COUNTRY NEWS.

Evening Star, Issue 3614, 22 September 1874, Page 3

COUNTRY NEWS.

{From our Exchanges. ) The interior traffic between Dunedin ami the goldfields of the Province during the present winter has been much leas than during any winter since the discovery of gold in Otago. Skating has been much indulged in at Alexandra this winter. For six weeks an enthusiastic young skater was on the ice almost daily, and became so much at home «n skates that he succeeded ip writing his name on the ice. A portion of the first of the wool clip for the present season passed through Tokcmainro on Saturday afternoon. It was from the Waikaia station. The formation of the Green Island branch line is now almost complete ; only about two chains remains to be filled up, and, as far as may be judged, tho formation is of a far more substantial character than the main line, which fact reflects credit on the contractor. Only about a quarter of a mile of the rails are yet laid, and the work is getting on slowly. Good Templarisra is greatly on the increase on the goldfields of Otago. The lodge recently established at Arrowtown now numbers 100 members. The cause is also prospering in Cromwell and every other 1 mining township in Otago. The ‘Bruce Herald states that a large wholesale wine merchant in Arrowtown does not intend to replenish his stock of spirits, and purposes becoming a Oood Templar ! Houses at Green Is'and are in demand, and are being built as fast as possible. Population is still on the increase. The speedy increase is owing to the number of miners employed in the new coal pits which have lately been sunk. A largo trade is at present doing at Cromwell in timber obtained from the Lake Wanaka sawmills. _ The sawn timber is floated down the river in rafts containing over 3,000 ft each, two rafts generally travelling in company. The distance is fifty-six miles, and the rafts perform the journey in from seven to nine hours, according to the state of the river.

The ‘Bruce Hera’dV peripatetic jotter met in bis travels on the goldfields a working blacksmith, who employs his spare time after hia hard day’s work in drawing. He has framed a very creditablecopy of the picture of “ Christ blessing little children,” executed by him ; his library is large and select, and, what is better, well read and studied. He also conducts divine service in the absence of the minister.

There have been more slips at the Dunedin end of the Chain Hills tunnel, which have retarded progress considerably. Owing to the steep acclivity of the bills on each side of the gully np which the line passes, large slips may occasionally be looked for.