MANIOTOTO COUNTY.

Otago Witness, Issue 1813, 20 August 1886, Page 17

MANIOTOTO COUNTY.

August 16. —Your readers, judging from my long absence from your columns, may probably have arrived at the conclusion that I have "joined the great majority." lam thankful in Baying that such is not the case. Winter is the holiday time of most goldfields residents; is there any reason why the country correspondent should not participate in the enforced idleness ? " When at Rome, &c." There are certain thingo a man may not do, in a district like this, and prosper; and possibly chronicling current events is one of them. By a strange perversity of mind some people seem to think the possession of a little knowledge is synonymous with roguery; however, this will not deter me, I will go on illustrating, in their case, the forcible, if vulgar, aphorism of—but no, I won't quote it just yet, suffice it to say, there were cogent reasons for my late silence, and if your readers will accept an apology for not troubling them with ray lucubrations, I herewith tender it, and with a bound into the arena, simply remark, " Here we are again." The Weathkr and the Roads.—Just as we were congratulatingourselves on getting through a moderately mild winter, the weather has turned bitterly cold. Snow fell heavily on Thursday morning, succeeded by a very hard frost, and a nipping north wind from the bnowy ranges assails the traveller. The roadc are mostly in a frightful state of ulushmess. Frequent

frosts, followed by rapid thaws, have so softened j the ground that even amongst the tussacks one has a difficulty in avoiding quagmires. There are many pieces of the main roads in the County which imperatively require looking after, at any rate before next winter comes round, or the place will begin to earn an unenviable notoriety for general bogginess. De Mortuis. —The season has witnessed tho departure of many familiar faces from amongst us. Death has indeed been busy. Apart from several who have passed away in the natural j course, two residents, named Menton and j Ogilvie, were instantaneously killed by being thrown from a chaise cart, near Hamilton's, the former having only been married five weeks at the date of his demise. From whatever cause, I think the death rabe will be found to be higher than for mauy past years. The same remarks will apply to Victoria, where I learn that extraordinary frosts have prevailed, and great numbers of aged persons have succumbed to the Ancient Reaper. Curling.—The devotees of "the roaring game" have had a good timo this season, and the various clubs have got through a lot of play, even now it is still going on. There seems to have been a. want of unanimity or a general understanding as to times and opportunities among the clubs for playing matches, which has prevented the playing of what might have been very interesting contests; it is to be hoped this will be improved upon next seasou, as the game bids fair to become very popular, indeed national, in Otago. There is a splendid artificial pond at Hawkdem station, which Mr Burnett very kindly places at the disposal of all the clubs; it is very well sheltered and most picturesquely situated, and should become a favourite resort in future years for keen curlers. The Blackstone Hill Club purpose having a dam constructed before next winter; as this will be the highest and most central rink in Otago, wo may look forward to many a future good " Bonspiel" at that elevated but quiet village. Specimens. —Of those classed under the term auriferous, I have seen some splendid ones during the past month; they came from Blackstone Hill, were extraordinarily rich, and from their appearance, evidently had not travelled far from their matrix, the quartz reef. As soon as the weather settles some parties are going to set in prospecting the range, aad I have little doubt but good results will follow. The late astonishing discoveries at the Lyell, in Tasmania, should spur quartz miners ou to try and do likewise. From all present indications, it seems as if there is to be a revival of the gold mining industry, and, as suggested by a correspondent in a late issue of the Witness, the general public would do well to" put their shoulders to the wheel" and aid the good cause. State Schools.—The newly erected schools at White Sow Valley and Blackstone Hill are both opened, and there is a fair attendance of pupils at each. I notice, at the latter place, the very neat teachers residence is still untenanted; it does not seem as if lady teachers care much for housekeeping up country. This is a pity, as these expensive quarters will soon fall into decay, if uninhabited and not looked after. The section of land pertaining to this school is being fenced, and horrible to relate, two of those iniquitous barbed wires will comprise a part of it. I don't think this is wise, and tho sapient school committee may findjhis out, when a deputation of enraged matrons feel impelled to remonstrate as to the torn garments of their hopeful scions. Such a barbarous ckevaux de /rise will scarcely add to the already too few attractions of \' the highest township in Otago." Mining.—The broken weather and the intermittent frosta of the past three months have greatly retarded alluvial mining, but now, I believe, work has been generally resumed throughout the district, and, as water is plentiful, wo may expect a good account to be given of this branch by Christmas. New ground has been opened in several parts of the district, and there is still plenty of room for fresh developements. A rush, on a small scale, has set in on the western slope of Blackstone range, the gold is coarse but scattered; the undent practice of claim "jumping" has been revived here to a considerable extent, causing a little stir among the "devils brigade." Quartz-min-ing is progres&ing apace at Rough Rklge, and the late returns from the Ofcago Central Mine show a very decided improvement. A change in the battery management has taken place; whether for the better, remains to be discovered. It is a fact, however, that local shareholders are disgusted, and a very strict account of past proceedings will be looked for at the general meeting of shareholders, which takes place next week. There i 6 a certain class of directors (?) up country, who are anything but progressive, and the sooner they are relegated to that obscurity, from which they ought never to have emerged, the better it will be for all concerned. The Progress Company's shaft is now down about ninety feet, and gold is obtainable in the stone. Another special claim has been marked off to the eastward on the line. The Great Eastern Company are apparently very slack in commencing operations, perhaps like "Micawber," they are "holding back for a spring."ng." Well, spring is near, and I hope soon to see this mine again opened up, and the mystery of itshaving been closedand allowed to fill with water by its former manager, unravelled. The " ways " of the "heathen Chinee" have been faithfully copied by certain parties at the Eidge, in time past. A repetition of the game will only result again in a collapse, and the place will probably sink to rise no more. It might pay the residents, then, to discover who is the resident "Jonah," and incontinently pitch him overboard at once. This may sound strong, but, Sir, it is fully warranted by the facts, and as I may not again refer to this matter, 1 will conclude by remarking verbum sap,