OAMARU.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 312, 13 December 1873, Page 3

OAMARU.

(From our oion Correspondent.)

I scarcely know If any thing I can write to you from this place can have much interest to your readers, as I am not well informed in regard to the people in your quarter ; still, I think if the , maundering of that wandering lunatic, " Soft-soap " man, who has been writing from here, can find place and pay in the columns of the " Bruce Herald," it can not be an over-weening vanity on my part to try a few lines for your paper, according to my promise. And' to commence with the prospects of the farmer (as we claim the premier place as grain growers in Otago) ; the long wet winter was very much against early sowing, and most of the wheat that was got in then was washed out of the ground by the heavy rains, and spoiled. The seed since put in has come up very rapidly ; but it is said that even with a good summer, the crop will not be heavy, although the acreage is very much more than that of last year. The grass is most luxuriant everywhere ; there is not stock enough about, to keep it down. Indeed, that oracular individual, the " Oldest inhabitant," never saw anything approaching to it. A good many of our farmers are gradually laying down their fields in English grass for sheep, the profit from the high price of wool being considered more certain than from grain growing, and got with far less expense. Everything in the way of work is busy, the building trade particularly so. Empty houses are not to be had, bo that a number of emigrants sent here from Duneim, some of whom have to work at their trades, to reside with their families in boarding-houses and are not welcome guests there ; boarding-house keepers or publicans don't like families too much. They liken such boarding to shearing pigs for their fleece, more cry than wool. While on this subject, I may mention a little matter in connexion with the proposed visit of the Governor from the Canterbury side to Otago. The Superintendent with his Tienchman, Mr. Bastings, last week, in conversation with a gentleman from this neighbourhood, anxiously enquired'if his Excellency could be got across the river (Waitaki) in safety. He wfcs assured to his delight, that ft fould be done ; but, said his informant, after he is across, it will be impassable for him by tke road to Oamaru, as there are three lagoons on the way, in getting through which, it will be necessary for his Excellency's safety that he should sit on the roof outside to avoid the possibility of drowning. The Superintendent and Mr. Bastings looked incredulous, not being frequent travellers, on that road ; but being invited to satisfy themselves by telegraphing to the road inspector, they received this information in answer : — Three lagoons, each from two to three chains long, and seven feet deep." Now, as a matter of course all is hurry and bustle to make the road fit for the Governor. It will be of some advantage to the eight or ten horse teams that have been toiling through it, with thousands of tons of iron for the .Waitaki bridge all the winter. Thus you see there is pome benefit to us from the visit of a G-overnor, and we will be loyal accordingly-.

I coula carry on, but am much afraid I may have tired your patience already ; lor •what says Benjamin Frauklin. Larger ships may venture more But little boats shoaUl -keep uear shore.

The -total number oj&bages Hansard con tains this year-is 1556. * Large astthis figure is, however, it is .considerably less than last year's, Then the talk of honorable members •was' embedded in 1-700 pages. Or to take .another form of measurement — last year's Hansard contained #08 yards of talk ; this j?ar it contains 638 jarda.