Page 6 Advertisements Column 1

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 222, 2 May 1872, Page 6

Sheep Return. — From the Chief Inspector's letter to the Provincial Treasurer, under date the llth inst., we learn that there were in the united Province 3, 1 1 1,439 sheep on September 30th last. In Otago proper there were 2,431,623 sheep above six months old — 1,777,782 being returned as depastured on runs, 136,054 on goldfields,. and 25,699 on Hundreds. All are returned free from scab, and the Inspector certifies from actual observation that they have been so for the past year. Reefton. — Steps are being taken by the Government to extend the line of telegraph from Greymouth to Keefton, a distance of about fifty miles. Most, if not all, of the line will be through heavily timbered country and extensive bush clearing, a work of considerable cost and labor, will have to be done. This, during the winter season, cannot be managed quickly, and the line will probably not be opened earlier than six months hence. Teuders for felling the b sh have been invited, and are to be opened to-day, and no time will be lost in letting a contract. Reefton is rapidly increasing in size, and will doubtless ere long rival the Thames in the yield of its claims. The reefs are said to be remarkably rich, and of immense extent. By next summer it is confidently expected that many thousands of miners will be at work in the district. The country is covered with heavy birch and pine bush. As yet there are no saw-mills erected, bat hand sawyers are at work making good wages, timber being 30s the hundred feet. As instancing one of the anomalies sometimes found on new goldfileds, the Post mentions that while the rate of labor at Keefton is 15s a day, beef is sold at 4d per pound.