NOTES FROM ST. BATHANS.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 203, 17 January 1873, Page 4

NOTES FROM ST. BATHANS.

A meeting of the holders of, businesslicenses was" held in the-school : room last week, for the purpose of taking the necessary steps to induce the Government: to have the township surveyed, and the sites put up for sale—the only means by which the obnoxious business licenses can be got rid of. There" was ia numerous attendance, and, after considerable discussion, it was resolved—That the Progress Committee be requested to communicate with the Waste Land Board on the subject. A resolution, pledging the business .people to support the Progress Committee, in their efforts - to ; procure'a supply of water for the use of the township, was also agreed to. , A meeting of the. Progress. Committee was held on Thursday evening, when' the business remitted for , consideration, by the meeting-was discussed. It was agreed to comply with the request of the. holders of.business licenses,•-and the Secretary, Mr. Yo.rston, was instructed to prepare a petition to the Waste Land Board on the subject. The water supply question was then gone into, and after a long discussion as to whether iron pipes or an open race would be the best method of introducing the water,: the latter plan was adopted on the score of economy,.and as affording facilities for irrigating the gardens behind the town. Mr. Gr. H. Smith (the Chairman), who may be considered the father of the water movement, spoke at considerable, length on .the necessity. of a .supply of water, more : particularly for the extinction of fires ; aud, as if to give emphasis to his arguments," a. miner (Mr. Teague) rushed into the school-room with a cry of fire, and commenced ringing the bell. A general stampede ensued, when it was discovered that the worthy Chairman's chimney had caught fire. This appropriate wincl-up to the meeting should stimulate Mr.' Smith and the" ; Committee to exertion on the water question. . A subscription for the benefit of Mr. P. Mallon—whose hotel (the Montezuma) and store were burned down on the 3rd instants-has been.commenced, and about £l5O already contributed. The rain which fell last week has filled the races once, more, and brought a welj come change in the weather—from tropij cal heat to a temperature that is cool and pleasant.

The washingrup of the public channel is still going on, and the prospects are said to be very good. ' " v