Untitled

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 201, 3 January 1873, Page 3

We observe, that the Rangitoto took a supplementary' English mail, to catch the mail steamer at Melbourne. The Hon. Julius Vogel, and the Hon. W. H. Reynolds, were passengers by the same boat. An inquest was held on the 24th December, at the Montezuma Hotel, St. Bathans, before E. H. Uarew, Esq., Coroner for the District, upon the body of an infant male child of Mr. David Aubrey, which died suddenly on the 23rd inst. The Jury returned a verdict, which accorded with the medical testimony, that the child died from natural causes, weakness and debility. Last week, the district surveyor, Mr Barron, was busily engaged laying out the Municipal boundaries; it was hoped, that the plans would be sufficiently forward to send down by the Friday mail; but on it being ascertained that this was impossible, the Trade Association, with much spirit, determined to send one of their number down to make sure that the Municipality should be Gazetted iu the year, otherwise, it was feared, the license fees due yesterday, would be lost to the town. It will be seen by our Telegrams, that this difficulty has been carried to a satisfactory conclusion. On Friday last, the The Monthly Hospital Meeting had to be adjourned for want of a quorum. There has always been a difficulty in getting enough members to carry out the usual monthly business, at a decent hour. Probably the new committee would iind it an improvement to have a quorum of five instead of seven. Subscribers should remember that the annual meeting takes place on the evening of January 9th, at the Day School. On the publication of our Extra, announcing the immediate commencament of the public works, flags were speedily flown at the Victoria Hotel, and in the cricket-ground, the Union Jack floated gloriously. Monday evening was chosen by Mrs. Clarke and the friends of the school-children, to give a treat to the little ones. All who had taken so much trouble to get up this pleasant evening, must have felt themselves more than rewarded by the downright enjoyment, shown through the evening, not only by the little ones, but by all. After tea games of all sorts, were carried on, kiss in the ring, obtaining a good deal of favor especially, perhaps, among the children with whiskers and long frocks. Not but that the smallest, enjoyed the privilege of beckoning up some favoied one for the ring's reward, j The band enlivened the proceedings, which '• closed at a suitable hour, by the dispersion of a quantity of tired but happy children. | On New Year's Day a notice was given j out at the Post Office, that on that day, the mail from Dunedin, was due at 3.30, and that the down mail would close at 5 p.m. the same day. We hardly like to say much, till we are in possession of the details of this new arrangement. If the Dunedin mail is made up late on Tuesday night, to arrive here at 3.30 Wednesday, and time is allowed for correspondents in Mount Ida to reply, this alteration may present a few good points, but if the mail closes at Dunedin on Monday night, or even Tuesday morning, and letters are not to be delivered at Mount Ida till the hour of closing for the return mail, a midweekly mail is a farce, and an utterly unjustifiable expense. Really, in the face of no information having reached us from the authorities or the contractoi, we are afraid their arrangements are bein# made with the apparent object of disgusting the people and the Post Office with the mid-weekly service, such disgust to be the natural precursor to the abolition of the mail altogether. Thb eve of the old year and the birth of the new, was commemorated by the usual noise and tumult, composed of crackers, anvil charges, tin kettles, fiddles and everything supposed in any way to contribute towards the making of a din and a noise. owing to the watc'afulaeaa of tha

police, no damage was done, by accident or intent—they insisting on crackers being let off in the centre of the street, as much as possible. A smouldering cracker, in these times of extreme heat and dryness, does undoubtedly an element* not altogether devoid of danger. On Thursday evening, Messrs M'Gregor and Ga3on, invited their friends to a supper, and we believe a danon, to inaugurate the opening of the Shamrock and Commdrcial Hotels. «v*e hear, that everything went off quietly and well, at both the houses. We won ler that our St: Bathans friends submit to be so business licensed. Of course with such a large revenue accruing yearly from the business sites, the Government will require a certain amount of pressure to induce them to offer the lots for sale. If the St. Bathans residents would get up a district Association, they would get the influence always attaching to a recognised body, and further would gain importance by being an inegral part of that influential boi>r the "Central Association" a product of the Mining Conference. The annual Masonic soiree held on St. John's Day, came off with the usual eclat attending the Masonic meatings in Mouut Ida. The company was select, not too numerous, to make the hall unbearable from the heat and yet quite enough for all to enjoy themselves. Dancing was kept up with spirit, and everyone carried away a feeling of having spent a pleasant evening, that did not remain to be repented of. It will be seen by our telegrams, that the boundaries of the municipality have been received in Dunedin as satisfactory. Holders of property at the upper end of the town, should lojk out for the Land Sale at the Survey Oflfi ie, Jan. 20th. —Sea Advt, _ A special meeting of the School Committee was held last week, to receive applications for the post of Head Master, for the District School; rendered vacant by the resignation of Mr, Petchell. Mr. Manzie3, present master at the Waihola (Jorge, was unanimously chosen (out of twelve applications). We believe, he will enter upon his new duties, on April Ist.

Sports were, got up in the Recreation ground, on New Year's I >ay, by a few enterprising gentlemen, who, hid been to the trouble of collecting a small sum ef money, for the purpose. Great fun, with very little expense, was the result, especially, with regard to the Handicaps for the children, and some of the short races among the adults. It would be a good thing, to get up an Athletic Club, which could prepare programmes for these occasional sports, and ropj off a course.

The soiree dansante, given by the Loyal Mount Ida lodge, 1.0.0. F. in coanectkm with the inauguration of the Rebecca degree, of that order, took place on Wednesday evening last at the Masonic Hall. <ireat preparation had been made before-hand-, to make the entertainment a successful one, and the decorations were laid out with considerable taste, a d reflect mach credit on those entrusted witb the carrying out of the arrangements. On the ri*ht of the hill, we read, "InGo I we trust, Faith, Hope, an 1 Charity," on the left, "Friendship, Love, and Truth," over the dais at the head of the room, we were wished "a Happy New Year," beneath which were the Royal Arms withV.R., and "God Save the Queen." At the lower end of the hall was tixed au illumination belonging to the lodge. In the centre of the ball, a triumphant arch of evergreens was erected, around which, were placed tables and chairs for the guests. Besides what we have enumerated, there were various devices and mottoes, the whole being tastefully interwove i with festoons and giving a decidedly graceful apEearance to the Hall. The Lodge previously eld its degree meeting, at which the la lies had conferred upon them, the beautiful degree of Rebecca. Later in the evening, a numerous assemblage of ladies and gentlemen, were drawn together in the Hall, and passed a very agreeable and pleasant evening, dancing being indulged in vigorously, till a late hour. The members of this lodge, which is still in its infancy, are to be congratulated upon making their debut so successfully, aad well. (Contributed).