THE Mount Ida Chronicle FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 1872.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 161, 5 April 1872, Page 4

THE Mount Ida Chronicle FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 1872.

A private telegram has been placed in our hands, with permission to make such use of it as we might think fit. We thankfully avail ourself of that permission. The telegram to which we refer is as follows:—£150 for tri"weekly mail has been agreed to." Let honor be given to whom honor is due, and we think that on this occasion and in. this cause a large portion of the honor is due to the Trade Association, who by their pluck and energy have induced, if not compelled, our retentive Government to come out of their shell. Communication between place and place, or rather, perhaps, between the out districts and the commercial centre of any country, is one of the/surest and most infallible conduces of its progress. It is therefore that we hail with pleasure the announcement published above, as to the inauguration of a tri-weekly in lieu of a bi-weekly mail as heretofore. In connection with this service.there are, to our mind one or two matters worthy of consideration. Located, as we have been at Naseby, with communication between the different portions of the district of the most uncertain and unsatisfactory descripjfcibn, we have been compelled to make our paper of a more local character than we could have desired. The result of this has been to our iviaeht prejudice'rtridioss. We trust, however, that the extrr service about to be initiated will put an end to,the evil of which both ourselves and the public complain, and by putting us in nearer and more frequent communication the one with the other, place us at the same time in a better humor.In writing as we have done, we presume that the additional mail will be via Hyde and Macraes. It is not so stated In the telegram; at the same time the justice of the case is such that we cannot but feel that the Government will see it, and see it in a proper light. The people of Hyde and Macraes contribute, and that largely, to the revenue, and have therefore a perfect right to, expect and demand that a portion of what they contribute should be expended in opening up their district; In what better way can the opening- up of the district be effected than by improved postal and other communication! The miners of Hyde and Macraes have a right to expect that the third weekly service shall pass through those places, and they shall have every assistance in our power to make it do so. The places are important, and the road possesses no difficulties which the expenditure of a few pounds would not overcome. That expenditure of Hyde and Macraes are fully justified in demanding.

If properly carried out, as we trust it may and will be, the establishment of this third mail will be a great success, will open up a large extent of country at present but little known, will do an act of justice to a long neglected portion of the Province and will prove itself to be a really reproductive work to the Government

The Rey Mr. Dasent will conduct Divine service m the Union Church, on Sunday evenmg next, at the usual hour. On the evening of Tuesday last, the members of the Mount Ida Trade Association met at the Empire Hotel. The object which the meeting was convened was to take into consideration the propriety of making business hours shorted during the winter months. Mr Robert Strong in the chair. The following resolutions, in effect, were unanimously adopted: - That, so far as the members of this Association are concerned, the hours of closing from 1st May to 1st October shall be eight p.m., with the exception of Saturdays, upon which nights the stores will remain open till ten p. m. The movement is, in our opinion, a good one and one which has our hearty sympathy and support. Another subject, and one upon which we have not only spoken but elaborated usque ad nauseam, was discussed, having refe-

rence to the deviation of the present road, so as to avoid that terror of terrors, the Houndburn Hill. Of the necessity of this deviation no doubt can exist in the mind of any unprejudiced person, and we sincerely congratulate the Association on the efforts at reform which they have hitherto made—each one being well conducted and always, so far as we are able to judge, in the right direction. A private match for £5 a-side took place on the racecourse, on Monday last, between Aitken's Cockey and Hall's Vanity. A good start was made, with Cockey leading. Both horses ran gamely, but Cockey proving the best horse came in a winner by several lengths. Afterwards another match for £3 a-side took place between Packman's Bounce, Hall's Vanity, and Greer's Mountaineer. The horses got well away at the start, which was a good one, Packman's Bounce leading. She maintained the front position, hard pushed by Vanity, and won by a struggle. A meeting of the Hospital Committee took place in the rooms of the Naseby Water Works Company, George's Victoria Hall, on the evening of the 29th ult. The occasion was an important one, having reference to the election of a medical officer. The attendance was a full one, and the choice of the Committee fell upon Dr. Dick, whose testimonials, in Yankee phraseology, "whipt creation." Our old and esteemed friend and doctor was outvoted—but, to our mind, the expression of opinion of the Committee in no way operates or militates against our doctor. We say "our" because we believe in the professional abilities of that gentleman, while on the other hand no voice will or can be lifted against him on the score of want of charity or liberality. We hold that Dr. M'Cambridge's defeat was no defeat. The Committee felt that, the district being a large one, there was not sufficient medical attendance within it—in fact, that the services of an additional doctor were absolutely necessary for its welfare and well being. To this and to no other feeling do we attribute the defeat of Dr. M'Cambridge and the election of Dr. Dick. Other business of a routine character brought the meeting to a close. The Mount Ida District Hospital has become an established fact, notwithstanding the many jeers, gibes, and efforts of many well-in-tentioned persons to render the movement an abortive one. Of the site for the building we refrain to speak, at the same time we cannot resist the opportunity of recording our opinion as to the zeal and energy with which the movement has been met and supported by the mining portion of the community. In the Resident Magistrate's Court, Naseby, on thp 4th instant, before W. Grumitt, Esq., J.P , an inebriate of the name of Mueller was fined 20s. or, in default, twenty-four hours' imprisonment.

FROM information "which has readied us from reliable souices we feel justified in announcing that, our representatives Messrs. Mervyn and Armstrong will visit Naseby previously to the meeting of the Provincial Coun cil, which is summoned for the present month. The constituency will have then an opportunity of asking questions as to what they have done, and what they have neglected to do, for the beneft of the constituency which has elevated them to their high positions. The present time is one of no little importance, and matters of no small consideration are involved. Let, then, the electors speak, and speak out, and demand a faithful report of their stewardship. If, on the one hand, the report be satisfactory, let the electors give them further and additional support. If, on the other hand, the account rendered be meagre and unsatisfactory, then let the electors have no hesitation in demanding their immediate resignation. The times are pressing, important public interests are involved, and if our members have been unfaithful to the trust reposed in them, the electors are justified in seeking other men and more faithful stewards in whom to repose their confidence. The Home mails, via San Francisco, will close here on Monday next 6th inst., at two o'clock.

The monthly meeting of the School Committee took place iu the schoolroom on the evening of Monday last—Mr. H. Wilson in the chair. A letter was read from Mr. Hislop to the effect that the late site of the school could not be held by the Committee. The monthly report of the schoolmaster was received and adopted. The number of scholars was reported at 90. Mr. John Dixon sent in his resignation as a member of Committee. Several accounts having been passed for payment the meeting adjourned till this evening (Friday) at eight o'clock. His connection with the Sludge Channel movement we may mention that Mr. D. L. Simpson has been appointed by the Government to report upon and superintend the contemplated works. The following is a list of the names of those who kindly volunteered to work at the District Hospital on Friday last:—John Creighton, J Anderson, W Wright, S Hodgins, J Pottinger, A Campbell, J Johnstone, F King, A Smith, A Thomson, E Hobson, C King, W Williams, D Stewart, R Mountain, J Downey, J Allen, J White, W Kirby, M Fennessey, M Dinan, J Brown, J Cowie, W J Millar (horse and dray), Jos. Creighton (team of horses). The remaining lists will be published in our next time

EIGHTPENCE per hour is the rate of wages paid on the railway works in Auckland. SEVERAL of the mines at Coromonde! are yielding rich returns. A crushing of 600 lbs. of specimens from the Bismarck claim yielded 1247 ozs. of gold. Numbers of persons are daily leaving Auckland and Grahamstown for Cororaandel.

An entertainment will be given in the Masonic Hall on Monday evening, 15th instant, in aid of the School Funds. The programme is an excellent one—containing the names of

several performers who hsve hitherto not appeared upon our boai'ds - -and composed of songs and readings. Full particulars will appear in our nest issue.