WAIKOUAITI.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 417, 5 April 1877, Page 3

WAIKOUAITI.

(From our own corespondent ■ April 2nd. *" Of all l tip-country journals the ' Mount Ida Chronicle ' seems.to me to,be,the one most outspoken on behalf of the interests of the people;;and the,general- welfare of the Colony, miners, and otliers, whose 'leaning?- or-vocations', necessitate the affording of facilities for settlement on the hundred of thousands of fertile acres of Otago, now lying profitlessly unused, so far as the public goes, -hilt lucratively held by a few breeders of sheep, and as against the welfare of the Colony in its .entirety. These persons have always fdurid it a warm and-unflinching advocate of their wants and frights./ But enough on this score. I could go on ad lib, only to " Render to Caesar" what properly belongs to him, without being too laudatory, is just as well in a newspaper correspondent—which I intend" becoming, subject, of course, to the approval of that terrible fellow, the editor.

' :JE.. perceive ?ome,old friends , of. mine at Hyde have attain been stirring up MrJ Main, Strathtaieri squatter, andthe Waste Land Board, anent the opening of another 2000 acre block on Main's Strathtaieri run. Their request is in abeyance until the District Land Officer's report on the advisability .of granting it or otherwise has been obtained. District Land Officers, I take it, are Cot always the best judges of the wants of a community in 'this ■ respect, and there are matters yet unexplained in connection with' the ; late' allocation of sections of a deferred payment block, on Main's run that have a very ugly look, and require to be thoroughly enquired into fit the next sitting of the Legislature—that is, if the land laws are to be administered without fear, favor, or affection.. I contemplate describing this place, its scenery, resources, politics, &c., in future letters, with a view towards directing the , attention of the community to the town district, both of which are well deserving of special mention, and which, I feel almost certain, Tv'puld, if energy and fair play were at the helm, speedily shoot ahead on the stormy. stream of progression. Here are all adjuncts of a chatting .landscape. Ocean, now slumbering before ms like an unweane dchild, with, as UyTon saysf, Its sands untumbled, its blue waV£ a untossed; while overhead is a sky,

So cloudless, clear, and purely beautiful, That God alone is to be seen in Heaven ; an amphitheatre of mountains, here and there wooded, of every fantastic shape, and of all altitudes bound the horizon on every side, except seaward within their circumferential buttresses are all improve ments effected by the hands of civilised man, since the settlement of the locality. Mansion and cottage, farm, garden, grazing fields thickly dotted with the snowy fleece bearers all forming a pleasant and delightful prospect so that on such a surpassingly fine day as'this Eas-ter-Monday is, the eye enraptured drinks in the view.

I have just to mention a lecture given by Father jßoyer here on the 27th ultimo, and then this letter must close. It was in aid,.of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, took place in the Mechanic's Institute,, and was well attended. The Mayor J. Smith Esq., was in the Chair, and at the proper time, placed the reverend gentleman en rapport with his audience. The subject chcsen by the lecturer was "Insanity, chronic and intermittent." It was effectively treated, and by it he clearly proved that the most fruitful source of lunacy in New Zealand arises from extreme indulgence in malt and spirituous liquors. The enemies men put into their Bjouths to steal away their brains, the condition 01 the brain of the habitual drunkard, and that of the insail§ man, were precisely similar in structure, and he averred that persistency in the use of strong driuk for a long period totally changed the cerebral organisation and mental capacity, making in some eases its votaries raving madmen, in others drivelling idiots, while again, in more instances, whimsical, comical, but thoroughly " cranky " phenomena are displayed. In proof thereof he told a very iunny story, which evidently greatly amused his auditors, .The length of the lecture .prevents me from going into further details. However, it was well- received, and seemed to be highly estimated. At its finish Mr. Malloch propqsed a vote of thanks to.Father Hoyer/ •sfhich was enthusiastically carried, amidmucliapplause-—characteris - tic,indeed, ofthe lecture during its delivery. The rev. gentleman replied suitably in acknowledgement. Music, under the efficient hands of a lady at the piano,' enlivened the proceedings. Altogether the receipts amounted to the satisfactory sum of more than £lO.