SWITZERS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 297, 9 October 1873, Page 5

SWITZERS.

' (From our own Correspondent*) Winter 'has returned' with- ! a twofold strength after a sl.ort interlude of some- i things resembling Bpring, .weather. It has snowod without, intermission for the past forty honfs,. and at the present time I see little indication of a change. I fancy somehow this' must be a healthy invigorating climate, judging frhin the number of births occurring weeklyj 'The'a'huduncements alone would be a small fortune to a local papar, and it (he -reat of New Zealand ia as procteakive 'as ■ this, the Colonial Executive, have ready to their hand what I fanoy they.have been looking for for some time, namely, a fair excuse for the re-call of Dr. Featherstone. In mining news I have nothing new — the heavy finds on the Uprjor Waikaia'occupying considerable attention. The population, of minors here is not increasing^ and our escort (if that is a role by which to judge the prosperity of the district) is not on the wane. ; The Kbv. Mrl'Dewe preached Tiere

twice on Sunday last to very good congregations — in fact, the schoolhonse wai crowded in the afternoon. It must ba very satisfactory to the rev. irentleman, after a long journey over such » road as lies between here and Teviot, to find such large appreciative audiences on his arrival. Two hospital committee meetings lapsed lapt week each for want! of a , quorum ; the last was a " special " called by the Secretary to pass accounts for payment-and other necessary business.. It might be worth the consideration of gentlemen prior to their election as* Hospital committeemen to consider how far the discharge of that duty would interfere . with their private arrangements, as it is ; only just to the public that the committee should consist of gentlemen with sufficient leisure to carefully look after the affairs of the hospital. This paragraph should be headed "justice madeeasy," and dedictated to the Provincial Government, as a striking instance of the consideration evinced- by the fejxecutive for the economic administration of justice on this goldiield. "Not to detain you from a thing so strange." An application for an agricultural lease should have, been heard by Mr. Warden Wood on 18th ult. Although the unavoidable absense of the Warden in Dunedin necessitated a postponement, the application was opposed by the Mining Association, On the return of Mr. Wood, I learn that applicant, objectors, and all their witnesses, together with plans of the ground, sectional drawings, andj£ T several etceteras, have to appear at (where " do you think ? Invercargill, jnat 80 miles from here) before Mr. W. H. Pearson, on a day to be hereafter named, when the case will be heard and determined. Now, why a ca3e should be taken a distance of 80 miles to be heard none of the wiseacres here can inform me. The land applied for ia exactly live minutes walk from the Court-house, Switzers ; , a Warden has his head quarters here, has been resident foV five or six years, and knows the different -interests -involved, and is " sorely better qualified to :adj»diciate upon a case like this than a, land officer in Invercagill, v who in all l probability never saw a goldfield. The land applied for is, according to the provincial estimate, worth say £30 (few, barring the applicant, would give 30s. for it), and the cost to all parties to go to and ' return from Invercargill would be not less than £50. A suggestion is mooted, should the Government persevere in the present policy, to request Gobb and Co. to lay on a big coach between here and Invercargill, as there is* bound to be" a numbe?" of -similar cases, and be the losers -who they may, Cobb "would surely be the gainer.