R O S S.

West Coast Times, Issue 1329, 25 December 1869, Page 3 (Supplement)

R O S S.

(from oub own correspondent.) The Ross Drainage Company's machinery is now fast approaching completion, mu:h to the satisfaction of all concermd, directly and indirectly. The advantages that will accrue to this immediate portion of the district could he made :■ subject worthy the pen of a Douglas if traced from the first attempts to get down with a windlass, whims, and moderate s'e>un power. How, after having so far mastered the water, they have been driven, not only once, but twice, and thrice, to succumb for a time to it ; the latter of which occasions was the cause of getting the present plant. And hope — that bright and cheerful beam which cheers our troubled path through life — appears to hold out to us the prospect of attaining th.it object, — successful drainage, so much to be desi cd. The boilers arc all completed, and built in) in a workmanship like manner The shaft is down, over 70ft; and I expect it is neatly as deep as they can get before the pumps are down. Altogether, the works are in a very fbi ward state, considering the time that they Iv-ive had since they commenced to work in earnest. Some of the credit i* due to the carriers who broughr up the things considerably faster than their contract compelled them to do, and by t is allowed the company to get on faster thin they would have been able to do without. The manager informed me to-day (Tuesday) that he expecs to be pumping about the 29th inst., and I should suggest that the day of starting be a kind of extra day. and kept in an appropriate manner. ' f course there is time enough yet ; but tomething ought to be done towards getting it np at an early date, if the arrangements are t» be carried out in a satisfactory and efficient manner, and as the previous ones have heretofore reflected great credit upon those concerned, I have no doubt that the Rossites will not be behind hand upon j this very important occasion. Road Board meeting took place on the 13th December, 1869, at which all the members were present — Mr Cuming, late Chairman, was died to the chair, liesolve'! — " That Mr William Monteit'i be elected Chairman until next half-yi • ly meeting." Mr Monteith took the chair. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. The following correspondence was read and received : — From the County Chairman, sanctioning the general rate ; clerk's report ; Bowen Extended Company, Redman'--, asking permission to run tailings over Redman Road. Resolved — That a cordial vote of thanks be recorded on the minutes to Mr Cuming. for the valuable services he has given to the Board, both as chairman and member, the day for the hearing of the a | pea's against the general rate be fixed for Friday,' 24th December, 1869, at 10 o'clock a.m That these three alternate notices with regard to the general rate and hearing of appeals be inserted in the "Wkst Coast Tjmi:s. That in the event of any appeal-- being made the Board appoint some competent person to assist the Board in their decision. Messrs Harris, Gnthiel, Cooper, and Spiers wa tod on the Board as a de| utation to ask the Board to make some improvements in Bold and BoMd s'reets, and declared that the inhabitants are willing to subscribe £35 towards Mich rep. irs. Resolved — That the necccssaiy books in connection with the general rate be ordered at one.. That the tirst moiety of the general rate be made payable on the Ist Februaiy, and the second (if necessary) on thf Ist August, 1870. That permission be granted to the Bowon Extended Co. to run tnilimrs ovtr Ridman's-road. witu the proviso that the company keep the approaches on the terrace sidis in good order and repair, and that the permission can be withdrawn at the option of the Board. That Messrs Dimont and Davie be elected a committee to ills' ect the « Jones' storm "channel, and it deemed mcessary, then immediate steps be taken to have the channel abo^e Brown's claim repaired. Ihat the clerk be instructed to give notice to all parties run-

ning tailings iuto Jones' Creek and channel, that they' must discontinue, and that all parties found doing s0 afUr Wednesday will be at once summoned. That Mr Browne, surveyor, be asked to make an estimate of the cost of widening and levelling Bold-street, and to report at his earliest convenience. That the chairman, Messrs Scarle, and Davie be elected as finance Committee. That this mcc ing adjourn to Monday, 20th December, at 7 o'clock. The late h?avy rains have done considerable good iv the out districts, and have caused business to be a little brighter. In quartz j eefing there is nothing new to recjrd. December 22. At the last Hospital Committee meeting, present — Messrs Aylincr (president), Malfroy. Hill, Cooper, Harris, Gaffhcy, Hut ten, and Lewis. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The following accounts were pas-ed for payment: — Korsyth and Masters, .to 10s; 11. Stevens, £1 ; Falvey, 16s; Uonuelly, £l 10s 6:1 ; Coop, iil2. Receipts for the' fortnight, including proceeds of lecture and concert £23 14s. The secretary was instructed to wait on the manager of the Bank of New Zealand to request an overdraft, to pay amount of cheques. Messrs Ma'froy. Banks, and Hill wore appointed House CommittC 1 for the enMiing month. Iles.ilved — "That tende.s be called for supplies for the quarter, ending March 31, 1870, by two insertions in the West Coast Timi-'s ; tenders to be sent in, addressed to the president, on or before Wednesday, 29th inst, at 7 p.m." " That t!ie secretary tender the thanks of the committee to the itoss Glee Club, Mrs Bunderscn, .Mrs Tribe, and the Volunteers, for aid rendered in connection with the late benefit for the Hospital." The secretary was instructed to write to the Count}' Chairman respecting subsidies, urging immediate remit tmcc to meet the prpsent quarter's accounts. Messrs Aylincr, Hill, Cooper, Malfro}', and Harris, were appointed a sub-committi c to meet the deputation from Hokitika, respecting payment for patients going from thh district to the Hokitika Hospital. The meeting then adjourned till the 29th inst. On Friday morning, a poor fellow, named Charles Allen was found dead in his hut, at Donoglme's. It appears that as he did not appear at work as usual upon thf above-mentioned morning, some miners went to his hut aid found him on his bed quite dead. An inque-t was held before Justin Aylmer, coroner, and a jury, of whom John 3^l' berry was f >rem m, and from the evidence of several witnesses, supported by that of Dr W. 11. Hosking who held 'A post mortem, the jury returned a verdict of " D ath from natural causes, viz., disease of the heart." The funeral took place on Saturday afternoon, when j about 358 persons followed his lvmains to their Kst renting place. The funeral service was delivered by the Rev. Mr Sutherland, who gave a very k-ngthy discourse upon the occasion. In mining matters the most important ite ms arc th' 1 steam claims and water schemes. Under the first head : The Ross United Drainage Company's ermine will be pumping on the 29tli instant, and the Star and liand of Hope companies are making some pre- arations. Some of the machinery for the Great I loss Extended ' onipany is now on the ground. The Mikonui Water Company's race has been duty registered. TheTotaraand Jones' Cre n k Amalgamated "Water Race Company have jutu t completed a first-class dam at Duffer's Gully The ength of the c nbinkment is 120 f t; height, 21ft; and made, in a wry substantial manner The capacity of dam is abour 2,000,000 a lons ; which will Jgive about n.ne Government heads for ten hours. The altitude is abour. 370 ft above sea-level, and it is fe I by the permanent supply out of t ie Nelson race, and may be turned into any of .the races of the company. At Douoghue'sthe Royal Standard have struck fO'iie first-rate wash above their laths ; ;m I Goodhugh and party, a fair quantity of dirt at a deeper level. The claims generally aie getting along very well At Redman's the Koh-i-noor some little time back struck a body of water, and had to give over fora few dais. '! hey have now mastered it, and expect to be lifting dirt in a day or two. A new --haft is being sunk at the back of Olacher's ; the sinking is 70ft, with good depth of wa^h ; and 'iiuley and party stated that it prospected from one to two grains to the dish. Hrnnchnm and Christian, the Jnst -in-Time Company bottomed about 70ft, and are driving ; the wash looked veri r well.