Mount Ida Chronicle AND St. Bathans Weekly News. NASEBY, SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 1888.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume XVIII, Issue 959, 14 April 1888, Page 2

Mount Ida Chronicle AND St. Bathans Weekly News. NASEBY, SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 1888.

i.A;.COKPiST is being 6oated in DtnrrdiE for the purpose 7>f r pArchaFi»g and working two l : cen.«ed holdings at Serpentine, with© he? rights recently uran'ted'te- Messrs Wilkinson and Hoffman. - The name of the venture is the Saterpr'se Q.M Company. Limi id; thb c.pital beiua 1.6000," in L 12.000 sba es : cf 'los each, piyable 3d per share on; application and allotment and monthly calls of the same amount. 6000 shares are offered lo the public, the remaining 6000, I aid up to 4a each,-representing the purch -so •nfineybf the claim. The company, propore to drive an adit 300 or 400f ~ which will give 216 ft. of backs, and the total expenses Of doing this :vnd opening up ha claim are computed at L 450. Ab>ut lOcwv. of stone, \«k--a from diJerent parts of 'he lode (which is said to average a width of 2Jft.) and tested in D;medin, yielded very satisfacto<-ly. and an ana'ysis of ,l e taiiugs by Prof. Back gave a result of 3az. 2dw of gold per ton. Application* for BUacrej will be received ai the branche* of the Colonial Bank.

A good deal of activity in minim; matters is prevalen in the district, nnd a very healthy specula'ire fee mj; prevai's. Parcels of Golden Gullies, Great Easterns and Green's R»ef shares have ahanged bands during the current week—Gu:lies at from Is 6J to Is 9d, Faster s at up to L2 2s, and Green's Reefs At f ojj 2s 6d to 2s 9d. White's Beef scrip s a'so in good demand. Four tons of stone from the Golden Gully Cc.'s claim, Serpentine, have reached Bough Ridge for treatment, and another four or five ions from the same claim aree» route for the same locality. The stone will be treated in about a fortnight from da!e, at the conclusion of the present crushing of .the-Grrai Eastern Company. While theorists loudly proclaim that th? ferret is doing a lot of good in th» supp essioo of the rabbit pest, many practicl m n (rahbiters and otheis) denounce the in- roducti >n jf he animal as one of the grea es curses which on befa the Colooy. List week we happ ned to mention the sul ject to one who has been occupied in sliugh eii-g bunny for mauy years. " What is jonr opinion of -he value of the ferret?" we asked. " Absolutely nil," he repl ed, v. ry emphatica'ly. " One » ation I could name has turned out ne.rly a housand animals, but instead of decreasing the number of rabtits on the run himny appears to be more p!ent f ul than ever he "was. Ferre s are she laziest brutes tindpr the son. Thrir sole objects in life are to eat and s'.eep. The la ter entails nc exer ion, bnt the fonrer d<>es They do as little wo>k as possible, and only kill when they are hun.ry. When sated with food, they sleep away their -ime, till the pang* of hunger arouse them to ienewed exertion. I have never seen hybrids bred frem rabbits and ferrets, nor do I thiok 'hi3 is possiblp, except in very rare cases ; but I have s> en a rabbi-, a large rat and a ferret living together iu one burrow. Bunny an'i the ferrets become quite hietidly in time, and even live one wi;h the other. Cats, in my opinion, are the real natural enemies of the ral>bit. The cat is a tru- hunting animil: it kills for the sport of doing so. Whether hungry or not, it is always o-i the al«rt for prey. Depend upon i;, the time will come when a howl of indignation will ba raised agains- the Government for pe mi the Babbit Department to let loo«e thousands and thousands of animal- which—though not so prolific as rabbus, are nevertheless rapid producers of their species—will in the courre of a tew years spread ull over the country, and prove a long way more destruc ite and obnoxiou«than tne herbiier -us rabhit."

The New Zealand Hotel, Wedderbum, has changed hanrfs, Mr Frank Cavsd re having sold out his interest 10 Mr James Caldwel', who has taken possession of hi* purchase. Mr Cavadore, it is said, intends resuming the occup tioo of mining at Garibaldi, where he is ea ; d to have nude a good deal of monej in the early days. It is stated that Mr John Ewing, S' Biihans, has been asked to report on the feasibility and prospects of succ-es ol work mg the large deposit ol ailiags in Main Gully, ffamil on. If his report be satisfactory, the proposed company w;li be immediate y launched on the market We are informed that 'be capital of the company will co;.si<' of 12000 th of 4s e-ch, of ' which 6000 only will be offered t • the public, 1 the lemaiuing 6000 (paid up to 2s 6d each) being retained by the promoters for he purchase of their rights. With reference to the statement made in ;our last isiue by our Hamil'on corrvspon- . dent in regard to a prospect of 12grs. wnich he eaid he saw washed from ooe dish <>f tailings taken from the main s reet of the toWLship, our corresponden- now informs us (hat ho finds he made a mis nke. Four dishes of tailings were washed, the to al result being 12. rs. 3grs. to the dish is not a bsd yield from tailiug-i, and if the general body prove eren half as rich as (his tho speculators who have applied for 159 acres of Main - ul y will find that ihey have a regular bonanza. Ricbntly two wild dogs, which have quitt a history and have in their lime c.iustd much damage among some of the flocks in Maniototo and Waiiuki counties, were shot on i Orairama Station by two shepherds who had I l*en watching for them for a lorn: time. A j . year or two ago a shepherd on one of the stations lost a slut on 511. Ids. She gave birth to two pups (fortunately br>th males), which she brought up «mong th* hil s, so ihey na'ura'ly acquired the fero-ious in stincts of i'he progenitors of their race. In the course of lime the pair ook -o worrying ond kil ing sheep, of which they destroyed large numbers, «nd then 'be shepherd* raised a hue and cry nfter them At one 'imc 'he dogs would be seen on Eweburn Satino, 'hen on Hawkdun, next on Kyeburn, and finally "on Omararaa and Benmoie. Various devic & were res rted to to drs roy the piir, but for a long time without success. On one occasion i hey wre given ba tie by a piir of big s aghcundi, bur i he hounds got the wnrat «>f the fight, and were badly defeated. Finally. 'wo shepherds on Oirnrama 3 atioa sigbtrd the pair ot a ridge some distance away. The men hid themselves behind a la ge r.ck, and in a few minu csthe dogs came within ra'ge, when one of them was dead, his felow Bcampering off. The shepherds remained in their hiding-place, and toward midni ht the snrviviog animal returned to search for his mate, with the result that be also wa» shot dead. The pair ar« s .id to have d'>ne a lot of harm amonz the flocks on a veral runs, and their dea'.h wa« hailed with acclamation by the station manage 8 affeo ed bf heir depre- j di'ions. Itisstited hit the flecks on Taie»i Lake S a 1 ion are »l»o often worried by a lurcher slut which oigiua'ly cime from j Maungalua. She U frequently i«i.h ed, but directly she is seen aho clears on . The extent of her depr-dations may be gauged by thefac- that a reward of L3O is off-ed »o any ooe who will >ako her dead body to the manager of 'he station. A nraiurio gale from the N.W., iccompanied by a mamificent electric display, passed over Nisehy on Tuesday night Fortnnate'y, no harm was done, but fo' several hours many people found i' impowib'.e to woo ihe drowsy god. In seven hours the barometer fell over an inch, and it w»» feared tbst atill wor»e ■weather was comin.', bu toward Wednesday morning the wind gradually abated i's vioWoo** and • taw light th«v«i* of «*»«*.

Bowxxko i* a cat ital game, bnt we bn.ro only just learned tha s it- is dee'in d<o btiiM abou* the universal brotherhood < f maafeiadr Everybody knows that of Bnras wfctob tel** of a period- "vrben n»n to nan &» world o'er, sh.»ll bri'.bers be and a* ihat. 5 Tbiß prophecy, said Mr JL. Mouaifc, wko presided at. a gathering of ba.fks-3 in Dur.edin, sho other n ; gh", will b2 throach ihe- agency of j:. a "; pity that, iiogs and 3tiseri—-yet, sli &• powers ;hat be—cat no--1» parsoaJtS t* ,ir» OD.p'ayiDi: wilb big gnns and Lbeir attention *o howling, i- &■ poiSt of some daring the hearing of a esse R.M., at Macr-es ret-ently .hi was charg d wiih permitt:., in cnlsw£4 cme toibe pla'-ed on hit * *"' jeed pramjaes. The first witness for the jecniion «s I. M'Lcnnan,. who »« e ~-daec] as to tha circnms'.anres of the cr ", and was aske& whether he and others\»ad not i beeo p?-.jint; a game of ''ice in Spin's boose on the night in question T Mr Findlay submit<ed"-that the witness could no' b? compelled to answer this question, on "he ground that his reply wou'd tend to criminate hhn. Counsel snpportetl bis objec ion by reading section 8 of the Gaming -<nd Lotteries Act, KBl, whereby witness aight become liatre to a fine of LSC . for g mini- The prosecution referred tosec ions 30 and 31 of th- Act, and main* tained -hat under these sections the witness oold be compelled to answer the quea ion Mr Fiudlay con'ended hat sec io * 30 and 31 referred on y to proce dings under the Act, and had no force in the ci»e of an ' information liko the present one aider the, Licensing Act. Sis Wor-Bip a.reed with" the con enti.m for the defence aud held that '< witness cou d not be compe led io answer the question. Wi ness w«s ihen order dto staT.d down, and the remaking two witnesses availing themselves of tb? same privilege as the first wi ntss, the case fell through, and was dirm ssed.

Although he price paid for milk at dairy factories is very low, undonbtedly the rstablis imei<t of such industries- hrougbout the Colony has been of immense benefit to settlers and almost their only means of making a livelihood. As a ess in point (says theOamxru Mail) be men ioned the Geraldine dairy factory, which-is now in active opera ion. Mny settle'a- in that tiistrict state that slthcugh the price piid for the milk is very small, it pays i hem far better than making butter thema.-lves, as ibis article was next >o wor hless.

It won'd appear f om onr (Evening Fret*) Melbourne correspondent's- letter tha the exndus of New ZeaaDders-to Vic oria is on the increase, and ".he fact ls-a very .Mguifican one. The majority cf hese emigra'ts from our shores are just the very men he Colony requires—young and seady men bent on pushing 'heir way forwardj and who thoold prove a valuable addition to the pouolation of any country. Why there ibou d not be an equally good opening for them in this colony as in Victoria is a question worth careful consideration.

Thi services of Mr A. D> Bell, of Shag Tall-y Station, have been secured as a re-pres-n'iitiveof NewZenlam »t the proposed conference in connection with theiutroducion of disease as a cure for <he rabbit pe«", and the gen' leman mentioned left f-r Melbourne on Tburi/iay proceedingimmedmtely afterward ro Sydney. Mr Be.l, in addition to being a cheinis of no mean Btandiog, ha* for devo ed hiuise f 10 the study of biol gy ; has probably he bea- private col-1-ctionof Oookson the subject in <he rolonj; and is as well an expert in the u*e of the tricrosc pe. His scientific a tainmentr, toge her witi) his practical knowledge of the rabbi' question, render him pecn iarly fit for the important Ui-k he haa undertaken. A CITT by the sea for 1000 yrars has just reappeared above die waters. Trie -own of Hiigen, north' of Ning-po. in C( ina, was completely overwhelmed during the Sung Dynasty, and le buried til quite lecen ly, when the eea gra inaily recede' and exposed ths rrmaii sof bui d.ngs. Quantities of va-es, pates and dome-tic u ensils have accordingly been reeove ed—of Iher utmost inti-rest to Chinese hstoriaiis.

Mr Gordox, Inspector of Mines, visi ed Maerewhenuaat iheendof last week. Theimmediile 01ject of his visit was to furnish he Government wi> h s report re \ he O ek-ike schema. The mi..eis in the district petitioned the House last s< saton for assistance in bringing in the proposed race. Th»y -.iske< the Government to givs them a loan for <ha T purpose, oral erna ite]y alowthem maintenance wa.es whib- the rac« was being constructed, these to be repaid when *ater cou dbe procured On the firsr day of his visit, which unfortunat«ly was very tret, Mr Gordon, accompanied by he Hon. Mr Bislop and Mr Duncan, M.H.R., and the miners of 'he d'B lict en matte, went roond a few of the most notable claims. A Tiew of the around to be commanded by the race was obtained. Bain rontinninn, and Lbe coun ry by ibis time being completey enveloped in mist, nothing more whs done that day, an i the party proceed d o Livin stone. On "he fol!owiu»! day, Mr Gcdon, with Mr ! Duncan and a few of the petitioners, went over nearly the who'e of the proposed coarse of the race, proceeding by the Otekaike River io the pomt of tapping. Thelengh of 'he race will be 33 miles, anrl2s of these wi 1 be thro~igh solid rock or tor.se tbingle. The cost of cuttii g Mr Gordon esu'mates at fully L 12.000. In fac , hi» repor will nearly be a copy of Mr O'Co'.or's, which appeired a few jears ago, the later gent enmu estimating the coat at about L 12.000. It is not vi-ry prububie the Government will eiiher give n loan or mnn enance w«gei>, but a •trong effort will be made toward getting a subs.dy to help the miners, jf they form themselves in - o a eomn ny to cue the race. The Aucklaa i JBell suggests, in default of Mr J. Ball.nee as 1 ader of the Opposition, that Mr W P. Reeves, the meml>er for St. Albani, should be asked to succeed Sir J. Vogel. A poli ician who professes to be in the counsels of the OppoM icn siates that Mr D -wnie Stewart is th« man.

It is proposed -o attemp the establishment of the industry in Vjc'ori'. The Minister of Agriculture has applied o the American Governmen for full inforaintion regarding the ex rac ion uf goldeu sjrup from 'he amber cane, which grows luxurinn ly in seTeral par s of the Colony. Wi h »he view of promoting 'he indus ry, the Governm<nt is abou >o ob ain a complex sugar-manufacturing plant from America. One can hardly y ick up a paper without reading some strange verdict 'hat has been returned by «n ignorant c Toner's jury. The most langhible oris that baa been b fvre thop-iblic for some time is he one that *n American jury rrturned recent.'y in tke c-.sa of a man who comm tied suicide by hanging himae'f to the bed post by his suspend- r*. It was that " th- deee-»ed came to bis death by coming heme drunk and ■Utakiug himself fo hi^pnti." Dr Fbkvkd. of Victoria, proposes to euro cancerous p tit n s by reducing the quan ity of sugar in their blood, his -heory bung thitc ncer is ctnce'l by the pre enceof an abnormal quantity of sugar in the i-yitem. Active opera-ions will soon commence at the Ciomwell G M. Co/s mine. The*rr«»ier por io-i of the pomps nnd m-chine-y required for sinking the new tn»in shaft has arrived from Melbourne, and «be remainder is expected ly an *ary boat. So »oon aa the pumps a»e fixed tenders will be called for sinking ibe main shift «o a dfp h of 500fr. At present wo k in the mice is «>•>• fined to dtvelnping a very promising leader, f.om which about SO tons of »tooe is being pui through the b»Uery. and it is expeciei that the return from this will be about lfcoa. W**' ■ ■■*.'•• •* -•*■-*"••-'- *•

A PRTv~ATB letter received at. R»efton from E'clvi-'a ftjlTsftya thst fever is very prevalent th««, eerlefsjthHn 46 deaths having tnk6-i' pice i»iS'rie : we-T?. It also states that town '^^^•??W" v H"r''.dfy in value, frontagai- in VPi the .Mr-.T. Hunter, late of Rapftm : eHiift,* who has oenred Ti40,000 ibMfyeV traq-autiois/Haß left Broken Hill for health having cbmplet- lr rjfcsTeif dawn;-'■■"••' : ' '~ ' " ' Thk TSripelA atouth'-' rrsan-lanehter case was heard in the Suijrerne Court on Morftiav, and uecupxWjSiß'eoiir't'until neirly 8 o'clock in the ever!ift£. 'T.'ie jury returned a verdict of" Not Gjiiitv;" on »be;griund that the j iAfl:ct?d feir of recHniti-v-'Tous boliily'harnj. 'His re :^lced : thit the s a eme'it by theforeman ofj-tB/e rea-o.h for the verdict wi» qnit-> oonstit-'pt with he finding of t')<> jury. At the '/London wool sata 32 000 bales hav? bseri' <: c\Jt->l62ued, or which 15 000 Were withdrawn. The bidding wa3 soiri'ed and sales/were effected, but there Was no quotable change in prjcea as comoared with the cbainV"rates in Feb'ttiry. Giod sound mert-os *rg unchanged ; medium and inferi >r unchanged. Fine croisbredr firm, but the lower q'j'i.'i'ies are from par to a id lower than in F^bruiry. The Sydney correspondent of the Auckland KeraW a»y'9 :—" If ir U poverty wanting to c>mplet • the resemblance of Sydney to London. "When walking in the domain and public parks one cannot fail to .notice ihe number of;people of bdfc i sexes; of every age, gathering tip, ea'ing and pocketing the crusts of bread, cores of ap-les, etc, which have been thrown xway. Women with bihies in their arms' may be seen gelling matches ; while the number of blind men who sit or stand at corners silently begging is beyond belief."

AcKRTAtsr Boniface of Wellington has jmt returned from aWp to the Old Coum ry. The story goes 'hut he was recently recounting his" experience to a friend. Among other things he mentioned that he had. on the voyage calle 1 mat Aden. This name immediately attracted the attention of a semi-intoxicated Irishman, who was drinking at the bar. "Phwat's that?" said he; "did yez really call in at Aden ?" "I did," replied mine host, "and went ashore there." "Ooh! Look at that now 3" said Pat. Then, laming over wi h a world of interest in his eyes, he askei : "Did yez eo and see the garden? " "No," answered the landlord ; "I did not aee any garden in particular. What garlen do you m-an ?" " Phwhy! The Garden of Aden, to be sure 1 Bedatf, ! I'd have seen that anyway, av I'd wunst been anywhere'* contiguous."

We understand that Mr Scobie Mackenzie will visit the distric shortly, in all probability ..accompanied by Mr Richardson, Minster ot Lands. During his 'rip Mr Mackeurie will ,i lecture at Cambrian, Pasteur is nowhere. It has heea reserved for Sotrthlaud to give to the world the perfect cure f>r the rabbit plague and the L 25,000 offered by the N.S.W. +overnment, for a remedy will shortly be credited to the bmking account of -'The Old Vegetarian." He has sent to us his " plan of destroying rabbi'B fitly a case of apples and a l>ox or strong snuff. Liy boards about 30K apart ; cut be apples rather small; lay them on the bo.rds for wo nights. Rabbits like applet Third night put a good sprinkling of snuff on the apples. When the rabtic comes for his feed the snuff make-" him a—sneeze : wh>n a rabbit sneezes hi dislocates his neck ! Next morning pick up skin ; p-it down the carcase; and send skin to town for sa : e. Lay the s»uff on a d-y ni"ht." Marvellons stmplici'y! The whole Using in a—snuff-box! The Old Vegetarian is modest withal. It will be observed that he makes no account of the aspec of be fatal sneeze. The first operation next morning is to pick up the skin. " From this it won d appear that Mr Bunny throws up ■very ihing but his bo >ts, and saves the enemy_ the trouble of disrobing him. The invei ion provides a big boom for fruit salesmen, tobacconists and auctioneers, a ema 1 one for sawmitrers, and a first and final boom for the rabbits —Exchange. . Sir F. D. Bell, our Agent-general in expressed a desire to retire from the posi ion in Ucober. r