MOUNT BENGER.

Evening Star, Issue 3041, 16 November 1872, Page 4

MOUNT BENGER.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT,) Thanks to the rival railways—Tuapeka versus Waxpahi—there is something to talk about ; something to sigxx memorials fox' and agitate generally. The up-country people are awaking to the x’eal merits of the question to the intense disgust of Tuapeka generally. The old cry of “ Squatter, squatter,” is again raised, but has been so incessantly repeated for the last few years, that people are getting used to it, and begin to be sceptical about the “Wolfish” propensities of sheep-farnxers. In short, it is becoming move and more evident that the businesspeople of Lawrence are utterly opp 'sed to any railway line opening up the central districts. Such a line would divide the trade between Dunedin and Tokomairiro ; while a line extending no further than iuaoeka would pretty well secure a monopoly of the up-country business for that place. This view of the question is gaining ground daily, and although the Waipahi route was at first unlucky enough to be supported by a few runholders, it has survived the misfortune, and it is now first favorite even with the agricultural members of the “liberal” party. A petition in favor of the line was extensively signed in Tapauui, and was deposited in the local store for fresh signatures. Here it was seen by a distinguished and prominent citizen of Lawrence, who without ado walked off with it. Fortunately he was observed by several witnesses, and in consequence has the choice of two alternatives — either to stick to the document aid incur a prosecution for petty larcency, or to return it with his own valuable autograph appended. The latter course will be a bitter pill, as he is a public man and deeply interested in the Tuapeka seheme. Sheep shearing has commenced at the Teviot Station. The rates of pay are the same as last year, viz., 15s per, 100 sheep and LI per week for rouseabouts. Operations will be commenced on Moa Flat and Oven Hills Stations in a week or two, when there will be employment for a large number of men. The other day it was my misfortune to have to make a meal of bread prepared from flour grown on what our local agitators are fond of styling the finest agricultural land in the country. I have suffered from dyspepsy ever since, and have arrived at the conclusion that smut and darnel are not products deserving of cultivation. 'I he newly built Church of England is to be opened on Sunday next. It is a neat and elegant little building, forming a pleasing contra-t to the ugliness and deformity characteristic of all up-country townships. Inside it is fitted up in a most tasteful manner —in fact, leaving size out of the question, will compare favoxably with any similar place of worship in the country. Roxburgh now c ntains three chinches, and ! hear the Presbyteriax)? are about to add a fourth. To counterbalance these it has five publichouses, and will soon be abb to boast of a commodious lock-up. There is no mining news ; neither is there anything political, agricultural, polemical, or pugilistical worth recording. Peace is the order of the day, as one of the local attorneys is said to have gone fleece-picking—sheep’s fleeces, that is.