HYDE TOPICS.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume XVII, Issue 998, 26 February 1887, Page 3

HYDE TOPICS.

Pome lime has now elapsed since I last put pen to paper in nn endeavor to inform th» benighted denizens of the interior how we of Hyde are progressing in the light of the nineteenth century. Since my lasr oni-jtle graced l lie columns of ThK ChUOXTCLB, we have advanced nnolhor singe in the march of civilisation.* We have been favored with the in-i traduction of the telephone. Sueli nn event might hare been hailed with wonder and surprise and have formed the excuse for bott!cs of champagne, with the usual attendants ; but, alas! tlte days for merrymaking jire over ; the almighty dollar ii too perinate'ic in its wanderings ; and the few stray' " hoos " that grace our town are hoarded with maternal and pa'ernal c:ir<\y' To descend to Iho region ef common sense, Jet me say things are protty dull here Our crops ra">y, I think, bo classed as fair—certainly nothing more—and a good partisalready in stack. Messrs Benzie and JU'Gownn'n mill commenc-s operations ihi-i week, and no doub! the farmors will soon have their returns in marketable condition.

Mining operations are pretty slack. We have no Spec Gully to quarrel over, ' and mining litigations are, so far as Hyde is concerned, matte's of history. Remembrances of olden times will bring to recollection many a hard-fought leg:il battle in the days of Duffey, some 20 years ago. >

The death of the Rev. H. Flamank was received in Hyde with universal regret. During his stay among us that worthy gentleman hai knit around our hearts a bond of friendship which death alone could 9<-ver. It will be needless for me to say much, as an obituary n tire appeared in last week's Witness ; hut I must repeat that wherever Mr Flamank's name is known kindly recollections will bo cherished. His cheery word, happy countenance and general urbanity of temperament, together with his earnes', forcible and eloquent style of .preachine, wiil be things to be lemembereu, and men now in the bright lexicon of youth may in the distant future relate to others'rising up the happy recollections of the days when Mr Mamark preached in the little old iron church at Hyde. .' * I cannot let this occasion pass without remarking that our rew minii-ter, the Rev. A. BrucerTodd, is proving himself an earnest and able man. He has an unassuming manner ; and he is already becoming endeared to his charge. lam suie all wish to retain him in*l their, midst for many years. We had e visit from the Salvation Army recently,.and it is reported that they said on leaving Hyde-that they only received Is 9d here. From enquiries made, I understand much more was contributed. I mention this fact merely to allow .the officers' to. repudiate the assertion tbat they said so; or to repeat and substantiate the -charge.' •It must be distinctly understood• I am doing ifthrouoh noill-wilL SAM RAY. I