LIVINGSTONE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1109, 7 November 1879, Page 2

LIVINGSTONE.

[from our own corrkspondknt,j A meeting of the Committeo of a Mining Association was held on Satur<jJ evening, when the matter of Mr. RobortJ application for tail race-in Long Gully Wa , discussed. It was suggested that, as th ( question of getting this outlet opened ha ( been referred to the Goldfields Comniitt'c, for further consideration, it would be pr e mature to deal with any applications ii said gully. Pending the result of the re committal of the subject, it was thou <l c cided to pass a resolution embracing thi view, and the Chairman was requested t send a copy to Mr. Warden Robinson t be read bj- him when Mr. Roberts' appj; cation came on for hearing on Wcdnes day.

Complaints having been made respecting the local Postmaster's arrangements ft. delivery and despatcli of mails, tho Chairman was desired to write him on tho subject, with a view to such alteration being made as will better accord with the convenience of the townspeople. This reminds me that several letters addressed to, or sent from, this placo hava failed to reach their destination. A complaint, including a description of tho letters, their address, &c., >vas sent to the Chief Postmaster, Oamaru, some weeks since, so far, without eliciting any reply. There is a great want of courtesy. It ij bad enough to lose the letters, worse still that the postal authorities should take no steps to recover the lost letters, or, so far as is known, adopt measures to prevents recurrence of such losses.

The Warden held a court here on Wednesday, and disposed of numerous applications. Mr. Roberts' application, previously referred to, seeming to attract most attention, and against which a very imposing memorial was presented. Arguments were advanced on both sides, Mr, Roberts offering to withdraw his application in favor of a feasible scheme for opening up the gully, if it were satisfactorily matured. His opponents stated: that they were prepared to treat with Mr. M'Master for the purchase of sufficient land for a public tail race, and afterwards, to construct such a channel. The Warden postponed his decision to allow of . Mr. M'Master being seen and terms arranged with him. So I think Mr. Roberts has got the opponents to his application in a corner. Hitherto the whole cry has been "Petition the Government to buy the land and make a sludge channel." Now, however, in their anxiety to prevent agrant being made to Mr Roberts on any conditions, they have, by stating to tho Warden their willingness to do the work themselves, relieved the Association of one of its burdens. I think, however, if Mr. M'Master agrees to sell a few acres of the land, necessary for this important outlet, themost prominent of those moving in the< matter will endeavor to slide out of it, at. least, as much of it as includes the contribution of their share of the cost of completing the scheme. They will thus hav& deceived the Warden, and will haveignominiously to confess their failure. Just fancy the chagrin involved in reappearing before the Warden next Court day, in the event of my prognostications proving correct. There is just now a splendid chance for an enterprising man to acquire a valuable mining property here. One of the waterrace companies recently held a meeting and decided that, as the concern had fallen into such a bad state, they would allow it in the meantime to vegetate, and paid off their manager. It is thus at the mercy of any man having a Miners' Right, to apply to have it declared abandoned,, and thus acquire it 011 the cheap. I commend it to any who may think themselves, equal to the effort. It will be much better for the district in any hands than: to lie unused. A man who appeared to be insane ha® been prowling about here recently. I hear he has strayed from the Naseby Hospital, and is supposed to be still at large. Mr. Inspector Petrie visited Livingstone, and examined the school on Tuesday. The result is not yet publicly known ; but I hear that several alterations were made in the classification* some going lower and one higher.