MAHAKIPAWA.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume I, Issue 14, 11 March 1890, Page 3

MAHAKIPAWA.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

The gold brought dow < for the week was nearly equal to last week, onr local gold-buyer (for the National Bank) purchased close on 2500 z, besides the gold sold to our store-keepers. This week the gold was more evenly distributed, a large number of claims doing fairly well, while I don't hear of many big things, the best week's work I hear of is Downie's Mistake with 360 z.

There was a dance on Thursday evening in commemoration of the'birthday of the hospitahle hostess of the Grand National Hotel. A very enjoyable e-ening was spent, and dancing was kept up energetically till twelve o'clock, when, with innumerable " happy returns of the day," a pleasant party broke up. On Saturday evening Mr J. Laurie gave a boxing exhibition, the proceeds to be devoted to give prizes for sports for the children on Easter Monday. The thanks of the community are due to Laurie for his disinterested services, and to Mr Oliver for the free use of the Theatre Royal. It is gratifying to see that some folks take an interest in our children if the Education Board do not. I think we must give the old shed up when the cold weather comes on, and instead of learning to read and write the children must learn to dance and fight. I see in the paper that the Education Board ''think" that the time has now come for a school in this place. The people here don't think, but are "quite sure," that the time came a year and more ago, though the school didn't. We pnlv hope that now the Education Board have started to think they wiU not forget to act, as the cold weather will soon be upon us, and it will not be possible for our little children to attend school in frosty weather, in an iron shed without a fire.

A concert will be given in the Theatre Royal on Saturday next in aid of the local cricket, football, and athletic clubs, when our local talent will come to the front in full force.

I hear that the proprietors of the Logan Reefs are going to push things along shortly by laying their tram way and erecting a baitery. The Kaipi and Waikakaho ReefH ha\e both a big heap of stone ready put out for crushing, ana the quality of the stone is without question, as you can see gold freely in it. Tiie Mahakipawa have not yet reached the reef, but are pushing along steadily through a rather boiuy country. The Southern Cross Company are hammering away pluckily at very hard stone, and have more than half their required distance completed, l>ut have some months hard punching to do before they strike the reef, when there is very little doubt they will l.reak through into good payable quartz.

The Road Board would be wise to finish the track to the Right Hand Branch, as Messrs Jlfogau & po, are about to start in full' swing, as 1 am credibly informed, they will employ a large number <>l men, and it would be an inconceivable blessing to men who would have to get over there from here to have a practicable road, as well as the unfortunate fifty who have to make pack-horses of themselves and loose a day's work weekly besides. liyish they had their office there and had to attend a road board nueting oppo a week. I guess they .would then see tfye necessity of finishing the track. It was clearly intended to be finished, or why was it surveyed and cleared.