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Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 72, 17 June 1870, Page 2

We are unable in this issue, through noilreceipt of our usual official returns, to furnish the correct' escort figures forwarded from the various districts by last coach, but the amount of gold forwarded by the banks from Naseby alone was 1,4000z5. The amount sent down from Mount Ida by previous escort was only 1,0170zs. —less by nearly 400ozs. than that of Monday last —and by comparison it will be found that the returns from this district continue incomparably higher than those of any other in the Province. The inclemency of the weather at this season of the year is a proverbial complaint amongst the people of Naseby, and the falling snow and freezing air of the past few days are unlikely to change the doleful melody. Taking into consideration, however, our very considerable inland altitude from the sea, we have really no just cause of complaint in this respect, so long as the miners can favorably pursue their usual avocations, which as yet have not been this season materially interrupted. The 1 Waikouaiti Herald,' considering that the time has now arrived to liave the banks of - the Waikouaiti Biver fair!y prospected by any men out of employment inDunedin or elsewhere, says :—" It is well known that miners prefer going -where they think prospects of rich finds are held out, and it is not much to be wondered at if places where gold has been known to exisb, perhaps in poorer quantities, should have been almost altogether ignored in the flush and excitement of prosperity, which now offer a reward for enterprise and industry. We understand that there is a party of four or five men working on the banks of 'the Waikouaiti River, some four or five miles up, obtaining very fair returns. If there are any men out of employment in Dunediu or elsewhere, able and willing to work, there is every likelihood of their making good wages on the banks of this river." The ' Bruce HeraH/ referring to the recent discoveries of antimony in the neighborhood of Waipori, states that a large extent of ground has been taken up between Lawrence and Waipori for the purpose of mining f SP antimony. This mineral is worth about, £42 a ton m the home market, and from the richness of the specimen from this new claim which has been shown us, there is every reason that the speculation will prove a remunerative one.

ff u A? 3 ' George, auctioneers, sold Ott the Jfaseby property to the late ihotaas Lawson and Son, on Monday atfcerhoon last. We understand the prices realised were very fair. * . advertisement in another column lat a meeting of u persons desirous ; Qf§dllkihg part in an amateur performance " will ? take place in Collett's Ancient Briton Hotel on -luesday evening next. Ivyeburn letter an-ived too late for inweekn OUr presenfc issue - Will appear next We notice, by an advertisemsnt in. another column, that the brethren and friends of the ount Ida Lodge of Freemasons will give a soiree on St. John's Day evening (Friday, 24th > l? B k>) m honor of the installation of Mr. John -tsremner as "W.M. elect. The members will 110 doubt appear in. the usual attractive vestments of office, and we feel certain that as the mythical fire-iron will be eschewed in tliis instance there will be a numerous .company gathered together. "• " . We would call attention to the sale by auc* tion, at the -= Kyeburn Diggings, on Tuesday » property which belonged to the late Thomas Lawson and Son. Messrs, Inder and George will officiate as auctioneers. > We beg to call attention to an advertisement I m another column, intimating a literary and musical entertainment, for the benefit'of the Naseby Catholic Young; Men's Society, to take place in the Masonic Hall on Monday evening, June 20th. The Rev. Father Norris will occupy the chair. The proceedings will be under the patronage of H. W. Robinson, Esq., Warden. The ISTaseby Brass Band will dis- > course sweet mu3ir\ Headings, songs, and recitations will be given by lady and gentleman amateurs ; and altogether the programme is so attractive as to ensure a bumper house on Monday night. We have been favored with the perusal of a letter from Mr. Lewis, the, deputy appointed by the Miners' Committee to represent to the Government the unsatisfactory state of this district, consequent upon the excessive accumulation of "tailings in Roach's Gully. Mr. Lewis !, speaks highly of the attention which he has received at the hands of Messrs. Main and i Brown, and the general interest taken in the I' subject by all the Goldfields member-. It would appear to be tbe opinion of Messrs. Main and Brown that the best method of obtaining accui'ate information as to the facts of the case would te by the appointment of a special commission to visit this place, and take evidence upon tbe spot," with the view of suggesting a remedy. A deputation, consisting of Messrs. Lewis, Hughes, Brown, Main, and K -Haughton, subsequently waited, upon his I Honor, who appears to have shown great courtesy in the matter, and who, though he r seemed at first to be of opinion that the enM';' , q airy might be condacted by a Select Commit- ! tee of tbe Provincial Council, when it was exi plained that the necessary information could f not be obtained except by personal inspection . of.the ground, eventually consented to the ap- , pointment of a commission; adding, however, that he would have to consult his Executive' • upon the subject. The names of Messrs. J. j- L. Grilliies and Mouat were mentioned as likely to be the Commissioners, but nothing upon that point appears to have been finally..decided. I But sincerely do we congratulate the miners ft upon the success likely to attend their present legitimate efforts to obtain redress, and the Go vernment should, in our opinion, be only too glad to have it in their power to redress two grievances at one and" the same time, and both arising from the same cause—the deI crease of tailings in Roach's Gully necessarily removing the danger of the town from' future - inundation, if not from destruction. y The up-country coach arrived in town on H Tuesday evening. with- mails and passengers. Amongst the latter we were pleased to welcome back Mr. Stewart of St. Bathans. Mr. Emmerton reports the road from Pigroot to be in - a deplorable condition ; indeed, actually dangerous in many places. The rivers, however, ! from Hunter's ford on the Shag, to,the Kyeburn are comparatively low, while the roads are stated by Mr. Devine to be almost impassable.

In the Provincial Council, on the 6th June Mr. Main moved—" That an address be prej sented to his Honor the Superintendent, asking that the sum. of £IOO should be placed on ' the Supplementary Estimates, to defray the cost of repairing the ford and rendering traffic possible between and Hamilton." Motion agreed to. Mb. Fkakks, brewer, from Waikouaiti, has erected a brewery at the top of Leven- street. He purposes opening the premises, -which , are fifty by twenty-four feet, in > fortnight from this date. Mr. Franks intends supplying the inhabitants of Naseby and surrounding districts with superior ale and porter, on° such moderate terms as will defy Duheclin competition. The boiler is.alveady fixed, the coolers i made, the malt mill completed,, the emptv Hogs on the premises, and evident indications otherwise exhibited of the brewer 'meaning if If he but supply a really good article on moderate terms, Mr. Frank's local industry ' will certainly succeed. Prices, &c., will be advertised on an early day. We have learned that IVIr. M'Kenna, an early "and respected eettler in this district, has associated with Mr. Franks in partnership, which is a still further guarantee that every effort will be made to | meet the requirements of the district. D The subscription lists for the benefit of the ■ widow and family of the late. Thomas Lawson, J whose sudden withdrawal from amongst us, L Qji'l that of his son, by the recent melancholy ft catastrophe at the Taieri Ford is well knowii ■ to this community and surrounding districts, I! hare at length been received. Without speciIf fying the names here of those gentlemen who r have taken an active part in this philanthropic I c*iuse, it is enough to say that the amount I subscribed evinces much sympathy for the beB reared family. Mr. Wilson, of this office, who ■ has been acting treasurer since the lists were ■issued, gives the total amount of returns as ■££3ll3s. 6d., which sum is now held available

for the benefit of the family. Of tlie above amount, it is in no way invidious to mention the conduct of the-brethren of the Loyal Naseby Lodge'of Oddfellows, who most generously contributed £34 Is.