District Notes.

Southern Cross, Volume 2, Issue 32, 3 November 1894, Page 3

District Notes.

(By Our Special Reporter.)

SEAWARD BUSH and TISBURY,

In these localities settlement is gradually extending, several bush, sections having been taken np lately, the owners of which are clearing, burning, and fencing. Mr Horsley, late of Forest Hill, has purchased a ten-acre bush holding and has built a comfortable cottage. Mr Clarke has also lately obtained a hush section, and is now having.it cleared ready for grass-sowing. Both these new holdings are situated near Mr Middleton’s Tisbury post office.

The Excelsior Sawmill is still working—felling and cutting the remaining trees in -the Seaward Bush township. The greater part of the timber is loaded at the Seaward Bush railway siding, and from thence distributed as ordered. The settlexs in this bush district are generally employed in the ill-requited industry of cutting firewood. At .this work the dollars gained do not balance with the sweat lost. lam glad to observe that the Railway Commissioners are buying -—in sucb numbers as the bushmen can produce hewn sleepei's, thus finding for those who have the timber what should be a more profitable employment than cutting firewood. While writing of the present railway management I may add that it has given much satisfaction locally, in laying down a level crossing half-way between . Seaward Siding and Tisbury. This, I understand, has been done at a cost of less than £l2. The adjacent settlers had on two or three occasions applied to the late Commissioners for this concession, but were met with the usual “ Ho !” that seemed to form so large a part of the administration of Messrs Maxwell and Co. It was said, after a professional survey, the crossing asked for would cost £7O. The level crossing as made—a really serviceable one has cost about £l2. How is this for the professional ability employed P In a good central position, fronting on the Elies Road and Appleby station, a new chnrch is nearly completed, and the services hitherto held in the town hall, South Invercargill, will shortly be conducted in the new building by the Rev. A. H. Stobo. The Tisbury school iu charge of the Misses Hamilton and Rout, is still well attended —indeed, it is surprising how so many youngsters gather in a sparsely peopled bush district. A Sunday school is now also established under the tuition of Mr Clarke, and it is hoped parents will assist it by sending their children every Sabbath afternoon at three o’clock. The electors in this part of Invercargill are well satisfied with their treatment by Parliament in the sums voted for road-making purposes —that is, if the money is forthcoming, and the road works commenced early in summer. The extension of the Seaward Bush railway from Mokotua to the Oteramika Gorge station has received its first coating of gravel, and if sufficiently advanced it is proposed by some that the United Friendly Societies’ excursion on the 9tb inst. should proceed on to the Gorge station. If this were done it would agreeably vary the scene in the way of extensive maiden bush, ferns, etc., the Mataura river, and fishing ; and were a small steam launch in attendance a trip down the river to Fortrose, returning in time to catch the inward train to Invercargill, would be quite feasible. It appears that a handsome sura has been voted for the extension of the Seaward Bush railway, and that it will tap the eastern district at an early date seems highly probably. In the midst of this life and movement we have death. Mr Drake, an old Oteramika settler, has passed away in his seventy-fourth year. He was of a kindly and hospitable disposition.