WAITAHUNA.

Tuapeka Times, Volume IV, Issue 221, 25 April 1872, Page 7

WAITAHUNA.

(From our Own Correspondent.) The showers with which we were favoured a fortnight ago enabled a few of our sluicers to resume work, after an idleness of several months ; but unless we are again visited by a pluvial down-pour, they will of necessity relapse into their former state at the end of this week. There are four races running into Waitahuna, but with the exception of the Norwegian's, the quantity of water in them is at present very small. The weather is at present fine, and there is no appearance of a break occurring. The action of the new Inspector of the Tuapeka Depasturing District (Mr. Grundy) has struck terror into the minds of those individuals, wh< », although owning seventy or eighty head of cattle, have applied to depashire only half that number. The cases that Lave lately been before the court, show pretty clearly how the duties of the office h;ive hitherto been performed, 'and go to support the opinion expressed by a correspondent (" Digger") several months ago, to the effect that if a properly . qualified gentleman were appointed to the office, the revenue from assessment fees would be largely increased. At Havelock all the claims are in full work, the fine weather bein? particularly favourable for the system of mining carried on there. The claims are mostly of five acres in extent, the ground from ten to fourteen feet in depth, and the thickness of the washdirt ranging from one to four feet. With one or two exceptions, horses and drays are used in the claims, enabling many of our small settlers to employ themselves-and their horses in a manner more profitable than tilling the soil. The Waipnri, Tranter's, Cairns's, and Bush's claim? have the name of yielding a steady wage to the shareholders, while others are, when fairly opened out, expected to yield equally well. The many friends of Mr. Barr will be pleased to learn that the money subscribed by them has been expended in the purchase of a silver hunting watch and gold chain, and that they will be forwarded to that gentleman this week. The w.itch is from the establishment of Messrs. Harrop and Neill, George-street, Dunedin, and on the inner case is excellently engraved the following inscription. : " .Presented. to Mr. Alex Barr, as a token of esteem, by his numerous friends on Waitahuna. 1872."