THE Mount Ida Chronicle. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1869.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 41, 12 November 1869, Page 2

THE Mount Ida Chronicle. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1869.

Nobody politic should ever be permitted to die. W hen death claims a governing head provision lias been made by the laws of civilised nations for the immediate assumption of power by the next rightful heir to occupy the position of the deceased head. Undoubtedly it has on many occasions happened that disputes have arisen as to who has been the lawful heir; but still, occurrences of such a nature are no repudiation of the gene: al admitted principle to which we have alluded. So fully indeed lias this principle been recognised, that in France there used to boa conventional sayiug upon the death of any of. that nation's crowned heads, Le Hoi est mort —Yivs le Hoi (the King is dead—God save the King)—the former part of the expression having reference to the dead, the latter to the living or succeeding monarch, .We imagine that there can be no other inference than that the necessity of providing for the immediate carrying on of the Government in a proper and legitimate manner was, and is still, fully recognised. What we wish to establish, by the foregoing remark, is that as with nations so with communities; there must be some head —some power —some governing centre —otherwise all would soon degenerate into a state of primitive barbarism —of chaotic confusion. Each British burgh, town or city is provided with a mayor, or some recognised officer, from whom every information affecting the interest of the particular place in which he holds jurisdiction can and should be obtained. By this means the legitimate fountain of power can be approached in a proper and orthodox manner, and thv redress of wrongs and grievances effected.

By the Municipal Corporations Act, 1884, opportunity was otiercel to the .various towns of Otago to fo*m themselves into Municipalities, the A el contained provisions by which £50;) wo aid "be given to any towns desirous 01 availing themselves of the ..provisions of the Act, and a subsidy of-£2 to £ i paid for all moneys raised by taxation under the authority of the-Corporation. Of this great boon most- of the town < inOoitgo' as well on the Groldael.ls as elsewhere (with suilicient population so to do) have gladly, and we think wiselv. availed them. Why the people of this town have persistently scouted that which has been so ea rerly sought after by others, has been, and still remains, an insoluble enigma. Though declining, however, to accept the advantages which the Municipal system offered them, the people, of Naseby - were quite alive to the fact that to hold a status in the Province they must necessarily possess some recognised medium of communication alike with the .Government and their own representative. Impressed with this conviction they set heartily to work, and elected from anions themselves a certain number of gentlemen to. watch their interest, and the interests, of the district, under the style of the "Naseby Improvement Committee." Though not what is called a legally constituted body the Naseby Improvement Committee was, to a certain extent, recognised by the Government, and worked well and hard, and to them the place is indebted for even the small amount of attention and consideration it has 7*eceived at the hands of the Provincial and Executive Councils. Of late, however, from some unexplained cause, the members of the Improvement Committee have not worked either well or together. Indeed, ever since the return from Dunediu in May last of the gentlemen who waited upon his Ilouor as a deputation, little or nothing has been heard of them or of their doings.' A meeting was, we understand, convened about a month since to discuss business of importance, but not a single member gave his attendance or put in an appearance. If we are to inter frc m the above fact that- the Improvement Committee is defunct, let us make immediate provision to find it a successor. Let us exclaim after the French system —the Old Improvement Committee is dead, All Hail! the New Improvement Committee. Mr. Main in the able address, which he delivered at the Victoria liall on the 25th ult., remarked that he was determined that the sums which, had been appropriated by the Provincial Council for the benefit of this. District should be expended as voted, otherwise

lie would resign his seat as representative. There can be no doubt that an active enterprising Committee would very materially strengthen Mr. Main's hands, and enable him more readily to accomplish that winch he has stated it io be his intention to, effect. IF, therefore the present Improvement Commi:tee decline to work either harmoniously or at all, let the present members send in their resignation to the Secretary, and request him to convene a public meeting to elect other members to supply their places. In our opinion a greater c ilamity cannot befal this place than that it should be without some recognised medium, albeit not a constitutional one. of making known to the Government the wants and necessities oK the District, and the opinion of the residents upon all matters affecting their interests.

The District Court was occupied the greater 9 pvrt of We lr.e d y, unci t e whole of yes er•.iay, •with the appeal case i)uify v. Matiueson. ■in.] Company. The facts of this case are so well known to the public that it is needless to repeat t hem. We may mention that it was by direction of his Honor Mr. Wilson Gray thut the case was heard before assessors. Tne ease was not concluded wlien we went to press. There are s'ih two appeal eases 0:1 the list, io be heard to-day. Oj.* rues lay eveniiitr, November 9th, a tea meeting was iield in the Masonic Hull, Naseby. Che occasion was the celebration of the fourth anniversary of the opening of the Union Church. Shortly after six o'clock the hall was ii'led with a goodly company, all apparently intent upon enjoying the good things which had been very liberally provided for their consumption. The tables, when laid out with their decorations of flowers and other 0.namenrs, presented a very pretty appearance. " > Die tables were furnished by Mrs. Robinson, assisted by Miss Mat thins, Mrs. H. Anderson, Mrs. Gason, Mrs. Ash, Mrs. J. Green, Miv. Frarer, Mrs. Airken, and Mrs. Stron.. Full justice having been done to the comestibles, the tables were removed, an-.i the Hall 1 rranged for the meeting. Mr. H. W. llobins >n, who occupied the, char, opened t 1 e business with a fe»: appropriate remarks. lie was succeeded by Mr. M. Cooper, the Secretary of the Union Church, who read a report, was adopted on the motion of Mr. C. iTlJßobf-rts. The Rev. James 13 are ii etc then a addressed the meeting. We regret that we 1 are unable (for want of space) to give even a 7 ketch of the vev. gentleman's most interesting speech. The usual votes of thanks weiv accorded to the ladies whojiad -an 1 _ presided at the tables; .to the proprietors 1 of.-the hall, for the use of tnS bnikliirg; t > the musicians; and to the geh'lemen wli) had been mainly concerned *in making tlie arrangements. The proceedings were e.ilivened by music, and so;;gs were sung 4 by Messrs. jNewmareh and G.aunitfc. About fen o'ck'CJ a very pleasant evening was brought t ) a close by the compoiy shiging "God Save the Queen." Early on the morning of Tuesd y last, « about two a.m., a dam in the neighborhood of \ "he town gave way with a considerable noise. | For some time it was supposed to have been a 1 newly constructed dam belonging to the Ex- I tended Water Rice Company,, in lied G-iiiiy. A inquiry, however, soon dispelled that belief, and proved the dam which had given way to be" that of the Hit or Miss Company, on Sur- j face Hill. Some damage has, we understand, been done to tlie race of the second Dead Level, or Rip and Tear, as it is called, which, we .have been informed, is likely to lead to a 1 iwsuit. Mr. Henry Anderson, the manager of the Hit or Miss Company, being aware that th.; dam was leaking, was on the spot at night letting off the water, when the break took . place. It is matter of congratulation that the state "" of the road upon the entrance into the town is already much improved, under the hands of the surfaee men lately sent down by the Government. The slough of despond about a mile from tlie town, before descending into it, has now become traversable, and we are glad also to find tliat the road down the serpentine ; descent has been rendered broader and safer, •. the ruts filled in, and a ditch eut upon the upper side of the road, which will materially assist in keeping it from again falling into disrepair when wet weather sets in. Wje are glad to hear that the tender for the ' formation of the road, Naseby to Eden Creek, lias been accepted, and that the work will be proceeded with forthwith. Rolleston and Matins m are, we are given to understand, the A successful tenderers. " After a storm comes a calm" is an old saying. It would, however, appear that after a " calm may cornea storm" in the town of Cromwell. We allude to the establishment of two newspapers in that place, to be called respectively the 'Argus' and the 1 Guardian; 1 "" We trust that the Uromweilians will now have every opportunity of making known their wants and necessities. We wish our contemporaries success. The mail from England brings the unwelcome news that Dr. Selwyn, Bishop of Lichfield, and formerly and for many years Bishop of jN T ew Zealand, is severely indisposed. Ail . true friends of Zealand will receive this news with unfeigned regret. Ox Tuesday night- we were much pleased again to hear tlie pleasant strains of the Mount Ida Brass Band. The band had been so long * silent that theii" sweet music was more than usually acceptable. We trust to hear more of them in future. ■ ] Owing to the culvert over the Rip and Tear being carried away by the bursting of the Hit or Miss dain on Tuesday, tlie coach from town wa* stopped for a short time at the crossing. J The damage has been since repaired. Complaints having been very general of 1 late as to state of the road to

tvjt' e ® m 6tery, we have much pleasure in being Wp ,°, at ? lat Main, during the present j._ ' J™® informed several gentlemen in this ■ i ie had., within the last few. days, i in personal -communication with the r xecutrre G-overmnent, and that he has obwined a positive pledge from Mr. Donsld . a ' bec retary of Land and Works, that a. um equa;l to £2 to £1 raised by subscription ; iould be immediately provided for the forma- ° C ,^ lc r oad in question, upon application Secretary to the Cemetery Trustees. '.W. i ] IISI i AT tlie 9th instant, the Prince"'of es -birthday, passed off very quietly, and i uout any •unusual loyal demonstration, with *e exception, indeed,, of a tea soiree of the - Ljnion C,lurch, which took place at the MaHall, and which wa3j we understand, a gre it success. ' ' f*. y s:erday and the diy before, while -ue District Court wis sitting, great inconvenience was experienced by those who had to .attend as "witnesses, in..,consequence. of the : s.nallness of the Court-house and the absence pot seats for their accommodation. Witnesses nave to come from a considerable distance, and hare to remain hour after hour from morning i/ili n-ghfc, and even into the middle of ,the to answer their subpoenas; .this is simply more than 1 uxman nature can- be ex-p?-cted . to. bear.•: Surely the business in the Coui'u-hoase at Jfase'oyis sufficiently important to justify the Government in enlarging the Court-house and increasing the Court :accommodation, and thus.-pub witnesses to the least possible amount of inconvenience and trouble. Considering that Mr. Alain, representative of the district, was m the Court, engaged in several cahses, and was an eye-witness to the inconvenience to which we allude, it is to be that he "will use his influence in the direction we have pointed. A. HiSETiiS'Q- of the members of the Mount Jockey Club took place at the Victoria ifobel on the 4th instant, wlien the annual races ware decided to take place upon the days • previously advertised—namely, the 13th ind. 14th January, 1871 understand that Mr.-Wm. Eyle, of St. B ithans, has purchased' a valuable series of fine pictures of English and Continental scenery and statuary, some "Of them: with mechanical combinations.. One or two: exhib - tions have already jjeen .provided at .■ S . | Babhans,' and went L off with considerable success. We understand that itis ,the intention of ivli'. Pyle to give one or more representations at Naseby shortly, and wiih that view he has b~c;ii iiistituting inquir-es as to the place for exhibiting. From what we have been able to" gather, the residents of Nassby hare a treat in score. We trust Mr. Pyie will succeed, in making a " pile " by his interesting entertainment. • • ■'

The old adage, ■" Long expected come-at | last," lias, within; the last few days, baen fully exemplified in this town; .We allude ? to tlie - arrvii, on Wednesday last. of Mr.. Alfred H Barton, representative of the firm of Messrs. Burton Bros., the celebrated Dunedin photographers. The advent ; of Mr. .Burton had been for some time past expected, and m&nv persons desirous of seeing themselves-on pnuer K were ansioasly awaiting his appeaiMnce. T Burton Has in his possession pictures of scenes siind portraits or persons takeu during ]lis pre sent professional tour. These- pictures are to be seen at the hotel of Mr. E. T. Creome .' ".They speik for themselves, are well worthy of inspection,, and will,- .no: -doubt; induce m '-uy persons to avail themselves of an opportunity . wnich may, possibly, not occur again for some time to come,. Mr. Burton has already commenced taking a series of views of this town and neighborhood, which: he intends to publish by subscription at; a very moderate : 2'itv. .Subscribers' names-will be received by Mr. Burton at the Victoria Hotel. ' -• Wb are glad to perceive, by an advertise-' m?nt in another column, that agricultural pursuits in this district appear at last to be , attracting attention. Without wishing for ;,a moment to assert that agriculture cou d ' be successfully carried, on on a large scale, and produce profitably raised for sale beyond the limits of-the town and' vicinity, we venture to assert that oats, hay, and. other crops could be raised which would enable the growers, in the absence of tlie expense of cartage, to realise handsome returns. Mr. Joseph Creighton is f the applicant on the present occasion, and his application has, we have been given to under- , stand, met the approbation of the runholders F upon whose run the area applied for is situ- ' We trust that the example of Mr. Joseph Creighton will soon be followed by others, and that, ere long, agriculture for the j xise of tlie district may be c.assed among the settled industries of Mount Ida. Ti±s first meeting of shareholders in the Naseby Water Works Company is appointed to take place at the Victoria Hall on Monday next, 15th November" instant, for the purpose < of signing deed. Oi association and electing directors and officers for the ensuing year. °