THE Mount Ida Chronicle FRIDAY, MAY 24, 1872.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 168, 24 May 1872, Page 4

THE Mount Ida Chronicle FRIDAY, MAY 24, 1872.

We have over and over and over again called attention to the absence of anything in the shape of constant and rational amusement in this town. It is true that we have now occasional readings with muSH and singing, which, when they occur, tend to while away the tedium and monotony of the long nights upon which we have already entered, and into which we are more '

fully entering day by day. What, then, we want to enable us to pass these long winter evenings with pleasure and to our advantage is some kind of institution—call it what we will—wherein such games as chess and draughts can be played, and where the current papers and periodicals of the day can be seen and read. We doubt if there be on the Goldfields at the present time a place so badly off for mental recreation as is ISaseby, and hence it is that the population, as a rule, are forced into public houses and public bars. The reason is, as we have said, that there is no other place open to them. Either must they remain cold, cheerless, and solitary in their humble huts and dwellings, or they must seek excitement in the bar and in the billiard saloon. We are willing to adopt, nay, we absolutely do adopt, the old saying that man is gregarious in his habits, and naturally seeks the society of his fellow-man —be the place where he can be met with whe're it may. There is, in our opinion, no doubt that the non-corporation of this place has left us m want of many of the comforts of civilisation—such as an Athenaeum —which other places now enjoy. Still, it does not appear to us that not being a Corporation should prevent us from trying to help ourselves —nor do we think there would be any great diffi'culty in raising the necessary funds for such a purpose, and the books which are usually to be found in such institutions could, we have no hesitation in saying, be obtained at a low rate from the Grovernment supply. There is a source, also, from which a considerable sum might be derived in aid of the necessary funds. We allude ito the old manse, which is now unin- , habited, and which will consequently land speedily fall into ruin. This building was erected at the expense of the public for a minister of the Union , Church. JSTo such minister nor, inj deed, do we believe does any such congregation now exist. Indeed, since the departure of the Eev. Mr. Burchett and the subsequent advent of theKev. Mr. Smith the building has been little used for Divine service, or for any purpose whatever of public utility. If the trustees and others in whom the manse and church are at present vested would take this matter into their consideration, and recommend the sale of the manse and the conversion of the old Union Church into an Athenaeum, they would, in our opinion, be doing a very great public benefit. We doubt that there are some who would be shocked and scandalised at the sale of manse and the conversion of the old church into, a reading room. We fail to see anything in such objection but prejudice. The winter is upon us, becoming greater in intensity each and every day, and the nights becoming slowly bu4- Wo time should be losfffi. taking this matter up if we desire to provide ourselves with a little comfort and recreation for the months now almost upon us. The subject might, we think, be well taken m hand by a few gentlemen favorable to the cause, who could wait upon and consult with the church trustees as to the course they would be willing to take and what assistance they were willing to give. The matter is one of so much importance to the moral welfare and advancement of the place, that we' make no apology for again bringing it under the notice of the public

The weather has, so far, been all that could be desired for mining or any other purpose, being clear and open, witu sufficient rain to keep dams and races full. We may, therefore, repeat mining operations as going on satisfactorily. The usual Oddfellow's anniversary ball will take place in the Masonic Hall this evening (her Majesty's birthday). Thb Eight Rev. Dr. Moran presched at St. Patrick's Church on the "morning and eveninoof Sunday last. The building was crowded" and his Lordship's preaching was much admired. A FoaiBAU. match wiiltjake place this afternoon in the Recreation ground, in honor of the Queen's Birthday. The new public flag will be flown to-day for the first time. The flag is the red ensign, with the Union Jack at the corner. The flagstaff, which is thirty-five feet high, has been erected on the north-east corner of the Recreation Ground. A meeting- of gentlemen favorable to the opening of a Lodge of the Ancient Independent Order of Oddfellows in Naseby, took place at the Empire Hotel on the evening of Friday last. Mr. S. London, who occupied the chair, explained the object of the meeting, and read a list of the names of those persons who had expressed their desire to become members of the Lodge. Resolutions were then passed to the effect that the name of the Lodge should be "The Loyal Mount Ida Lodge;" that the meetings be held on every second Tuesday ; and that the place of meeting be the old Oddfellows' Hall. After nominations for the offices of IT.G-., V.G-., Secretary,\ and Treasurer had been made, the meeting adjourned till Mr. London (who is now in Dunedin) has completed the necessary arrangements for opening the Lodge, which, we believe, is likely to take place within a fortnight. Judging not only from the great success which has attended the present Kaseby Lodge of Oddfellows, but also from the fair number of applications for admission already on the list, and the undeniable advantages which are derived by members of all such lodges —especially in cases of sickness, —we do not for a moment doubt that the proposed Lodge will be very nearly, if not equally, as successful, after it has once fairly entered into existence.

Is addition to the usual services per Cobb and Co., mails will in future close at the postoffice here on Wednesdays, at 8.30 a.m., for Dunedin, Kyeburn, Hyde, Macraes, Shag Valley, Palmerston, and Waikouaiti. The master bakers of Switzers have unanimously agreed to reduce the price of the four pound loaf to Is. 2£d. In reply to a letter signed " Mrs. A. Marshall," which appears elsewhere, and is written in reply to a local which appeared in our last issue, having reference to the of Mr. Ross's child by a dog, we can only say that when that local was penned it was written'in no spirit of ill nature, but was the mere gist of the affair, as emanating-from what we took to be a most reliable and authentic source. If .we have been misinformed, or if any of our statements were incorrect, they were innocently so, and we regret having written them.

A sebciai. meeting of the Hospital Committee took place at the office of the Naseby Water Works Company. The business of the meeting was to open and consider tenders for printing the rules, regulations, forms, &c, of the institution. There were six tenders, and the lowest—namely, that of Ferguson and Mitchell, for £5 15s.—was accepted; the highest being that of the ' Dunstan Times,' for £l4 15s.

A mimber of gentlemen met together in the Victoria Hotel on Tuesday evening, 14th inst., for the purpose of forming a theatrical corps, which might serve as a source of amusement to themselves and fellow townspeople during the ensuing winter. It was proposed and carried that the society should be called " The Kaseby Dramatic Club." Messrs. G-rumitt and Newmarch were elected to fill the offices of General Manager and Secretary respectively ; and " O'Callaghan on his Last Legs," Byron's Richardsonian drama entitled " Rose Turmotfield, or the Pride of Stingeynettle Farm," and Byron's burlesque of " Alladin, or the Wonderful Scamp," were pieces detei*mined upon for the first performance, which will take place as soon as possible. As all the members of the Club have had considerable experience in amateur theatricals, we shall no doubt shortly see placed upon the boards a series of plays which will be a credit to our small community. The 'Evening tar' says that, on Wednesday, 15th instant, - c Mr. Mervyn presented a very numerously petition from the Mount Ida district, relative; to the deviation of a river."

Mb. Aemstrong, M.P.C., is reported to have made the following remarks on the Education question:—" It appeared to him that a portion of the colonists, from conscientious scruples, were unable to avail themselves of our educational system, and it would be a pity that such a respectable minority should labor under any disadvantages. Roman Catholics, if they got their fair share of the funds, were willing to have their schools inspected by the Government Inspector as to the secular instruction imparted in them. He thought it would be only dealing fairly towards them to carry the resolutions. If his memory served him right, the Scriptures said, 'Religion is the salt of the earth.' Would hon. members allow it to be settled that the rising generation should be fed without salt all the week, and have nothing but salt on Sundays."

A MEETIN& of the Tuapeka Groldiields Hospital Committee was held last week, when the following, among other business, was transacted : —The Surgeon's report showed that on

the Ist April there were thirteen patients in the Hospital. There were admitted during the month, 11; discharged, 10; leaving 14 in the hospital at date.—Dri Stewart stated that he had written for a copy of the dietaryscale used in the Melbourne Hospital, but had not-yet received it. He also said there were three patients in the hospital suffering from incurable complaints.—The "Visiting Committee were empowered to have them removed to the proper place. A concert and readings in aid of the funds of the iNaseby Volunteer Fire Brigade will take place at the Masonic Hall on the evening of Monday next, when a full attendance may be expected. Several new names are advertised to take part on the occasion. An auction sale, by Messrs. Inder and George, of the effects of Mr. Joseph Bremner, who is about to leave the Colony, will take place at Hamilton on Tuesday and Wednesday next, 28th and 29th instant respectively. The property is of the most varied description, including cottage and furniture, farming stock and implements, butcher's shop, public house, and a large assortment of merchandise, groceries, and other goods, a full account of which will be found elsewhere.

We regret to announce a still further accident, which occurred yesterday afternoon to a miner well known in this district, named Arthur Moloney. While- working in the claim of Mr. A. M. Brown, a fall of earth t*6ok place, resulting in a broken leg. He was immediately conveyed to the Hospital. It is worthy of remark that Moloney was a sufferer from a fall of earth some few months back, when he was severely bruised in his legs and about his body. He was doing a3 well as could be expected when we heard last night.. The following are the sums contemplated, according to the Provincial Council Estimates, to be expended upon the roads in the Mount Ida District during the current financial year: —Palnierston to Eweburn, £3230 ; Eweburn to Dunstan, £550; JSaseoy to Eden Creek, £220 ; Waihemo to Macraes, £SO ; Macraes to Hyde, £SO; Hyde to Kyeburn, £SO; Beck's to Dunstan Creek, £6O; Hyde to Hamilton, £SO; road to Maerewhenua Diggings, £100; Naseby to Coalpit at Kyeburn, £250 ; Maerewhenua to Mount Ida Diggings, through the Maerewhenua Pass, £245 ; total, £4855. We wish we may get them, but to place sums upon the Estimates dees not, as we full well know, necessarily mean to expend them. We trust that the present case may prove an exceptional one, and that the different sums may bo expended on the different contemplated works. Much good could not fail to accrue to the district should this be done.