COUNTRY NEWS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 4117, 29 April 1875, Page 3

COUNTRY NEWS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESI'OXDENT.) OAMAItU. Wliatever the cause there i.s very little progress making in the construction of the OamuruMoeraki line of railway, and at the present rate it will «t least be two years before it is completed. It is hoped that the line to Wai taki will soon be l-eady for traffic, and the stimulus given by the complaints of settlers and others at Awamoka may hasten on the completion of the tramway. The contractors, Messrs Morrison and Co., are making good headway with the Waiareka branch line, and before another harvest it will be ready for conveying the large quantity .of grain-grown in the fertile valley on each side of it. Pending negotiations with the Corporation i as to the terms on which they will agree to the < breaking up of the streets and pathways for laying the pipes, the proposed Gas Company is making no sign, and I fear jfo many obstacles will be thrown in the way as to shelve the project for a time. There is an opinion prevalent that until a water-supply is obtained it is premature to establish gas works, but why both should not be simultaneously gone on with, does not appear. There is si stem necessity, certainly, for the one for sanitary purposes, and as a defence against fire, which cannot be urged for the other, but still I think Oainaru is of sufficient size and '-importance to justify the erection of gas works.

We have had very seasonable autumn weather for some time, and the fanners have very fully availed themselves of the dry weather to thresh out their crops and get them carted into town. The various stores are getting fully stocked, and until some mutual understanding is arrived at between merchants and growers as to price, there.is small chance of the stocks getting redxiced. The only grain saleable at present is barley, good samples of which are readily bought up at good rates. Oats could be sold in quantity at about 2s to 2s 3d, but fanners are holding out for 2s 6d, at which price no margin is allowed for export to Melbourne. The same remark applies to wheat; but this state of things cannot last long. The stock market is also quiet, particularly so in merino store sheep, and as grass does not appear to be particularly abundant, there is little ho|>e of improvement.

The building trade is as brisk as ever, and buildings of all kinds and sizes are being erected in various pai-ts of the town.' A large addition has just been finished to the shop of Messrs."Hood- and Shennan 'in Tees street, .which is fitted up in the most approved modern style. In Thames street a new hotel is being •fitted up for Mr Haggle, and, when finished, will be a handsome and commodious structure.

The new Grammar School is all but finished, I and as tenders are now called for, the fittings j inside it is expected to be ready for occupation in a, month or two. • It is a commodious build- ' ing, having accommodation for Upwards of GOO children, but the s'te is an unfortunate selection, being much too low, and hence the structure does not show so well as if in a higher position. - The premises long occupied by Mr Ogil■vie. as a foundry and implement factory, are, I learn, soon, to to be converted into a large horse bazaar for Messrs Fleming and Hedley, auctioneers,, and a more suitable position for this business could scarcely be got in the town. When the Minister of Public Works was recently here pur member for- Waitaki represented to liim the necessity for the new Custom House, and ere long we may expect to see a handsome building erected near the railway terminus at foot of. Wansbeck street A great improvement has recently been effected at the breakwater in tlie construction of wharfage-room, and very soon steamers and vessels -will be enabled to lie alongside and discharge and receive cargo with great facility and despatch. The township of Waimate, in the neighbouring Province, is progressing wonderfully, and the latest indication of the fact is the establish-

ment of a. local paper under the name of the Waitangi .Tribune —a paper that, if continued as it has begun, will be usefnl and prosperous. ■With the exception of a rather serious accident to Mr Spence, of the firm of J. and \V. Bee and Co., who had his leg broken by being thrown from a buggy, there have fortunately been few casualties calling for report, and I am glad to state that the general. health of the community is good.