GREENSTONE.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 659, 9 April 1870, Page 4

GREENSTONE.

(from as occasional correspondent.) Pottnamu, April 2. A yery marked cliange has come over the aspect of affairs in this district during the last few months. The population has increased, and there is a greater air of activity Among the miners, particularly on tho Duke's Terrace, than has been seen for some time, and as might be expected, the township looks lively, arid business appears to.be brisk j in fact, the whole place is at present " looking up." The Duke's Terrace is being rapidly sluiced away ; long wide slopes of tailings protrude into, the flat below, and will eventually tread on the heels of the township;" The large race is of course the cause of" this activity, and so far from the company not being able to dispose of their water, they are not able to meet the demand wluch has sprung up for it. The price charged hitherto has been L 2 per Government head, per day of eight hoiirsj but it is now raised to L3 los. The claimholders appear, to be much dissatisfied—not so much at the increase of price as at the irregular way in which the water is supplied to them, and their having to pay the full price whether the full amount of water is supplied them or not. Part of the water is used to .work the company's lease of 10 acres, on which about 60 men are at present employed. On ; the flat, in the bed of the creek, about I|' miles below the township, a hirgenumber of men have lately, set in, and as a preliminary operation, the creek there has been turned into a new channel. Maori Point and Argus Terrace are, if anything, * somewhat dull, and there is nothing; striking to report from the Junction! . Altogether the population of the Greenstone may be set down at present at 900,;^jz;,. about inineis and 200 busi'TKelTOibed question of the Court Housb. to Have been settled at last, Mr Hops haring for the second time purr chased. tiip building, which stands on the damp ; ; ' Reserve, and was formerly the property of one Stanleyji and a contract has been let by the Gpve^ntoent fpr adapt; . ing it to its new purposes. . It is to be hoped all due precautions have , been taken \his time, arid that the County will : übt lose any more money by buying prop&iy; : mthput • # title. first. public 1 tise ! tb' which the building was put was : the holding in it, of. an .amateur concert andba^in aid of the Hokftika Hospital, -whiieK took place last eve"n£ng, and passed <>ff j ITflry l rsuccessfuUy, _ The : room , was crowded, and the singing appeared to give great satisfaction, to j uage from the applaußtfarid encoring called forth by almost every piece. Messrs B^nar and Harvey, ■were/ present to represtrit the Hokitika Hbspital : Committee, &n& the financial result must have neeri f ery gratifyirig^^tp those gentlemen, as betWeen L7O arid LBO nett. was realised by thrf eiitertainment. Asraall, but very iialful, piece of work has lately been done by the Cfovethment in the JtownshipV viz., a road- from the Bridg^^tpiMxtchSlllitreet direct, so that drays a^e ther6by" now enabled io reach -the business part of the town.