When the Presbyterian Synod, at the last meeting, determined to constitute this place a charge, it was notified that immediately upon the arrival of an efficient minister from the Home Country he should be appointed to this district. The Rev. Mr. M'Coeh Smith arrived by the ship Helenalee, and it was generally understood that he would have been located at Naseby. We have heard, however, with surprise that there is some doubt at present what that gentleman's destination may be. Unless some immediate action be taken by the Church Extension Committee to provide a minister for this place, no benefit will be derived from the resolution arrived at by the Synod. Naseby is now without a resident minister of any creed, nor has any minister of the Presbyterian Church visited us since the departure of Mr. Wood, the late probationer. We desire to call the attention of the proper authorities to this matter. Wk would remind our mining readers that the special protection of claims at Clarks and Mount Burster, under section 9 of Regulation xxii., commenced on the Ist instant, and will continue until Sept. 30th. The proclamation of the Strathtaieri Hundred, in this district, will bring into the market about 20,000 acres of the best agricultural land in the country. " Black Sam," known to a large number in Dunedin and up-country by that name, died lately in the Dunedin Hospital. A special ' G-azette ' notifies that bis Honor the Superintendent has accepted the resignations of the Cargill Ministry ; and that he has been pleased to appoint Messrs. D. Reid, J. B. Bradshaw, J. Bathgate, and W. H. Cutten, to be members of the Executive Council, vice Messrs. E. B. Cargill, Geo. Turnbull, C. E. Haughton, and D. M'Arthur resigned. Mr. D. Reid is apjjointed Provincial Secretary and Secretary for Land and Works; Mr. Bradshaw, Treasurer and G-oldfields Secretary; and Mr. Bathgate, Provincial Solicitor. j The Dunedin 'Star' states that there is [ great discontent amongst the Goldfields members, at the prospect of the Goldfields not being represented in the Executive. A Queenstown correspondent, writing to the 'Dunstan Times' says:—l took a stroll upon the terrace above the town, and amused myself with counting the houses newly erected CTeslng the past nine or ten months. The total number was thirty-five. This is progress with a vengeance, and we can only hope that this sudden growth may not prove like that of the mushroom, and be merely the forerunner of a downward reaction. We are happy to state that the Mount Ida School Committee are likely to have their suggestions for improved accommodation carried into effect—one of their number having received a promise from the Government of £IOO, which will in all probability be supplemented by an additional £IOO. The Committee have also sent for upwards of thirty prizes for the children, to be purchased from the funds arising from the late concert given for the purpose of defraying working expenses of School Committee and procuring prizes. The gross proceeds of concert amounted to £l9 Bs. Bd. £8 16s. 6d. of this amount has been voted by the School Committee for the purchase of prizes, while the balance has been expended in defraying arrears due by previous Committees, Secretary's salary, in providing extra forms for the school room, and in effecting some small necessary repairs. The usual monthly meeting of the School Committee took place on the evening of Monday last. Present, Messrs. Grumitt (chair), Hay, Horswell, Dixon, Ross, and Bremner. The schoolmaster (Mr. Petcliell) was in attendance.—The minutes of the previous meetmgs were read and confirmed.—The Chairman read the monthly report of the schoolmaster for the month of May.—Mr. Potchell made a statement to the effect that, in consequence of the small amount arising from the school fees he must, at the expiration of present month, recur to his original agreement, should the . Committee determine to adhere to their resoi lution respecting the school premises.—Pro- | posed by Mr. Hay, seconded by Mr. Rose,
"That the schoolmaster's report be adopted, and that future consideration of lub verbal statement be postponed till the next monthly meeting." Carried.—The Chairman informed the meeting that he had waited on his Honor the Superintendent on the subject of increased school accommodation, and had received a reply to the effect that the sum of £IOO would be placed at the disposal of the Committee for that purpose.—Proposed by Mr. Hay, seconded by Mr. Boss, " That the Secretary write to the Provincial Secretary calling his attention to the promise of the Superintendent alluded to by the Chairman, and requesting that the amount may be placed at the disposal ;>f the Committee as soon as possible." —Mr. Bremner proposed as an amendment, "That the Secretary write to the Secretary of the Education Board, informing him that Mr. Grrumitt, while on a late to Dunedin, had an mterTiew with his Honor the Superintendent, and received from him a promise that the sum of £IOO would be placed at the disposal of the Committee for the purpose of removing and enlarging the school building. That the Committee considers that such sum is quite inadequate for the intended purposes, and that were proper accommodation provided, and a sufficient staff of teachers appointed, the average attendance of scholars would be 150 — and there would be by this means retained in the district a «rge number of boys and girls of a somewhat advanced age —the fees from whom would materially contribute to the support of the school—but who are, at the present time, necessitated to seek in Dunedin or elsewhere that education which they are unable to obtain in this district. That, at the present time, there are a number of grown-up girls in the district whose parents would be glad to pay for their instruction in the higher branches of education, but whose means would not enable them to send their children to schools either in Dunedin or in other districts. In conclusion, the Committee desire to record their unanimous opinion that the entire school institution is utterly inadequate to the requirements of the district, which is the most, populous within the Groldnelds—in proof of which they would refer to the census of 1871, which gives a return of 200 children within a radius of three miles from the town of JNaseby. That a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Provincial Secretary; Messrs. Armstrong and Mervyn, members for the district; and to Mr. J. C. Brown, M.P.C., requesting them to use their influence in furthering the objects of the Committee." Seconded by Mr. E. Horswell and carried.—Proposed by Mr. liay, " That this Committee desire to express to Mr. G-rumitt their sincere thanks for the courteous and able manner in which he had undertaken and carriedjlmt the business entrusted to him by this Q /inmittee^—in waiting upon his Honor the Superintendent and others, and for succeeding in securing the promise of £IOO to be placed at the disposal of the Committee."
The last monthly escort for the Mount Ida district, which went down by the coach on Monday last, amounted to 24180z5. This is exclusive of St. Bathans.
The tenders for the bridge over Roach's Gully were opened -at the ' Chronicle ' uffice on Saturday evening last, when that of Mr. George Stevens, for £ls ss. (being the lowest), was accepted. We are glad to see that the ■work is being fast proceeded with and will, we understand, be completed to-morrow. Th s work will not be finished one moment too soon, as the old structure had, for some time past, become dangerous to life and limb, and many narrow escapes from accident have occurred.
Messes. Inder and Geoegke sold by public auction, at the Victoria Hall, on the Ist June, twenty-six shares in the Naseby Water Works, Company, being balance of original 100 shares, at an average of about £6 10s. per share—the original price was £5 per share. A share, also, in the Undaunted Water Race Company was knocked down to Mr. C. Bray for £2lO. We notice that the sale by auction of the New Orleans Dining Rooms (by Messrs. Inder and George) has been postponed till Wednesday next, when the sale will take place in the Victoria Hall.
The Home mail, via San Francisco, will close to-day at the usual hour. Me. H. A. Steatfobd, lately Clerk of the Bench at St. Bathans, has succeeded Mr. E. H. Carew —whose elevation to the rank of Warden we notified in our last issue—nr his various offices in this place. . We are glad to notice, from an advertisement which appears in another column, that the Hit or Miss Water Race Company have reduced the price charged for their water from £2 15s. and £2 10s. to £2 10s. and £2 ss. respectively. We are glad to find that the Company have resolved to take this step, ■which is certainly in accordance with the spirit of the times. There is no doubt that a very rast tract of country in this locality is auriferous, but not sufficiently so tj enable the miner to work it with moderate profit at the prices formerly charged by the companies for water. As we stated at the time of the late strike, the price of water was a matter which, depending upon supply and demand, would ■work its own cure, as the companies would, in the end, be compelled to accommodate their prices to the times. Captain Baldwin, Sub-Commissioner of Government Annuities, passed through this town on Friday last, en route to Dunedin. Captain Baldwin has, we believe, been very successful in his mission in the up-couni ry districts, and purposes, we understand, returning to .Naseby in the course of a lew days, when he will deliver lectures in the Masonic Hall on tne subject of Government annuities. In consequence of St. John's Day falliug this year upou a Saturday, the usual soiree of the Mount Ida Masonic .Lodge lias heen postponed till the following Monday, June 26th.
The estimation in which Mr. H. A. Strat- j ford is held by the people of St. Bathans will be seen by a letter from our correspondent : A.8.C., which appears in another column of our present issue. It will be seen that it is the intention of the St. Bathanites to present Mr. Stratford with a substantial mark of their regard. There have been no cases heard either in the Resident Magistrate's or Warden's Courts since our last issue—the only one (that of G-leeson v. O'Brien, for dissolution of mining partnership) having been settled out of Court. We are informed, on reliable authority, that his Honor the Superintendent has oromised to see tliat all the money available for the improvement of the road to Naseby isspeni on the desired diversion near the Houndburn Hill. We would remind our readers, however, that his Honor is very forgetful, and wdl require to be frequently reminded of his promise if they would see it carried into effect.
The Kev. Mr. Dasent will conduct Divine service in the Union Church on Sunday first, June 11, at eleven forenoon.
The desire for a periodical visit of the Warden, so frequently expressed by the people of Serpentine, is, we are informed, soon to be complied with—the Secretary of the Groldfields and the Superintendent having both promised that the necessary instructions (for a monthly visit to that place) should be forwarded iis-. mediately v Ap- ■■ »v. 5 The great inconvenience to which $& miners in the outlying parts of this for some time past, had to submit in procuring their miners' rights, is, we are pleased to learn, speedily to be remedied. The matter was brought under the notice of his Honor the Superintendent recently, an 1 we are advised that he promised to issue instructions to the Warden to carry with him a miners' right book on his journeys, and issue miners' rights whenever and wherever he held Court. We are confident this concession will be thankfully accepted by all who are interested.
A correspondent, writing fr.--.m Dunedin last week, informs us that the prospects of a sludge channel being constructed by Government aid is exceedingly remote . Mismanagement—which all Executives charge to their j predecessors, but which none will confess to themselves —has involved the Province in such an amount of debt that there is very Httle hope (if any) of the works of urgent necessity throughout the province being undertaken this year. Even this could be borne patiently if there were a prospect of improvement. If the members of the Provincial Council (instead of fighting about shadows, and allowing the industry of the Province to languish under the present deficency, the interest on which costs the country £IO,OOO per annum) would s-e't vigorously to work to get through the business of the session our prospects might soon brighten. Honorable members, however, are apparently thoroughly convinced of the necessity they each have for a large honorarium, and are evidently adopting the best course to secure it by wasting their time in the most reprehensible manner. Many talk for the sake of talking ; others, because the music of their own voices is more pleasant to their ears than is any other sound (especui ly as the pay is in proportion to the amount of Mine they can occupy, or rather waste, in that way). Few indeed appear to be governed by a sense of honor. The members representing the Goldfields are happily exempt from this charge, for their voices are rarely heard in the Council Hall. They do all their talking outside. Especially since the formation of anew Executive lias been in hand each seems to be thoroughly convinced, and reai.y to demonstrate, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that he is the very hesla nan to represent the Goldfields on the Government benches ; and either for long services, or the zealous support of his chief, or some other equally cogent reason, has the most undeniable claim to the office, as our wants, the necessities of the unemployed, the reduction of the public debt, the encouragement of industry, the settlement of the country, the construction of roads, are all matters of the most trivial importance compared with that oi securing the " bawbees." At the Resident Magistrate's Court, St. Bathans, before H. W, JRobinson, Esq., E.M., on Tuesday last, the following cases were disposed of:—Turn mil v. ttochtort.—£2 damages for cattle trespass. Settled out of Court. — P. G. Dalgetty (by his manager, A. M'Phail) v. John O'Day and Others.—Claim for £8 damages. It appeared, in this case, that there was a water race on the Hawkdun station belonging to Mr. Dalgetty, and required for the purposes of sheep washing. That the defendants had been allowed the use of the water for mining during the day, and that the manager of the Btation had arranged that the night water should be used by some Chinese miners. The defendants had diverted the water at night from the Chinese to their own workings in spite of the warnings of the station manager. The defendants did not deny the facts, but claim that the matter should be dismissed from the Court, as it was properly a case for the Warden. In reply to this objection it was explained by the plaintiff that the race had originally been constructed for mining purposes, but that the license for it had been cancelled by the Warden in a friendty suit between the former manager of the station and the then owner of the race ; that the former manager had paid to the original owners <..f 1 he race a sum of money, and that the object of the friendly suit had been to cause the race to cease to be held as a mining proueriy, or to be subject to the GoklfieKts Act. The Court was of opinion that this explanation wa.s a complete answer to the objection raised, and, no evidence being offered for the defence, judgment was given for the amount claimed and costs T. Turner y, li. Main, —Debt, £7 18s. A o api pea ranee of nelendant. Judgment tor amount claimed and costs. At the Warden's Court St. Batlmns, before
H. W. Robinson, Esq., Warden, «>n Tuesday last, the following business w s disposed of : Mountain Water Itace Company (Kegistered) v. Talty and Foley. Debt, £212, for water supply. The defendants produced copy of | Daily Times' with 'Gazette' notice of their insolvency, and asked for a nonsuit. The Warden said that the production of this notice was no otay to his judgment, and the amount of the debt being admitted, judgment was given for the amount claimed and costs.—D Marks v. VV. Henry. Abandonment of mining property. Complainaut applied to take possession. Forfeiture decreed.—Two applications for agricultural leases in Blackston di&trict (100 acres in all) ly Westlake and Smithson, wore granted —A number of applications were entertained—the Court not closing till after nine p.m.
When, we wonder, will the long list of accidents from earthfall in this district cease, and how soon will an hospital for the reception and treatment of the unfortunate sufferers become an established fact ? Week after week has it been our painful duty to chronicle one or more serious accidents, and yet it would appear that the long, long list is not yet complete. Jjast evening we learnt that John Tyke, a miner, had become another victim to those frequently occurring earthfalls, and that he now lies alone in his tent with some of his ribs broken. Is this, we would ask, as it should be? Is it right? Is it humane? There can be no doubt that the establishment of an hospital has become an absolute necessity here, and we only wish we had the power of convincing the community of the fact, so as to induce each and every one to come forward with his mite in furtherance of so good an object. The present case is a peculiar one, and the only wonder is that it was not attended with fatal consequences. Tyke, it appears, is what is termed in mining phraseology a " hatter," that is, he worked alone in his claim. Upon the occasion of the earthfall from which he received his injury he was working alone as usual, and had not a miner in an adjoining claim heard the noise of the fall and hastened to release him, he might and would, in all probability, have perished before his absence was noticed.
A collection-book in aid of the funds for the erection of a monument to the memory of the late Dr. Burns, together with a photograph of the propose d structure, was received by us by the last post. The late Or. Burns was, as every one knows, the first minister of the First Church o! Otago, and highly esteemed and reverenced for his learning and piety, and made himself, by his life, justly entitled to the monument, which it is now" proposed to erect to his memory. The circular which accompanied the collection-book can be seen at the office of this paper, as also the photograph of the monument, and where also donations or subscriptions will be received. We trust that the people of Mjunt Idi, particularly those of the Presbyterian Church, will come liberally forward with subscriptions. Messrs. Indeb and George will dispose of by auction, on Wednesday uext, two halfshares in the Undaunted Water Race, and sever xl shares in the Naseby Water Works.
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Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 119, 9 June 1871, Page 4
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3,237Untitled Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 119, 9 June 1871, Page 4
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