THE COUNTRY.

Evening Star, Issue 3154, 29 March 1873, Page 3

THE COUNTRY.

Mount Ida.—'The election of councillors this week was the only event of prominence, and this being so directly a local matter, is not of much moment. The elections only hold till August, so that the maiden councillors will only have time to feel their wings, when they will stand a good show of getting them clipped.—Additional contracts in the head race are called for, this week, tenders to bo in by the 15th April. It is very much to be hoped that the Executive will insist on these contracts being given to men of some standing, who, having something to lose, will be careful not to over-speculate at the country’s expense.—The Miners’ Association is rapidly getting to work in a regular mode. Congratulatory letters arc coming in from all directions, and requests for co-operation from the other Associations. This movement, from the very moderate tone it has taken, seems likely to prove a direct benefit in the development of the goldfields. Mount Benoer.— At it again. There is a plot to make Mt. Benger virtuous, to abolish cakes and ale, and quarrel with our best friend, plum porridge. A certain clique having a slight degree of influence owing to their leader being no less a person, than ike local Eka<lamanthus, the awful wielder of the terrors of the law, in short and in plain English, the Resident Magistrate, are determined to anticipate the millenium. The last victim to their holy zeal has been the postmaster at the Teviot, who, having the misfortune to suffer from a severe attack of influenza, vyas looked upon qs fair game. He was peithef a Good Templar nor a fflymbiifh Brother, sq his sickness must spring from the source or all evil, P.B. It went for nothing that all the duties of his onerous and responsible office were carried on as usual, that there never was any ground for complaint, but on the contrary, the highest efficiency and punctuality : the opportunity was too good to be lost, and such representations were made to the Government as led to his removal. I am glad to say this last action of the “unco’ guid” has excited the wrath of the Mt. Bengeritcs. A memorial requesting the continuance of the present postmaster at the Teviot is being largely signed, and a testimonial, which by the amount already subscribed promises to be a handsome one, is to be presented at an early date. For my own part I am not in the least surprised to find Messrs Pecksniff, Chadband, and Stiggins guilty of a mean and dirty trick, but I must confess my astonishment at finding one public official doing his utmost to injure a fellow servant.—The river is as low as ever it was last winter, and promises to stick to the downward course. Already a few pioneer Chinamen have made their appearance and the hearts of the storekeepers rejoice. Thoro is no doctor in the district, and any amount of sickness. Couldn’t you spare us one of your superfluous “sawbones?” Being killed secundum artem robs death of half its terrors.