Untitled

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 216, 18 April 1873, Page 4

The Evangelist for this ■month contains much good matter. Not unnaturally, tlie Press ci nie in for a la rge share of rot ice, one article alone being devoted to the " Newspaper Press." This article, contributed by the Kev. Elmslie of Wanganui, is -well -written, and is moderate in tone. The number as a whole is very readable. Fuetg-ilt from Dunedinhas, for some cause or another, made a sudden rise ; this last week carters, refusing to leave Dunedin for jNaseby, tinder £6 per ton, and even in some cases asking £6 10s. We hear that many teams are being offered for sale, and can only ascribe this to the coming winter. The draymen will not expose '.themselves to the rough wear and tear, and expensive breakages on the infamous winter roads of the interior. Some, no doubt, are actuated by a fear that therail ways will reduce the value of their teams. This is, we think, a false notion. In England, the more railways grew and multiplied,:the more demand . there was for good horses, and the reason of this is not diificult to arrive at. In. the first place, the railroads themselves require a large number of horses, and the reduced price of carriage doubles and trebles the demand for goods, which have all to be distributed from the railway by horse power. In the face of this sudden rise in price, our store-keepers and others must see to it that they do not too long delay • getting in their winter goods. We have not heard of any good stocks of oats yet laid in store. There should, be a good market up here just now for a few bullock-dray loads from Palinerston and Waikouaiti. At the. last two fires in Christchurch, crowding on t he part of spectators has been a source of su h inconvenience to tue firemen t.hat ]tublie attention lias been called to the subject. A correspondent of' the Press m»kes some observations, .the applioalion of which admits of a much wider range than was. intended for them, lie says:—The general public rather like to go to a fire. I don't, know why, but I kno.w.lotsofsteady-going'eitizens who will, sit the sound of the fire-bell, arise in the dead of and run two or three roiloS on the chance of seeing even a small coiiilagrutio.ll. If such

foik confine themselves to being simply spectators, it would be no matter to anyone, but they will insist on being of use wlien there are perhaps hundreds of fire-devouring Richards in the field already. In their endeavors to learn the origin 'of thoiire—to get a. good sight of it or save goods—tliey get in the way, unci make 1 he lives of the firemen and police a burden to them for the time being. The attempts at salvage made by some of these beings are sometimes superlatively idiotic. I saw one swivel-headed chunk the other night throwing crockery into the street to save it, and crying out wildly to others who were working, " Keep cool, for goodness sake, keep cool." I could have incremated that fellow with delight, and danced a break-down all the time. °I have one invariable plan at n. fire. I sit in the glare, and cry. Some one thinks I'm suffering, and takes me away to drink. The over 7 | zeal ot some people might be cured by a little Judicious reporting. After giving the usual particulars of the fire, and voting the thanks of the community to the Brijdde and Police .■(which to speak truth they usually well deserve), your reporters might add a few words of praise such as the following " YVe observed Air. Kablacle gel ting in everybody's wav, acting like a drivelling idiot; Mr. A. S. Siduous bv his unceasing but utterly insane exertions increased the loss to the New Zetland Insurance Company by about £BO. We hope lie will eschew fires for the future. At one stage of the proceedings the curiosity of seven larrikins became of such a character as to induce Mr. Superintendent. Harris to order them to be squirted on. This order was obeyed with most, effective results."

We extract the following remarks, of more than usual interest from the last report of Mr. Warden Robinson : —lt is mucli to be regretted that difficulties should have arisen about the water of the Kakanui river, as the waters of that stream would have afforded a large and i unfailing supply for sluicing the wide extent of good ground known to exist at the Maerewhehua diggings. One race, that of Sotting and Co., which was granted some "time a>o has been constructed for 6J miles, and is still in progress. But of the other two schemes, one (that of the K tbanui Company, has been given up ; while Cooper and Co., who have a grant for a large race, to carry 12 heads, have for the present suspended operations until they shall fee what is best to be done, la the total absence of topics of a pleasant nature concerning mining, it is a relief to turn to the subject of the public works at JSaseby, for which contracts have been accepted. The Sludge Channel has been begun in earnest by the contractors, Messrs Farmer and Co., who already have a strong body of men on the ground. The water race from the Manulierikia river, is also, in the hands of Messrs Pearce and Eraser, making some progress, although ■* the star!, has not been quite so energetic as that of. the contractors for the Sludge Channel. t With reference to the Sludge Channel,- an 1 opinion /has lately been expressed by certain | miners, whose judgment should have some | weight, that it would be very advisable that | it should be brought up rather deeper than | seems to be intended. It is stated that recent | prospecting has shown that good ground could | be opened up if the channel were deepened, § which must otherwise remain unwrought. I The suggestion is that it would not be difficult I to spare half an inch, or ejen an inch of fall | to the chain, as the channel nears Naseby. and - that thus ten feet or so of extra depth could g be got. The matter is worthy the considera- J tion of the engineer. I have felt it to be my I duty to mention the subject, as it is of vital t importance ■■.to.the. prosperity of Naseby. § We understand that Mr.'Warden Pyke has obtained twelve months' leave of absence on full pay. The G-overnment have not yet decided which of the Wardens is to take charge of the Tuapeka district dur ng Mr. Pylce's absence. It is rumored, however, that Mr. Warden Simpson will be transferred from Clyde. The weather at the Maerewlienua has, unfortunately, continued to be so dry as to seriously retard mining operations. It is currently rumored that a le! ter in a late issue, signed " Miner, " was a direct product from the recesses of our office. We are glad to say that the public apathy is not yet so great that it is necessary for us to manufacture correspondence. We should not have thought it worth while to take notice of this rumour, were we not glad of the opportunity of stating. that any opinions we do hold we at all times openly express, and have not resorted, nor do we intend to resort, to the irresponsible correspondence column for the promulgation of our ideas.. Certainly the delicate irony of writing a letter dead against the mining interest, and siguing it " Miner," would hot have occurred to us. It is rumored that the changes to be made in the Goldfields department, owing to the Jf-ave granted to Mr. Warden Pyke, will re- , move Mr. Carew from Black's to Clyde, will once more throw St. Bathans into the overworked hands of Mr. Robinson, and Mr. Simpson will probably replace Mr. Pyke at Tuapeka. There is also some reason to believe that these changes will bo of a more permanent nature than changes latterly have been. We hear that the first consignment of books from the lulucation Board for the Athengeum,. has lelt Duuedin, and is now about due. Thei ll.all is.novv finished, and as soon as the Committee Qan decide upon , the mode of management—Hiot a very matter, with the probable revenue considered—no more delay should take place in throwing it open to the public. • Good Friday was observed as a close holiday by the bams and tradespeople. There seems a great dearth of amusement in Naseby on such occasions. When we say amusement, ,we mean rather rational occupation It is

not every one that has legs, will, or lungs for a scramble up the 'mountain, where, nevertheless, good scenery, arap'y rewarding considerable trouble, is to be enjoyed. Mb/Petciigll's clearing sale was well attended, fair prices were obtained, keen competition was shown altogether. The seller and tlie auctioneers should consider that a most satisfactory sale has been effected, considering the extreme lightness of puives in the town. It was with much pleasure that'we. saw that the Ist. Bathans Progress Committtee have determined to establish' a Miners' Association. We have so often urged the formation of these bodies throughout the district, that we often feare I we had been intrusive in the matter. The capital practical work undertaken by the Committee at Naseby, with' regard to the Sludge Channel, should convince everyone how desirable it is t,liat the machinery of such bodjes should always be kept, ready for emergencies, as they occur. We hope the St Bathans Committee will consider the new Goldlields Bill just about to be published. Th 12 Cardrona correspondent of the ' Arrow Observer' of the 10th inst, says:—l h>pe the Minens' Associations on the various CroldiLlds will keep a sharp lookout, and oppose any applications for agricultural lease-, if there is any likelihood of there being any auriferous land. What gave rise to the custom was the remarkable valuation of ten acres of a fifty acue lease. The valuation was as follows —* Destruction of old fence ... £4O 0 0 Erection of new ... ... ... 25. C O Rental of ten acres for two years 21 4 0 Loss sustained by cancellation of ten acres ... 258 0 0 Destruction of portiou of plant ... ... 1 0. 0 £345 4 0 Arbitration' expenses .29 4 0

Total. ... £374 8 0 The writer. goe3 on to siy:—Should the Government pay that enormous sum, it would not only be a waste of public money, but ■would also be a most rui ious precedent, a 0 any unprincipled cockatoo near the. Goldfields might extend his agricultural lease on the chance of a lead pussing through it, an I should it so h ippen, charge the Government at the rate of £L7 ss. per acre, per annum, for cancellation, and (lie miners the sum of £29 4s. for arbitration; it having taken tliese arbitrators five days, at two guineas tier diem, betides horse hire, to decide upon having an umpire. •We yesterday paid a hurried visit to the •works on the Sludge Channel. A little dclny occured there last week, owing to the men, headed 1 y one or two ne'er-do-wells, refusing to work, except for an increased The contractors -were firm, and to-day we saw over twenty men busily engaged initlie ditch, some others being aw:iy at the quarrv. The work done, however, is most satisfactory, over a mile of very tough natured ground being hewn out. The men are cornpjsed of draughts from all quartet s, we noticed some of Brogden's men, an Asiatic,, and two or three Chinamen. At Bs. per diem, the men should bo able to put by £l a week, if they choose. It costs them in their huts about 15s. to 18s., and when the boarding-house is started, they will be kept at £l, if they choose to themselves of its accommodation. Thirfcyseren men were at wo;k previous to the strike, and no doubt! he numbers will be speedily again augmented. A but-.cher's shop and boarding-house, Ave observe, is being fitted up opposite Mr. Amies' Hough Inn. . Mil. Mjjnzies, the new schoolmaster, has arrived at Aas e by. He took charge of the school on Wednesday Jast. _ We hear on authority, that no decision was come to on the 15th, in Dunedin, as to acceptance of the tenders due that day, for contracts oi lhe Head Race. Further contracts are expected to be opened < shortly to tenderers. Tete Eevd. Messrs. Todd and TJyley conducted Divine service at Naseby on Sunday last, morning and evening. Mr. Todd addressed the Ssabbath School in the afternoon, .and Mr. Kyley held a service at the Kyeburn. The Masonic Hall was well attended at both services, and a good collection made on behalf of the Church Building Fund. The Suez mail, brought by the s. 3. Albion, may be expected at Naseby to-morrow.