ROXBURGH NOTES.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1903, 8 June 1892, Page 3

ROXBURGH NOTES.

viFroni oar Own Correspondent.) \ tr free and independent rolled up in force las\ ■Tuesday evening to hear our member hold forth on things political. It was a splendid meeting — splendid in numbers, in enthusiasm, and in its quick intelligence to acknowledge their appreciation of the many good things with which the address was plentifully sprinkled. "With such a sympathetic audience, the road was smooth and easy, and the speaker travelled over the ground at a spanking pace. The speech was a compound of plain speaking, sound commonsense, and showed thoughout that wo were listening to a man who had made the very best use of his time in public life, and had familiarised himself with every side of tbe questions he undertook to discourse on. There is one thing about Mr Valentine as a party man and\a politician that tells strongly in his favour among those of his constituents around here j he always

keeps his flagr flvinjf, and comps well out in the op°n wheu ho intends to strike. In other words, his opinions are so expressed that all men may understand them, and Mipro is no such tiling as (wu-.tiug or dodging or running away from a qnpst.ion. Thi* i-« tin- |> •jiul.ni verdict of Mr Valentine hero ; ami by non« have I heard it expressed so strongly or with so much satisfaction as by his m«<t prominent opponents in this district at 1 - sr. election. Mr Valeutine's address, as fnr us I eoulil .i"C at the meeting, und could learn from various outside sources afterwards, produced a most favourable impression, and has considerably strengthened his position in a place whenfrom the first he haa been unusually etronsr. Our footballers mean to establish a reputation for themselves during the season or else know the reason why. They didn't vanquish the Lawrence team, it is true, but no time is to be lost in making amends for that oversight ; though, if the truth were told, our boys were sadly disconcerted at the result of that matcb. I hope I won't be accused of telling tales out of school in saying that they had made elaborate preparations for celebrating their victory ; one member of the team, who is a bit of a scribe in his way, had actually been told off to compose a song commemorative of the victory, which was to be sung on the ground at the close of the game. He acquitted himself, too, in fine fashion, and chiselled out a smoothly-running stave with a stunning chorus to it. But it never came off. I believe, though, it is still in reserve, and i.-s expected to be used very soon, as a return visit will shortly be made to Lawrence. The Miltou, Balclutha and Taien teams will also be allowed an opportunity of showing what t.hey are made of; and with regular exercise and a due regard to what the specialists call tbe ethics of the game. I look forward to our warriors coming home «'itb a good collection of -scalps in their belts. I hope our young friends down Lawrence way will take the hint and mind their P's and Q's.

The action of the Minister of Lands in having Run 199 surveyed into 2000-acre blocks is (Mmlumned on every hand. Should he persist in his determination and refuse to listcu to the request of the settlers to cut the laud up into 200 and 400-acre sscHous, there will be very good grounds for the feeling already prevalent here that the Hon. John is not exactly the man he represents himself to be. Now, if this had been some bloated Tory Minister of Lands who had been bowled out in such a game of grab as this, wouldn't (here be a howl of rage and curses not loud but Jeep from all true Liberals ? But here is the fount of Liberal uprightness himself, the Grand Lanima of tho Liberal faith, caught utmost red-handed in an action of a very ugly kind ; and yet I haven't heard a whimper among our local Liberals. But I've heard no man, no matter what his opinions may be, make any attempt to defend such conduct. And why should they ? It strikes at the very root of the country's progress, and shows how very little sympathy after all there is in professedly Liberal quarters for the struggling settlers. But it is just in this as in all other things in the world. The settlers, if they want to be on the right side, must look after themselves, and put very little faith in the promises of Ministers. They must be up and doing and vigilantly watch their own interests, compel other people to respect them, and when they spot a trespasser or an intruder warn him off incontinently, no matter even though he be a Minister or the friend of a Minister ; and if he refuses to travel when called upon and duly warned, haul him up before the bar of public opinion and have him arraigned and punistied for his misdemeanours. Neither mini? ters nor kings can defy the ruling of that court with impunity ; and if the Hon. John should prove contumacious, let him be brought up and pilloted himself and his minions and subordinates in this business as an example to all future Liberal Land Ministers.

I have nothing startling to jot down in regard to the mining world just now. Yet it will be pleasant news to those interested in our staple industry to know that water for sluicing purposes is plentiful, and that the various hydraulic claims are in consequence in full swing. I was very pleased to notice that the shareholders of the Island Block Extended at their recent general meeting testified so strongly to their confidence in their manager, Mr David Weir. A better or more capable man they could not get ; and it is satisfactory to see that they understand his worth and appreciate his services. This cm be so very seldom said of mining companies and their managers that the circumstance is unusual and deserves notice. Mr Peter Shiela' appoiutment to the Board of Directors was also a very popular action, and has given much satisfaction locally. I hear that the Golden Run Co.'s dredge is giving a good account of herself just now. The wash-up last Friday for a week's work gave a yield of 240z Bdwts. This looks very comfortable, and, what is much better, the ground is improving, and the yields are expected to show a big increase for some time to come. I predict a prosperous career for this company, and I ouly wish I could honestly say the same of other companies I have in my mind's eye at present.