THE Mount Ida Chronicle. FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 1871.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 109, 31 March 1871, Page 2

THE Mount Ida Chronicle. FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 1871.

Ijv our last issue we alluded to the. unsatisfactory position in which our representatives, both in the G-eneral Assembly and in the Provincial Council, would necessarily be placed—not being local men —from their want, of all personal knowledge of the requirements of the district. Zealous as Messrs. Arrnl strong and Mervyn may desire to be in ! the execution of their duty, it is mani- | t'estly. impossible that, uuaided by the | opinions of their constituents, t'-ey can produce any material change in the prospects of Mount Ida. ttuch being the case, the question arises as to the j means by which the wishes and desires of the electors can be best made known to their representatives. A Municipal body wonld, no doubt, very much assist the constituency in such a case, and would be the best and most proper medium of communication between the | electors and the elected The people j of Mount Ida, however, have, as a body, j shewn a decided antipathy to the erec- ! tion of this to>vn into a Corporation. ! The, in our opinion, best medium of j communication between constituents I and representatives being thns out of i the question, we desire, if* possible, to j arrive at the next best means of keepj ing our members informed upon the I subjects which materially affect the disi trict which tliev represent, with the view to their being, by them, brought under the notice of the Government or the Provincial Council, as the case may require. We confess, then, that we, in the present aspect of affairs, see no other adoptable course than the resuscitation. or, rather, the reconstruction j of the Naseby Improveinent Committee. We would, however, very much like i o see tiie evils which led to the decay and decease of the late Committee as far as possible avoided. In the first place, then, we should prefer that any new body should have a more extended name than had the late Committee. We should prefer to have it i shewn that the body had for its object j the improvement of the district and the j mining interest rather than that of the town alone. The Mount Ida Progress Committee would, we think, be a far happier and more significant and suggestive appellation than that of the old "Naseby Improvement Committee. In addition to this, we should like to see some practical miners elected, not only as members of the Committee, but taking an active part in al its proceedings. We would not think of excluding business men from becoming members, but we should rather not see the Committee composed entirely of them, as was the case with regard to the last body. Neither could we wish or desire to see a large Committee. We look upon large Committees as generally unworkable. t'or instance, when a bodv con- * v

sists of a large number of persons, one member will excuse his absence upon the plea of there being plenty without him, and thus it happens that in such cases it is often a Yery difficult thing to form a quorum. Seven or, at the utmost, nine would, in our opinion, be an amply la rg£ Committee, pnd the usual time of meeting should be on a day and at an hour which would enable the miners to attend. We would suggest that a public meeting should be called, at which any person present might propose a candidate, and that as shortly thereafter as possible a vote should be taken by ballot—the nine candidates receiving the most votes becoming the Mount Ida Progress Committee. It would, we imagine, be unnecessary that each voter should possess any other qualification than that of being of full age—in fact, the election should be conducted on the principle of manhood suffrage. Unless such a system or, if possible, a better one be adopted, we fear that this district will derive little benefit from her members either in the Greneral Assembly or Provincial Council, be their intentions ever so good, or their abilities ever so great. To be able to do their duty with credit to themselves and with justice to the constituency our members must be made aware of the wants of the district, and be kept well posted in all and every , matter that is passing in it, and we confess that, in the absence of a Municipal body, we see no other means than those we have suggested, or of some other similar in principle, for effecting what we desire to see accomplished—the welfare and advancement of the district.

We have, more than once since the establishment of this journal, had occasion to call the attention of our readers to the unhealthy state of the back premises of some of the houses of this town —pointing out the disastrous aud fatal consequences ivhich might be naturally expected to result therefrom should this place at any time be unfortunately vjsited by fever or epidemic. We regret that circumstances have occurred within the last few weeks which compel us. fVom a sense of duty, again to bring the sanitary state of the town of Naseby the cfinyideration of the residents. Par he it from us to assume, or attempt to assume, the character of alarmists. We simp y desire to call to the recollection of < ur readers the old aud true proverb that " prevention is better than cure," and ask them to apply it at the present season and under the present circumstances. Attempt as we may to disguise the fact, or treat it with inattention or indifference, there is no doubt that within the last few weeks a dire and ravaging scourge has made its appearance, not only in Dunedin, but also in many of the up-country towns and districts —whether by the neglect of the Board of Health or not we do not feel ourselves called upon to argue. Suffice it for us to declare that scarlet fever, of a severe character, has been introduced into this Province by the ship Robert Henderson. With this fact before us, we should be wanting in common sense were we not to use every means in our power to keep, if possible, the grim monster from our door. This can only be effectually done by removing those causes which are generally known to engender fever and propagate disease. We feel certain that the people of Naseby will take what we write in the spirit in which it is written, and believe that our remarks as to the unhealthy state of many of the back premises in this town have been alluded to with the sole object of keeping disease from taking up its abode among us. To be "forewarned is to be forearmed." If, therefore, with a knowledge of the fact that a disease alike virulent and fatal has been introduced into, and is making rapid progress in, this Province, we stand gazing idly, stupidly, and inactively on, without making either effort or attempt to repel the insidious invader or check his advance, we have none other than ourselves to blame should the tyrant establish himself in our midst and, perhaps, decimate our population. Some years ago the cholera was raging iu London and other large cities of England, and a very numerously and inttuentially-signed petition was presented to Lord Palmerston, at that time Home Secretary, calling upon him to proclaim a day of humiliation and prayer to the Almighty to stay the course of the pestilence which was creating such fearful havoc in the ranks of the population, and sweeping, in

some instances, whole families to destruction. The reply of the great statesman showed alike his genius and his judgment. iHe declined to authorise an appeal for the interposition of the Almighty so long as the public failed to use the human means at their disposal to arrest, il not prevetit, pestilence, by removing the causes which breed and disseminate disease. We all know lull well what these causes are, and to what they are likely to lead should the fever unfortunately put in an appearance among us. We do not mean for a moment to assert that it is within the power of humanity to prevent plagues or epidemics, but we do say that there are means within our power to render their approach more remote, and to check their progress should they unfortunately take up their abode in this place. W*e are glad to find that the police are taking the matter actively in hand, and are using all the precautionary means in their power. We sincerely trust that, in the execution of this duty they may be assisted by all classes of the community, so that, should the worst come to the worst, each one among us will possess the proud consciousness of knowing that he has done his dutv.

Mb. David Maitland lost his election at the Clntha by the very small iruijority of six. We are informed that the application of Mr. John Green, for a mining lease of ten acres of ground on Cool Pit Jlill, haa been withdrawn.

The weatlier for some time past, though favorable to mining operations, has been quite the reverse so far as agricultural and harvest pursuits are concerned We are sorry to hear that the crops of Mr. Joseph Creighton, in Home Gully, as also those of Mr. Malloch, Kyeburn Hotel, have suffered severely from the wet weather which has lately prevailed. The change in the weather which has taken place since Tuesday last may, we trust, cause the damage to be less than was anticipated. We congratulate the Masonic Hall Company upon the very much improved external appearance of their building. It is to bo hoped that, having done so much for exterior show, they will turn their attention to the inferior and useful, and by introducing some system of ventilation, add much to the comfort of the public on the occasions of amusements or other gatherings.

The telegraph unti posh-office building ix making rapid progress towards completion. When finished, it will be decidedly the most substantially-built structure in Naseby. So nr. usually largo are the dimensions of the timber compared to what is generally used on GoidfiHda where no woods exist, that for the la-«b woi'k the lain has been the constant topic ot conversation union;:; the passers-by and the atfcnd.-in'.rf at the Court.

Tjik 4 IVo' inciul Government O.izette " notifies that. renders will be received for the erection Ol ;l C'.>Ul't House at t 'rouirteli. It is surely time liiufr souie i/fiort whs made to get the Court House here enlarged and furnished with seats for the use of those whv>in necessity compels to attend us witnesses. A shall improvement has been mnde within the last few days by the prisoners, in filling up the ugly hole on the approach to the Roach's Gully bridge. We regret, however, that ,we are unable to record any alteration in the state ot the structure itself. We fear 'matters wil be allowed to remain in the same dangerous state as before until some serious accident occurs.

His Excellency the Governor has left for the North, having decided, in consequence of the advanced slate of the season, to postpone bis visit to the Goldfields and the Lake country until next year. His Excellency would appear to be well pleaded with his reception in Dunedin since, before leaving the Province, he notified his intention to reside with Lady .Bowen three months in each year in Dunedin.

Thougkh the subject of an hospital for Naseby has engaged a good deal of public attention and public talk, no effort has, so far as we know, been taken to initiate the undertaking in any way whatever. We shall be happy to receive communications upon the subject, with a view of having the matter thoroughly ventilated, and the pros and cons placed before the public. There can be no doubt as to the advisability of such an institution, provided it can be brought within the means of the place. We would again remind the sporting portion of the community that the open season for shooting will commence to-morrow. John M'Neill, the prisoner convicted of being illegally on the premises of George Collett, of the Ancient Briton Hotel, with intent to commit a felony, and sentenced to twelve months in Dunedin gaol, left yesterday on horseback, accompanied by Sergeant M'Nally. The late change in the weather has had the effect of causing colds and coughs to be very prevalent in Naseby. We are still, we are happy to say, free from any symptoms of scarlet fever. Me. Commissioner Weldon arrived in this place on Wednesday evening last. The absence of an hospital in this place is looked upon as evidence of the neglect with which this district is treated. Nor can we feel surprised that such should be the case when we consider that, in almost every other Goldfield within the Province such establishments not only have existence, but are well and liberally supported, and their benefits fully appreciated by all classes of the communities. The public of Naseby wil ,' we feel sure, regret to hear that Mr. P. Gillies, of the Bank of New South Wales, hus been ordered to Dunedin. Mr. Gillies has, since his residence among us —from the many excellent qualifications which he possesses—made numerous

I friends, all of whom will wish him God speod, and a long life and a successful eareer in a more extended sphere. Mr. Gillies will, we understand, leave this place early next week. We are informed that Mr. William Madigan, for Borne years constable in this town, is under orders to remove to Clyde. Mr. Madigan has been always favorably known and generaly respected bv the people of Naseby as i a zealous and valuable officer. A meeting of the members of the Mount Ida Cricket Club will be held in liorswell's .Royal Hotel, on Monday evening next. It is notified by advertisement that the subscribing members of the Mount Ida Quadrille Club will meet in Collett's Ancient Briton Hotel, on Monday evening next. Not so bad for a country possessing a population of something like hnlf a million : —The House of Representatives in Wellington is composed of 78 members—4 5 belonging to this Island, and 33 to the North. Four of these members—Maories—represent the aboriginal population. Including the cost of Governor, and keeping up his establishment, and printing and stationery, this august body costs the Colony, in round numbers, £70,000 per annum. We have, besides, eight Provinces and one County, each possessing a Superintendent, Ministry, Councillors, and all the paraphernalia of Government, ut an annual cost of £30,000. —' Wakatip Mail.'