District and Provincial.

Clutha Leader, Volume I, Issue 25, 31 December 1874, Page 5

District and Provincial.

Tapanui. — Trade here is brisk, and the nffiurs of the district generally aro in a flourishing" condition. A new saw mill is being 1 built by an old saw miller in the place, Mr John Perry, to the order of Mr Kitchin. The mill will be fitted up with many of the latest appliances and improvements. It is to be wrought by two 16-horse power eng-ines, boxed in with brick work. Its other fittings are stated to be a breaking-down bench and ripping- saw, a first-class American planing-bench, and a machine for tong'tie and grooving* purposes. When fully occupied, at least fourteen hands will be engaged upen the premises. — The Victoria Mill is now busily employed, having a large amount of work on hand. This establishment is a most complete one. It is fitted u.p with a large-sized breaking--down bench, two ripping* benches, planing* machines, machines for tong'ueing", grooving", and moulding operation?, a boring snd morticing machine, &c. The tongueing and grooving machine alone, is capable cf finishing JOO doors and saihes per day. Some twenty- five men find remunerative employment at present in this establishment.

Clinton. — A most successful soiree, in nid of the school funds, was held at Clinton School-house on Tuesday evening, the 22nd inst. The chair was occupied by Mr J. W. Thomson, M.H. fi. After ample justice had been done to the good thing's liberally provided by Messrs Roy and Finlaj^son, the chairman, in a few pointed remarks, stated the object of the meeting-. The Secretary of the Committee stated that, after paying 1 all expenses in connection with the new school-house, they, were only a few pounds in debt, which, he had no doubt, the proceeds of the evening's entertainment would clear off. Mr Anderson briefly addressed the meeting, especially urging on parents the necessity of sending- their children to school, and taking* care that their home lessons were looked to. After a varied programme, consisting* of songs, readings, &c, had been gone through, in which Mrs and Miss Stewart, and Messrs Burns and Burgess gave special satisfaction, the usual vote of thanks to the chairman and to the ladies and gentlemen who had kindly assisted was passed. The room was then cleared for dancing, which was kept up with spirit, and was doubtless heartily enjoyed by the younger members of the gathering. Inch Chithct. — Our local correspondent writes : — The various industrial pursuits carried on here are progressing satisfactorily., A very useful substitute has been started on the river in place of the late stern-wheel steamer Tuapeka. Though not propelled by steam, power, it does, the work of the river traffic remarkably well, and to those settlers who have not yet cleared off their produce, its services will be of immense advantage. We observed the craft last week dischai'ging a, load of timber at the township of Stirling- — a place, by the way, which is beginning* to assume many of the proportions of a real town. A very extensive traffic with Kaitangata, both, by water and land, is going on at present. When the projected branch railway to this place is finished, a traffic of great consequence to the main trunk line will be secured. Our new merchant and storekeeper, Mr Bell, seems to be getting along very well. Possessing as he does, a pleasant turn for business, he is. deservedly a favorite with the settlers and trading community about. Waipqhee. — An urgent solicitation has been forwarded to us from this place, to impress upon the. postal authorities the necessity that exists for the establishment of a local post-office. The district settlers are greatly inconvenienced from the want of an office ; indeed, we are rather astonished to learn that a place of this importance should have been allowed to. remain without one for such a length, of time. Clinton on the one side, and Tapanui on the other, are the nearest post towns, and. it is absurd to suppose that settlers,!

enn be at either of these places every alternate day. waiting- the arival of the mail The driver of . the local coach lias been very obliging- in the way of bringing* letters from the neighboring- post, but obligations of this nature cannot at all times be relied upon. A branch office established in the vicinity of Mr Black's Waipahee Hotel would, we are sure, cost the postoffice people little or nothing- in the shape of cash. — The district is fast increasing- in population, a number of families having- settled down on the deferred payment block lately thrown open. — The formation of the new line of road from Waipahee, by the bridge across the Pomahaka River, to Tapanui, which was surveyed and laid off some time ago, has now be.en commenced at the lower, end of the Tapanui Flat. The work is to be pushed on energetically by the contractor, Mr Neilson, who has put a number of men on to the job. When completed, this road will be. a great boon to the travelling public. The present route passes over a succession of spurs, gullies, and broken ridges, the consequence being that, mishaps are at times, during bad weather, almost unavoidable — An excellent seam of peat has been discovered on the property belong-ing- to Mr Neilson.- Several settlers in the neighborhood have made use ot it for fuel, and we are informed that after being laid out to dry, it is well suited for that purpose. It is reported to be from seven to eight feet in thickness.

Invercargill. — The report by the Inspector of Forests (Southland)' is as follows : — .The quantity of timber cut b} r sawmills during the past month amounted to 973,917 f t, and the royalty to £121 1 7s 4d, being an increase over the former ones of 134,187 ft., and £15 18s of royalty. This would have been very largely increased, but that during the month three of the mills were under repair. — Christmas Day was observed as a close holiday, but a heavy rain during the forenoon interfered with the plans of those who- had made arrangements for pleasure trips. Until midday tbe streets were literally deserted, but in tho afternoon they assumed a more animated appearance.

Dunstan — In agricultural pursuits during- the past twelve months considerable progress has been made. Our farmers (reports the local journal) have been blessed with a bountiful harvest, and with a ready market and high prices, for produce at their . doors ; while the present season, could not have been a more genial one, even had the most inveterate grumblers fashioned it after their own desires. The growingcrops could not present a more luxuriant appearance, while the fruit trees are actually breaking down under their load.

Mount Ida. — Wednesday last (says the ' Chronicle/ of the 25th inst.) was what was termed the Cockatoos' Day, and deserves to he a marked day in JNaseby, as prognosticating- a dawn of better things in store for all. The first land ever offered for settlement — although a large population has been settled in Naseby for oyer ten years — throughout the length and breadth of Maniototo was on that day declared, open to applicants. No great gift — some 17 sections only in a small confined block — which has been over and over again in our columns declared, by those who should know, to be only a shingle bed. Before the evening 1,438 acres, of the block were applied for — some of the sections by four or five applicants. On Thursday, additional applications were put in, and before the month is ended, it is expected, that every section open will have been applied for. Oamaru.-— The ' North Otago Times' reports :-r-A very seasonable and long-wished-for change has taken place in the weather. Rain fell heavily and almost continuously during the greater part of this week, and farmers, graziers, and gardeners are very glad of it. The crops were badly needing some refreshing showep. Ipstead of several inches of thick of dust which covered the roads, for some time, there is now about as much mud. Owing to the wee and the heavy traffic on the roads, they are getting very much cut up. Corn is looking healthy and strong. Tli.h area under crop will, however, be much smaller this year than last.

Rivertan — The correspondent of a Southland paper reports the discovery of a new goldfield at the Waiau. He says — "Some eight weeks ago a party, consisting of five men. left this port in order to prospect for gold in the line of country between this and the SouthWest Cape, and, after several weeks' research, hit upon what appears to be a payable goldfield. The sample of gold which thpy brought back to Riverton (having had to return through their boat with provisions capsisino' on entering the river) is of a coarse and nuggetty character, not much waterworn, with small interspersions of quartz amongst some of the. larger, pieces. The sample consists of, as near as possible, some 2f ounces, which was obtained in four days' working. So well did they think of their find that it was their intention (previous to the occurrence of the untoward accident abo,ve related) to give it a six months' trial, which must have proved highly remunerative, had the yield continued in the same ratio. So satisfactory is it that some of them intend organising another party without delay ; and little doubt exists but that ere long news of great importance to many will be forthcoming from, that quarter.