COUNTRY NOTES.

Evening Star, Issue 3864, 13 July 1875, Page 3

COUNTRY NOTES.

{From our Exchanges.)

The question of building a new Church of England at Clyde, which has been the theme of discussion off and on for the pa?t seven or eight years, is again on the tapis From the earnest manner in which the subject is received on all sides, and by the very liberal promises of support offered, it is hoped that the project wili be carried out succes; fully. The severe, hard, frosty weather experienced for the past fortnight has impeded in a great measure mining in the Dunstan district, Btaying the flow of the watei in the races. This has been more particularly the case where the races take their rise high on the ranges; however, as a rule, where the race head was in low ground, there has been an uninterrupted flow. The Dunstan * Times' understands that a suspicious fire took place at Tinker's Gully, on '! hursday last, resulting in the total destruction of a cottage occupied by Mr Tobert Scott. The ' Tuapeka Times' is credibly informed that a Telegraph Office will shortly be opened at Havelock.

Frost has set in at the Shotover in earnest, and the days though fine are followed by nights of the severest cold. Hard frost is the thing required now to give the river workers a turn. Accounts from kippers are of the most cheering character, but, owing to the prevalence of severe weather, nothing in the shape of crushing opsra'ions will be attempted for some few weeks to come.

The effect of the di coveries in the reefs at Skippers has had the effect of considerably improving the value of property in Queenstown.

At the Arrow the hard frost of <he list few daya has brought [sluicing operations almost to a stand-still, except in very favorable situations. The river workings a r e in a very flourishing state. The desire for tie opening of reefs still continues. In no previous year have the roads between the Dunstan and Dunedin been in Buoh a disgraceful condition, says the Dunst n 'Times.' The highway to the metiop.ilis of the Province, via Mount Ida and Pigroot is in a really shocking state, and unless something like a change to dry weather sets in, travelling must speedily, ev«n if it has n b already reached that stag-?, become absolutely impossible. People outside of tlio Province will scarcely believe that although it is thirteen years since gold was first fourd at the Dunstan, there is not a road to it yet, and here we are, almost in the position of residents in a beleagured city—unable to ; et either out or in, our enemy being nothing more than mud. Between Dunedin aid Qaeenstown, there Bhould have been a p-od metalled road years ago; it is r r»l»y disgraceful that things should be in the ttafce they are, and we cau only attribute it to b ,d management, and a want of knowledge of ' tho work to be done.

The 'Tribune' has good anthority for stating that it would afford the Eesid'iit Magis rate of Timaru pleasure to see Waimate gazetted a township under the Police Ordinance, and that all that is necessary to effect that desirabln object ig a requisition from tho inhabitants, addressed to Mcn-ra Woollcombe and tftudholme in their official capacities. It hopes immediate action will I-e taken by our leading men in the matter. For the Mayoralty of Tokomairiro, Messrs Goodall and R. White have been in the field for some days, and it is also the intention of Mr W. J. Dyer to contest the election. At Balclutha Mr Grigor retires altogether from the office of Mayor, and at present Mr Stewart is the only candidate. The chief excitement at Queenstown,

according w> the correspondent of the ' Dunstan Times,' is the petition asking the Government to give effect to the recommendations of the Gobifields Commission, 1870, referring to the removal of Wardens and othir officials it stated intervals. It i 3 the general impreßsiou that our goldfislds officers have been stationed here too long, no other auc'a officers having been twelve years in one place ; while circumstances point to the fact that an infusion of now blood and new ideas is badly wanted to start the district a-going again. The petition hj receiving I numerous signatures all over the district.

Firea have been caused in benzine scrubbing by the Rparks of electricity, produced during the process, igniting the spirit. He who wastes his early years in horseracing and all sorts of idleness, figuring away among the dissolute and the foolish, mußt be content to play an inferior part among the learned and the wise. Some instances there are of men who have united both characters, but it will bo fouud that those have had frequent laborious intervals ; that though they may have have been vicious, they have nev<tr been indolent; and that their minds have never slumbered and lost by disuse the power of ' Greville Memoirs.'