THE Mount Ida Chronicle FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1872.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 153, 9 February 1872, Page 4

THE Mount Ida Chronicle FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1872.

The great Water Scheme of the Fox-cum-Vogel Government;, put forth with such a flourish of trumpets, and from which they evidently expected to derive a vast amount of Goldfields popularity, gives every anticipation of prov'ng an expensive farce, and bursting as a beautifully painted bubble. Whatever hopes and anticipations might, and, we beaeve, were entertained by the Groldfields districts that their interests would be benefitted and increased so soon as the Act which promised such apparent facilities for an increased Water Supply came into force, were dissipated so sooj as the regulations issued under the authority of the Acting Minister of Public Works, dated Wellington, 4th January, and headed with the usually authoritative Koyal Arms and V. JR. Then the public at once began to discover the fallacy of the Scheme, and r.he delusion under which they had allowed themselves to labor—to find, in fact, that as pre sented to them by th published regulations, the jjreat Water. Supply Scheme was totally and utterly unworka <le, and the terms such as no rational or sane-minded Company would think of accepting. We expressed our opinion at the time of the promulgation "of these regulations, that though many of them weie such as we could give our hearty assent to, their liberality was rather apparent than real, as there were other regulations which rendered the liberal clauses nugatory, and which render the whole Scheme abortive unless some great modification should be introduced.

Whether or not the Minister for Public Works was made, or of his own accord become aware of the fact that the proclaimed regulations of the -4th January were received throughout the Goldfields not only with a feeling of .perfect disappointment alike as to their value and workability, but were also regarded with that doubt and suspicion which attaches itself to each and every act which has its origin in and emanates from the prolific, but in no degree the immaculate, brain of Mr. Julius Yogel —a veritable representative of the great Machiav I I, and the would-be Dictator as well as Premier of New Zealand. Be that as it may, not many weeks elapsed, from the publication of the first regulations ere another code was placed before the public, having reference to the same subject—Water Supply on Goldfields. In this new code there are no doubt many apparent modifications, but the main objectionable features, and those which, in our opinion, will lead to the utter defeat'of the whole Scheme, still lie hidden under the present placid, surface. We, on a former occasion, pointed out, as far as we thought necessary, the rocks and shallows upon which the carefullyconatructed but badly launched vessel would split, become a perfect wreck, and eventually go to pieces. It strikes us that money for purposes such as Water Supply, taking into consideration the lien the Government require, could be obtained upon as good, if not upon better terms from private lenders of money upon security. The rate of interest might be a little higher but the ultimate expenses very much lower, while tlie borrowers would be free from an excess of trouble and annoyance and an incumbrance of red tape which would weigh them down and eventually

strangle thein to death. Water rights —rigi_ts to sites for storing water, have now become valuable properties, and if a company has expended say a sum of £IOO in the construction of the necessary races and dams for the proper utilisation of the rights which they have acquired, and still require an additional £SOO to complete their works, such additional sum should not, nor would, in our opinion, be difficult of obtainment from private sources, provided that the borrowers do in such cases all that they are required to do iit terms of see. 10 of the more recent code of regulations, for advances for moneys under the Governmental Water Supply Scheme. The words of the section to which we refer (reg. 10} are : " The promoters of any undertaking to " which money may be advanced' sfaally " before the issue of any loan to them, " give to the Minister a valid security,, " including a lien or mortgage to cover' " the amount of loan and interest accruing over the works and property - t " and all deeds necessary shall be pre- " pared and completed at the expense "of the promoters." There are many other clauses in the regulations which clearly show that the Government have taken sufficient care to secure themselves against any loss which could possibly accrue in consequence of any loan which might be granted for the purposes of Water Supply under the Immigration and Public Works Act Amendment Act, 1871. Under these circumstances we cannot but feel that, if the regulations are really intended ta be any other thai* a delusion and a snare, and to afford an opportunity for creating a multitude of offices for the sake of increasing Governmental patronage, and so extending Governmental interest and influence, some discretionary power should be left in the hands of the Minister for Public Works and his Under-Secretary, Mr. C. E. Haughton, both of whom are men of ability and experience, aud quite capable of dealing with special cases upon their .special"merits. Unless such discretionary power be given, the great Water Supply Scheme will turn out to be but a useless toy, while the country will be inundated with a host of officers holding the high-sounding but sinecure appointments of Engineer-in-Chief, Assistant Engineer-in-Chief,' District Engineer, Sub-District Engineer, "or " other qualified person." Reference to the Civil Eist for the present year will show the number of persons already holding ollices of emolument—in many instances mere hangers-on of the Government and suckers of the public blood. In their present shape, the regulations regarding Water Supply must naturally add to that number.

We understand that Mr. Warden Robinson will be detained in Dunedin for another week. In our advertising columns it will be seen that the Court at Naseby is adjourned till the 17th. l'he Courts at Hamilton, Hyde, and Macraes are adjourned to the 20th, 21st, and 22nd inst. respectively. We cannot but feel that the absence of the Warden from the district for so long a period (there being no locum tenens) must cause great inconvenience to the public, and upon his return a vast deal of accumulated work to overtake.

SiKCE our last issue there have been several meetings of the School Committee. Uo business of any public interest lias been transacted further than the election of Mr. Robert Ross as member of the Committee, vice Mr. H A. Stratford, resigned. The tenders for the removal and enlargement of the School Buildine will be opened in the School House, to-morrow (Saturday), at 3 p.m. It will be seen elsewhere that a summoned meeting of the Loyai Naseby Lodge, M.U.1.0 0.F., will take place in the Masonic Hall on the evening of Tuesday next, the 13th inst. A beport to which we some few weeks past gave currency, upon well-grounded authoritv is, we are happy to be able to state, on the eve of realisation, His Honor Mr. J UBt Chapman having kindly given notice of his in teuton to deliver a lecture in the MasoSc llall, on the evening of Monday next, in aid nf the funds of the School Committee. Mr w A. tetratford will, in the absence of Mr H* W* Robinson, Chairman of School preside. The subject of the lecture TuggesS itself as an unusually interesting one ftri h ? which handled, as we have everyWs on 1T lieve it will be handled bj his Honor ™, to dispel many of those notions, or irt, errors, with regard to certain Wal S which have grown with our growth and if B®* 8 ®* become strengthened with our strength-—h*® at. the same time and nevertheless noH,m ? g veritable "myths." The theme Upon J?, 1 ? 11 * it, is the intention of Mr. Justice Charm discourse on Monday next is " Pop u l ar p about Laws ; with an Introduction on MvIT?. We desire to draw attention to the far* Sf' Mr. Justice Chapmau M admitted to be (

say it in no spirit of flattery) not only one of tlie most able men-, but at the same time one of the most admired popular lecturers in New Zealand} and the public of Naseby as well as of thobe district a which are within reasonable distances, will have ouly themselves to blame, and wi'l, we feel sure, regret it, if they allow themselves to lose the opportunity which now presents itself of hearing his Honor lecture. We are informed that his Honor has kiudly consented upon an early occasion to deliver a second lecture in aid of the funds of the Mount Ida District Hospital Committee. WE have so often of late been compelled to write of the weather, and almost invariably in the same strain, that we feel a sort of natural relnctance in reverting to the subject. Were it for the purpose of recording a change we should feel no such reluctance, but when we have simply to repeat the same old story — clouds descending and rain expected, resulting however, in a return to and a continuation of the pame old drought with which the district has been affected for months past, we fi-el a natural dislike to resort to the unpleasant subject. Yet, as journalists, we should allow no such feeling either to influence or control us. We may, therefore, state that during the past week the weather has undergone little if any change—the days cloudy and sultry, high hot "winds from the N.W. as a rule prevailing. The nights have, as a rule, been cold, sometimes frosty. Of the ruin which has fallen we can only say that its effects are simply imperceptible, and have in no way affected or improved the water supply. Though a great amount of necessary patience has been outwardly exhibited, still the fire of complaint burns within the breast alike of the miner, the storekeeper, and the working for a livelihood of every class. There has been for some months nothing done, is at present nothing doing, and will be nothing doing until we get a copious fall cf rain. The position of this place is, at the present time, a '.rying one, but one which we feel sure time will eventually rectify, and place it in an even higher and bet'er position than before. '

A LlTrtE further back than two years Naseby was a sort ot terra incotjrita, absolutely cut off from all communication with the other portions of the hum m race. The place, it is true, possessed a superabundance of names — the Hogburn, Mount Ida, Naseby—but, as a ruie these pinces wer - regarded as separate and distinct localities, and nobody seemed desirous of knowing their position. What, a great an I remarkable change Ims within tltese tew months been effected. Where- formerly no coach was seen—where, indeed, there was, to all intents and purposes, nothing but a deserted village, we have now Cobb's coach arriving at or departing from this place daily, to or from different places; then, again, we have Smith's coach once a-week and Daniels' coach once a-week, besides hawkers' expresses innumerable. Hie telegraph, too", lias placed us within almost instantaneous communication with Dunedin and the other principal cities of New Zealand. As a necessary sequitur to this increase of traffic and improved mode of communication ha» been a great advance on the style of all buildings, business and other, in the town and neighborhood, and nobody after an absence would recognise in Naseby of today Naseby of two years ago. Indeed, in spite of the inattention of the Government to the road, and the consequent- high rates charged for freight, we doubt if better accommodation, or better or cheaper living can be met with in any of our Goldfields towns. E are glad to state that the report generally current last week relative to some illness, if not something worse, of Dr. Niven, of Slacks, lacks confirmation. We were informed on Monday last, both by Mr. Inspector Moore and Mr. Harry Nettlefold, who passed through Slacks on that day, that no report, of a serious nature, so far as the doctor's health is concerned, reached them.

Wk regret to have to record a serious accident which, on Friday last, befell a highly-respected member of this community. We allude to the fall from his horse of Mr. C. A. de Lautour, resulting in -a fracture of the leg bone below _knee. It is well known to the Naseby portion of this district that Mr. de Lautour, although having his place of business in the town, has his place of resideace on his station, come twenty miles or triors from Naseby. On fcne day referred to Mr. Lautour was on his way home, and when on a sidling was met by two Chinamen leading a hor?e carrying wood. Mr.Lautour's horse shied and fell, rolling partially over him and causing the injury to which we have referred. One of the Chinamen immediately rode off for the doctor, while the other remained with Mr Lautour. )Jr. M'Cambridge with all promptitude proceeded in a spring waggon to the scene of the accident, and returned soon after with Mr. Lautour, who up to the time we write is, according to the doctor a report, progressing satisfactorily. Great Bympathy is felt throughout the town for Mr. de Lautour. We trust, however, that there will be no evil to that gentleman further than a few weeks' tedious confinement.

In connection with the coach accommodation between this place and Dunedin alluded to elsewhere, we are glad to observe that great improvement is about to be made in another, or, perhaps more correctly, in an un-eountrv direction. An advertisement which appears in another column notifies that Mr. VV J Millar of this place will, on and after Thursday, the 15th instant, run a weekly coach between' this place and St. Bathans, returning irom St. Bathans on the following day. (For particulars see advertisement.) The opportunity offered by the spirited enterprise of Mr Millar cannot fail to be of the greatest advantage to both and intervening places, by bringing them in direct weekly communication the one with the other. The importance of this action on the port of Mr. Millar it is impossible at the

present moment fully to estimate. We cannot j however, doubt—indeed, we are fu'ly convinced—that the projector will be amply recouped, and something more, for the outlay to which the contemplated outlay must necessarily subject him. Wk would draw the attention of persons interested to an advertisement which appears in to-day's issue, calling upon members of the Ancient Independent. Order of Oddfellows and "gentlemen desirous of forming a Lodge at Naseby " to attend a meeting to be held at the Empire Hotel, on Tuesday, the 13th instant, at 8 p m. The mails for Europe, America, West Indies, &c., via San Francisco, will close at two p.m. sharp on Monday. Our Serpentine correspondent's letter is unavoidably held over till next issue. The Wizard Oil Prince (frank Weston) is advertised in another column to make his debut before a Naseby audience on an early date.

HAMILTON.—FEB. 6. (From our own Correspondent.) Since my last we have had no change, with the exception of a few showers, wnich were accompanied with gales of wind that left the ground almost in the same parched state as before. The consequence is that there is no increase in the water supply, and scarcely any work going on, except perhaps laying in a supply of fuel for the winter. The crops are looking very bad all through—many and loud being the complaints in this respect, and 1 think I am safe in recording the present as the only failure in the potato crop in this district. That this year will be a failure I am convinced, for 1 have seen several trials where the crops, looking healthy, showed no signs of bearing, lhe Messrs. Foster Bros., at the Sowburn, who have usually had a fair crop, are this year leaving many acres of oats standing, declaring that it will not pay the labor of taking it off the ground, and their horses appear to be running through it at will.

.Cambridge Diggings appear to be quiet, but they are supporting about 20 residents and the same number of a floating population. No new* finds of any importance are recorded, although several gullies are supposed to be paying wages ; but in vi<-w of" its being an essentially summer digging people are getting disheartened from prospecting, although there is yet sufficient time to open and work a good deal of ground before winter sets in. Sergeant M'Cluskey paid the piao.e a visit last week, and 1 believe is not much impressed with its im-* port awe.

In t! « middle of List week there appears to have been some patches of good ground found in the bed of the Sowburn Creek, near the old diggings, and several parties left the range to try there luck there, but I am advised that the ground is of small extent, and is already taken up. ~ ;

I am sorry that my mild hint to " Thiggin Thu " should have drawn forth such a lengthy reply, and I am still more sorry to inform him that the " vacancy" is filled up by a gentleman who appears to be qualified lor the office, and that without any password, grip, nod, or wink. I can assure him that if the office becomes vacant again I will give him notice in a less offensive manner, if that were possible. But why will lie and otherj attack my grammar? I have before stated that I never was a disciple of Lindley Murray, and am afraid that I am too old to begin now; so, therefore I am sensible of my incapacity in that respect. Still, 1 think those who live in glass houses should not throw the first stone, and hope that those to whom I may, in my casual scribbling, refer will (if they can) attack my veracity, but let my grammar—such as it is—alone, as all 1 pretend to do is to give a fair report of what is going on in the district, and if 1 see any abuses to expose them, if worth the while—and that in my own small way.

"OUR VAGRANT REPORTER." Fiat Justitia ruat calum. As the Continental epicure relishes his ratfie defoie gras, or faicasseed frog, so do I (as becoineth the cynic) the little humiliations that pride entraps conceited men into, but wanton attacks on the modest efforts of unassuming persons, who are exerting themselves in a praiseworthy cause, 1 (callous Bohemian though I be) will never uphold. It is well known that the two youngsters, David and Hugh, are as peaceable lads as to be found in this Yin-cent-Hogburn-Naseby-Mount l<a, and yet the other day, as these two inseparables were mutually enjojing their accustomed recreations, an unw eldy monster named "Presbyterian" walked up and gave each boy a slap on the face, accompanying the blow with the remark—" Take that, for disturbing pious people at worship on Sabbath by your unseemly noises." .At the next moment, when David's eyes filled, and Hugh began peeliug off to fight, it evidently occurred to Presbyterian" that some of the numerous connections of the boys might resent his cowardice, so he tried to conciliate them by a little £attery. "Tou have been good though, sometimes. Haven't you, dear boys ?" at the same time patting them on the back. " And when I can afford it I shall buy you each an instrument to play, because you are fond of music; and if you come to see me

sometimes I will teach you proper psalmody, dear boys." The secret of this little fracas has exploded—viz., that " Presbyterian " has a cultivated, melodious, pianissimo voice. He has also two companions equally gifted, but the trio have never had the opportunity of demonstrating their talents for the edification of this assemblies, as David and Hugh always lead off with ©ld, worn-out tunes that all the congregation can join in, and thus the blended har-iionv of alto, contralto, falsetto, and bass are drowned in the discordant babel so deplored by " Presbyterian." Oh! David, David, while so persevering m your mus cal studies, why do you not cultivate the taste of your namesake, who used (see Psalm el.) organs, trumpets, timbrel*, and cymbals at his religious services ? May be yod cannot procure cymbals, but surely you can purchase pipes from McGregor, or at any rate, instead o givingout French, Cambridge New, Arabia, Eaton, or Bedford, which everybody knows, you surely miijht choose a higher class of music,such as Presbyter or Doyedale, to keep paice with the times, and thus engage the sublimer strains of professional choristers, in preference to the uncultivated voices who now follow your leadership. TOWN WHISPERS. That the Koyal Hotel will shortly be increased in size by an additional wing to contain bedrooms for the passengers who book at Dunedin for Naseby the first night and Cromwell the e>econd, Ned having received intelligence that the necessary incentive of £6OO a-year add tional subsidy to Cobb and Co. will be put on the Estimates (value to be paid m land at Milford Haven),' as soon as the Moa Flat sale takes place. Cabbage Tree Xed will make the first trip, on u'hich occasion he will perform a feat similar to one of his in Victoria, when he left Ballarat with a coach full of passengers, all booked for Geelong, but arrived at the Bull and Mouth in ,a few. hours with only one (a "sailor") who vowe l he would stand by the ship while there was a stick left in her.

Old Tramway's face was so radiant with R miles the other day that I could not resist the temptation of betraying my curiosity, and in reply to my question, " What pleases you so, Tramway; eh, old man?" he said—"Cos my bailuff brock open dee doer of the little domicile which de barber rented Cos vy p He pai 115s. a-week, doo ye see." (Old Tram .vay is so like Jack Bunsby.) I could not resist the opportunity of perpetrating a joke, and remarked that Tramway would have the honor of creating an officer for the first Naseby Corps, as his tenant would soon become a left-tenant (lieutenant). As this was quite lost. I tried another, by saying that he had proved himself a lpan of profound learning and great ability, as he and old Deab no had ju-t left- College asJirst and seconds Wranglers. More anon. Tom.