OTAGO. [From the Otago News.]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VI, Issue 503, 29 May 1850, Page 2

OTAGO. [From the Otago News.]

Saw and Flour Mill. — We have been much gratified with an inspection of Mr. Valpys saw aud flour mill, — the first erection of this kind in the district of Otago. It is picturesquely situated on the banks of the Water of Leith, with a sufficiency of water power for the present wants of our infant settlement ; though the late fine weather has iendered it necessary to economise a little. The saw mill is in full operation, but the machinery of the flour mill is not complete. The great obstacle to^ supplying Dunedio with sawn timber at a cheap rate arises from the want of upright saws, and the inefficiency and unfitness of a circular s..w for breaking up logs. This, we believe, will shortly be remedied. Roads, too, have to be made into the bush for the convenience of dragging the lugs to the mill, which is performed by bullocks. The average of work executed per day dees not at piesent exceed 400 or 500 fee*. Great praise, however, is due to Mr. Valpy for his enterprise in carrying out what must have proved an expensive scheme for the public good, and equal praise is also due to the millwrights, Mr, James £. Brown, and Mr. James A.dam, to whose untiring perseverance, amid difficulties of no ordinary kind, its ultimate success may be attributed. The cargo of horses, cattle, and sheep, imported per Lady Clarke, has been sold in this market at prices which we have reason to know will prove highly satisfactory to Mr. Sidey, the importer. The cattle and sheep were bought up privately by a large stockholder, aud the horses were exposed to public auction on Monday last, by Mr. McGlashan; the best strong draught mare bringing £25, the lowest figure being about £\2. ' The general quality of the horses was that of unsuitablentss for the heavy work of this country. Some of the Van Diemen's Land breed of draught horses would be an acquisition to the colony. On the same day, twenty-five head of cows and heifers, in calf, belonging to the stock of Mr. J. Jones, of Waikouiti, met. with a ready sale at prices varying from £11 to £16 each.