Our Correspondent.

Otago Witness, Issue 1499, 7 August 1880, Page 13

Our Correspondent.

HINDOM. (from our own correspondent.) August 3rd. It was considered that the Hindon Company's reef on the low level would be a fan: test of tbe gold-bearing quality of the lines of reef in which it is extended, and consequently the Hindon miners looked forward to its opening up with as much longing as if on its richness depended Hindon's future. . On Wednesday morning, after the 300-feet tunnelling, as was supposed it would, the Little Wonder reef appeared in full view. When Btruck it was 14 inches thick. In six feet driving it widened to about two feet, and appears to widen still more. Several crushings from the surface stone of this reef have been run through in Captain Kenny's time, making an average yield of l£oz to the ton, and judging from the appearance of tbe present stone, it will even exceed that. The stone is of a bluish cast, and similar in quality to the Btone of tbe Tipperary. It showß numerous specks of gold, very fine so far as I could see. Messrs Krull and Siedeberg (directors) visited the reef. They seemed delighted with its auriferous appearance, and were highly satisfied with the masterly manner in which the manager conducted the work. Instructors have been given to put on more hands, and keep the battery working night and day, so that it is not very unlikely that Hindon will Boon rank among the foremost as to the size ef its cakes of gold.

TAPANUI. (FBOM OUE OWN OOEREBPONDENT.) August 2nd. Mr Charles Hawson, who for some time back has been acting manager of the Tapanui branch of the National Bank of New Zealand, took his departure for Dunedin on Monday, 26th July. A number of Mr Hawson's friends met at Sinamonds', Commercial Hotel previous to bia departure, and Mr Mooney, who officiated as chairman, handed Mr Hawson an address, and a purse of sovereigns which had been contributed by that gentleman's well- wishers. The customary toasts were duly honoured, and several songs rendered in good style. Mr M'Lean, late of Invercargill, succeeds Mr Hawson, and Mr Singer takes Mr Darling's place as accountant. A member of the light-fingerad fraternity has thought fit to visit Tapanui, and in the exercise of his profession abstracted L 27 and a quantity of jewellery from Mr Fine's Prince of Wales Hotel. The robber had concealed the plunder in his swag, and on Mr Pine missing it his suspicions were aroused from the fact of the man sitting on his swag. Mr Fine searched the swag and found the property, and with considerable difficulty marched the unfortunate individual off to the lock up. Mr William Waddell, M.A., will deliver his popular lecture on the " Life and Writings of Sir Walter Scott," in aid of the Tapanui School funds, on Friday, 30th August. The Tapanui Young Men's Christian Association held their usual fortnightly meeting on Thursday, 29fch July. The attendance was quite up to the average. Mr Alex. Rogers delivered an able and original essay, entitled 11 The Origin and Influence of the Press." At the conclusion of the essay several of the members made remarks which expressed their high appreciation of the manner in which Mr Rogers had handled bis subject. Mr Joseph Gray recited an extract from Martin A. Tupper's miscellaneous poemß, entitled " The Hope of Sixteen," in very good style. Peter Bayne, an old resident of Tapanui, committed suicide on Sunday afternoon, the Ist inst. The deceased had been drinking heavily previous to the occurrence of the sad event, and it is supposed that it was owing to

his craving for drink not being satisfied that caused him to take a large dose of strychnine which terminated his existence.

CAMBRIANS. (from our own correspondent.) August 2nd. Still the same glorious weather, and unless we have some snow during this month, and frost to harden it on the mountains, the summer Bupply of water for mining purposes is likely to be small. In mining there in little to report at present. Mr J. Thurlow has finished his seoond contract en Watson and party's headraoe, There is ttill a considerable amount of rookcutting to be done on this race. Some prospecting has been dona lately along the foot of the rangtt between Vinegar Hill and the Dunstan < reek, but no payable prospect has been obUioed. A few miners left here for the Hawe * Lake rush, bub most of them have already returned, and, so far as 1 can learn, if there is any payable country there it has yet to be found. The farmers in the district aro taking every advantage of the favourable weather. A young man in the employ of Mr P. Jenkins, farmer, met with an accident on the morning of the 27bh ult. While driving stock, the horse he rode slipped and fell, throwing him heavily on the ground, by whioh he had hiß collarbone fractured. He was at once taken to Ophir (Blacks), where Dr Sleeman attended to his injuries, and he is now progressing favourably. Miss M'Naughton commenced her duties as teacher here about the middle of last month. There are now 37 scholars on the roll, and more to come from a distance when the winter is over. I notice in your last issue a letter from our late teaoher, Mr Stack, in whioh he endeavours to show that my remarks in previous letters regarding the Cambrians School were untrue, and penned solely with the view of injuring him. I have not time to deal with him by this mail, bat with your permission I will at a future time. [We think it would be &v well to leave the matter where it stands at present, as noi thing oan possibly be gained by entering into a personal discussion over a matter whioh is now really a thing Qf the pajti.w Ep. 0. W.]

WOODSIDE, (PBOM ODE. OWN OOBBKSPONDBNT ) West Taibri, August 3rd. We are still enjoying magnifioent weather for this season of the year, and the roads are in better order than I have ever seen them in the winter. The gat dens bear every indication of an early spring } the gooseberry and other bushes ara in bud, and vegetation generally has made a very visible start, We had a visit from the redoubtable "Captain" Barry, who addressed a good house ab Outram on Saturday night. He kept us thoroughly amused for an hour and a-half, and I think everybody went away pleased, although they might be a little sceptical in regard to some ot his assertions. I know he made me hold my breath sometimes when he was in " the swim," aa- he called it, with real live dukes, lords, and aldermen. He managed to Bell a good many of his books, whioh have been got up in a very superior manner. On Sunday we we c visited by Bishop Nevill, who preaohed to a large audience from Ist Peter i,. 3rd to sth verses, in a very eloquent and impressive manner. During the servioe hiß Lordship baptised ate infants. The lambing in the Taieri has started much earlier this season than formerly, and the weather has given the youngsters every chance. Mr Win. Shand's lambs are particularly forward, and he ought to do well oat of them this year should the weather continue favourable. The Commissioners' report on the Otago Central railway has put rather a damper on those settlers who hare lately taken up ground in the Hindon district. It will be a serious matter to them should the line not go ahca3, as a number of them were tempted to take up the land on the assumption that they would have short carriage to Dunedin. After all the expense incurred, it is to be hoped the line will not be abandoned.

OUTRAM R.M. COURT. August 3rd. (Before W. L. Simpßon, Esq., R.M.) Neill and Boyd v. Blackall, £2 0s 6d ; settled out of Oonrt. G. W. Williams' Trustees v. Bell, £1 2s 3d; settled out of Court. White v. Russell, £1 ; no appearance, struck out. Brown v. M'Kay, £1 12s 6d } to be paid by instalments ot 5s per month, costs to be paid in a fortnight. Same v. Sampson, £1 18s ; to be paid by instalments of 5s per month, coats in a fortnight. Palmer v. Little, balanoe (10s) due onprioeof horse ; judgment for amount and costs. Hollands v. Jerome, £1 6s 7d; judgment for amount and costs (ss). Hollands v. Reid, £5 10s 2d; judgment for amount and oosts (10s). Police v. P Rameay, breach of Impounding Ordinance; withdrawn by permission of Bench.

THE SHAG POINT RAILWAY. TO THE EDITOR. Sib,— Will you allow me, through the medium of your columns, to express my views on the recommendation of the Commissioners to purchase the Shag Point railway. What are the reasons that the Commissioners recommend that this branch should be purchased I cannot make out. If the line is profitable, how is it that the Company wishes to sell? When I was there some two years ago I could not see a field of coal large enouga to # pay anything like the expense of making the line, as the coal crops out of the hill a short distance from the foreshore, and it has not been proved to hold good along the foreshore. The other lessee of the Government will not put anything on that line, and no private property adjoining these reserves has been proved to contain coal, nor is there any quantity of Government land for settlement to be benefited. So far as I observed, there is no reason that could have caused the Commissioners to recommend the purchase of the line. I hope that the Government, before they act on the Commissioners' recommendation, will appoint some qualified mining engineer to report upon the coal measures available, or I doubt it will be so much public money thrown away ; and I trust that the Government before

they purchase the line will have the matter thoroughly sifted. — I ana, &c, Sentinel. Hindon, August 3rd.