ST. BATHANS.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 403, 9 December 1876, Page 3

ST. BATHANS.

Sr. Batua.n-8 district continues to receive the character it has so long retained of being one of the most permanent and generally prosperous mining districts in Otago. Every year we have the old tale that the ground is worked out, but each year as we go back we find that the ground appears srill to be practically inexhaustible. Very good ground is now opened at Vinegar Hill, between the C eek and Cambrian, while new ground is also being opened by Mr. Ewingtwo miles bey<md J-urfaee Hill. The Muddy reek Channel Company go on with a head race, to enaole them to bring water for Hushing purposes into the Channel they are constructing. Air. (t. Alien, with that liberality to the mining interest which so distinguishes him, has cordially co-operated with this Company in the work of briuging iu their headrace, defraying a third of the cost to secure water for station purposes. This healthy co-op-eration between'the pastoral and mining interest is very satisfactory, the claims throughout the St. Babhaus district continue to be worked in a very able and systematic manner. The line water supply enables a system to be adopted which less favored localities cannot imitate. On Kildare Hill, in Mr. Ewing's claim, the Little Gianl is to be seen at work. This nozzle works with the hand on n moat inge nious double hinge, and is attached direct to the iron piping. Toe nuzzle is manufactured by Mr. Burt, of Uu edm, and promises in a short time to prove or great advantage iu hydr ultc sluicing. At present the chief fault found with it is i s inclination to scattor too much. This defect, from local experiments it is thought can however be remedied. The Scandinavian and Cuited M. and E. Companies are working their claim-' in the economical and thorough mode so well known to characterise their management. St. Bathaus fortunately has shed its nonproducing population. This appears to bo the great secret of its very general prosperity. All are producers, and this, on a field where the gold is bo good on an average as to fairly re-

ward after more or less delay thope who »lick to their claims. The Ota#o Company, we understand, are working 1 away steadily, sure of theif reward, ■but we have" no particulars.' - t At Cambrian the workings are still turning out Kood 'annual balances to credit, and will not be exhausted, despitfc the pro/ phets, for a long time to come. Not much improvement is to be no- \ ticed in the township of St. Bathans In that respect perhaps the reverse is the case. Mr. vV. M'Connochie's handsome and well finished place of business forms a marked contrast to j the older buildings. It is very much to be regretted that the Secretary for Works should have, neglected to provide for the bridge over the Manuherikia on the St. Bathans road. The river crossing is « most dangerous one. The peoyle and the district mem tars relied upon the pledge of the Government to go on with the work. The. Si cre'ary for the Progress Committee wrote, subsequently to the declination of the first tenders, and was assured that the fresh tenders Would be immediately called for. It was hardly to be expected that all the time it was not intended to go on with the bridge at all. Tet <his appears to have been the caseWhen the County is on its feet, and has found out its supply of strong meat, it is to be hoped that an effort will be made to build this bridge. If this is found to be impossible the Government mi<jht be induced to give land in the vicini y of bridges over rivers in the unsold Crown lands to provide payment for such bridges. It seems a most unjust thing to tax the residents of St. Bathans and Blackstone Hill to make a bridge to increase the value of the public estate. It would be a most legitimate mode of paying for bridges, in unsold country, to allow the land benefitted to find the ways and means. If 500 acres were given for the construction oi a bridge over the Manuherikia, upon the plans lately prepared, the work would speedily be done, and the Country would gain a settler, who would be followed by others. The permanent settlement of a Doctor at St. Bathans is a great boon to the district. Dr. Allan is already very popular, and much respected.