MOUNT IDA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 2257, 30 April 1869, Page 3

MOUNT IDA.

(FROM OUR OWN eOttKKSI'ONDKNT.) From a mining district, mining news is ÜBimlly tho most attractive. My last two communications were unfortunately almoßt devoid of anything now of that, character, and tho absence wan accounted for by tho scarcity of water for mining purposes. Since that time new ground of a very promising character has been opened up lit a place called Surface Hill, a terraco about half a milo distant from this township, in a north- westerly direction. Eight parties have already taken up claims, and all aro reported to be doing well. The sinking is a out 20ft, and tho uso of powder has been, and ia to bo further, rosorted to in tho operations. The water supply in this district ia now spoken of na beinsr equal to -th« demand, tho races and damß being well fiUn.l.

From Clark's accounts have hitherto continued very favourable, though it is Anticipated that another week or two will put a stop to mining operations for some months to come, tho winter having given fair warning of its approach. The Chinamen are oaid to be on the move for 8 lower ground, intending to return to their old claims, in which they have done so well when the winter shall have passed. From tho Kyeburn nlso tho ac--counta aro encouraging. It ia reported that good ground has teen discovered about 20 miles from these diggings, on tho road to the Waitaki. The proßpectora wore, I am told, Chinamen, and it is anticipated that a large number of celestials will tnako a trial to test its productiveness, when tho warm spring weather shall again smile upon this district. Complaints are numerous reapßctincr the prevalence of the sly grog selling at Kyeburn, the ill effects of which are much ■deplored by the steady and well disposed portion of the community. It would anrely be worth the while of the authorities to look into this matter, and to take

caro that thoso who traffic in spirits "hould pay their contribution to the revenue, a contribution which their largo profits and small expenses in connection with their buaineaa will enable them to afford. The payment of the license fee would also, in some meauure, act aa a chuck upon an unlimited increase to these abilities which, in the absence of any such check, vtttld soon become legion, and ' c at once a nuisance and a danger to society. Police protection at the Kyeburn there is none, neither ia there a Court House.

Alter a long canvass for signatures to the petition to the Postmaster-General in favour of an alteration in tho Mail Contract Service, the document has, on tho score of economy, been forwarded to Duntdin by post, instead of being entrusted, as originally intended, to a special dopution. Tho land qneation—Uiat i» the question of obtaining land for the purposes of agriculture and commonage—ia st'U engaging some attention, and though le:s agitation hfta been lately obaorvablo upon the subject, the fire is not extinguished, but smouldering. Every one wonders what action will be taken by the Provincial Council when they meet, but all hope that M r J. C. Brown, with hia known energy and determination of purpose, will be able to effect something for tho benefit of the district. In their-own member, the! people of Naseby have lost all faith—in fact it is an anomaly, if not an actual absurdity, to expect that a squatter^ whoso j proclivities must be necessarily opposed to settlement, can nuke a satisfactory or useful goldfields representative.