DISTRICT NOTES.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 198, 13 December 1872, Page 6

DISTRICT NOTES.

HILLS CHEEK. The crops in this district seem to be very promising in spite of the extreme drought, which here, as elsewhere, has been so prevalent. Should there be a fall of rain before Christmas sufficient to prevent the 100 early maturity of the year the farmer's returns will no doubt be satisfactory. We were informed that Mr. Rochford who may almost be said to be ati institution in the place, has sold out. and intends shortly to visit, the Fijis, where he holds property. ST. BA.THA.XS. . If there is one place in the district, more than anoiher, that has stood still during the last few years, it is Dunstan Creek. This stagnation is more in appearance than reality, for it has enjoyed a very large amount "f prosperity, being almost entirely five from a nomadic population, (which on the Hogburn does such an immense deal of harm, in enhancing the value of provisions), and po-ssessinga water supply of a very permanent character, owing to its position at the foot, of Mt. St. Bathans the broken ranges of the Pass. To a and traveller through the town, the place is very little altered. From the dingylooking little sentry boxes at the entry marked "Banks," to the bakery and butcher's shop at the extreme end, there is no change, unless it be a little extra dinginess. Who is going to set the first;exainple, - and build premises worthy of such a prosperous little district? 'The last escort, of 2500zs , will, no "doubt, be exceeded when the washing-up at present going on is completed. The Hawkdun Station has had a most unsatisfactory lambing, the percentage not exceeding thirty-five. This is partly attributed to the soft snow-storms that fell in the early spring. Travellers going further up country require to obtain particular directions," as, owing to the accumulation of tailings obliterating the old tracks, it -is a toss-up whether Welshman's, Drybread, or M rs. Beck's be the point arrived at. Above all, they should disregard the directions ofthe friend who is sure " You can't go wrong if you will tnrn to the right at the last race; the left at the next- No! the third No ! : I have it: You cross the

first tail raee, then keep up the tailings to the right; cross thie creek three times, and then lock out for the next race. ■ You can't iniss it. -Jood night." If you do find it, and don't fall into it, go to your bed humble—for it is providential. * blacks: '

_ The most prominent characteristics of tins district justnow are the Chinamen and'the crops. Most of the gold'that is beiiig obtained at Blacks propel is being brought'in by the Celestials, who seem to _ liaye the name of being prompt payers for *. orderly residents. / i*he .lasfc escort, of 900ozs. was 'made up* by the gold obtained at Dry bread, Tinkers, (Grerman Hill, and Blacks—a larger proportion than usual being from the latter place. ; Prom what we could gather during, a father hurried visit, very, little sluicing is going on at all; and no doubt tlie water "supply is getting slack. Tub fiat under crop looks perhaps better than it would really prove to be if the ground was gone onto. Still, from the road we notice the ear doming into* prominence a great deal too soon. Potatoes will not hj? first-rate withon* more rain Ii seeir.s t at he Bhiksflat co ild be- ' uiade twice as productive were irrigation gone into. .There is a fifty-acre block of rough land, un fenced, belonging to Messrs Campb'cli and Low, through which water could be [Conducted sufficiently high to command the most of the ground. If the Progress Conimittfo w6re to represent the ' matter fairly to the station manager, we. have no doubt this could be done. And it should be remembered that tailings' water would be quite suitable' for channel irrigation, though not for flooding young "crops. "The great help, so far, to the settlers in . the district in making the two ends meet, . lias been their small herds of cattle: and horses. The increase has always been available in bringing in a little money to ..pay.jjie bills for stores. &c. Latterly, owing to the way in which this tacitly permitted grazing right has been abused by a few men "who have bought on speculation and turned out mobs of store cattle, the runholders, having been thoroughly roused, are resorting to impounding on a large scale. It.being impossible for them to know all the cattle, the settler, with his cow or two, and the wholesale stockowner suffer equally. This is a position that should not be forced on the run-

hoider or the settler. We hare not the ■it that, had the negotiations enlast y*»ar with the Hon. F. D. carried out, a very satisfactory Lings would have been initiated or a recognised body would hare position to deal with amateur who, under shelter of the " poor

man's cow," are reaping a harvest. / It may be worth while for our Blacks friends to tarn their attention to the. new Land Act, which contains clauses that, we think, would meet their difficulties. We refer to the clauses as to proclamation of Hundreds and compensation. This Act enables a II undred to be proclaimed on any pastoral lease, or within the boundaries of any Gol d field, on the petition of not less than fifty adults, settled in a dis- : trict comprising 5,000 acres leased or purchased within a circle of fivetniles—i.e., an area of about sixteen square miles, Such settlers must have made improvements to the value of £IOOO in houses, fences, and cultivation; such Hundred not.to exceed six times the area of the. block in which such settlement has taken , place, and shall include the land occupied bv the petitioners. All these conditions the Blacks district might be presumed to fulfill, arid we should strongly recommend the residents, in connection with the Progress Committee, or any recognised body, to take action in the manner indicated by the new " Orago Waste Lands Act. Tliis Act provides, as no qther of the very numerous Lani Acts. already tried does, for the three essentials, in the settlement of a semi-mining, semi-agricultural district : a fair compensation for the pastoral licensee, a right of grazing contiguous to their own homesteads for the settlers, and a means of self-government which, under, the Hundreds Act, are available by the lessees of such Hundred themselves, ilt should be noticed, however, that every year improvements in fencing are being carried out, which would, all have to ibe compensated for, and will very much increase the difficulty of getting a block of land set apart for the Blacks district.

BOUGH BIDG-E —BEEFS. Aflutter and : excitement pervades this little district, owing to the action taken'by the Energetic Quartz Mining Company, who, having had their stone tested s in Ounedin, are now sanguine that they will shortly be able to get machinery at work. A, consignment of tools, &c., has, we believe, already arrived on the ground. Messrs. Withers and Howard,, who have so. long held on to their property in r this district amid many discouragements,'will, we hope, reap their reward.: v We do not-anticipate .that these reefs will ever prove a source of : great profit; but we do think that a ; band'ofenergetic practical men, under good direction, should •bring stone to grass at a; price' that, would enable it to be crushed to. yield very fair remunerative rates'. . ; " . SEBPENTINE.

A Warden's Court; was held here on December sth, Constable Nicholson in attendance. A.i . ;

We understand that- thercs are about eighty Chinese at present located in the neighb< r!i od, most of whom have come in froni the Waipori. ' In anticipatioii of the* Warden's Court, Cons table N icholson was sent over to get the namds of "Chinamen working witho it miners' rights, " with a view to proceedings ..being- instituted against them. Fortunately twenty China-, men took out rights on the spot, and. the rest wrere found to provided with them.. ; '

. The drought which lias been prevailing in other parts of.the district has been se" yerely felt at the Serpentine, sluicing be-? ing almost at a standstill : in consequence.