LOCAL & GENERAL.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume XVI, Issue 883, 11 September 1886, Page 3

LOCAL & GENERAL.

An occurrence of a very painful nature . happened at Ida Vale Farm a lew days since to the eldest son cf Mr James Hore. The lad was doing some carting, and in taking the dray aad horses out of one of the paddocks the leading horse bit him viciously just above the wrist of his right arm. The animal he'd on till its teeth met, biiing a fair-Bized piece of flesh from the unfortunate ' litt:e fellow's arm. A horrible-looking wound ■was the natural result; but we are glad to learn that, under the tare of L)r Whittou, it is healing as rapidly as can be expected under the circumstances. The prospectus of the Golden Gully United Q M. Company, Serpenttne, appears in this issue. This company is formed for the purpose of working what is known ihroughout the district as " Turnbull's Reef," at Serpentine, whence two rich crushmgs ft'ere taken a year or two since, averaging 4ozs. of retorted gold per ton. ahe adjoining lease (Johnstone and party's) is also thrown into the- company. The purchase money asked by the promoters is £ISOO, of which amount they wi.il taks £SOO in cash and the balance of £IOOO in shares paid up to Is 6d. The capital is £IB,OOO, divided into 72,000 shares of 5s each. The calls are remarkably light, the application aad allotment fees, as well as the calls, only being Id per •share. A speculator,can thus have a hve holding in the proposed company with very little inconvenience to himself. The provisional directory comprises the names of several well-known residents; and the secretary is Mr Brooke Hickson. We are informed that about one-half of the total number of shares in the company has already been subscribed. Particulars as to the proposed mode of working the reef, etc., will be found in the prospectus (with which, by-the'-bye, a plan, shewing a longitudinal section of the lode, is published). Mb F. J. Wilson, solicitor, Clyde, has received a responsible appoint men r. in the public trust office, and leaves for Wellington during this month. Mr Wilson has for the past fourteen years been practising in the Northern Goldtields Courts, and haa earned the reputation of being one of the most competent and painstaking lawyers in Otago. His departuie will be felt as a publio loss. Mr WUson's characterisiics are as to makjjfcertain that in selecting him for the to fill the Government has thoroughly capable iem. WW

The reefs at Rough Ridge look particu- ! larly promising just now. In the words of Ithe mine manager, the Otago Central " never looked better than at the present juncture." The reef in the stopes is from 15 to 20iu. in width, and carries splendid gold, the stone being estimated to yield at the rate of liozs. per ton, or more. As a matter of fact, gold can be easily seen right through the stone, which is heaviy charged with the minerals generally found in conjunction with the precious ore.—Mr Withers is getting the water-wheel ready for the Great Eastern Company, which will commence operations m about a fortnight from date.—The Progress, like the Central, also promises well The lode is from 2ft. to 3ft. wide, and continues to improve as it is being sank on Gold can be seen all through the stone, which is variously estimated to crush from 20 to 30dwts. per ton. A small splice or vein came in on the hanging-wall last Saturday, and this proves to he thoroughly impregnated with gold. It is estimated that a ton of this splice, crushed separately, would yield fully lOozs. of retorted gold. OukLower Kyeburn correspondent writes: —An amusing case of " horse-slealin«" occurred here last Tuesday, and was provocative of much amusement to those who were "in the swim." A well-known horticulturist who ia the happy owner of a highlybred, angular grey horse with splendid " points" was astonished on being informed that his favorite equine had been feloniously stolen and ridden away by a stranger '* bearded like a pard." Scanning ihe distant horizon, he beheld bis beloved Arab speeding its way toward Kyeburn Diggings under the manipulation of some one whose figure he could not recognise at that distance. Mr Maisey's groom, with amazin* alacrity, saddled his best and fleetest steeple" chaser; and the man of flowers and vegetables, springing into the saddle with the elasticity of a circus rider, started in hot pursuit of his favorite horse. He galloped swiftly onward, regardless of such obstructions as barbed-wire fences and gulches, and very soon lessened the distance between himself and the pursued. The latter, hearing the cotter of horse's hoofs "ahint" him, pulled up and waited the advent of the new arrival, thinking to have company to the diggings. This movement had a startling effect on the horticulturist, to who«e mmd there immediately recurred thoughts of horse-pislols.'and revolvers and coffee for one, and he at once endeavored to slacken the pace and alter the course of his fiery steed ; but before he could do so he was abreast of the sanguinary rubber. Fearfully raising his eyes to the face of the. supposed horsestealer he gazed on the ruddy lineaments of a well-known waggoner, whom it appeared had lost his dog, and learning its whereabouts had caught and saddled the old " crock," with the object of saving himself a laborious journey. In response to several anxious inquires, I may state that the horticulturist has not yet placed the matter in the hands of the police, nor is it at all likely he will do so. "Poor old Joe ! " Since the advent of soft, spring weather a revival—if indeed it can be called such—inal.uvial mining has set in in the district. We had an abnormally dry summer and hard winter; and as a matter of fact the last twelve months have been anything but favorable for mining operations ; and consequent y money has become very scarce among the class to which the community has to look for its puncipal means of support. In all the various gullies contiguous to tfaseby claims are now in full work ; and although no prospecting worth noting is being done suit it is hoped that the yield of the current season will be fully as goud, if not belter, than that of the previous summer. The Dead-level Company have erected an elevator near Mr M'Gregor's residence, and have secured splendid pressure for working the ground thereabouts to considerable advantage. A trial was made last week, when everything worked satufacl orily. Probably a start will be made in a few days. Lower down Main Gully, opposite the hospital, the .Hydraulic Company are vigorously prosei cuttng the work of opening out their claim, , and already a large paddock has been sluiced away. Varying quantities of gold have been taken from the elevator-box, and from what we can learn there seems every reason to be satisfied wuh the company's prospects. Opposite the Hydraulic Company's claim, Ah Hung and party are delving into the block of ground left standing in the early days between Mr Petersen's residence and the old j site of the Ballarat Hotel. The party have already worked out a large paddock on the south side of the main road to Clyde, with it is said, highly gratifying results. Tliev are now on a very good run of gold, and they expect to be well paid for their trouble. Other parties are also working lower down the gully. In Mulholland's Gully a fair number of men are engaged sluicing The results from this portion of the diggings last season were generally described 'as " payable" ; and we are informed that there is still a large area of country to go over before the whole of the deposit shall have been successfully manipulated. In Spec Gully famed, as almost everyone knows, for the litigious disputes it has given birth to—several parties have recommenced work. In this gully, some few months since, Mr Robert Donnelly—an enthusiost in matters relating to quartz-reefs—sunk a shaft about 25ft. on two or three stringers or leaders carrying promising minerals but no signs of gold. On reaching a depth of 25fr. Mr Donnelly took out several specimens from the lode and submitted them to Professor Back for an opinion. One of the minerals, the professor said, was mundic ; and, in reply to a question from Mr Donnely a3 to whether it wou : d be worth while to continue prospecting the lode any further, he stated he would not advise him to do so, as in all probability he would gain nothing by it. The shaft was therefore abandoned and very soon collapsed, although Mr Donnelly's hopes of finding a reef in the vicinity have not at all been dumped by the cold water thrown on his aspirations by _Dr Black. Turning our attention to various other portions of the field, we find that at Hamilton, Sowburn, Kyeburn Blackstone and St. Bathans much atttntion is being bestowed on the industry. At Blackstone a small prospecting party is sinking a shaft on a reef on the top of tbe range, just above the Woolshed Diggings • While at Rough Ridge, a3 stated elsewhere' two companies are rapidly bringing stone to grass, and a third iB making preparations lor pumping out the old workings, with a view to opening out the lode. Some Jitt'e prospecting will doubtless be effected on the Ridge this summer; and probably one or two ' new companies may open out some of the innumerable reefs in the vicinity. We have heard it stated that some sp'endid ground has teen discovered at Clarke's, ou the slopes of the range falling into the Kyeburn. An o d miner, who worked on Clarke's several years since, asserts that from his own knowledge many of the guliies on the southern slope of the range would without much trouble yield -402.0f gold per week per man.providedthere was a plentiful supply of water. Want of water u the great drawback on this portion of the field; »nd we believe that if means were adopted for bringing in a large and permanent supply—and it is said this could be done at an expenditure of L2OOO or L3OOO —it would afford profitable employment for 90 or 100 men. This is only one of numerous other places in the district which would return splendid interest on the outlay of a few thousand pounds. German Hill, the deep lead in Ida Valley, various points under the Mount Ida Range, and different localities in the St. Bathans district all afford excellent openings for the investment of capital, and if intelligently expended we believe that any one of them would return interest a thooinndfold on the outlay.

The prospectors' claim at Mt. Lyell, Tasmania, has been jumped by Jones and party. A verdict for defendants, with costs on the highest scale, was the result of the libel action brought by Sir Julius Vogel against the proprietors of the Wellington Evening Press.

The time for receiving applications for the position of mine manager of tbe.Ota»o Central Company has beeu extended to October 20. The same company is now inviting tenders for driving the adit-level along the line of reef a distance of 150 ft.

The monthly meeting of the hospital trustees was held last Friday, but the only business for transaction was the passing of accounts.

At the_ Warden's Court last Monday another injunction was gr.int?d for sevendiys acaiost L. A. Noiman, further restraining him from acting as manager of the Progress G.M. Company. Section 54, block nr, Lauder, containing 309 a. lr. 6p , has been set apart on deferred payments, at the upset pi ice of 25s poracre. Sections 46, 47, 50, 52 and 53, block in, Lauder, have been set apart for perpetual leasing under the provisions of the Land Act of 18S5.

Sib Jhtlius Vogel has given notice that he intends to move for a new trial in the libel action brought by him against the Wellington I Evening Press. Theke is great excitement in the United States and in Central America over numerous discoveries of gold which have been made in Honduras. Eveiy creek, gully, chasm, arroya and canon is found to contain the precious metal—sometimes in poor patches and sometimes in rich pocket s. Quartz-reefs are also abundant, and as more than twothirds of the republic is -virgin territory, there is plenty scope for the prospector. Opals, emetalds, asbestos and cinnabar are likewise found, but the drawbacks and difficulties are numerous and serious. Ihe °' iraale j n P'aces is very unhealthy, and the gold-seeker must make up his mind to daya of severe toil and nights of exposure iu a tropical legion, with very uncertain results. A coMPANr of Chinese miners working at Howland Flat, Sierra County, California, unearthed on July 25th a nugget of gold weighing 15Slb. and worth 35,000 dollars. It ranks third with the biggest nuagets found in the world. The fortunate Chinese had recent y purchased the claim fo»300do!s. A. good story is told of the late Mr Baird, of Gartsherrie, Scotland, who gave the princely donation of L 250.000 to the Church of Scotland. The first time after the K ift that the donor met his old friend, James Merry, Jamie is reported to have said : " You re igious sinner, 1 see you hae left a lot <j' siller to tbe kirk. Noo, I'll wager you'a hundred pounds that you canoa even say the Lord's Prayer." "Done," replied the munificent giver, and the money was tabled. Mr Baird sat scratching his head a little, so Jamie said : " Co-ne, Bay awa." " Gi'e me time tae think for a moment." In a few minutes Mr Bail d started off with a triumphant chuckle : " The Lord's my Shepherd, I'll not • want." " There's the. siller," said Jamie ; " I didna think you coald say'fc 1" A Gisbornb paper has the following interesting itam :—lt is rumored that the " Fifty barrels a day" oil-we I has turned out to be on private ground, and that the South Pacifio Company has been philanthropio enough to expend a few thousands of rounds in boring a well for other people ! "We knew that the company was destined for great things, but were scarcely prepared for ouch a magnanimous display of disinterested benevolence and self-abnegation. Tub following Napier scandal is supplied by the local Telegi aph :—Many mouths ago a young tradesman of the place was keeping company witk one of the charming girls of Napier. He was young in years, only 19; and the father, getting a wrinkle of how the land lay, got an introduction to the son's sweetheart, and (to make a long story short; soon succeeded in displacing the son from his position, and eventually married the fair one. About ten days ago the husband had in the course of business to spend some time in the country, and took his departure, leavipg his wife and son in charge of the household goods. His back had not been long turned when, as if by magic, the old attachment between the eon and his step-mother revived, and the husband had scarcely reached hia destination when the pair packed up their belongings and made tracks South, where they now are. What the upshot of the elopement may be wo know not; but a divorce suit with a sou as co-respondent would be a decided novelty.

The strained relations of a teacher and a school committee were receni ly considered by the Wellington education board, the case being one in which the committee expressed a desire that the teacher should be allowed to remain with them a little longer, with a view to seeing whether they could not get on together better. "The teacher has been married lately," explained one member of the board. "Ah," said Mr Bunny, "you never know what effect that may have on a man. Let's give him another trial." The board agreed to this.

It may be interesting to some people to bear a few statistical facts about the hu<*e territory of Western Aus'ralia. Its areals 1,060,000 square miles. The estimated population on 31st December, ISSS, waß 19.959 moles and 15,197 females;' to'al, 35,156. The revenue for tbe year 1885 was £323,213 and the expenditure £308,549. The indebtedness of the Colony is £1,258,100 being at the rate of £36 12s 2d per head of the population. The principal export is wool, of which 4,965,0001b5., valued at £245,400 was exported during the year. ' An offer has been made to the New South Wales Government to exterminate the rabbits in the Colony at a cost of £5 a day, the result to be demonstrated in nine months : but a condition is imposed that the inventor of the process shall have the exclusive ridit to its use after tbe trial has been completed. IheGovernmentcannotgiTesuchaguarantee, but propose to introduce a bill securing to any person making known a process for the extermination of rabbits the exclusive banefit of it without patent rights. Concerning the Bulgarian difficulty Renter informs us :—That the Worth German Gazettes of opinion that peace will only be secured by allowing Russia to intervene in Bulgaria and advance on Stamboul; that the Austrian journals complain loudly of Prince disregard of Austri J in . teiests; that Prince Alexander's servility beneath the Czar's brutality has occasioned great surprise and made him the obiect of mueb contempt • an d that the prince has abdicated the throue of Bulgaiia and a regency of five appointed. late issue of the Scientific American contains an account ot the velcanic eruption in New Z-.aland, w which some astonifhinstatements are made. It is said that "land for an extent of 130 miles iu length by 120 in breadih was one mass of flames and hot crumbling soil." It is stated that the cold weather- late'y experienced in the South Island has had its advantages. The snow on Afolesworth Run, in Canterbury, has done good execution with the rabbus A shepherd there has killed over 200 with his walking-stick. The rabbits were weak and starved by the snow. The sbeep, however, are in good condition, and good work is being done in the destruction of bunny by the owner. John Hakmb, licensee of tbe Pioneer Hotel, Dunedin, has been fined £3 and costs, the conviction to be endorsed on his license, for permitting Yankee grab to be played in hia house. His Worship, in giving judgment, said the evidence disclosed that di?e was isept m the house, and no games in which dice was used were lawful, excepting backgammon. 6

S jews has been received from the Presbyterian missionary at Havannah harbor, New Hebrides, stating that the French are forcibly taking possession of land in those islands. A French company arc fencing through land belonging to the Presbyterian miesion and of which the synod is the trustee, the title being perfect The French eommandant claimed ' compensation and threatened to burn the houses on the mission land on the most boll >w pretext. Seep feeling is excited on tie islands by the action of the French commandant, which will probably lead to disastrous results. An anonymous circular ha* b n en issued in Punjaub, nrging the Native tribes to riso in revolt and expel the English from India. The Maharajah Dhuleep S.ng Rajah, of Puojaub, is suspected of being the author of the circu'ar.

The third aeries of Colonial wool sales opened at London on the 7th before a large attendance of bujers. The catalogue comprised 13.000 bales, for which there was brisk competition. Prices rangfd from £d to 2d higher than at the close of last sales, greasy showing an advance of fd to scoured 2d, coarse greasy croasbreds Jd to Id, and fine greasy croasbreds Id to ljd. Mk Morris, teacher of the public school at Coal Creek, .Roxburgh, ha 3 been appointed to tbe charge of the Blacki school. Prince Alexander has besought the officers of his army to i efrain from opposing his dt parture from Bulgaria. He left Tirnonu last Monday, his destination Jknown.

Oeficiai. reports of a satisfactory character are published regarding the Kimberley district, where 2000 men are stated to be working. Private telegrams from s;Cambridge Gulf state that the roads from there to Kimberley are impassable. Tub Roman soldiers who built such wonderful roads and carried a weight and luggage that would cruah the average farm hand lived on coarse bread and soar wine. They were temperate in diet and regular and constant in exercise. The Spanish peasant works every day and dances half the night, yet eats only hia black bread, onion and water-melon. The Smyrna porter eats only a little fruit and some olives. He eats no beef, pork or mutton, yet he walks off with his load of SOOlbs. The coolie, fed ou rice, is mora active and can endure more than the negro fed on fat meat. Tbe heavy work of the world is not done by men who eat the greatest quantity. The fastest or longest-wiuded horse is not the biggest eater. Moderation in diet seems to be tbe prerequisite for endurance.

Ihe hearing of the Timaru po'sming case has been further adjourned til! Monday next, for the examination of Mrs Hall. Bail has beeu again refused to both the prisoners. TErEdKAMS have been received at Hobart, stating that payable gold has been struck north of Mount Tyrell, about a mile north of the prospectors' claim, near Macqnarie Harbor. Work has been going ou in the vicinity for three yeara, the prospectors being protected by a prospecting order. White proBpeuting baa bßen going on. soma tllurial ground has been worked, yielding 500.Z3. of gild. Only twenty people are interested in the claim, and £2OOO has been refused by one of the proprietors. A ctmioas rival to the cup that cheers but not inebriates is beiug gradually introduced at the five o'clock teas of English fashionable society. In Germany t here is in general use a delicious aromatic beverage known as mai-trank, composed of Rhin-s wine, sugar, a slice ; of orange, with a bunch of tiny waldmeister plants swimming on the top. A writer in Life states that a famous German poet, residing for years in England, could so litiie forget his mai-trank associations that he had the dear little waldmeister, or woodruff,often sent to him from the banks of the Rhine. Now, a botanical connoisseur in Germany has adopted the happy idea of carefully drying the leaves of the plant (the alulka being detached) in the midday aun on sheets of paper, until the leaves shrivel up and become quite blank. One day in winter he used the leaves as if they were tea. The result was a splendidly-aromatic decoction of golden-brown color, tasting like tbe best tea, and that pioduced no ill effects as a stimulant.

The ladies of Paris, tited of wearing dead birds, are now spending fabulous sums in procuring all sorts of creeping things—such as spiders, beetles, etc.—with which to adorn their hair aud dresses. It seems the idea originated with Mdine. Judic, *-ho, during her trip in South America, was presented by a deputation of feminine admirers iu Brazil with some Brazilian beetles, which, it appears, can be trained, and are tethered by thin gold chains to a hairpin and allowed to wander about her head. In Brazil ladies capture fireflies and enclose the:n in long tubes of muslin, with which they trim the fronts of their dresses. The effect after dark is magnificent. The health-giving properties of rain are not appreciated by the general public. Rain is an essential to physical vigor iu localities that have an extensive population. Man and his occupations lade the air with countless and unclassified impurities. The generous, kindly rain absorbs them, even as a washerwoman extracts the dirt from soiled clothes. The atnniDciacal exhalations, the gases resultant from combustion and decay, are all quiet ly absorbed by a brisk shower. Peop'e talk about a " dry climate," but it i 3 a snare and a delusion. There is nothing in it. A very dry cUtnat e will ne%-er support a large' population, for it would soon become so po;soned that it would be fatal to the human race. A scattered few might inhabit it, but not the multitude.