NOTES FROM ST. BATHANS.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 238, 26 September 1873, Page 6

NOTES FROM ST. BATHANS.

Since the date of my last letter, we .have been almost cut off from communication with the outward world. The mails due on the 13th and 15th instant did not arrive till the 20th. Doubtless the deplorable state of the roads is a sufficient excuse for the detention of the coach; but, bad as they are, the mails could easily have been forwarded on a packhorse; and I hope that the successful tenderer for the mail service for the ensuing year will be bound to forward them by that means whenever, by accident or the state of the roads, the coach is prevented from travelling. The weather has been exceedingly unpleasant and tempestuous for some time back, and at Welshman's Gully considerable damage has been done. The front of Mr. "Washer's store was blown in bodily, and, but for the timely assistance of the neighbors, the whole building must have been .destroyed. Mr. "Washer's new stable—a large building—was also completely wrecked. During the gale, Mr. Smith's forge- a sod and iron building situate at Soldier's Gully— : was blown down, and other damage to fluming, &c, sustained. - The Progress Committee have received an assurance that we are to ' have a telegraph station, and that the line to connect 1 Naseby with Alexandra will be proceeded! with at once. This will be a great boon to the district.

. Nothing definite is yet known as to the sale of the township. The survey was made weeks ago, and yet there is no appearance of the plan. Mr. Barron, the surveyor, is much blamed for this delay. The promised investigation into the objections made to the sale by Mr, Purton, Manager of the Scandinavian Water Eace Company, cannot be held until the plan- is produced. Meanwhile, the townspeople rely on the promise of the Go-, vernment, that the sites will be sold in October.