COAL CREEK.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 208, 25 January 1872, Page 6

COAL CREEK.

(From a Correspondent.)

We seem to be forgotten by your own C.C.C., who has not sent you any thing about our quiet Flat for some months. I think his last effusions consisted," principally in showing the readers of the Tuapeka. Times what enterprisiug men our local publicans are, so perhaps the holidays combined with the hot and dry weather. has- had something to do with his silence. I hope he will not be so neglectful in the future. We have had some stirring events during the holidays, and our Flat presented a gay appearance on the days of the Races. There was a large gathering of people, the weather was splendid, the booths were well supplied with refreshments both solid and fluid, every one seemed to enjoy themselves and were well pleased with the Races and Sports. I though the Races, &c, would have been reported, or I would have sent you a report of them. The only thing to be regretted was the fatal .accident which befel Tamborine, a promising horse belonging to Mr. R. M-Leod of the Moa Flat. The horse was running in the hurdle race, when another horse came into collision with it, which caused TarnWorine'n death in a few hours. Mnch sympathy was expressed for Mr. M'Leod. •, On New. Years day, all the children in the Teviot district with their parents and friends*, were invited to a pic-nic, held in Mr. A. Bennetts paddock, and Ij should think from the number present, nearly all the'cHUdren accepted the invitation. It was a first class affair, an,d reflects great fcredit on

Messrs. Borton, Glass, * Ireland, Wilgoss and other' gentlemen, who got up the pic-nic, and provided the good things jn such rich- abundance. A splendid Jawing was erected. With music, swinging, cricket,' &c, every one seemed happy, and cordially wished each other many happy returns of the day.

The sale of Clarke's run ia talked about by every one. The people think it very hard that the man who represents us, should behave in such a shameful way. Is there such a thing as gratitude is often asked, when we think the Teviot people voted nearly to a man for Bradshaw and Reid, and their first acts for this district was to compass its ruin, for it is nothing else. If this sale is allowed, what is to prevent Clarke or any other capitalist buying Cargill and Anderson's runs on the same terms, and so getting the remaining parts of the district. A man with a little capital has no chance whatever in this district, so far as farming is concerned, for land cannot be had by the settler ; but let a capitalist express a wish for 40,000 or 50,000 acres it is granted at once, at one-half the price" which the settler would pay. It don't require much foresight to predict the future of Otago. The way in which things are going on. financial ruin must be the result. If Clarke's run had been thrown open for settlement, thousands of people would have 3ettled on it in a few years. Do clear sighted mercantile men really expect railways to pay in a country composed of sheep runs? Will a few trains laden with wool and sheep for Dunedin, two or three times a year, pay for the cost of construction 1

No one can blame the runholders for making the best of their position and interests. Messrs. Cargill and Anderson has informed the miners residing on their runs, who are owners of cattle, that the grass rent 10s per head, for all cattle over six months old, must be paid this month. Messrs. Cargill and Anderson are liberal compared to Clarke, who has charged .£1 per head, but the runs are heavily stocked with sheep, and the poor cattle are like skeletons. When we consider that 3s 6d per head is the Government charge, 10s is too exor-

bitant. What we want here is ]5 or 20j000 acres of commonage. Owing to the dry hot weather, there is very little water in the races, and raining is almost at a stand. Messrs. Tamblyn and party, have extended their race down the flat, in order to work some ground near Chatburn's house.

Harvesting is in full swing, but th crops are very light, a good many paddocks will not pay for the' seed sown.