THE Mount Ida Chronicle FRIDAY, MAY 17, 1872.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 167, 17 May 1872, Page 4

THE Mount Ida Chronicle FRIDAY, MAY 17, 1872.

So far as we have been able to gather the opinion of Mr. Simpson is in favor of -the practicability of bringing in a greatly increased water supply, and the workability of a Sludge Channel. We have heard no calculation as to probable cost; but whatever the cost may be, so long as it be anything like moderate, the Government should not hesitate to construct the necessary works. That they will be of a most reproductive character, if fairly and judiciously constructed and managed, few will, we think, dispute. Be the report, however, of Mr. Simpson ever so favo««able, unless pressure, and that high pressure, be brought to bear upon the Government,. it will be lodged -where, so many of its predecessors have been lodged before it—in some one of the many musty pigeon-holes in the Government offices—there to moulder and decay till at last forgotten. It has been suggested to us, and we adopt the suggestion with pleasure, that a strong petition should be drawn up upon the subject, for presentation by our members' to the Council, accompanied by a table of statistics showing the receipts from this Goldfield from the ordinary sources of mining re venue. It is, we hear, also further proposed that a copy of the petition ari4 of the statistics should be sent to each member of Council, soliciting his support in the vote of a sufficient sum to complete the works, or of a resolution suggesting that they may be constructed out of the Loan—the case being a special one. We can hardly bring ourselves to believe that there would be found in the ! House many, if any, members adverse to the adopting of one or the other of these courses Common honesty and common justice must make all honorable members of the Council alive to the fact that millions of pounds are I being spent in other districts upon the construction of railways, roads, and | bridges, while we, contributing heavily | to the revenue (as the table will show), are willing to obtain and be contented with some of the crumbs that may fall from the tables of the more favored districts If the Government of the Colony be alive to their own interests, and the interest of the Colony—if they desire not only to retain but increase perhaps trebly,, perhaps even more, the popjpyion of this district,. thereby c&umif to be open to the .sw'atins of immigrants with which it would seem they are about to deluge the country. If they desire to increase the revenue, which is admitted t.o have been for some time past a failing one, they will not hesitate to proceed with works which cannot fail to be of a more reproductive character than railroads made to places where there is no population, and from which consequently there can be no return —other than the temporary prosperity which their construction must necessarily .confer upon the district. The Loans, however; will be spent, and then it is that the Government will be only too glad to think that at least some of the works constructed from those sources will be of a reproductive and, at the same time, of a permanent character, and we honestly know of none which offers better prospects of such permanency and reproduetiveness than the bringing in an increased supply of water to be sold at a cheap rate, and the construction of a Channel far the carrying away of our tailings. We

have more than once explained that we were, and ntill are, adverse to the Governinent using public* money to the injury of rights which they have themselves granted, and which they are therefore bound to protect. • .still vvc think that this difficulty can be met in sueli a wuy as to do no injustice to vested rigots, but at the same time confer an immeasureable amount ot' benefit upon the miner by giving him cheap water and the power of getting away his tailings—upon the district by increasing the population, thereby causing a larger amount of traffic and trade—and lastly to the Government itself, by assisting to add materially to the revenue of the C dony.

The agitation in favor of a tri-weekly mail via Palmerstou, Shag Yalley, Hyde, and Macraes, has terminated successfully, and from this day forward the residents of those places will have, as they should long since have had the advantage of two mails a week, instead of one as heretofore. Mr. Daniels' tender is the one which has been accepted. The amoun of subsidy for the service has not, so far as we know, transpired. A Concert and Readings took place at the Masonic Hall on the evening of Monday last, in aid of the funds of the Mount Ida Distric; Hospital, when numerous good readings were given and several songs well sung, and altogether a very pleasant and enjoyable evening spent, to which the Glee Club and the Brass band in no small degree assisted to contribute. The receipts show a balance to the Hospital of £6 7s., which, with the will amount to £l2 14s., no small addition to the funds of the institution. Circulars, enclosing to each member of the Provincial Council a copy of the Houndburn Hill deviation petition, and soliciting his support, was, we understand, forwarded by last Monday's mail. The original petition, which has been very extensively signed, was forwarded to the Government at the beginning of this week. We trust that* the issue will be successful, and that the road recommended in the petition may be adopted in preference to Mr. Oliver's miserable makeshift. Friday, the 24th instant, being the anniversary of the birth of her Majesty the Queen, the public offices and banks will not be opened. In consequence of the absence of Mr. H. W. Robinson on leave, there has been no business either in the Resident Magistrate's or Warden's Court since our last issue. - As will be seen in the advertised list of Court days, the next sitting will take place on Thursday, the 23rd inst. '

At the concert and readings in the Masonic Hall, on the evening of . Monday last, Mr. Petchell (the schoolmaster) alluded to the entire absence of books in the Hospital for the use of patients, and stated his intention of presenting the institution with twelve volumes (which he has since handed over to the Rev. Mr. Smith). Mr. Petchell stated that if a door to door application for books were to be made by the Committee, he felt sure that it would be largely responded to, and that there would soon be a sufficiently ample library for all the purposes of the institution. Wu are glad to report that Mr. M'Dermot, the first Hospital patient (it will be remembered he got his leg broken by a dray last week) is progressing favorably, and speaks in the highest terms of the comfort of the building, and the kindness he receives at the hands of the wardsman and matron. Since our last- issue tire fall of rain has been sufficient to keep all the existins dams and races full, and in good supply. Mining operations have therefore been carried on as briskly as possible with our diminished numbers. When further and cheaper water is

brought in, and a sludge channel constructed, then, and not till then, will the palmy days of Naseby arrive. It is to be hoped that these works will not be so long delayed as to render them valueless. The Rev. Dr. Moran, Catholic Bishop of. Dunedin, arrived here by coach on Saturday last, and, after partaking of breakfast, was driven by the Rev. Father Royer to St. Bathans. We have been informed that it is hiß Lordship's intention to return here on tomorrow afternoon, conduct* Divine service in St. Patrick's Church, remain ihe Monday among his flock, and return to Dunedin on Tuesday, via Hyde and Macraes. We fancy that at the services of Sunday there will be other than his Lordship's owa flock in the Church, anxious to hear so able and eloquent & preacher as the Bishop is admitted to be, eren by those opposed to him in many matters of faith and education. A bail, with promenade supper, in honor

of her Majesty's birthday, in connection with the Loyal Naseby Lodge of the M.U.1.0.0.F., will take place at the Masonic Hall on the evening of Friday, 24th May: For further particulars see advertisement in another column. We regret to chronicle an event of a very painful nature, which occurred on Monday last to a child of Mr. Robert Ross, of about six years of age. It appears that the child was playing with another child belonging to Mr. Marshall, an opposite neighbor, who keeps outside his fence—chained, it is true, but still outside the fence —a very fierce and dangerous dog, which ha 9 been guilty of biting both men and children ere the occurrence to which we refer took place. On the day in question, in the course of play, the child heedlessly approached too near the chained monster) who, with a ferocity more like that of a tiger than a dog, flew upon liim t biting him

on the hip and hand ; subsequently relinquishing these part s, lie fastened on the calf of the leg, lacerating it in the most, dreadful manner. Dr. Dick was fortunately on the spot at the .time, to which is probably to bs attributed the fact of the child being as well as it is, having had its wounds attended to immediately. The doctor has heen in attendance erer since the occurrence took place, and pronounces the injuries received to be the worst he has ever jeen from dog-bite. The child is progressing favorably but. it becomes a question how far the public safety is to be endangered with impunity simply because certain peroons possess a passion for keeping fierce dogs. Upon the calling on of the appeal case of Douglas and others v. Archer in the District Court, it appeared that, as in the case of G-ogarty and Greer elsewhere reported, two agents (Messrs. Hertslet and Bailey) were engaged, one f-jr appellants, the other for respondent. Upon being called upon by the Judge to open his cafe, Mr. Hertslet said ; hat after his Honor's ruling on a recent occasion, there being a solicitor in Court unemployed, he would not be allowed to open his lips. The Judge said it was possible that Air. Rowlatt might be in Court in the capacity of a visitor rather than of a solicitor, iti which case Mr. Hertslet could proceed with his case. Mr. Rowlatt said that he neither consented nor

objected, but he was not in Court as a visitor, but as a professional man seeking business. His Honor observed that in that case Mr. Hertslet could not be heard, and that he would suggest, in order that the case might be ptoceeded with, that one of the agents should retire, and the party for whom he was acting should employ Mr. Rowlatt in his sfceau, and that the retiring agent should afford the solicitor all the information as to the case in his power. His Honor's proposition having been assented to, Mr. Hertslet retired in favor of Mr. Rowlatt, when the Court adjourned for three hoars, in order that that' gentleman might get up his case. The resultof the appeal will be found elsewhere. A meeting was held on Tuesday evening last, at George's Victoria Hall, at which it was resolved that, as the building now used as a Church had be. ome delapidated and unfit for public worship, the members of the Church of ij-ngland were desirous of erecting a Church to be used by them. A list was made out, of gentlemen who would form a general Committee to carry out this object. The meeting stands adjourned to the 30th May. We clip the following notices of motion from the Order Paper : —Mr. Mervyn to move, " That any money to be expended to assist rural districts in making roads should be soadministered as to give the inhabitants of Goldfields a fair proportion of the same."— Mr. Armstrong, " For copies of all correspond dence relative to Court House accommodation, &c., at Naseby."—Mr. Tolmie, " For a return of all patients received into the Naseby Hospital up to da'.e." As will be immediately seen by all cognisant of the facts of the case, Mr. Tolmie, in his motion relative to the return of the number patients in the Naseby Hospital, in attempting to make a fool of the institution, has, as is often the case when people speak about things they do not understand, made a fool of himself. We beg to tell Mr. T'olmie that the building is but just completed, neither furniture nor medical appliances, although ordered,, being yet to hand. .Even, however, were the institution in full working order, it would be

far better for all parties that it should remain empty than be filled with patients suffering from the various ills to which flesh is heir. What the accidents have been here since the opening of the workings the tablets in the churchyard faithfully, as far as they go, record. How many are there, however, to whom no tablet has been raised, or who have been treated and recovered ? We are afraid, however, to hope that the building will remain unoccupied, as the same kind of accidents which have hitherto occurred here will, in all human probability, occur again. Surely Mr. Tolmie does not imagine that, in order to suit his humor, persons will break their legs or arms in order to fill the building with patients—a la bonne heure. In the meantime, we cannot congratulate Mr. Tolmie either upon his sense or his sensibility, and if a "funny" man, he might have found a better subject for jesting. The Hospital, moreover, is not, as alleged by Mr. Tolmie, the "Naseby" Hospital, but an Hospital intended to afford relief to, and subsidised by, the various districts of Mount Ida, namely, Kyeburn, Hamilton, Hyde, Serpentine, Blackstone Hill, and St. Bathans ; and Mr. Tolmie might have ascertained, had he wished to do so, that the name of the institution is the Mount Ida District, and not the "Naseby" Hospital, as he would wish to designate it. The Secretary of the Mount Ida District Hospital acknowledges with thanks the receipt of the sum of £6 7s. from Mr. Henry Cowper, the Secretary to the Winter Months' Readings and Concert .Committee, being proceeds of entertainment given in aid of the above institution on Monday last. The usual monthly meeting of the Naseby Volunteer Fire Brigade took place at Millar's Old Victorian Hotel. Captain Inder. in the chair. The principal business was the acceptance of Mr. J. Roger's resignation as member of the Brigade, and the passing of N. P. Hjorring's account for £2 35., and the paying by Mr. George Stephens to the Treasurer the sum of £6 14s 6d. as quarterly subscriptions. The other business transacted was of a routine character.

Wk are glad to hear that the track between Kyeburn Diggings and the Maerewhequu is being pushed on with alacrity, that, being commenced at Maerewhenua, it already reached this side of-the Pass. track is well spoken of as one which would, .small

cost, be easily converted in o * dr.ty au I vehicle track. We know not whether the necessary funds are present furthcoming, but the sooner such a work is comnloted the bettor. Water once abundant on the Maerewlienua, it is not too much to anticipate that our itank Agents will be on the qui vive, and that the greater part of the gold there produced will find its way to this place, as it legitimately should do. It will be seen by an advertisement in another column that a meeting will be held in Hunter's Empire Hotel, this evening, with. £he view of forming a Lodge of the Ancient Independent Order of Oddfellows, under (he jurisdiction of the G-rand Lodge of New Zealand. Business of importance is announced, and a large attendance expected. WE understand that a petition against the adoption of a Denominational Education System has been received by the Clerk to the School Committee from the Association for the promotion of National Education in New Zealand. The petition is, we have been informed, to be taken round for signature on Saturday, by Messrs. Stewart and Petchell, when it will, we have no doubt, be extensively signed. The Tuapeka Times says:—"We have received authentic information that an immigration. of Chinese on a scale of unprecedented magnitude—at lqast for New Zealand—will set in to Otago next summer. The collection being made for the erection of a Chinese immigration barracks in Dunedin seems confirmatory of this information,?' The Bishop of Dunedin, who is now in England (says the 'New Zealand Church News'), has made arrangements with four clergymen, who will probably accompany his lordship on his return to his diocese in July next ;-.nd will, it is thought, be appointed to the cures of Caversham, Hampden, Balclutha, and Mount Ida." Miss Aitken, the well-known elocutionist, is n6w giving readings in Auckland, and is likely to pay the South a visit shortly. LfiiTHFiELD, a country village in Canter-

bury, that a stranger passing through might perhaps think had a dozen inhabitants, has » public library comprising 1000 volumes;! Alas! Naseby! : "i From recent discoveries in Madagascar, it appears that the gigantic bird of that island, a few eggs of which are in existance—a cast being in the Canterbury Museum—was a bird of prey allied to the vultures. Scientific men at home have come to this conclusion from examination of several perfect leg bones. Marco Polo's story is therfore not so very inprobable. It would seem from recent accounts that during the dangerous illness of the Prince of Wales some of the American papers took advantage of the occasion to favour their readers with some rather curious information regarding the constutional changes that would take place should the Prince's illness have a fatal termination. According to one account —the Tribune laid it down that if the Prince should'die the charge of his eldest son, during his minority, would pass, as a matter of course, into the hands of the Lord Chancellor, who would become Regent, ex officio in virtue of the law which makes him the guardian of all infants." fee. To this tha New York Times is said to have retorted that the Lord Chancellor is equally the guardian of "idiots and lunatics," and-to have suggested that it would be a good thing if he could be brought over to look after the editor of the Tribune.