Jottings from Ashburton.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4792, 8 September 1883, Page 4

Jottings from Ashburton.

♦ ' [bbok oub own oobbbspondbnt.] Sept. 6. When are we to get over the mining mania P I don't know ; and I don't want to get over it until we know exaotly what to hope for from the hills at the back of our oountry. As yet those hills, so far aB their real mineral wealth is concerned, aro a terra incognita ; but they are destined not to remain so very long. The latest agitation is tin. Though I olaim no speoial knowledge in mining matters, I am not hopeless that there . is something more than a bubble in the pre* sent tin " racket." The prospectors and their backers are going about it the proper \ way. They believe they have got hold of a good thing, and aro quietly : working at it. The samples Bent down to ' Profesßor Biokerton mean in one sense no* ] thing at all, but in another they mean every- ■ thing. The samples sent down for the Pro* ' fessor's inspeotion were only haphazard stuff, , ' and were not considered to be worth anything '

bs an indioatien of what the tin field was like— certainly not as a criterion of the value of the ground. The only value they were to the prospectors and promoters lay in the faot that, if Professor Biokerton could say there was even one epeok of tin in them, the result wai perfectly satisfactory to the promoters, beoause they knew where to get stone very muohrioher in the blaok partioles than that sent down for analysis. The analysis is considered perfeotly satisfactory by those who are interested in the matter. And who are they ? A few gentlemen who have olubbed their five pound notes to help in a searoh for tin. They believe the tin has been found, and when they are in a position to lay before the publio undeniable evidence of the existence of tin in the hills in quantitios to repay working, they will offer to the publio an opportunity of participating in the find, in the shape of shares in a Oompany. But, meanwhile, they are ipending their own money in the investigation, and, of course, take the risk of losing it. The fearful weather we are experiencing at present has put a stop to every kind of prospecting, but ma few daya yon may expeot to hear more OD the subjeot of tin ore. The subjeot is not inawopo, as everybody here has heard it mooted, any time dnring the last five years, that the nearer mountains bore tin in more or less rich veins. She Mount Somers railway question has at last beoome a burning one with a few of the leading men in Asnburton. The ratepayers took a long time to get galvanised into even interest in the subjeot, and both Mount Homers and Alford Forest residents used to bemoan the apathy displayed by the Ashburton people iz> the mutter, tfow, however, that the question can be made a political matter of, or, rather a party matter, the railway becomes interesting. The member for the distriot, Mr B. G. Wright, is between two stools, and soarcely knows, I think, which side of the river to throw in his lot with. If he favours the Alford Forest side, the southern side interests will immediately aoouße him of partiality, and the same oharge will be made against him by the other side if he goes not straight for them. In fact the Alford Forest side have not hesitated to make that oharge already, beoause the hon gentleman has not seen his way clear ta take a header with all his power and influence on their side. The member has got out of the difficulty very well, I think, and if out of the impartial report of the Speoial Commission he has obtained to investigate the subject of the best route for the next extension, a railway is procured to serve the distriot, there will ba very little room left for cavil. I was in Methven last week. Tho rising township was very soppy, as it frequently is about this time of the year. When it rains there it rains in earnest, and the roads are anything but pleasant walking. After severe wrestling with the Government, the residents got first telegraphio communication with the outer world established ; then they got a con* stable located ; now they want a lock-up. I don't get drunk, but, then, in an exceedingly sooial plaoe like Methvsn I might, and if by any ohanoe the malt should get with me so very high above the meal, and so subjugate my reason that I should want a constable's oare, I should feel that a horse box or a oattle trnok was an indignity offered to me by the Government if I were turned into one to suffer a recovery previous to pleading guilty next day or the day after before H. Baddeley, Esq., B.M. Poor Farmer Johnston no doubt felt like that when he broke out of the foul-smelling truok and nade his way through an eighteen-inoh hole of his own breaking to the nearest pub. Though a man may get drunk and bsoome rowdy while drunk, I don't think he should ,be bundled into a cattle truck to sleep off his burden of whiskey. For whatever be his weakness, " a man's a man for a' tbat." On Wednesday a special train passsd through oarrying six M.H B.s en route for the South. Some bad man or other had his eye on them and watched how' muoh of their honorarium would be left in Ashburton. Sixpsnoe was the sum spent at the refreshment room. Do the hon gentlemen, when on the wing, carry flasks t Next week we get into the thick of our annual munioipal elections. The Councillors who retire by rotation this year are Messrs Weymouth Boberts, Joseph Ivees, and G. H. 8t Uill. Mr St Hill is the only one of the three who seeks re-election, and for onoe in his life he has expressed a doubt of being suooessful in an enterprise. He did bo at last meeting of the Oounoil, but then that may have been only another iastanoe of his wellknown modesty, and perhaps, in his heart of hearts, ho knew his return was seoure. Anyhow, he is standing again, and the other candidates are Messrs Hugo Fnedlander (exMayor), T. Scaly, W. Leggett, D. Thomas, and B. Murray. Mr Thomas is the' wellknown auotioneor, of the Matson firm* Mr Scaly is a seedsman and nurseryman, Mr Leggett is a carpenter, and Mr Murray a watohmaker. Of the ohances of eaoh, it would be difficult to say anything definite, but those who take any interest in munioipal eleotions seem to think that Mr* Friedlander's creditable two years' service as Mayor will give him a seat, and that the powerful Orange organisation will seat Mr Scaly, the popular W.M. of the Lodge. The othera have all a good following, but whioh has the strongest this deponent sayeth not.