the School funds, but I have not hoard the result.