Our Correspondents.

Otago Witness, Issue 1422, 22 February 1879, Page 9

Our Correspondents.

THE WAIMEA PLAINS RAILWAY.

(from a correspondent.)

The first sod of the first railway under the District Railways Act has been turned with more than tbe usual modicum of rejoicing. The Colonial Treasurer has spoken, West Gore has drunk, and East Gore has danced to its success. Before the echoes of this flourish of trumpets have ceased to vibrate in the public ears we wish to give expression to a few thoughts on the construction of railways under this Act, as well as by the Government, these thoughts having been suggested by an aiticlo in theWitness of February 28th, headed "TheWaimea Plains Railway." Before interfering with the general applause by hinting that this line will not prove the boon, it might have been, nor the boon its promotershave represented it to be, let us state that weare not opposed to railways, nor to this par- 1 ticular railway. No one who has ever seen themagnificent valley of the Upper Mataura can, for a moment doubt thai; a railway from trunk line to Lumsden is required, and w il eventually pay, provided the large estates through which it passes are either cultivated or burst up. But the route adopted has been selected more to suit the large land owners, whoare the promoters of this line, th-m to open up the country, or even to render the lino payable. Had the interests of the district or of the railway itself been, the main object, the route, instead, of starting from West Gore, would have been from some point on the east side of the Mataura, through Waikaka, Chatton and Otama blocks, crossing the Mataura between the mouth of the Otamete and the Pyramids, and then by its present route to Lumsden. This would have shortened tb.B line by about two miles. The sum thus saved would have bridged the Mataura, thousands would have been saved to these districts in the matter of road construction, and the increase to the revenue of the line would have lessened, perhaps prevented, taxation. Instead of this, toquote the words of your article, "For the first nine miles it skirts the spurs of the Hokonui Range, running all the way within a short distance of the Mataura." It might have been adaed, " alongside of a gravelled road, formed within the last twelve months, at an expense of £S0OO." The reply to this has hitherto been, that so long as those districts were not includedin the district to be assessed, they had no cause to complain. But any one, not of those who will not see, can readily understand that a railway on the west side of the river will prevent a line from being constructed on the east side ; while the Mataura, unbridged, and for months not fordable, will render it impossible for the present line to " tap a large quantity of deferred payment country on the opposite side of the Mataura river, in the Cbatton, Otama, and Pyramids districts." The only resource now left to these districts is a bridge over theMataura and a good road to Gore, Another very objectionable feature in thia instance is the boundary of the district liable^ toassessment. The portion on the east side of the river already settled is very carefully excluded ; the votes of the settlers on the question of route might have proved awkward. But no sooner do the promoters get beyond the settled country, than they include a large area of Crown lands which will soon be occupied. For the information of would-be settlers, let us enumerate the taxes of which they bave the pleasant prospect. They are land, county, railway, road, and rabbit rates. This introduces us to an evident defect in the Act. It provides no clieck whatever oa the promoters — no means of protecting districts from having public railways formed by, and for the benefit of private individuals. Promoters have only lo by out or induce others to lay out their funds at 7% guaranteed by the Government and a district rate; and should any considerable nuinberobjecfctothe route, their property can be left out. Such a check seems to have been provided in tbe original form of the Bill and to have been clumsily struck out in committeeThe margin of the Act still reads " Company to apply to County Councils for approval of proposals ; " but this is a marginal reference without a clause— an oddity, but very harmless. The Governor, it is true, has power to veto. But it is not likely that he will veto except on the reenmmen elation of the Minister of Public Works In this ose the Minister of Public Works uniformly replied that bo had no power in the matter. Now, as it is not probable that a stronger case will be made against any route than that made against the route of the Waimea line, it follows that it is not probable that this check will ever be applied unless some other check can be devised. We shall have our branch, lines constructed not to open tip the resources of the districts through which they pass, and thus to feed the main line ; but to enhance the value of the lands of the large proprietors, who can always present the smaller proprietors with Hobson's choice,— this route or no railway. What thisjeheck should be, and a few other thoughts suggested by your article, we reserve for a future communication. Meanwhile we trust that the Minister of Public Works will smoothe the asperity of the treatment these settlers have lately received by causing a bridge to be constructed over the Mataura to enable the railway to tap a portion of these important districts. Otama. LOWER SHOTOVER. (FBOM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) The annual meeting of householders for the election of a School Committee for this district was held on the day appointed. Mr John Humphrey was voted to the chair. The annual report of the retiring committee was read by the secretary, and disclosed a healthy state^ of school affairs, both financially and otherwise. The chairman then read the extracts from the Act touching upon the method of procedure in the election of a new committee. # Out of ninenominations received by the Chairman the following gentlemen were duly elected, viz., Messrs Marshall, Humphrey, F. M'Bride, Patton, Labnie, Chegwidden, and Flint. -Six out of the old members of committee were reelected, and a better representation of the district could scarcely be made, as during their late term of office everything to enhance the prosperity of the school, impi'ove the appearance of the school grounds, and add to the teacher's comfort has been faithfully performed. It is to be hoped that similar progress will be made during the ensuing year. The third election of two members to represent this Riding (Arrow) in the County Council will take place on the 18th inst. I hear that four gentlemen bave been nominated to fill the offices, viz., Messrs M'Cracken, Douglas, Jenkins, and Owens. As the last contest (which has been bean declared null) was a very close one, I expect a good deal of excitement will bethe result of this one. The crops are now assuming that yellow tint which foretells the busy harvest time, indeed

in some parts of tho districc patches h^ye been cut already. Tho yield will be considerably below the average, the inclement spring having retarded the sowing operations. The quality, however, wibu favourable weather, will be of our usual first-class standard. 11th February, 1879. LAKE COUNTY. (FBO3I OVB OWN CORRESPONDENT.) The Wakatip Mail having called into question my statement about silver ore being found near Queeutown, I have written to tho discoverer ot the supposed silver lode, asking him to furnish me with a f>mall parcel of the >• < for the purpose of ascertaining its value or otherwise. In tho meantime I can assure the Wakatip Mail to perfectly rely on the two facts stated in my last : first, that the mate- | rial found strongly ies=inblea samples of silver ore from the liangitoto mine; and secondly, that it was found near Queenstown. The Ministerial visit of the Hon. R. Stout and the Hon. J. Ballance has been made the occasion of feasting aud bauque&ing in Queenstown, wbile at Arrowtown it only caused a flutter of exciteineut in our representative and civic circles, The Ministers were deputationised on several items of local interest, prominent amongst which was the opening of the Crown terrace, which has vexed the heads of intending settlers, miners now on the ground, and the official minds of our Land Office to no small extent. Mr Thomas Hall, th« pioneer of the Macatow reefs, also waited upon the hon. the Ministers, with a view to assert his claim to the prospecting reward, which was partly adjusted during last session. Our distinguished visitors, who were accompanied by their ladies, were highly delighted with our beautiful scenery, our waving cornfields, our fatted beeve», and the prosperous appearance of things in general. The Mayor and Councillors of Dunedin also paid Queenstown a visit on the occasion of the opening of the Dunedin-Invercargiil railway, but met with an unpleasant contretemps. They arrived at Kingston by special train, a short time after the steamer had left for Qaeenstown, and were compelled to spend an unprofitable time in a township composed of two hotels, drawing charitable conclusions as to the appearance of the "village of the interior," situated further up the lake, until, like wrecked mariners, they were taken off and relieved from their exile. The weather has been execrable of late, and ranged through all the degrees of the thermometer, from the freezing point to the boiling point. A distinguishing characteristic has been that it was always at its worst when our leading industries required fair weather. The other week we had snow and hail-storms, followed by the most oppressive heat ever felt here. It rained incessantly at lambing and shearing time, and just as the grain crops were sufficiently ripened to be harvested, we have been visited by terrific gales, lasting for several days at a time. However, harvesting is now in progress, and the want of harvest hands is somewhat relieved by Mr Kirkpatrick's reaper ■and binder, which is now engaged on the larger farms of this County. This reaper and binder is one of M'Cormick's, is working splendidly, and, as may be imagined, is attracting much ■attention. A Masonic Temple was inaugurated at Arrowtown on Thursday last by District Judge Harvey, the Provincial Grand Master of the Order a< The event was celebrated by a banquet, given in the new reading-room of the Arrow Athenseum, at which a goodly number of the toothers of the craft attended. The proposed Arrow hospital is not meeting •with much support outside a certain circle. People who take a rational view of the movement are keeping aloof from it, as the amount required for the maintenance of such an institution is beyond the means of the place, and the necessity of it is problematical, to judge by the sanitary statistics of the past. SQUTH BLUESKIN SCHOOL. (BROM. A CORRESPONDENT.) An examination of the children attending the South Blueskin School took place on the 14fch instant, prior to the usual annual break-up, postponed from Christmas till the harvest season, as being more suitable for the district. There was not so large an attendance of parents and friends as was expected, considering the liberal manner in which money had been subscribed for purchasing prizes, over L 9 having been collected in a very short time for that purpose ; but, no doubfc, the absence of many could be accounted for by the necessities attendant upon harvesting. The Rev. Messrs Finlayson and Stanford, at the request of the Committee, conducted the examination, the bnlk of the duty falling upon the first-named gentleman, as the latter had to be absent in the afternoon. The different classes were examined ? in portions of English, arithmetic, geography, ~' Ac, with satisfactory results ; and the recita- ™ tions given by some of the pupils were really * a most commendable. The sewing, knitting, and 0: fancy work were judged by some ladies present, and considerable difficulty, we understand, was ai experienced in arming at a just conclusion, ol the assortment of work being so varied and ex- . cellent. At. the close of the examination the * E Rev. Mr Finlayson distributed the prizes. " There are 127 names on the school ioll, the m average attendance last quarter having been 91. ™ At the conclusion of the examination, the ci Rev. Mr Finlayson distributed the prizes. He P' then stated that there was great equality in lr many of the classes and a decision had been . diflicut to arrive at. To those disappointed at 1 not receiving prizes, he would recommend dili- a ' gence, as with the best there was great room for Cl impi'ovement, as every one was advancing in w knowledge. Yet he was well satisfied with the cl progress as scholars they had made. He was a1 glad to see such a kindly feeling existing be- al tween themselves and their teachers, Mr P Stewart and Miss Cross, and he wished them joy of their holidays.— (Applause.) *1 A vote of thanks to the lady and gentlemen * c examiners closed the proceedings. Appended is D J the prize list : — ti PRIZE LIST. e< FIRST CLASS. English.— lst, James Souness ; 2nd, Andrina w J. Stewart; 3rd, Ellen Wetherston. a ' Arithmetic— lst, James Souness; 2nd, An- £ drina J. Stewart ; 3rd, Jno. Finlayson. n ! Geography— lst, James Souness; 2nd, Jno. ? Finlayson ; 3rd, Andrina J. Stewart. la Writing.— lst, Maria M'Lennan; 2nd, An- M drina J. Stewart -, 3rd Ellen Wetherston . ai Mapping.— John Finlayson. „ Mental Arithmetic. — Maggie Doig. • Recitation.— James Souness. £ SECOND CLASS. n English.— lsfc, Wm. Sutherland ; 2nd, Albert Klee ; 3rd, Catharine Souness. Arithmetic— lsfc, Edward Downes j 2nd, n Wm. Sutherland; 3rd, James Sutherland. Geography.- -Ist, Albert Klee j 2nd, G. Rus- H( aell ; 3rd, Wm. Sutherland. £] Writing.— lst, Ann Wallace; 2nd, George ]j Russell ; 3rd, Catharine Souness. * Mapping.— W. Sutherland. jj Mental Arithmetic. — E. Downes. «< Recitation.— Albert Klee. a THIRD CL4BB. W English.— lsfc, Alex. Doig; 2nd, Wm. Muir- I bead; 3rd, D. M'Lean. b

Arithmetic— lst, Agnes Hyalop ; 2nd, E. Downes ; 3rd, A. Doig. Geography.— Ist, A. Doig; 2nd, H. Downe3; 3rd. Mont. Hyalop. Writing.— lst, A Doig ; 2nd, Jeasie Wetherston ; 3rd, Wm. Muirhead. Men'al Arithmetic. — Maggie Hyslop. Recitation. — Agnes Hyslop. I'OUBTH CLASS. English.— lsfc, Isabella Bell; 2od, Edward Clent; 3rd, Mary Alexander. Arithmetic —lsfc, Jno. Adams ; 2nd, James Downes ; 3rd, Isabella 8011. Geography. — lsfc, Flora Sutherland ; 2nd B. Cletit ; 3rd, Jas. Downes. Writing.— lst, Elizabeth Finlayson ; 2nd, Jas. Stevenson ; 3rd, Catherino Sutherland. Mental Arithmetic— Jno. Adams. Recitation.— Catherine Sutherlaud. Highest Attend ince.—M. Finl-iyson. Progress Writing.— Jane Sutherland. Primer.— lst, George Charlfcon; 2nd, A. M'Connell ; 3rd, Andrew M'Kenzie. Ist royal reader. Reading.— lst, John Doig ; 2nd, Eliza Don. Wilting.— lsfc, John Wilson ; 2ad, D. Russell. Arithematic— lst, Jno. Wilson ; 2nd, David Wil on. SEQUEL TO IST ROYAL READER. Reading. — Ist, R. Jackson ; 2nd, R. Stevenson. Writing.— lsfc, R. Jackson; 2nd Mary Oole- | ban. Arithmetic— lst, R. Jackson ; 2nd, A. M'Lean. 2nd royal reader. Reading.— lst, C. Bell ; 2nd, J. Downes. Writing.— lst, W. Downes ; 2nd C. Bell. Arithmetic. — Ist David Sutherland; 2nd, P. Clent. SEWING. Ist Class. — lsfc, J. Stewart; 2nd, A. Wallace. 2nd Class. — Ist, A. Cowan j 2nd, B. Finliyson. 3rd Class. — lsfc, M. Colehan; 2nd, J. Downes. Knitting. — Jane Wefcherston. Crochet Work. — Jane Wetherston.