TAPANUI.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 131, 11 August 1870, Page 6

TAPANUI.

(From our own Correspondent.)

It is rather wliat may be termed eating humble pie to hiive to commence 4 kny second letter' 'wisi an v Apology. : However, as the pill may be, if must he swallowed. When I forwarded my last communication, I fully intended to have appeared at least once or twice previous to the date of the present. But, as Coila's minstrel observed a" long time ago, *' The Bs'st laid Bchfemeß' of mice and men, M * . v Gang aft togley." Sof^fcas it been with me, instead of (hay( hay ing an almost' unlimited 'command of time asl usuUlly have, domestic "arrangements haye %> engrossed, 'my "* attention lately to the total exclusion of any other subject. However/* the household gods are appeased once more, and with your favourable indulgence, I shall appear from time: to time, as, circumstances will permft. 1

The standing • topics of conyei'sation at present are two, and are thfe" 1 same in Tapafcnui ste every where else,' viz., plenty of mud atiSd scarcity* of money. ' To diminish the* former and 'replenish the latter, all- our' thinking mfen are at their wit's end • ' ' ' >s * r I dare- say you are already aware that the x principal 1 support of ' our hitherto -prosperous township consists in the cutting" of timber, although other branches of 'industry have indirectly to its, formation and establishment. Engaged in this work there are altogether three saw mills, two driven by steam' and one by water, and when in?full working order combinedly, are capable of turning out considerably over one hundred thousand feet of sawn timber per week. Of coiu-se, in connection with such a mass of timber there is an enormous amount of carrying required, since it is conveyed far and near — the Tkpanui timber being unrivalled (as a colonial for durability, cheapness, and "the manner' in which' it is turned but. At this moment I 'am not prepared to state the exacttnuinbeV of 1 men or bullocks thus employed', Although the latter cannot Be short' of five or" 'six hundred ; but as this woifld be rather an interesting subject -to' a 'good many of your readers, especially to those residing in this district, very likely I shall ' send you an article on each of the saw mills bye-dnd-bye. On account of the wretched con-

dition of the roads two-thirds of the bullock drivers have suspended driving arid turned out their bullocks to graze for -three or four months, in consequence of which the Victoria Saw Mill has entirely stopped work for a time, and the other two have shortened time and reduced their hands.'

I only make the few preceding remarks to show that although 1 at present business may be a little dull and' some rather straitened in circumstances, it is merely temporary, and' by' keeping up' their • spirits • and piutting a ■ " stoutr heart bo a stae btae," better days will come and prosperity increase. At the sarnie time itf is certainly a ' consoling fact/ that there is scarcely a rule without an 'exception. Although most branches of trade have been characterised by 'a spirit of excessive dullness lately, more' than the average amount of attention has been given to' fencing — in 'fact nearly every available acite in the immediate vicinity of the township has been enclosed 1 in, and 'active preparations made for taking advantage of the approaching spring. This is a step in , the right direotion, and augurs well f6r the future. 1 In connection with this subject it 'has' often 'occurred to rdy mind as being impolitic in the extrenie to have to depend" for our supplies of oats and potatoes upon districts fifty or sixty ' miles - tlistanii— yet such }s the case. It surely is transparently absurd to allow oats and potatoes to be brought from Balclutha and ' Teviot, and then I' find a ready remunerative -market in Tapanui, especially when the land adjacent to* it is capable of carrying all the usual crops with full and' satisfactory success. I have seen ' twelve tons of potatoes taken off one acre/ and seventy bushels of oats off barely an acre and a quarter, while crops of garden fruit and vegetables will bear •favourable comparison with most 1 other districts in Otago. With this' season I hope will terminate the absurdity of allowing imported agriculture produce" to take the place of what ought ' to be grown at home. Not to mention othel" inconveniences, the pi'esent systom very irregularly and inadequately suits the demand. • At this moment I question very much if any one could procure for love or money ten bushels' 'of o'atsin the whole town. Let' us hope fbr a better and more progressive state : of things next summer. ' • ' '

A go.od deal of discussion is being expended by our Progressive ' Committee on the necessity arid advisability of forming "and gravelling Bushy 1 ' Hillstreet and a portion'of Northumberlandstreet. The stei'ri necessity of undertaking the work at 1 once I think uiust be apparent to every one who venture the length of 1 themselves from their own door. The advisability of doing so, I dare say • rests' to a great extent with the liberality of the Government. vß«tv ß«t should they 'give £2" to £1, as is fo be asked, there can only be one opinion as to the judiciousness of proceeding with the work. This 'is really 'a matter which every person owning property ought to interest themselves in, since the whole Value of the township will become considerably enhanced thereby as well as producing a degree of comfort and pleasure 1 hitherto unknown to uri,: fortunate pedestrians, and' create an; aspect of neatness and stability about the whole place. "' !

The great W"aikaka Water Race has at last been formally opened with great hopes as to its immediate future. I intended sending you an account of the interesting event, but have delayed until now — too late. May it here suffice to say that the beneficial effects of tliis advanced stage of the work is sanguinely expected' to reach our environs, and include us among the participators of its fate. May it be so. I .fancy there could be more unwelcome sights in Tapanui than a good parcel of Waikaka gold. While on the subject of gold I may here state (cautiously, however) that one day last week we were almost seized with a panic on receiving the' tidings that a man had found half an ounce of gold as the result of two ' hours washing in ' the Pomahaka, just below the township. The report proved to be correct, and a general rush was made to tile scene of -discovery, when a diligent prospect ensued. Since" then, a number have' done' remarkably well, others ' are ' barely making wages, while' the majority of the would-be diggers have* returned to their less exciting pursuits.

At the last sale of town sections very few purchases were ' made, there heing no valuable sites offered? " %

In the way of amusements we have donebut little. During the past four or five weeks we have had; ' perhaps as 1 many Sixpenny' Readings, at which several gentlemen h|tve presided. The number of performers who come for 7 ward at these gatherings- is astonishing, and generally do their best." Where ; such is the case, it would be invidious to criticise, although with a little more preparation several -might appear J to more advantage. '

■ The Loyal Tapaniu Lodge of Oddfellows has taken a 'firm hold of the community, and cdntinues" to increase. At the change of chairs last month V.G. Kilgour was elected N.G., Bro. Allan V.G., and Bro. *Neish re-elected E.S.

A matter receiving grave consideration at present is the irregular manner in which the mails arrive. It is highly disgraceful to employ such horses as are at pi*esent engaged in this important service. Two of. the veriest screws

scarcely able to walk being thought good enough to Say nothing l of the imprudence of entrusting its conveyance to a mere child.' 'Besides, the newspapers reach us in such a condition as render them totally unfit to 1 be read, being either wet or chafed or torn: The postmaster in Dunedin is to be communicated with, when" perhaps some change will take place. Pko Grege. Tapanui< August 1, 1870.