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Otago Witness, Issue 1793, 3 April 1886, Page 12

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Mahcii 29. — Tin* weaiher. after the experiences of the drought, o in hardly be c miplnined of. A good deal of nin has fallen latety, and water is jd'-utiful onco morn; but still there are people whogriimblt'tt'id teil you that tho weather is" beastly." i really d-jn't kun-.v how such people are to be t-afci<fied. A reran,! kable greenness pervades the, country, hii't i. notice that all the cultivated land has n hi althier tendency than at any time during tho past season, and turnips are coming on apace everywhere. The ranges have a fair coating of snow, and the effects of tho drought have almost disappeared, if I except the visitation of flies, which has been unprecedented this ye-u\ AH places are swarming with thtt species known r.sthe "houselly" — I forget the entomological term. If Egypt was troubled with the c " little cusses" as we are, I scarcely wonder at Pharaoh's knuckling tinder, '['he sociability and undue familiarity of the insect pest are unbearable. Fortunately I have a little thatch left on my cranium, or life would not be worth living, and writing to the Witness almo=t an impossibility. However, time brings its revenges. Jack Frost will be heie shortly, and the housefly, like other troubles, will become a thing of the past. Sanitary. — Every year a wail goes up from Naseby that the health of the town is in danger, and yet the custodians of the public weal — the borough councillors — look stolidly on and turn a deaf ear to the complaints. With the very liberal amount of ozone aud good water served out to tins residents of up-country towns in Otago no epidemic diseases should ever be heard of, but unfortunately they appear at intervals in Maniototo, particularly in Naseby, and every season sees some household in mourning for victims of what can be nothing but carelessness on the part of the health authorities, public or private. Of course we do not claim to be exempt from "all the ills that flesh is heir to," but the annual rccurrenne of such fatal diseases as diphtheria, scarlatina, &c, in these sparsely settled places, where no overcrowding is necessary, demands an inquiry,and it is to be hoped the "city fathers" of the Maniototian metropolis will rouse their energies and see what can be done to remove this stain from their otherwise fair domain.

Obituary. — A fortnight ago Mr George Purton, of St. Bathans, manager of the Scandinavian water-race, died very suddenly. He was a very old resident, and will be greatly missed, as he always took a very active part in public matters affecting that locality. He leaves a widow and young family to mourn his loss. — R./.r.

Pjie-sessional. — Our representative, Mr M. J. S. Mackenzie, is to address his constituents in Naseby to-night, and during the coming week will have a busy time, as he purposes enlightening 1 nearly all the other sections of tho electorate upon his political views and the present situation. As he is very popular, doubtless he will be favourably

listened to, and receive a unanimous vote of confidence. The wants of Mauiototo, or Mount Ida, are few, and we can afford to allow our member to give his tiraf to legislation for the general welfare of tho Colony, in which we cannot fail to participate if we can only make sure of the Otago Central railway tapping this district at no very distant date. If Mr Mackenzie can only bring about this consummation he will deserve a statue equal to the lon^-deferred one of Robert Burns. If he would also devote some attention to the reduction of the gold duty his mining friends would oless his memory. I have often thought that if the miners could attain the fair market value for their gold we should not hear so much about the oppression of the gold duty. That produced on the Mount Ida goldfield, by assay is valued at £4 2s per ounce, and the average of the value of {jold over all the Otago fields is £4 0s 3d per ounce. The banks p.iy £3 15s ; this, with tho duty added, makes £3 17s, aud the miner h paid 35 3d short of the actual value, and on Mount Ida he loses 5s per ounce. No wonder the banks are. wealthy institutions ! If the diggers were paid the full value for their production I don't think, as I said before, they would trouble their heads much about the gold duty, invidious as the tax assuredly is. Cannot Government initiate some scheme to alter tVs unfair s".*,t-j of things, or cannot even cur county councils take the maHer in hand ? The Melbourne Mint is not so far away, ami 3 take it the remedy lies in that direction.

Prospecting. — I notice in the report of the proceedings of the County Council last week that the reports or diaries of the various prospecting parties now in the field were read and considered. It does not appear that any of these parties have yet " struck ile." As an unbeliever in this system of exploration for new fields, I do not expect any startling discoveries to eventuate. However, I hope I may be wrong in this impression. If the said reports or diaries in a condensed form could be made public discussion and comment might be provoked, which might lead to some good. There may be some amongst us whose memories of " likely spots " would be revived, and if the explorers had not already come across these places, they might get a hint to do so. I think the mining community is, in a measure, entitled to know where and how the prospectors spend their time and labour, so as to be able to judge of 1 he ultimate benefits to result to the industry, or, if desirable, advise. It is one of those cases where "there is wisdom in a multitude of counsellors." It is a national work, and all its details should be public.

Mining. — Water being more plentiful, sluicing has been generally resumed, but I hear of no new ground being opened up. The Government wish to hand over the Trust water-race to the County Council — a shrewd move — but this body seems to be chary of accepting the responsibilities of this now notorious " white elephant." The present board of management do not appear able to make it pay, perhaps a change may improve matters, tho3" certainly cannot be worse, at any rate. At Rough Ridge reefing is being pushed on with vigour. The Otago Central Company washed up on Saturday lost, and turned out a cake of about lSOoss of retorted gold from 200 tons of stone. Although this is not quite up to expectations — which were, perhaps, slightly extravagant — it i>iay lie accepted :is a very encouraging yield, as every ounce of stone, good, bad, and indifferent, taken from all parts of the mine now opened, was sent to tho mill. The next crushing should be much better, as the level and tho stopes are nearing the locality in the reef where very excellent stone is known to exist. Tho " cake " pays all expenses, and leaves a balance over. It is not every newly-started mining venture can boast of this comfortable state of affairs. I hope dividends will follow in due course. The Progress Company are rapidly yetting their plant readj for ;v start, and will commence to empty tlv mine of water on Wednesday by means of a horsewhip and hide bucket. The new Great Eastern Company will have all their material on the tji ound next week, and will also at one proceed to pump out the old workings, which are now full of water to the surface. This is a very plucky venture and deservss to meet with success. A- larger battery is badly wanted on this field. Dividends can hardly be expected to result from the operations of the present coffeemill of five stampers ; however, it is useful for prospecting tho lodes. Doubtless, in good time more powerful machinery will be erected, and the sooner the better isStbe general verdict.