THE Mount Ida Chronicle. FRIDAY, APRIL 14, 1871.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 110, 14 April 1871, Page 2

THE Mount Ida Chronicle. FRIDAY, APRIL 14, 1871.

We notice with much pleasure that our St. Bathans friends seem determined to put their shoulders to the wheel and do all that in their power lies to assist our representatives in effecting what they may be able to effect for the interest of that portion of the Mount Ida District. The St. Bathanites have adopted —whether from our late suggestion or not we cannot say —the course which we in a late issue recommended, and have elected a Progress Committee as the proper, medium of communication between themselves and their representatives. Now this is as it should be, and though we are not personally acquainted with all the gentlemen whose names appear as members of the newly elected St. Bathans Progress Committee we doubt riot that the step which has been taken will result in the greatest possible advantage to the future welfare and prosperity of St. Bathans. We are pleased also to perceive that the Committee is composed of a number of members sufficient, in our opinion, to render it workable, but not cumbrous. An example such as that set by the St. Bathanites should he at once followed by the good folks of Naseby and its neighborhood, and a Committee of a similar nature, and for a similar purpose, should be atonceappointed. Without such a body —elected by the people and recognised by the Grovernment —we fail to see in what material way our members can assist us, or further the interests of the district. It would be simply nonsensical for a moment to suppose that either our members or the Government would or could accept every or any communication from an individual of any locality as per se an expression indicative of the opinion of the community. The thing would be a sheer impossibility—an absolute absurdity—and could onlv lead to " confusion worse confounded." With an acknowledged medium, however, between the electors and their representatives much good would be effected, without such a channel —nothing. It would be madness to imagine that our members can, living at such a distance, poat themselves up. and keep themselves posted up from day to day in the wants and requirements which must be constantly occurring within the extensive district which they have been elected to represent. It must also be matter of fact that, unless they are so posted up and kept so posted they, in the position which they hold, must, so far as the district is concerned, be utterly powerless for good, while, from ignorance of facts, powerful for eril. We confess that no other method than that whicn we have mentioned can, in our opinion—in the absence of a legalty constituted corporation—accomplish those results which we desire to see accomplished, or bring forth those fruits which the representative system should be expected to and should produce. We shall: perhaps be told that no resignation of the old Naseby Improvement Committee having been formally tendered or accepted that Committee may still be considered to exist. Such reasoning, however, is extremely fallacious, as the fact that such Committee is defunct is well known alike to the people of Nasebv and the Government, and no acts of that body would be under existing circumstances recognised or acknowledged either by the one or the other. We do not desire in the least degree to rake up the " ashes of the past," or to enter into the question of the merits or demerits of the late Committee. We are content to know that it is virtually defunct, to say " peace be with its ashes," and to endeavor to find something better to supply its place. The method in which the old Committee was con stituted was imperfect—the power of adding to its own number irregular and improper, and the non-limitation of the period for which the members were elected a great and grave mistake. We should like to see all this altered. In the first place, we should prefer that the number of any new Committee which might be elected should be limited. 2nd. That the period for which the Committee should serve should be restricted to twelve months, and that the meetings of the Committee should be monthly, and open to the public, as is the case with the meetings of corporate bodies. We are of opinion that a Committee elected upon the principles

which we have attempted briefly to enunciate would work well. At nil events, it would cost nothing but a little trouble, and the attempt would be well worthy of a trial if we desire to see this portion of the district progress and prosper at an equal rate with Ihe other portions. As we have said, St. Bathans has already taken the initiative —Macraes and Kyeburn have, tire understand, already ma,fie preparat ions to follow the lead. Hyde, 1J ami] ton, and Serpentine will not, we should think, allow themselves to be left behind. Unless, therefore, the people of Naseby can agree upon some system of unanimity upon the subject of an Improvement or Progress Committee—call it which we may —which shall be the recognised medium between thepeople and the Government;, they will find to their sorrow when too late: tint, though the most populous and most important mining centre in the Mount Ida district, Naseby will be the only place which will receive at the lianas of the Government nothing but indifference and neglect.

The telegraph and post office building jg. rapidly approaching completion, and will bo ready for talcing over from the contract,or before the expiration of the contract; time (3ut.lv April). The structure, as we have said before, is of a most substantial kind, and the internal arrangements seem to be all that is desirable, Wj<: would remind our readers that, the concert and readings mi aid of the school fund ar#i> prizes for the children is notified to take place at the Masonic llall, on the evening of Wednesday, 19th inst. The cause in aid of which the concert is to be held will, we should imagine, suggest itself to every person as being a good one, and should secure the services of the entire Nasoby notabilities. We last, week noticed a remarkable (for this part, of the country) yield of oats. "We have again something in the same strain to relate, which is that a turnip has been found in I ho garden of Mrs. Wright, of the Ivycburn Diggings, which was the unusual weight of 181bs. We beg to draw the attent ion of our renders to the sale by auction, by Messrs. Inder and George, to-morrow of horses, goals, cart and harness, &c., belonging to Mr. l\t. Caricondi, Garibaldi Diggings, who is leaving the Province. A LIST of persons who have claimed to haiio their names inserted upon the Electoral Roll for the Mount Idn district for the House of Representatives is posted in the Court, House. Any objection to the names of the applicants being inserted must be sent in to the Returning Officer, Clyde, before the last day of the present month of April. Late telegraphic news from Sydney states that six vessels are on the bert h for Fiji. * This New South Wales Government have promised to place £IO,OOO on the Estimates for an annual subsidy for a Californiun line via Fiji ami iionoiu.u. * Tllio Caledonian claim is still turning out wonderful stone. On the morning of the Bth instant a fatal accident occurred to John Paseoe, a shareholder and director in the Nugget and Cornish Quartz mining Company, Quccnstown. ltappears that when in the act of oiling the machinery, a woollen comforter which he was wearing became entangled in it, his body was drawn in, and he was instantaneously killed. The Rev. J. Wood will conduct Divine service in the Masonic Hall at 11 o'clock in t,He forenoon, and at 6.. T. o'clock in the evening, on Sunday first (Kith April). The morning services are chie/ly intended for children and young persons. This Warden attended ns usual at St. Balhans on Tuesday last, but. the business was of an unimportant, ehara ter. The adjourned case —C'lucas v. M'Phail was settled on the understanding that Clueas should renew his applicat ion. The facts of the case appeared iu our last issue. The Hon. Dillon Bell, A1.11.R. and M.P.C., arrived iu Naseby on Tuesday afternoon, and after staying the night at Hunter's Empire Hotel, left at an early hour the following morning. Whether Mr. Bell's visit was of a private or public nature lias not transpired. We have noticed with pleasure that, for somo time past, two surface men have been employed in making sound that, part of road leading from Naseby to Eden Creek. There is one small portion, however, which appears to us to require immediate attention, unless it is desired to see it in a perfect, state of quagmire so soon as ( lie wet weat her shall set iu. We allude to the small hollow at the bottom of Mr. John Creighton's garden, just, before rising the cemetery road. A small nnck inexpensive culvert would do all t hat, is necessary. The Home mails, via San Francisco, were due at Auckland, under the new eontmet, on the 10th April inst. Tim improved and improving prospects of the Ida Valley Deep Lead Compuiv may be gathered from the following facts, which we take from the 'Dunstan Times:' —"The old ground has been left,, and the new ground driven into a distance of twenty feet., the dirt gett ing richer. As an instance of the richness of the ground, in places, a dishful of washdirt taken from the new drive yielded twenty-eight pennyweights of gold. A machine of stun, consisting of seven small loads, on Saturday last gave thirty-seven ounces." . . " Revell and party, who have some ground on the supposed lino of lead, are, we hear, to, commence putting down a shaft. It is likely that a local company will be formed to take up and work the claim." We are somewhat, surprised that., after the stress laid upon the subject of an hospital foj' Naseby by tha miners at the late electioneering meetings and uddrcijses, nothing should yet

ave been done to commence a ventilation of 6 Bu ßject, at least so far as ourselves are aware. I rue, personal enquiries have from lme to time been .made of us, but nothing in ie shape of correspondence upon the subject as yet reached us. We should be truly glad o see a discussion on the subject initiated, eeling sure that it would lead to profitable results. A special meeting of the School Committee wis held on Saturday last at noon. Present: Messrs. Grumitt (chair), Ross (sec.), Bremner, Horswell, and YVilson. The meeting "was called lor the purpose of receiving and answering correspondence irom the Secretary to the Education Board. As the expected correspondence did not arriye, the Secretary was again instructed to "write to the Secretary to the Education Board, requesting an immediate reply, as steps would be taken to close the school from a want of proper accommodation and a sufficient staff of teachers. JWe are glad to hear that the G-overnment have notified their willingness to sanction the expenditure of a sufficient sum of money to repair the guide posts between this place and the Maerewhenua diggings, previously to the advent of the winter.

Last Friday being G-ood Friday, no business of any kind was transacted either in the oanks or public offices, or in the usual business places of the town. Monday last being Easter Monday was observed as a general holiday. From the report of the meeting of the School Committee which appears in another place, it would appear that the Committee are determined to do the duties to which they have been elected. We should regret, however, that so extreme a measure as the closing •of the school should have to be resorted to in consequence of inattention to its wants at the hands of the Secretary of the Education Board, and of the Government. We trust that past neglect may be made amends for by an immediate compliance with the but reasonable requests of the School Committee. ~