BLACKS.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume 26, Issue 1337, 10 August 1895, Page 2

BLACKS.

(Br Our Own Correspondent.) All the sluicing and elevating claims are closed down, except at German Gullv and from that towards Ophir. where the miners are at work and doing- fairlv well. All the claims will soon be in full work, as a result ol the present thaw, and appearances point to a good suppiy of water during the summer.

The report in your columns of IS inches of snow at Blacks and the Mannherikia Valley is greatly above the mark. From Blacks down the depth has never exceeded four or five inches since the first fall in Mav whatever it may have been at the upper" end of the valley. The subsequent falls on the low country have never been over three inches. Considering the severity of the weather the stock is looking "vreJl, bnt there are exceptions owing to the scarcity of dry feed. No doubt things are very bad and the 10.-s will be considerable, but I do not think it will b* so bad as represented. The upper end of Ida Valley baa never been clear of'snow since the first fall, and stock has suffered in consequence.

Last week a public meeting was held berr to consider, the question of agitating f,.r the CUM Central beiug coustructed on the east side of the Alanuherikia River instead of th« west side as surveyed. /The meeting was adjourned for a larger attendance. There is no doubt if there are no engineering difficulties in the way at the Poolburn Gorge, then a great saving in the cost of construction would be effected. The cost of taking the line through this gorge by the present route and of the bridge over the ilnnuherikia River.-will be heavy, and the river woakl have again to be crossed about its junction with the Chatto Creek. Now all this heavy cost would be avoided by the eastern route. Against this St. Bathans, Cambrians, and Tinkers would by this route-be left out in the cold. - vy-

On Wednesday next a public meeting is to be held asking the Government to remit one year's rent, owing to the low price of produce and the'loss of sheep during; the hard weather. No doubt all- who are - making their living from the land wore well handicapped before the winter set in; and will be doubly handicapped now; but -1 think for a thing of tbis sort. to be successful it should be general, or at any rate should be started in -a district that has suffered more than this one. I know some, who object to the lessees ;being granted' any concessions, on the grounds that the freeholders cannot participate". I told'.one individual to apply to his mortgagee.. He said his land was free. I think he should be thankful that he is so inuch better off. than his neighbours. August 5 1S!)5. *