BLACKS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1059, 4 August 1882, Page 3

BLACKS.

From our own Correspondent. The winter season, which is now draw ing to a close, has been an exceptionally favourable one for the sluicers in this district. Operations have scaicely been interrupted for a single day for the last three months, and with the plentiful supply of water which has been at their command and the promise, from the amount of snow now on the ranges, of it continuing for a length of time yet, the washing up season is likely to be more than usually interesting. Already the Blue Duck has been spoken of as likely to have a 4000 ounces lift, and the Undaunted is not expected *o bo much behind. The Deep Lead party at No. 3 but now that there are two more claims taken up, it will be necessary to distinguish the parties, so I shall call the one I refer ( o party No. I—have washed up all the dirt they had on the surface, and the result has been satisfactory. They are now washing the stuff as it is taken out, and will thus be in a position to know the claim’s payable qualities as they proceed. They have gone to considerable expense in putting the claim in thorough working order, and there is little fear but they will soon be recouped their outlay and reap a lasting benefit besides. The other parties, who only had their claims granted two weeks ago, have not yet camraenoed any operations, there will no doubt be a scramble between them for the county boring roils. A local scribe, in a contemporary, pre diets that the talk about a ploughing match in the Ida Valley this season is likely to end , at that; but such is not the case’ A com. mittee of eight or ten {irmers in the Valley have taken the affair in hand, and a considerable amount of funds are subscribed, I and the match is to come off the week following the match at Beck’s. There is not so much objection for ploughing matches to be purely local affairs—a dozen or so of farmers may make them a success. A much more important matter, however, is the holding of a yearly agricultural show, and that cannot ho done successfully without a wide-spread and powerful association. Now that the farmers and holders of land are, or soon will he, almost entirely confined to their own holdings in the matteb of grazing stock, success will greatly depend on the quality of the stock reared, and the quality of the grain and grasses etc., produced, and what will better act as a stimulant to excel

in these, than competition amongst eac other? I would "ay, there let those who are interesting themselves ’ n n P these ploughing matches next trv to effect a federation of the dill'-eut lona ides, 'informing an association that will embrace the whole district, and if a spirit of enterprise is imbued into the matter there can be no doubt that it will bring about beneficial results.

Another change has been effected in the police department here. Our old friend Mr Bell is again in charge of the" district. The new stable is about completed, and the lookup is now all but finished and will soon be eligible for occupation, but it will be an out of the way thing for this place it it is thronged with occupants ; for, with the exception of an occasions! drunk, or fubt, wo are altogether above petty thieving, and burglary and other daring crimes are never heard of, in fact we are models in this respect, which some who are possessed of valuables seem to know, as instance the display of jewellery in the window of a wood and iron building which has been left the last few weeks almost without personal protection either by day or nicbt. The premises lately occupied by Mrs Lea»k baa been leased for a term of years by Mr. Thomas Spain, who has commenced business in the binbchering fine. I have not heard whether hefcon'emplates starting in the storekeeping line in the other part of the premises or not.