BLACKS DISTRICT.

Dunstan Times, Issue 902, 1 August 1879, Page 3

BLACKS DISTRICT.

(from our own correspondf.kt.) Tuesday last was the usual Court day, and as a consequence a great many visitors from the surrounding districts were in Ophir, some in the capacity of plaintiffs, others as defendants, and others again as mere lookers on. Major Keddcll occupied for the first time the Bench, and from what I heard drop, favourably impressed all the litigants by the readiness with which he saw into the cases, and his clear reasonings for the various judgments. I heard one man say (well, ho had succeeded in his case) the Major is just the man we have been wanting here for a long time, and had he been here six months ago 1 should bo now worth L2OOO more than what I am. One of the cases in the W arden’s Court was for cancellation of certificate of water race for non-user, and evidence having been heard, Major Keddcll said : From the fact of the defendant deeming it worth his while to in the first instance apply for the right, and afterwards to defend if by appearing in Court, and by plaintiff bringing the action, the right was of some value. Such being the case, and the regulations referring to same not having been adhered to, he would grant the forfeiture. The decision, though admitted on all sides as being just, yet was a surprise, as the rule adopted, not only in the Dunstan district but throughout the

Otago goldfields generally, has been hitherto to inflict a money penalty in lieu of forfeiture. As 1 said before, Majer Keddell has made a favourable impression, and one 1 think that will be lasting. While dealing with Court business 1 may as well give | utterance to what is becoming a source of very general complaint, and that is that | the building in which it is conducted is a i disgrace to any civilized community, and my only wonder is that the people of the district have not ere this raised their voices against it. When some windy day they see the rotten old shed razed tn the ground by the wind, they may then take it into their heads to petition the authorities for a new building. With the amount of settlement around Ophir, there is but little fear of its permanency. The residents themselves, by the substantial buildings they have erected for their own convenience, at all events think so ; as also must the County authorities, or they would never have entered into the large public works they have in and around it. The streets are well formed and gravelled, a substantial stone curbing defines the footpaths, and a suspension traffic bridge, at a cost of between four and five thousand pounds, is being erected across the Manuherikia at its boundary. This is evidence that if properly and respectfully submitted to the authorities should have its due weight. Oliver Goldsmith used to say that people who would discuss the weather bail brains for no other subject, but fight against it as much as one can the everlasting subject will crop up. Well, the weather of late hns been exceptionally severe, the frosts being intense and more continuous than has been experienced for years past. On this account, excepting for an hour or two during the day, all outdoor work is stopped, consequently not, anything like the headway has been made with the masonry of the bridge piers as would have been with milder weather. The contractors, however, are by no means idle, as they occupy themselves in preparing the stone and in making the approaches. From the same cause the farmers are all idle, as the ground is too hard for ploughing—tho only work the farmer has before him at this season of the year. Some people may say, in fact 1 do, that they could he manuring, but strange to say that appears to be a branch of the business our farmers never think of. Some day. and I opine that day is not far distant, when they will open their eves to the folly of their course of proceeding, as the ground, without being fed, cannot produce for long years iu succession, and when too late they will regret not having utilized their straw and other refuse instead of putting the fire stick to it. lam very sorry to note that Mr W. Williams, one of your townsmen, who haa’been for the past- three months prospecting for coal in the neighbourhood, has not as yet been successful. He has sunk a number of shafts, ami iu some be has met with strong indications in the shape of seams an inch or so in thickness, but nothing worth following. The County boring-rods ho does not appear to get ou well with; whether it is that he does not exactly understand tho working of them, or that the lots are not adapted for the sort »t ground he has met with, I can't say, hut the fact remains, ami he has to give them best, lie has displayed a great amount of courage in his single-handed effort, and if cheap firing is desired by the residents, 1 think before they see him give the thing up they should combing to assist him. A few shillings per head would go a long way, and should it in the end prove to be useless, they would have the satisfaction of knowing that any further attempt in the same direction would lie. useless. I may he going too far in even hinting that Mr Williams would accept of any assistance, but it is in the hands of tho people tn make the offer, and I doubt if uow-a-days a helping hand would bo spurned. The people of Matakanui Hiding express themselves as grateful for tho votes of the last County Council for making roads through the Spottis Hundred. There is no doubt but that roads are wanted, without thorn, in fact there would soon have been no travelling, as every one of the old tracks are being fenced in. There is a great deal of speculation as to who will he fortunate enough to get the choice sections iu the new survey at the Poolburn to be thrown open for selection ou the ISth August. I hear there will lie a large number‘of .applicants. The fortunate selectors will he envied, as the land is really first-class.