COUNTRY INTELLIGENCE.

Southland Times, Issue 1783, 22 August 1873, Page 2

COUNTRY INTELLIGENCE.

(j-EOil OUa COBBESPL.NDBNT3.) EIVERTON. A meeting was held in the Athenseum here on rhe 14th inst., presided over by J. Cook, Esq., for the purpose of drawing up a petition urging on the Government the necessity of making an early start with the Otautau Railway, and also requesting that it might be carried along the west side of Jacob's River, as sanctioned by the Provincial Council, and not on tho east side as desired by the people of Limestone Plains. A letter which appeared in the Southland Times of Tuesday last, st^ne 1 "An oil J. R. Settler," clearly shows the advantages to be derived by having tho line construoted on the west bank of I the rivor. It will thus open up the Longwood Bush, besides trave-.-sinj a country rich with freestone and limestone. The petition has been put in circulation, and has already received a large number of signatures. On Tuesday evening:, 19th inst., Mr Gr. Baker, of Invercargill, very kindly gave an entertainment with his magic lantern, in the Oddfellows' Hall, the object being to raise fands to purchase a new harmonium for the English church. There was a very good attendance on the occasion. By the aid of. the oxycalcium and lime lights, the dissolving views had a very brilliant appearance, the younger portion of the audience being apparently highly pleased with the exhibition. Appropriate songs were given as the different slides were shown. TUAPEKA. We have had some very wintry weather since I wrote lust, snow, and sleet, and wind, and rain, and frost However, although the nights still continue to be exceedingly frosty, the dayd are now bi-coming warm and genial, and the vegetation in the valleys and on the low-lying hills is beginning to testify to the presence of Spring. There Is a good deal of talk going on at present throughout the district concerning the advisability of making a dray road along tbe course of the Tuapeka river from Tuapeka Mouth to Lawrence. Tho proposed route is not only exceedingly picturesque, but it also has the advantage of being the shortest between the two places, whioh are thus meant to be brought into closer communication with each other ; but, as there will be a good doal of earth-cutting to do on the points of the numerous steep ridges which, between the two places, jut into the river, the expenses connected with the adoption of this route cannot be expected to be very trifling. Nevertheless as the project is one which if carried into effect will materially benefit Lawrence and Tuapeka Mouth, it is very desirable that the people of both those places should see to its practical realisation. The second of a series of monthly readings came off on the evening of Friday, Bth, in the schoolhouse, Tuapeka Mouth. Mr Campbell, schoolmaster, occupied the chiir. The readings, which were really excellent, were varied with recitations and songs, and were wound up with half-an-hour's devotion to the Muse of ths .many . twinkling feet; and, altogether, the entertainment was a well-regulated and most enjoyable one.