MOUNT IDA.

Otago Witness, Issue 921, 24 July 1869, Page 21

MOUNT IDA.

(NtOH OUR OWN COERMPOIfDBirr.)

I have refrained for some time past from giving you an aooount of what has been pawing in this part of the province, in the expectation that the arrival of Mr Gillies would have enabled me to have put you in possession of the action likely to be taken by the Government on the various subjects which affect the interests of the distriot. Aa, however, Mr Gillies has not yet arrived (being at the pro* sent moment at Clyde), X will state what has been done, and what preparations have been made to meet him in a proper ■pint, and in a business-like manner. The Naseby Improvement Committee, who have hitherto been the only persons who have given much attention to the requirements of the plaoe, upon hearing of the intended visit of Mr Gillies, called a publio meeting at the Victoria Hall, with the view of affording the mining community an opportunity of electing from among themselves so many of their number a« they might

think >\fityr,tp: confer with their nub,committee, who had been deputed to meet that gentleman; more particularly onthe subject of the Sludge Channel and mining matters generally. At this meeting ten. miners were elected, and the Joint Committee have since had several meetings, at /which, I am glad to say, the greatest harmony and unanimity pre-. vailed. At the last .meeting, of this' Uommittee the 'number of miners was rej duced to four; 1 and' of the Improvement j Committee to,, three. , These sevejn gentlemen now form the, deputation to wait upon Mr Gillies as soon as, jhe; puts in an appearance. From the 1 '.good feeling vrhioh has been exhibited in the matter;- and the business-like manner in which the subject has beemidealt with, it is not too much to expect -that something tangible may be submitted to Mr Gillies, and great and substantial benefits may result, therefrom. ' 'I alluded in my last to the extraordinarily fine weather with which' this district has, been favoured. From that to the present time there has been little change, a slight fall of Bnow, which has since disappeared, having been the only interruption. The frost,. however, has had the effect of suspending mining operations on the side of Surface Hill, which has not theadvantage of the sun during the day: ' In connection, with the frost, I have to report a case of frost bite, which occurred a few nights since to a man named Fiynn, who lost his way and became benighted between the Dunstan river and this place. The unfortunate man was compelled to pass the night out, the night being the most severe of the season. In the morning he was discovered by a shepherd, and the police cart being on its way to fetch the mail, he was brought on to Naseby, and has since been lying at the Ancient Briton Hotel, attended by Dr M'Oambridge. So far reports have been • favourable, though there still exists some doubt whether Flynn may not eventually lose the use of Borne of his toes.

I have, I think, in former communications, alluded to the solidiry and size of the Hall lately erected by the Masons of Mount Ida. This hall was duly consecrated on Friday last, the ceremony being ably performed by P. M. T. Oroighton and Brother William Grummit, who has been again elected Worshipful Master of this Lodge ; the ceremony was, I have been informed, a great success. The event brought down members of the oraft from Clyde, Blacks, St. Bathans, Hill's Creek, and Hamilton, The day's proceedings were brought to a conclusion by a ball, at which dancing was kept up with spirit till a late hour in the morning. Last week a lecture was delivered in the Victoria Hall, by Mr H. O. Hertslet, in aid of the Naseby School fund. The subject was "Random Recollections of Life in New Zealand between the years 1841-8." The attendance was good, and both the lecturer and lecture well received.

I have nothing to report in mining affairs, excopting that accounts from all quarters continue to be of a most satisfactory and encouraging character. With the exception of Mount Burster and the portion of Surface Hill to which I have above referred, no interference with workings has been occasioned by the froßt. I must not omit to mention that a meeting of the shareholders in the Hit or Miss Water Race Company has been convened for the purpose of considering the advisability of bringing in their race so as to command the higher portions of Surface Hill. I feel sure that not only would such a work prove highly beneficial to the mining community, but at the same time highly remunerative to the shareholders of the coinpauy.