THE Mount Ida Chronicle FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1872.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 155, 23 February 1872, Page 4

THE Mount Ida Chronicle FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1872.

We have so frequently recurred-to the subject of a Sludge Channel for this district, that we should fee) some hesitation in again alluding to it did we I not feel that such a work is the panacea, and the only panacea, for the tailings nuisance under which this district has so long suffered, still suffers more and | more every day, and which, unless remedial measures be adopted, will ere long lead to the shutting up of all the workings in the district. We have ourselves, from a conviction of the absolute necessity of such a work, paid a great deal of attention to the subject, and have, so far as we ,have been able, gather -d all possible information from really practi al miners. Upon these occasions we have invariably found great diversity of opinion, both as to the manner in which the work could be most effectually constructed, and the cost;"'which such work would entail. So ivaried and different, indeed, are the opinions held by the miners upon" this siii»jectT—each opinion having someapparently to recommend it—friar one becomes puzzled, as it were, with the multiplicity of plans having the same object in view. And here, we would remark on the disadvantage at which this town is placed by there being no organised and recognised body to take this important matter fully and fairly in hand. The subject is one eminently adapted for the consideration of a local body such as a well constituted Improvement or Progress Committee It has struck us that it would be well were a small bonus to be offered for the most practical and economical method of getting rid of our tailings. 1 Such-an offer would no doubt bring forth many useful and va uable suggestions upon the subject. These suggestions should be placed in the hands of a certain number of practical men appointed for that purpose, marked in the same manner as is usual in sending in plans tor buildings and other works. The bonus need not be a very large one. Some ten or twenty pounds should su.hce. To ipjdy to the Covernment in the matter would simply be to waste so much time and suffer an indefinite amount of trouble, annoyance, and vexation, resulting, in all probability, in a refusal. The only thing that remains for us to do is to take the matter in hand ourselves, and raise the sum which may be considered advisable to offer for the best and most practical suggestions for getting rid of our tailings. Were this done, and we placed in a position to come before the Government with a well-considered plan, alike practical and economical, we should be more likely to obtain attention and consideration at their hands than were we again to come before them with the single words " sludge " channel," without stating in what manner and at what cost the work could' be carried to a successful issue The matter is one of as much if not more moment and importance to the business men than to the miner. Should these workings, from the tailings difficulty, fail, the miner could, at little cost and with little inconvenience transport hin.self to another and, in all probability, as good a field for his labor. . Not so, the business man. Here he has made bis home—here he has ex-

I pended large sums of money in acquir- ; iriir t'reeh-'kU ami surrounding himself j with the comforts and even the luxu":nVs- of life. The business men also are, |as a rule, married men with families, ; and the very idea of compulsory rej moval must be to their mind suggestive of expense/perhaps ruin. Seeing, then, that the business men are the persons most interested in keeping the population here -seeing, moreover, that they, under the name of the Trade Association, are the only organised body in the place who are capable of taking the matter in hand properly and systematically, w« venture to call their attention to t'ese our remarks, in the hope that thev will not only endorse but act, and act at once, upon our suggestions. We do not ask the members of the Association to put their hands in their pockets and find the necessary sum for the propose! bonus. We simply ask them ta take the initiative, fully impressed with the conviction that the necessary amount will he not only rapidly but immediately forthcoming.

The hut of a miner named Robert Epton . took fire in the beginning of last week, by which the roof was completely destroyed, the walls, which were of sod, remaining uninjured. The clothes, bedding, &c., were saved. The fire is supposed to have originated from the • stove.

We call attention to the sale by auction on Saturday, 2nd March,, by Messrs. Inder and G-eorge, of the valuable min ng property at the Maerewlunua known as the Ben Lomond Race. For a mining investment so good an opportunity is rarely, to be met with, and we would recommend those wishing to embark in a really bona fide speculation to visit the ground and inspect the property. The proprietor is at present on the ground, and will willingly afford all information necessary. On Tuesday morning (says the ' Arrow Ob- • server') a most daring, ,but very clumsy, attempt was made to. burglariously enter the Bank of New Zealand here. It is supposed the act must have been attempted about three in the morning, as some residents were about till close on two without seeing anything uncommon. The season was very propitious for the burglars, |a* it was dark as pitch, and raining heavily. It was discovered early in the .morning, that one of the. lower panels of ,-. the front door,, had been completely cut away by means of augur holes having been bored all .■•-■ round it. It must have taken a considerable . time to complete, the work, and the perpetrators no somewhat "sold" when-*-they discovered .the key was not inside. It is very fortunate ihere is nothing worse to chronicle, as no qbiibt but for the precautionary measure take o n, by the agent the bank would have sustained a serious loss. This affair affords proof that one constable is insufficient to fulfil the duties which are neeessary to be carried out in this district. .

His Honor Mr. Justice Chapman delivered on the evening of Friday last, his promised lecture m aid of the funds of the Mount Ida District Hospital. H. W. Robinson, Esq » R.M., m the chair. The subject of the lecture was " Recollections of the Early Part of the Present Century:" His Honor explained what England, and more particularly London, was when he left it as a boy, nearly fifty years ago, and.what it had become when he returned to it some three ytfars back. The immensity of the " great metropolis " was dwelt upon, and the numerous improvements were carefully and ably traced step by step. As might have been and was expected, the subject lost nothing in the hands of so able a lecturer as Mr. Jimtice Chapman, though we may perhaps be-al-lowed to say that it was one that, except to an Englishman, and more particularly a Londoner possessed little matter of particular interest' The attendance, we regret to say, was much poorer than the lecture itself and the purpose for which it was delivered deserved. At the close of the proceedings, the Rev. Mr. M'Cosh to his Honor that the sparse attendance was to .be attributed, not to any lack of taste for intellectual enjoyments, but to the low state of funds to which the community had been reduced by the unprecedented lone drought with which this district had been visited.

The time.fo? the construction of the road from Kyeburn to the Maerewhenua DieeinM on the principle; of payment inland; has we observe, been extended from February the 9th to Tuesday the 27th. * We notice that E. H Carew, Esq, ha, been appointed Coroner for Blacks District AM EE ri>' o of the School Committee-is ap. pointed to take place at the Union Church this evening, at 8 p.m. "«*^u The Hospital Committee will mee t thw ur C T g n at the ° ffice of the N **by Water Works Company, at 9 p. m . "»««■ The removal of the School Building to its new site has been effected, and its frection near.y completed. It is expected that within the space of two or three weeks the building in its enlarged and improved condition, will be open for the reception of scholar*. The w i« domi of the change of site will, we make no doubt be fully appreciated, more espedaSy during the winter months. F 7 Mb. C. F. Robebts, of this town, has received a memorial from the Mount Benger Progress Association, addressed to his Excel lency the Governor, praying him to take such steps as he may deem necessary to annul th« sale to Mr. Clark of the block known m thl Moa Flat. The reasons of objection iefiSy

set forth in the memorial, and are, we are of opinion, fully borne out by the facts of the case. The memorial will lie at Mr. Busch's store for signature. Of the illegality, or rather, perhaps, of the inexpediency of this sale there can exist no doubt; we trust, therefore, to find the memorial numerously signed in this district.

The Provincial Government ' Gazette' of the 7th instant notifies, for the information cf Cemetery Managers, that their annual declaration of receipts and expenditure must be written upon stamped paper of the value of 2s. 6d. A cobbespondent from the Burster informs us that a private match took place at the racecourse, on Saturday last, between Grose's horse Tommy and Louden's Pippin. The stakes were £5 a-side, and the distance one half mile. A good start was effected, Tommy showing shghtly to the front, and after a wellcontested race, coming in a winner by half a lene' h. 1 Ws notice that considerable progress has I been made in the erection of the Hospital // building. Another tew weeks, and we hope /' to see the institution in full working order. j' List of unclaimed 1-tters lying at the postoffice, Naseby, on the 31st January :—Daniel Artingatall, Thomas Anderson, W L Barrat, Miss M Barry, J P Beck, Henry Carr, Edward Cole, John Oheyne, Alex Campbell, J Dods, Mary Dunn, Frederick rloyd, Owen Galvin, John Hobin, Hingfook, Mrs Henderson, H Harding. Henry Haggerty, James Higgms, Samuel Jaraies >n, George Junner, Kay, John Kane, John M-Cullogh, Henry M'Neill, Donald M'Andrew, James Murphy, Perry Powell, N Preston, A Piekerill, John Ray, G H .Rimer. H Steele, Hugh Simmonds, Thomas Thornton, Jno Tyack, Ed M Vanbouse, J P Williams, James Watt. We regret to report an accident of a very serious nature, which occurred on Wednesday last, to a man named Charles M'Dougal, while driving a team of bullocks loaded with two ton and a half of oats. It appears that, when at the Black Pinch, about two miles on tin's side of Mr. Wain's station, ono of the bullocks struck out with his hind Jeg, knocking M'Dougal down. Unfortunately, before he could get away the dray passed ever his right leg, breaking and literally smashing the bone between the knee and ankle M'Dougal has been sent .to the Dunedin Hospital, and we regret to hear that there is a fear that amputation will ibe necessary. We wish to draw the attention of all persons duly, qualified, whose names are not already on the Elec* oral Roll, or who have changed their residence or qualification,' that, applications for their names to be placed on the Roll must be made to the Returning Officer, H. W Robinson, Esq., before the 31st March prox., otherwise they will be disfranchised -for twelve months. ° -

We are glad to be able to report that the weather-has changed at last. 'Yesfcrday the clouds seemed to portend rain the" whole day, but it was not till sixo'clockintheafternoonthat any quantity felL From that horir till the time we write tlie downpour has been steady and heavy, with everv indication of a continuance. In the present hard, dry, and parched atate of the ground it will requite a large quantity of rain to fall before its" ieifects will bene6t the dams and races —-this, from the present appearanee of the weather we have every reason to hope and expect. Most sincerely do we congratulate the district upon this most seasonable and most welcome change.