SERPENTINE.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 125, 21 July 1871, Page 5

SERPENTINE.

A correspondent from Serpentine, writing under date 15th July, informs us that mining operations in that district were entirely suspended, in consequence of the severe frosts and heavy snows which had for some time previously prevailed. As was anticipated, the quarters taken up by the Chinese turned out to be none of the most comfortable or safe, as upon the first heavy fall of snow they were being employed for several days in preventing their tents from being buried in the drift. No accident however, occurred. The number of these Celestials has of late considerably diminished, most of them having sought their fortune on the river during the winter months, intending to return in the spring, when, if report speaks true, their numbars will be augmented by some additional hundreds —newly expected importations. The offer of £25 per annum for the conveyance of the mail between Linburn and Serpentine has not been completed, and the district remains, so far as Government postal assistance is concerned, in as equally bad and unsatisfactory a state as heretofore, having to depend entirely on its own prijvate exertions. Our correspondent I assures us that the post office at Linburn is a useless establishment, there [ being no population thereabouts. In ! fact, Linburn has, from some reason or other —perhaps from the ignorance of the people in power as to localities—been selected for the terminus instead of Serpentine, which is only ten miles further, and where the actual population is located. It is possible, nay, it is, we are informed, probable, that if the sum at present paid for the support of the useless office at Linburn were added to the amount offered for the conveyance of the mail between Hamilton and Serpentine, some person might be found willing to undertake the contract: and thus not only an act of justice would be done by the Government, but, at the same time, one great want to the district supplied. We feel sure that if this matter were to be properly represented to the Chief Postmaster, this most necessary reform would be speedily plighed.