HYDE TOPICS.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume XVIII, Issue 983, 6 October 1888, Page 3

HYDE TOPICS.

The chief topic of interest now is the opening up of Taieri Lake Eun for settlement, and. the Hyde Progress Committee are using every legitimate means to bring before the notice of the " powers that be" the desirability of such a proceeding. No tangible opposition hasbeen offered to any of the steps taken by this body so far, and indeed no tangible opposition could be offered. It is now admitted on all hands throughout tho onntry that land must be bad for

ment when wanted ; and the fact that every available acre of ground in this locality has been already taken up—aye, even the roughest hill-top—plainly aagnrs well for the success which would attend any steps taken by our paternal Government for the further development of settlement around Hyde. Onco upon i a time, indeed, it was hardly safe for a man to endeavor to have land opened, and men in this locality were threatened with > everything short of extinction should they dare to endeavor to . bring about such an. ultimatum. That ultimatum tfcey accomplished, and why should not we, with more favorable attendants, go and do likewise ? I attended a meeting held ostensibly to upset the committee elected to carry on this wot k. I attended only, however, in my capacity as representative of your journal. There were few there when the employes of Taien Lake and the strangers were counted off, and those who "Were there were highly amused at the proceedings. A motion was proposed to the effect that the Progress Committee had been irregularly elected, etc., the mover, Mr Boyd, giving no reasons why he tabled such a proposition. Of coarse the Progress Committee did not think it their business to attendimeetings ealled by any, body or everybody, seeing that they had been duly elected at a very representative pablio meeting, neither did the people of Hyde; and those few whom curiosity prompted to attend merely felt amused, as I before remarked, and offered no opposition to the farcical business. Farming operations are being vigorously pushed ahead, and oata are over the ground and thriving well on many of the steadings, but the cry is i " More rain!"

I observe that the first meeting of shareholders of the Mt. Highlay Reef takes place shortly. We may then expect to see this business go ahead, and it is sincerely to be hoped that the expectations of shareholders and promoters may be fully realised. I understand there was quite a rush of applicants for claims in that locality last court day. The post and telephone office has been removed to the coarthou-e, and Miss ISllen Annett appointed postm.stress. Whilst this is recognised as a very desirable and necessary arrangement, still every credit is due to Mrs Laverty for the way in which she conducted it while in charge. Another death has taken place in our midst, little Mary M'Kay having just passed away. Her death took place in the Naseby Hospital; Much sympathy is feit for her parents. Sam Eat.