GREENSTONE.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1406, 1 February 1873, Page 2

GREENSTONE.

(from otjb own correspondent.) _ January 29, Parties who visited Greenstone four or five years since, attse^p| of the opening of the Djke of E^^inburgh Terrace, would find few traces of^ former, times. The terrace itself has been partially washed away, leaving the debris in the shapjj 0f stones to fill up the flat that'formerly-in-tervened between it and the. township. '- Work was stopped for a time, in conse- ;^fc quence of the removal of the fluming con- • nected with the Great Hohonu Water-, race, but as this was accomplished prior to Christmas, the remaining portion of this once fine auriferous terrace is now Jn a fair way of being reduced to a mass" of stones. Years ago this terrace was reported to be rich in gold and that it paid ; : very excellent wages, and that character it contiuues to. hold to this very day. The fabulous price that is paid for water speaks volumes for the richness of the ~ place. Work is now carried on in a larger scale all over the district to what itwas formerly; the greatest drawbacks are, however, the huge-blocks of stones that are to be seen everywhere. Greenstone, with its immense supply of water, may now be considered the best sluicing place on the Coast, and is likely to be so for many years. , . : -,■ Notwithstanding the general prosperity of the district, there is a considerable, amount of dissatisfaction manifested with respect to the Paroa Road Board. It is, said that whilst some have paid their rates here others have not done so, although it is well known that this does notarise from any inability on their part, but rather from the fact of their being in a position to defend any: proceedings that might have been taken to enforce a rate, that was not legally justified. There is no use beating about, the, bush, and the Road Board may as veil know that for the future (and this applies to the rate they are about to levy) no rate will be paid unless the act is strictly complied with. It is perfectly, useless for the Board; to ap-., point assessors, and to go to any expenses in valuing business places, miners huts, and gardens. The rate will not be paid, and the plea will be that the rate has not been made according to the Road Board Act ; therefore, it is better to know; all this, and some valuable time ; . besides, there is the Government subsidy, that might be jeopardised if the Act is not complied with. For the good of the; whole district, it is desirable that the; Road Board should know the feeling of the ratepayers. It is .; not their business * ' to define what is rateable property and what, is not, but to administer the Act as they find it.