INCH VALLEY.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1317, 26 June 1880, Page 2

INCH VALLEY.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

A mass meeting of settlers and others was held in the Dunback Schoolhouse to consider what steps should be adopted to further the construction of the Waihemo railway. Captain Kitchener was in the chair. Mr. A. D. Bell placed before the meeting a series of resolutions which had been passed at a, preliminary meeting of influential settlers held at Waihemo. Tho meeting unanimously affirmed the desirableness of decided action. During tho discussion the fact was elicited that a tally is kept at Palmerston of goods passing through for the Shag Valley. _ Mr. Bell and others pointed out that it is not possible for any person in Palmerston to know what. goodis will pass up thei Shag "Valley, and that therefore any calculations based upon such a return will be very incomplete. It was decided to receive signatures to a petition and forward the same to the House of Representatives praying for the construction of the Waihemo railway. The petition is going tho rounds of the district, and numerous signatures are being appended. The popular readings given in tho schoolhouse on Tuesday evening were a success. They were interspersed with songs. Messrs. Puddock and Bance were loudly applauded for their singing. Votes of thanks were accorded at the close of the entertainment to Messrs. Puddook and Bance, the singers, the Chairman (Mr. W. L. Craig), and to Mr. Selby. In reply, Mr. Selby said that the readings had taken even better than he had expected for the first of the series. Tho attempt was, to a certain extent, an experiment, but as all present had so heartily shown their appreciation arid satisfaction that he had not the least doubt that the room would hardly hold the audienoe which would gather to attend the next readings on July 20th. On Sunday we had a slight flood, but the weather cleared up beautifully on Tuesday, enabling the total eclipse of the moon to be seen to advantage.