Our Greytown Letter. (Our own Correspondent.) Greytown, 9th April.

Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 83, 10 April 1888, Page 4

Our Greytown Letter. (Our own Correspondent.) Greytown, 9th April.

Wo havo not yet received any good resnlts from our gold-boaring ranges, bnt we lire told by thoio who are supposed to be in the secret "that the good time is coming ; only wait a little longer." I fear we will have to wait, although, in common with everyone in this district, I would say, "The sooner the better." The original prospectors are utill out, and are still confident When tho boom comes, Groytown, of course, will be one of the most important towns in this part of the oolony. Indications of good ooal have also been discovered, and a prospeotor named Luke Hobman has submitted some good samples Mr. Hobman has a great opinion of the ultimate devolopmont of the valuable mineral and other resources of the Waiohine and Tauherenikau ranges, and he, being an old settler, and one who has travelled in those regions frequently, shonia be a very good authority. Numberless good opinions have also been expressed by other old identities in respect to tho prolific mineral deposits which will some day be disgorged from the bowels of theso volcanic formations. Some have a groat idea of tin ore being abundant, and thore are undoubted symptoms of copper i and if we oan find ooal eqnal to that on the Fernndge property, a short distance out of Masterton, we shall havo at our immediate oommand the most powerful facility for working our machinery at a low cost. However, it is not wise at the present time to antioipate too mnoh for foar of the possible failuro of realisation in the immediate future. Money is very tight everywhere, and Greytown capitalists, like those of the oolony at large, are not in a hurry to rush into any speculation the ultimate success of whioh there is the remotest doubt. The timber trade has to m extent been paralysed by the breach in the line at Petone, and the Papawai and other mills have had to temporarily suspend operations, but now that the trafllo through has been resumed, th« sawmills will make a fresh start. The life of a sawmiller, either owner or operative, is not always "a very happy one," as during the winter, and even sometimes in the summer months, much loss of time is suffered by bad weather, rising of rivers, Ao. At any rate, at present it is our staple industry, and without it we might " close the shuttors." Tho Greytown Eifles, the No. 1 corps in the valley, havo determined to commence their year with renewed vigour, notwithstanding that they, like other volunteer companies, have been " rotrenohed." Anyhow they will, as regards capitation, be on quite as good a footing as in former years, and now that they are nop out of debt, having paid for nearly all dress uniforms, &0., they can make a good and as creditable appearance in tlf field and before the publio as they do at their riflo range, where they prove themselves generally to be marksmen of good merit. Tho footballers of Greytown, those stalwart youths who reokon that they ore second to none in tho colony "in the aoriramago, three-quarters and all," held a meoting on Saturday night, which was well attended, Mr. C. Beard, ono of the veteran forwards, iv the chair, when a letter was read from the Athletio Club, challenging the Greytonians to a match on the 24th May, which ohallengo was aooepted. It was also resolved to ohallongo tho Cartorton Rivals for tho 21st inst. A glove fight took place at the Greytown Town Hall on Satarday night, when th 9 "noble art of self - dofenoe " was demonstrated by Messrs. J. Troy and W. Grady, straneors in tho distriot. Thore was a good audionce, but the opinions varied as to the merits of tho performances of tho pugilists. At any rato, six rounds were fought before Grady, tho lighter of the two, retired. The proceedings were very orderly. In reverting again to trade, I would like to mention that Mr. F. H. Wood, our enterprising "knight of the hammer," hold a most successful salo at his rooms here on Saturday. Mr. Wood seems to poßsesß the magio influence of indncing the settlers to attend from long distonoos at his really attraotive periodical auotion sales, where furniture, gonoral merchandise, olothing,' drapery, Ac, are disposed of " for the ready rhino " at some times fabulously low prices, and purchasers can bo seen oarting away their bargains, from a washing machine to even a piano or buggy, &c, to all parts of the valley. Mr. Wood's enterprise is well deserving of its reward. The Qreytown Hospital, which is supported entiroly by voluntary contributions, will derive some little extra assistance from funds aooruing from a most successful soir6o held at the Town Hall on Easter Monday night. The Greytown Fire Brigade, whioh now numbers about 28 members, and has been rendering great service lately in saving several properties from destruction, is now endeavouring to make terms for a suitable manual engine, the one now in use being altogether inadequate to the requirements of the distriot. It has boon proved that any quantity of water con be obtained in the borough, and the firemen are really vory smart at their work. The much-vexed question of the opening of the Wairarapa lakes has at length been settled by nature itself, the sea havipg washed away the barrier to the outlet, just a little sooner than the natives would have wished ; the consequence is that the settlers have obtained relief, and the Maoris have lost some eel baskets whioh have been carried out to the briny ocean. The division of the Road Board distriot will shortly become an accomplished fact, as the County Councillors havo resolved to confirm the application of the ratepayers who signffd the requisition. There is considerable dißsatisfaotion expressed by the Road Board members on the Featherston aide of the Ruamahunga, bnt they will now have to acoept the inevitable, as the majority of the Lower Valley people are determined to separate either for better or worse.