BALCLUTHA.

Tuapeka Times, Volume I, Issue 27, 15 August 1868, Page 3

BALCLUTHA.

(From our Own Correspondent.)

If the phrase " the great human family," philiuithropically accepted, makes brothers and sisters of us all, there may bo some excuse under the head of family ties for instituting an interchange of knowledge between the residents on the auriferous fields of Tuapeka and the agricultural settlers on the Olutha. It is not without considerable diffidence that I constitute myself a medium of communication between two such important interests as are represented by our separate districts. The idea of dropping you an occasional has sprung from a consciousness that a district not yet ripe for a local journal may be soothed through the course of its infantine teething by a little friendly intercourse with a well-beloved brother. Once upon a time the settlers hereabout had cause to thank their lucky stars that lucky diggers in your locality were large consumers of agricultural produce, that diggers and others kept horse 3 for which they required oats, that dry bread was stale fare with gold seekers, that butter was as good as ready money in your market, and that eggs were eggs at Tuapeka. The Molyneux was at that time looked upon as the inlet for importations intended for the heart of the province. Port Molyneux was booked as the Greenock, and Clutha Ferry as the Glasgow of Otago. The simple arrangement between farmer Clutha and' digger Gabriel was, that the former should provide the necessaries of life while the latter provided the needful. Pleasing as this retrospective sketch may be in the simplicity of its details, time has almost defaced it from the canvas of events. Political artists have assumed the, brush and produced a complicated design, in which the colors of our relative circumstances are anything but harmoniously blended. The foDy of crying over spilled milk is proverbial ; we must, therefore, endeavor to content ourselves with the good that is left, rather than mourn over departed prosperity. Ifc may be that the permutation of commodities between us is only temporaily suspended ; indeed, circumstances already point to one source of native industry that is attracting towards this district the notice of various industrial communities. I allude to tho preparation and manufacture of New Zealand flax. Some time ago, Mr. Mansford erected an experimental establishment at Coal Point. Through more than the ordinary difficulties attendant upon the introduction of new industries the proprietor has struggled with a perseverance well deserving the reward which the proficiency attained seems to promise. Not only has he succeeded in producing % „VNr>l article that bears favorable oompam m with the well known Manilla dbre ; he has demonstrated the practicability of manufacturing rope of all sizes, from the necessity of a laundress for a clothes-line, to the requirements of a vessel for rigging. Between these two extremes, I apprehent there is a medium of requirement with all mining communities ; hence the conclusion 1 arrive at, that, as separate districts, we may yet prove dependent upon each other, to our mutual benefit. 'It requires no reference to-abstruce principles of political economy to prove the advantage of saving to the country the large profits derived by foreign enterprise from the manufacture and importation of colonial necessities. Livery colonist who successfully copes "r ''•.'. la itl.h a foreign compeer does a ot-r?:cc 10 the State, and is well deserving patronage and support. For these and other rea3ons I otter no apology for making this the subject of a first letter.

We are now promised the completion of our magnificent bridge in the course of a month or six weeks. To many of your residents, particularly to Messrs. Lancaster, Webb, Lees, and Michael, this will be news worthy the space you will devote to its publication, as, hither^ the punt, as a means of crossing cattle, has been a great drawback to cattle . dealers speculating south of the river.