IS IT A WATCH?

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 407, 11 January 1877, Page 3

IS IT A WATCH?

(To the Editor oj the Mount Ida Chronicib."

Sir, —As winner of the 440 yards race at tho Oddfellow's sports I am most anxious to "know whaF'lEe" Irst prize really is. It is said to bo a silver watch, valjiG £9 95.; but pelf! no ono will give more than a few shillings for it. It may, no doubt, have some intrinsic value, known only to a select few; but, wanting hands, works, and back, I fail to see its utility. Now, through your medium, might I ask the generous donor by what process he can prove it to be a watch P For if it is one it must be an odd fellow. I am, <fec., The Winjtbb.

(To the Editor of the Mount Ida Cheonicle.

Sib, —Being now a miner, and ktidwrng < we have no Government at present in Otago, except what may emerge from our County Council, I felt anxious as to what view our local legislators would take of matters in general. Luckily forme there was a good attendance of independent electors, both washed and unwashed, in the midst of whom I could take my notes unobserved. The new Court House On' the occasion had a very parliamentary appearance, which lent a certain importance to most of the members present;' The first and all-important business was to elect a Chairman. As a miner I felt anxious on the subject, being aware that the greater part, if not the whole, of the revenue will be derived from that source. I naturally hoped to see some person in the mining interest elected. Mr. Shannon was proposed by Mr. Brown, who would have been the right man in the right place. Mr. Turnbull proposed Mr. Rolland, a proposition which found no seconder. Matters began to'look awkward. Mr. Laverty proposed an adjournment, to consider the which was carried. That adjournment . settled the matter with the Waverers. On resuming, Mf, Rolland found a seconder. On being put to the vote, there " voted for him 6 ; for Shannon 4.,. . Ho was therefore elected'.; Now no person can have the slightest antipathy toeithcr Mr. Rolland or Mr. Turnbull —they are both gentlemen, but, as squatters, their interests must clash with both mining and agricultural interests in this county.' Therefor-, with one in the Chair, and equal votes, they will 'be dangerous to,the general welfare. Mr. Foster qualified the way he voted by saying he was sorry in having to vote against Shannon, having known him fox'2o years, but the interest he (S'nannon) came forward m was not his interest. Now I always thought Hamilton and Sowburn .(liis constituency) contained a mining and agricultural community; or at least there was some other interest but what was encompassed witiiiii his four inarkj, «haraever they may be. Ah to Mr. Laverty.it would seemthata squatter I'io.b been Hydes scourge for'tlii.« last years. How

ho will reconcile his action to his constituents I know not. As'to Mr. Ewing, I "would not occupy your space, but simply advise the Council to keep an eye-upon him. He is too narrow between the'eyea and you may depend upon it, narrow in his views.—l am, &c.,

Spectator.