MISCELLANEOUS.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 211, 14 March 1873, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS.

"While we stagnate for want of water, other places are. more fortunate or unfortunate. The 'Hawkes Bay Herald' says : —" The rain, which had ueen falling at intervals during the past week, set in very heavily on Saturday afternoon, and continued during the greater, portion of the followino; night. On Sunday morning .most of the rivers had overflowed their btmlcs, and a considerable extent of country w:is under water. About 5 a.m. the flood was at its height. The water in the Ngamroro was then not more than a foot from the planking of the bridge. One of the piles—the sixth from the Clive end —was found to have lost its hold on the ground, and to have become a source of danger, instead of support, to the whole structure. 'I be stringers which, held it to the studs were., therefore, wisely cut, and it was allowed to float down the river. The condition of the bridge, at present, appears to be anything but a satisfactory one. One or two others of the piles, besides that referred to, are loose, and, as anyone who passes along it can see at a glance, it bulges out considerably about the centre. On Sunday morning, we hear, it was shaken to such a degree as to create the impression among those who saw it that it might at any moment be swept down by the force of the current." The most imposing buildings in San Francisco, and in nearly all American towns, are the hotels ; indeed, the San Franciscans boast that theirs are the best in the world. There are three very near together, the G-rand Hotel, the Occidental, and the Sick House ; the name of the latter was not very inviting, but seven of our party fixed upon it, and very comfortable it was ; the dining-room is a splendid hall, 96 feet long, 66 wide, and 36 high ; it is surrounded by Corinthian columns, between each is a oeautiful view of some spots in California, mostly taken from their famous Yosemite Valley ; each picture was set in a kind of glass frame, which reflected the chandeliers, and added considerably to the brilliancy when the hall was lighted up. It is here that public dinners are held ; we were present at one on the Queen's Birthday, which the waiters informed us was to be " served in the English style ; " the only thing that struck us was the total absence of flowers so we came to the conclusion that their notion of English style was not quite in accordance with ours. Ladies were admitted into the gallery that runs round by the capitals of the columns, and listened to tbe speeches and songs. The leading English residents were, of course, present, as well as many Americans. National songs from alternately British and American: " G-od Save the Queen" was followed by " The Star-spangled Banner ;" "" God Bless the Prince of Wales" by " Hail Columbia," and latter in the evening, when many of the dwellers in the hotel had retired to their rooms, we could still hear the echoes of such well-known songs as " The Englishman" proceeding from the large diniug-room.—' Home by California,' ' Hawkes Bay Herald.' The ' Morning Sfar' Arrow coirespondent says in reference to our respected Clerk of the Court, Registrar, &c. :—"Mr R, E. Field, our late Gold Receiver (on leave from JNaseby), leaves to-day, with Mrs. Field and family, who are joining

iiim at that place. Mr.. Field was much respected, and his lady, albeit very unobtrusive, had won golden opinions here. Our heartiest wishes follow them.—l anticipate that the company who have purchased the celebrated claims of G-race and Eager will soon be in a position to commence operations, and in the interests of the district I rejoice that the first mining company of any importance here should have such a solid basis of prosperity as is afforded by the claims mentioned. No one but those who, like myself, have thoroughly explored every inch of the ground yet opened, can understand the magnitude and value of the auriferous deposits which are passing into the Company's hands. It is very strange that the vendors have made no effort to develop the vein of rich wash which is seen in the next claim (Boyle's), on the bed rock, beany of the present levels being worked. This level of wash proved immensely rich higher up the lead, at Skippers Point. It is most.likely that, great as have been the returns from the small portion of false bottom yet worked in these claims, they will be exceeded when the deep ground on the main bottom is made to yield up its wealth. The leading commercial men of this district are on the provisional directory." The Mount Benger correspondent of the ' Star,' says:—"ln a recent issue of the ' Star,' an article was quoted from the 'rforth Ofcago Times' inquiring the whereabouts of a person named Edward Lloyd Trevor. The moment I read the description I saw it was applicable to a man resident in this quarter. I made inquiries, and found my conjectures right; so that the ' Star ' has been instrumental in restoring this prodigal to his friends." Travellers along the line of road intended to be benefited will rejoice to learn that the Provincial Executive are fully alive to the importance of encouraging an increase of trafic to the G-old fields by way of Tuapeka. Last week Mr. Bastings, G-oldfields Secretary, and Mr. Simpson, Provincial Engineer,- made a special journey from Dunedin to Clyde, via Lawrence, for the purpose of ascertaining the probable cost of making such reductions of gradient, and other similar improvements, as would be requisite to make the road'fit for heavy trafic in winter,- and to enable the krger description of mail coaches to travel between Lawrence and Clyde throughout the year. Mi-. Chaplin, it is stated, -signified his willingness to place a superior class, of coaches, on the line, provided that the road is put In good condition. The ' Cromwell Argus ' remarks that the JDunedin coach how reaches Lawrence at 4 p.m., and might easily be driven seventeen miles further—viz., to the junction of the Switzers roai—the same night. From the Switzers junction to Cromwell the distance is not more than seventy-three miles ; and with a good road there would be nothing to prevent the mail and passengers reaching Cromwell early in the evening of the second day.—' Star.', Dunedin. The recent disclosures in the Hokitika .Resident Magistrate's Court as to.a dancing girl's emoluments and hours of employment, and as to the profit made on drinks provoke the following remarks from the ' Nelson Colonist':—" We think that the disclosure of such facts as these requires the immediate attention of the Grovernment. Every clause of the Licensing A.ct. should be strictly enforced, and inspectors appointed to supervise the sale of intoxicating liquors, especially in mining districts. When scandalously enormous profits are made on the sale of spirits (which are the principal drinks consumed by miners), it is evident that they must be adulterated to a frightful extent, and something should at once be done to remedy such an evil state of affairs, as it is admitted that to the absorption of poisonous liquors, more th?n to any other cause, is attributable the increasing evil of lunacy in our Colony." The following we take from the report of Warden Pyke (Tuapeka district) for the quarter ended 30th December last:— The agriculturalists are rapidly changing the aspect of the country by their ploughing operations, and the climate would seem to be as rapidly suffering a change. Formerly known as the most drearily damp locality in Otago —wherein absence of rain was really missed —it has latterly enjoyed a fine dry climate ; bright sunshine alternating with genial showers—conducing to the general productiveness of the soil. But it is greatly to be regretted that here, as in other parts of this Proriuce, the planting of timber has been entirely neglected by the earlier pioneers of settlement. The results : —want of shelter for crops and cattle, and a general drying up of the land, such as promise most disastrous consequences in the future —are making themselves severely felt. It is also matter for regret, that the planting of fruit trees has been so much overlooked, insomuch that fruit of all kinds is scarcer and dearer here than "on any other goldfield (except Mount Ida), with which I am acquainted. Vegetable gardening, again is nearly an unknown

art in this district. One new feature, and worthy of very special comment, is the production of gold from the quartz lodes of Gabriel's Gully. The first cake of retorted gold was obtained towards theclose of the year, by the Gabriel's Gully . Quartz Mining Company, which lias fairly won the position of being the pioneer of this branch of mining industry in the old Tuapeka district. The weight of the cake was 125 ounces (nett), and it wasthe produce of about SQO tons.of stone,, which yielded (in the gross) 270 ounces of amalgam. The results thus nakedly given require other explanation,-in order' that the matter may be properly understood. This can best be done by a statement of thu cost and gain attendant on the actual crushing : which statement has been placed at my disposal by the manager, Mr. K. L. Squires : Amount expended, in raising and crushing 500 tons of stone _. . ... .... £220 00" Price obtained for produce. —125 ounces—valued- at £3 15s. per ounce ... 468 15 0

Leaving a profit of— say ... 248'15 0 It will be seen from the foregoing that the cost of raising, bringing to the mill, and crushing, averaged a little over eight shillings and ninepenee (Bs. 9d.).per ton—--equal to a yield of two pennyweights and', eight grains per ton, beyond which all is profit- I think this result one of the most important yet achieved in New Zealand.

I Mr. Hazlett withdrew Atlas from the ! Tokomairiro races on account of the ! jockey iieay being allowed to ride at that. : meeting. ; ! The 'Star' siys:—lt has been known | for some time back that there was a probability of a reconstruction of the CabiI net, but the.exact position of affairs was i not disclosed, and even now that some i light has been thrown upon the matter, it is hardly conceivable fbkt the Hon. Mr. Waterhou.se should have taken the step he has adopted, on such slender grounds as are put forth. Whether he knew of | Mr. Hall's intention to go Home or not | we cannot say : .we believe almost all the ; Colony did know that it was at least pro- ! bable. If he did not, we do not see that such a circumstance is sufficient, justification for a man in his responsible position giving way to feelings of personal jDiqueThis is the second time he has exhibited ; a vacillation of purpose that stamps him !as in any crisis. His retirement is at a time above all the -least opportune that could have been chosen for such a political freak. The Governor is about to leave the Colony • the Treasurer is in such delicate health as to render withdrawal from active political life almost" imperative; several very important questions are yet to be determined ; and Parliament is in recess, so that no immediate action can be taken to place the affairs of the country in the hands of men in whom confidence can be placed. The erratic conduct of Mr. Waterhouse is aggravated through there being, apparently, no political difference among Ministers giving warrant for such a proceeding. He seems not to have a correct idea of the onerous duties he has undertaken, and to think that a Premiership can be accepted or resigned at a week's notice, just like a junior clerkship in a counting-house. In the present position of affairs, extended comment might lead to.erroneous conclusions, but it is plain from the obstinacy shown by Mr. Waterhouse that his place would be better filled by one more capable of that self-sacrifice which forms a leading characteristic of true statesmen.