LOCAL.

North Otago Times, Volume IV, Issue 56, 16 March 1865, Page 1 (Supplement)

LOCAL.

The principal employments in which the district has been' engaged since our last summary have been the sheep-shearing and the grain harvest; receiving the- wool for shipment and "loading the vessels which have arrived for the purpose of conveying it to Europe, and cutting down and storing the various crops. As the quantity of wool raised "every season in the district is large and valuable, this industry not only employs a number of hands, but developes and stimulates business of all kinds. t ,In' former years a' considerable quantity of the wool clip of the distinct was sent' to" Port Chalmers, to ,be thence transhipped,, and loaded— a most unnecessary additional cost. During the present - season threer vessels have arrived to take wool cargoes. The'

Star of Tasmania, Captain Culbert, chartered by Messrs Dalgety, Ratray and Co., -was the first ship of the season to load up and leave the Province. Shcleftin February, having taken on board 1,906 bales. The district thoughtithadsomereason to be proud of its achievements in wool shipping direct, having no longer to bear the heavy loss of sending to Port Chalmers and transhipping. Although some parcels have been sent there this year, this is in consequence of shippers .having made their engagements before they were aware of the probability of vessels coming up to carr3 7 the wool clip of the season. Another year and the arrangements for shipping everybale of wool produced in the district will probably have been completed. The other two are the barque Malay, Captain Peters, now*algo loaded and despatched, carrying 1322 bales of- wool; and 'the barque Gazehound, Captain Andrews, the unfortunate fate of Avhich is detailed in another part of our present issue. By the triennial census, recently taken, it appears that the number of sheep in the pastoral district of ITarnpden, in which Oamaru is included, is close upon 800,000, considerably more than the half of the number in the Province; and the district is rapidly increasing in the production of this valuable commodity. The census returns show that considerable additional breadths of oats have been laid down this season,, and that there is a large increase in sown grasses. The quantity of land available for cultivation in this neighborhood is very great, .and while it has already become highly important as a pastoral country, it will doubtless in due time also attain to a high position as an agricultural one. A most importjnt subject has for some time back ocuppied the attention of the district, we allude to the necessity for obtaining a Jetty at Oamaru. It was thought, some little time ago, that it had been completely assured by resolutions and votes of the Provincial Council, and that the Provincial Government was "ready to commence the undertaking out of the public money, largely contributed to, by the district ifself. As, however, the financial affairs of the Province are so involved at present as to leave little hope of this, some other mode was sought for accomplishing the desired object. The following is an outline of a mode of adjustment of the matter proposed some time since but not followed up; the terms here ioreshadowed by the Government are not sufficiently liberal. We believe the Government are prepared to entertain any offers from private parties for the erection of a Jetty upon such terms as those stated below, or such others as may be ultimately adjusted. The object was to encourage the erection of a Jetty here upon sach terms as shall be advantageous to a private company, as it is impossible to say how long we may have to wait for its completion if we trust to the public funds. The following were the proposed bases of agreement : — That the Government guarantee seven years' possession, rent free. That they pay for the works at a valuation at the end of that pei iod. If they find it necessary to take the works out of the hands of the Comp.iuy before the expiry of the seven years, Government to pay for the works at a fair valuation as before, and moreover to pay a sum representing the capitalised value of the fair average earnings of the Jetty for the period of the seven years' lease still to run; said average earnings to be ascertained by arbitration. All necessary approaches through Government land to be allowed without cost. The Company to be allowed to hold any land they | may reclaim from the sea" during the progress of their works, rent free ; or, otherwise, to be allowed to occupy say one accre of the " spit" lent free, such ground being so laid out as not to interfere with the working of the present landing-place. The Company to be allowed to hold say two quarter acre sections of unsold land, rent fiee, during the peiiod of their lease ; or, should the Company prefer to pay a moclei ate rent for this land, the Government to have the option of taking such erections at a valuation, or of permitting their removal at the end of the seven years. Government to fix maximum rates to be charged for shipping, landing, and storing goods by the said Company. The Company to undertake to make and maintain a Jetty or Wharf, subject to the approval of the Marine Engineer (or from his drawings), The Company to be bound to keep the works in good and proper repair during the whole term of occupancy ; and should they fail to do so, after being i eminded by the Government in writing, the Government to have the power of ordering the work to be done at the expeuse of the Company, uncle r the direction of the Marine Engineer, or other Engineer-in-Chief for the time beiDg, the expense being recoverable by summary process. The first thing to be ascertained is what quantity of goods and produce is likely to be landed and shipped at the proposed jetty. From all the information we can gather, we believe that the following will be an approximate estimate of our present imports : — Goods landed, including Coal and Timber 7,000 tons Wool shipped, 6,500 bales 1,300,,, Our Exports would consist of Stone, Lime, Potatoes and Grain, Cattle and Sheep, and we think a very niodeiate estimate would place them at ..." ... ... 4,000 „ Both imports and exports would naturally be very largely increased, with the increased facilities which a Jetty would afford ; and if half the land now purchased— about 60,000 acres — be brought under cultivation, the produce raised from it, reckoning on the average only half a ton to the acre, would yield 15,000 tons; and lime and building stone exist in almost unlimited quantities, and could be supplied at such rates as would command a market, with facilities for shipment at a cheap rate. Supposing a rate of 2s. per ton on landing, und 1 s. 6d. per ton on shipment, were enforced, at our present rate of trade a revenue of .£1100 per annum would be derived, altogether independent of wharfage dues on small vessels that could lie alongside the jetty to discharge, and dues on the export of cattle and sheep. We do not hesitate to say that this in one year would be doubled, and that a return of from 15 to 20 per cent, per annum-could confidently be looked for. With only a jetty, we may in reality soon be in a better position, as regards the cost pf landing and delivering goods into our j stores, than Dunedin is at present, and far better than Christchurch. Moreover, we have several' hundred thousand acres of valuable land around us, and we shall be able to show how thoroughly self-supporting, in a financial sense, the two schemes of making a Jetty, and bridging the Waitaki (another undertaking which we are about to lay before our readers), may be made, by the immediate improvement in the value of the unsold land in the northern portion of this and the southern portion of the Canterbury Province. From careful consideration, we feel that, having regard not merely to the selfish interest of a' small and struggling community, but with a view to the true and permanent interests of both the Provinces, Oamaru for some time to come must be the centre of operations, having in view the future banding together of the whole Middle Island by means of an "iron road." The Canterbury Government, as is well known, have for some time been occupied upon a grand scheme of railway communication between Christchurch and the South ; and, as a portion of their plans, have recently made surveys with a view of ascertaining the possibility off bridging the Waitaki. Two engineers, pne representing Canterbury and the other Otago, have recently been among us with this object in view ; and we can state on good authority that a conclusion has been arrived at with' regard to the best crossing-place for the River, and that preliminary surveys have been made of a line from the Waitaki, having its present termination at. Oamaru. Now, it is -quite clear if a small portion'- of this plan — that of the bridge — is carried out, that it will be a great and immediate benefit to both v Provinces, and especially so to this district. Even granting that the time has

not yet come for a railway, the bridge itself will be of immense value, but chiefly on one condition, viz., that this port be so improved that goods can be landed and produce shipped at a cheap rate. We are of opinion if a railway is made it will not for many years come south of Oamaru. But can a • railway ever take up wool to Lyttelton or bring down goods as cheaply as they can be landed or shipped at Oumaru with a jetty? Undoubtedly not; the people of this place need not fear that a railway north from this will ever drain away commerce. Two hundred miles of iron road is not to be made and traversed at a cost that c m compete with direct water carriage. And what object will there be in taking wool to Lytteltpn or obtaining supplies there when we can despatch the wool home by direct vessels, and receive by the same means all that is required ? No ; the proper course for Canterbury , is to bring the southern portion of her Province into easy communication with a port ; and a bridge alone would do this, bringing down to our port the wool of a large extent of country that within three years will produce ten thousand bales — making the land on the north side of the Waitaki saleable, opening commerce with the Waimate Bush, and facilitating dealings in cattle and sheep. Let the two Governments agree to make a reserve on each side, of 20,000 acres of land, the proceeds to be applied to the bridge, and there is not the smallest doubt that the plan may be carried out almost at once. A meeting was held on 27th ult., to consider the best means for carrying out the proposal to make this Jetty. It was a casual one, no time having beeu given to call public attention to it ; when^it was moved by Henry Campbell, Esq., seconded by Captain Sewell, and carried unanimously — " That Messrs H. J. Miller, Mathew Holmes, and Tolrnie, together with any other gentlemen in Dunedin interested in Oamaru, be requested to wait on his Honor the Superintendent, to enquire what steps the Government are prepared to take as to the fulfilment of the vote of the Council of last session, with respect to the Jetty, and to confer with his Honor as to the best means of meeting the requirements of the case." Mr Holmes was present and accepted the office, and agreed to do all in his.'power to further the object of the meeting and the interests of the district. The town itself is increasing in size and importance. A number ot dwelling houses have lately . been completed, and others are being erected with the fine stone of the district. In regard to public buildings, the new Presbyterian Church has just been completed, and its opening is announced for the 9th April, proximo, while a Soiree to celebrate the occasion will be held on the 12th April. The erection of a Church for the English congregation is also in prospect. A meeting of the congregation was held on the 7th i.ist., to consider the merits of tenders received for the erection of a portion of the proposed church, at which the lowest tender, Mr James Bruce's (£1,832 ) was accepted, subject to a resolution, that the Building committee be requested to arrange if possible for such reduction in the amount of work to be done, as to bring the whole cost within .£1500. The Bank of New Zealand, a very handsome and substantial building now erecting in Tyne Street, and .nearly completed, will be an ornament to the town, and afford an excellent proof of the beauty and fitness of the freestone, which is so plentifully supplied in the neighbourhood, for building purposes. This building which is in the Italian style, embraces beauty of architecture with strength and stability, and is being constructed with ereat cave. A small but complete establishment for manufacturing aerated waters and cordial", brewing porter and ale, and bottling English ales and porter, has been recently erected. A very great improvement has been made of late by the levelling of Tees street, which has been done, however, at the expense of the proprietors. The Town Board, using the very limited means at their disposal, have also reduced the level of Itcben-street ; anil it is onty justice to say that both these works have been very well executed by the several contractors. It is now proposed, still at the proprietors' cost, to reduce the level of Wansbeck -street. The reductions of the levels of Itchen-street and "Wansbeck-street, are calculated to make the town moderately accessible from the south, and are rendered more necessary in consequence of the Provincial Government neglecting to form Severn-street, which is the natural continuation of the main north road. The Building Societycontinues to advance, audits shares are in request for building purposes, the latest quotation of price being £15 11s. fora share. A Town Boardelection took place on 3rd ult., on the poll being taken, the following gentlemen were elected, viz : Messrs S. Gibbs, H. France, S. E. Shrimski, M. Grenfell, J. Lemon, C. Prenderjast, G. Quarrie. The new Board is made up of the above seven, together with Dr. Williams and Mr John Thompson, remaining in. The Board has since had several meetings and appears to be determined to act with vigor. The annual examination of the Oamaui District School took place on the 14th ult., and was conducted by J. Hislop, Esq., School Inspector, when the number of scholars in attendance were 53, viz ; 31 boys and 22 girls. The Inspector reported the school in an efficient state. A female teacher has recently been appointed, and it is expected that this will tend to increase the number of scholars. A Mechanics' Institute i<? in course of formation, to include a news-room and library. The number of yearly subscribers has now nearly reached 100, and it is hoped that operations may soon be commenced. An order in Council lately passed constituting Oamaru a Militia District, evoked a large public meeting, which was held in the Court House on 27th ult., for the purpose of .forming a Volunteer Rifle Corps, and thus avoiding the necessity of compulsory drill or service. A committee was then appointed to obtain names ( 80 having signed at the meeting ), and they have since been proceeding in the matter. The committee consists of Messrs, Valpy, Pinkerton, O'Meagher, Hesketh, Sumpter ("Secretary), Anderson, Koxby, Allan, and Payne. Considerable activity has prevailed of late in Cricket; the Timaru Club having vanquished the Arewhenua Club, has now challanged the Oamaru to play a match on their own grou.id. The Club had a meeting on the 8th inst., and accepted the challenge with pleasure. This match will come off on the Cricket ground to-day. An unusual number of accidents and deaths have occurred in this town and neighborhood of late, and interments have been as Irequent as formerly they were rare. Peter Dooley, a workman at the new building of the Bank of New Zealand, had his leg broken on the 2nd ult., but is now almost recovered. A subscription was raised for his relief. A singular accident occurred here on the evening of the 6 th ult. A man "having got a scythe set at a blacksmith's shop, started, for home with it, on horseback. When not many yards from the shop, his horse shied, which caused the blade to strike the animal on the near fore leg, almost. severing it at the knee joint ; the horse was also severely wounded 'in the belly, and had to be shot the same evening. John Clark, aged 21, an apprentice on board the barque Gazehound, of London, died on the 25th ult., from the- effects of an accident which occurred on the 12th. A Coroner's inquest' was held on the body on the 27th ult., when the-ver-dict of the jury was — "That the deceased diedfr<>m the effects of an accident caused -by the upsetting of a boat on the beach." A young man, Mr John Campbell, manager to Mr Hunter,

Ardgowan, while riding home from town with some others on the 28th ult., had a severe accident," in consequence of his horse falling anJ throwing him on his head, causing concussion of the brain ; but we are glaJ to learn that he is now recovering.