SOUTHERN NOTES

Grey River Argus, 2 September 1908, Page 4

SOUTHERN NOTES

(Our Correspondent). The construction of the, Wataroa bridge is being delayed for want of material and most of the men are dismissed. This is much to be regretted 'as we felt sure the bridge would be completed before the summer floods, which make the river crossing dangerous. The fault does not lie with the' contractor, but rather with the shipping, and this; difficulty. arises on accou-nt of the uncertainty of the Oksrito River. A strong agitation is going on to endeavour to get the Government to improve the port. They j have had a survey made and estimates brought, out, so that something may be done to make the port useful and allow the district to progress. Yesterday a very old Maori died at Bruce, Bay in the person of "Old Jacobi" as he was familiarly called. This old man was living on the banks of the Hokitika River when white men first arrived there, and will be remembered by old identities. Several large mobs of cattle are being taken to market at the present time. Some of them are being driven from as far south as Okuru ; while there are no fewer than three shiploads to go forward by the steamer Jane Douglas irom the latter place. None ot the -flaxmills have started to work this season, as the price of hemu is too low, while the difficulty of shipping when the price is' good has had a detrimental effect on the industry. Even now there is a quantity of hemp awaiting shipment since last season! Gold .mining is very dull ; in fact there is none going on. The few miners remaining are too old to prospect new country, "and the young men confine their attention to other industries that are not so risky, principally settling on the land, so that while mining is practically dying-TJuT|MB| cultural and pastoral pursuits growing fast. Still, it is a pit^^^H this 3'oung country is not being i pected or that our. known gold-be^^H resources are not being devel^^B Surely the Government should st^^| and endeavour to have prospc^^H placed on a better footing and^^H more risk; One gold field or i^^| covery of rich quartz would sur a < a. population to any part of ~^^H land that they would be justifit^^H making a bold effort to improvc^^B system of prospecting. Election matters are quiet just |^H although there are signs of the i^H coming' on. At the last election t^H was almost a unanimous Vote forl^H T. E. .'V. Seddon' In fact, the electors seemed tp have made up their minds to vote for any m€mber of the Seddon family purely out of sympathy Since, then. a more practical view seems to have been 'taken and Mr Michel, -who has lately visited the ?.'.,uth, addressing large meetings, will, it appears, be strongly supported when the election takes place in December.