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Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 270, 9 May 1874, Page 2

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our own correspondent.) - \ . r May 6th. '" Whatever trutli_there may have been in the many rumors which-were- current some time ago the barrenness of the land on the Kockand Pillar Block, it is certain that the residents in the immediate neighborhood do not concur in them.- The general, outcry • here, is. for ■ laud—land for settlement. As your readers are already aware *a great number of applications are in for that block." It, however,- falls-very far-short ot t'.ie requirements cf the .district i in- " deed, I believe that were another 5000 acres thrown open immediately, it,would be all taken up on'the day ofapplication. In reference toThis'l may say that a public meeting is.convened for to-morrow evening at the Commercial Hotel,, for-the purpose of petitioning for another bldek on Mr. Main's "run".' Most, if not all, of those who have applied for land are/I believe, real bona~ji&e settlers, .who are going in for -improving the, lands,' and making permanent homes for themselves and their families.' It is certain.that there'is no doubt about the bearing qualities of the ground, for the crops which have been taken off some of the land, adjoining the block have this year heen excellent. . The necessity for a bridge over -the *. Taieri here has been long felt, and bow that the land is being opened up it is be-coming-still more requisite.- In winter the road via Macraes and Hyde, is far su— ~ perior to that via~Pigroot, the only danger, being the fording of the river, which, in. time of floods, is more tban/dangerous. The roads in this district are now in fikcellent order; in fact, far better than they have ever been. We have a surfaceman on either side of the township, to whom I consider great credit is due for the lasting improvements they have made', —improvements which will, I think, render the roads good for the winter. Our leading hotel-keeper, Mr. Laverty, has been making great improvements in his house, which gives our little township quite an imposing appearance. I also understand that it is Mr. W. H. Head's -in- "~ tention to remove his hotel as soon as the >s&■ township is sold. 4\ Our school has been closed during the ' past week,' owing to the illness' v of Mr. O'JJell, the teacher;' but. as I understand - that he is recovering, it is likely 'that it" will be re-opened in the course of a few -days. ■ - ..... ■ •■.i'*. • The weather of late has been-very-changeable, and from all appearances-the snow which has been long looked forward to by the miners-is not far distant. -