TUAPEKA MOUTH. (From our own Correspondent.)

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 223, 9 May 1872, Page 7

TUAPEKA MOUTH. (From our own Correspondent.)

The great and only topic here at'present is the miserable state of the bridge across the Tnapeka Creek. When a loaded bullock dray or horse team is crossing, the people stare as if they expected to see the bridge give way. There are so many holes, that parents are afraid to allow their children to cross alone. 1 have not the least doubt if a bullock dray was to go through, and two or three of the bullocks and the driver were killed, the bridge would be repaired immediately. The inhabitants of this and the Waitahuna -district have subscribed liberally. A concert and ball was got up the other day, and by it was realised four guineas. The Chairman of the concert in a very ' fluent address to the audience, after informing them- of the object of the meeting, said the people were expected to subscribe a certain sum, and the government would aid them with an amount equivalent thereto ; but, said the orator, the Treasurer receives our money, either directly or indirectly, either in miners rights, duty on gold licenses, taxes, &c. ; and as this is a public bridge, why should not .the public money be expended on it ? Why should not the Government ask for the money that is collected, call fortenders, make up the deficiency, and get the bridge repaired atonce? If it was £50000r£6000 to' bring out three or four hundred immigrants to starve, as the half of us are doing now, the money would soon be forthcoming. I perfectly agree with what fell from the lips of the Chairman, and I likewise think our goldfields members are very dilatory in giving their assistance in so good an object. It cannot be from ignorance of the state of the bridge, for both of them passed across it within the la§t month. The Saw Mill is at present in full working order, and gives the more immediate part of the Mouth a busy appearance. M'lntyre and ReeSe are about to open a new claim, about thi'ee hundred yards from the Molyneux, and if it should turn out as well as the prospects promise, it will be the best in this locality. The Chinamen, who opened a claim on the long spur, about Lh miles from the Mouth, are getting out some rich wash. Reid and party, are driving in a spur about 2 miles fr >m the Mouth, which bids fair to be the bist on the creek. All hands have been busy since the late rains. We are very well off in one respect now, we have at last got a baker, who supplies us with =good bread, pies, pastry, &c, ad libertim.