ST. BATHANS.—August 23.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 30, 27 August 1869, Page 2

ST. BATHANS.—August 23.

(From our own Correspondent.) Water, water, water is the cry—the demand constantly increasing, and the supply alas! lessening. This is our present situation. When will a motion be made for an amendment ? I hear every day men saying that water races can and will be brought from so and so river or creek, but whether they intend to do it themselves or wait for some generously disposed partner to do it for them I cannot pretend "to say, but this I am sure of, if it is not immediately taken in hand the opportunity will be gone, as a party have applied for 20 heads from the Maiiuherikia to be taken to Drybread; and it does seem strange that, with hundreds of acres of payable ground on the terraces of Muddy Creek, sufficient enterprise cannot be found in this community to appropriate the said water for sluicing them. However, I believe some have taken alarm, and are about to submit objections, in the form of a petition, from all the miners whose races discharge into the creek, against the grant for . Drybread, and if they cannot prevent the alienation to at least compel the projectors to lift the .water at a point below the embouchure of Muddy Creek into the river, so as not to interfere with the discharge of tailings. If this is not done Smoker's and the surrounding diggings- may collapse at any time, and all hope of a sludge channel, and permanent prosperity for the place, ' vanish into thin air.' I do hope the Warden will give due consideration to the petitioners' statements on the subject; as for Drybread, it being a much lower district, the watnr will be available at any future time when we are done with it; but let them once get the grant, without restrictions, and all spare water will assuredly follow, and our present population may at once seek fresh fields and pastures new. "Shamrock's" letter anent the " Terries " is greatly appreciated here, and from his graphic description of the species, I should imagine he speaks feelingly. I hope, for his sake, the class is not numerous. As to his extremely delicate hintregarding Latin quotations, I fully understand it, and shall refrain in future from such apparent pedantry. I have hitherto made use of them, not as a nourish, but for compressing meanings into the smallest possible space. Sluicing is being prosecuted vigorously, and, baiTing the shortness of water, everything looks gay. We have

had a fall of snow, and a few slight frosts, but not sufficient to interfere seriously with mining operations Tour Hamilton correspondent congratulates himself that living is cheaper there than any other place on the Groldfields. A mistake. He quotes mutton at 3 Jd. per lb.; we buy it here for 2d. Meat being about the principal item in a miner's economy, I think we must bear the palm; and what with temperance and cheap jumbok the residents here are beginning to assume sueh a florid, healthy appearance, as to surprise all who have the pleasure of their acquaintance. I trust the subject of a bi-weekly mail is not being thrown aside or forgotten. Let us stick to that point like "a flee to the -*\ a'," and the trifling, but to us considerable, boon must eventually be conceded. The "St. Bathans Darkies" give their promised entertainment, in aid of the school funds, on Priday next, and we anticipate a jolly evening among the songs. I notice a comic local one, which is expected to be a hit.