BLACKS DISTRICT.

Dunstan Times, Issue 898, 4 July 1879, Page 3

BLACKS DISTRICT.

(V»OM OUU OWN COURESPONDENT.) What with the heavy rains and severe frosts travelling just now is anything but pleasant, tho ground cither being a pool of slu-lgo or a shoot of ice. In some places, when the road lias been made, it is good travelling, but along the intervals it is bad indeed. All in all, however, there is a great improvement on tho old days of Provincialism, and it no one else the travelling public should oxtol the County system to tho skies, under which not alone are the roads made, but tho rivers and creeks arc all bridged. Tho bridge across tho ManuLoriki.a at Blacks will ho a noble structure, and with its completion the list of fatalities whilst crossing tho river at this particular spot will, we hope, cease. The contractors are pushing on fairly with the work ; the approach and roadway on the feast side of the river are formed, and the piers on both sides are well started. The weather is against building, and no particular headway can be expected to be made, but with a week or ten days’ fine weather, as there is plenty of stone already cut and dressed and all ready to be put into position, a good show should be made. With this bridge completed there will be no possible use for the small affair (the foot bridge) some 300 yards below the site of the present one ; and it has occurred to me to ask whether it will be allowed to remain and rot, or that it will bo pulled to pieces and utilized somewhere else. There are many places where tlte inhabitants would be very grateful for it ; and to my mind unless it is used it will be an everlasting disgrace to the County authorities, and a blotch upon their so far spotless escutcheon. On account of the frosts pretty well all mining has been stopped, but the last few days rain has thawed things, and giving a good supply of water, a general turn-to has taken place, but whether it will be a permanent thing I cannot say. Some of the parties of sluicers at Tinkers have had an inordinately long spell of idleness, ami soft weather vith a good supply of water is badly wanted by them. I notice there is a somewhat litigious feeling growing up among some few of the residents of Tinkers. This is greatly to be deplore I, as it means the compulsory idleness of many or few people as the case may be, and very frequently at a time when it is highly inconvenient ; an effort should be made to settle these little differences on the gnmnd. Ido not mean to revert to fisticuffs, because then the weakest body would be sure to go to the wall ; but I mean a submission to arbitration. Itwossld be far better for all parties, and would pay best in the long run. The farmers round about are getting on with their ploughing. A good area, 1 hear, is alrea’y under cop with winter wheat ; those who have adopted this plan should be rewarded with a good crop. There will be a far larger area coder crop this vear than last, but for the growing demand for aU sorts of grain the increase will be badly wanted. That there is not enough of anyone grain grown in tho district is shown by the general scarcity and the high prices idling. Barley especially is very scarce, in fact I hear that all the barley in the Dunstan, Cromwell, and Lake districts is in the hinds of consumers. This is a bad state of things, and if possible should be rectified next year.