MAEREWHENUA.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 388, 18 August 1876, Page 3

MAEREWHENUA.

(From our own correspon dent.) The news I have to send you is of rather a pleasant nature. We have had no less than three marriages within the last six weeks. There must surely be some amorous plant hovering round here at present-. It is reported, from good authority, another marriage comes eff very shortly. I can't help admiring the pluck of these folks in throwing off their selfish individuality. There is 110 doubt but they will bo benefactors to the country, and, we hope, to themselves. They have shown a good example to the single men of this place. It is to be hoped their sweethearts, if they have any, will bring them to the scratch, and put an end to their miserable single existence. There is one thing the Miners' Asso* elation have wot l>« - u t'oi g-etlVi <>i —they

have applied to the Government for the appointment of a .Registrar of Births. Mining matters are quiet. The Miners' Association Committee have determined to get a memorial drawn up, to be forwarded to the General Government, asking for the legalisation of the pollution of rivers, for goidminmg purposes. The meeting was held on the fifth instant, and Mr. Thomas Smith was appointed to proceed to Mount Ida, where the capital has been principally drawn from for the cordpletion of the races that are in working order, but are depreciated in value.in sequence of the uncertainty as to the safety of dirtying the water. Mr. Smith's object is to get. a memorial drawn up, urging the Government to settle the disputes at Maerewhenua, and protect those" who have invested on the strength of the Governor's proclamation. It is to be regretted this was not done two months ago. It is to be hoped they may be in time for this session. ;

.Oamaru is quiet at present, although some very good buildings hare been putup within the last six months, and have made a wonderful improvement in thelook of the town. The Awamoko railway is not opened for passenger traffic yet, but is conveying luggage. Ido not wish to make any strictures ori the line at present. The Waiareka railway is getting on very slowly, but I am bound in honor and common sense to say it is of a superior nature to other branches I observed. The material is of a superior description. This line passes through an extent of agricultural country, but it is principally held by four or five parties. If it were held in private farms from 300 to 600 acres, the line would give handsome returns. The owners may yet sell the land into farms, in which case the railways would be a complete success, and.this would be one of the largest grain-grow-ing districts in the Colony. Oamaru water works are being pushed ahead. It is refreshing, to observe that the Council haveJjgiven up the idea of bringing in the water by the iron piping system, as being altogether inadequate for the requirements of Oamaru. When the supply is unlimited, like the Waitaki. they cannot practically bring in too much water. The Council may rest assured, if they coii'd bring in a fourth of the Waitaki, they could sell the water at such a price as would monopolise every motive power in Oamaru at the present time, and create other industries not thought of now. I, see no reason why they should not have woolen factories as well as other parts of the Colony. It only wants a start made, as this is a wool-growing district. It surely cannot be said that her merchants and others are less speculative than other parts of the Colony. I here is a line for an open race surveyed, but it is not finally decided on. The length will he about thirty miles. The ; Council has, been.very fortunate in their selection of an engineer to carry out their works. He has the name of being careful, with high professional attainments, and is not likely to make a start, withrut exhausting every source of information that would be calculated to make the work a success.