BLACKS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 930, 13 February 1880, Page 3

BLACKS.

(from our own correspondent.) What with the harvest, which is at all times a very fruitful topic of conversation, the all absorbing topic the weather, the arrival of the new Doctor, the assault cases (to he heard before the local Resident Magistrates Court) arising out of a bit of a shindy on the race course during the late meeting, and last, not least noteworthy, the advent of King Bankruptcy in the district who has already made two proselytes with ■ he prospect of some two or three more, we have had here quite enough to talk and think about. As it is as well that you and your readers should be made acquainted with what interests and otherwise effects us I will crave your space for a little to summarize the different subjects ; and so as to make my sumaray as clear as possible, I will deal with the subjects in tlie order 1 in opening referred to them. The crops and weather being so clos- ly allied can well be tucked together. As a matter of course there are always some that will grumble, but that is the prerogative of every free man in a free country. Both the crops and the weather are ruinous, but as a general thing, and I am writing generally, I can say there never has been better crops since the first plough was introduced into the district. The first of the season was beau tifully open, and the constancy recurring showers of ram have throuthout kept the ground moist and maintained an equal growth, and now with sunshine without wind, which here is so destructive to ripe and ripening crops, the farmers have the prospect of a most bountiful harvest. No one crop is more noticeable than another—wheat, barley, oats and potatoes looking equally well. To fill the cup to the brim, the only thing required is a good market and high prices, but from what I can hear, with the overflowing granaries the prices of horse feed is likely to rule low, but for fair and good samples of barley i,.r malting and wheat for milling, the price will rule as high as ever ; and I do not see whv they should not, as desoite the ever increasing number of 1 O G.T. brothers, there are plenty left to get rid of an amazing quantity of beer, and more would lie got rid of if it was only better, while the demand for flour is naturally increasing year by year with the increase of population, Many aver that the ponuiatio 1 is decreasing, hut those i. ho are sc- nt.ic.il on the point I would suggest should visit the soli.mis and compare their present attendance rolls with those of years past, and then they will learn whether the, population is increasing or not. —Now about our doctor. Yes, he has arrived, aud to appearances should be the right man in the right place. He brings vety good credentials, and if ho is made of the right sort of met'd, he should prove a great boon to the district, and it is a mine of wealth to him —I really forget for the moment the gentleman’s name, but 1 suppose that will appear in one of those notices that return more direct results to the management than do correspondents’ letters. What about the assault cases you say ? Well, the matter being sub j 'idler it is not within my province to say who is right, and who wrong, hut from what I can hear there was a fro-- fight an one poor Unfortunate i. i lit got s'a-ed, hut whether he deserved it or whe her his asailants deserve slating for the mark* • f affection they bestowed 1 cannot say The cases were called on last Court nav, but after the examination of only two wilne-ses an 1 the plaintiff. Major Ksddfil had to adj mrn the Court, he hem called away on private urgent business, therefore nothing can be sai l as to tiie result nnt.il next Court <’ay. when I suppose a decision will be given Regarding King Bankrupt and Ids two disciples .Tohn Cochrane and Angus M‘Kay—the former I understand is a hard working industrious man, aud pure and simple had luck has brought him to the bar, and to relieve such as him the law was framed, but there are questions about the latter, and whether he is to be commended or pi tie, I J can’t say.