BLACKSTONE HILL.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 370, 7 April 1876, Page 3

BLACKSTONE HILL.

There has been but little occurring here lately to disturb the serene mono tony. The crops are nearly all harvested with good results, as far as quantity and quality are concerned, but poor prospect as to price. Farmers can look upon good cereal crops a? a pergonal misfortune—the price ruling so low, and the cost of harvesting being enhanced. Until cheap communication is opened with the sea coast, things agricultural will be at a dead lock, unless in the direction of dairy and stock fa.ru.ing, for which there is plenty of room.

Iu mining matters the usual shortness of Water prevail?, about half supply, but as the dry season is almost over —full work ought soon to be the order. The Inspector of Schools, Mr. D. Petrie, examined our school lately, and reports as follows : —" The Blackstone Hill School was examined by me on the 16s h February. Considering the short time the school has been in operation, the progress made by the pupils has been very satisfactory, and reflects very considerable credit on the teacher. Heading— I vey fair, a better grouping of words, and less emphasis in sounding " a " and " the" are needed in lower classes ; comprehension of meaning—fair; spelling—(chiefly oruljj very good ; writing— neat and careful, hooks clean ; arithmetic—rather inac urate, numeration and notation need attention. Tne addition and subtraction table should be well known before exercises tliei eon on slates are given. Great pains should be taken to secure quick and accurate working of the simple rules, and frequent practice in them should be given in all tbe higher classes. Grammar —moderate ; geography, very fair; discipline and class movements, good._ Occasional set examination in all the classes that can write—would be found of great service." The present teacher (Miss Hunter) has resigned bt»r, position. It is much to be wished we may obtain one equally as efficient and puinstaki.ig, as it would be a pity were the school tn deteriorate, especially as Irom the attendance and present eliiciency the Education Board has raised the teacher's salary to £75 per annum, in lieu of £6O. The number of children on the roll is 24; average attendance, about 20. As the General Assembly meets in about two months, it is surely time for the mining community to bestir itself. There are a number of questions calling loudly for immediate settlement, such as pollution of rivers and the removal of those imports which are the "Old man of ihe Mountain" to goldmining, gold duty, exorbitant rent on leasing, <fet;., also the mooted freehold tenure of claims, which requires careful consideration, as tending to injurious monopoly. ' I see by notices that Mr. Withers requires hands at tbe quartz reefs, Hough ICidge. He still perseveres, with promising results, tiiereby illustrating the value of concentrated management in contradistinction to the directors, legal rnana.ger, and manager o! the Limited Co. system. In his caso the heavy rent on lease and gold dHty are serious items, as those two imports alone equal a dividend often per cent on capital employed, so that any relief in that direction would be recouped by the encouragement given to enterprise, and surely that would bo good policy in the face,of a good labor market, and the gradual! stoppage of pnblio works.