NEVIS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 800, 17 August 1877, Page 2

NEVIS.

(COMMUNICATED.) We of tho highor latitudes aro beginning to feel the genial rays of old " Sol," reminding us that our winter, which has not been a severe one, will shortly give place to the gentle Spring, to the no small satisfaction of us who are delvers for earth's glittering treasure { and doubtless also to those who cater to our material comforts, viz., our much abused) but indispensable packers and storekeepers, who through rough and smooth furnish us with food and fuel. Our little community has at length calmed down to something like the normal condition of non-excitement, from which we were somewhat rudely aroused a short time since, by the "friendly" (?) intentions of our rather interested neighbors, who intended to assume towards us very much the atti* tude of their historical namesake. However, thanks to our British pluck and selfassertion we have taught these modern " Olivers " that we are quite equal to tho paddling our own canne. Though we are a small and scattered community we are not without the Bigns and indications of a material prosperity. Though our progress is rather of the tortoise than

the hare kind, still our rnotto is "gang forward ;" and though, thank goodness, we are not so noisy and demonstrative as our whimsical neighbors of the Banhockburn, not having, just at present a political grievance. What a pity It is, by the way, that our noisy neighbors do not communicate with the Acclimatisation Society with a view of introducing some other fish into their turbid waters, and let the poor Pyke alone. Of one thing they may at least be sure, that Pyke will swim, although debarred the privilege (heaven save the mark) of disporting in the muddy streams of the Bannock*

burn. The Nevis has, owing to its isolation, for a long time been virtually a terta Incognita which position has militated against our ad' vancement. This has been especially the case in regard to freedom of road communis cation between our several centres of popu> lation. In any other part of New Zealand an anomaly like ours does not exist. We, as a mining community, are large consumers of timber for mining purposes; and yet, notwithstanding our proximity to an almost inexhaustible supply of valuable timber, wc have been unable to avail ourselves of what nature seems especially to have designed for our use. And why ? Because the powers that be, though twice memorialised within the last three years by a large majority of the settlers refused to give us an insignificant vote of LSOO, for the purpose of making a dray road five-and-a-half miles in length. However, what Provincial institutions and Cromwell interest have withheld our Couli* ty Council, at the instance of our local mem* J ber, who seems to have lost no time, so far, | in redeeming his pledges to us, is likely to supply us with. Unfortunately our southern boundary, which is also the County boundary, does not include the whole of tlio Neviß Valley, leaving out a small neck of some 20,000 acres or thereabouts, and so wc cannot go in for a road the whole distance

to the timber. A flying survey has already been made and an estimate of the cost, and 1 am informed that the cost of the remaining piece of the valley to the hush is under L2OO, a sum so insignificant in comparison with the benefits to be conferred upon the place that I should strongly lirge upon the Miners' Association, in conjunction with our member, to bring the matter under the notice of our County Chairman, and Urge him to get the County boundary extended to the Nevis Water Shed. The timber for our Sehool is all on tlio ground, and the young "olive branches" will soon be able to have their knotty excrescences removed by the skilful Lai d of the pedigog. Unfortunately the local situation of the school does not suit all partief, but this could scarcely bo otherwise when our population is scattered over so large an area ; the wonder is that the squabble over the location was not more pronounced, especially as the children of residents of Up-

per Nevis are, l>y its situation, virtually excluded from attendance. There is one matter that strikes me as lather strange as regards our Nevis township. I allude to the absence of a hotel. Since the unfortunate conflagrat' that demolished the prtmises of Mcssh' Scally and Starkey, viz., the Sbanircoi Store and Hotel, the place has been without accommodation, escept what is afforded by our old friend and " Knight of the Last, Mr E. Thompson, but who at present is not dignified with the legal sanction to supply our spirituous wants, but how far the hti may be virtually prohibitive your deponent sayeth not. However, as T can testifji there is ample accommodation for man awl beast, good sleeping rooms, and a first-rate ] billiard table and room in connection with j the premises. It strikes me as rather 3 bail j policy on the part of the Government withholding the license from the Cumberland A rms, especially as it was granted to it ?o long, and seeing we have no other hotelWe cannot of course demand what our fri« Thompson is unable legally to supply htw ever willing. T cannot but think tk Government by thus acting are in reality offering a premium to sly grog traffic, which , of all contemptible trade deserves the palmI would just jog the memory of our low Library Committee that certain sums of j money at present in hand would re as w'| spent in purchasing a few more books, as oMB stock of readable works are pretty wcllcs-j hausted. By the way, does the Committee intend to take any action in the matter of certain other moneys left in the hands of» former honorary treasurer, and which, if am rightly informed, ai-e not forthcoming- ; Still another change in our mail daylj Does the Department wish to tmul.it>>: Charles Dickens' " circumlocution (& K > and give people as much trouble and annoyance as is in their power? It this hj case they may perhaps be pleased to If" 11 that wo Nevis people have to go, manyofnV from seven to ten miles to get our F4' crS and letters, and after travelling that ihfc

twice over anew and ice on the wrong day it is hardly to bo wondered at that wo say n few prayers for the postal department. It is to be hoped for their sakes that these are not the utterances of the righteous that avail much.