THE Mount Ida Chronicle. FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 1871.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 100, 13 January 1871, Page 2

THE Mount Ida Chronicle. FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 1871.

Slowly and tortuously as a snake drags on tlio question of telegraphic communication between this place and the other centres of population. Nearly two years have elapsed since the promise of extending the telegraph system to Naseby was first made. Between the date of that promise and the present time the Government have made several endeavors to show that their intention was not abandoned. Two surveys of a line have taken place —the first via Alexandra, the second via Palmerston, and it would seem that the latter is to be the line. "W"e care little which way the line may be carried, so long as we get the communication 5 and the sooner we get it the better. For our part, we should prefer to see both the surveyed lines placed in use, so that the whole Province would be encipcled by one telegraphic cordon. While we are happy to see something like a prospect of this great want being supplied, we cannot' refrain from remarking upon the truly absurd and uneconomical manner in which the work seems likely to be carried out. A few days since two waggons, containing wire and other material of telegraph plant, arrived here, and after depositing a certain portion of the load at the corner of the cricket ground, proceeded Kyeburnwise. We were told that a similar amount of the contents of the waggons was to be delivered at equal distances of a mile along the line of road to Further enquiry upon the subject revealed the extraordinary fact tfyat the portion of the plant to which we have alluded had already been in use in the Dunstan districtr—Kuobby Ranges, we believe—and had been brought down here for the purpose of constructing the Nase-by-Palmerston line, while its place had been supplied with entirely new gear from Dunedin. . We do not care one dump if the gear constituting the plant be old or new, but we do object to useless and unnecessary expenditure of public money which its use in this case involves. If the old gear brought down

to construct this new line be good enough to re-uae, surely it was sufficiently good to have been allowed to remain where it was. If it can be made j to do its duty here, it could have continued to have done its duty in its old locality. Let us for a moment look at some at least of the items of expenditure which this telegraph tinkering will involve. First, there must be the cost of taking down and re-arranging the gear to be fit for carriage or removal; then the cartage of the gear from upcountry downwards to Paltnerston—no inconsiderable item, we should imagine. It must, however, be remembered that the new gear to supply the place of that brought down from the Knobby llanges has had to be brought from Dunedin, and has had to be taken along the same line of road which the old plant has had to be carried before its, arrival here. Thus we have it, that two useless and unnecessary of material have been made at the public expense, and with no object that we can see further than a desire to be thought lavish and grand. If it were the fact that the old gear was. in bad case, why send it here for re-<?rection, necessitating, as we have said, an extra double carriage ? If it were in need of repair, why not repair it rather 1 han carry it nearly a hifhdreij, and more miles for repair and re-erec-tion. While wo gladly hail the extension of the telegraphic system to this district (and we trust that the arrival of a portion of the materia,! for its construction may be looked upon in the light of a first instalment), we cannot refrain from entering our protest against the foolish, useless, and mine-* cessary expenditure which lias accompanied, or rather, perhaps, preceded its introduction. *

Of mining matters we cnn only report thai* they are progressing satisfactorily, And th&t ; the district Btill maintains its position tit the head of the escort returns. Water, wo glad to be able to state, is abundant, mid the demand equal to the supply. Could only a lower market price for water be entftblished here, we firmly believe that Ntuehy would have a splendid future before her. The scarcity of water and its consequent high price are tiio only things which militate against the rapid onward progress and advancement of this <iint triet; The bridge—if wo can dignify tho 'pnWnl structure with such a name—crossing Roach's Gully is not only a disgrace to the town of' Naßeby, but has been allowed to fall into sia-h a state of disrepair as to have become positively dangerous to lunb, if not to life We had, t ourselves, yesterday to extricate two little children whoso legs had slipped through lone of the broken battens. Fortunately no harm was sustained further than a little fright. • Had there been no passer-by at tho time, the result might have been different. Wo think tho time has arrived when a good and substantial bridge should be erected in the place <?t' tho present rickett.y and dangerous structure, and it is to be hoped t hat our new member (ho ho who he may) will bring the matter as soon as possible under tho notice of the Government. If properly urged, we feel certain that tho necessary funds will be speedily forthcoming. In the meantime we would urge the residents of Naseby, for their own sakes ana tho sake of their children, to contribute a sum sufficient to render tho present crossing at least safo. We think, that a few planks placed longitudinally on the present flooring might suffico until something better and more permanent is decided on. At all events, wo say to one and all —for all are alike interested—do something. Tujj Rev. James Martin, Presbyterian minister, from Dunedin, will conduct Divine service in the Union Church, Naseby, on Sunday next, 16th instant, forenoon and evening, at the usual hours. We understand that the time for receiving tenderß for the erection of post office and telegraph station at Naseby, has been extended to , the 23rd inst. Much has been said about the insalubrity, or rather the variableness, of the climate of Naseby rendering the cultivation of garden produce anything but attractive and remunerating. There is no doubt lnueh, too much, truth in the remark. We had, however, the v other day, the pleasure of seeing a large bowl of gooseberries, grown in the garden of Mr. Hall, cordial manufacturer of this town, most of which weighed, if tliey did not exceed,"half an ounce each. Not so bad that, I'or a place said to possess an inhospitable climate. There is every reason to believe that the Maerewhenua Gold field will yet be the scene of great activity. If the Government aid wero given towards. bringing in a sufficient water supply, a thousand men could make wages — bo we are confidently told by some of the diggers. Lour men just come down for provisions have brought, with, them 21oz. of gold, obtained in seventeen "shifts"—say oight days —and that with insufficient water. They say that with plenty of water they could earn £l2 per week per man for a twelvemonth out of their present claim.— 4 Oamaru Times.' A MJiBXXNO-of the Mount J da. Cricket Club was held in Millar's Old Victorian Hotel, on Monday evening last. There was a good attendance ot the members present. It was resolved that a match—married v. single—bo played m the Cricket Ground on Friday next,, 20th instant. Wicket h to be pitched at ono o clock sharp. n*n HK r3^n' mora *' 0n rttoeß t°°k place in Mr. IJillon iiell e paddock at, Meadowbank, Shag Valley, on Monday week lat>t. The weather, o

account of the high wind which prevailed, was not so pleasant as could hav® been wished for. We are indebted to the ' Waikouaiti Herald ' for the results of the various events :—rMaiden 1 Jriate of 15 sovs : M'G-regor's Heather Jock, 1; vrumore's Ruby, 2 ; Cowan's Yeno, 3.—Palmerston Handicap of 30 sovs: Stanton's Little tv ® rumm ' s Bob Apples, 2 ; Lefevre's (late Tecumseh), 3; Captain Scott, 4. --District Handicap of 20 sovs: Little's Bobby, Lefevre's Q-rey Campden, 2 ; M'Lew's Gaffer, 3.—Shag Yalley Cup of 15 sovs : Littie s Kurie Boy, 1 ; Lefevre's Tiger, 2 ; Little's Bobby, 3.—District Handicap Hurdle Race of 20 sovs : McGregor's Heather .Took, 1; Allan's £/? m g Buck, 2.—District Handicap Trotting Race of 10 sovs: Muir's Bess, 1; Souter's Darkie, 2; Lefevre's Cheeky, 3.—Consolation Handicap of 10 sovs: Lefevre's Tiger, 1 ; Drumm s Bob Apples, 2 ; Johnston's Shamrock, 3. The Rev. Father Norris will conduct divine p ®rv ce in the chapel here on Sunday next, the 15th instant, at the usual hours. The Treasurer to the Naseby Brass Band . begs to acknowledge receipt, with thanks, of a donation of £5 from the Oddfellows' Fete Committee. i _ The Wonga Wonga, with the Home mails via San Francisco, was due at An* kland oh the 4th instant, but she need not be looked for till the end of the present week. From fourteen to fifteen days' later telegraphic news from London than that brought via Suez, is expected. Mr. Yogkl left Wellington on the 2nd instant, en mute for England. The ' Provincial Government Gazette' no^J, es a meeting will be held in the Gomnmoiit offices, on the 19th instant, to k consider the applications of Mr. W. Inder and Mr. W. J. "Barry for auctioneers' licenses. Government town land allotments in Nase-t , by and Macraes will be sold by auction, in the Survey Office, Naaebv, on Wednesday next, 18th inst. A TKLEGRA.it from Auckland, via Wanganui, ia the ' Times,' informs us that news from Fiji states that war is imminent between Thakombau and the Lower Rewa tribes, sup- ; t ported by Maafu. The settlers are not involved. The Solomon Islands have proved a successful source for the importation of labor, but the natives are very savage. Twenty of . them, employed on Mr. Strang's plantation, Taviuna, ran away with a boat, killing four Fijimen to eat on the voyage. They were captured by the settlers some days after, near the north coast of Yitu Levu. The Government discredit the report of the--4 rumored WaikatO massacre, and state that all is quiet in the district. The following are the polling places appointed for the Mount Ida District: —Court Houses at Naseby, St. Bathans, and Hamilton; school houses at Hyde and Macraes; and Andrew Murray's house, Serpentine. Titr ' Lnke Wakatip Mail' states that the Government has requested Mr. C. E. Haughton to furnish: them with information as to the heat ineans of procuring water for the various Goldfieids of Otago. * At a dinner given to Dr. Featherston last week, in Wellington, he said.that he had that afternoon accepted the office of Agent-General t for the Colony. It is expected he will go Home again in about two months. Thtc sale of the booth* for the forthcoming ' Tuapeka Jockey Club Races, to be held on Thursday and Friday, 19th and 20th January, fetched £97. Tht: yield of gold in the Mount Ida District for 1869 amounts to 31,7330z. ; for 1870, 32,6440z.; increase, 811oz. The members of the Naseby Fire Brigade will meet for practice this evening, at the Victoria Hall, at half-past, seven o'clock. It will be observed, from the return pub--5 lishecl in another column, that the gold produce of the Mount Ida District (exclusive of St. Bathans), during the year 1870, amounted to 24,7020z., or 2,3780z. in excess of the preceding year. If the quantity of gold taken by the last escort had been included in the above return, the increase in the yield of gold for 1870 would have been 5,6400z. The usual fortnightly meeting of the Loyal Naseby Lodge of Oddfellows will be held in ' the Lodge room, Empire Hotel, on Tuesday evening firdt. 17th instant, at eight p.m. It has often been matter of surprise how some of the Celestials in this place not only manage to have, but manage also 16 be in a position to. indulge in the inhalation of, their favorite but intoxicating drug. They do not appear to, neither do they, work, yet they | »seem to be satisfied and contented. Perhaps the ease which was remanded by Wilson Gray, I Esq., J-P-, till Monday next may suggest a I clue to the mystery. There is nothing, to our I mind, mo.", despicable than a cowardly mid- ' thief, too lazy to work himself, but mean ' enough to rob the hard-working man of his | fairly won earnings. We trust that should the I charge —stealing from a tail race on Surface I 1»Hill- be established, that no undue leniency | oe shown, but. rather that the delinquent I I NaT ive news by telegram from the North is, ft an ything but satisfactory. The massacre of I the sixty Europeans is not confirmed, though I the Natives appear to be in an extremely exI cited state. There is every reason to fear that ft tiie murderers of Mr. Todd will not be given ft * o and that any attempt to capture them will ■ lead to a rupture, the extent of which it is imB possible to foresee or conjecture. Tru y the cr of the political craft through the ■ shoals, Shallows, and dangers of "Maori diffiI j ties " i 8 a tas k w kich requires an able hand ■ ° d an able head, combined with prudence I aQ j f or ethought. We shall watch the next ■ from the North with more than usual I ne • t Another Maori war, and New ZeaI anX ! be thrown back, so far as progress is I ncerned, for tens of years. We trust that M C< ?ch a catastrophe may be avoided by the giv- ■ " up of Mr - odd:8 murderei ' B - I 1 Wk a re always glad to welcome back old ds and this we now do in the person of surgeon cientist, who returned on Monday last. Of • Mr. Arm-i

strong's talents as a dentist it is not for us to speak, but- we feel sure that there are none wlio have been under his bands who will-refuse him the mede of praise due to his ability. The District Court sat here on Wednesday last, when the case of Brown v. Hill was heard, and a judgment of £75, with costs, entered for the plaintiff. Our readers will remember that this case arose from Mr. Brown's having been knocked down, ridden over, and his arm broken upon the occasion of-the Spring meeting of the Mount Ida Jockey Club, on the 4th October last. "• We fear that the tailings question is likely again to figure in the R.M. Court. Everybody must have observed that latterly the influx of tail water from Roach's Gully to Earnetreet has been very considerable, rendering the footpath to the bridge almost unapproachable. On Tuesday last, however, a fetream of tail water—in fact, the whole water of the gully—tock entire possession of the lower end of Earn-street, seriously damaging the street, and threatening the premises of Messrs. Packman, Raven, and Glenn. Upon the matter being pointed out to George Martin and party, miners working in the Gully, a prompt remedy was found and the water returned to its proper course. We understand that it is the intention of the police officer in charge to take action in the matter. When will this tailings grievance end ? is a question often asked of us, and one which we constantly ask ourselves — up to the present time, however, without having been able to suggest anything in the shape of a satisfactory reply. Information has reached ua that the development of the quartz mining at the Otekaike reef is being steadily pushed forward. John Robinson and Company are getting on with the preparations for the erection of their machinery. The wheel pit is a piece of substantial stone building, and is nearly completed. A great part of. the machinery is already on the ground, and the remainder is shortly expected to arrive. The party have erected some comfortable huts and stables, and the whole affair begins to present the aspect of a permanent settlement. An excellent road has been constructed from the reef down to the machinery. The machinery will be driven by water power, for which purpose a lairge raco has been brought in from the Otekaike river. The holders of' another claim on the reef being resolved to test it very thoroughly, are now driving into it from the gullv. They have already put in a tunnel 180 feet through solid rock, blasting all the way. This work has occupied three men eleven weeks. They expect in a few feet more to strike the reef. Should the reef answer their expectations, we believe it is their intention to erect machinery of their own.