TOPICS OF TALK.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 216, 18 April 1873, Page 6

TOPICS OF TALK.

Quite recently Naseby has been credited with a District Land Office, and Mr. Warden Kobinson appointed as Land Officer. We do not suppose that much work will be undertaken at these District Land Offices, or that the constant obnoxious and delaying reference to Dunedin for every trifling matter will, in the future, be done away with, as we see that in nearly all cases the Wardens have been the officers chosen, and they already, for the most part, are over-worked. The Waste Lands Act, however, offers some facilities to farmers, enabling them to obtain good titles to water races, dams, &c., for irrigation purposes. These titles would be obtained through the District Land Courts. Great difference of opinion exists as to the capabilities of this district for agricultural purposes —many holding the views expressed by a correspondent lately, that farming is sheer waste of time and money; others, again, maintain that the land is quite suitable, and only needs decent farming. Our own view is that there is plenty of laud about the town that would grow any fair crop that should be remunerative, provided that water could be counted on in October and November for irrigation. One great drawback to the agricultural lease system is, that the holders are too apt •to try and crop the ground till it almost becomes sterile, and refuges to grow afc all—it Laving received no equivalent for what has been taken from it; but even in districts where freeholds are under crop, the same thing is observed ; this is especially to be seen in the fine wheat-growing districts of Awamoko and Cave Valley. The large companies that have so many thousand ncres under cultivation, profess to take certain number of crops—we think three —and then lay down in grass for piernianent pasture. The small farmer cannot do this, and great difficulties are in Jiis way if he wishes to possess stock enough to keep his land in good "heart, . Our farmers would do well to combine together i i some form, to see if they cannot get some direct benefit from the increased water supply we are likely now to obtain. The tradesmen have long since combined, very much to their own advantage, and to that of the district also ; the miners, have at last formed themselves into an Association, which • has already done good work, and the farmers now should

initiate some movement of union among .'themselves. Farmers' Clubs have always been beneficial in promulgating knowledge, and ;certainly such a union as we have in our thoughts could hardly fail to benefit the agricultural interest throughout the district. The" Wakatip Mail,', in,an able article on Water Supply for Agricultural Purposes, says —" 'District settlers might even combine to raise, by machinery, water from •£i river bed, and secure a title." Without going so far as that, our farmers ifiight combine to fix on a block of ' land for agricultural purposes —which certainly could be obtained —in such a position as to be commanded easily by the Water Supply to be brought in by the Government.

.We fail at present to see much sign of preparation, on the new road round Houndburn Hill, for the difficulties of the winter. , Three surfacemen are lit--Ile or no use on this long bit of road, many portions of which are of-a peculiarly rich loamy soil, that will be cut up by the.first autumn rains. A poi< tiou at the junction on the top of the hill will be, if not seen to, impassible at a very |hort dite ; another bit, : at the curve on to the. Eyeburn El at, is also sure, to be a slough of despair. Met >1 is peculiarly-handy all along the line oF this road, and there is no excuse for it not haying been made use of long ago. We are afraid it is hopeless to expect now. We are promised a sum on the estimates for the purpose, but it will be too far advanced into the winter for advantage to be taken of it, if it gets passed, this season. Still, the portions of road that we have pointed out might very easily be done by a lew. extra surfacemen being put on at once.

"We have heard something lately of a difficulty in the Sludge Channel—a

difficulty as to fall. • The Miners' Association deserve credit for their prompt action in this matter, and as the works are being commenced at the low end, while the maximum of fall occurs in the' first mile, this mistake can be easily rectifiedata slight extra expense. It would be well for us to be cautious as to the raising of difficulties too soon. "Water supply has been the unfortunate recipient of endless delays. It is within memory what delay upon delay occurred before these works could be started, and Mount Ida is no exception to the general rule. The 'Hokitika Star ' says _ that " the complications that have arisen in connection with the construction of the Waimea "Water Race are so wholly inexplicable that it is difficult to discuss them, or to come to any other conclusion than that they take their origin from a deliberate in-tention-on the part of the Greneral (xovernment to commit a glaringbreach of faith." This large race has been delayed on account of the rise in the price of iron, which, it is alleged, has raised the cost of a siphon necessary at a certain part of the race. This has been deemed excuse enough to delay the work, although approved of by the Engineer- in-Chief. The Waimea Race, toOj was sanctioned by the Assembly, and should, says the SStar,' have been half-finished by this time. It will be necessary for the district to be cautious as to the raising of difficulties on these works at Mount Ida till we are sure, at any rate, from the money sunk in them, that they will be speedily *and efficiently completed, even at a slightly increased cost. L'he contracts, so far, have been taken considerably under the Engineer's estimates. The margin between the contract price and the estimate for the Sludge Channel will probably more than effect the necessary alteration in depth. We would, however, urge that no steps be taken which, of their nature, might prove likely to stop the works, till such steps are imperatively necessary from the progress of the contract. It may be only bilious suspicion on our part, but we confess to a slight feeling of uneasiness as to the way the Miners' Association were met. If the Engineer had really wanted information as to the depth of ground, &c., along the channel, he would have instructed his resident staff to find it out. Then, again, the reported official'approval of the vvorks on the Head Eace is directly against our own observation and the signed specifications—we do not mean :a£3 to execution of what is done, but as to 'a satisfactory progress and likelihood of completion. Straws show the change in the, air, and we repeat, at the risk of being thought Micah's, that no handle--should be afforded by ourselves in the shape of difficulties unless and until it is imperatively necessary.

The Miners' Association should remember that the Goldfields Bill to be submitted to the General Assembly has been drafted, and is now undergoing revision. It is reported as likely to be ready in a week or two. It is very desirable that the Committee should take this Bill into consideration at an early date, so that what, appears to them defective may be pointed out, and also what may seem obnoxious. We shall only be too glad to give full publicity to really practical criticism.