WAIKAIA.

Mataura Ensign, Volume V, Issue 246, 13 April 1883, Page 2

WAIKAIA.

FflOM OUR CHTtf CORRESPONDENT. Like many other towns at -this season of the year Waikaia is quiet, dull, and dirfcy, but we are looking forward to better times and improved weather. We have not for many years experienced such a wet autumn as the present. , I see by the last f Gazette' that block I, Wendonside, and blocks I, VII, VIII, and IX Wendon, are proclaimed open for leasing under the Otago and Southland Education Reserves' Leasing Act, 1878, by proclamation of His Excellency the Governor. I presume the leases will now be offered for sale without further'delay. I The Otonna Mining Company are making pood progress with the -first section of their new water-race, ; . And anticipate, weather permitting, tohaye the water from Stoney Creek on to the Cemetery Spur by the end of June. Several parties are preparing for -a prospecting tour to the Dome, and Argyle Ranges, but as the winter will be upon us quickly now I hay.c no doubt they will find it necessary, postpone the undertaking until the spring. I am informed that very rush quartz has been found near the Nokomai and that Mr Job Coulam has several excellent specimens in his possession. It is also rumored that a well defined ,reef containing payable gold has been struck, the locality of which will be made, public as soon as the prospecting claim applied for is granted to the prospectors. The Chinese,. wOTkji^an^he gullies around^he^ township kfe {making very good wages^hls season^owing to the abundantf^iipply of water ihejsiave to work with;;' v =' ■ The unfortunate celestial, jfcHo took a " short "tope i and a long shift" last Week was cased 1 up after the" inquest, labelled and addressed, and despatched to the care of his countrymen, Bur aside station, who no doubt duly received him as a box of imperishable go.oq> to be transferred to an hon coffin and shipped, per first steamer, , to China. After the conveyance containing tho body left" for Riversdale, on. Friday morning, a number of Chinese (mourners no doubt) gave all the Europeans present a shilling each', according to custom. This appeared the most pleasant portion of the funeral ceremony, and the recipients 'kindly^expressed a- wish that Chinese -suicides would in .future ocour dailyin /W«ikaia. ■. ..,-, ... . ....,, Waikaia v April 12, 1883. :;.,•■•-