DALHOCTSIE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 150, 22 December 1870, Page 6

DALHOCTSIE.

(From our Own Correspondent.)

I suppose you will fancy, from our long silence in this quarter, that we are very much " down at the mouth ;" but the fact of the matter is, we are husbanding our resources for the Christmas holidays and district races ; and in spite of unfavourable circumstances in. vh& skape of scarcity of -water, the race fund is in a very satisfactory state, and, from what 1 hear in my peregrinations, the entries are likely to be numerous. «,

While on the subject of races, 1 would remark that I am surpiised that some of your numerous capitalists do not think it worth their while to get us a Avater supply for mining purposes — that only is the drawback to a large mining population in this district. The spec would be well worthy the attention of any one with a few spare hundreds ; the ground is here (and good ground too), but unfortunately the aqua pura is not. I have little to record in mining matters, as, from the above-mentioned want, the miners have not been able to wash up, although most of them have a good supply of washdirt ready. Do you happen to know of any one in the money-lenriing-line, who would be willing to give advances on the precious metal in the ground 1 I have known crops to be bought and sold in that way ; and why not gold 1 I think any one coming down the Tuapeka from Lawrence to the Mouth, a day or two before Christmas, could get a tolerable amount of capital invested on that principle.

Teetotalism still pursues the even tenor of its way ; its action is not of such an obtrusive nature as it was at the outset. Perhaps the system of the members, from the change in the liquids chey imbibe, has got cooled down to the position marked on the thermometer as temperate. At first, nothing but weekly meetings would do. Now, once a month is quite sufficient for the wishes of the most ardent ; but it is the same with everything that is undertaken down here — even the weather has been the same lately, red hot one day, wintry cold the next. Last Thursday evening, however, the president of the T.A.S managed to get tip a very good programme, readings, songs, and speeches, comic, sentimental, and instructive, brought together a good attendance, and a very pleasant evening was spent. At the close of the meeting, it was agreed to adjourn till the end of January. I fancy I heard a little bird whisper, as they dispersed, " Will all, or how many will there be at the next meeting, who have adhered consistently to the T.A. principles?" Up to the present time, T believe there has been no backsliders, and I see nothing to prevent them continuing as they have so well commenced. Some wise man says, " That a thing begun is half done." T think that especially holds good with the above.

We have not yet formed a volunteer corps, nor is it likely we will do so ; but if your corps would like to hold an encampment on the banks of the Molyneux once or twice a year, we would have no objections to " fall in " with them. Do you think they could put a pontoon bridge across the Molyneux? or if that is not in their line, they might throw up a few rifle pits on some of the claims, say from ten to thirty feet deep. It would be fine exercise for them.

The launch of the steamboat Clutha took place on Friday, the 9th inst., at 4 p.m. This boat has been built expressly for the Molyneux River trade, and measures 71 x 12 feet, with a hqld 5 fee,t in depth. The engines are 20hoi\se power, and are now in readiness for feeing shipped. In a few weeks

time she will m.ike her trial trip. The Cluthi is a p.i Idle steamer, and was ehristcne 1 by Miss J. Mitchell, a daug'.i mi' of A. Mitchell, Esq., of Clydev il". While the ceremony was being ]> 'rl'ormed, the Olutha moved gracefully from the stocks into the river, where I hope she will long ply, and yield a handsome return to her spirited owners.