Country News

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 38, 16 December 1893, Page 12

Country News

OREPUKI. The Orepuki Mining Association has been: taking into consideration the “ residence area” grievance, and interviewed Warden Paw son last Court day, as objectors to the granting of any more in the Orepuki district. Undoubtedly residence areas are a nuisance on a small goldfield, but seeing that much of the land is already taken up in this manner, it seems rather late in the day to object. However, the Warden seems to have no option in the matter unless the ground applied for can be found to be non-auriferous. Rather hard to prove a negative at any time, but moie especially in a case of this kind. Occupation licenses are also being found out to be in the wrong, and already some litigation has occur red about them, with plenty more in the near future. Gold is slowly but surely ceasing to be the mainstay of this district, as year by year the yield is lessening, and the difficulty of working increasing, but fortunately agriculture, and sheep and cattle raising are taking its place, so there is still a prosperous future before us. A very large area of bush has been felled here this winter, and when fine dry windy weatner sets in burning will be the order of the day. I am sorry to say that death has visited us once more, and carried off two very old sellers here, and miners of long standing, both here and in other places —Robert Aitken, an old man of 85 years, and so far as known, with no relations in the colony, and William Smith, also an elderly man, who leaves a wife and a family of five young children.