NOKOMAI.

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

NOKOMAI.

(From our Own Correspondent.)

On the 10th inst. the Rev. Mr Tanner, of Invercargill, paid us a visit of 3 whole hours duration after an absence of nearly, if not quite, 12 months. There has been no other Church of England minister on the Nokomai during that time. Mr Hansen acts as Lay Header, and deserves the respect of the community for the manner in which he fill that office ; but there are acts which that gentleman cannot perform, and where the preseuce of a clergyman is required. The Roman Catholic clergy attend to the members of their church resident here, and it is a shame the established church cannot. It is said the Nokomai is in the visiting district of Mr Coffey, Church of England minister at Queenstown, but it surely must be out of it, for that gentleman is never seen. The Nokomai Flat Company have this week sent a representative to Invercargill, at the request of the inhabitants of that town, to call a public meeting and submit the minute books of the Company thereto, in order to let intending shareholders know what has been done and consider the advisability of forming an Invercargill committee. " Mr Thomas Aiton, storekeeper and Secretary of the Nokomai Flat Company, had a very a very narrow escape from drowning, on proceeding to town as the representative above mentioned, his horse rolling over in the Mataura with him. ] The members of the school committee have been agreeing wonderfully well the last month or two. At the meeting on the 10th the secretary reported the total receipts of last month's concert to be L 3 3s (10s of which was presented, however, by the winner of a singing match). A lamp and firewood were ordered, and it was announced the bell had been ordered from Melbourne. A good thing it will be when it arrives and is in the belfry, for the children now assemble at all hours — no two clocks in this district ever getting nearer each other than an hour, an hour and a, half, or two hours. The average attendance of scholars at present is 24. The road through the Gorge, to save the celebrated Paddy's Alley, is proceeding with vigor ; but the money expended on it is money thrown away almost, as it will be too soft in winter, and the Mataura too high and swift at the fords in any freshets to let travellers or waggoners pass. 1 hear several children require vacoinating here ; we have, however, no medical man, nor are there any facilities for complying with the Act. This is a matter that should be carefully attended to now that the fell disease is reported to be abroad. I do not understand how it is my letters dt> not reach you — two at any rate never have.