WAIKAIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 1465, 13 December 1879, Page 17

WAIKAIA.

(FEOM OVS. OWN OOBBESPONDBNT.) Some excitementhas been createdby the throwing open of a parcel of land for selection, some portion of the inhabitants deolaring the land to be payably auriferous, others insisting that, after having been prospected for years, it has , proved valueless. A meeting on the subject, was held at the Crown Hotel a few evenings • ago, but it was of a very uproarious— not to say - rowdy — nature. Bitter personalities were in-, dnlged in, half a dozen men were on their feet ' at once, trying to make a speech — of course business was out of the question — and at length the Chairman fled. lam informed that the Warden has been memorialised on the subjeot and has promised to recommend that the opening of the land be deferred for another year. I can hardly imagine that if the ground were really of any value our diggers would allow it to lie idle all these years. Indeed a digger has told me that he has tried the ground again and again but could never obtain a payable prospect. We are'making preparations for the approaching holidays. A meeting was held last night at the Crown Hotel to elect a Committee of management for the Baoes to be held on Boxing Day. Messrs D. Fraser, W. Fraser, M. Moffit, A, Mathison, D. Mathison, and the Messrs Davidson were elected as committee, and Mr T. Taylor chosen secretary. Upwards of £17 was collected in the room, and as quite the same amount, probably more, will be collected oatBide, we may look for prizes sufficient to insure • a good day's sport. The new schoolmaster has arrived, but will ' not commence duties till after the New Year. I have not yet learned the gentleman's name. I am glad to find that the English birds are doing well here. Pheasant are plentiful afc Gow's Bush, and more than one covey of partridge has been seen.