THE COUNTRY.

Evening Star, Issue 3444, 6 March 1874, Page 2

THE COUNTRY.

Tuapeka.— We have very little further, to add m reference to the burning of the Victoria Saw Mills. The fire was confined to the large shed, which was completely burnt down. rcndermg the really superior machinery utterly useless. Saws were twisted and rent, puUies and wheels cracked or burnt, and much valuable timber consumed. The origin of the firij is clouded in inystery, as the usual precautions had been observed the previous, evening. The fire was first discovered by one of the men who works at the mill, who; on getting out of bed to have a smoke, about 4 o’clock on Thursday morning, observed flames proceeding from the large shed. He at once gave the alarm, and many willing bauds set to work to prevent the fire spreading, with what result we have already stated. Much sympathy is felt for the owners, especially for Mr Howatt, who has always been to the fore in everything which tended to the advancement and well being of Tapanul—A correspondent sends us the following particulars regarding the progress made on the railway work k®tween Tokomairiro and liawrbnoe i—» The first section from Tokomairiro is that of Messrs Campbell Bros., who are making rapid strides with the work. These contractors had the “savey” to take advantage of the labor market last winter, when wages were from 7s to 8s per day. The cuttings on this section are, comparatively speaking, easy, the greater part of the work being formation. The next section is Messrs Straohan and Hunter’s, and known as the Glenore section. This part of th? work is being proceeded with vigorously, two shifts of men each .day, working eight hours each, having been employed- Qbolhift has been dispensed with, as it was not found to be profitable to the contractors. The foreman-" Mr Morris—states that the cutting on the Toko.' mairiro side will take two or three: months before the heading would be. started. There are about three chains of .hard blue,.rook, rang, mg from 50ft to 70ft in depth, to, toS through. This rock will admirably' suit ttie purpose of road metal Going over the hill, on tne ruapeka side, we find a cutting of 70ft in m the wifi® appearance of rock as on tne Tokomairiro side. The contractors are sparing no expense in order to. penetrate the reck. 1 was shown some, litho. small cartridge from Hjf an ounce to onqvandra'-half' ounces; : to used on these works. The else of the cartridge ii-fn accordance with the depth of hole whiob has bn receive it. A percussion cap is fixed on the end of the fuze, and securely placed in one of these cartridges. The explosion is venr effective, and w $ gpeaji frying of labor, and, as the drills have a very pmaU bpro, it fa said the effect m much more powerful than that produced-- by powder,—‘Times,’ • * Roxbubgh.— At a public meeting held at the Commercial Assembly Rooms, to consider land settlement in the district, the following resolutions were carried “ That, in the opinion of this meeting, the Government are not keeping good faith with the public iu opening land for settlement on Henderson’s run, Miller’s Flat, other than that originally arranged to be thrown ftPeu} and that the lapd nsw surveyed is unfit ror Settlement, the blookß ; beitigv ß myeyedl foi the runholder embracing the only laud suitable for agricultural settlement.** ’** That a committse be formed consisting of Messrs Ireland, Woodhouse, J. Beighton, Fitzgerald, G. Mackay, • Burton, D. Cormack, Anderson, ■ Manuel, and Birch, for the purpose of protesting against the action of the Government in ar> ranging to sell privately to the runhelderith*'' only blocfc of-land on Henderson’s rum‘Millers Flat, instable for agricultural

** That the committee be instructed to communicate with Mr Holloway, and invite him to Visit the district, and confer with the committee tad public generally on the inducements held out to immigrants of small means, and forward a concise statement showing the manner in which the public lands of the Mount Bengcr district are being disposed of to runholding Capitalists; also, to inform him of the vexatious obstructions placed in the way of residents or many years’ standing obtaining even a few acres for a residence.” “That this meeting desires to express its unqualified disapproval of the present arrangements by which applicants for land on deferred payments are compelled to travel to the Dunstan to apply for mnd, instead of applications being received in the locality where the land is situated. ” • CROirWELL.—The Cromwell. Company have Men compelled to susponc crushing, from want ot water, but all hands are busily engaged raising stone, which shows no diminution in -I* is confidently predicted that LoOjOOO m dividends will be taken out of the mine this year.—‘Argus,’