Professor Black and Mr L. O. Beal, of Dunedin, recently visited Bendigo, the latter gentleman to survey the Alta mine and water races, and also to report on the best method of opening it up.
The professor was engaged in taking samples of ore from the mine, which is composed of scheelite and gold, and to report generally on the prospects.
They are both very highly impressed with the prospects, and the professor has taken back about 60 samples of the ore.
There is every prospect of a very rich scheelite mine being opened in the Alta, and a lot of work has already been done by others in opening it up for gold.
The present owners (Cameron Bros.) are getting some nice patches of scheelite, and it is stated that they took out a ton in five days during last week, which will represent about 100 net for the week's work.
• Unless something is done to move the Government to give better facilities for the backblock settlers it is little wonder if they leave fast to get to the cities, or at least to near the railways.
The slow coach services from Clyde to Pembroke must deter a number of tourists and others from visiting the lakes at Wanaka, and the recent County Council meeting at Clyde was informed that Mr Fraser, M. P., would try and get the Government to put a motor service on.
The local Borough Council is also asking Mr Fraser to get the coach service accelerated.
• The butter moisture trouble is more serious than is generally thought (says the Wairarapa Daily Times).
A man who recently applied for the position of factory manager submitted as one of his qualifications that he could put 26 per cent, of moisture in butter, for he had been in the habit of doing it in connection with the local trade.
