COUNTRY NEWS. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.)

Otago Witness, Volume 17, Issue 1020, 17 June 1871, Page 11

COUNTRY NEWS. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.)

LAWRENCE.

The weather for the past week has been very mild, and the consequence is that the miners have been more generally busy than has been the- case for some time past. The only hindrance at the Blue Spur is that the various parties who are interested in the law suits now pending have each been devising by what means they will meat their opponents ia Court. The hearing of The Extended Company v. Hales > and Hinde, in the Supreme Court, has, by agreement of the parties, been postponed till the 27th mat. MANUKA ORBEK. The claims of Coombes and Harris are in active work, and it is currently reported that the yield of gold will reach about L5O per week to each shareholder. For a sixth share in another Company's claim in this neighbourhood, the Bum of L6OO has been offered and refused. A Bale has been effected this week of a share hi another olaim for a good sum, and prices seem to have an upward tendency, as the miners seem pleased with the prospects of their claims. WAIPORI. Oar mining delegate, the Waipori Ginoinnatus, has returned to the bosom of his family, after the late successful sitting of the Commission. He did not, like the Roman Dictator, receive a golden crown, but a vote of thanks from an enthusiastic meeting of seventeen highly respectable and intelligent inhabitants of Waipori; and then, how flattering to the perspicacity of our committee who drew tip suggestions for the guidance of our delegate, to find all those suggestions had been carried as resolutions. What a remarkably intelligent population we must have ! Our Warden had his hands full of business yesterday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., during which time he issued about 60 miners' rights, and decided a number pf legal cases. When will that felicitous time arrive that so many Waipori publicans and storekeepers have sighed for — when the quartz reef will support a numerous staff of wages men, who will drink so much beer and eat so much beef and groceries ? It is still, but very dimly, visible in the regions of Utopia, for the reef is again at a standstill in consequence of a breakdown in some of the machinery connected with the pumps. The severe weather we had a fortnight ago caused the death of a Chinaman, who left the township with a load of goods for his mates, and succumbed to the extreme cold. His body was found not many yards from- a hotel. HYDE. The continued dry weather still keeps mining matters quiet at Hyde, but there is every appearance of either snow or rain. The Victorian and the Hit- or- Miss Companies have lately finished their washing-up, and both Companies yielded a fair dividend to the shareholders, considering the remarkably dry summer. The Homeward Bound and the Soyburn Companies are preparing for washing-up, with a very fair prospect. A public meeting waa held at the Royal Mail Hotel a short time since, to take into consideration the advisability of raising a subscription to enclose a burying ground. Mr Michael Duffy was in the chair. The following gentlemen were nominated as Trustees : — Rev. H. Flamanck, Messrs Collins, Laverty, Mathewson, and Ramsay. At a 'subsequent meeting of the Trustees, it was stated that about L2O had been subscribed, and it was proposed, seconded, and carried unanimously, that Mr Michael S. Duffy be asked to act as Secretary, and to communicate with the Government as to what amount it would contribute towards the fund being raised. CLYDE. Mining news from this district is, for the moment, of little importance to general readers. Theprincipal topic of conversation in connection with mining matters, is the result of the labours of the late Conference. An impresssion seems to prevail that instead of proposing comprehensive and radical changes in the defective portions of the present Goldfields Regula- , tions, the - members of the Conference have devoted their time and energies to the amendment of petty details, affecting, or. likely to affect, their own individual interests, rather than the general welfare of the mining community. One instance among the many adduced, may be mentioned—the proposal to discontinue advertising notices of application for agricultural areas, and to substitute in lieu thereof a printed notice posted at the local Warden's office. This is manifestly absurd to any one having the slightest knowledge of the out of the way localities in which passably good land may be found, and the difficulty of determining whether it is most valuable for agricultural pr mining purposes, unless due publiolty

ia first given of the fact -that it has been applied 'fbr: v ■ The mere posting of "a notice at.a.Oourtrhouje, distant, perhaps, some miles from the locality in which the* coveted land may be situated, will, it is feared, lead to abuses. A stipulation that advertisements of applications should be at one fixed and moderate scale would jbave met with more general approval. 'The proposal to make provision for a supjply of water exclusively .for township purposes affords much, gratification. The very existence of the 1 tpwmhip of Clyde depends in a great measure upon a regular supply of water for gardening and domestic purposes, and the continuance of the present Bomewhat scant supply is continually jeopardised. Another of the interminable cases, Feraud v. Holt, aris* ing out of the longstanding dispute as to whether the water now supplying the town should not bepermitted to irrigate the farm of the plaintiff, has been again brought before the Court, and the weary end of litigation is not yet reached. The first symptoms of spasmodical petitioning, generally prevalent about the time of the sitting of the Provincial Council, have already made their appearance. Cromwell wants a court-house and gaol built there instead of at Clyde, because Cromwell is the most central place on the map, and a petition, of course, is circulated. Alexandra, the dissatisfied, joins in, some signing the Cromwell document, and thus virtually asking that the proposed hall of justice may be located 20 miles from their own doors instead of seven. Others, more wise in their estimation, are agitating for a Sub- Warden and Clerk for themselves, with various other little items in the shape of wants and requirements which will sorely puzzle any retrenchment committee to dispose of. Our local representative, on his late election tour, is reported to have said that the only difference between elections here and in the old country was that in the one the landlord influenced the voter, and in the other the storekeeper. The remark cost him some few votes, but its truthfulness has been lately made apparent. Even in the simple matter of signature collecting, the judicious application of the screw is all potent. CROMWELL. Mining affairs have been progressing very steadily lately, with nothing particularly worthy of mention. Miners engaged in sluicing ha*e been very busy, as they always are at this particular season of the year, before the frost makes their supply of water uncertain ; others, again, whose | supply of water has been already cut off, are hard at work cutting new races, to avoid a similar stoppage next winter, or repairing their present races. The Ban- 1 nockburn reefers are diligently working away yet, but most of them will soon have to "lay to" for a week or two for the advent of spring. Next week the Royal Standard Battery will make a crushing of, some seventy tons of stuff for the Eliza- 1 beth Company, which everybody hopes will turn out as well as the Heart of Oak did. It will of course be remembered that the Elizabeth Company's ground adjoins the Heart of Oak's. Nothing new has transpired from the Bendigo direction except that great activity is likely to prevail there in alluvial mining next season. A good many heads of water will be brought into operation there by that time, and it is to be hoped that their operations will not interfere with the works of | any of the crushing mills. The Rise and Shine Company washed up last week, with a very good result. They had not washed up for about six months. The great event of the week was the formation in Cromwell of an Anti-im-pounding League, for the double purpose of putting a step to any further cases of impounding' and the obtaining of a proper amount of commonage. So far as effect* ing a union of all parties in the district for the purpose desired is concerned, the League will be a great success. It is proposed to ask a subscription of five shillings from every man in the district directly or indirectly interested in the keeping of cattle or horses. The people, judging from the tone of their representatives -in the Committee appointed at a public meeting, are at last thoroughly determined to resist by all lawful means what they very naturally consider any further infringement of their rights. Indeed, the feeling at one time was bo strong that there was a danger that force would be used to prevent the cattle from being taken to the pound. That danger will be avoided by the formation of the lawful' League. As was before explained, 'the feeling was, strange to say, not against the runholder, but against the Government, for leaving them in the position with respect to commonage in which they are. No other district has been so badly used in that respect as this one. SWIXZEES. Permit me to rectify two errors that have crept into my reports lately. They $re as follows •'—'The charge^ per head of

water per diem- should be 12s instead of Il3" 12«,"andl reported 'Mr Gwynne'd claim as in fall swibg with fair results.' The latter part I am now told is not cor* trect, bo I hasten to rectify it, as I only desire to report what is really true. ' There has been new ground opened up lately on Gow's station, about three miles :from the' homestead, and fifteen from' jSwitzers — on the Waikaia river, named iM'Lellan's point. The original prospectors, M'Lellan and Robertson, got pros•pects sufficient on one of the spurs to induce them to bring in a water-race. M'Lellan then sold out to aMr Phillips, and crossed to the eastern side of the river and prospected > again, with excellent results I am informed, about a quarter of a mile further down the river. Mr Collie has also a claim higher up than M'Lellan, which is payable, and has applied for a tail and head race. This news having oozed out, has induced a number of miners to go out and try their luck, and they have been engaged sinking about the prospectors' claims, with as yet indifferent success, I am told there is plenty of country about that looks likely, but it is untried, and is covered heavily with pine and birch. Water for sluicing is ficarce, there being on the creek to which Mr Collie is entitled to first right, only about one head of water, and I have not heard as yet whether there are any sources for obtaining more. The track out is in pretty good order, and the point (M'Lellaud's) is about eight miles beyond M'Donald's homestead. I shall be able to give you information about the placs more in detail in my next. Bailey and Party sued Simson of " The Breaic 'em all " to be put in possession of six acres of ground adjoining his claim, on the ground that it had been abandoned, it not having been worked in accordance with the Goldfields Regulations. The decision went against them, and they gave notice of appeal at the time, and this week have applied for a rehearing, which was refused. The concert on behalf of the school took place on the 6th inßt,, and I believe was pronounced a decided success. Mr G wynne, our Mining Delegate, held a meeting on the Bth to report his doings while at the Conference. Judging from the resolutions he tabled and successfully carried, he has honestly kept his promises to his constituents, and deserved the vote of thanks which was accorded to him by the meeting. The Chief-Post-master has answered our petition by the following proposal : — Mail to arrive at Switzers on Thursday as it now does, but to depart on Mondays instead of Saturdays. I think it will suit well. Mr Gore has succeeded in getting in the foundation of the stone pier of the Winding Greek Bridge, after overcoming many difficulties, so now we may look for the fapid completion of the whole structure. Let me call the attention of those j who run cattle on the commorage to the ; notice posted at the Warden' 3, to the I effect that if fees due up to September next are not paid by the 25th June, sharp Btepa will be taken to recover the j same, as some have hitherto evaded payment. BIVBEION. There has been a break in the weather during the past week, and farmers are taking advantage of the fine dayß to get their crops to market At this time all available store room is filled, and I observed some of the crops. being stacked outside the other day, and still they come. Mr. D. S. Lawlor, with his cutter, j boats, and - crews, left for their whaling station, Mussel Beach, early this morning. Two whales had been seen in the bay a day or two previous. At the same time the sealing boats with Maori crews, took their departure ; also two boats laden with stores for Orepuki. Of these stores, I believe there was much need, the long spell of westerly weather having stopped supplies, as the present track cannot be used for packing even, it is so bad. The boats have returned, and are again reloading for Orepuki. . The little town looks busy, the noise of the hammer and ring of the anvil sound cheerily. It is to be hoped that the fine weather will continue, and that our enterprising neighbours, who have ventured on these expeditions, may meet with buc> cess. BLACKS. Writing from Blacks, our correspondent at that plaoe Bays :— fr Since my last there is nothing of any importance to communicate. We have had a fine fall of rain, which lasted for some time, but it was not nearly sufficient to answer the wants of the miners, although it pleased the farmers much. The weather has been beautiful. — The Ida Valley Deep Lead, at Blacks No. 3, forwarded to Dnnedin by the last escort over 300oz8 gold. The directors have paid a first dividend of one-third of the paid np capital, still holding in hand sufficient to pay up' another third and a half more. The Company have on the ground over 40 tons of timber, for Blabbing purposes, &o. This ought to Bee them through the winter. I am happy to say the second Company (Revel's) ,w foot progressing, and we m»y

hope to see them at work in a few weeks. There is little doubt of this also being a very payable claim. Our new Warden, Mr Carew, has paid us a visit. He will shortly take up his quarters altogether at Ophir."