BLACKS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 242, 19 September 1872, Page 8

BLACKS.

(From, our own Correspondent)

September 10th, 1872. Very little of importance has transpired here since I last wrote. Indeed, there is so seldom anything extraordinary happens here, that it is next to impossible to keep up anything like a regular correspondence. We have had our share of the usual changeable weather, so peculiar to New Zealand at this season of the year. We have had warm days and cold days, wet days and dry days; snowy days and windy days, &c, &c. There is some good, however ; such weather does give tbe race owners an unlimited supply of water,, and the quantity of snow now lying on the ranges, promises to keep up the supply for some time to come.

I mentioned in my last, the appointment of a committee to draw up a memorial to the Government upon certain matters relative to mining, &c. I then said, if I chose, I could foretell the result; nor was I much wrong, The public have not heard anything from them since their election, and I don't think they are likely to here anything of them, as from what I can hear, they have not up to the present time been able to muster even a committee meeting. Several committee meetings have been convened, but owing to some unforseen circumstances, they have all fallen through. At one time their leader has been suddenly indisposed, or hurriedly called away in the very nick of time. At another time certain members of the committee have not been in attendance, so that with one thing and another the whole affair has been mismanaged, and consequently a failure ; nor do I think the mining population need regret it, for after the specimen of what the General Government intended doing for them by the new Mining Bill, I think the less we have to do with them the better. While on the subject of committees, there is another, the Boat Committee, the) I think require to hava their memories jogged. I hope, whoever they are, they will not be offended ; but some five or six months ago there was £25 given by the Government, and some £8 or £10, more or less, raised in the district, to erect a boat and wire rope across the Manuherika River. This, thinks to the strenuous exertions of our schoolmaster, Mr. Dixon, was accomplished, and I am bound to say that Mr. Dixon deserves great credit for carrying the affair through as well as he did ; and also the thanks of the public for the trouble and loss of time he was put to in the affair. The committee, as is usual with the most of the Black's Committees, throws all the labor and responsibility on the shoulders of one person. But there is something still requires to be done, the boat is as yet incomplete, and the public require the report of the committee, as to how the money has been spent j and also to complete the boat, and to elect some person to look and to take charge of it in future. I think they cannot refuse to give some account of themselves.

Our indefatigable officer of police has been making a raid upon the heathens lately, in regard to their miner's rights. Between 30 and 40 were made to take out rights on last Court day ; and he is hunting up another batch for the next visit of the Warden, whicli is to take place on Tuesday's, instead of Friday's for the future.

In mining matters there is nothing fresh to report. All parties being in full work, with a good supply of the necessary element. We may expect to have some very good escort returns from Blacks in the course of a few months.

A short, but very necessary Bill, amending the Forest Trees Planting Encouragement Act, 1871, has come before the Assembly. It is as follows : — " The Forest Trees Planting Encouragement Act, 1871, shall be construed and read as if the additional proviso following had been originally introduced at the end of the second section of the said Act, that is to say, ' provided aIRO, that if root crops are cultivated amongst the forest trees planted in any land, such land shall not, by reason only of such crops being cultivated, be deemed to be not devoted only to purposes of planting.' " The " New York Star " says that recently at a Washington tea party, General Butler was a guest, the hostess, glancing over the table, perceived his cup unfurnished with an important implement of which he was supposed to appreciate the value. "Why, General' Butler," she exclaimed in a womanly flutter of consternation, " haven't you a spoon ?" " NNyo y indeed/ madam,'* quickly responded the. general, springing from his. se#, and slapping bis .pockets one aftec thftr^other, ' " upon my word, madam; if you don't believe ..me you may search \"