WAIUTA NOTES.

Grey River Argus, 11 April 1912, Page 8

WAIUTA NOTES.

(By Übique). Jt is to be regretted that tho people cf Greymouth and district will know — or, at least, think they do — more of the doings of Wamta than the inhabitants, themselves. ■ From reports of proceeding's of the Supremo and Magistrate's Court held recently, wp seem 10 have had more than a fair amount of representation— and of a kind that will bid fair 'to justify the former title! Veiy proper people will shudder with horror at the mention of the place after the reports referred to have been circulated. But they need have no qualms. In a mining" community the people are, of necessity, cosmopolitan, and it is unfair to brand all because of the delinquencies of a few. 11 is notorious that in Waiuta there has been crime of every description excepting murder, and if any evidence may be given to prognostications, we shall Jiuvo to prepare ourselves for Emergencies ! But, as has been said, it is noi so bad as it is painted. A visit to Waiuta will convince any one thai j there are surprises in store of a very differenc and agreeable nature. Very few people realise that there is scenery here as beautiful as perhaps anywhere on the Coast. The ig-roat expanse of country that may bo seen from any of the hilltops is a delight to anyone Avith an eye for the picturesque. On a line day tho Grey 'River, is easily seen and thai, ovor the heads, so to speak, of several ranges "of bush covered hills. The reason why Waiuta gets such a bad name is because of its isolation. Locked up in the hills it is so far away from civilisation — fifteen miles from the railway station, ancTa painful six hours' journey from the "Hub of the Universe!" It was the prejudice of an outsider that iirst gave it the title of "Wondrous Waiuta" ;■ and although subsequent events may have justified the epithet in some minds, the general opinion of the inhabitants is that it is a very pleasant place. In response to a petition of. the residents the Commissioner of Police has seen fit to allocate to us for our own special benefit a member of his staft and the difference in the place is most remarkable. Gambling in the streets is now unknown, and the harbingers of liquordom are reduced to minimum, it was a memorable sight — and not without the humourous aspect — thai following the arrest of one of the mem ocrs of the grogshop for vagrancy. The so-called restaurant to which fie' was attached was sanctuary to many of the same type, and tho result of this aciion on the part of the local, police was to strike terror into the hearts of his following. Fearing the constable should extend his attentions to them, they all packed up their swags and took to the road en masse. Those 'in the front cried "back" (lest they attract Vi>e gaze of the public in their haste to 'be away);' but those in the rear cried "forward"— they Jiad an eye for the policeman — anti if they truly had, and have, they ' will do well to keep it on him, or else keep their noses out of Waiuta. But turning- from the sordid to the sunny side of life. Waiuta has quite a number of attractions for its people. .1 think it is the first place in the district to indulge in a Leap Year Ball. Such a success was the effort that the ladies intend giving the batchelors another dance to "make up" in case they might have offended! and incidentally to give the sluggards another chance! The debating society— or Mutual Improvement Society as it is called—con"inues to hold its own', and offers weekly opportunities for the many budding orators, as well as- pleasure, to those nor quite so ambitious. Good debateable subjects are taken up and -"keen interest is evinced. The programme for. last Thursday evening was' a ''Magazine" Night" which- proved to be ■veryinteresting and enjoyable. , The ' Society has a membership of over seventy and can boast of a substantiar. credit

balance , which ' speaks volumes for such a new. institution — and such a place! • Arid in the realm •of sport, Waiuta holds no 'mean record. Co-operating-wUa the few of Blackwater and designated the Blackwater team (though for what reason I cannot understand, except that the original team took the name before \\ r aiuta assumed its present proportions) they not only won the iriamgahua County Cup, but travelled to Ngaiiere . and, vanquished a picked team from ihat district, who were win- 1 ners of the Grey Valley, Cup. In order to mark their appreciation of the honour thus won for the town, tKe residents tendered the team a complUnentary social and dance. A large number attended and the evening proved a very enjoyable one to all. Regarding- the present prospects of Wajuta arid tlio published reports of ■mining properties', your local contemporary seems to break out rather effusively.. To anyone with a knowledge of the place, those' reports show both lack of information arid a due sense of proportion, and are, therefore, very misleading.. The Blackwater mine might' require J. 50 men to make up the complement necessary for the full working of the mine; but it is very doubtful whether at tho time ihesc men were wanted, as we were given to understand in the "Star." At present a few men are being taken on, apparently to fill the places of those leaving- on account of the holidays, but .the disposition of the management seems to be very indifferent and with regard to the various, properties mentioned in detail it is incredible that prominence could be given to such comparatively insignificant propositions. It is to bo regretted that Mr. Ziman haa decided not to proceed .with his option over the Millerton syndicate's property, and no satisfactory information can be gleaned as to the cause of this decision. The project seems a good one: the reef is fairly consistent and assays are bona fide satisfactory. It may be, however, that there .has been too much advertising, and sellers have had a rather extravagant idea of price. Nothing further is given one regarding the flotation of this property but I understand a few merchants in Greymouh interested in the syndicate have the matter in hand and are sanguine as to its success. 3