ST. BATHANS.

Cromwell Argus, Volume I, Issue 11, 19 January 1870, Page 5

ST. BATHANS.

(From our Own Correspondent.) Since the date of my December letter scarcely anything worthy of remark has transpired in this quiet corne r . Our Christmas holidays have passed away in the same manner as in other townships—with sports, horse-racing, &c. It is rather an extraordinary incident that wo should have enjoyed glorious weather on the two days appointed for the sports, and that severe storms should occur on the three following days', and on New Year’s Day tine weather again. I suppose I am expected to say something of the races ; but I can only speak from report, as lam not a sporting man. There was a very good show of horses from other places, and several of them took away prizes—Waitaki, from Waitaki, the Maiden Plato ; Harkaway, from Lauder Station, the Ladies’ Purse ; Black Doctor, from Hogburn, the Hack Selling Race ; Substance, from Blackstone Hill, the Consolation Stakes. But the flower of the course, on both days, was Keenan’s Topsy, of St. Bathans reputation. The township was crowded with visitors for two days : the costume generally, breeches and spurs. 'I he only conversation admissible, in public or private, light weights and heavy weights, sweating clown, sweepstakes, and handicapping ; wiih the usual discussion on every bone, point, part, and sinew of every horse, and the concluding remarks on genealogy, &c. On New Year’s Day there was a general picnic, which nearly everybody attended. Running for prizes, and football, were the principal amusements of the day. The Total Abstinence Band marched on to the ground in the morning, and back again to the township in the evening. And thus 1870 has fairly begun at St. Bathans. In mining matters, let the Christmas Escort {IOOB ounces) speak for itself; and the next transition proved that this did not drain us out. I think Dunstan Creek has proved itself as inexhaustible as Bendigo Gully; but the former contains all the population required for present resources. The only field for new comers will be prospecting, as the water supply is limited, and always in use by the present claimholders. Talking about water supply leads me to remark that there is probably a general rejoicing at the preliminary steps taken by the Government towards the encouragement of investment in goldfields water supply, I have no doubt that, backed up by a moderate guarantee, capitalists will purchase some of the large water-races now in use, and reduce the rent, so as to make the poorest sluicing ground payable, the townships’ population more permanent, and of course much larger, and the investments remunerative and perfectly sound. Undoubtedly all this will arise out of Government guarantee, and probably the Government never be required to give a dividend. Water-races have lost their good name through the tremendous failures of the Shag River and the Ida Valley (or Burn) companies ; but a little impetus from the right quarter will set the wheels iu motion that will work of their own accord when confidence becomes i estored. Cheap water supply is the great desideratum on the gold-fields to secure settlement; and as capital is so plentiful in Dunedin, the only obstacle to be overcome is suspicion of the unsounducss of such speculations —an evil to be obviated most effectually by Government guarantee. But the Government should nut offer —they should be asked, and asked by bond Jidi capitalists, who should be aroused to take an active part in this matter by every gold-fields newspaper in the Province. I hope you are drawing the attention of schoolmasters on the gold-fields to the invitation by advertisement to aspiring and ambitious scholars, that a foundation may bo formed for a more intellectual Legislature to rule over so great a nation as New Zealand will be when the youth of the present generation are men in their prime.