THE Mount Ida Chronicle FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1872.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 193, 8 November 1872, Page 4

THE Mount Ida Chronicle FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1872.

Shakespeare, in his immortal play of "Hamlet," has said, "To be, or not to be, that is the questionand such has for months, nay, for years past, been a question here. it is not that, we desire, or would find it profitable, to go further on with our quotation. Our to be, or not to be, is of a perfectly different character. The problem of the " to be" or "not to be " has, we think, in our case been virtually solved by the report of Mr. Simpson which appears in our present issue, in which that gentleman distinctly affirms that a very large supply of water, amounting to "an average supply of forty- " five Government heads, and a miiii- " mum supply of not less than twenty- " five Government heads in extremely " dry seasons," can be brought in from the Manuherikia to Naseby withoutprejudice to existing rights, for the sum of £20,000, traversing aline of not more than fifty-five miles in length presenting no engineering difficulty? The Government have said, and said over and over again, that all they required before proceeding' with the sanctioned " works for this place was " further information." There can. no longer be such excuse for the nonconstruction of the works. If Mr. i Simpson's report does not supply the l Governmental brain with all the " fur- " ther information" necessary, then, in that case we say that we have been simply tampered with and humbugged. /We are not, however, desirous of impugning the honesty of the Government, or of calling in question their integrity of purpose; and, assisted as we are by a private letter.from our member, Mr. Mervyn, we cannot but arrive at the conclusion that the Government are in earnest in their desire to do justice to this place and district. I In alluding to these works of the Manuherikia Water Supply and Sludge Channel, Mr. Mervyn says, '" You " may look upon these matters as set- " tied."

To our mind, the whole question has assumed a very favorable aspect. The quantity of water to be supplied has exceeded the expectations of the most sanguine; the distance to be traversed is far less than was ant-icipated ; the supposed physical difficulties have disappeared, and it seems that the cutting, instead of being of a most difficult and costly nature, will be, to use a fagon deparler, mere child's play j and last, though not least, the sum required is far less than the most hopeful and the most thoughtful among us dared to imagine. The facts of our case, which speak for themselves, are now before the Gro■vernment and call upon it for • action. There is no further chance of dillydallying, or further excuse for tidlywinking. Mr. Simpson's report is sofar exhaustive that the practicability of the scheme has been thoroughly demonstrated, and at a price which we confess perfectly astonishes ourselves. The case is, as we have said, before the Government, and upon their decision in this matter will depend the future amount of support which they may

expect fro in Mount Ida. The Government have invited, as it were, the investigation and inquiry, and with tiie tacts disclosed in Mr. Simpson's report before them, we fail to see how th'oy can hesitate to proceed, and proceed at once, with the works. It' anything elsewere wanted, the fact that these works would prove eminently reproductiveshould induce the Government to enter immediately into a matter wherein the money of the country would be most profitably invested, and provision made* for the employment of the to be imported labor, which otherwise, in all probability, will lack a market. J.here are other matters in connection with, this subject to which we shall reler at an early opportunity. In the meantime we commend Mr. {Simpson's report to the careful perusal, attention,, and consideration of our readers, in the earnest hope that the works we contemplate will be "to be,"' and not not to be, and that without any lossof time.

The second performance of the Mount Ida Amateur Dramatic o;ub took p'ace in the Masonic Hall on fcha evening of Monday last, • when the house was crowded to excess. The entertainment., with the exception of the first piece Box and Cox ' —was the same as that formerly played by the company. All went off well and merrily, but it could not be but- observed that., in the first piece, there wasan evident want of rehearsal. The entertainment was in aid of the funds of the MountIda District School, the sum realised bein o, between £L2 and £l3. ° Mr. Hislop, the fnspector of Schools, examined the pupils un Monday last at the Kvebwrn School, and we understand that he expressed himself as highly pleased with theresult. We have also been informed that-lie-promised to recommend the Government to place on the estimates the sum of £3O for a school house and master's residence. Tuesday last Mr. Hislop held an examination of the school-here, and expressed himself pleased with the proficiency of the scholars in the different brandies of education,, giving more particular credit to the lady juveniles. We understand that Mr. Warden Simpson has taken charge of his, the Dunftan district, and that, Mr. Carew lias resumed his position as Warden at Blacks and St. Bafcbans. - this will relieve Mr. Warden Robixson of one of his many outside and outlying places for loldiiig Courts. Ox the evening of Tuesday last a meeting of the School Committee took place in the School House, when Mr. Petchell tendered his resignation as teacher. So far as we have heard, the resignation has been accepted. Wj cannot, in this matter, refrain from expressing our regret at the want of unanimity which has lor years past existed between the Committee and the master. We trust that out of evil good may arise, and that the infusion of new blood will push forward the cause of education, and that, without putting the least slurupon Mr. Petchell, the future teacher will stand in a better position than Mr. Petchell appears to have done. We feel it our du*y to | remark that, though aHv.sing the resignation i of Mr. Petchell, Mr. Hislop, the Inspector of -Schools, distinctly stated that ic was no lack of " professional ability" on the part of the teacher which had led him to give this advice, but an evident incompatibility of temper which, had for some time past existed between himself and the various School Committees. Mr. Petchell's engagement will, we understand, terminate on the 31st March .next. An advertisement in another column notifies that Tuesday next, the 12th instant, will be observed by the loc>d banks as the anniversary of the birth of the Prince of Wales. The Government offices, however, will be closed on Monday, the 11th, the gazetted public holiday.

| On Monday last, shortly after noon, the [ dreatl sound of the fire-bell set all the good i people of JNaseby in motion. The streets, t which up to that hour had been deserted, or nearly so, soon became filled with an anxious crowd of some hundreds of people, willing to lend a helping hand in suppressing the ravages of the devouring element. For some time tlie exact position \>f the fire was not known. Soon, however, the dense smoke commino'led with flame told too truly where the danger lay, and how near the town was of beinu- utterly destroyed. ■ The facts, so far as weliave been able to gather them, are these A lady passing down Leven-street first observed fire in the house formerly known as the Antrim Hotel, and at the time in the occupation of Coxhead Brothers, photographers from Dunedin (who have, we are sorry to hear, lost very considerably). So soon as the alarm bell pealed fortij if s warning sound, the Fire Brigade were, as is their wont, immediately on the ground, and by their efforts, combined with those of the public, the fire was arrested, before any great damage was done. The old Antrim Hotel was thoroughly gutted, as was also the private house of Mr. Inder, a large ' amount of property in the latter, including ; valuable wearing apparel, being effectuall? consumed. That the conflagration did not extend farther than it did is mainly attributable to there having been no wind at the time. The supply ot" water from the mains of the Naseby Water Works Company was abundant, but the defic.ent state of tlie hose was bus too perceptible. With regard to this matter, we may state that a.leathern hose has

been long since ordered, and is being daily expected from home Ihe effect tliat this will have upon the pressure must be patent to all not absolutely ignorant of the science of hydraulics. Seeing the value of our Fire Brigade and the good services rendered by Hum on all occasions when required, it is io us something more than remnrkable that greater efforts should not be made bv the public and the insurance companies to improve and increase its resources. So far sis we have learnt, the amount, subscribed during the past year, in aid of the funds of the Brigade, are as follow : Members of Brigade, £l6 ; generalpublic, £6 ; insurance companies, £4 4s. It. is to be hoped thki the late escape of tho town will cause the public and the in-unince companies to be in future more liberal with their donations. In connection with this subject, an inquest before LL W Robinson, Esq., Coroner, was held on the afternoon of Tuesday last, at the Shamrock Hotel, when an open verdict was returned. It seems remarkable that in an empty (no one being in it at the time) that tlie fire was able to assume such great proportions and make so much headway before being discovered. The Antrim Hotel, the.! property of Robert JKeenan, was, we understand, uninsured, while that of Air liuler was to a great extent covered by insurance. In all matter* pertaining to mining the Arrow men have always proved themselves not only true but to the lore. The proposition to hold a general Conference at. T lapek'a on the ls>t December proximo, for the purpose of appointing a Central Committee to take action in ad matters affecting the mining interest, we look upon as a step in the right direction. The application 'o the Mount Ida minors !o appoint »» Delegate to represent the district at the proposed Conferen e will, we trust, be cheerfully responded to, and we canuot doubt that there is among us, for such a purp se, sufficient public spirit- to meet tlie expenses of any gentleman upon whom their choice may fall.

Os Friday morning last the rain came down in torrents, making the channels of the streets, as it were, small rivulets. The weather being \erj warm at the time, the snow on the hills speedily disappeared, and though thereby the ■watci supply was temporarily uu menteil, we fej«r, unless we are again soon visited by rain, that the supply will again and before long run short. On the whole, we may state that mining operations are being prose uted, not only wiih vigor, but with considerable success, and that if the works alluded to in our lea ler be pushed forward energetically, tliere is little to fear for the futu.e of Naseby. The bazaar, in aid of the funds of the Church of England Building Committee, lias been postponed till Friday ami Saturday the 15th and 16th instant respectively, when it. will take place in the Masonic Hall. The time for the reception of tenders to lease the Shamrock Iloiei has, as will be seen from advertisement in another column, been changed from the 29th to the lith November

instant. This alteration has, we understand, arisen in co sequence of the requirements of tlie Licensing Ordinance, which renders it imperative that applicat ions for licenses shall be lodged in the Court fourteen days before the second Tuesday in December. With the exception of a few small debt case?, which-possess no matter of public in terest, no business has bi>en transacted in the Resident Magistrate's Court since our last issue, save and except a police case of assault of man against wife, which was disposed of on the evidence ef the wife, who swore that 110 assault had been committed, and that the injuries from the effects of which she was still suffering were self-imposed. Seeing the mat ter to be one of future connubiality or other wise, we purposely withhold the names of the parties concerned.

Dr. Nevill, Bishop of Dunedin, and party {24 altogether), were to leave England for New Zealand in the Lady Jocelyn, whijh •was to sail in August last. We hear upon very good authority that the .arrount of gold pnrchasd by Taylor and Co , at Mrierewhenua, amounfs to over SOt'ozs. In the Warden's Court there was first the hearing of an application ou behalf of Grayson nncl party, ior a mining lease at Clark's. This case had been before the Warden several times, and the effort at arbitration having failed, the Warden was called upon to give his decision, which he did to the following effect: That is to say, that the application be received (subject to his, the. Warden's, recommendation), and that all rights and privileges of the Cornish and Scotch Company be protected. Mr EFertslet for applicants, Mr kowlatt for defendants.—The only other oaso of particular interest was that of Carlyle v. Cooper Bros , for a large supply of water from the Kakanui Kiver. To give even a digest of this case, which kept his Worship on the bench nearly up till midnight, would occupy more space than we can afford. Suffice it to say that certain irregularities and incongruities havtnc occurred between the notice posted and that lodged in the Court, Mr Hertslet, who appeared to obiect to the granting of the Coopers' application, stated that the application having failed to express and convey the requirements under sec. 8 reg. 26 of the Goldfields Act, 1866, there was ipso facto nothing before the Court. The said that as large interests were to be affected in the matter, lie would like to see concessions on both parts, and for several hours the case was adjourned. About midnight an agreement was arrived at, to the effect that the applications Bhould be simultaneous, and that the water should be equally divided without regard to priority. There is no doubt that the svstem of calling "stinking fith " is a bad one, and though many of the JUogburn miners have left this plate for " pastures green " and fields new, we still believe that present arrangements will bring many back to their old haunls. With-,

out f->r a single mo=uent desiring to dispar i*e Maerew'ienua and its futurity, we can-can-didly sav th it, when the sanctioned works for this place are carried out, that field will be for years to coine nowhere.

We are glad to hear that the action by the Munieipd pirty here has resulted i»i a succesful issue. Fro a reliable informatio l we gather tha ; , so soon as the District Surveyor surveys the boundaries of the wards, an I the Uoyernmeat be furnished with t'>e plans thereof, ifasebv .vill be piMclaime I a Municip ility. The Naseby people wi'l observe, from an advertisement in an-ther column, that the Koyal Dramatic Troupe will appear before them early next week. Past recollections will, we think, with the addition of Mr. Westropp, secure to the public very enjoyable evenings. Ouu local auctioneers will dispose of by public miction, on Tuesday evening next, tlie rights and privileges connected with the Mount Ida Jockey Club's ai:n ml meeting. With reference to the difficulty of the Taieri River, about which so »uu,;h i<as b.-eu said an 1 written, we may remark that no lat ir than _ Wednesday last our bank agents, in crossing the stream with no little risk, foun I, upon their return, after only a few hoius, that the water had risen over a foot—submerging nob only the entire wheels, bub a portion of the trap. No accident of any importance occurred. So much for the treacherous Taieri.

We have to record a disagreeable contre - rfew/M- which occurred to Mr. Thomson travelling for the Messrs Scoular, on Tuesday last;. So far :is we xmderstand the case the facts are these—that mm an.l horse did nob disagree until the descent of the Houndburn Hill, when, impelled by soaia circumstance of which it is impossible to judge, the horse took, the bit in his mouth an.l fairly dragged his driver behind him, clearing everything in his course. Fences and ditches presented in his onward progress no obstacle, ail I, as might be imagined, Mr. Thomson was thro vvn from the vehicle, but sustained no serious injury. A second effort was male by a " superior " dr'.ver to bring the restive animal to reason, and proceed on ihe journey. Again the horse pro red too good for the man, and again was the vehicle capsized, bringing the industrious pair to grief. .We are happy' to report that nothing further than the break-up of the trap, and a thorough shaking to its occupants, resulted from the accident. The incoming home mails via San Francisco, per the .Nebraska, were due at Auckland on Monday last. The Eev. W. H. Horner will conduct Divine Service, at the Maerewhenua Diggings, on Sunday first. °

The following conundrum appears in a Wellington contemporary" What is the difference between the penultimate Premier and the present? Mr. Fox tried to turn every public into a water-bouse; the present Pre--mier is content with keeping a Wafcerhouse at the Head of public affairs." The Livingstone expedition cost the New York 'Herald' between £SJi)O and £9JOJ.

Sleepless people and there are many in New Zealand—should court the sun. The very worst soporific is laudanum and the best sunshine. Therefore it is very plain that poor sleepers should pass as few hours as possible in th.e sb.a-Je. Many women are martyrs, and yet they clo not know it. They shut the sunshiue oat. of their bouses and their hearts, they wear veils, they carry parasols; they do all posssible to keep off the subtlest and yet most potent influence which is intemled to give strength and beauty, and cheerfulness. Is it not time to change all this and scT-get color and roses on our pile cheeks, strength in oar weak backs, arid courage in our timid souls ?