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Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 73, 1 July 1870, Page 2

We sincerely regret the recent deatli by drowning, in Jjyttelton Harbor, of Captain G-eorge Davidson, master and owner of the schooner Bonnie Lass. He was well known in all the seaport towns of New Zealand as an industrious and fearless seaman —being one of the early pioneers of West Coast navigation—and his untimely end in the prime of life will have cast a gloom over the faces of his many friends.

The up-country mail coach arrived here from the south on Tuesday evening, and started for the Dunstan very early on Wednesday morning. The mail bags, with their previous week's accumulations, appeared somewhat more bulky than usual. The roads are reported as improving, and the rivers falling, so that with favorable weather, more regularity may be expected in the future. A somewhat suggestive advertisement appears in the 1 Cromwell Argus' as follows : " Notice to cattle starrera. —Any persons allowing liis starving skeletons to break down my fences, &c., will be prosecuted. —Thos. Marsh, Clutha Farm."

The Rev. Father Norris from Naseby, and the Rev. Father Royer from St. Bathans, have proceeded to Cromwell for the purpose of officiating with the Rev. Father Maloney in the solemn dedication of the new Catholic Church there. The ceremony was to have taken place on the 29th instant (St. Peter and St. Paul's d»j).

• The mesmeric seances of the now celebrated electro-biologist, Dr. Carr will, msst likely, ere long be presented to a Naseby audience. The doctor's fame will have preceded him to the up-country districts through press critique. t, but newspaper descriptions, however faithful, altogether fall short of those impressions which, individual inspection alone can convey. We have seen those whom he lias succeeded in controlling, or, as he himself has it, putting in a state of " coma," perform many extraordinary feats on the stage —a sign, a look, a word from the professor making them laugh, sing, weep, dance, swim, or fight. Dr. Carr will doubtless draw good houses when he ■visit* us.

The Dunstan coach, with the downward mails and three passengers, arrived here on Monday evening. Mr. Emmerton reports the river 3£anuherikia at Blacks as being very high, and that snow to the depth of twelve or fifteen inches i 3 lying on the ground right up to the Dunstan, while from Blacks to Naseby the country is quite open. A hawker named Attwood, with two packhorses, in attempting to cross the river at Beak's ford, was with difficulty rescued from the flood. One of his horsea was carried down the stream, but was at length fortunately saved. A lad at Crom-| well named Scott, in trying to haul a log of wood from the Molyne'ux, was dragged into! the river, carried down by the rushing waters, \ and had not been found by latest advices. Wa regret to learn that Sergeant M'Nally has of late been laboring under such severe indisposition as to render him incapable of performing his regular duties. Recent exposure 1 in night service, during the past very inclement 1 weather brought on a severe attack of rheuma- I tism. We shall be glad to hear of the seiy ' geant's speedy recovery and early presence on the Naseby " beat." At a meeting of the Naseby Catholic Young Men's Society, held in the Catholic Church here, on the 26th ultimo, the secretary (Mr. P. M. Morony, read the following annual report, as follows :—" This society was founded by. the Hev. J. A. Norris, pastor, to promote the spiritual and intellectual advancement of its members. Providence has vouchsafed tb bless the efforts of its spiritual director with success, and on the 24th of June, 1869, under the patronage of the Blessed Virgin, the guild of St. Patriot started in its career at Naseby. It reckons in its ranks forty members, showing an increase of ten since its formation. The members are bound by the ties of Christian charity to promote mutual improvement and the spread of religious spirit; they are to use the means provided by rule —viz., prayer, frequentation of the sacraments, public, lectures, private classes, a library, and reading room. The Council of the society are in the pleasant position to state that the two first religious aids have been uniformly invoked by its.rulers during the year passed. The week'y prayer meetings are regularly attended. The society possesses a library of more than eighty volumes. A consignment of one hundred additional books is daily expected from Europe. Many leading periodicals are filed for reference. The want of a hall for guild meetings, and for the purposes of lectures and classes, is keenly felt. The room at present occupied by the society in but temporarily rented as a reading-room Its size does not allow of the general meetings being held there ; they are, for the present, convened in the church. The sum of one shilling a month entitles a member to full privileges. Financially, the society's accounts are in a healthy condition, there being a balance in the hands of the treasurer, after providing handsome regalia for the whole society, fnrnisliing Hall, &c., &c. The Council gladly take this occasion to express their grateful acknowledgment for the liberal patronage accorded by the good people of Naseby to the society's first anniversary. To these who so cordially lent their valuable talents to male the fete a success, they beg to tender their heartfelt thanks. The Council, in submitting this, its first annual report, to the society, feel faith in its future growth, energy, and vitality, and would fain hope that-, ere the second year of its life closes, its resources will be twice strengthened to promote in its humble way the great end of its being —moral and intellectual progress." The ' Provincial Government Grazette' intimates that the G-overnor has appointed Davjjjjl Maitland, Esq., of Ewebank. Eweburn, to be a justice of the peace for the Colony. The same ' Grazette' contains a statement of the affairs of the Mount Ida Enterprise Water Race Company (registered), for the five months ending May 31, 1870, in accordance with sec. 13 of the Act, by which it is shown that the nominal capital is £4,800 ; amount of paid u]> scrip to shareholders, £4,890; number of shares, sixteen ; and amount of subscribed capital paid up, £4,800. The Duke of Edin-' L burgh Quartz Mining Company, Macraes, also furnishes its statement in terms of the Act. The nominal capital of this company is £6,090; L amount of paid up sr-rip given to shareholders, " £1,500; number of shares in which capital is . divided, £1,200; shares taken, 1,200; calls made, £3,600 ; total amount subscribed capir tal paid up, £5,100; and shareholders, 11. The annual meeting of the brethren constil tutiiig the Mount Ida Lodge of Freemason* • under the E.C., was held within the Masonic ■ Hall on Friday last (St. John's Day). At i three o'clock the ceremony of installing the r W.M. elect and officers of the lodge was ably - conducted by the retiring master, "Brother W. i Grrumitt, assisted by P.M. Brother John - Creighton. The following brethren accepted office for the ensuing year—viz., John Brem- - ner, W.M.; Walter Inder, S.W.; W. New- - man, J. W.; J. S. M'lntosh, Treasurer ; E. C. . Smith, Secretary ; W. Madigan, S.D. ; E. ; Carling, J.D.; J. Hutchidson,l.Gr.; J. Petchel'j

Tyler; E. Horswell and James Brown, Stewards. At the conclusion of these important proceedings the members adjourned to the Royal Hotel, -where Bro. Horswell had prepared a very excellent dinner. After amplt justice had been done to the repast, the usual masonic toasts» were given from the cha:'r» Dinner over, the brethren wended their atepa back to the Masonic Hall, which wa» handsomely decorated • with flags fr

vanous hues kindly lent by the Dunatan lodge, while the proscenium and dais were gracefully draped with light blue and white in relief. The tables were set in a very elegant manner, and a most recherche Bupper was spread for the numerous guests assembled, by that most energetic caterer, Bro. Horswell of the, Royal. Nor were the card tables, which were set for the occasion, neglected during the evening, as the tide of success on the one hand or the other elicited peals of laughter when the ivory winnings were carefully gathered together ; for in this mimic gambling the pleasures' of success were nearly equalled, if not surpassed, by those of failure It is not too much to say that the ladies of Naseby were well—nay, elegantly—dressed, and as one caught their dazzling eyes in the whirlings of the mazy dance, he was fain to fancy that he looked upon an assembly in one of the gay gatherings of j the "far off land," in place of among the wild j mountains'of a strange country. This masonic j fete -may, therefore, be regarded as the best of j its kind which has yet been given in this dis- j trict. It was, in reality, a great success. The j hall was filled to overflowing by well dressed I ladies and gentlemen ; the music was fair, the viands capital, the stewards attentive and J courteous, and thus, at an early hour on Satur- ! (lay morning, the second anniversary of the Mount Ida Lodge was brought by the "merry masons " to a merry end. Br notice in our last issue the Rev. Mr. Dasent had appointed to preach to a Naseby congregation on the evening of Sunday last. The little church was completely filled on the occasion, but the rev. gentleman did not arrive to officiate. The Rev. Mr. Burehett, after explaining that the flooded state of the Taieri and the wretched condition of the road hid most probably detained him, delivered an extempore sermon which rivetted the concentrated attention of his hearers to its close. Since the above was in type a letter has been received, notifying that the Rev. Mr. Dasent will preach in Jfaseby (d.y.) on Sunday night, July 10.

The Hit or Mis 3 great box fluming works having been satisfactorily tested and found to answer the company's highest expectations, will be formally opened to-morrow (Friday), at one p.m., when,, no doubt, a large number of persons will be on the ground to see the interesting and important ceremony. An invitation supper and ball will be given by the company, in the Masonic Hall, the same night, to the ladies and gentlemen of Naseby, when we feel assured the delights of the previous week •will be repeated. We observe a notice, issued by the Miners' Committee, intimating that a meeting of miners will take place in the Victoria Hall on Saturday afternoon first, at two p.m , to hear a statement of the proceedings of their deputy to Dunedin.

The quarterly summoned meeting of the brethren of the Loyal Naseby Lodge of Oddfellows took place at their lodge room, Empire Hotel, on Tuesday evening last. There was a large attendance of the brotherhood—close on seventy being present. The principal business, was the election of officers for the ensuing six months. The following were the successful candidates : —N.Gr., Bro. Hugh Wilson ; V.G Bro. A. Campbell; E.S., Bro. Cyril E. Gudgeon.

As there seems to hfwe been some enquiries lately made respecting the probable time when the machinery of our local brewery will be brought into operation, we may mention that the protracted delay has been caused by the repeated disappointments to which Mr. Franks lias been subjected in receiving consignments of material. The improved condition of the roads, however, will now enable him to procure all necessaries for the immediate production of a Naseby brew. We congratulate the Resident Magistrate, alike with the people of this district, on havin Qr a clean sheet this week at the Resident Magis° trate's and Warden's Courts. We are apparently becoming quite a circumspect and exemplary community, while, however, we fear, amidst so many conflicting "interests in the neighborhood, that in reality the present calm only presages a coming storm. The sale by public auction, on Wednesday last, by Messrs. Inder and G-eorge, of a consignment of cattle was well attended, the bidding spirited, and the prices good. We understand that the Rev. Mr. J. Burchett, of the Union Church, Naseby, wiil con.duct divine service at the Kyeburn Diggings Church, on Sunday first, July' 3, at two o'clock afternoon.

The Mount Ida Muffs are busily engaged completing their arrangements for an exhibition of their dramatic talent, before a Naseby audience, on an early date. Particulars hereafter.

It will be observed, by an advertisement else where, that the Naseby Water Works Company will formally open their works on Monday next, the 4th July (American Independence Day), at 12 noon, when the shareholders and the general public are invited to attend. We have not yet learned whether this important local event will, too, be celebrated by a general "turnout" at the Masonic Hall, but judging by the well known liberality of those forming the company, it is very likely sometiling of the kind will take place.

These can be no doubt but that the people of the Maerewhenua district must have had the utmost faith in its auriferous resources for a considerable time past. The population, numbering some 150 miners, storekeepers, and others, are scattered over a large extent of country, and for many months back they have been buoyed up more* by the hope of ultimate success in the prosecution of their arduous mining operations, than from the result of any favorable returns yet obtained. Now, however, there is the utmost certainty of this tenacity of purpose—this confidence in the future of the locality—rbeing richly rewarded The Mosquito Water Race Company (Grey and party), composed of six men, have now completed their race, after seven months' continuous work in its construction, and, we understand, the returns of their first washing-up, after only six weeks running, yielded sufficient gold todefray *ll the expenses of contraction,

material, labor, &c., for the period specified This being the case, we would, congratulate Grey ani party on the favorable termination to their praiseworthy industry. Cooper and party are also getting gold. Their water race, as well as those of others, is taken from Bush Creek, and the results of their operations at present are satisfactory. The large race of the Ben Lomond Company, hitherto known as the Enterprise Race, is progressing favorably, and from the well known character of the ground which will then be commanded, great things are expected by the company on completion of the works. Robinson's race from Otekaike is also being pushed rapidly on. It will probably be brought forward to the quartz reef this month, as many neighboring reefers are assisting in the work, in order the more quickly to secure a water supply for themselves. The twenty-feet water wheel of the quartz crushing machine will be driven by this race. The snow-poles between Maerewhenua and Kyeburn were inspected by Mr. Warden Robinson on Wednesday last. We understand that they were—to the number of eighty-six—all standing, but their condition has not publicly transpired. It may be mentioned that the poles in the Pass are each one hundred yards apai't, standing clear up from the centre of stone or sod cairns built four feet high around them, and form conspicuous objects to travellers, whose safety in foggy or snowy weather they pro placed there to preserve. There is very little snow on the mountains of this late but energetic aspirant- after riches, and the weather, although changeable, is very mild for this season of the year.

We again beg to draw the attention of our readers to the sale by auction by Messrs. Inder and George on Monday, 4th inst., of that well known and valuable property, the Ballarat Hotel. We anticipate a large attendance of buyers, and a spirited competition. The proposed meeting, called by advertisement to take place in the Victoria Hall, oil Wednesday evening, for the purpose of forming a Fire Brigade, is a step in the right direction, and we hope the men of Naseby. will muster well on the occasion.

We beg to draw attention to an advertisement elsewhere, notifying that a series of popular entertainments will be given under the auspices of the Sustentation Committee, 1870. The proceeds of these entertainments will be in aid of the Sustentation Fund, and the first of the series will take place,, in the MasonicHall on Monday evening, the llfch inst.