SWITZERS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 153, 12 January 1871, Page 5

SWITZERS.

(From a Correspondent.)

It is rather too late to give our Christmas compliments to your readers, but I wish them a Happy New Tear. We are in the midst of our Christmas holidays, and though we have had no sports this year at Switzers proper, there were races on Boxing day at Mr. M'Leans, a distance of six miles away, affording an opportunity for many of our pleasure seekers to enjoy themselves ; others, in a less ostentatious manner, in little family parties have sought for pleasure under the shade of the evergreen, in witnessing the beauties of those shrubs and flowers, for which New Zealand is so famous.

Our local candidate for the General Assembly, (Mr. J. F. Dean,) is meeting with" great favour. His independence of character and honesty of purpose, have satisfied the people here that he is the most suitable person (in that respect) to look after the interests of the district. At a meeting held here a short time ago, he gave a very clear exposition of his views on the leading political questions of the day, so clear and exhaustive, that the most contentious did not appear to have any room left them to ask any questions at the conclusion of his address.

For the last week, Dr. Carr has been entertaining us with his mesmeric seances. Our usually slow going people are all excitement. Dr. Carr, and mesmerism, is in everybody's mouth. Unquestionably, he is a good speaker, and as an illustrator of the mesmeric influence, I have no doubt he is clever, but I don't understand it.

Whether the people of Switzers Lave harder heads, or stronger wills, or altogether stronger character, than at other places I cannot tell, but I do know that there have been very few persons who could be brought so much under the influence as that the Dr. could put them into the region of "monkey do in." And if it is only weak minded persons that can be strongly brought under the influence of mesmerism by the mesmeric medium, is it not probable that the minds of such persons may be permanently affected by it ? But as I said before, I don't understand it.

Rather a serious accident has occurred to Skene and Co's water race. Two days before Christmas, a flume on the main line of race,- ninety feet long, across a deep gorge, broke down, and was smashed to pieces. Of a necessity, sluicing operations will be at a standstill until it is repaired. Water is scarce throughout the district for that class of mining. The season has been very dry, and all the small creeks are dry, and the small race owners are suffering as a matter of course. And until the Grovernment can be induced to bring a permanent supply of water to the goldfields, the mining interest will continue to languish, and as a consequence all other interests •will suffer. There is a plentiful supply of water if the wherewithal could be obtained to bring it along a sufficient elevation.

It is rumoured that Mr. Bradshaw's friends are going to induce him to retire from -the contest with Mr. Dean, as 'it would be a pity for two good liberal men to be pitted against each other at the coming election. There will be agrand soiree this evening, under the management of the bachelors of Switzers. Dr. Can* has been requested to give a lecture for the entertainment of the audience. Switzers, Dec. 28, 1870.