ST. BATHANS.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 73, 1 July 1870, Page 3

ST. BATHANS.

June 27, 1870. Again I have to chronicle the nonarrival of the mail from Dunedin up to the time I write, and consequently St. Bathans is again deprived of such knowledge of the outer world as it should have had two days ago, if strict discipline prevailed in the mail contract service. I mean by this, such discipline as prevails in the mail service of the Old Country, where, if the coach meets with any mishap, the mail bags are forwarded on horseback to their respective destinations; or, if not, the contractors have to pay a heavy penalty . But, in all likelihood, you will witness the marriage of your grandchildren before Otago can lay claim to a discipline equally perfect in this respect. I suppose there is no help for it but to " grin and bear it." . Again I have to chronicle the advent of a heavy snow fall, which took place on Thursday evening last. It was the heaviest of the season, so far ; and was immediately followed by a very rapid thaw,, which swelled all the creeks, so as to render them impassable to drays until this morning. ~ A curious phenomenon occurred on

j" Friday night, or Saturday morning about one o'clockj when some loud peals of thunder were heard by. residents here; and when they got out of their beds at the usual hour that morning, they observed that the snow—which must have been two feet deep in many places—had disappeared from the central parts of the Dunstan and Hawkdun Banges, facing St. Bathans, while their heads and feet, along with all the low grounds about, were still snow-clad. It- is said that this thunder storm passed from west to east, and must have been accompanied by heavy rain, m order to account for this snowless belt extending in the direction of your township.. Again the swelling of the Dunstan Creek has caused some slight damage to the flushing channel, which calls miners from their claims—but only for a day. I need scarcely tell you.that the late snow has not improved the approaches to the township. They are simply abominable—-that on Hill's Creek side being one continuous trap in itself, for hundreds of yards no "trap" can travel over it without endangering the lives of men and horses.

The Rev. lather Morris, en route for Cromwell, arrived, here from your town at six o'clock on Thursday, in the midst of the snow storm, and was speedily surrounded and joyfully welcomed by a number of his friends and admirers, including his friend and brother clergyman, the Rev. Eather Royer. The fall of snow was so great on the night mentioned, and the thaw so rapid during Friday and Saturday, that the rev. gentleman—much to the delight of his friends—could not resume his journey on those days. He spent the time in performing a duty which he never omitted in visiting St. 'Bathans—he spent it in visiting bis numerous friends and acquaintances at their Respective houses, and paying those kind attentions so pleasing to them and so becoming in a minister of the gospel: After he had preached an eloquent sermon at eleven o'clock mass yesterday, both he and the Rev. Father Royer proceeded on their way to Cromwell, to open and consecrate the Catholic Church recently erected there". All the water races have more water than their owners can find use for just at present, and mining affairs - look healthy.—A.B.C. ? -

(From our own Correspondent;)* June 27,1870.

A Blight sensation has beetivisible during the past week, amongst the juvenile community who attend the Sunday school here, on account of the long spoke of examination. It took place in the school-room yesterday (Spnday) afternoon, a number of the children's parents being present. The examination occupied a great part of the afternoon, the result of which was satisfactory to all parties present. Many thanks are due to Mr. and Mrs. Stratford, for the able manner in which they have conducted the Sunday school during the past six months, and for the pains taken by them to instruct the children attending the school. The prizes will be distributed on Sunday evening next. Last Saturday week, a destructive fire broke out in the dwelling-house of Mr. B. Paget, at Hill's Creek, and in less than twenty minutes, the devouring element completed its work, totally destroying the whole of the building. Mrs. Paget and son, -who were within at the time, escaped unhurt. Her husband was in the township at the time of the fire, which, I am informed, originated in the interior of the building. So rapidly did the flames spread, that the only articles saved were two blankets, every thing else of a combustible nature becoming food for the flames.

We had a heavy fall of snow on Thursday afternoon and evening last, which completely clothed St. Bathans and the surrounding neighborhood in winter garb. On Friday and Saturday, the thaw setting in caused slips in some of the claims and deep races. There is a probability of an accident occurring at the flushing channel, from the Dunstan Creek undermining the ground over which the above-mentioned channel is cut; in consequence of which we are informed that no water will be allowed to be. used in the Basin, for mining purposes, until further notice. No mail has arrived here this week, on account of the stat3 in which the roads* creeks, are ixL

I ... Ki'EBIJRX . ' ' Now, admitting- that the present proprietors are making £3 per week I reduce my estimate to allow a man to live comfortably-;— at least as comfortably as it is possible to live in a savage country, where vegetables are almost worth their weight in gold, and fruit unattainable. Presuming, therefore, that living will become cheaper as the country becomes populated, I may safely assert that a man can comfortably live for 30s. per week. As long as 30s. per week is obtainable these races will be valuable.

The coal fields of this district will also prove a blessing to the people,;, as well as a source of revenue to the proprietors for many years to come. The extent of the deposit is at present unknown, but, from the numerous outcroppings of this alluvial deposit, I may safely infer that the supply will meet the demand until such time as the-Go-vernment choose to offer some inducement to capitalists to plant timber,"and otherwise improve the couutry. At the present lime there would be great fear of every tree being taxed if planted. The only object of our legislators apparently being to draw as much substance from the patient as can safely be done wituout killing him. I cannot, at the end of this letter, enlarge upon the benefits which would accrue to all classes by the planting of timber on these plains, but may possibly allude to this subject in a future number. I may conclude by stating that the prospects of the place are good, and that, unless the efforts of an industrious population is checked by the incompetency of its rulers, there will yet be a smiil village in this spot, with its church a.ii its clergyman, and, most probably, its lock-up ?—[Concluded from our last.]