SHAG- VALLEY.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 262, 6 February 1873, Page 7

SHAG- VALLEY.

(From our own Correspondent.) The weather here for the past week has been unusually severe for this time of the year; it has been more like winter than summer. Saturday, Sunday, and Monday last we had fearfully heavy winds, accompanied with rain and showers of hail. It bejjan to look at one time rather serious for the farmers (who have, as ifc is, I am sadly afraid, suffered considerable damage from the wind), they being now very busy with their harvest. The wind and hail has also made sad havoc with the gardens in this neighborhood. I hear that the fruit trees have been entirely stripped of all their fruit. I also noticed on Saturday that the Kakanui Eanges in the direction of the Hogburn had on a slight covering of snow. The Perseverance Co. made a successful start on Saturday last with their battery, and are now busily engaged crushing- night and day. The battery reflects great credit on all parties concerned in its erection. It was started, and continues working as smoothly as if it had been at work for months, no hitch whatever occurring at its start. But on iVlonday a slight accident occurred, by one of the pulleys connected with the pump breaking. But the manager, Mr. Watson, had a temporary wooden one made, which enabled him to continue crushing after a few hours delay. I hear that the boiler is a very old one, and therefore the manager cannot get the amount of work done that h^e would otherwise desire. We all expected when the start was made, that the custom usually observed on such occasions, would have been followed here — some little ceremony made, a few speeches, &<x I was in hopes of being able to have sent you a report of what Mr. so and so said, &c. But no ; we had nothing of the sort, there was not even (as I heard some parties remark), the proverbial " nip " that is generally given at such events. I, for one, do think that such events, when a little ceremony is observed, and a few parties invited, are generally the means of making people a little better acquainted with the prospects of the

' district than they otherwise might be ; therefore, when the other companies here make a start, I hope they will not follow the example of the Perseverance Co., and trust they will not go and do likewise. I notice a great improvement added to the battery, viz., a pump and gear, for pumping the water back again after leaving the tables, and raised for the batteiy- Mr. Watson, has had three tailings pits sunk just outside the engine house, (1 believe he would have preferred, if practicable, having the pits some distance away) into which the water is conveyed from the tables, by means of a wooden trough. The pump is fixed in the centre pit, but so arranged that no tailings are allowed te get into it — nothing but water. Tho pump is worked by a pulley and ci ank, over wliich travels a belt, carried over another pulley, (the one I mentioned as , having broken), connected with the cam shaft of the battery. The water is lifted into another trough, fixed to the wall plate inside of the building, and carried to a large cask placed alongside the battery, for which it is used as required. A great advantage is thus gained over the old plan, where the water was allowed to escape with the tailings. Had the Perseverance Co. not have adopted the present method, they would not have been able to crush a third of the time they can now with their present supply. The plan of thus re-using the water must prove a very important one in districts where that article is scarce. In my next, I hope to be in a position to send you the result of the present crushing, Avhich is expected to be a good one. I hope also to give you an account of the starting (and I trust a different one to the P. Co.) of the Shag Valley Freehold Co.'s machine, which is expected to be finished by the end of the present month, or early in the beginning of next. I see that Mr. Campbell has successfully got the huge boiler up out of the gully, and has it fixed in its position. It is rapidly getting built in, under the superintendence of Mr. Pearce, Dunedin, who is also laying the foundation of the walls of the building. The carpenters have also made a start at the erection of the house, &c. This Company have not much water as yet in their large dam. I hear they have not yet decided to erect additional stamps and crush for the public, which is a great pity, for the Company would thereby not only be enriching themselves, but would be benefiting the district. I am of a very hopeful disposition, and as soon as there is the slightest chance of improvement, I see it at once, and am prepared to rejoice with those that rejoice. There would then, if this public mill were established, be a glimpse of light from Shag Valley, and we should of course be jolly in consequence. Who shall say that we may not then turn over a new leaf, and become a place of which Otago may be proud. I have looked around, and really I do not see why we should be left behind in the busy race. We have several reefs in the district (untried), we have labor, and a good supply of water at a short distance ; all tha<; we require is capital, and surely we ought to be able to secure our share of that. I should like to see the several reefs here open out, and I feel confident you would then soon hear of more machines being erected, and if something were only done in that direction, and the public brought to recognise our position, we should soon remedy our faults and the period of prosperity, which, I am sure, we all desire, will at once commence. If the S. V. F. Co., or any other company, would crush for the public at a moderate figure, a good deal would be done. It would stop that decay of the place, which is none the less real, because it is gradual and silent. A little energy and unity wo\ild soon put a different face upon things. We all know how much can be done by a few pushing men, and I hope that apathy is now a thing of the past, and that in a few weeks we shall hear of something being done to increase the prosperity of the place. I am informed that one of our notables here has been summoned by the police for sly good selling, which I am not at all surprised at, considering the very open manner in which that commodity is disposed of at Shag Valley. Indeed, the party summoned may plead not guilty to the indictment; and also argue the summons should be dismissed, as it was not " sly," but rather " open " selling. In fact, the word " sly," as applied to Shag Valley, is altogether a nuisance. I shall send i you a import of the case in my next. I hardly know if you will get this in iime for next issue, for I hear that fresh postal arrangements have been made at this office. By-the-bye this is a grievance that wants remedying. I don't know how it is, but they are continually altering the date of arrival and departure of mails at this office. No notice whatever is given, and it is only by chance that you bear of any alteration. I consider that when the postmaster alters the time, he ought at least to notify the same to the public through one of the newspapers, or cause a notice to be posted at the office when such alteration is made.

The Ovens Water Race, Manuherikia, has been purchased by the Town Council of Alexandra for the sum of £880. The Auckland "Evening Star" gravely asserts that the New Zealand "Herald" performs the astounding feat of sitting on its hind legs to howl at the Education Act,