KAITANGATA.

Clutha Leader, Volume XX, Issue 1025, 16 March 1894, Page 5

KAITANGATA.

Tfrom our own correspondent.] Several memorable events oceured here during the past week. On Saturday the display of bunting, the firing of rockets, and the glare of a very large bon-fire, indicated that something unusual had occurred at the north end of the town. Enquiries revealed the fact that the Castle Hill Company had reached the main seam of coal. The tidings gladdened the hearts of employer and employed, and work was suspended for 24 hours, to permit of the workmen celebrating the event in an appropriate manner. — On Monday another event, which willhave a prominent place in the annals of Kaitangata, took place — viz., that of the Lakeside Railway and Coal Company commencing operations. A number of .men have been employed to start mining operations, and the work of constructing the railway will be let by public tender within one Inonth. It appears that in some quarters my report of the late concert here is regarded as too favourable. While confessing that lam not aii- fait in music, I claim to have sufficient discretion to preventme commenting adversely upon local talent, more especially, when such is pressed into service for a charitable object. The action of the committee in refusing pressmen free passes, is one deserving censure, and likp my brother scribes I felt annoyed, but not sufficiently so to cause me to fail in my duty. The chief topic of conversation here at present is the local option poll and licensing elections, which take place on Wednesday. The licensed victuallers, aibout a month ago, It is freely asserted in this town that the local option poll will result ih favor of a reduction in the number of licenses. The preparations madg for taking the poll are most complete. Our local booth will be attended by four returning officers, and poll clerks, and two compartments. will be screened off, one for A to M and the other for M,to Z. Messrs W. H. Mackenzie and Co. held a very successful sale of property on Saturday evening. The saleroom was crowded, and the majority . were apparently present with speculative iutejjttotis, ' - '

During this week we have had several distinguished visitors. On Tuesday Sir James . Hector, accompanied by the Hon., John Macgregor, arrived, and on Wednesday Mr .Henry Gordon, chief of the New Zealand Mines department, accompanied by Professor Brown, of Auckland. Dr Hector visited the various mines, while Messrs Gordon and Brown made an inspection of the Kaitangata Company's Avorks. Business is comparatively brisk here, ancl new' claimants for public patronage are casting in their lot with us. Mr W. G. Urquhart, watchmaker, etc., of Lawrence, has opened a branch in the premise's of Messrs H. S. Hitchon and Co. The next sitting of the R.M. Court, which takes, place on Thursday, will be both a lengthened and interesting one. Several claims for rates will be made, besides a number of other cases. Messrs W, M'Laren, W. Pool, H. M'Farlane, and J. Carson will represent our local club at the bowling tournament to be held iii Dunedin next week.